| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Builder | Mitsui Senpaku K. K. |
| Yard number | 35 |
| Laid down | 14 August 1920 |
| Launched | 21 July 1921 |
| Completed | 15 May 1922 |
| In service | 15 May 1922 |
| Out of service | 8 October 1943 |
| Identification | Official Number: 28537 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 8 October 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Iwatesan Maru-class auxiliarytroopship |
| Tonnage | 5,813 GRT |
| Length | 117.3 m (384 ft 10 in) |
| Beam | 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in) |
| Depth | 11 m (36 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power | A single triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion | One screw propeller |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
SSDainichi Maru was a Japanesetroop- andHell ship that was torpedoed by theUnited States NavysubmarineUSS Gurnard in theSouth China Sea west ofLuzon, Philippines in theLuzon Strait at (18°48′N119°21′E / 18.800°N 119.350°E /18.800; 119.350), while she was travelling in Convoy 772 fromTakaoka, Japan, toManila, Philippines.[1]
Dainichi Maru was laid down on 14 August 1920 at the Mitsui Senpaku K. K. shipyard inTokyo, Japan. She waslaunched on 21 July 1921 and was completed on 15 May 1922. She was built for the Mitsui Line and was namedIbukisan Maru. She was renamedDainichi Maru when she was bought by the Japanese company Itaya OSK Lines on 6 June 1935.[2]
Dainichi Maru was 117.3 metres (384 ft 10 in) long, with a beam of 15.5 metres (50 ft 10 in) and a depth of 11 metres (36 ft 1 in). The ship was assessed at 5,813 GRT. She had a singletriple expansionsteam engine rated at 488nominal horsepower and driving one screw. She had one funnel and two masts.[3]
On 15 September 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army chartedDainichi Maru for use as atroopship.[4]
Dainichi Maru participated as a troopship in Operation "M", theJapanese invasion ofLamon Bay, Philippines beginning on 17 December 1941 as the convoy departedSetouchi, Japan. The invasion force arrived at their destination on 24 December 1941 at 2 am, with the invasion proceeding without strong opposition.[4]
During the early stages of the war,Dainichi Maru would go on to complete several voyages as ahell ship acrosssoutheast Asia, carrying manyAlliedprisoners of war (POWs).[4]
On 8 October 1943,Dainichi Maru was part of Convoy 772, which consisted of five ships, including thecargo- andtroopshipTaian Maru and three other ships, escorted by atorpedo boat. At the time,Dainichi Maru was carrying 2,274 members of the 11th Independent Garrison Unit and 14th Army Workshop alongside their equipment.[4]
The convoy was attacked in theSouth China Sea west ofLuzon, Philippines in theLuzon Strait, while it was travelling fromTakaoka, Japan, toManila, Philippines, by the American submarineUSS Gurnard at 1.39 am after the submarine had been stalking the convoy since midnight. TheGurnard went on to torpedo and sink both theTaian Maru andDainichi Maru in the attack. 45 military personnel and 32 crew went down withTaian Maru as she sank, while onDainichi Maru between 2,025 and 2,057 military personnel and 32 crew were killed.[5]
The wreck ofDainichi Maru lies at (18°48′N119°21′E / 18.800°N 119.350°E /18.800; 119.350). The condition of the wreck is currently unknown.[3]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in October 1943 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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