Nippo Maru

The Nippo Maru was built in 1936. Her general mission was to supply water, ordnance, and ammunition to naval forces in the Mandate Islands. The Nippo Maru was part of a convoy that arrived in Truk on 10 February, 1944. At around 815 a.m. on 17 February, Essex TBFs scored three hits in the mid and aftship areas with 500 lb bombs. Fires immediately began aboard.

She is now upright with a slight list to port (at N7 22.973 E151 54.607). The superstructure is at about 30 meters while the deck is at 40. Cargo on the deck includes trucks and a battle tank just forward of the bridge. There are 4 anti-tank guns aft. The telegraph and helm are well located for a great photographic opportunity.
 

As she was

As she is

The bridge telegraph looking from the starboard side.

Munitions litter the hold.

A mini tank.

Reminder that humans once walked here.

Kiyosumi Maru

The building of the Kiyozumi (or Kiyosumi) Maru was completed in October 1934 by the Kawasaki Jyuko Co. as a passenger and cargo vessel. Her final voyage was on June 1, 1941. It was then, that she was commissioned by the Japanese Navy as an armed merchant cruiser. During the conversion, she was fitted with 4 X 5.51 inch/50-cal low angle deck guns, light AA guns and 2 pairs of twin-mount torpedo tubes.

The Kiyozumi Maru now rests almost evenly on her port side (at N7 22.416 E151 50.608). The depths range from 40-100 feet (13 to 30 meters). Most of the exterior is covered in algae and coral. There is a small lantern locker containing bronze lanterns and lantern parts on shelves.

Looking for life is not hard.

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