SS Kokai Maru (1939)

The Kokai Maru was a 3,871 gross ton passenger cargo ship built by Hakodate Dock Company, Hakodate, Hokkaidō for Simatani Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha in 1939. She was requisitioned in 1941 by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. On 10 March 1942, during the invasion of Lae-Salamaua, Kokai Maru was damaged by SBD’s from the United States Navy aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) off Lae, New Guinea.

Fate
On 21 February 1944, as part of a convoy off New Hanover Island, Kokai Maru ws hit by bombs from United States Army Air Forces B-25 Mitchell aircraft, and sunk at 2-30S, 150-15E.