Page 201 - Micronesia

IO DE JANEIRO MARU - The Rio de Janeiro Maru was built in and the Marshall Islands. Eventually she was retrofitted with a
deck gun and augmented with a Naval Gun Crew and Medical
R 1931 as a passenger ship. During peace time the Rio De Janeiro Staff for transporting the wounded. Just prior to the “Operation
Hailstone” attack, Kansho Maru was in Kwajalein Atoll delivering
was a passenger and cargo vessel traveling around the world. In supplies when she was bombed by carrier aircraft and took a hit
1940 the Imperial Japanese Navy converted the ship to a subma- to her engine room. Unable to get underway, Kansho was towed
rine tender providing service to the submarines of the Combined to Truk by the Momokawa Maru. Both ships were in Truk Lagoon
Fleet. After 1943, as the number Japanese submarines had been when the U.S. Navy attack began and both were sunk. The Kansho
substantially reduced, the Rio de Janeiro Maru was reclassified as Maru was struck by at least one bomb and an aerial torpedo. The
a transport and based in Truk. During the “Operation Hailstone” Kansho Maru sits upright with a slight list to port. The engine
attack, the Rio de Janeiro Maru was struck with at least one bomb. room is wide-open but dark, so bring a light. The catwalks and
She was reported on fire and thought to have sunk on the first huge engine cylinders are all clearly visible. The next hold down
day. The ship lies on her starboard side. It rests on an incline with is the quickest way to get from one side to the next, as there is a
the stern deeper than the bow. The propellers, rudder, and large massive torpedo hole that opens to the sea. It is overgrown with
stern gun are excellent photo subjects. The bridge, along with the sea whips and black corals. Many of the artifacts are still intact on
rest of the superstructure, is large and dark. It is easy to get lost the Kansho. Various rooms feature items like high-power binocu-
in here. Local guides have brought out items of interest including lars, a sextant and deer antlers. Bottles and plates are also com-
some beautiful bowls and plates adorned with Japanese designs. mon. LENGTH: 384 Ft. / 116m, DEPTH: Superstructure: 60 Ft./18m,
LENGTH: 463 Ft. / 141m, DEPTH: Hull: 40-80 Ft./12-24m, DEPTH: DEPTH: Deck: 80 Ft./24m, DEPTH: Bottom: 130 Ft./39m, Gross Ton-
Bottom: 115 Ft./35m, Gross Tonnage: 9,626 tons. nage: 4,862 tons.

K ANSHO MARU - The Kansho Maru was built in 1938. The
Japanese Navy took control of the ship when the war be-
gan and she was put to work shuttling supplies between Japan