IJN
Transport
Built 1933

Demensions
143 / ? / ?

Tons
7,000

November 15, 1942

1944

1944 via Michael Peters

Jeff Johnson 1998

Sinking History
This transport attempted to resupply Japanese forces on Guadalcanal by beaching near the Bonegi River on November 15, 1942.

Immediatly spotted, as it landed nearest to the American positions at Lunga Point (about 10 miles away). Coastal artillery shelled and got hits on these this ships before aircraft and the USS Meade sunk it. Also sunk was the Hirokawa Maru nearby. Surviors made it ashore to join the Army there, and most or all of them later perished in the later battles on Guadalcanal.

Post War Scrapping
There is little visible above the waterline now after scrap merchants and storms have worked the wreck for 60 years, and an earthquake in 1977 that collapsed the entire bridge area.

Wreckage Today
This ship is a favorite with divers because of the easy accessibility from Honiara. It lies with her bow exposed. Her stern is in around 27m. She was built in 1933, displaced nearly 7,000 tons and was 143m long.

Jeff Johnson Reports:
"About a 1/4 mile from Bonegi 1. There are still a few pieces left above water, but for the most part, it too has deteriorated. You can still get into two or three of the cargo holds.

Contribute Information

20m from shore
27m Stern

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