Tokai Maru
The Tokai Maru was a Japanese passenger-cargo ship built by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard that was sunk in Apra Harbor, Guam, in 1943, during World War II. It had served as a fast ship service between New York City and Japan for Osaka Shosen Co. before World War II; during the war it was used as a military transport ship for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Construction began in 1929; the ship was launched on May 16, 1930; construction was completed on August 14, 1930. The ship went under contract to the Japanese Navy at Kure on October 17, 1941. In Apra Harbor, U.S. submarine USS Flying Fish damaged the Tokai Maru but did not sink it on January 24, 1943. The Tokai Maru was sunk by the USS Snapper later, on August 27, 1943.
The Tokai Maru shipwreck, under water, is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, as is the shipwreck of SMS Cormoran II, a World War I ship against which the Tokai Maru leans. It is one of the few places where divers can explore a World War I shipwreck next to a ship from World War II.
In 1988 the wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Tokai Maru was listed because of its association with World War II.
