Page 165 - Micronesia

FRANKO MAPS DESCRIPTIONS – SIDE ONE TOP HALF
OITE 338’ (103m), 1,520-ton Kamakaze Class Destroyer was
torpedoed midships and broken in two just south of North Pass.
The forward half is upside-down and the depth-charged aft half
is right side-up in 202’ (61m) of water. To dive this wreckage is shells use by second-line Japanese Battleships are found, plus a
very demanding and no penetrations are available. There is a
large hole cut into the hull where the remains of the crew plus
the crew of the Agano, which Oite had previously rescued, were
removed.
I-169 SUBMARINE 344’ (105m), 1,400-ton I 168 Class Kaidai 6A
Cruiser-Submarine was sunk while fleeing submerged. Sitting
upright at 144’ (44m), the crew perished when she could not
be raised. The Japanese then depth charged the subs sail and
forward part, leaving it a scattered wreck, but the aft part was
untouched. Divers in the 1960’s found the remains of the crew,
which were removed and cremated. Corrosion and damage is
extensive, so there are no dive penetrations. Depth makes this a
technical dive.
YAMAGIRI MARU 436’ (133m), 6,438-ton Passenger-Cargo Ship
rests on her port side in the Repair Anchorages, where she was
undergoing repairs and nearly empty at the time of her de-
mise. Divers reach her starboard side at just 30’-50’ (9-15m) and
can penetrate engine room and aft holds, where 35.6cm (14”)
steamroller, construction equipment, and a propeller. Since she
is shallow her marine growth is astounding. She is almost intact
from bow to stern.
FUMITZUKI 338’ (103m), 1,193-ton Destroyer, with the Destroyer
Oite, is the only actual warship sunk in Chuuk Lagoon. Although
she was under repair and not seaworthy, she hurriedly pulled out
of Repair Anchorages to escape the day raid, only to succumb to
the night raid by USS Enterprise’s Avengers. She lists to port at
125’ (38m), with her deck at 100’ (30m). She is all bent, dished,
wrinkled and broken, and presents no penetration opportunity
for divers. Externally divers see her guns, torpedo launchers,
depth charge throwers, propellers and rudder, and an encrusta-
tion of wonderful corals and sponges, and lots of fish.