Fujikawa Maru
Chuuk
The Fujikawa Maru was built as a passenger-cargo ship by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry at Nagasaki. It was launched on 15 April 1938 for Toyo Kaiun. Displacing 6,938 tons, it was 132.6 metres long and 17.8 metres wide.
Originally used on the Japan/North American run and then chartered to Mitsui Busan for use to South America and India. Its primary purpose was to transport goods, such as agricultural products and manufactured items, across the Pacific Ocean. During its early years, the ship plied the trade routes between Japan and North America, offering a reliable and efficient mode of transportation.
On 9 December 1940 it was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy, converted to an aircraft ferry and was fitted with 6" bow and stern guns.This transformation involved equipping the vessel with specialized facilities to accommodate and transport military aircraft. The Fujikawa Maru became a crucial asset to the Japanese war effort, ferrying planes and supplies to remote island bases throughout the Pacific. She was used all over the Pacific as an armed aircraft transport or ferry, and delivered planes and aircraft parts to island parts through the Indo-China region.
On 12 September 1943 on a trip from Kwajalein to Chuuk, the Fujikawa Maru was torpedoed by the submarine USS Permit. Despite extensive damage, she arrived in Chuuk three days later. By January 1944 the vessel had been repaired in Japan and these repairs can be seen today on the port side waterline near the funnel. On 17 February 1944, planes from USS Bunker Hill CV17 and Monterey attacked the Fujikawa Maru and in strike 3E-1 two torpedos were dropped and at about 1420, one hit just rear of the funnel. The ship did not sink immediately (it is reported that it did not sink until the next morning) and there is a report that it was hit by a 1000 lb bomb on the port quarter but this is not confirmed.
Today the wreck lies sitting on even keel in water 34m to the bottom and is probably one of the most dived wrecks in Chuuk, because of the relatively shallow depth and the abundance of artefacts and structures to see. One of the most striking features in the impressive bow gun, which is slightly raised and pointing a little to starboard. However, the most interesting things are to be found in hold number 2; aircraft fuselage pieces, cockpits and wings and other assorted Zero fighter bits. There are also torpedoes, propellers, cables, papers, plates and assorted debris scattered all around. It is also possible to penetrate the bridge area and into the main superstructure where there is a bathroom with a large communal tiled bath. The ascent and safety stops are a pleasant experience too, with multitudes of fish and coral to look at on the mast.
