What was the Japanese freighter, Arisan Maru, famous for at the end of World War II?
A 6,886-ton freighter, Arisan Maru was one of Imperial Japan's World War II hell ships. The hell ships were floating prisoner of war (POW) camps used to move them and to use the POWs as human shields.
On October 24, 1944, Arisan Maru was transporting 1,781 US and Allied military and civilian POWs when she was hit by a torpedo from an American submarine (either USS Shark or USS Snook), at about 5 p.m.; finally sinking at about 7 p.m.
No POWs were killed by the torpedo strikes and nearly all were able to leave the ship's hold, but the Japanese did not rescue any of the POWs. Only nine of the prisoners aboard survived the event.
More Info:
en.m.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
4 Comments
Vimala Padmaraj
I WOULD NOT USE THE WORD "FAMOUS"
IT WAS RATHER "INFAMOUS" AND HORRORFIC.
Pat Wells
The ship has a very sad story that is worth reading. Japan's dirty secret on full display.
Gary Chadwick
Nearly went for one of the other options, then remembered go for the wordy option, it's oftten the correct one.
Elsy O. Stromberg
The Japanese military was very criminal. Sharp contrast to Japanese people in general, who appear to be very polite and law abiding.