1 00:00:08,142 --> 00:00:11,944 Narrator: Pearl harbor is just the beginning. 2 00:00:15,282 --> 00:00:19,401 In the terrifying weeks after japan's surprise attack, 3 00:00:19,437 --> 00:00:22,571 More shocking blows fall upon the allies, 4 00:00:24,542 --> 00:00:28,911 As a wave of terror spreads across the pacific, 5 00:00:28,946 --> 00:00:32,881 Leaving behind a tragic trail of wreckage 6 00:00:32,917 --> 00:00:35,234 On the ocean floor. 7 00:00:39,540 --> 00:00:42,441 Imagine if we could empty the oceans, 8 00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:44,676 Letting the water drain away to reveal 9 00:00:44,712 --> 00:00:47,546 The secrets on the sea floor. 10 00:00:48,949 --> 00:00:51,600 Now, we can. 11 00:00:52,703 --> 00:00:56,739 Using accurate data and astonishing technology 12 00:00:56,774 --> 00:01:01,376 To bring light once again to a lost world. 13 00:01:03,614 --> 00:01:07,433 What can a shattered wreck in the south china sea reveal 14 00:01:07,468 --> 00:01:11,370 About the technical brilliance of the japanese navy? 15 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:14,973 Anthony: The result was complete collapse of half 16 00:01:15,009 --> 00:01:18,143 Of the ship's systems from a single blow. 17 00:01:20,047 --> 00:01:24,166 Narrator: What secret weapon sends this mighty battleship down? 18 00:01:24,969 --> 00:01:28,704 Osamu: If you can't see it coming, how do you avoid it? 19 00:01:28,739 --> 00:01:30,773 Well, the answer is you don't. 20 00:01:30,808 --> 00:01:36,411 Narrator: And why does this sleepy australian port become a second pearl harbor? 21 00:01:38,783 --> 00:01:45,170 (theme music plays). 22 00:01:50,678 --> 00:01:53,212 December 1941. 23 00:01:54,148 --> 00:01:57,633 The empire of japan is on the March. 24 00:01:59,637 --> 00:02:02,504 It already holds parts of china. 25 00:02:02,540 --> 00:02:08,544 Now it targets the regions beyond, sparking conflict with america and her allies. 26 00:02:11,615 --> 00:02:14,066 Including great britain. 27 00:02:16,237 --> 00:02:18,170 From the fortress of singapore, 28 00:02:18,205 --> 00:02:21,406 The royal navy dominates the south china seas. 29 00:02:25,446 --> 00:02:30,699 Can the ruins of a mighty battleship reveal just how badly the british misjudged 30 00:02:30,734 --> 00:02:33,669 The power of their new enemy? 31 00:02:35,973 --> 00:02:38,874 After the surprise attack on pearl harbor, 32 00:02:38,909 --> 00:02:41,376 Winston churchill worries that japan might invade 33 00:02:41,412 --> 00:02:44,012 The dutch east indies and british malaya, 34 00:02:46,383 --> 00:02:48,233 Areas rich in the resources 35 00:02:48,269 --> 00:02:51,470 That japan badly needs, especially oil. 36 00:02:52,740 --> 00:02:57,476 Seeing the imminent threat, the royal navy mobilizes a battle group of six powerful 37 00:02:57,511 --> 00:03:00,946 War ships, and call it force z. 38 00:03:01,916 --> 00:03:06,702 Its mission is to head north east from singapore, on the lookout for japanese invaders. 39 00:03:10,107 --> 00:03:15,377 Leading the convoy is a brand new battleship, hms prince of wales. 40 00:03:17,781 --> 00:03:22,401 Churchill believes that her mere presence will be enough to deter the enemy. 41 00:03:24,972 --> 00:03:28,607 Eric: Prince of wales was a state of the art battleship, very heavily protected. 42 00:03:29,343 --> 00:03:33,912 The ship with its armor was pretty immune to attack. 43 00:03:35,549 --> 00:03:37,299 Rod: The battleship was the supreme embodiment of 44 00:03:37,334 --> 00:03:39,468 A nation's sea power and majesty. 45 00:03:39,503 --> 00:03:43,405 If you saw prince of wales coming over the horizon, you knew you were in big trouble. 46 00:03:44,008 --> 00:03:49,578 Narrator: Armed with ten 14 inch main guns, plus 16 secondary guns and 47 00:03:49,613 --> 00:03:54,967 Anti-aircraft capability, the prince of wales is lethal to targets at sea, 48 00:03:55,002 --> 00:03:57,569 On land and in the air. 49 00:03:58,172 --> 00:04:00,439 She's also well protected. 50 00:04:00,474 --> 00:04:06,578 Armor shields the deck, and an additional 15 inch thick belt surrounds her massive hull. 51 00:04:11,936 --> 00:04:16,104 Force z is 50 miles east of british malaya, 52 00:04:16,140 --> 00:04:20,242 When it encounters japanese naval units for the first time. 53 00:04:23,981 --> 00:04:26,748 But by early afternoon the following day, 54 00:04:26,784 --> 00:04:30,702 The prince of wales is at the bottom of the south china sea, 55 00:04:31,505 --> 00:04:35,140 And britannia's rule over these waters is over. 56 00:04:44,068 --> 00:04:48,503 Decades later, diver rod macdonald is part of a military expedition 57 00:04:48,539 --> 00:04:50,739 To research what happened here. 58 00:04:51,709 --> 00:04:54,609 Rod: My role in this expedition is basically to try and work out 59 00:04:54,645 --> 00:04:56,812 Exactly why the wreck sank. 60 00:04:56,847 --> 00:04:59,815 When this vessel was built, it was a state of the art battleship. 61 00:05:01,335 --> 00:05:03,935 Narrator: The location of the wreck is well known. 62 00:05:05,406 --> 00:05:09,074 But her condition has not been revealed in such detail before. 63 00:05:23,207 --> 00:05:27,642 Over 200 feet down, the mighty prince of wales, 64 00:05:28,779 --> 00:05:31,480 Silent on the sea floor. 65 00:05:35,803 --> 00:05:39,004 There are areas of serious damage. 66 00:05:45,412 --> 00:05:50,148 Over weeks, the divers scour the wreck, gathering data. 67 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,480 And as the waters roll back, 68 00:06:05,516 --> 00:06:10,635 Light shines for the first time in almost 80 years 69 00:06:11,672 --> 00:06:14,873 On hms prince of wales. 70 00:06:17,044 --> 00:06:19,778 It's mostly intact, 71 00:06:21,148 --> 00:06:25,267 But its starboard side is punctured by three massive holes. 72 00:06:31,642 --> 00:06:36,178 From their position below the water line, they look like torpedo strikes. 73 00:06:47,574 --> 00:06:52,144 Elsewhere on the wreck, further details of her final battle. 