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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Dive Diary: Unkai Maru

The Unkai Maru was originally a British steam ship with the name of S/S Venus built in 1903. She was bought by the Japanese in 1911 by Nakamura-Gumi Ltd. Being requisitioned by the Japanese Navy on January 5th 1944 she arrived in Truk on the 30th of January. She was sitting there nearly empty waiting…

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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…

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