IJN
Freighter

Tons
7,000

Length
400

Via DiveGizo 2000

James Fincham 2004

Ship History
Built in Nagasaki in 1938.

Mission History
Departed Rabaul for a supply run to Bougainville, Shortland, Kolombangara and Munda. Aboard was a cargo of concrerte, plus war materials including a Type 95 Ha Go Tank, motorcycle, munitions and supplies.

Sinking History
On January 31, 1943 on her way from Kolombangara to Vila Harbor, a Coastwatcher spotted the ship, and radioed US forces on Guadalcanal. Attacked by twelve SBD Dauntless escorted by F4F Wildcats of VMF-112 from Henderson Field. The US aircraft achieved near-misses, and several were downed by escorting A6M Zeros and F1M2 Petes. During this action F4F "Impatient Virgin" 03520 piloted by Lt. De Blanc shot claimed five Japanese escorts, before being shot down himself. Later, he earned the Medal of Honor for this action.

Hit on the port side, and burning, the ship took on water, flooding the lower level of the cargo hold. Abandoned, the ship drifted for three days. During this time, locals loyal to the Coastwatcher who reported the ship removed the ship's log and other materials. Finally, the ship ran aground, and sank on her starbord side, north of Ghizo Island.

Salvage
In 1974, Australian salvagers removed the engines, propellers, chains and other gear for scrap metal.

Shipwreck
The vessel lays on her starboard side on a sloping seabed. On the foredeck is a coral-encrusted mounting for a deck gun, missing and presumed to have broken off in deep water.

Only one bomb appears to have hit the vessel, creating a dramatic hole on the port side. There is evidence in the superstructure of the intense fire, hot enough to melt glass.

Lasked to the deck is a Type 95 Ha Go Tank and is lying on its side. Also a motorcycle and sidecar, fallen free against the mast,

The aft holds are in shambles. Deeper in the holds it appears that the fire caused no damage. A small storeroom contains signal lamps and a gas-masks. Numberous artillery shells, clips of rifle bullets, and endless sake bottles littered the forward holds. There are still pots and pans in the galley, too. Arguably, this is the best preserved shipwreck at SCUBA divable depth in the Solomons.

Earthquake Damage
On April 2, 2007 an 8.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit the Gizo area. The wheelhouse the ship was previously in excellent condition. During the earthquake, the bridge area fell off. This exposed some layers of holds previously inaccessible. (Reference:

References
Thanks to Give Gizo for additional information
Solomon Islands Earthquake and Tsunami Geological Report, page 25

Contribute Information

7m - 37m

Wreck Diagram

VIew in Google Earth

Dive Gizo
Toa Maru

Peter Maynard 1985-6