Ayatosan Maru

History
The Awazisan Maru, almost identical to the Ayatosan Maru^[1]
Empire of Japan
Name	Ayatosan Maru
Owner	Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (1941)
Builder	Tama Zosensho
Yard number	246
Laid down	13 June 1938
Launched	28 September 1939
Completed	24 February 1941
Homeport	Kobe
Identification	Call sign JXUM
Fate	Requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Army
Empire of Japan
Name	Ayatosan Maru
Operator	Imperial Japanese Army
Fate	Sunk, 21 July 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage	9,788 GRT 10,930 DWT
Length	145 m (476 ft)^[2]
Beam	20 m (64 ft)
Draught	12 m (40 ft)

Ayatosan Maru (綾戸山丸貨物船) was a 9,788 gross ton (10,930DWT) freighter that was built by Tama Shipbuilding Co., Tamano for Mitsui & Co. Ltd. launched in 1939.^[3] She had been intended to run the New York passenger and freight run, however she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and fitted out as a high-speed transport, which was completed in May 1941.

During the invasion of Malaya she was damaged by Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Hudson light bombers and a blaze broke out which was later extinguished.^[4] She was also damaged by a torpedo from the Dutch submarine HNLMS O-16.

While unloading troops and supplies at Gona on 21 July 1942, she was bombed by United States Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force bombers and was sunk at 8°50′S 148°50′E / 8.833°S 148.833°E / -8.833; 148.833, with the loss of forty lives and three vehicles. Two other transports that had completed unloading escaped with their escort. She became known as "The Gona wreck" with allied patrols investigating and confirming the ship's identity.^[5] The wreck was later used to range artillery and as a bombing target by Allied forces.

Citations

^ https://maritime.org/doc/id/oni208j-japan-merchant-ships/pg085.php
^ "Ayatosan Maru" (PDF). plimsollshipdata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
^ "Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Mitsui Steamship Co. Ltd". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
^ "Subchaser CH-9". The Combined Fleet. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
^ Milner, Samuel (1957). Victory in Paupa. United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. p. 62. LCCN 56060004.