The Heian Maru - one of the largest wrecks to be found in the waters of Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon at a length of 155m.
Built in 1930 as a Passenger-Cargo Ship with interior decoration designed in the “old English” style she was considered a major innovation in ships at the time with the high standards of decoration carried out in the ship’s lounge, reading room, writing room, and dining salon. On her maiden voyage, she set a trans-Pacific speed record on a trip to Seattle. Seattle shippers spread the word through the media that the arrival of the new ship might be regarded as a gesture of friendship from the business interests of Japan. Following this theme of friendship, the ship’s owners opened up the Heian Maru to the public, letting nearly 15,000 people tour the vessel. The crowds were so great that hundreds had to be turned away. She was converted into a Navy submarine tender in 1941, and was an integral part of the 6th Submarine Fleet initially based in Kwajalein, and subsequently stationed at Truk.
During Operation Hailstone, on February 17th 1944 the Heian Maru was anchored 500 yards offshore from the island of Dublon.
A dive-bomber from the USS Yorktown hit her near the bow exploding the superstructure into a fiery inferno. Two SB2Cs from the USS Bunker Hill attacked the ship with two 1,000 lb. bombs and one 1,600 lb. bomb, but all three missed. Photos taken mid-day show the ship smoking very heavily with its superstructure enveloped in flame.
On the February 18th two torpedo bombers from the USS Bunker Hill scored near misses, but damaged the ship. Later that day, the Heian Maru was hit by Avenger torpedo bombers from the USS Bunker Hill, which caused an explosion and large fires, sinking the ship. Fourteen officers and men were killed, and twenty-eight wounded.
She rests on her port side with the side hull beginning at 12m and the sea bottom at 36m. She is the largest ship remaining in Truk Lagoon, and has large passageways with an expansive bridge and engine room.
The second hold has many torpedo bodies recognizable by the twin propellers together with a winch apparatus, pulleys and chain that were part of the system used to move the torpedoes in and out of the storage space. Along the promenade deck level companionway aft of the bridge superstructure, there are a total of nine 50-foot long submarine navigational and attack periscopes lying side by side.
During the 2 dives on this wreck we discovered so many amazing items, from a perfectly intact lightbulb still in its socket, wellington boots, bombs, medical kit, china plates and cups, and hundreds of glass sake bottles, some still on the rotten wooden frame of their crates.
Ironically, the Japenese Kanji symbol on the hull directly underneath the deck gun translates as "Peace".
Video shot using a Canon G7X in Nauticam Housing with 2 x 6500 lumen Big Blue video lights.
Music: 6 Underground by Sneaker Pimps
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