San Francisco Maru

Photos by Bob Hampton


Mines in the #1 hold of the San Francisco Maru

The San Francisco Maru was the deepest of the wrecks I dove at Truk, 170 ft. to the deck.

It's a five hold freighter, 367 ft. long, and it rests upright on the bottom of the lagoon.

The #1 cargo hold, just behind the ship's bow cannon, was full to the top with live hemispherical mines.
Tanks on the deck of the San Francisco Maru

These two "Type 95" tanks and a truck were on the starboard side, just forward of the burned out bridge. Another tank, on the port side, is barely visible on the right.
Tank on the San Francisco Maru

The tanks and truck were tossed around some as the ship sank, one of the tanks on the starboard side came to rest propped against the other. Beyond them is the ship's forward mast, between the #1 and #2 cargo holds.
Torpedo bodies on the San Francisco Maru

The #4 cargo hold, shown here, had lots of torpedo bodies, some with live warheads. There were also some live depth charges in the #5 hold.

Text and Photos © 1999 by Bob Hampton  All Rights Reserved


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