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| IJN Auxiliary Minesweeper 264 Tons |
Ship History Built by Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kobe Zosensho. Laid down May 28, 1936. Launched August 5, 1936. Completed September 28, 1936 and delivered to Taiyo Hogei for use as a whale catcher. Wartime History On August 15, 1941 requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and converted into an auxiliary minesweeper and placed under the command of Reserve Lieutenant Shiihara. On April 28, 1942 departs Truk assigned to "Operation MO" to support the invasion of Tulagi. Destroyers Kikuzuki and Yuzuki escort Okinoshima the flagship of Rear Admiral Shima plus Azumasan Maru, minelayer Koei Maru, subchasers Toshi Maru No. 3 and Tama Maru No. 8, special duty minesweepers WA-1 and WA-2, Hagoromo Maru, Noshiro Maru No. 2 and Tama Maru. On May 3, 1942 the invasion arrives in Tulagi Harbor and unloads. Sinking History On May 4, 1942 in the morning U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes from USS Yorktown (CV-5) strike the Japanese landing force off Tulagi. Twenty-eight SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5) armed with 1,000 pound bombs dive bomb from 10,000' with a near miss damaging Tama Maru. Afterwards, attempts to limp northward when spotted by a pair of F4F Wildcats piloted by Lt(jg) Scott McCuskey and Adams from VF-42 that made several strafing runs. Further damaged, Tama Maru was run aground at Hanesavo Island (Hanesavu) northwest of Florida Island (Nggela Sule). Two days later, the damaged auxiliary minesweeper sank at Lat 09°07'S Long 160°12'E. On May 25, 1942 officially stricken from the Navy. Shipwreck During February 2000, this shipwreck was discovered by SCUBA diver Franck Boulay at a depth of 242.7' / 74m on a sandy bottom off Makafele island. The hull is intact and some of the superstructure remains on the shipwreck. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes does not list "Tama Maru" or "Tama Maru No. 8" as sunk May 4, 1942 The First Team Pacific Naval Air Combat From Pearl Harbor to Midway (1984) pages 171, 174, 178 "Just northwest of Florida Island, McCuskey and Adams came upon the hurt minesweeper Tama Maru, a 264-ton converted whalecatcher, limping north after being worked over that morning by Bombing Five. With several strafing runs, the two Grummans thoroughly shot out the hapless little Maru. Her captain ran his vessel aground at Hanesavu on Florida Island, about fifteen miles northwest of Tulagi. The Tama Maru finally sank two days later" Thanks to Franck Boulay for additional information Contribute
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