World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbasePrior to the Pacific War, Japanese ship Montevideo Maru carried cargo and passengers between Asia and South America. On 22 Jun 1942, she boarded 845 prisoners of war (mostly Australian) and 208 civilian internees at Rabaul, New Britain. She set sail without escort for Hainan Island off Southern China. On 30 Jun, she was detected by American submarine USS Sturgeon off northern Philippine Islands. During the day, Montevideo Maru traveled at 17 knots, which was too fast for the submarine to approach. At about midnight, however, she slowed to 12 knots as she was expecting to meet with two destroyers en route to join her as escorts. Prior to the arrival of the two destroyers, USS Sturgeon fired four torpedoes at the ship, unaware of the POWs and civilians aboard. Montevideo Maru was hit and sank before sunrise. Of the 1,140 total aboard, only 18 survived the sinking, one of whom would die soon afterwards from his wounds.

Montevideo Maru Operational Timeline