Thương Thuyền London Maru

Thương Thuyền London Maru

Albatros sưu tầm

Trước năm 1975 những tàu biển từ ngoài biển vào cảng Sài Gòn, khi tiến gần Mũi Nghing Phong - Vũng Tàu hay Cap Saint Jacques cũ, phải chú ý xác định cho bằng được vị trí phao hiệu đầu tiên đánh dấu xác tàu chìm SS London Maru nằm ngoài khơi Mũi Nghinh Phong trước khi tiến vào vịnh Gành Rái rồi theo dòng sông Lòng Tào đến Sài Gòn. London Maru là cái tên quen thuộc với giới hàng hải Việt Nam thế nhưng ít người biết đến lai lịch của nó.

Epave SS LONDON MARU et Cap Saint Jacques (Vũng Tàu)

Đây là một phần bản đồ kỷ niệm mang theo khi vượt biên được vẽ lại bằng tay sau năm 1975 tại Sài Gòn dựa theo hải đồ Hoa Kỳ do bạn Lê Thanh Tân cung cấp.

Thương thuyền London Maru được khởi sự đóng vào ngày 3 tháng 9 năm 1921 bởi công ty Anh Cammell Laird & Co., Birkenhead và hoàn tất vào ngày 21 tháng 2 năm 1922, cho công ty Nhật Osaka Shosen K. K. - OSK Line, Osaka. Tàu có trọng tải 7191 GRT (tonneau=2,83m³), dài 137,2m rộng 17,3m, chiều cao đến pont trên cùng (upper deck) 10,8m, đng cơ gồm 3 máy turbine chạy bằng hơi nước, Vận tốc 14 knots, IMO : 28698, Call sign : JCLA. Tầu bị đắm vào ngày 22 April 1944 ở độ sâu 12,5 – 13,00m ở tọa độ 10°19N - 107°05E . Đây cũng là chiếc tàu lớn nhất được đóng tại Anh quốc cho công ty Nhật Bản Osaka Shosen Kaisha's Liner để hoạt động trên hải trình Nhật - Âu Châu với lượng giản nước (déplacement) 15.500 tonnes.

     SS London Maru

                                        Lễ Hạ Thủy của S/S LONDON MARU tại Anh quốc

Ngày 19 tháng 4 1944, tàu LONDON MARU khởi hành từ Singapore đi Vũng Tàu rồi đến Sài Gòn trong hợp đoàn công-voa SHISA-17 cùng với tàu chở hàng NAGATA MARU và 3 chiếc tàu dầu NISSHIN MARU, KORYU MARU, YAMAMIZU MARU N°3 dưới sự yểm trợ của chiến hạm chống tàu ngầm CH-9.

Ngày 22 tháng 4 năm 1944, 7 chiếc oanh tạc cơ B-24 Liberator thuộc 14th Air Force's 308th Bomb Group của Hoa Kỳ đã oanh tạc từ cao độ thấp vào đoàn công voa SHISA-17 đang bỏ neo cách hải đăng Vũng Tàu 2 hải lý. Trận oanh tạc đã đánh chìm tàu chở dầu KORYU MARU, trọng tải 6680 tấn, làm thiệt mạng 43 nhân viên thủy thủ và 38 quân nhân, tàu hàng NAGATA MARU trọng tải 2969 tấn, cùng chung số phận với 7 thủy thủ, 19 quân nhân và 27 hành khách thiệt mạng, tàu hàng LONDON MARU trọng tải 7191 tấn, hứng 3 quả bom, chìm với 2 thủy thủ thiệt mạng và tàu YAMAMIZU MARU NO.3 trọng tải 5244 tấn, chìm mang theo 18 thủy thủ. Riêng tàu NISSHIN MARU chỉ bị hư hại nhẹ. Chỉ có chiến hạm CH-9 chạy thoát và không bị tổn thất nào.

Tàu hàng NAGATA MARU

Tàu dầu NISSHIN MARU 1936-1937

In this handout from the U.S. Navy, a U.S. Curtiss Helldiver SB2C flies over a Japanese oiler smoking furiously a few moments after being hit by Navy-dropped bombs on the first day of carrier-based strikes on enemy shipping and shore installations along the southeast coast of Indochina, Jan. 12, 1945. During the two-day strike planes from Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet virtually destroyed three enemy convoys according to the Navy's announcement.

Two Japanese ships are under attack by U.S. Navy carrier-based planes, near the entrance of Quinhon harbor, in Japanese-occupied French-Indochina, in January 1945, during World War II. (AP Photo)

Cám ơn bạn Lê Thanh Tân K19 Pont đã cung cấp thông tin và tài liệu để hoàn thành bài viết nầy.

