Sinking History
Attacked by USS Lexington planes on December 4, 1943 in the Kwajalein Northern Atoll when the ship
was bombed and torpedoed and was flaming. The ship then exploded flinging
debris as far as outside the lagoon, and creating a column of smoke
10,000 feet into the air, and the ship immediately sank.
Shipwreck
No oil can be seen at the surface, but the water around
the wreck is slightly caustic, and this has kept many divers away from
the wreck because they get irritated burns from fuel in the water and
silt of the wreck. The deck gun is a 5 or 6 inch type mounted on a raised
platform. Ammo for it is stored below the gun. A small compartment to
the left after entering the port side of the ship was a lantern locker,
and several lanterns are found here. Some small arms and grenades are
also in this area.
No. 1 hold is empty except for a few pieces of lumber and
cases of foodstuffs. A paravane or aileron for mine sweeping is on the
port side of the deck. No. 2 hold has 55 gal drums which probably contained
aviation fuel for the planes based on Roi. The flying bridge contains
a telegraph, wheel, rudder stand, and other equipment are here almost
completely covered in hardened muck and burn producing substance. A
room to the side of the wheelhouse served as a radio room. Wiring and
electrical equipment lies in a heap here. Heavy bronze gun mounts lie
on each side of the radio room.
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