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…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsThis is actually not a victim of Operation Hailstone. She was lying at anchor, somehow caught fire and then exploded on October 7th 1943. About 50 to 250 (depending who you are asking) men, most trying to get the fire under control went with her plus some tugs and landing crafts. The wreck lies in…
DetailsThis ship is a deep beautiful dive. And even after one dive, I have fallen under her spell. She is the first dive of the day since she lies quite deep. As we are traveling out to the site (8 min from the anchorage), I repeat what Captain Lance just told us about her. The…
DetailsWhat 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…
DetailsToday we dove the Heian Maru, she was built in 1930 by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and used to be a Passenger/Cargo Liner between Yokohama and Seattle. She was requisitioned by the Japanese government and assigned to the 6th Submarine fleet. Being first located in Kwajalein the 6th submarine fleet was assigned to Truk…
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