74 00:06:54,415 --> 00:07:00,102 The smaller 5.25 gun turrets on the starboard side are all aimed downwards. 75 00:07:03,574 --> 00:07:08,610 As the british sailors fight to defend their ship, what are they shooting at? 76 00:07:11,415 --> 00:07:16,501 The answer may lie with another ship, the uss north carolina. 77 00:07:17,070 --> 00:07:21,072 A battleship built to similar specifications. 78 00:07:23,777 --> 00:07:27,512 It survived its own deadly encounters with the japanese. 79 00:07:27,548 --> 00:07:31,900 Naval historian anthony tully believes this battleship holds clues 80 00:07:31,935 --> 00:07:35,203 About the downfall of its british cousin. 81 00:07:36,740 --> 00:07:39,274 Anthony: Behind us here, the north carolina's secondary battery, 82 00:07:39,309 --> 00:07:41,977 A five inch 38 caliber guns. 83 00:07:42,012 --> 00:07:45,647 The prince of wales had eight five inch mounts of similar size. 84 00:07:45,682 --> 00:07:48,667 These guns were trained low on the horizontal. 85 00:07:48,702 --> 00:07:51,169 They're not elevated like this, but rather like this. 86 00:07:52,272 --> 00:07:57,342 Narrator: Guns trained low couldn't hit distant ships. 87 00:07:58,312 --> 00:08:01,980 And they aren't for taking on submarines. 88 00:08:04,535 --> 00:08:09,137 Tully believes it can only mean one thing, air attack. 89 00:08:10,574 --> 00:08:12,807 Anthony: So they're trying to track the planes 'cause the japanese aircraft were 90 00:08:12,843 --> 00:08:16,344 Attacking at wave top level and they had to lower them to this level to even have a 91 00:08:16,380 --> 00:08:18,280 Chance of hitting them. 92 00:08:18,315 --> 00:08:22,267 Narrator: 5.2 inch guns are formidable against attacking aircraft, 93 00:08:22,302 --> 00:08:26,605 But the armor belted hull is the prince of wales ultimate defense, 94 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,442 Impervious to most gun fire and torpedoes. 95 00:08:30,477 --> 00:08:33,345 Eric: If any ship would be able to shrug off an air attack, 96 00:08:33,380 --> 00:08:34,846 It was prince of wales. 97 00:08:34,882 --> 00:08:38,500 Rod: No battleship had been sunk in action in the open sea. 98 00:08:38,535 --> 00:08:40,335 The big guns of battleship were the only things 99 00:08:40,370 --> 00:08:43,205 That could take out another battleship. 100 00:08:48,145 --> 00:08:50,011 Narrator: Despite all this protection, 101 00:08:50,047 --> 00:08:53,648 Somehow the japanese managed to break through. 102 00:08:56,103 --> 00:08:59,804 The drained wreck exposes more clues. 103 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:04,609 The holes reveal whatever hit this hull created massive damage, 104 00:09:05,879 --> 00:09:09,848 Much bigger than damage caused by a typical torpedo of the day. 105 00:09:14,371 --> 00:09:19,641 It points to one thing, a new japanese wonder weapon. 106 00:09:19,676 --> 00:09:22,777 The type 91 torpedo. 107 00:09:25,849 --> 00:09:28,466 Osamu: The standard torpedo can break the surface and 108 00:09:28,502 --> 00:09:32,070 Run in an erratic direction that you don't intend it to go. 109 00:09:33,457 --> 00:09:36,675 But the japanese had pretty much worked the bugs out of their torpedoes. 110 00:09:36,710 --> 00:09:40,912 Narrator: The japanese military used the 91, with devastating effect, 111 00:09:40,948 --> 00:09:44,299 For the first time just days earlier at pearl harbor. 112 00:09:44,334 --> 00:09:47,269 Osamu: It came as a nasty surprise to the allies. 113 00:09:49,506 --> 00:09:56,144 The war head was quite powerful compared to other contemporary torpedoes. 114 00:09:56,780 --> 00:10:01,967 It could be released at a higher altitude, at a longer distance from the target, 115 00:10:02,002 --> 00:10:04,035 At higher speed. 116 00:10:04,071 --> 00:10:10,308 These innovations made it a revolutionary version of an aerial torpedo. 117 00:10:12,079 --> 00:10:16,114 Narrator: The type 91 torpedo is indeed revolutionary. 118 00:10:19,636 --> 00:10:25,307 At its nose is a warhead carrying a payloads of 450 pounds of explosive. 119 00:10:28,011 --> 00:10:32,080 Wooden stabilizers on its tail fins guide it into the water. 120 00:10:32,115 --> 00:10:35,200 On entering, the fins snap off. 121 00:10:36,136 --> 00:10:40,305 Then an internal depth meter keeps the missile from rolling off target, 122 00:10:40,340 --> 00:10:44,175 And at a steady 20 feet below the surface. 123 00:10:45,379 --> 00:10:50,649 But if the torpedo was at this depth, it should have hit the ship right in the armor belt. 124 00:10:54,871 --> 00:10:57,639 Rod: If any of these torpedoes had hit the armor belt, 125 00:10:57,674 --> 00:11:00,875 Prince of wales would have survived unscathed. 126 00:11:00,911 --> 00:11:05,146 Narrator: But the damage on the wreck is way below the armor... 127 00:11:05,182 --> 00:11:08,266 On the ship's soft underbelly. 128 00:11:08,301 --> 00:11:13,104 How did the japanese 91s strike so low? 129 00:11:23,984 --> 00:11:26,735 While patrolling the south china sea. 130 00:11:29,506 --> 00:11:34,309 Japanese aerial torpedoes, designed to strike at precisely 20 feet below 131 00:11:34,344 --> 00:11:37,712 The water line, have pierced the battleship. 132 00:11:38,582 --> 00:11:42,267 But her hull is supposed to be impenetrable. 133 00:11:46,807 --> 00:11:52,343 Looking at what remains of the battered wreck, the hull damage shows torpedoes strike 134 00:11:52,379 --> 00:11:55,914 Three times on the starboard side, 135 00:11:57,567 --> 00:12:02,036 Outside the protective armor belt and below the 136 00:12:02,072 --> 00:12:05,206 Normal operating depth of the type 91. 137 00:12:06,877 --> 00:12:10,912 And there's another hole on the port side, close to the stern. 138 00:12:11,715 --> 00:12:15,934 Can this torpedo strike explain the ship's fate? 139 00:12:19,873 --> 00:12:24,876 The damage at the stern attracts the attention of naval historian anthony tully. 140 00:12:26,012 --> 00:12:30,932 He's on board the uss north carolina, a ship with similar 141 00:12:30,967 --> 00:12:33,701 Design features to the prince of wales. 