IJN
Freighter
Tons
2,000
Dementions
220'
Ship History
Small steam ship, precise history unknown as the ship's bell has never been found to identify the ship.
Wartime History
Japanese freighter sunk near Vunaminave on the northern shore of Korere Bay near Tavui Point on the north coast of the Gazelle Peninsula. Sunk by a hit to the starbord side.
Shipwreck
Reportedly, the bow might have been above water at one time, but dissapeared after an earthquake. Nicknamed "George's Wreck" after the diver who discovered her, George Tyres in the late 1960s.
Her bow lies in about 40ft of water, and her hull follows the contours of the reef down to the stern in 200'. The wreck is intact, aside from a large hole in the starbord side. A forecastle deck gun remains with an ammunition locker nearby.
The forward hold reportedly contained jungle boots, lunch boxes and toothpaste tubes. The bridge contains the telegraph, compass and Scottish built 'Barr and Strouds' range finder (salvaged), and two machine guns. Below the bridge was a cabin with a safe, salvaged by Tyres and Herscheid, and opened with explosives. Inside were only papers. The galley contained crockery. The rear hold contained beer and saki bottles and small sea mines.
References
The Last New Guinea Salvage Pirate pages 4-5, 18-19.
40-200'
