The Kiyozumi Maru was built in 1934 by the Kawasaki Dockyard as a freighter with luxurious passenger accommodations. The Japanese Navy took control in November 1941 converting the Kiyozumi Maru to an armed merchant raider. Six inch guns, cannibalized from old cruisers, two twin torpedo launchers and various anti-aircraft machine guns were added. Her success as a raider was uneventful, so in October of 1943 she was reclassified as a transport. Kiyozumi Maru’s most noteworthy mission was as a troop carrier for invasion forces during the Battle of Midway.
During the war she was repeatedly damaged by aircraft bombs and left with her escort from Rabaul to Truk for hopeful repair when struck by three torpedoes from two American submarine in 1943. She was towed to Truk and was undergoing repairs at time of the “Hailstone” attack. Although having extensive damage from the submarine attack, it was aerial bombs in her mid-ship superstructure and abeam Hold #2 that finally took her down to lay on portside at 100 fsw.
Her huge engine is easily viewed through bomb hole atop the house, but divers are advised not to swim under an engine weighing at least 200 tons as it will definitely come down off its most irregular prch one day in the future. Most armaments were removed after arrival at Truk for use by others. The aft torpedo man’s hut is still in view along with the launchers. Remains of a bicycle is viewed in hold below.
- Tonnage: 6,983 ts
- Length: 137.16 m ( 450 ft)
- Breadth: 18.59 m( 61 ft)
- Depth: 12.19 m ( 40 ft)
- Draught: 8.30 m( 27 ft)
- Engine: 1 x Sulzer Diesel
- Horsepower: 8,375 hp
- Speed: 18.73 knots maximum;15.00 knots service
- Launching: 30 June 1934
- Service: 05 October 1934
- Builder:Kawasaki Dockyard
- Owner: N/A
- Service: 05 October 1934
- Builder:Kawasaki Dockyard
- Owner: N/A
