Atago Maru was built as a general cargo freighter for Nippon Yusen by Lithgows & Sons at Glasgow, Scotland with the yard number 762. The vessel was launched on 17 June 1924 and completed on 28 November later that year.[1]Atago Maru was one of the first diesel-engined ships under Japanese registry.[3] The cargo ship operated between Kobe / Yokohama and the west coast of the United States and Canada, where Atago Maru found great success on the Seattle route.[2][3]
With the outbreak of war between Japan and the Allies in 1941, the cargo ship's cross-Pacific career ended. On 3 August 1942, Atago Maru joined Convoy 425 sailing from Cap St Jacques, Vietnam bound for Mako, Pescadores. On 28 December, Atago Maru began conversion to an emergency oil tanker at Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan.[3]
The ship completed conversion and returned to service on 14 February 1943. On 15 June, Atago Maru joined Convoy 586 from Cap St Jacques and arrived at Singapore on 18 June. The ship returned to Cap St Jacques and joined Convoy 412, departing on 23 July. On 15 August, Atago Maru sailed from Moji, Japan for Takao, Formosa as part of Convoy 187 and arrived on 20 August. In December, the oil tanker headed to the Philippines, sailing from Zamboanga for Jolo and Tawi Tawi on 30 December.[3]
In 1944, Atago Maru returned to Japan. The oil tanker departed Moji in Convoy MOTA-07 on 1 March, arriving at Takao on 9 March. On 21 March, the ship sailed from Takao as part of Convoy TAMA-12 and arrived at Manila, Philippines on 24 March. On 18 June, Atago Maru joined Convoy MI-05 departing from Manila and arrived at Miri, Borneo on 23 June. Four days later the oil tanker joined Convoy MI-06 sailing for Moji, arriving on 17 July after stops at Manila and Takao. On 26 July, sailing with Convoy MI-13, Atago Maru departs Moji. After stopping at Takao, the convoy came under attack on 7 August by a US submarine, which sink one of the cargo ships, before arriving at Manila on 8 August. On 11 August, the convoy departs Manila for Miri, and is attacked the following day by US submarines, which sink two of the convoy. The convoy arrived at Miri on 18 August.[3]
Atago Maru rests upright in 14 metres (46ft) of water, about one mile (1.6km) offshore. Initially much of the superstructure and masts remained above water, but monsoon waves destroyed the superstructure and what remained went underwater as the ship settled in the mud. The ship's masts were still visible above the waterline until the 1980s.[3] The wreck is a popular dive site.[4]
Furuta, Ryoichi & Hirai, Yoshikazu (1967). A Short History of Japanese Merchant Shipping. Translated by Macfarlane, Duncan. Tokyo: Tokyo New Service. OCLC833174425.
Svrcula, Kurt (2013) [2004]. Diving in Malaysia: A Guide to the Best Dives of Sabah, Sarawak & Peninsular Malaysia (Updateded.). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. ISBN978-981-4398-32-9.
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