Ship History
Built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Yokahama in 1937.

Sinking History
Part of a convoy of eleven transports (Arizona Maru, Kumagawa Maru, Sado Maru, Nagara Maru, Nako Maru, Canberra Maru, Brisbane Maru, Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Yamaura Maru, and Yamatsuki Maru) escorted by twelve destroyers.

Departed Shortland to reinforce Guadalcanal down "The Slot". Scheduled to arrive during the night of November 13, 1942, they were recalled back to Shortland, due to the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13.

The convoy again departed Shortland during the afternoon of November 13. Spotted by the Americans, air attacks hit the convoy on the morning of November 14, and overwhelmed the escorting Japanese aircraft and sank six transports and forced one to turn back damage, and later sank.

The remaining four transports and four destroyers continued towards Guadalcanal. After nightfall, they stopped to the west of Guadalcanal, awaiting the conclusion of the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal during the night of November 14-15, 1942.

On November 15 at 0400, the remaining four transports (Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Yamaura Maru, and Yamazuki Maru) beached themselves on Guadalcanal. Yamazuki Maru beached near Tassafaronga Point.

Beginning at 0555, American aircraft from Henderson Field and elsewhere, and field artillery. Later, destroyer USS Meade approached and opened fire for an hour with 5" shells, leaving them "blazing with many internal explosions."

These attacks set the transports afire and destroyed most equipment not unloaded before dawn. Approximately 2,000 troops with 260 cases of ammunition and 1,500 bags of rice made ashore. Most of their ammunition and food supplies were lost.

Shipwreck
The wreck remained above water. Heavily photographed after the conclusion of the Guadalcanal campaign.

In the middle of 1943, a Type A Midget Submarine salvaged by the US Navy was placed near Yamazuki Maru.

On July 30, 1944 the wreck was used as a target for tests of the TDR Drone by STAG-1 based at North Field on Banika as part of the top secret project testing of America's first guided missile.

Post war, this wreck was scrapped in the late 1950s. Today, virtually nothing remains of this wreck above sea level.

Ewan Stevenson adds:
"I know very little about Yamazuki Maru postwar. Late 1950's is about right for her scrapping. I have dived on her remains and surveyed them. I have searched for years for info and found practically nothing."

References
The Siege of Rabaul by Henry Sakaida (TDR Drome test)

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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