 Launch ofArisan Maru | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Arisan Maru |
| Owner | Mitsui Senpaku |
| Port of registry |  |
| Builder | Mitsui, Tamanao, Japan |
| Yard number | 376 |
| Completed | June 22, 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk, 24 October 1944 |
| Notes | Hell ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type 2Afreighter |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 18.2 m (59 ft 9 in) |
Arisan Maru was a 6,886 GRT Type 2Afreighter constructed in 1944 duringWorld War II and was one ofImperial Japan'shell ships. The vessel, named for a mountain onTaiwan, was initially used as atroop transport. The vessel was then turned over for use for the transportation ofprisoners of war (POWs) from the Philippines toManchuria, China or Japan. On October 24, 1944, the ship wastorpedoed by an American submarine and sank. Of the 1,781 POWs aboard, all of them escaped the sinking ship but were not rescued by the Japanese. In the end, only nine of the prisoners survived the sinking.
Arisan Maru was a Type 2Afreighter that measured 6,886 gross register tons (GRT), was 137.3 m (450 ft 6 in)long overall and 129.9 m (426 ft 2 in)between perpendiculars with abeam of 18.2 m (59 ft 9 in). The vessel was powered bysteam turbines turning onepropeller.[1] The vessel had threeholds, with No.2 hold being 15 by 23 metres (50 ft × 75 ft). The vessel was designed for the transportation of raw materials such ascoal andnickel.[2]
Arisan Maru was constructed by Mitsui at their yard inTamano, Japan with theyard number 376. The freighter was completed on 22 June 1944 and owned by Mitsui Senpaku.[1] The vessel was named for a mountain inFormosa and was first assigned to transport 6,000 troops of theKwantung Army fromPusan, Korea to Okinawa. The vessel was then ordered to transport POWs from thePhilippines toManchuria, China, or Japan. Three tiers of bunks were installed that were separated by 0.91 metres (3 ft).[3] On October 11, 1944,Arisan Maru embarked 1,782Allied POWs atManila, a mix of military personnel and civilian detainees. Detained Allied personnel were being evacuated from the Philippines and due to Allied air raids, they were quickly loaded onto the ship, with more people placed in the one hold than could be reasonably accommodated. Each POW was given eight five-gallon oil cans for their waste, which quickly overflowed due to a number of men afflicted bydysentery. The POWs suffered through unsanitary conditions, extreme heat within the hold (120 °F, 49 °C) and a lack of water.[4][5]
Arisan Maru then departed Manila and sailed south to the west coast ofPalawan. During this time an escape attempt led to a POW death, and four other POWs died of sickness. There, along the Palawan coast,Arisan Maru waited for several days while Allied air raids hit Manila. Then, on October 20, the freighter returned to Manila.[5]
On October 21,Arisan Maru departed Manila for the final time, joining convoy MATA-30 heading forTakao. The convoy was composed of 13 merchant vessels, threedestroyers as escorts and one fleet supply ship.Arisan Maru was one of the slowest ships in the convoy, capable of making no more than 7knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). On October 23, the destroyers began picking up signals from American submarines. Roughly 200nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) west of Cape Bojeador,Luzon, the convoy was ordered to break up due to the sheer number and to sail at fastest possible speed for Takao (modern day Kaohsiung Taiwan) due to the American submarine threat.[5]
On October 24, 1944,Arisan Maru, by then traveling alone, was steaming in theBashi Channel between the Philippines and Taiwan with 1,781 POWs, mostly Americans. Being an unmarked ship - which was not obliged, Japan as well as the Allies had rejected in 1942 the proposal of the International Red Cross to mark ships with POW's - it was hit by atorpedo fromUSS Shark,[6] at about 5 p.m. in the No.3 hold. The ship buckled amidships, the engines stopped and the aftmast fell, but the freighter stayed afloat. She finally sank around 7:40 p.m at20°46′N118°18′E / 20.767°N 118.300°E /20.767; 118.300 (Arisan Maru).[1][7] In response to the torpedo, the destroyersTake andHarukaze attacked and sankShark. After dealing with the American submarine, the two destroyers returned toArisan Maru to look for survivors.[7] No POWs were killed by the torpedo strikes and nearly all were able to leave the ship's holds but the Japanese did not rescue any of the POWs that day, only Japanese. Only nine of the prisoners aboard survived the event. Five escaped and made their way to China in one of the ship's two lifeboats. They were reunited with U.S. Forces and returned to the United States. The four others were later recaptured by Imperial Japanese naval vessels, where one died shortly after reaching land.[8]
TheArisan Maru tragedy resulted to the greatest loss of American life in maritime history.[9]
