Wartime History
Heavily camoflaged with palm fronds, it was sunk off Cape Merkus at Arawe by air attack. Sunk December 25, 1943.

Shipwreck
Identified in 1974 by Rod Pearce and David Pennefather who located the ship's bell. Aboard are arms cargo, including a carefully packed case with a site for a Japanese 80mm mortar.

David Pennefather recalls:
"Post war records show the Takasaka Maru as sunk at Rabaul however, I got the bell of it and was able to make a positive ID. Great dive."

Mark Reichman adds:
"After our initial dive, the second dive we did in Dec. 2002 and the 3rd dive was in April 2005. We brought one mortar up, but later threw it back in the ocean for fear of someone getting hurt."

References
Allied sinking registry (incorrectly) list this ship as sunk at Rabaul
Ship name also listed as "Takasaka"

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

S 06' 09.435
E 149' 02.094

130'

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