A scientist plans to dive on the sunken Australian submarine AE2 in a bid to prove a torpedo believed to be still in its tube would not be a danger to salvage experts if the sub was raised.
Jon Thomson's grandfather, Signalman Albert Thomson, was one of the crew who all escaped safely when the submarine was scuttled by its captain, Lieutenant Commander Henry Stoker, near Gallipoli in 1915.
Defence Minister and Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon has been told that an unexploded torpedo still in the submarine could endanger lives if the boat was brought to the surface.
And East Maitland woman Ruby Edwards, daughter of Signalman Albert Thomson, agreed the submarine should be left undisturbed because of the live torpedo.
"Nobody died when my father's submarine went down,'' Mrs Edwards said.
"It would be a tragedy now if people were killed by a live torpedo while trying to bring my dad's submarine up."
But Jon Thomson, who dived on the AE2 himself after it was found, said a new mission was needed to conclusively establish that the torpedo reputed to be aboard the submarine was live and dangerous.
"There is no evidence that there is actually a live torpedo in the submarine's stern tube,'' Mr Thomson said.
"It appears there is the potential for one to be aboard, but there is mounting evidence that the submarine may have fired all its torpedoes before it sank,'' he said.
"Captain Stoker never ever said there was a torpedo left and he was a man who was very accurate in everything he said and did.''
Mr Thomson said reports about a live torpedo might be influencing the thinking of so-called naval experts and reports that had reached Mr Fitzgibbon.
"I believe these reports have been driven by a committee of retired commanders who reached this conclusion without positive evidence.
"That is why a new dive on the submarine is needed, and I definitely intend to be there.
"More research also needs to be done to specifically examine whether a live torpedo is still in the submarine's tube and to find out its condition."
Mr Thomson called for everyone involved in the investigation to keep an open mind.
"A decision cannot be made until all the facts are known and they are not yet known,'' he said.
He also said the cost of raising the submarine, put by some sources at about $100 million, was far too high.
"We have a rough estimate of about $23 million. It is definitely not $100 million,'' Mr Thomson said.