Ruby Edwards, whose father was a radio operator on the heroic Australian submarine AE2, had hoped the submarine on which her father served as a radio operator could be brought to the surface.

But after hearing of the unexploded torpedo, and the $100 million it would cost to raise the submarine, Mrs Edwards, 88, of Lindsay Street, applauded a decision to not raise the boat from the bottom of Turkish waters.

No lives were lost when the submarine without deck guns was scuttled off Gallipoli in April 1915 after a fight with the Turkish gunboat Sultanhisar.

And Mrs Edwards still remembers her dad, Signalman Albert Thomson, after he returned home from a Turkish POW camp.

Marine archaeologists had been excitedly discussing plans before this year’s Anzac Day celebrations about raising the AE2.

But these schemes were dropped yesterday when experts recommended that the wreck should be left where it sank, in 72m of water, after becoming the first submarine to penetrate Turkish minefields.

“Nobody died when my father’s submarine went down. It would be a tragedy now if people were killed by that live torpedo while trying to bring the submarine up,’’ Mrs Edwards said.

“Much as I hoped that submarine could be saved, I would not want any lives lost during a salvage operation,’’ she said.

“And they could do a lot more in the world with the $100 million needed to bring the boat up.

“It would still be interesting if they bring up some things inside the boat, which might be displayed in a special museum.’’

Asked if something belonging to her father might still be in the submarine, Mrs Edwards said: “No, I don’t think so.

“My dad and all the others had to get out of there very quickly.

“They didn’t have time to take anything with them.’’

Defence Minister and Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said: “I am pleased the experts have decided it is best to leave the submarine where it is.

“There is a live torpedo inside the boat, with a real risk to the submarine and to people trying to raise it.

“That submarine is lying in peace and I think it is the most appropriate place for it to stay.

“I don’t think any risk can justify bringing it up now.”