World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseJapanese troop transport Kembu Maru began her life as British passenger ship Empire Blossom, which was under construction in Hong Kong by Dec 1941. On 1 Dec, as the Japanese invasion seemed unavoidable, engine and boilers intended for her were diverted to Singapore. In late Dec 1941, the Japanese did indeed invade, and captured Empire Blossom in the shipyard. She was completed by the Japanese in Feb 1943 and was assigned to the Japanese Navy. On 4 Aug 1943, she was damaged by American submarine USS Seadragon. Two months later, on 4 Dec 1943, at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, she was attacked by carrier USS Lexington's aircraft while carrying aviation fuel. The aviation fuel ignited and triggered an explosion, which sank her immediately. The resulting column of smoke was reportedly reached 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) altitude.