142 00:12:35,005 --> 00:12:36,738 Anthony: This is the propeller shaft we're seeing. 143 00:12:36,773 --> 00:12:39,140 If you were standing right here, it would be spinning like crazy. 144 00:12:39,176 --> 00:12:44,879 Because of the torpedo hit, you had a bent shaft rotating out of, out of alignment. 145 00:12:47,467 --> 00:12:51,202 Narrator: The bent shaft causes a dangerous chain reaction. 146 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,274 A ship's hull is divided into partitions known as bulkheads. 147 00:12:56,309 --> 00:13:01,312 These add strength and can be sealed off to contain water if flooding occurs. 148 00:13:01,982 --> 00:13:05,767 They are what allow a warship to take a hit but stay afloat. 149 00:13:07,671 --> 00:13:11,873 Running through these bulkheads are the ship's four propeller shafts. 150 00:13:12,676 --> 00:13:15,743 A damaged but still rotating shaft would rupture the 151 00:13:15,779 --> 00:13:19,080 Bulkhead seals all along its length. 152 00:13:19,816 --> 00:13:24,702 This would allow water to flood the engine room, deep in the center of the ship. 153 00:13:25,906 --> 00:13:29,407 Anthony: This entire space, this entire vast claustrophobic space, 154 00:13:29,442 --> 00:13:32,343 Would be filled with water. 155 00:13:33,079 --> 00:13:36,915 Rod: It doesn't take much water inside a ship to alter the trim of the ship. 156 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:42,003 Narrator: If flooding makes the ship list to one side, it would raise the armor belt out 157 00:13:42,038 --> 00:13:47,275 Of the water, exposing the ship's vulnerable hull to further torpedo strikes. 158 00:13:48,144 --> 00:13:51,246 Rod: If the ship had been on an even keel, that torpedo would have hit the armored 159 00:13:51,281 --> 00:13:54,265 Belt, which would have dealt with it quite easily. 160 00:13:55,969 --> 00:14:00,405 Narrator: Using all the evidence, we can now recreate what likely happened. 161 00:14:04,377 --> 00:14:06,945 It's late morning. 162 00:14:06,980 --> 00:14:12,667 Force z are spotted by enemy aircraft and turned back, heading to singapore. 163 00:14:15,438 --> 00:14:18,706 But the hunter becomes the hunted. 164 00:14:19,376 --> 00:14:23,611 Japanese bombers arriving from nearby bases spot the british fleet. 165 00:14:26,049 --> 00:14:30,301 The prince of wales lowers her anti-aircraft guns and opens fire on the enemy. 166 00:14:35,642 --> 00:14:41,913 A bomber now at wave top level on her attack run launches her deadly type 91 torpedo. 167 00:14:46,036 --> 00:14:48,770 It strikes the prince of wales. 168 00:14:50,206 --> 00:14:52,774 Right by the port propeller. 169 00:14:55,045 --> 00:14:59,847 Eric: It is impossible to protect the propellers and steering gear of a battleship. 170 00:15:01,250 --> 00:15:03,635 Narrator: The flooding ship starts to list. 171 00:15:03,670 --> 00:15:07,171 The armored section rises up, bringing the unprotected hull 172 00:15:07,207 --> 00:15:09,941 Into the firing line of the torpedo. 173 00:15:10,777 --> 00:15:12,810 Osamu: It's a sitting duck. 174 00:15:13,446 --> 00:15:16,414 Narrator: Three more torpedoes strike the prince of wales, 175 00:15:16,449 --> 00:15:19,801 On the starboard side, beneath the armor plating. 176 00:15:21,204 --> 00:15:26,474 A state of the art battleship is now brought down by a handful of torpedoes. 177 00:15:27,277 --> 00:15:30,612 Eric: In about 100 minutes, less than two hours, one of the most modern battleships in 178 00:15:30,647 --> 00:15:34,048 The world had been sunk by torpedo bombers. 179 00:15:36,670 --> 00:15:41,322 Narrator: Force z loses the prince of wales and one other warship in the battle group, 180 00:15:41,341 --> 00:15:44,375 Hms repulse. 181 00:15:45,412 --> 00:15:51,799 840 british sailors are dead and naval warfare has been changed forever. 182 00:15:52,836 --> 00:15:56,604 Eric: No battleship had been sunk by air attack at sea. 183 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,407 This is a major landmark in naval history. 184 00:16:00,276 --> 00:16:04,612 Narrator: This catastrophic defeat marks the beginning of the end for the british empire 185 00:16:04,648 --> 00:16:09,467 In the east, and the japanese have only just begun. 186 00:16:11,171 --> 00:16:16,140 What can we learn of the scale of japan's ambition from a vessel lost over 187 00:16:16,176 --> 00:16:19,610 3,000 miles from japan itself? 188 00:16:23,416 --> 00:16:27,935 Expedition diver mac mccarthy has been investigating wrecks 189 00:16:27,971 --> 00:16:30,872 In the pacific ocean for decades. 190 00:16:34,544 --> 00:16:38,846 War records reveal a japanese submarine, I-124, 191 00:16:38,882 --> 00:16:42,900 Was sunk off the coast of australia in January, 1942. 192 00:16:43,336 --> 00:16:45,503 And he wants to find it. 193 00:16:49,175 --> 00:16:52,744 His mission takes him to waters north of australia. 194 00:16:52,779 --> 00:16:58,599 To an area declared a war grave and off limits to diving since 1976. 195 00:16:59,636 --> 00:17:03,438 Michael: I had a personal desire to see it because it had so much mystery around it. 196 00:17:04,641 --> 00:17:09,243 Narrator: In 1988, mac and his team gained permission to explore the wreckage. 197 00:17:10,013 --> 00:17:14,866 Michael: The problem was that the position fixing in those early days wasn't very good, 198 00:17:14,901 --> 00:17:18,336 So it was very difficult to locate the wreck. 199 00:17:21,107 --> 00:17:24,609 Narrator: The crew deploys a side scan sonar. 200 00:17:28,948 --> 00:17:32,300 Michael: You clearly start to see this pointy shape, which is about, 201 00:17:32,335 --> 00:17:35,136 Of course it's a glorious moment. 202 00:17:35,171 --> 00:17:37,805 Oh heckety deck, look at this. 203 00:17:39,075 --> 00:17:43,511 Narrator: Mac's team have pinpointed what looks like their sunken sub. 204 00:17:45,348 --> 00:17:48,866 Next, they lower an rov. 205 00:17:53,073 --> 00:17:56,507 Michael: There we all were around the screen. 