| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Azumasan Maru |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama |
| Fate | Sunk by Allied aircraft 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 7,623 GRT |
| Length | 454 feet (138 m)[1] |
| Beam | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Draught | 37 feet (11 m) |
Azumasan Maru was a 7,623-gross register ton freighter that was built by Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama for Mitsui Bussan Kaisha launched in 1933.[2] She was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and fitted out as a troop transport.
She was part of the invasion fleet that landed troops during the invasion of Tulagi on 3 May 1942. She was anchored at Purvis Bay, Florida Island when the Tulagi invasion fleet was attacked by aircraft of the United States Navy's aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, with Azumasan Maru being damaged in the attack.[3]
Azumasan Maru left Rabaul in a convoy to resupply Guadalcanal. Disembarkation began near Bunani Point [4] on 15 October. The ships of the convoy came under bombardment from SBD Dauntless dive bombers and even a torpedo attack by a PBY Catalina Flying Boat[5] from Henderson Field. The ship was beached to prevent sinking after suffering severe damage. On 16 October, B-17s further damaged the ship, with the result that at night she slipped off the reef and sank upright to a depth of 39 metres (128 ft) on the deck at the bow and is at almost 90 metres (300 ft) at the shattered stern,[6] at approximate coordinates 9.21.1S, 159.50.7E.
See also
References
- ↑ "Lloyd's Register 1941–42" (PDF). plimsollshipdata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ↑ "Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Mitsui Steamship Co. Ltd". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ↑ "Minelayer Okinoshima". The Combined Fleet. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ↑ "Pacific Wrecks - Azumasan Maru (Deep Ruinin Wreck)".
- ↑ "Jack Cram's PBY story".
- ↑ "Azumsasan Maru". Tulagi Dive. Retrieved 15 June 2018.