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| USN Design 1023 Cargo Ship 3,275 Tons 324' x 42.2' x 22' 9.5" |
Ship History Built by Submarine Boat Company in Newark, NJ for the for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) as part of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC). Laid down March 21, 1918 as Design 1023 cargo ship with yard number 17. Launched March 2, 1919 as SS Milwaukee Bridge named for the Milwaukee Bridge Company. In 1927, acquired by by Matson Navigation Company to operate between California and Hawaii and renamed SS Malama. Wartime History At the start of the Pacific War, loaded with military cargo and departs San Francisco via Honolulu bound for Manila but enroute was diverted to New Zealand. On December 31, 1941 in the afternoon while underway in the Pacific Ocean, spotted by E7K2 Alf floatplane from Aikoku Maru that circles several times then departs to the east then returns and circle twice more then departs to the west and fails to return to Aikoku Maru. Sinking History On January 2, 1942 at 9:00am south of the Cook Islands and Society Islands the second E7K2 Alf floatplanes from Aikoku Maru circles the ship and begins strafing and orders the vessel to stop using international code. At 2:15pm, the floatplane returns armed with bombs. At 2:30pm the crew scuttle the ship and everyone aboard boards two lifeboats as the floatplane drops four bombs that cause a a fire as it sinks at Lat 26°21'N, Long 153°24'W. The Japanese report the sinking location as Lat 26° 39' S, Long 151° 24' W. Fates of the Crew At 3:30pm everyone board the two lifeboats including 35 crew and 8 passengers were rescued by Aikoku Maru and Hokoku Maru was rescue and taken prisoner. References Note, some sources incorrectly list the ship as sunk January 1, 1942 and the destination as Manila. Combined Fleet - IJN Aikoku Maru: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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