Azumasan Maru (1933)
Encyclopedia
The Azumasan Maru was a 7,623 gross ton freighter that was built by Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama for Mitsui Bussan Kaisha launched in 1933. She was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy
and fitted out as a troop transport.
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 , with the Azumasan Maru being damaged in the attack.
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 the 16 October, B-17's further damaged the ship, with the result that at night she slipped off the reef and sank to a depth of 100–200 feet at coordinates 9-25S, 159-55E.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
and fitted out as a troop transport.
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
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
invasion fleet was attacked by aircraft of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's aircraft carrier , with the Azumasan Maru being damaged in the attack.
Azumasan Maru left Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
in a convoy to resupply Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
. Disembarkation began near Bunani Point on 15 October. The ships of the convoy came under bombardment from SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Henderson Field
Henderson Field
Henderson Field is the name of several airports:* Henderson Field on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands, renamed to Honiara International Airport in 2003....
. The ship was beached to prevent sinking after suffering severe damage. On the 16 October, B-17's further damaged the ship, with the result that at night she slipped off the reef and sank to a depth of 100–200 feet at coordinates 9-25S, 159-55E.