Awa Maru

The Awa Maru (阿波丸) was a Japanese ocean liner built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1941. Operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line), it was primarily used as a passenger and cargo vessel. During World War II, it served as a repatriation ship under an agreement between Japan and the Allied powers, specifically designated to transport civilian internees, diplomats, and other non-combatants.

The Awa Maru is most notably remembered for its controversial sinking on April 1, 1945, in the Taiwan Strait by the U.S. submarine Queenfish. Despite being guaranteed safe passage and clearly marked with white crosses on its hull, the Queenfish mistook it for a Japanese destroyer and torpedoed it. The sinking resulted in the loss of almost all of the approximately 2,004 passengers and crew aboard. Only one survivor was rescued.

The event caused significant diplomatic friction between the United States and Japan, even though Japan was at war with the U.S. The United States government formally apologized for the incident and conducted several salvage operations in the years following the war to recover the lost cargo. Rumors and speculation persisted regarding the nature of the cargo, with some believing it contained vast quantities of gold, precious metals, and other valuables taken from occupied territories. These rumors spurred further salvage attempts, many of which were unsuccessful and controversial due to the environmental impact and disturbance of a war grave. The Awa Maru remains a sensitive subject due to the immense loss of life and the lingering mysteries surrounding its cargo.