Tài liệu về chiếc LONDON MARU

General

nationality: japanese

purpose: transport

type: cargo ship

propulsion: steam

date built: 1921

status: live

details

tonnage: 7191 grt

dimensions: 137.2 x 17.3 x 10.8 m

material: steel

engine: 3 x Steam turbines DR geared to a single screwshaft

speed: 14 knots

yard no.: 890

IMO/Off. no.: 28698

call sign: JCLA

about the loss

cause lost: air raid

date lost: 22/04/1944 [dd/mm/yyyy]

casualties: † max.2rank: 736

about people

builder: Cammell Laird & Co., Birkenhead

engine by: Cammell Laird & Co., Birkenhead

owner: Osaka Shosen K. K. - OSK Line, Osaka

about the wreck

depth (m.): 13 max. / 12.5 min. (m)

references

references: Cressman, R. J., Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in WWII

updates

entered by: Jan Lettens entered: 11/11/2009

last update: Allen Tony

last update: 22/04/2016

On 22nd April 1944, when about two nautical miles NE of Cape St. Jacques lighthouse, Indochina. At 1945, seven B-24 Liberator heavy bombers of the 14th Air Force's 308th Bomb Group make a low-level attack on anchored convoy SHISA-17. The B-24s sink KORYU MARU taking down 43 crewmen and 38 soldiers, NAGATA MARU with the loss of seven crewmen, 19 soldiers and 27 passengers, LONDON MARU with the loss of two crewmen and YAMAMIZU MARU NO.3 taking down 18 crewmen. They also slightly damage NISSHIN MARU. One B-24 is damaged. Only CH-9 escapes without damage. Read more at wrecksite: https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?137586

https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?137586

IJA LONDON MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

1921: Birkenhead, England. Laid down by Cammel Laird & Co. Ltd. for the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) Line of Kobe as a 7,191-ton passenger cargo ship.

3 September 1921:
Launched and named LONDON MARU.

21 February 1922:
Completed. She can accommodate 20 first-class passengers and carries 71 crewmen. Placed on OSK’s Kobe ~ Europe route.

September 1923: The Great Kanto Earthquake:
Following the disaster, LONDON MARU recues 2,000 refugees in the Yokohama area. She also serves as floating telecommunications center temporarily replacing destroyed shore stations.

April 1925:
LONDON MARU is in service on OSK’s Kobe ` Puget Sound route with ports of call at Vancouver and Seattle.

December 1929-June 1930:
LONDON MARU’s ports of call are from Kobe, Yokkaichi, Shimizu, Yokohama, Vancouver, Seattle and then returns via Vancouver, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Dairen, Taku Bar.

7 October 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA). Allotted IJA No. 798.

November 1941:
Transports troops from China to Camranh Bay, Indochina in preparation for the invasion of Malaya.

13 December 1941 - Operation “E” – The Invasion of Malaya:
At 0830, departs Camranh Bay in the IJA 5th Infantry Division Transportation Movement. LONDON MARU is in the 2nd Unit's TransDiv 2 with TAIBUN, KOYU, SHINAI, KAMOI and WAKATSU MARUs. The Movement carries the main body of the 5th Infantry Division.

16 December 1941:
At 1900, arrives at Singora, Siam (now Songhkla, Thailand) supporting the Singora Invasion Unit that landed on 8 December.

26 July 1942:
Released to her owners by the IJA.

9 October 1942:
LONDON MARU departs Saigon, Indochina for Yokohama in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of AFRICA and HAWAII MARUs without escort.

20 October 1942:
At 2359 (H), LtCdr Jesse L. Hull's (USNA '26) USS FINBACK (SS-230) fires six torpedoes at the convoy. AFRICA MARU is hit by two torpedoes, takes on a list and sinks six minutes later at 24-26N, 120-26N. She was carrying a 7,568-ton cargo of corn, rice and general supplies and 38 passengers. Three of her crew of 112 men are KIA. LONDON MARU is also hit but remains afloat.

22 December 1942:
At 1150, LONDON MARU departs Futtsu in West Convoy No. 80 also consisting of ISSEI and HOKKO MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-17 At an unknown point, W-17 detaches.

9 June 1943:
Departs Singapore in the “Kyokuyo Maru” convoy also consisting of tankers KYOKUYO and OTORISAN MARUs without escort.

12 June 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques, Indochina.

2 July 1943:
LONDON MARU departs Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan) in convoy No. 278 also consisting of RONSAN and MANSHU MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.

6 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji.

7 August 1943:
LONDON MARU departs Takao for Yulin, Hainan Island, China in convoy No. 314 also consisting of transports HAMBURG and RYUYO MARUs and KOTO MARU No. 2 GO, cargo ship KENSEI (ex-British HINSANG) MARU, civilian cargo ship FUKUJU MARU and tankers KONSAN and NITTETSU MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU.

