all-bull Posted June 2, 2011 Share #1 Posted June 2, 2011 Hello, Does anyone know what this ship is? I find it very unusual to be flying Japanese and US flags and have Japanese writing on it, while carting around Japanese prisoners. Any help would be great. THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all-bull Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted June 2, 2011 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all-bull Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted June 2, 2011 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all-bull Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted June 2, 2011 prisoners. Notice the Thompson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlaterDoc Posted June 17, 2011 Share #5 Posted June 17, 2011 You may be surprised to learn that it is IJN Hospital Ship TACHIBANA MARU! The info in the next post explains the US sailors with the Thompsons. This is a picture of the TACHIBANA MARU during the war tied up at Morotai. You'll notice the red cross profile sitting on top and the Red Cross on the side just behind the bow. That we took possession of it as a "prize" may explain the Japanese flag under the US flag! Kink for info http://www.combinedfleet.com/Tachibana_t.htm You'll see in the info that although it was painted white with the red crosses, the Japs used it to transport troops and munitions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlaterDoc Posted June 17, 2011 Share #6 Posted June 17, 2011 The following info explains all the photos! 2 August 1945: At 1100, Captain W. H. Watson, ComDesDiv 102, receives a contact report indicating a Japanese hospital ship is at 05-40S, 129-45E, course 245° (T), speed 10 knots. At 1530, Captain Watson sends LtCdr Gerald P. Joyce’s USS CHARRETTE (DD-581) and LtCdr William Sissons CONNER (DD-582) into the Banda Sea to intercept. At 2040, radar contact is made on TACHIBANA MARU at 35,000 yards. 3 August 1945: Banda Sea, north of Timor, NEI. At 0637, CHARRETTE signals TACHIBANA MARU to lie to. The Americans observe the Japanese throwing weighted bags over the side. At 0658, a search party in charge boards TACHIBANA MARU. A medical officer with the search party concludes the majority of the "patients" are in good health. At 0750, the search party finds mortar shells packed in boxes marked with red crosses and labeled medical supplies. Marine guards and a prize crew are immediately dispatched to TACHIBANA MARU. 6 August 1945: At 0925, TACHIBANA MARU, escorted by destroyers CHARRETTE and CONNER, arrived at Morotai. At 1545, TACHIBANA MARU went alongside the Navy Pier, where all POW's were taken into custody by the U.S. Army’s 93rd Division. POW's from CHARRETTE were also transferred to shore. 7 to 12 August 1945: TACHIBANA MARU is unloaded of approximately 30 tons of ammunition, including 80mm field howitzer shells, knee mortar projectiles, hand grenades, and rifle and machine gun ammunition. About 400 rifles and carbines, 15 light machine guns, 45 knee mortars and four 80 mm field howitzer equipment are also unloaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted June 17, 2011 Share #7 Posted June 17, 2011 Umm.... doesn't that violate the Geneva Convention just a bit? LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlaterDoc Posted June 17, 2011 Share #8 Posted June 17, 2011 Isn't it amazing that a certain faction of our population is always screaming about "us" not violating the Geneva Conventions and yet, it always seems the enemy always does! Whether it was the Japanese, the Germans, the North Vietnamese, the North Koreans or the Taliban, they all had their own set of conventions! Usually it involved REAL torture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted June 17, 2011 Share #9 Posted June 17, 2011 Isn't it amazing that a certain faction of our population is always screaming about "us" not violating the Geneva Conventions and yet, it always seems the enemy always does! Whether it was the Japanese, the Germans, the North Vietnamese, the North Koreans or the Taliban, they all had their own set of conventions! Usually it involved REAL torture! Damn-straight! War is hell. To try enforcing rules (on all participants) by which to prosecute a war/battle is absurd, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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