Location
Also known as Tambea Bay. Located on the far (western) side of Cape Esperence. This was one of the sites of the Japanese reinforcement during the campaign, and withdrawal at the end of the campaign.

Developed by Olly Torling around 1965. The resort was destroyed during the ethnic 'tensions' of the late 1990s, and left in ruins to this day. There is a wharf area for small boats that was possibly build during the wartime or pre-war. Certainly, this area was used by the Japanese. There is a small memorial near the beach area.

Ewan Stevenson adds:
"I spoke with Olly Torling on occasions and when he first arrived at Tambea there was practically nothing [from the war]. Olly knew the area exceedingly well."

Japanese Memorial
Located at Tambea Beach resort. It was not destroyed during the tensions. The plaque reads in english: "Memorial Tower - The Guadalcanal war dead person in A.D. 1942. 2nd Division Isamu Society construction in A.D. 1985". It appeared that the rusted remains of a (70mm?) mountian gun once was displayed near the memorial, but it had rusted away to almost nothing for neglect, sea salt or other damage.

A6M2 Zero
Ditched into the bay, recovered to shore in 1970s by locals

Japanese Mini-Subarine Base
The Japanese had a mini submarine collection point at this location. WWII photo shows a salvaged Japanese mini submarine salvaged next to the wreck of the Yamatsuki Maru.

Ewan Stevenson adds:
"The only 'submarine base' was the midget submarine reception center that on Kamimbo Bay (Tambea) at Cape Esperance for the Ko-hyoteki crews operating off Guadalcanal. It was not much of anything at all, and the midget sub crews were evacuated by fleet submarine.

I-1 Japanese Submarine
Sunk January 29, 1943 by HMNZS Kiwi and HMNZS Moa

I-3 Japanese Submarine
Sunk by PT Boats on December 9, 1942 three miles off Kamimbo

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Last Updated
October 15, 2009