Japanese transport Kembu Maru

Kenbu Maru under attack by Allied aircraft during the battle of the Bismarck Sea
History
Japan
Name	Kembu Maru
Builder	Nakata Zosen
Fate	Sunk by aircraft on 3 March 1943 at 07°15'S, 148°30'E
General characteristics
Tonnage	953 tons

Kembu Maru was a 953-ton transport ship of Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

She left Rabaul, New Britain on 1 March 1943, as part of Operation 81, carrying a cargo of 1,000 drums of avgas and 650 drums of other fuel for Lae, New Guinea.[1]

The convoy was attacked by aircraft of the United States Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force from 2 March 1943, known as the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Kembu Maru was bombed on 3 March; she exploded in a giant fireball and sank at 07°15'S., 148°30'E. 20 troops were killed in action.[2]

Notes

1. McAulay 1991, p. 39
2. "Kembu Maru (+1943)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 2016-10-01.

References

• McAulay, Lex (1991). Battle of the Bismarck Sea. New York: St Martins Press. ISBN 0-312-05820-9. OCLC 23082610.