206 00:17:57,544 --> 00:17:59,877 And then down it goes. 207 00:17:59,913 --> 00:18:03,681 We're watching the compass and we're watching what's in front 208 00:18:06,836 --> 00:18:10,404 And then there comes the submarine. 209 00:18:12,142 --> 00:18:15,209 Narrator: The submarine has suffered damage. 210 00:18:15,245 --> 00:18:18,579 But is this the sub he's looking for? 211 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:24,802 To find out, we're now able to drain the waters of the timor sea. 212 00:18:35,782 --> 00:18:39,066 The submarine appears. 213 00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:43,771 A five and a half inch deck gun is clearly visible. 214 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,776 The conning tower shows signs of damage from enemy attack. 215 00:18:50,079 --> 00:18:53,414 It must have been hit hard and repeatedly. 216 00:18:54,650 --> 00:18:56,334 And there's more. 217 00:18:59,072 --> 00:19:02,039 Markings visible on the tower. 218 00:19:02,709 --> 00:19:07,011 Japanese submarine, I-124. 219 00:19:11,601 --> 00:19:15,837 Submarines are the ultimate maritime stealth weapon. 220 00:19:15,872 --> 00:19:22,043 Nearly undetectable when submerged, but something must have found this one. 221 00:19:23,646 --> 00:19:27,548 Australian naval historian tom lewis is trying to work out 222 00:19:27,584 --> 00:19:30,902 What the submarine was doing here. 223 00:19:32,272 --> 00:19:35,973 He's found blueprints that match the sunken sub's features. 224 00:19:36,776 --> 00:19:39,410 Tom: If you look at this, you've got torpedo tubes, ballast tanks, 225 00:19:39,445 --> 00:19:43,114 You've got diesel engines, you've got electric batteries, you've got periscopes. 226 00:19:43,149 --> 00:19:46,734 You sort of say okay, german u-boat from world war I. 227 00:19:47,437 --> 00:19:52,406 So, japan took the plans of one of the german u-boats and they copied it. 228 00:19:54,444 --> 00:19:58,279 Narrator: But this isn't a straight copy of a german sub. 229 00:19:58,314 --> 00:20:04,302 The japanese take the design and develop it further to give the submarine a new role. 230 00:20:05,505 --> 00:20:08,139 Tom: This is a mine laying submarine. 231 00:20:08,174 --> 00:20:13,077 It's designed in a different way from other submarines of world war I and ii. 232 00:20:13,379 --> 00:20:15,913 The mines are bigger than the average sort of mine. 233 00:20:15,949 --> 00:20:18,966 You make a big mine and you dispense it and it's got more fire power, 234 00:20:19,002 --> 00:20:20,167 It's got more punch. 235 00:20:22,038 --> 00:20:27,541 Narrator: The I-124 is one of four underwater mine layers in the imperial japanese navy. 236 00:20:28,244 --> 00:20:32,613 280 feet long, it carries a crew of over 75 men. 237 00:20:33,216 --> 00:20:39,237 Its armed with torpedoes, and a deck gun, and it carries 42 powerful sea mines. 238 00:20:43,676 --> 00:20:47,345 Michael: This book here is the wreck inspection journal, which we have to keep. 239 00:20:48,314 --> 00:20:51,699 Narrator: So what was this minelayer doing here? 240 00:20:51,734 --> 00:20:57,405 Mac mccarthy finds a map detailing the war movements of all four japanese mine layers. 241 00:20:59,008 --> 00:21:02,843 Michael: These are the japanese records and they show the movements of these 242 00:21:02,879 --> 00:21:07,481 Japanese submarines in the north australian coast, and their proximity to the coast. 243 00:21:09,035 --> 00:21:12,937 Narrator: The japanese subs are targeting this critical supply route between northern 244 00:21:12,972 --> 00:21:16,307 Australia and the dutch east indies. 245 00:21:18,144 --> 00:21:21,379 A mine layer should be undetectable. 246 00:21:21,414 --> 00:21:25,733 So how did it somehow make itself a target? 247 00:21:36,379 --> 00:21:39,947 Narrator: Off the coast of northern australia, diver mac mccarthy has found 248 00:21:39,983 --> 00:21:42,967 A japanese world war ii submarine. 249 00:21:48,875 --> 00:21:52,877 A closer look at the drained wreck reveals something unusual. 250 00:21:56,949 --> 00:22:00,067 Hatches in the hull have been blown open. 251 00:22:03,272 --> 00:22:07,274 Elsewhere on the sea bed, something curious. 252 00:22:08,444 --> 00:22:12,380 Objects that looks like oil barrels. 253 00:22:12,415 --> 00:22:15,566 These are submarine killers. 254 00:22:15,601 --> 00:22:17,868 Depth charges. 255 00:22:19,906 --> 00:22:23,507 Depth charges are deployed when a submarine is spotted. 256 00:22:28,081 --> 00:22:33,367 As a charge sinks to a pre-selected depth, it detonates. 257 00:22:34,570 --> 00:22:37,705 The shockwave can send a sub down. 258 00:22:38,341 --> 00:22:41,776 This sub must have been spotted then hit hard. 259 00:22:43,646 --> 00:22:47,481 But how did the enemy know where I-124 was? 260 00:22:51,704 --> 00:22:55,673 January 19th, 1942, the submarine sends 261 00:22:55,708 --> 00:22:59,810 A routine message that is picked up by allied intelligence. 262 00:23:01,881 --> 00:23:05,132 The following day, a torpedo attack on a us ship 263 00:23:05,168 --> 00:23:09,170 Alerts them to japanese submarine activity. 264 00:23:11,274 --> 00:23:16,644 The australian sub-killer, deloraine, armed to the teeth with depth charges, 265 00:23:16,679 --> 00:23:19,580 Heads off to search for it. 266 00:23:20,216 --> 00:23:25,069 While japanese and german subs are similar, their tactics are very different. 267 00:23:26,105 --> 00:23:28,606 The germans target merchant shipping, 268 00:23:28,641 --> 00:23:32,643 While japanese subs shadow and attack allied task-forces. 269 00:23:34,180 --> 00:23:38,399 Tom: The japanese strategy in world war ii, how they use their submarines, is floored. 270 00:23:38,868 --> 00:23:40,134 They attack warships. 271 00:23:40,169 --> 00:23:42,803 It's a sort of odd concept. 272 00:23:43,739 --> 00:23:48,342 Narrator: When the deloraine spots a torpedo fired at it, it's the clue the crew needs. 273 00:23:51,147 --> 00:23:55,566 For once, the japanese navy is too ambitious for its own good. 274 00:23:56,836 --> 00:24:01,472 It allows the deloraine to pinpoint the sub, then attack. 