''Azumasan Maru'' was a 7,623-gross register ton freighter that was built by Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama for Mitsui Bussan Kaisha launched in 1933. She was requisitioned by the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

and fitted out as a troop transport. She was part of the invasion fleet that landed troops during the invasion of Tulagi on 3 May 1942. She was anchored at Purvis Bay,

Florida Island The Nggela Islands, also known as the Florida Islands, are a small island group in the Central Province of Solomon Islands, a sovereign state (since 1978) in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The chain is composed of four larger islands and about ...

when the

Tulagi Tulagi, less commonly known as Tulaghi, is a small island——in Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Ngella Sule. The town of the same name on the island (pop. 1,750) was the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from 18 ...

invasion fleet was attacked by aircraft of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

's aircraft carrier , with ''Azumasan Maru'' being damaged in the attack. ''Azumasan Maru'' left

Rabaul Rabaul () is a township in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea, on the island of New Britain. It lies about 600 kilometres to the east of the island of New Guinea. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in ...

in a convoy to resupply

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the seco ...

. Disembarkation began near Bunani Point on 15 October. The ships of the convoy came under bombardment from SBD Dauntless dive bombers and even a torpedo attack by a PBY Catalina Flying Boat from Henderson Field. The ship was beached to prevent sinking after suffering severe damage. On 16 October, B-17s further damaged the ship, with the result that at night she slipped off the reef and sank upright to a depth of on the deck at the bow and is at almost at the shattered stern, at approximate coordinates 9.21.1S, 159.50.7E.

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Azumasan Maru

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azumasan Maru (1933) 1933 ships Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy Ships sunk by US aircraft Ships built by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Shipwrecks in Ironbottom Sound

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