Azumasan Maru (1933)

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History
NameAzumasan Maru
Owner
Builder Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama
FateSunk by Allied aircraft 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage7,623  GRT
Length454 ft (138 m) [1]
Beam60 ft (18 m)
Draught37 ft (11 m)

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

Contents

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 Tassafaronga Point [4] on 15 October. The ships of the convoy came under bombardment from Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers and even a torpedo attack by a Consolidated PBY Catalina aircraft [4] from Henderson Field. The ship was beached to prevent sinking after suffering severe damage. On 16 October, B-17 aircraft further damaged the ship, with the result that at night she slipped off the reef and sank.

Wreck

The wreck of Azumasan Maru stands upright at a depth of 39 metres (128 ft) on the deck at the bow, over 80 metres (260 ft) at the shattered stern, [5] and 62 metres (203 ft) at the bridge. [6] Kawasaki motorcycles and sidecars can be found in her holds. [5] Located at approximately 9°22′S159°51.6′E / 9.367°S 159.8600°E / -9.367; 159.8600 , near the mouth of Ruinin Creek, the wreck is known by some as "Deep Ruinin Wreck". [6] [7]

See also

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. ↑ Casse, Gilbert; Hackett, Bob; Cundall, Peter. "IJN Azumasan Maru: Tabular Record of Movement". CombinedFleet.com. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 https://www.daveswarbirds.com/cactus/jackcram.htm
  5. 1 2 "Azumsasan Maru". Tulagi Dive. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Azumasan Maru (Deep Ruinin Wreck)". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ruaniu, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved 30 November 2025.

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