techdivethailand

DJL Diving Team Identifies WW2 Japanese Minelayer HIJMS Hatsutaka

Davy Jones Locker [PADI 5* Gold Palm Resort, BSAC Centre of Excellence]

Written by Tim Lawrence, Gary Bain & Darius Moazzami 

Introduction Throughout the Second World War, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysian peninsular was the scene for much naval conflict, with the loss of many military and cargo vessels. The relatively shallow depth throughout this region means through the application of deep technical diving techniques, we can explore the seabed, revisiting these lost ships and investigating history. During March 2008, a team of divers from Davy Jones Locker [Koh Tao, Thailand], organised an expedition to locate and identify a military vessel with a lot of history in this region - the Imperial Japanese Navy Minelayer Hatsutaka. Here are our findings.

Image: Mast on the forward section of the HIJMS Hatsutaka

Historical Perspective

The Japanese Minelayer HIJMS Hatsutaka was completed in October 1939. Built by Harima & Co. Hatsutaka gave it’s name to that class of ship. Measuring 90.9 metres in length with a 11.3 metre beam, the Hatsutaka class had a fast, sleek design displacing 1608 tonnes. Engineered with a dual shaft, three boiler power plant, 6000hp was delivered to the propellers giving the minelayer a maximum speed of 20 knots.

Image: WW2 Minelayer HIJMS Hatsutaka

The Hatsutaka class were dual purpose minelayers and net tenders.

With a capacity 360 mines, at the time of building HIJMS Hatsutaka was armed with four 40 mm guns plus a further four 25mm anti aircraft guns.

As WW2 progressed, American submarines become increasingly effective in disrupting Japanese shipping, reducing the transport of vital raw materials. In response, HIJMS Hatsutaka was modified and assigned the role of convoy escort, in an effort to restore the flow of aggregates for the Japanese war machine. Hatsutaka excelled in this new role. Fiercely defending Japanese marus throughout the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysian peninsular, Hatsutaka rapidly became the scourge of US Submarines in this area.

On May 3rd 1945, Japanese Naval records show that the Hatsutaka attacked a submarine in the southern Gulf of Thailand, dropping depth charges on the submerged vessel at 30 fathoms. It’s believed that this was the Baleo Class submarine USS Lagarto [SS-371]. All 86 men on the USS Largato were lost.

Commanding Officer of USS Lagarto, Commander Latta was a veteran of war, having previously made seven patrols as Commanding Officer of USS Narwhal II (SS-167). Every patrol made by this officer was designated successful for the award of combat insignia, a record surpassed by no commanding officer in the Submarine Force.

USS Hawkbill [SS-366] Commanding Officer, Lt. Comdr. F. W. Scanland, Jr. was a close friend of Commander Latta. Stationed in peninsular Malaysia, when the Lagarto was reported overdue, he swore to avenge the loss of his colleagues.

Image: Baleo class submarine USS Hawkbill, photographed in October 1945 [Courtesy of http://usshawkbill.com/366/]

This excerpt is from the Official History of the USS Hawkbill [http://usshawkbill.com/366/].

“Continued westward and at two o’clock in the morning, 16 May, commenced patrolling in shallow water seven miles off the Malay coast, just north of Pulo Tenggol, Malaya, scene of much of Hawkbill’s later actions.

Within two hours after arrival on station, and 2 hours before dawn, Hawkbill contacted an unidentified target running south along the coast. Within an hour after contact, after closing to get at the target before he could enter a mined area behind Pulo Tenggol, Hawkbill had fired six torpedoes from the forward nest for two hits. Range was 2600 yards. Target stopped and opened up with a barrage of four-inch and automatic weapons fire which lasted off and on until seven o’clock in the morning. The target was obviously hurt, but still afloat, and his gunfire held Hawkbill off during darkness.

Pulling clear until dawn, Hawkbill submerged and started back in, closing sufficiently to identify the target as a sleek, fast mine layer of the Hatsutaka Class. He was being towed slowly toward the beach, stern first., by a small sea truck of about 400 tons. At extreme range of 4650 yards, Hawkbill fired a second salvo of three torpedoes at this target. Sighting the wakes, Hatsutaka opened fire with everything he had in an effort to detonate the torpedoes. To no avail, however, for one broke him in two with a terrific explosion amidships.”

Davy Jones Locker Dive Expedition: March 28th 2008, Eastern Peninsular Malaysia

After researching war reports and cross referencing this data against local knowledge, we determined the likely location of HIJMS Hatsutaka. Malaysian fishermen were aware of a large wreck in their waters, and suggested it was from the correct period, but were unaware of the identity.

