Gosei Maru

The Gosei Maru was built in 1937, by the Tsuromi Iron Works Dockyard as a medium coastal freighter for the Koun Kisen Line. Her lines are unconventional, but were adopted as the Standard D Freighter, built in quantity during the war. The Japanese Navy took control and utilized her as a supply ship for Sixth…

Hanakawa Maru

The Hanakawa Maru was built in 1943 by the Kawasaki Dockyard as special transport for the Japanese Imperial Navy, similar in construction to Nippo and Momokawa. This Standard B freighter served from 25 October 1943 until being sunk on the second day of the “Hailstone” raids, while over replenishing the garrison at distant Tol Island…

Heian Maru

Heian Maru

The Heian Maru was built in 1930, by Osaka Iron Works for the Nihon Yusen Kaisha Line (NYK) as one of three identical large passenger cargo liners. Her maiden voyage was from Hong Kong to Seattle. While on a routine voyage in August 1941, she was abruptly recalled to Japan, where Japan’s Navy took her…

Hokuyo Maru

The Hokuyo Maru was built in 1937, by the Uraga Dockyard Senryu as a medium coastal freighter for the Kita Nikon Kisen Line. She was designed to operate between North Korea, Hokkaido and other Japanese islands and as a result had a very strong bow to penetrate ice flows. During the “Hailstone” attack, Hokuyo Maru…

I-169 Shinohara Submarine

The I-169 Shinohara Submarine was a KD 6 A (I-168) Class submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy and launched 15 FEB 1934. She was built by Mitsubishi of Kobe and was renamed for her last Commanding Officer LCDR Shinohara, the only survivor of her ill fated crew. During the war the I-169 Shinohara Submarine…

Kansho Maru

The Kansho Maru was built in 1938 by the Mitsui Dockyard Company as a passenger/cargo carrier for the Mitsui and Kawasaki Lines. The Japanese Navy took control of her when the war began and she was put to work shuttling supplies between Japan and the Marshall Islands. Eventually she was retrofitted with a deck gun…

Momokawa Maru

The Momokawa Maru was built in 1940, as a timber transport, and near twin to Nippo Maru. They are both remarkable in having steel bridge houses instead of normal wood or aluminum to avoid compass deviations. Her peacetime service consisted of carrying lumber from Siberia to Japan. The Japanese Navy took control of her in…

Betty Bomber

Betty Bomber Mitsubishi G4M

Betty was the Allied code name for the Mitsubishi G4M bomber. This aircraft designed in 1939 for the Imperial Japanese Navy, was quite successful during early part of the war, due long range and good carrying capacity. Unprotected fuel tanks proved their greatest undoing, even leading to death of famous Admiral Yamamoto ambushed while aboard…

Eissen 761

IJN Eissen 761 was a 110 ft steam powered harbor tug that also survived the war, to be left anchored in a small cove at west side of Dublon Island. She now lies upright in just 25 ft of murky water, but has several interesting artifacts to view and photograph. Her tiny bridge house contains…

Nagano Maru

The Nagano Maru was built in 1917 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line as a freighter. In the fall of 1937 she was drafted by the Imperial Japanese Army to carry troops to China for the war in Manchuria. She was returned to civilian service until 1941 when the Imperial…