IJN Heian Maru - 平安丸
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Heian
Maru was laid down at Osaka Iron Works Ltd in Osaka in
1929, and was launched as a combined passenger and cargo
freighter in April 1930. She entered service for the
Japanese company Nippon Yussen and their route between
Japan, Hong Kong and America. In October 1941 she was
requisitioned by the Imperial navy, and was armed with
several guns and refitted as an auxiliary submarine
tender. While laying at anchor in Truk lagoon 17.February
1944, she was damaged by several bombs from planes from
the American Task Force 58. Some of the ammunition
on board was off loaded, and early the next morning, she
left the lagoon. At around 03:00 she again was attacked by
American planes. Four bombs quickly found their target and
she was soon on fire. and two hours later orders were
given to abandon ship. At around 09:00 nore American
planes arrived, and torpedoed the already damaged ship. A
torpedo hit her mid ship, and soon disappeared in the
deep. The wreck rest today, still loaded with
torpedoes and ammunition on a depth of 15 to 35 meter,
resting on her port side.
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 Picture: IJN Heian Maru & I-171 in June 1943 Courtesy of Wikipedia, Public domain  Last updated: November 2017 |
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