Aratama Maru
National Register of Historic Places

Aratama Maru

Talofofo, Guam County, Guam
Listed
June 1, 1988
Type
Site
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
88000612

About this property

Aratama Maru (Kanji:新玉丸) was a merchant ship of the Empire of Japan. Launched in 1938, she was pressed into service as a munitions transport in World War II. She was struck by a torpedo fired from USS Seahorse on April 8, 1944, while approaching Guam as part of a Japanese ammunition resupply convoy. Engulfed in flames, her crew abandoned her and were picked up by an escort vessel. After drifting for three days, the abandoned hull came to rest just inside the reef fringing Talofofo Bay on Guam's southeastern coast. While resting on the reef she split in half with the stern of the ship drifting off the reef toward the Mariana Trench. The wreck was partially salvaged shortly afterward and was further salvaged in the 1960s, leaving only the hull remnants, the anchor with chain, and some elements of its superstructure. It has also been the subject of souvenir diving, and its position and condition have been affected by several typhoons. Seahorse damaged Kizugawa Maru in the same attack, which was towed into Apra Harbor for repairs and during a second American bombing attack was sunk where she remains today. The shipwreck was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Location

Talofofo, Guam County, Guam
13.33496, 144.76748

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Mana Pillbox
Industrial
0.4 mi
Talofofo-Talu'fofu' Pillbox
Industrial
2.1 mi
Tokcha' Pillbox
Industrial
2.5 mi
Light Model Tank No. 95
Listed
3.2 mi
Ilik River Fortification II
Industrial
3.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Aratama Maru listed on the National Register?

Aratama Maru was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 1, 1988.

What type of historic resource is Aratama Maru?

Aratama Maru is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Aratama Maru?

The period of significance for Aratama Maru is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1938.

Can I research the history near Aratama Maru?

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