275 00:24:05,311 --> 00:24:09,547 Now using evidence from historical records and our drained shipwreck, 276 00:24:09,582 --> 00:24:13,501 We can illustrate I-124's final hours. 277 00:24:17,974 --> 00:24:21,909 The I-124 is laying mines in the allied shipping lane. 278 00:24:23,579 --> 00:24:27,915 Allied intelligence alerts hmas deloraine to the presence of a sub. 279 00:24:29,602 --> 00:24:32,386 She fails to find it. 280 00:24:32,405 --> 00:24:37,241 The I-124 spots the australian warship first and attacks. 281 00:24:40,112 --> 00:24:45,900 A torpedo narrowly misses and the deloraine is alerted to the sub's position. 282 00:24:47,403 --> 00:24:49,737 Tom: Unfortunately, they took on a modern warship, 283 00:24:49,772 --> 00:24:52,806 Specifically designed to kill submarines. 284 00:24:53,609 --> 00:24:57,111 Narrator: The minesweeper immediately charges the sub. 285 00:24:57,146 --> 00:24:58,979 Michael: Where do you go? 286 00:24:59,015 --> 00:25:03,033 Once they've got a lock on you and they can see where it's come from, 287 00:25:03,069 --> 00:25:04,635 They know where you are. 288 00:25:04,670 --> 00:25:07,104 It's a suicidal position. 289 00:25:07,139 --> 00:25:12,343 Narrator: I-124 is pummeled by round after round of depth charges. 290 00:25:13,379 --> 00:25:18,048 Seconds later the hatches blow and she plunges to the depths. 291 00:25:18,935 --> 00:25:24,371 The first japanese submarine to be sunk by the australian navy in world war ii. 292 00:25:26,209 --> 00:25:29,376 There are no survivors. 293 00:25:31,214 --> 00:25:35,866 Despite their advanced technology, the japanese strategy of using subs for 294 00:25:35,902 --> 00:25:39,470 Pre-emptive attacks costs them dearly here. 295 00:25:40,239 --> 00:25:45,809 But the wreck of I-124 is evidence that the japanese do quickly bring the war to 296 00:25:45,845 --> 00:25:47,978 Northern australia. 297 00:25:48,014 --> 00:25:51,515 They will be back, and in shocking force. 298 00:25:57,106 --> 00:26:02,776 Maritime archaeologists david steinberg and silvano young are leading an expedition dive 299 00:26:02,812 --> 00:26:06,013 In darwin harbor, northern australia. 300 00:26:07,083 --> 00:26:11,969 They've come to investigate the largest ever attack on australian soil. 301 00:26:17,677 --> 00:26:21,245 The only warning is the drone of an air armada. 302 00:26:22,348 --> 00:26:27,017 Nearly 200 japanese planes descend on darwin, strafing the harbor. 303 00:26:30,273 --> 00:26:33,774 Next, they target the town itself. 304 00:26:34,810 --> 00:26:37,044 Nine naval vessels are sunk. 305 00:26:38,281 --> 00:26:41,699 And hundreds are dead and wounded. 306 00:26:42,635 --> 00:26:46,570 David: It's a massive attack and was devastating and overwhelming and 307 00:26:46,606 --> 00:26:49,473 Lived in people's memories. 308 00:26:50,876 --> 00:26:53,510 Those that experienced it will never forget it. 309 00:26:53,546 --> 00:26:57,481 I think darwin is australia's pearl harbor. 310 00:27:02,004 --> 00:27:05,839 Narrator: David and silvano are searching for evidence to understand just why 311 00:27:05,875 --> 00:27:09,376 The raid was so successful and so deadly. 312 00:27:09,412 --> 00:27:11,545 David: There it is. 313 00:27:14,917 --> 00:27:19,436 One of the main things we're gonna be looking for is any damage that's been done from 314 00:27:19,472 --> 00:27:22,339 The attack on the 9th February, 1942. 315 00:27:33,636 --> 00:27:35,402 David (over radio): Heading down. 316 00:27:35,438 --> 00:27:36,870 Roger, left surface, 0918. 317 00:27:44,847 --> 00:27:46,447 On a wreck. 318 00:27:46,482 --> 00:27:50,000 Silvano: Yeah, roger, just have a swim round and just work out where you are. 319 00:27:50,703 --> 00:27:53,504 David (over radio): This looks like a structure here. 320 00:27:55,975 --> 00:27:59,677 Narrator: But the dive can only reveal so much. 321 00:28:00,246 --> 00:28:03,147 Using data from david and silvano's survey, 322 00:28:03,182 --> 00:28:06,467 We can lay the floor of darwin harbor bare. 323 00:28:16,846 --> 00:28:20,514 To reveal not a ship... 324 00:28:21,517 --> 00:28:24,501 But a plane. 325 00:28:26,439 --> 00:28:31,875 Camouflaged paintwork suggests it's military, not civilian. 326 00:28:34,580 --> 00:28:38,215 Features on the plane help david identify it. 327 00:28:39,235 --> 00:28:41,835 It's a catalina. 328 00:28:43,005 --> 00:28:47,174 The catalina is an allied flying boat. 329 00:28:48,177 --> 00:28:52,413 It was used for vital intelligence gathering and surveillance. 330 00:28:53,716 --> 00:28:57,468 Silvano: The catalinas were essential for the allied war effort because the only way 331 00:28:57,503 --> 00:29:01,505 You were, you were gonna find the enemy at sea was with your own eyes. 332 00:29:02,041 --> 00:29:05,075 David (over radio): Here you've got some tall sheeting and I'm just, oh look at this. 333 00:29:05,111 --> 00:29:06,877 Does that look burnt to you? 334 00:29:06,912 --> 00:29:09,580 Silvano: Certainly does. It's definitely burnt. 335 00:29:10,449 --> 00:29:13,000 Narrator: There's clear evidence of fire. 336 00:29:13,035 --> 00:29:17,204 Silvano: That's most definitely burn damage from the fire that caused 337 00:29:17,239 --> 00:29:19,173 The loss of the aircraft. 338 00:29:20,709 --> 00:29:23,644 Narrator: So what caused this fire? 339 00:29:23,679 --> 00:29:26,914 And ultimately sent this catalina down. 340 00:29:27,316 --> 00:29:28,415 David (over radio): Can you see this clearly? 341 00:29:28,450 --> 00:29:30,667 We've got more examples of damage. 342 00:29:31,270 --> 00:29:34,271 Silvano: So you got machine gun damage. 343 00:29:35,941 --> 00:29:39,409 Narrator: Returning to the drained wreckage, there's more evidence. 344 00:29:41,347 --> 00:29:45,165 More signs of gunfire. 345 00:29:46,335 --> 00:29:49,603 Under the pilot's window, something else. 346 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:54,475 Larger holes. 