SS China Maru (1920)

The China Maru was a 5,870 gross ton cargo ship built by Kawasaki Dockyard Company, Kobe, for Kawasaki Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha in 1920. The cargo ship ran aground off Balum Island, Feni Islands, Papua New Guinea, on 26 June 1939, while steaming to Sydney from Yokohama, and was later refloated. She was requisitioned in 1941 by the Imperial Japanese Navy for use during World War II. On 10 March 1942, during the invasion of Lae-Salamaua, China Maru was damaged by SBD aircraft from the United States Navy aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) off Lae, New Guinea.

Fate
On 21 September 1944, while anchored off Manilla, Philippines, China Maru was hit by bombs from US Navy Task Force 38.1, 38.2, and 38.3 aircraft, and sunk at 14.58333°N, 120.91667°W.