We believed the wreck would be situated several kilometers north of Dungun, to the north-west of Pulao Tenngol, approximately one kilometer off shore. This is a popular spot for the fishermen to drop fish traps, and for spear fishing.

With the logistical assistance of local Tenngol Island dive operator Lee Tong Theng ‘Charlie’, we chartered a fishing boat and headed to the wreck site, with the objective of locating and identifying the Hatsutaka. Scheduled during one of South East Asia’s inter-monsoon periods, the expedition was coordinated to coincide with the best possible diving conditions. A large river estuary flows into the sea at Dungun, but we would be diving sufficiently far north for visibility to remain unaffected.

Image: DJL Diving PADI Course Director Darius Moazzami prepares to dive

Arriving early morning with near zero wave heights, we ran a brief sonar survey, before deploying the shot line. Maximum depth in this area is relatively shallow at 35m, but the region does suffer strong north-south currents.

Image: Manolo tends to the depth sonar

We planned five waves of wreck dives throughout the day, breaking into teams of two divers so we could discuss the observations from each dive and maximize the effectiveness of our survey. Visibility was in the 10-15m range, with the current running strong in the morning then easing off later in the day.

On the first dive our shot line was secured to what we believe to be the forward section of the wreck. The ship is broken in two main portions, with the break situated amidships rear of the bridge.

The bow section is lying on it’s port side, measuring approximately 45m in length. This forward section lies on a roughly north-south orientation.

Image: Forward section of the WW2 Minelayer HIJMS Hatsutaka

The stern section of the wreck is sitting upright on the seabed, approximately 25m off the bow section, extending west, towards the mainland. The structure is still mostly solid, with portholes lining the hull. This is all consistent with the information given in the original war report, with Hatsutaka being towed stern first towards the mainland, and breaking in two.

In addition to the two main sections, there are other scattered areas of wreckage. Primarily attributable to the original torpedo attack, this is has also been contributed to by ‘dynamite fishing’ which was only made illegal and enforced by the marine police as recently as ten years ago.

The wreck is rich with WW2 artifacts. In the debris field beneath the bridge, we observed typical WW2 Japanese naval items.

Of particular interest was part of a pair of binoculars, which are characteristic of the superior optics used by the Japanese at this time.

Left image: Part of a set of binoculars, typical of Japanese optics used in WW2

Right Image: Gyroscopic compass and range finding device

This artifact is very similar to a set recovered from the Japanese Heavy Cruiser Haguro [sunk 55 miles south west of Penang, Malaysia]. 

Also fascinating, was a large gyroscopic ship’s compass and range finding instrument, fitted with intricate glass prisms and scales.

After cleaning the coral of the top piece of the range-finder, we found the following manufacturers plate:

Image: Makers plate on top of range-finding device

The translation of the Japanese script, comes out as follows:

 90 Compass Type 1
[Kou-Dai-Kyo] Big Mirror

Type KA5 No. 19973
Company Name
Tokyo Keiki Sei Sakujo [Tokyo measurement company]
Made December 1938

Given that the HIJMS Hatsutaka was completed in 1939, the date of the makers stamp on the compass fits well. 

Scattered across the wreck we saw several pressure sensitive mechanisms which we assume to be part of a depth charge triggering mechanism. These are stamped with Japanese script.

Image: Depth charge detonator device

On the stern section there are many unexploded shells.

We recovered an empty casing, which measured 25mm, again consistent with the technical details for HIJMS Hatsutaka.

Image: 25 mm casing, consitent with HIJMS Hatsutaka’s armament

We also observed what we assume to be an anti aircraft turret mounting, and believe the gun to has fallen off the mounting, into the wreckage.

After 63 years on the seabed, the wreck of HIJMS Hatsutaka is now rich with marine life. The ship is encrusted with colorful corals, with an enormous population of fusiliers and trevelly surrounding the wreck, a testament to nature’s ability to overcome adversity.

Diving the Hatsutaka was a fascinating experience, and we’ll soon return with another team of divers from Davy Jones Locker to further explore and map the wreck.

Image: The dive team from Davy Jones’ Locker: From left Gary Bain, Tim Lawrence, Tristan Termat, Bruno Silveira, Darius Moazzami & Manuel Santana Lopez.

We’d like to thank Lee Tong Theng ‘Charlie’ and Dick Clark [from the Official USS Hawkbill website] for their contributions in making this expedition a success.

