Wartime History
Arrived in Simpson Harbor on April 17, 1942 and was unloading bombs and ammunition.

Sinking History
On April 18, 1942, while unloading near Rabaul, it was attacked by Allied aircraft around 10:30am, and became the first Japanese ship sunk in Simpson Harbor. The ship's stern exploded violently and the ship settled with only the top remaining above water, and it had to be fired on to sink.

One eyewitness on the ground reported it was an RAAF Hudson bomber dropped four bombs, two missed hitting the shore (one did not explode), one scored a direct hit, the forth in the water. Likely, it was repeatedly bombed in later aerial attacks. Others talk about bombers dropping bombs and straffing the area. Records indicate 80 Australian POWs (accused of applauding at the sinking ship) were later beaten in retribution.

A Japanese soldier at Rabaul made a diary note:
“After air raid saw Komaki Maru alongside #3 pier flames rising from her bridge. From 2 o’clock in the afternoon our artillery fired at the ship and sank her.” (ATIS 172)

Wreckage
After the war, this wreck was filled with cement and became a dock. At one time after the war locals were using part of the wreck as an open toilet and so a sign was erected which read: “No ken pek pek” (Do not defecate). The wreck then became known as the “No ken pek pek Maru”. As, known as the "Wreck Wharf". To this day it is still most probably full of munitions and a very dangerous site. Never-the-less, for over 50 years now, it’s filled-in hulk has been used as a wharf.

Salvage Diver Johnno Johnstone recalled:
"I made several surveys of the wreck.  It was loaded with shell cases, some I recovered.  It was the propeller that I was after.  I had located a spare blade in the aft quarters, this was 3 1/2 tons.  Mean then the the main propeller woudl be nearly 14 tons, scrap value &2,000. I thought of the Florence [explosion killed salvagers], and struck Komaki Maru off my list!  I intended at a latter day to oxy-cut the shaft, even this was considered unsafe by the port athourities, and at their request I abandoned the wreck. Even after all their years I still regard it as a potential danger."

Today
The wreck was filled in, and is used as a wharph at the edge of Simpson Harbor, only the bow portion remains above water. It is still used to this day by smaller craft and locals ships to dock alongside. The unexploded bomb, reportedly dropped by the RAAF Hudson was removed in 1968 from the shore area

References
Thanks to David Pennefather "X Marks the Spot", Hostages To Freedom mentions the sinking of this ship, 191-192.

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