Azumasan Maru (1933)

Azumasan Maru was a 7,623-gross register ton freighter that was built by Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama for Mitsui Bussan Kaisha launched in 1933.[2] She was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and fitted out as a troop transport.

History
Name: Azumasan Maru
Owner:
Builder: Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama
Fate: Sunk by Allied aircraft 1942
Status: Shipwreck
General characteristics
Displacement: 7,623 GRT
Length: 454 feet (138 m)[1]
Beam: 60 feet (18 m)
Draught: 37 feet (11 m)

She was part of the invasion fleet that landed troops during the invasion of Tulagi on 3 May 1942. She was anchored at Purvis Bay, Florida Island when the Tulagi invasion fleet was attacked by aircraft of the United States Navy's aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, with Azumasan Maru being damaged in the attack.[3]

Azumasan Maru left Rabaul in a convoy to resupply Guadalcanal. Disembarkation began near Bunani Point on 15 October. The ships of the convoy came under bombardment from SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Henderson Field. The ship was beached to prevent sinking after suffering severe damage. On 16 October, B-17s further damaged the ship, with the result that at night she slipped off the reef and sank to a depth of 39 metres (128 ft) at the bow and over 80 metres (260 ft) at the stern,[4] at coordinates 9-25S, 159-55E.

See also
  • Foreign commerce and shipping of Empire of Japan

References
  1. "Lloyd's Register 1941–42" (PDF). plimsollshipdata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  2. "Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Mitsui Steamship Co. Ltd". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  3. "Minelayer Okinoshima". The Combined Fleet. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  4. "Azumsasan Maru". Tulagi Dive. Retrieved 15 June 2018.

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