MS Awazisan Maru

History
Empire of Japan
NameAwazisan Maru
OwnerMitsui & Co. Ltd. (1939–1941)
BuilderTama Zosensho
Yard number245
Laid down29 March 1938
Launched22 December 1938
Completed15 July 1939
Maiden voyage31 August 1939
HomeportKobe
Identification
  • Call sign JXOM
FateRequisitioned by Imperial Japanese Army
History
Empire of Japan
NameAwazisan Maru
OperatorImperial Japanese Army
Acquired10 September 1941
Identification882
FateSunk, 12 December 1941
General characteristics
TypePassenger cargo ship
Tonnage
  • 9,794 GRT
  • 5,817 NRT
  • 10,930 DWT
Length482.9 ft (147.2 m)
Beam64.0 ft (19.5 m)
Depth40.7 ft (12.4 m)
Installed power1,646 Nhp, 9,600 bhp
PropulsionTama Zosensho 8-cylinder 2-stroke cycle double-acting diesel engine
Speed18+1⁄2 knots (21.3 mph; 34.3 km/h)

Awazisan Maru (淡路山丸), also known as Awajisan Maru or Awagisan Maru, was a motor cargo vessel built by Tama Zosensho of Tamano for Mitsui & Co. Ltd. with intention of serving on their Yokohama to New York route. The ship remained in service between Japan and United States for two years before being requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army. She was bombed and damaged during her first Army mission and subsequently torpedoed and sunk by a Dutch submarine in December 1941.

Design and construction

The ship was launched in 1939 and was notable for being the most advanced freighter of its time.[1] It was commissioned by the Imperial Japanese Army to transport troops in World War II and was part of the Japanese Invasion of Malaya on 8 December 1941.

Operational history

Imperial Japanese Army

Along with its sister ship Ayatosan Maru and Sakura Maru, she was carrying around 5,000 troops during the landings at Kota Bharu. Awazisan Maru was bombed by a Lockheed Hudson aircraft piloted by Flt. Lt. Oscar Diamond of No. 1 Squadron RAAF, set afire and was abandoned to drift. It is believed that the freighter sunk or was subsequently torpedoed by the Dutch submarine K XII.

The invasion of Malaya preceded the attack on Pearl Harbor by an hour and a half, making it the first Japanese campaign of World War II, likely making Awazisan Maru the very first casualty in the war.

Awazisan Maru now lies in 20 m (66 ft) of water off the coast of Pantai Sabak in Kota Bharu and is fast becoming a popular diving destination due to its remarkable history.[citation needed] It is more popularly known amongst local divers as the Japanese Invasion Wreck.

Citations

  1. ^ "Mitsui Line". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  • The Japanese landings in 1941 on Malaya
  • MOL Ships In 120 Years
  • Diving The Awazisan Maru
  • Ahmad, Sager & Tiong, John. "End Of Western Rule", New Straits Times Press (Malaysia).
  • 'The Man Next Door' - The book opens with a never-before-told story of an aircraftman on the Hudson bomber that sunk the Awazisan Maru

06°08′N 102°16′E / 6.133°N 102.267°E / 6.133; 102.267

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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1941
Shipwrecks
  • 2 Dec: Virsaitis
  • 6 Dec: HMS Perseus
  • 7 Dec: USS Arizona, USS California, USS Cassin, Cynthia Olson, USS Downes, Ha-19, M-16, M-18, M-20, M-22, USS Nevada, USS Oglala, USS Oklahoma, Sauternes, USS Shaw, U-208, USS Utah, USS West Virginia, HMCS Windflower
  • 8 Dec: SS Capillo, Nisqually, USS Penguin, HMS Peterel, Ravnaas
  • 10 Dec: HMS Banka, USS Bittern, I-70, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, Takao Maru, No. 10, USS YP-16
  • 11 Dec: Hayate, Kisaragi, HMS Lady Shirley
  • 12 Dec: Awazisan Maru, HMS Moth, HMS Tamar
  • 13 Dec: Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto di Giussano
  • 14 Dec: HMS Galatea
  • 15 Dec: Empire Barracuda, HNLMS O 16, U-127
  • 16 Dec: U-557
  • 17 Dec: Corregidor, Ro-66, Shinonome, U-131
  • 18 Dec: U-434
  • 19 Dec: HMS Neptune, HNLMS O 20, HMS Stanley, U-574
  • 20 Dec: Emidio, HMS Kandahar
  • 21 Dec: HMS Audacity, HMS Cicala, HNLMS K XVII, U-451, U-567
  • 23 Dec: Hayataka Maru, Montebello, Patrol Boat No. 32, Patrol Boat No. 33, Shuntien, U-79
  • 24 Dec: Absaroka, HNLMS K XVI, USS Rochester, Sagiri, HMS Salvia
  • 25 Dec: Empire Dragon, USS Sealion, HMS Thracian
  • 26 Dec: Unyo Maru No. 2
  • 27 Dec: Arayat, Canlaon
  • 28 Dec: Banahao, DCH-1, U-75, Volo, SS Connecticut
  • 29 Dec: BRP Banahaw, Ro-60
  • Unknown date: HMS H31, USS Nereus, HMS Triumph, Vizcaya
Other incidents
  • 7 Dec: USS Gamble, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee, USS Thresher, USS Vestal
  • 8 Dec: Awazisan Maru, USS Thresher
  • 9 Dec: I-10
  • 10 Dec: Oigawa Maru, USS Sealion
  • 11 Dec: HMS Jackal
  • 16 Dec: HMS Thracian
  • 17 Dec: Ro-62
  • 20 Dec: USS Pompano
  • 24 Dec: Absaroka
  • 31 Dec: Ruth Alexander