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| IJN Cargo 3,871 Tons 226' 7" x 33' 5" x 18' 5" |
Shipwreck History Built by Hakodate Dock K. K. shipyard in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Laid down May 1938. Launched January 1939 as Kokai Maru. Completed May 1939 owned by Shimatani Kisen K. K. and registered in Kobe. Wartime History On October 3, 1941 requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) for use as a transport. On November 10, 1941 under internal order No. 1391, registered as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Maizuru Naval District at Maizuru. On December 16, 1941 departs Tokyo with the 7th Construction Unit embarked bound for Truk arriving January 5, 1942 and the next day assigned to "R" Operation for the invasion of Rabaul and Kaveing. On February 1, 1942 assigned to the "R" Base Force. On February 20, 1942 assigned to "SR" Operation and transports Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) and departs Rabaul bound for Lae and Salamaua. On March 10, 1942 damaged by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier aircraft. Afterwards, returns to Truk for emergency repairs then departs for Japan arriving Maizuru on April 23, 1942. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 12, 1944 departs Truk with Convoy No. 1123 with Kowa Maru escorted by destroyers MINAZUKI and YUZUKI and a subchaser. On February 17, 1944 arrives Rabaul and unloads her cargo. Afterwards embarks maintenance personnel from 751 Kokutai (751 Air Group). On February 20, 1944 departs Rabaul with Convoy O-003 bound for Palau with Kowa Maru, fleet tug Nagaura escorted by subchasers CH-37 and CH-38 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-48. Sinking History On February 21, 1944 at 1:30pm off New Hanover and north of New Ireland attacked by B-25 Mitchells from 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) and 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS) that bomb and strafe the convoy. The B-25s sink Kokai Mau with the loss of 7 passengers and 19 crew at roughly Lat 2° 30' S, Long 150° 15'E. The B-25s also sink Kowa Maru with 22 crew killed plus CHa-48 damaged and CH-38 heavily damaged. Officially removed from the Ippan Choyosen list on April 30, 1944. Fates of the Crew The survivors were rescued by the other ships in the convoy. Among the survivors was Caption Toshio Ose. Postwar After the conclusion of the Pacific War, the Japanese claimed Kokai Maru embarked Allied Prisoners Of War (POW) at Rabaul to transport them to Japan. They claimed ninety minutes after departure, the ship was attacked by U.S. aircraft and sunk. This story used to account for prisoners who were executed before February 20, 1944 at Rabaul. Allied Prisoners Of War (POWs) falsely claimed to be aboard the Kokai Maru when sunk include:
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses page 54 (Kokai Maru), 109 (index Kokai Maru) Combined Fleet - IJN Kokai Maru: Tabular Record of Movement Dictionary of Disasters at Sea page 393 The Kavieng Wharf Massacre Contribute
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