11 August 1943:
Arrives at Yulin.

27 September 1943:
At 1100, LONDON MARU departs Cholon, Saigon for Takao in an unidentified convoy with TOKUSHIMA MARU and oiler TACHIBANA MARU with an unknown escort.

28 September 1943:
?? LONDON MARU departs Takao in convoy No. 207 also consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.

2 October 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Mako.

E 7 October 1943:
?? Arrives at Moji.

19 November 1943:
LONDON MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 115 also consisting of transport NIPPONKAI MARU and tankers OGURA MARU No. 1 and KOTO MARU No. 2 GO, ore carrier GYOKUREI MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU. Several of these vessels departed from Sasebo and joined convoy. Soon after departure, CHOHAKUSAN MARU's engine breaks down and she returns to port.

24 November 1943:
At 0400, GYOKUREI MARU is detached for Keelung at 26-0N, 120-10E and KOTO MARU No. 2 GO is detached for Hong Kong.

26 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.

7 December 1943:
At 1100, LONDON MARU arrives at St Jacques from Mako in a convoy also consisting of BIZAN, SUNGSHAN (SUZAN), MATSUMOTO MARUs and an unidentified ship.

26 February 1944:
LONDON MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-06 also consisting of GOZAN, ISHIKARI, DAISEI, SHIRAHAMA MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan AWAJI and fleet storeship MUROTO.

29 February 1944:
Anchors off Ssu Chiao Shan, China.

1 March 1944:
Departs Ssu Chiao Shan.

4 March 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Takao.

6 March 1944:
LONDON MARU departs Takao via Yulin for Cap St Jacques, Indochina in convoy TASA-08 also consisting of NICHIREI, TOYOKUNI, ISHIKARI MARUs and four unidentified ships escorted by subchasers CH-21, CH-41 and CH-43 and auxilary gunboat PEKING MARU. TOYOKUNI MARU carries supplies and general cargo while en route to Yulin probably to load more bauxite ore.

7 March 1944:
HAKUROKU MARU falls behind with engine problems, but later catches up at 1620.

8 March 1944:
YAMAHAGI and TEIKA MARUs are detached for Kirun (Keelung), Formosa (Taiwan).

SE of Hong Kong. At 1455, LtCdr Lowell T. Stone’s (USNA ’29) USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes and damages TOYOKUNI MARU. She loses power and goes dead in the water. NICHIREI MARU takes her in tow.

9 March 1944:
350 miles W of Cape Bojeador, Luzon. At 0150, while NICHIREI MARU is still towing TOYOKUNI MARU, USS LAPON torpedoes NICHIREI MARU. LtCdr Stone also torpedoes TOYOKUNI MARU. Hit by three torpedoes in the two attacks, she drifts away and sinks at 19-21N, 116-09E. 15 men are KIA.

The escorts, including an aircraft, counterattack, but fail to damage LAPON. At about 0500, NICHIREI MARU sinks at 19-44N, 115-52E. 46 crewmen and six gunners are KIA. Later that day, LONDON MARU and the rest of the convoy arrives at Takao.

6 April 1943:
LONDON MARU arrives at Tokyo Bay in convoy No. 8404 also consisting of FUKUYAMA and SHISEN MARUs escort by minesweeper W-4.

19 April 1944:
LONDON MARU departs Singapore for Cap St. Jacques and Saigon in convoy SHISA-17 also consisting of transport NAGATA MARU, tankers NISSHIN, KORYU MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3 escorted by subchaser CH-9.

22 April 1944:
Off Cape St. Jacques. At 1945, seven USAAF B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers of the 14th Air Force's 308th Bomb Group make a low-level attack on convoy SHISHA-17.

The B-24s bombs make three direct hits and two near-misses and sink LONDON MARU with the loss of two crewman.

The bombers also sink NAGATA MARU with the loss of seven crewmen, 19 soldiers and 27 passengers, KORYU MARU taking down 43 crewmen and 38 soldiers, and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3 with the loss of 18 crewmen. They also slightly damage NISSHIN MARU. One B-24 is damaged. Only CH-9 escapes without damage.


Authors' Note:
[1] LONDON MARU was re-requisitioned by the Imperial Army at an unknown date. At the time of her sinking as an A/C-APK she carried IJA No. 5014.

Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

Bob Hackett

http://www.combinedfleet.com/London_t.htm

Date April 22 1944

Ship: London Maru

Type of vessel: Cargo ship

Standard Tonnage: 7190

Location: 10,19 N - 107,05 E

Flag of Agent: United States

Type of Agent: Army Aircraft

Assessment: Sunk

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/j/japanese-naval-merchant-shipping-losses-wwii.html