description SS Lisbon Maru Overview
Lisbon Maru was a Japanese cargo and troop transport ship used during the Second World War. In October 1942, the American submarine USS Grouper torpedoed her near the Zhoushan Islands, unaware that she was carrying roughly 1,800 British prisoners of war in her holds. More than 800 prisoners died through drowning, confinement, shooting, or the conditions surrounding the sinking, while Chinese fishermen rescued many survivors.
help SS Lisbon Maru FAQ
Who torpedoed the Lisbon Maru in 1942?
The Japanese troop transport ship Lisbon Maru was torpedoed by the American submarine USS Grouper on October 1, 1942. The US submarine was completely unaware that the ship was carrying over 1,800 British prisoners of war in its holds.
Why did so many British POWs die on the Lisbon Maru?
After the torpedo struck, the Japanese soldiers nailed the hatch covers shut on the holds where the British POWs were kept, leaving them trapped below deck. When the ship finally began to sink, hundreds of prisoners were shot or drowned trying to escape the hull.
Where did the Lisbon Maru sink?
The Lisbon Maru sank near the Zhoushan Islands, located off the southeastern coast of China. Local Chinese fishermen bravely risked their lives to rescue hundreds of the escaping British soldiers from the water.
What happened to the survivors of the Lisbon Maru sinking?
The surviving British prisoners who were recaptured by the Japanese or rescued by the Chinese were eventually sent to forced labor camps in Japan. Many of these men did not survive the brutal conditions of their subsequent captivity during the Second World War.
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