Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Nansin Maru
In June 1914 a new ship was completed by Irvine's Shipbuilding and Drydock Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, UK. The new ship was christened SS Corinthic. She was 385 feet long, 52 feet wide and displaced 4806 tons. Powered by a triple expansion 395 Nhp steam engine built by Richardsons, Wesgarth and Co Ltd, Hartlepool, UK, the steam came from three coal-powered scotch boilers.
The first owner W. H. Cockerline and Co. In 1919 the SS Corinthic was sold to Lancashire Shipping Co Ltd (J. Chambers and Co Managers) and renamed SS Thurland Castle. About 1923 the ship was sold to City Cate Line Ltd (H. W. Dillon and Sons Managers), registered at Liverpool, and again renamed, this time SS Hemisphere.
In October 1924 the ship was again sold, this time to Kohun Kisen KK of Kobe, Japan and renamed Kohki Maru. It is not clear, but the sale date may have been August 1925 instead.
About 1930 the Kohki Maru was sold once more, this time to Ishihara Gomei Kaisha (registered Fuchu) and renamed Nanshin Maru. In about 1935 the ownership changed to Ishihara Sangyo Kaiun KK (possibly just a name change of company). In 1938 the Nanshin Maru was renamed Nansin Maru.
At some time, probably before the start of the Pacific War in December 1941, the Nansin Maru was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
At 5.50 am on 24 September 1944, 180 Grumman F6F Hellcat and Grumman SB2C Helldiver planes lifted off carriers of Vice Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey's Task Force 38 and headed for the waters of Coron Bay. At 9am the planes reached Coron and located at least 18 large Japanese vessels and started their attack. After a frenzied 45 minute attack the planes left, leaving behind sunken ships. Today 14 of these wrecks have been located and most can be dived from Coron.
One of the wrecks is the Nansin Maru (still known locally as Nanshin Maru). I have not dived this wreck but it is reported to be very good.
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