Dive Diary: Gosei Maru

The Gosei Maru was built in 1937 for the Koun Kisen Y.Y. as a coastal freighter. To maximize hold-carrying capacity she had no amenities but was a work ship. She transported coal, Zero Plane parts, torpedoes and other things between Kure, Yokosuka, Rabaul, other destinations and Truk. She arrived in Truk on the 12th of…

Dive Diary: Emily Flyboat

Ohhh there is a great story here. I have to go a little further to get it all in. There were some ships in Rabaul that needed repairing and being constantly attacked the officers asked to take them to Truk Lagoon for that purpose. One of the admirals (Vice admiral) made his way down there…

Dive Diary: Seiko Maru

The Seiko Maru was built in 1940 for the Dairen Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha. She initially had civilian cargo duties but after being requisitioned she served as a war material transporter between the Empire and the Inner South Seas. She was attacked on July 31st 1943 and hit by the U.S. Submarine Pogy and later the…

Dive Diary: Yamagiri Maru

The Yamagiri Maru was built in 1938 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a Passenger-Cargo freighter for the Yamashita Kisen (Steamship) Company. The submarine U.S.S. Drum attacked and heavily damaged her on August 28th 1943. She was taken back to Rabaul but daily air strikes made repair there impossible and she was moved to Truk Lagoon…

Dive Diary: Hoyo Maru

She was built in 1936 as a commercial oiler for the Nippon tanker shipping company. She was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy in 1941 and served as a tanker in the 4th Fleet. She was heavily damaged by the USS Haddock (submarine) on November 6th 1943. Fires started aboard and 2 crew members died of…

Dive Diary: Sankisan Maru

The Sankisan Maru has some mystery to her. There are stories, that she was named Red Hook once, being built in Tacoma, Washington, then captured and renamed. However, some of the things like the tonnage and other things don’t add up. So there is discussion if this story is true. Most likely not. Undoubtfully however…

Dive Diary: Nippo Maru

The Nippo Maru was built in 1936 for the Okazaki Honten Steamship Co. Ltd. based in Kobe. Two of her six sister ships were also sunk in the Operation Hailstone attack, the Momokawa Maru and the Kikukawa Maru. She initially carried supplies (mostly food) from Taiwan to Japan and back. She was requisitioned in August…

Dive Diary: Amagisan Maru

The Amagisan Maru was a passenger cargo freighter built in 1933 by Mitsui Bussan Kaisha. She was hit several times before she was sunk in Truk. The first time was a torpedo hit (14 Feb 1942) by a submarine just of Davao, Philippines. The second time was an air raid in Balikpapan, Indonesia (17 Aug…

Dive Diary: Kansho Maru

What a story behind this wreck. So, she got damaged pretty bad on Dec 4th 1943 at Kawajalein Atoll. She had to be towed back to Chuuk by the Momokawa Maru and managed to arrive 4 days before the Hailstone attack. The engine was not working so there was not a lot of electricity which…

Why dive with the SS Thorfinn?

You are looking for good reasons to dive Truk Lagoon with the SS Thorfinn, keep on reading! Your advantages of living aboard this converted whaler in a nutshell: Located in the very heart of Truk Lagoon Less weather exposed The ship has a huge tonnage and is very stable Less likely to get seasick Your…