Tests have failed to reveal the identity of the unknown sailor from HMAS Sydney, one of 645 crew who perished when the Australian warship went down during World War II.
DNA tests on samples taken from a number of relatives of Sydney's crew failed to find a match, defence said.
"DNA testing ... has excluded 15 crew members short-listed following a thorough and methodical forensic and historical investigation in an attempt to identify the remains," defence said in a statement.
HMAS Sydney was lost with all hands after a battle with the German raider Kormoran off the West Australian coast on November 19, 1941.
The body of the unknown sailor drifted to Christmas Island aboard a life raft and was interred on the island. The remains were relocated and exhumed in 2006.
The remains were reburied with full military honours at Geraldton Cemetery last month as the only sailor from the doomed ship to find a grave ashore.
Defence said the case had not been closed.
Relatives of HMAS Sydney crew wishing to be considered for DNA testing have been urged to write to the Christmas Island Investigation Team.
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