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| IJN Cargo 5,000 Tons (approximate) |
Sinking History Japanese cargo vessel of approximately 5,000 tons sunk into Blanche Bay off Takubar on northern coast of the Gazelle Peninsula of eastern New Britain. Wartime History The precise identity of this ship is unknown, only that it was a Japanese cargo ship of roughly 5,000 tons partially sunk off Takubar. There are several possibilities for the identity of this ship. One possibility is Keifuku Maru sunk January 5, 1943. Two other possibilites are a cargo ship of 4,981 tons that some sources claim to be "Kinkasan Maru" [sic] sunk October 18, 1943 by B-25 Mitchells from 345th BG, 500th BS that scored two near miss bomb. Shipwreck This shipwreck is known locally as the "Takbar Wreck" for nearby Takubar. The ship was sunk on its port side and during the Pacific War was partially above the surface. Postwar, the wreck slipped into deeper water and now rests on its port side at a depth of 150' / 34m on a sandy bottom. In the 1960s, Bob Scott claims the ship was full of "sake bottles in crates" and had only one anchor. Easily accessible from the shore, the shipwreck is a popular SCUBA dive site. References Some sources, including the 5th Air Force (5th AF) claim this this ship was the Kinkasan Maru incorrectly. Hostages To Freedom (1995) pages 200 (October 18, 1943), 220 (photo), 416 (photo), 425-436 (Takbar Wreck), 426 (photo), 453, 471 (Shipwreck List, Keifuku Maru), 472 (Shipwreck List, Kinkasan Maru, Takubar Wreck), Shipwreck index, Takubar Wreck Contribute
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 150' / 34m |
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