IJN
Cargo

Dimensions
458 / 58 / 26

Tons
6,439

1943



1944

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

Wartime History
Part of an eleven ship convoy sent to reinforce Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. All eleven ships were beached or sunk by USN and USMC aircraft attacking from Henderson Field. Sunk on November 15, 1942 near Tassafaronga Point.

This shipwreck was heavily photographed by American personnel on Guadalcanal, after the island was secured, who often visited the beach area to swim.

A Type A Midget Submarine salvaged by the US Navy was placed near the wreck of the 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.

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

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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