Editing HMAS AE2 (section)

==Search and discovery==
[[File:AE2 Tower Starboard.jpg|thumb|upright|A replica of ''AE2''{{'}}s conning tower at the [[Western Australian Maritime Museum]]]]
Since 1995, Selçuk Kolay, director of the [[Rahmi M. Koç Museum]] in [[Istanbul]], had searched for the remains of ''AE2''.<ref name=HeritageNSW>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/heritagensw/dec98/10_art.htm |title=The discovery of the WW1 Australian submarine |publisher=Heritage Council of NSW |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830050248/http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/heritagensw/dec98/10_art.htm |archive-date=30 August 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 1996, he discovered what he believed to be the wreck lying in {{convert|86|m|ft}} of water.<ref name=RAN/> With the assistance of an Australian diving team, it was determined in October 1997 that the wreck was that of an old steamer.<ref name=RAN/> After a further thorough side-scan sonar and magnetometric survey of the reported scuttling site of the ''AE2'', Kolay located the submarine in June 1998, lying in {{convert|72|m|ft}} of water.<ref name=RAN/> The wreck was first dived in July, while subsequent dives by an Australian team in October were able to confirm the wreck as being ''AE2''.<ref name=RAN/> The Australian government makes no claim to the shipwreck, and the submarine is not a [[war grave]].<ref name=Brenchley07/><ref name=Brenchley08>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/gallipoli-sub-to-be-left-on-sea-floor/2008/05/05/1209839554214.html |title=Gallipoli sub to be left on sea floor |last=Brenchley |first=Fred |date=6 May 2008 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref>

On 9 September 2007, Australian and Turkish naval authorities began an undersea investigation to determine if ''AE2'' could be raised and restored.<ref name=Restore>{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/gallipolis-valiant-sub-poised-to-surface-from-the-depths-ofhistory/2007/09/09/1189276544462.html |title=Gallipoli's valiant sub poised to surface from the depths of history |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |first=Fred |last=Brenchley |date=10 September 2007 |access-date=9 December 2008}}</ref> Such a plan would see the submarine transferred to a viewing tank at [[Çanakkale]]. As part of the inspection, a drop camera was inserted through the submarine's open hatch and into the control room.<ref name=Brenchley07>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/weight-of-water-and-concern-over-gallipoli-reminder/2007/09/14/1189276983614.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |title=Weight of water and concern over Gallipoli reminder |last=Brenchley |first=Fred |date=15 September 2007 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref> The survey team discovered that the wreck of ''AE2'' had suffered further damage since the 1998 inspection dives. The bow portion of the external hull casing had been destroyed and the rear of the [[conning tower]] now showed significant damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ae2.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AssmtPhaseWayAheadReport.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126155309/http://ae2.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AssmtPhaseWayAheadReport.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2014|title=Report to the Australian Government on the Assessment Phase HMAS AE2|last=Smith|first=Tim|date=10 June 2008|publisher=AE2 Commemorative Foundation|pages=15–16|access-date=20 October 2013}}</ref> Following an April 2008 workshop by the [[Turkish Institute of Nautical Archaeology]] and the [[Submarine Institute of Australia]], the recommendation was made against raising the wreck.<ref name=Brenchley08/><ref name=AAPsubleft>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/national/gallipoli-sub-to-be-left-on-sea-floor-20080428-290q.html |title=Gallipoli sub to be left on sea floor |last=Australian Associated Press |date=28 April 2008 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> Moving the submarine to a viewing tank, or alternately relocating the wreck to shallower water, were advised against because of the AU$80–100 million cost of such projects.<ref name=Brenchley08/> Moving ''AE2'' would also pose high risk to both the submarine and any vessels involved in the relocation; as well as potentially damaging the wreck, there is still an unexploded torpedo aboard.<ref name=Brenchley08/> Instead, the workshop advised that the submarine be preserved through the use of [[sacrificial anode]]s to reduce corrosion, along with buoys and a surveillance system to mark the wreck and detect unauthorised access and potential damage.<ref name=AAPsubleft/>

In March 2010, following an overhaul of the RAN [[battle honour]]s system, ''AE2'' was retroactively awarded the honours "Rabaul 1914" and "Dardanelles 1915".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref>

An ROV exploration of the wreck by the [[Defence Science and Technology Organisation]] took place in June 2014. Several significant discoveries were made, including confirmation of the existence of a portable wireless telegraph pole and antenna wire. During the exploration, [[sacrificial anode]]s were fitted to the wreck, and the location was marked with a buoy to minimize damage by passing ships.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jul2014/Fleet/1179/First-World-War-wreck-AE2-recorded-and-preserved-in-the-Sea-of-Marmara.htm |title=First World War wreck AE2 recorded and preserved in the Sea of Marmara |last=Rago |first=Lauren |date=3 July 2014 |work=Navy Daily |access-date=24 Nov 2015 |archive-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125064416/http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jul2014/Fleet/1179/First-World-War-wreck-AE2-recorded-and-preserved-in-the-Sea-of-Marmara.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>