347 00:29:59,114 --> 00:30:01,281 Tell-tale signs. 348 00:30:02,735 --> 00:30:06,303 Silvano: Yeah, that looks like 20 millimeter canon damage there. 349 00:30:08,107 --> 00:30:11,542 Narrator: Which points to one particular fighter plane. 350 00:30:13,179 --> 00:30:18,081 A brilliantly designed killer that is a vital cog in japan's military machine, 351 00:30:19,068 --> 00:30:21,268 The zero. 352 00:30:25,641 --> 00:30:27,140 Silvano: Yeah, it's very exciting, yeah. 353 00:30:27,176 --> 00:30:30,444 It was really a process of elimination. 354 00:30:30,479 --> 00:30:33,981 There was zeroes that came down, strafing on them. 355 00:30:36,302 --> 00:30:40,370 Narrator: The mitsubishi a6m, or zero, is a fighter plane 356 00:30:40,406 --> 00:30:43,740 Capable of launching from aircraft carriers. 357 00:30:45,845 --> 00:30:50,214 It carries a pair of one third inch machine guns 358 00:30:50,249 --> 00:30:53,283 And a three-quarter inch cannon in each wing. 359 00:30:55,538 --> 00:30:59,940 It has an unparalleled range of over 1,500 miles. 360 00:31:03,312 --> 00:31:06,313 Osamu: The zero is an iconic japanese fighter. 361 00:31:09,201 --> 00:31:12,336 It is to the japanese what the spitfire is to the british. 362 00:31:13,105 --> 00:31:17,541 Narrator: Japan attacks darwin with her best, and fresh evidence beneath the waters 363 00:31:17,576 --> 00:31:23,947 Of the harbor reveals a secret tactic that almost guarantees success. 364 00:31:32,875 --> 00:31:37,444 D silvano young have found one plane in darwin harbor. 365 00:31:41,584 --> 00:31:44,801 Now they extend their search. 366 00:31:53,846 --> 00:31:57,414 And discover two more downed catalinas. 367 00:31:59,335 --> 00:32:04,438 Mapping the position of all three planes reveals they lie in a line. 368 00:32:07,409 --> 00:32:10,210 They couldn't have all crashed this way, 369 00:32:10,245 --> 00:32:12,512 The wrecked flying boats must have been moored at 370 00:32:12,548 --> 00:32:15,182 The time of the attack. 371 00:32:18,037 --> 00:32:20,837 Evidence on the drained catalina sheds light on 372 00:32:20,873 --> 00:32:24,408 Japanese tactics that February morning. 373 00:32:27,546 --> 00:32:31,949 The position of the damage, all on one side, is revealing. 374 00:32:34,036 --> 00:32:37,904 The bullet-holes all lie on its south side, 375 00:32:37,940 --> 00:32:41,842 Suggesting the direction of the attack comes 376 00:32:41,877 --> 00:32:46,346 Not from the sea, but from inland. 377 00:32:49,034 --> 00:32:54,271 An approach from the south, over the australian mainland, would surprise the allies. 378 00:32:55,874 --> 00:32:59,943 And tom lewis thinks the japanese tactic of attacking in the morning 379 00:32:59,979 --> 00:33:02,913 Gave them another advantage. 380 00:33:03,949 --> 00:33:06,166 Tom: There's a number of reasons for attacking from the south. 381 00:33:06,201 --> 00:33:08,268 The first is you're attacking out of the sun. 382 00:33:08,303 --> 00:33:09,469 You've still got the sun behind you, 383 00:33:09,505 --> 00:33:11,872 Which is good because it blinds your defenders. 384 00:33:11,907 --> 00:33:15,008 So it gives you that element of surprise. 385 00:33:18,213 --> 00:33:23,500 Narrator: At the time of the attack, darwin is a small town of 2,000 civilians. 386 00:33:27,006 --> 00:33:31,074 But darwin's size belies its importance. 387 00:33:32,311 --> 00:33:36,380 Its location isn't just the perfect place for launching surveillance aircraft, 388 00:33:36,415 --> 00:33:39,900 Like the catalinas, as david and silvano discover 389 00:33:39,935 --> 00:33:43,270 As they continue to scour the sea bed. 390 00:33:44,773 --> 00:33:47,507 They find another wreck. 391 00:33:47,543 --> 00:33:50,477 A large ship. 392 00:33:51,380 --> 00:33:54,981 Much of it is gone, salvaged in the decades since it sank. 393 00:33:56,135 --> 00:33:59,603 But enough remains to reveal what it was. 394 00:33:59,638 --> 00:34:02,105 A cargo ship. 395 00:34:02,708 --> 00:34:09,346 David: We can see there is trucks and motorbikes and ammunition and also on this 396 00:34:09,381 --> 00:34:13,700 Side is gas masks and mortars, military equipment. 397 00:34:14,770 --> 00:34:17,370 Narrator: And the importance of darwin becomes clear. 398 00:34:17,406 --> 00:34:20,907 It's a crucial link in the allies supply chain. 399 00:34:21,610 --> 00:34:26,813 A base for vessels and the hub for shipping ammunition and other vital supplies. 400 00:34:28,767 --> 00:34:34,171 Now, it's possible to understand exactly what happened in darwin harbor. 401 00:34:41,630 --> 00:34:46,800 188 planes are launched from four japanese aircraft carriers, 402 00:34:46,835 --> 00:34:50,036 Nearly 200 miles to the north. 403 00:34:50,372 --> 00:34:54,741 But rather than heading directly to darwin, the planes fly east, 404 00:34:54,777 --> 00:34:57,944 Circling around the town. 405 00:34:58,013 --> 00:35:01,314 They want to attack darwin harbor from the south. 406 00:35:05,838 --> 00:35:08,672 Tom: You would have seen the aircraft coming towards you this way, 407 00:35:08,707 --> 00:35:11,741 Crossing the beach down there. 408 00:35:13,278 --> 00:35:16,646 Narrator: The australians are unprepared. 409 00:35:16,682 --> 00:35:19,966 The town is poorly defended for an attack from the air. 410 00:35:22,337 --> 00:35:28,341 The catalinas are sitting ducks as the zeroes circle round to attack, 411 00:35:28,377 --> 00:35:31,778 Protected by the full glare of the sun. 412 00:35:32,047 --> 00:35:36,333 The pilots swoop down, unleashing the full force of their weapons. 413 00:35:37,169 --> 00:35:39,970 Machine gunning the moored planes. 414 00:35:43,108 --> 00:35:46,409 A second wave of planes arrives. 415 00:35:46,445 --> 00:35:49,146 High altitude bombers. 416 00:35:56,338 --> 00:35:59,906 Tom: The place was in absolute pandemonium. 417 00:36:00,776 --> 00:36:04,344 Narrator: The fighters and bombers destroy 30 military aircraft 418 00:36:04,379 --> 00:36:07,647 And nine ships anchored in the harbor. 