|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| IJN Auxiliary Minelayer Cargo 654 Tons 170' 6" x 28' 2" x 15' 1"  Peter Maynard 1986   D Letourneau 1999  Justin Taylan 2003 |
Ship History Built by Osaka Zosensyo K.K. (Osaka Iron Works) at Sakurajima in Osaka. Laid down as a small cargo vessel of 654 Tons. Launched March 21, 1940 as Kashi Maru 橿丸 meaning "Live Oak" in Japanese. Spelled Kasi Maru in Lloyd's Register of Ships. Her engines were oil engines 4 S.CSA 6 cylinder (18 3/4" -20 1/2") 110 NHP made by Kobe Hatudoki Seizosyo K.K. Kobe. Completed April 30, 1940 and purchased by Towa Kisen K.K. and registered in Dairen with a crew of 20. Wartime History During the Pacific War, requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as an auxiliary minelayer and small cargo ship. Possibly, the ship was armed with an anti-aircraft gun or machine guns for defense. On June 27, 1943 at noon departs Rabaul with vehicles and fuel aboard as part of a convoy with Kisaragi Maru, Kiri Maru and Nissen Maru No. 3 escorted by CH-12. On June 30, 1943 at 5:00am arrives Shortland Harbor then departs for New Georgia with trees on the deck as camouflage. Sinking History On July 2, 1943 while Kashi Maru was unloading fuel and vehicles at Bauroko Harbor at Bauroko (Bairoko) on New Georgia and was spotted by the Allies and reported as a "Jap Ak." [Japanese transport] and was reported as "heavily camouflaged". At 2:30pm, three F4U Corsairs from VMF-213 piloted by 1st Lt. Boag, 1st Lt. DeFabio and 1st Lt. Thomas took off to escort four B-25 Mitchells on a mission to locate and attack the ship. The B-25s were unable to locate the ship. The Corsairs spotted the ship noting it was was "perfectly camouflaged, apparently having trees filled over its decks and blended in perfectly with the landscape" and dove down to 50' and made a strafing run that caused fires and marked the vessel and circled for a second strafing run that left the ship on fire and smoking. Meanwhile, the four B-25s could now see the ship and made a run from the same direction as the Corsairs bombing and strafing, with one 500 pound bomb hitting the ship causing her to burn, explode and sink. The B-25s and Corsairs made another run with the bombers attacking in pairs and and strafing. Finally, the Corsairs made a fourth strafing run and the fires went out and the ship could no longer be seen as it had sunk. Shipwreck The Kashi Maru sunk upright into Bauroko Harbor at Bauroko on New Georgia at roughly Lat 8° 6′ 0″ S, Long 157° 20′ 0″ E. The kingpost and mast are above the surface and make the ship easy to locate. The shipwreck is upright at a depth of 50' / 15.24m and encrusted with coral and home to marine life. The side has a bomb hole that sank the ship. The cargo hold has fuel drums and a vehicle. On the starboard side nearest to shore, the deck crane has a car attached for unloading, proof the ship was sunk while being unloaded. A barge is sunk nearby, possibly sunk with the ship. Peter Maynard adds: "The scars of war are clearly visible on this relic. If you think this is impressive, you should see below water where the real damage is to be found in the from of a hole caused by a direct bomb hit which blew out the side of the ship. Diving in Bairoko Harbour. The murky waters of Bairoko Harbour made for interesting diving conditions. Most wreck dives in the Solomons resulted in finds of weapons and ordinance. Nearby far more impressive ordinance in the form of a large unexploded bomb lay on the harbour floor. The plentiful unexploded ordinance makes for interesting, if slightly dangerous, exploration of the surrounding rainforest." References Lloyd's of London: Lloyd's Register of Ships Kasi Maru Lloyd's Register of Ships - 1941-1942 Kasi Maru No. 37312 [PDF] Lloyd's Register of Ships - 1942-1943 Kasi Maru No. 76571 [PDF] Lloyd's Register of Ships - 1943-1944 Kasi Maru No. 27263 [PDF] Lloyd's Register of Ships - 1944-1945 Kasi Maru No. 78368 [PDF] Lloyd's Register of Ships - 1945-1946 Kasi Maru No. 27507 [PDF] NARA VMF-213 War Diary July 1943 pages 4-5 (Page 4) "July 2, 1943: (cont)... Lts Boag, DeFabio and Thomas were ordered to accompany four B-25s on a strike against a Jap Ak. [transport], that was reported to be along the New Georgia shoreline off Kula Gulf, just behind [north of] Munda, near Rich anchorage and heavily camouflaged. They took off at 1430. The B-25s were supposed to rendezvous over the filed, but due to some misunderstanding, this was not done..." (Page 5) "July 2, 1943 (cont)... see great fires and explosions coming from the ship. The F4Us made another run followed by the B25s.... Later observations confirmed the destruction of this ship." Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes page 42 (Kashi Maru, July 2, 1943), 107 (index Kashi Maru) (Page 42) "Date: July 2, 1943 / Name: Kashi Maru / Type: Cargo / Tons: 654 / Location: 8-06S, 157-20E / Agent: Army Aircraft / Assessment: Sunk" Peter Maynard Solomon Islands and New Guinea Bairoko Harbor 1986 (photos) War Wrecks of the Coral Sea (2003) includes underwater footage of this shipwreck PBS Nature S21 EP15: War Wrecks of the Coral Sea (photo) "...viewers visit the Kasi Maru, a Japanese freighter that was strafed and sunk while unloading cargo on the island of Munda. She now sits in 50 feet of water, next to a barge that accompanied her to the bottom." Welkam Solomons Dive Sites - Munda - Kasi Maru (photo) via Wayback machine November 24, 2009 "The Kasi Maru, a Japanese freighter, was bombed at anchor after local coast watchers tipped off American forces. The wreck now sits only twenty meters from the shore; the hull lies in 18m, which makes it a good site for snorkellers and novice divers alike. More experienced divers can penetrate further into the fire-damaged engine room and accommodation." Thanks to Danny Kennedy / Dive Gizo for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 0–50'  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
