IJN
Cargo
D Letourneau 1999
Justin Taylan 2003
Sinking History
This smaller Japanese cargo ship, was in the midst of unloading
fuel and vehicles in Bairoko
Harbor on New
Georgia. 13th AF B-25s and US Navy F4Us escorting. Bomb and strafed the ship from low altitude. A 500 lbs bomb sank the ship on July 2, 1943.
Shipwreck
The mast and crane are visible above water. The ship must
have partially unloaded its cargo before being sunk. On board are fuel
drums and a vehicle. Another car is still loaded on the crane, over
the starbord side of the wreck, facing the shore.
Peter Maynard adds:
"The scars of war are clearly visible on this relic. If you think
this is impressive, you should see below water where the real damage
is to be found in the from of a hole caused by a direct bomb hit
which blew out the side of the ship. Diving in Bairoko Harbour. The
murky waters of Bairoko Harbour made for "interesting" diving
conditions. Most wreck dives in the Solomons resulted in finds of weapons
and ordinance. Nearby far more impressive ordinance in the form of
a large unexploded bomb lay on the harbour floor. The plentiful unexploded
ordinance makes for interesting, if slightly dangerous, exploration
of the surrounding rainforest."
References
War Wrecks of the Coral Sea documentary includes underwater footage of this shipwreck.
0 - 3m
Peter Maynard 1986