419 00:36:08,217 --> 00:36:12,269 Tom: Behind is left chaos, ships on fire, ships sinking, 420 00:36:12,304 --> 00:36:15,105 People underwater who are dead. 421 00:36:15,307 --> 00:36:20,443 Osamu: Darwin remained ineffective as a harbor that could support the war. 422 00:36:21,780 --> 00:36:26,032 Narrator: The japanese have used advanced technology and smart tactics against 423 00:36:26,068 --> 00:36:29,970 An unsuspecting and unprepared enemy. 424 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:36,176 The allied supply chain into the pacific is crippled. 425 00:36:40,015 --> 00:36:43,500 And still, the shockwave spreads. 426 00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:48,038 In washington dc and london, allied leaders are astonished 427 00:36:48,073 --> 00:36:51,541 At the scale and speed of japan's victories. 428 00:36:53,111 --> 00:36:56,880 Just days before the darwin bombing, the japanese also capture 429 00:36:56,915 --> 00:37:00,600 The famous british stronghold of singapore. 430 00:37:01,136 --> 00:37:06,673 Now japan has its eye on java, in the dutch east indies, today known as indonesia. 431 00:37:07,876 --> 00:37:12,712 The imperial navy mobilizes a landing fleet to seize its precious oil fields. 432 00:37:14,683 --> 00:37:17,601 The allies scramble to stop them. 433 00:37:17,636 --> 00:37:22,405 Pulling together a force that includes one of australia's most famous warships, 434 00:37:22,441 --> 00:37:24,708 Hmas perth. 435 00:37:26,478 --> 00:37:32,282 At 550 feet long, the light cruiser hmas perth is almost twice the length 436 00:37:32,301 --> 00:37:34,601 Of the statue of liberty. 437 00:37:35,103 --> 00:37:39,039 Achieving 32 knots, she is built for speed. 438 00:37:40,175 --> 00:37:44,411 Armed with almost 40 guns, the perth is a fearsome opponent. 439 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:50,567 But the allied fleet she ' s sailing in is unprepared for what's to come. 440 00:37:51,169 --> 00:37:54,571 Eric: There was an ad hoc force of cruisers and destroyers 441 00:37:54,606 --> 00:37:56,206 From four different countries, 442 00:37:56,241 --> 00:37:59,609 Australia, britain, the united states and the netherlands. 443 00:37:59,645 --> 00:38:03,713 So you have this almost rag, tag and bobtail force of ships 444 00:38:03,749 --> 00:38:07,500 Against the very highly trained and motivated japanese navy. 445 00:38:12,074 --> 00:38:15,342 Narrator: The two fleets meet in the battle of the java sea, 446 00:38:15,377 --> 00:38:18,845 And the allies don't stand a chance. 447 00:38:20,248 --> 00:38:22,532 They lose five vessels. 448 00:38:22,567 --> 00:38:25,902 Along with 2,300 lives. 449 00:38:30,709 --> 00:38:33,877 Eric: There was no common doctrine. 450 00:38:33,912 --> 00:38:36,313 No common signaling system. 451 00:38:36,348 --> 00:38:39,532 The whole thing degenerated into complete chaos. 452 00:38:42,137 --> 00:38:46,606 Narrator: Two allied cruisers escape, seeking refuge on the southern coast of java. 453 00:38:47,309 --> 00:38:51,745 An american heavy cruiser, uss houston, and hmas perth. 454 00:38:53,582 --> 00:38:57,300 Eric: They had been told that there were no japanese forces in the vicinity 455 00:38:57,336 --> 00:38:59,869 So therefore they could have a safe passage. 456 00:39:00,906 --> 00:39:05,041 Narrator: But 48 hours after escaping the japanese in the java sea, 457 00:39:05,077 --> 00:39:08,011 The perth disappears. 458 00:39:14,770 --> 00:39:20,573 Diver andrew fock and skipper vidar skoglie lead an expedition to unravel 459 00:39:20,609 --> 00:39:23,443 The fate of the australian warship. 460 00:39:25,614 --> 00:39:30,967 Her last known position is in the sunda strait, a narrow passage of water between the 461 00:39:31,002 --> 00:39:34,204 Islands of java and sumatra. 462 00:39:36,675 --> 00:39:40,043 Andrew surveys the area. 463 00:39:41,580 --> 00:39:45,382 Eventually, the sonar detects something promising. 464 00:39:47,169 --> 00:39:50,937 Vidar: The biggest thrill of all is to find a new wreck. 465 00:39:50,972 --> 00:39:52,806 You never know what you're gonna find down there. 466 00:39:55,777 --> 00:39:58,411 Narrator: The team dives. 467 00:40:03,001 --> 00:40:06,503 They encounter a massive wreck. 468 00:40:10,609 --> 00:40:14,110 And as the waters roll back... 469 00:40:17,349 --> 00:40:19,766 We can see for the first time 470 00:40:21,503 --> 00:40:25,305 A huge vessel lying on her port side. 471 00:40:25,907 --> 00:40:32,312 With four large gun turrets visible and several gaping holes in the hull. 472 00:40:36,067 --> 00:40:38,835 It's definitely the perth. 473 00:40:43,408 --> 00:40:47,744 The guns on one of the turrets are pointing straight down into the sand 474 00:40:47,779 --> 00:40:51,948 And the sighting ports on the two half turrets are both open. 475 00:40:53,502 --> 00:40:57,804 These guns were operational and firing to the end. 476 00:40:59,341 --> 00:41:02,942 She did not go down without a fight. 477 00:41:15,207 --> 00:41:19,108 Narrator: Andrew and vidar are investigating the wreck of hmas perth. 478 00:41:21,413 --> 00:41:26,833 The exposed starboard side of the perth hull shows several gaping holes, 479 00:41:26,868 --> 00:41:30,904 And underneath they find something else. 480 00:41:32,007 --> 00:41:36,643 Vidar: It had some very serious torpedo damage right behind the bow. 481 00:41:37,078 --> 00:41:40,547 We could actually swim through the hole from one side to the other. 482 00:41:44,069 --> 00:41:47,103 Narrator: Using the data, we can look beneath the wreck, 483 00:41:47,138 --> 00:41:51,407 To reveal something impossible to see from diving alone. 484 00:41:52,177 --> 00:41:57,514 Two bigger holes on the opposite port side. 485 00:41:58,850 --> 00:42:01,601 The perth was under attack from both directions. 486 00:42:03,605 --> 00:42:08,341 And one attacker hit the ship with something unusually powerful. 487 00:42:09,544 --> 00:42:14,180 A typical torpedo wouldn't cause such massive damage. 