Lisbon Maru
Encyclopedia
Lisbon Maru was a Japan
ese freighter
which was used as a troopship
and prisoner-of-war transport between China
and Japan.
When she was sunk by USS Grouper
(SS-214) on 1 October 1942, she was carrying, in addition to Japanese Army
personnel, almost 2,000 British prisoners of war captured after the fall
of Hong Kong
in December 1941. Over 800 of these men died either directly as a result of the sinking, or were shot or otherwise killed by the Japanese while swimming away from the wreck. The ship should have carried appropriate markings to alert Allied forces to the nature of its cargo but did not do so.
A reunion of survivors was held on board the HMS Belfast
on October 2nd 2007 to mark the 65th anniversary of the escape. Six of the former prisoners attended, alongside many bereaved families of escapees.
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
ese freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
which was used as a troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
and prisoner-of-war transport between China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan.
When she was sunk by USS Grouper
USS Grouper (SS-214)
USS Grouper , a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the grouper, a salt-water fish noted as a gamefish and for its food values....
(SS-214) on 1 October 1942, she was carrying, in addition to Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
personnel, almost 2,000 British prisoners of war captured after the fall
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in December 1941. Over 800 of these men died either directly as a result of the sinking, or were shot or otherwise killed by the Japanese while swimming away from the wreck. The ship should have carried appropriate markings to alert Allied forces to the nature of its cargo but did not do so.
A reunion of survivors was held on board the HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast (C35)
HMS Belfast is a museum ship, originally a Royal Navy light cruiser, permanently moored in London on the River Thames and operated by the Imperial War Museum....
on October 2nd 2007 to mark the 65th anniversary of the escape. Six of the former prisoners attended, alongside many bereaved families of escapees.
External links
- The fall of Hong Kong which led to transportation of prisoners on the Lisbon Maru
- The full roll of those who perished on the Lisbon Maru
- Sinking of the Lisbon Maru
- Sinking of Lisbon Maru
- Time to Unseal the Lison Maru Incident, an incomplete documentation of the rescue effort made by local Chinese fishermen