Rod Macdonald's video: Diving the wreck of Seiko Maru - Truk Lagoon

The 5,385grt IJN auxiliary transport vessel Seiko Maru was launched on 14 May 1940 as Japan readied itself for war in the Pacific. A large 392.5-feet long freighter, she had her machinery, engine and boiler rooms at the stern - so she resembled a tanker or oiler, and was mistaken for such by U.S. attack aircraft. On 17 February 1944, as Task Force 58 fast carriers launched their surprise 2-day raid codenamed Operation HAILSTONE, she was at anchor in the IJN Fourth Fleet anchorage north east of the man-made aircraft carrier shaped Eten Island. A valuable target she was quickly attacked and took bomb hits aft from USS Enterprise Douglas Dauntless dive-bombers that blew out both sides of her hull. She was set ablaze and settled by the stern into 52 metres of water, where she now sits upright. She is a largely intact wreck - barring the obvious bomb damage aft.