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| IJA Cargo 5,901 Tons   NYK Line prewar  USAAF October 1943 |
Ship History Built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding as Yard No. 409 in Kobe. On October 15, 1917 laid down as Daifuku Maru No. 22 (Taifuku). While still on the stocks, sold to Nippon Yusen Kaisha K. K. (NYK Line) and renamed Nagato Maru. Launched on May 27, 1918 and completed on June 27, 1918. During 1918 until 1941, Nagato Maru operated on NYK routes worldwide as a cargo vessel. During November 1920, departed Singapore for Rotterdam then via Colombo, Suez and Port Said, London, London before arriving at Hamburg. On October 18, 1941 requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as No. 984 for use as a cargo vessel. On December 17, 1941 departs Koniya, Amami Oshima, Ryukuyus as part of Operation M (M Sakusen) and participates in the Japanese landing at Lamon Bay in southern Luzon on December 24, 1941. On November 7, 1942 departs Manila Bay with two other ships. Aboard Nagato Maru were 1,500 soldiers plus 1,600 American Prisoners Of War (POW), with roughly 550 POWs in the cargo holds and was considered a "hell ship". During the trip, 17 prisoners die en route before arriving at Takao Harbor on November 11, 1942. On November 14, 1942 arrives Mako, Pescadores and departs on November 18, 1942 and the next day arrives at Kirun, Formosa and departs on November 20, 1942. En route, three more prisoners died. On November 24, 1942 arrives Moji. It is believed as many as 150 sick and dying prisoners were abandoned on the dock at Moji after arrival. The remaining prisoners are disembarked for Osaka POW camp near Osaka. On January 14, 1943 departs Saeki as part of the "Hinoe No. 3 Go" convoy also consisting of Bengal Maru, England Maru, Dainichi Maru, Ryuyo Maru, Shonan Maru, Tofuku Maru and Zuisho Maru escorted by torpedo boat Hato. Also escorting are minelayer Yurijima and subchaser CH-37 until departing on January 15, 1943. On May 12, 1943 departs Ujina loaded with the Japanese Army 54th Division, 154th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion plus 1 platoon of regimental gun company, rapid fire gun company (less one platoon) and part of a signal unit and arrives at Singapore on June 9, 1943. Afterwards, departs for Palau. On August 28, 1943 at Palau, Nagato Maru is is loaded with troops and supplies including 100 soldiers, farmers, 8,000 drums aviation gasoline, 10 vehicles, 2,000 cases general cargo and 101,000 bags rice and departs as part of "Wewak No. 7" convoy bound for Wewak. The convoy also includes transports Aden Maru, Hankow Maru, Shinyu Maru escorted by subschasers CH-26 and CH-34. Sinking History On September 2, 1943 at 12:45am the convoy anchors inside Wewak Harbor and Boram Bay off Wewak. Nagato Maru anchored in Boram Bay east of Cape Boram. While anchored, a barrage balloon was tethered above the vessel to protect it from low level attack. That morning, B-25D Mitchell from 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) made a low level attack escorted by P-38 Lightnings from 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS). The 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS) approached inland then dropped to minimum altitude over Boram Airfield and was targeted by anti-aircraft fire and the Japanese vessels each had a barrage balloon roughly 10' in diameter at a height of 400' above each ship. Already airborne were thirty-six Japanese fighters misidentified as "Zeros" including Ki-43 Oscars from 13th Sentai, 24th Sentai, 59th Sentai and Ki-61 Tonys from 68th Sentai took off to intercept the American formation. The Nagato Maru, the largest vessel in the convoy was spotted by the B-25 Mitchells from 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS) and identified as a "Fox Able" (Japanese merchant vessel 5,500-7,500 tons with 3 masts or more). Eight Zekes [sic Oscars] and Tonys attacked the first flight of B-25Ds led by Captain Garrett Middlebrook with his wingman 1st Lt. Donald Latham while they bombed and strafed a Fox Able anchored east of Cape Boram in Boram Bay and claimed a single a near miss with a 1,000 pound bomb and claimed a Zeke [sic, Oscar] shot down. The second flight led by B-25D "Tokyo Sleeper" 41-12905 piloted by 1st Lt. Roy Gover with his wingman attacked the same Fox Able (likely Nagato Maru) and claimed two 1,000 pound bomb hits that left the vessel burning and sinking. During the B-25 low level attacks, this vessel was set on fire and sank at roughly Lat 3° 33' S Long 143° 8' E. A total of three soldiers and two crew were killed in the attack and sinking. Shipwreck This vessel was submerged in relatively shallow water and visible in aerial photographs. References Combined Fleet - NAGATO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement Richard A. Beam, United States Navy, 1940-46 Chapter 13: POW - Hell Ship Nagato Maru Tuluvu's Air War, Chapter 5 by Richard Dunn Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 206-207 (September 2, 1943) Contribute
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