MS Awazisan Maru

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 Japanese Army. She was bombed and damaged during her first Army mission and subsequently torpedoed and sunk by a Dutch submarine in December 1941.

History
Empire of Japan
Name: Awazisan Maru
Owner: Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (1939–1941)
Builder: Tama Zosensho
Yard number: 245
Laid down: 29 March 1938
Launched: 22 December 1938
Completed: 15 July 1939
Maiden voyage: 31 August 1939
Homeport: Kobe
Identification:
Fate: Requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Army
History
Empire of Japan
Name: Awazisan Maru
Operator: Imperial Japanese Army
Acquired: 10 September 1941
Identification: 882
Fate: Sunk, 12 December 1941
General characteristics
Type: Passenger cargo ship
Displacement:
Length: 482 ft 9 in (147.14 m)
Beam: 64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
Depth: 40 ft 7 in (12.37 m)
Installed power: 1,646 Nhp, 9,600 bhp
Propulsion: Tama Zosensho 8-cylinder 2-stroke cycle double-acting diesel engine
Speed: 18 1⁄2 knots (21.3 mph; 34.3 km/h)

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 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 metres (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. 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.

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