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Komaki Maru
小牧丸
KOMAKI MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
18 June 1932: Aioi. Laid down at the Harima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co.'s shipyard for Kokusai Kisen K. K. (Tokyo)
8 July 1933: Launched and named KOMAKI MARU
21 November 1941: is attached to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Takenaka Ryuzo’s 23rd Naval Air Flotilla
16 April 1942: Arrives off Rabaul.
17 April 1942: Rabaul. Arrives at Simpson Harbor alongside pier No. 3. Disembarks flight personnel of the Tainan Naval Air Group, including future high-scoring ace (64) Sakai Saburo, and begins unloading bombs and ammunition.
18 April 1942: Rabaul. At about 1030, Fifth Air Force Martin B-26 “Marauder” medium bombers of the 22nd Bomb Group based in Townsville, Australia attack the harbor. KOMAKI MARU is hit by a bomb.Her stern explodes and she settles with only her top remaining above water. Captain Nakamura survives the attack.At about 1400, Japanese shore batteries finish sinking the ship at 04-15S, 152-20E. KOMAKI MARU is the first Japanese ship sunk in Simpson Harbour.Later, the hull of KOMAKI MARU is filled with earth and sand and it becomes a Wharf in Rabaul still in use today
1 May 1942:
Removed from the Navy List.
with the bow high our of the water Komaki Maru serves as the second whalf
as the years pass the lack of maintenance and the rust the ship rots away
What remains of the Komaki Maru, commonly known as the wreck wharf 15th Aug 2015
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