Simpson Harbor is a massive flooded caldera of an ancient volcano.
This harbor at the eastern tip New Britain with Rabaul along its north shore. The bay is connected to Karavia Bay and Blanche Bay to the south.
History
Principal
Japanese anchorage in the South Pacific. During the war, a reported 54 ships were sunk in Simpson Harbor and the surrounding
area, 10 are accessible although some are quite deep. The
Japanese had seaplane bases at Sulpher Creek and Matupit Island.
The last Japanese ship to enter the harbor was the Kokai Maru arriving Februay 19, 1944 and unloaded barges, ammo, food and departing the 25th. After that date, several Japanese submarines managed to unload medical supplies, then no other ship reached the harbor.
Missions Against Simpson Harbor
Listing of air raids specifically against ships in the harbor
Surrender
Ceremony
On the 6 September 1945, the Japanese surrendered
all remaining Japanese Forces in New Guinea, New Britain and the Soloman
Islands. The ceremony took place aboard
aircraft carrier HMS Glory. Representing the Japanese were General
H. Imamura, Commander Eight Army Area, Admiral J. Kusaka, Commander
South East Area Fleet.
Post-War Usage
At least two former submersible barges abandoned after the war survived,
and were
used
as
tankers around East New Britain and Duke
of York Islands well into the 1990s! But, they remained strictly on the surface
after the war, by expatriort Pat Roberts who ran an inter-island shipping business
from Rabaul.
Brian Bennett recalls:
"Pat Roberts (his place
was known just as Pat's wharf and is situated at the end of Dawapia
Road. Also known as Rabaul Shipping. Pat and his wife from
Buka are long gone now. After
the war a chap named Pat Roberts who ran a fuel and fresh
water provider business for many years for visiting ships acquired
several of these vessels and at least one was still in
use at the time of the eruption in 1994. Pat
also did metal salvage and his place was always a delight to search
for old brass fuese and stuff. I remember that after
he died his house became a bit run down and out in the front yard he had the
glass reflector dish out of the biggest of the Japanese Naval search lights."
Don Robinson adds:
"From 1952 to 1962, I operated a transport in Rabaul and transported
all of the scrap out of Rabaul, including hundreds of Japanese planes cut up for scrap. They were sold back to Japan to make cars. It was so common, I took no photos."
Komaki
Maru (Wreck Wharf)
First
Japanese ship confirmed sunk by Allied aircraft in Simpson
Harbor
Hakkai
Maru
Sunk by B-25s on January 17, 1943. Covered by the 1994 volcano eruption
Kanshin
Maru
Covered by the 1994 volcano eruption
Kisargel
Maru
Salvaged post war
Manko
Maru
Sunk near the present day warph area
Italy
Maru
Largest ship sunk in the harbor
Suzunami
Sunk on November 11, 1943. Hit by air attack, exploded loading torpedos
Yamamoto Maru
Sunk April 18, 1943
TBF-1
Avenger Bureau
Number 24264
Crashed February 14, 1943 near the present day Yaght Club
