Kiji Maru

Kiji Maru. The Kiji Maru was a Japanese cargo ship that served during the Pacific War of World War II. Constructed in the late 1930s, it was primarily engaged in transport duties for the Imperial Japanese Navy before being sunk by Allied forces in 1944. Its wreck, located in the South Pacific, has become a notable site for technical diving and serves as a historical reminder of the Battle of the Pacific.

History

The vessel was ordered as part of a pre-war naval expansion program under the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff. Its keel was laid down at the Harima Shipyard in Hyōgo Prefecture, a major industrial facility also responsible for constructing vessels like the battleship Yamato. Following its launch, the Kiji Maru was initially operated by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha shipping line before being requisitioned for military service shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the early stages of the war, it was involved in logistical support for operations in the Dutch East Indies and the Solomon Islands campaign.

Design and construction

The ship was a standard Type 1TL cargo vessel, a design overseen by the Japanese Ministry of the Navy. It featured a steel hull, a single propeller, and was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine manufactured by the Kawasaki Heavy Industries group. With a gross register tonnage of approximately 6,500 tons, its design emphasized cargo capacity and range to support distant military operations. Armament for defense against Allied aircraft and submarines was added during its conversion, including Type 96 autocannons and depth charge projectors.

Service record

After its requisition, the Kiji Maru was assigned to the South Seas Force and participated in the Battle of Rabaul, delivering troops and supplies. It later made several hazardous runs to reinforce garrisons on Bougainville Island and New Georgia during the intense fighting of the New Guinea campaign. In 1943, it survived an attack by the United States Navy submarine USS Wahoo near the Truk Lagoon. Its final voyages were part of convoy operations supporting the defensive perimeter around the Mariana Islands, including runs to Saipan and Guam.

Sinking and wreck

The ship was sunk on 18 June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, a major naval engagement often called the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot." While part of a convoy designated Hi-71, it was attacked by aircraft from the USS Essex and USS Lexington, which were part of Task Force 58 under Admiral Raymond Spruance. Struck by multiple aerial torpedoes and bombs, the vessel sank quickly approximately 80 nautical miles northeast of Yap. The wreck was rediscovered in 2001 by a team led by explorer Robert Ballard and lies upright at a depth of over 200 meters.

Legacy

The wreck of the Kiji Maru is now considered a war grave by the Japanese government. It has been surveyed by organizations like the National Geographic Society and features in documentaries about the Pacific War. The site is occasionally visited by remotely operated vehicles from institutions such as the University of Hawaii. As an artifact of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, it contributes to the historical understanding of Japanese merchant navy losses and is listed in archives maintained by the Yasukuni Shrine and the Japanese Coast Guard.

Category:World War II merchant ships of Japan Category:Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean Category:Ships built in Japan