Sinking History
Part of a convoy of eleven transports (Arizona Maru, Kumagawa Maru, Sado Maru, Nagara Maru, Nako Maru, Canberra Maru, Brisbane Maru, Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Yamaura Maru, and Yamatsuki Maru) escorted by twelve destroyers.

Departed Shortland to reinforce Guadalcanal down "The Slot". Scheduled to arrive during the night of November 13, 1942, they were recalled back to Shortland, due to the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13.

The convoy again departed Shortland during the afternoon of November 13. Spotted by the Americans, air attacks hit the convoy on the morning of November 14, and overwhelmed the escorting Japanese aircraft and sank six transports and forced one to turn back damage, and later sank.

The remaining four transports and four destroyers continued towards Guadalcanal. After nightfall, they stopped to the west of Guadalcanal, awaiting the conclusion of the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal during the night of November 14-15, 1942.

On November 15 at 0400, the remaining four transports (Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Yamaura Maru, and Yamatsuki Maru) beached themselves on Guadalcanal. Kinugawa Maru beached near Bonegi, furthest to the east.

Beginning at 0555, American aircraft from Henderson Field and elsewhere, and field artillery. Later, destroyer USS Meade approached and opened fire for an hour with 5" shells, leaving them "blazing with many internal explosions."

These attacks set the transports afire and destroyed most equipment not unloaded before dawn. Approximately 2,000 troops with 260 cases of ammunition and 1,500 bags of rice made ashore. Most of their ammunition and food supplies were lost.

Shipwreck
Located to the east of Kinugawa Maru. Lies with her mangled bow in shallow water, but her amidships section is mainly intact. Her stern is covered with gun cartridges and those parts merely ravaged by time rather than war.

Well broken up by enemy bombing, she is now covered in soft and hard coral growth. A deck gun is still recognizable. Penetration of this wreck is not advised because deterioration leaves the wreckage unstable.

Jeff Johnson adds:
"There's a lot of spent cartridges and broken glass about, but it looks as though the wreck was picked clean long ago by souvenir hunters. Today, it has badly deteriorated."

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

55m stern

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