Ayatosan Maru

History
Name: Ayatosan Maru
Owner:
Builder: Tama Shipbuilding Co.
Acquired: 1939
Fate: Sunk by Allied aircraft
Status: Shipwreck
General characteristics
Displacement: 9,788 gross ton (10,930DWT)
Length: 476 feet (145 m)[1]
Beam: 64 feet (20 m)
Draught: 40 feet (12 m)

The Ayatosan Maru (綾戸山丸 貨物船) was a 9,788 gross ton (10,930DWT) freighter that was built by Tama Shipbuilding Co., Tamano for Mitsui & Co. Ltd. launched in 1939.[2] She had been intended to run the New York passenger and freight run, however she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and fitted out as a high-speed transport, which was completed in May 1941.

During the invasion of Malaya she was damaged by Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Hudson light bombers and a blaze broke out which was later extinguished.[3] She was also damaged by a torpedo from the Dutch submarine HNLMS O-16.

After unloading troops and supplies at Gona on 21 July 1942, she was bombed by United States Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force bombers and was sunk at 8-50S, 148-50E, with the loss of three lives. She became known as "The Gona Wreck". The wreck was later used to range artillery and as a bombing target by Allied forces.

Citations

  1. ↑ "Ayatosan Maru" (PDF). plimsollshipdata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  2. ↑ "Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Mitsui Steamship Co. Ltd". The Ships List. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  3. ↑ "Subchaser CH-9". The Combined Fleet. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
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