488 00:42:15,150 --> 00:42:19,335 Wartime records suggest the most likely cause was something that wreaked havoc 489 00:42:19,371 --> 00:42:22,038 In the java sea days before, 490 00:42:23,542 --> 00:42:26,442 A japanese wonder weapon. 491 00:42:26,478 --> 00:42:29,045 The long lance torpedo. 492 00:42:30,248 --> 00:42:33,333 Eric: The long last was by far the most effective torpedo in the world, 493 00:42:33,368 --> 00:42:37,570 And the western navies had virtually no idea of its existence. 494 00:42:38,807 --> 00:42:42,575 Narrator: Reaching faster speeds than anything else afloat at the time, 495 00:42:42,611 --> 00:42:46,579 The long lance has a huge warhead, packing around twice the payload 496 00:42:46,615 --> 00:42:49,332 Of an average torpedo. 497 00:42:49,367 --> 00:42:53,102 It has an astonishing range of 23 miles. 498 00:42:53,204 --> 00:42:57,073 Inside, it uses a revolutionary system of propulsion 499 00:42:57,108 --> 00:42:59,909 Which leaves no trail of bubbles. 500 00:43:00,912 --> 00:43:04,864 Osamu: The standard surface torpedo ran on compressed air, 501 00:43:04,883 --> 00:43:07,467 Which means that you get bubbles. 502 00:43:07,869 --> 00:43:11,237 It leaves a wake in the water which you can see from quite a distance. 503 00:43:11,273 --> 00:43:13,439 You can see it coming. 504 00:43:13,475 --> 00:43:17,243 If you can't see the torpedo coming, how do you avoid it? 505 00:43:17,279 --> 00:43:19,045 Well the answer it you don't. 506 00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:21,080 You can't. 507 00:43:22,968 --> 00:43:27,904 Narrator: Its ability to target ships at distances unheard of means the japanese 508 00:43:27,939 --> 00:43:32,575 Can attack the allies while keeping their own ships out of range. 509 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:39,115 Tragically for the perth, she escapes one japanese fleet, 510 00:43:39,150 --> 00:43:43,369 Then sails unwittingly into the path of a second. 511 00:43:44,606 --> 00:43:46,472 Eric: What they didn't realize was that they were 512 00:43:46,508 --> 00:43:50,243 Running into a major japanese invasion force. 513 00:43:51,046 --> 00:43:55,448 Narrator: It's now possible to understand the final hours of hmas perth. 514 00:43:57,502 --> 00:44:01,404 In the java sea, the allies take on the japanese. 515 00:44:02,073 --> 00:44:05,975 Over the course of the battle, they are hit hard. 516 00:44:08,580 --> 00:44:11,214 The perth escapes. 517 00:44:12,450 --> 00:44:16,836 Told that the sunda strait is safe, the captain heads for this narrow stretch of water 518 00:44:16,871 --> 00:44:19,572 Off the java coast. 519 00:44:19,607 --> 00:44:22,975 But she's spotted by a japanese destroyer. 520 00:44:24,846 --> 00:44:29,732 Minutes later, three entire destroyer divisions close in. 521 00:44:33,138 --> 00:44:36,606 Salvos of torpedoes come from all sides. 522 00:44:41,079 --> 00:44:44,113 The japanese go in for the kill. 523 00:44:44,149 --> 00:44:47,967 Eric: Now they could concentrate a superior force of long lance fitted 524 00:44:48,002 --> 00:44:51,437 Destroyers against the allied ships. 525 00:44:56,077 --> 00:45:00,313 Narrator: Two long lance torpedoes likely hit the port side, 526 00:45:00,348 --> 00:45:02,799 Causing a massive explosion. 527 00:45:05,103 --> 00:45:08,604 Eric: It was very difficult to counter a long lance because you couldn't see it coming. 528 00:45:09,074 --> 00:45:12,842 Narrator: The perth goes down just eight minutes later, 529 00:45:14,279 --> 00:45:17,647 Along with 375 sailors. 530 00:45:19,467 --> 00:45:23,403 Another emphatic victory for the japanese navy. 531 00:45:25,273 --> 00:45:30,476 The following day, japanese landing fleets begin their invasion of java island. 532 00:45:31,913 --> 00:45:35,381 Just one day after originally planned. 533 00:45:35,417 --> 00:45:38,835 Eric: With the delay of the invasion of java by a mere 24 hours, 534 00:45:38,870 --> 00:45:40,737 And the heavy losses suffered, 535 00:45:40,772 --> 00:45:44,140 This must go down as one of the greatest disasters in naval history. 536 00:45:46,177 --> 00:45:50,947 Narrator: Thousands of allied lives were lost across the region in just three days. 537 00:45:52,117 --> 00:45:55,935 But today, surveys reveal that little remains of the perth, 538 00:45:55,970 --> 00:45:59,338 Or many other ships sunk by the japanese. 539 00:45:59,374 --> 00:46:03,509 These and other vessels face another more recent enemy... 540 00:46:03,545 --> 00:46:09,582 Salvagers, with the wrecks being illegally ripped apart for their metal. 541 00:46:10,935 --> 00:46:14,504 Vidar: The grab itself would go down on top of the wreck and it would stab into it, 542 00:46:14,539 --> 00:46:19,909 That would close up and then just tear, tear chunks of metal off. 543 00:46:19,944 --> 00:46:23,045 So piece by piece, they would rip it up. 544 00:46:23,081 --> 00:46:25,148 Andrew: There's just no wreck at all. 545 00:46:25,183 --> 00:46:28,100 As if it's just been lifted. 546 00:46:28,803 --> 00:46:33,773 Narrator: What remains of these wrecks is a continuing reminder of the first shocking 547 00:46:33,808 --> 00:46:37,343 Months of the pacific war. 548 00:46:38,112 --> 00:46:42,482 And the price of allied overconfidence. 549 00:46:44,769 --> 00:46:48,571 Eric: There was a tendency at this time to underestimate the japanese. 550 00:46:48,606 --> 00:46:53,075 Osamu: The japanese actively encouraged that kind of misperception on the part of 551 00:46:53,111 --> 00:46:58,881 The western countries because they didn't want them to know how advanced they really were. 552 00:46:59,834 --> 00:47:02,535 Narrator: Less than three months after pearl harbor, 553 00:47:02,570 --> 00:47:05,905 The empire of japan is at the apex of its power. 554 00:47:06,674 --> 00:47:12,945 With superior technology and strategy, it now controls the entire region and its oil. 555 00:47:12,981 --> 00:47:16,148 It will take the allies three deadly years to 556 00:47:16,183 --> 00:47:19,101 Defeat an enemy they so shockingly underestimated. 557 00:47:19,137 --> 00:47:20,336 Captioned by cotter captioning services.