San Francisco Maru
The San Francisco Maru was built in 1919 as a passenger and cargo vessel and was 5,831 tons gross. After conversion, the San Francisco Maru was assigned to convey Japanese Navy Branch Military cargoes between Japan and the Inner South Seas.
It appears that the ship was mortally wounded on the second day of Operation Hailstorm, after being hit by 6 500lb bombs dropped by TBF's from the Essex. Following this attack, she was reported going down by the stern. Japanese sources report that 5 crewmen lost their lives in this attack.
The wreck lies (at N7 21.840 E151 54.587) on an even keel in deep water with her stern at 57 meters. The bow is a little deeper at 65 meters. Deck cargo includes both trucks, battle tanks. Hold cargo includes mines, torpedoes, bombs, artillery, anti-tank, small arms munitions, aircraft engines & parts & oil/gasoline drums. There are 3 battle tanks on the deck. These are probably the most photographed part of any wreck in Truk Lagoon. No divers visit to the San Francisco Maru would be complete without a photograph of these tanks.
So, of course, I got mine :) (Photograph by Shane Conway)
3 inch bow gun pointing to port.
The bow.
Sankisan Maru
The Sankisan Maru was a 4,776 ton civilian cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese Navy. She arrived in Truk on February 12, 1944. Anchored off the western shore of Uman Island with her cargo of war supplies and ordinances, she was attacked by American planes on February 17. The Sankisan Maru was the second ship chosen for target that day along the west of Uman Island. It appears the ship took a bomb or torpedo hit in her aft holds which blew the vessel to pieces. The stern now lies in deeper water to the rest of the ship (at N7 17.735 E151 52.129). The depth ranges from 17 meters to the deck to 26 meters on the sand.
Ammunition litters the decks.
A view looking up from the deck.
Shane doing his midwater safety stop.
Me drifting around. (Photo by Shane Conway)
Colourful life. (Photo by Shane Conway)
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