Wreck Dive Expedition Opportunities with Davy Jones Locker

At Davy Jones’ Locker, Koh Tao Thailand, we’re committed to dive exploration, and will continue to seek out lost ship wrecks throughout South East Asia.

You too can get involved.

To encourage dive exploration, we’re offering an exciting new option for all our technical diver training with Davy Jones’ Locker.

If you enroll on either a DSAT Tec Deep or BSAC technical diving course with DJL, all the profit from your tech course will be put towards funding dive expeditions such as this. So as part of your tech diving course, you’ll get to take part in an exciting dive expedition.

For example, on this dive expedition Tristan Termat was completing his tech diving course - for his last two dives he joined our expedition team, re-locating and identifying the HIJMS Hatsutaka.  If you’re interested taking up the challenge, contact DJL Diving.

Image: Tech student Tristan and Tim prepare to enter the water

You can read full details of our technical diving courses on our website.

If you’re already certified as a technical diver [or are a group of technical divers], and want to get involved, again contact Davy Jones’ Locker, and we can discuss what’s possible.

There are many targets still waiting to be explored - we just need to commit the time and resources.

James completes his IDC to qualify as a PADI Diving Instructor

Working as a professional Dive Instructor can be one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs a person can have. In addition to the inherent joys of introducing others to an environment with so many hidden wonders,  today’s dive instructors find themselves in an ever-expanding and diversifying market with new opportunities arising almost daily.

Image: New PADI Dive Instructor James Wynn

Following the completion of his scuba diving internship here on Koh Tao Thailand, we’re happy to announce that James Wynn [UK] has qualified as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

After passing the PADI Instructor examination, James is now able to teach all PADI dive courses up to and including Divemaster level.

James is now going to reward himself with a bit of tech and wreck diving, before returning back to the UK early next month.

If you’re interested in training to become a scuba diving instructor, checkout our instructor developement course [IDC] package.

Congratulations James!

Tim certifies two new BSAC technical divers

Congratulations to Franky & Clare who have recently qualified as technical divers with DJL Diving.

Both came from Koh Tao Dive professional backgrounds. Clare did her PADI Divemaster training with Island Dive Club, before working as a freelance Divemaster for several dive shops. Franky has been teaching as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor with Coral Grand Divers at the north end of Sairee Beach.

Under Tim’s tuition, both Franky and Clare took the BSAC Advanced Nitrox course, Franky then going on to also complete his BSAC Extended Range Diver Training.

The course concluded with a days deep decompression diving visiting the WW2 Japanese Schooner and Unicorn ship wrecks north of Koh Tao, Thailand.

Franky will be joining us on our tech diving liveaboard to the South China Sea this May - we hope that Clare also continues to exersise her technical diving skills.

If you’re interested in finding out what’s involved in deep technical diver training, contact DJL Diving or visit the tech diving section on our website.

Diving Sail Rock | Images of great diving in the Gulf of Thailand

As a result of the calm sea conditions we’ve been experiencing, the diving is great right now. Today, diving from our big dive boat we visited one of the Gulf of Thailand’s best dive sites - Sail Rock situated midway betweeen Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. DJL Diving’s Digital Underwater photography instructor Arne D’Hoore was on the dive boat to capture these great images of the diving.

Image: Trevelly above a table coral at Sail Rock [taken by Arne D’Hoore]

With 1 metre wave heights, it was more comfortable to take our big boat to Sail Rock. We planned for two dives on the small vertical walled island, and weren’t disappointed!

Image: The DJL Dive boat moored up on Sail Rock, Thailand [taken by Arne D’Hoore]

Sail Rock is most famous for it’s vertical ‘chimney swimthrough’ which opens at around 6 metres, dropping down to a wide exit at about 18 metres depth.

Image: The famous vertical chimney swimthrough at Sail Rock [taken by Arne D’Hoore]

Visibility was very good, giving great views of the masses of pelagic marine life around the dive site. Visibility was only reduced on the down current face of Sail Rock.

Image: Barracuda being tended to by a small wrasse at a cleaning station [taken by Arne D’Hoore]

The divers got to see masses of trevelly, giant grouper & batfish, along with lots of colourful tropical reef fish. Even the chevron and great barracudas were visible at cleaning stations on Sail Rock.

Image: Giant grouper @ Sail Rock [taken by Arne D’Hoore]

Image: A continuous school of fish passing across the Sail Rock dive site [taken by Arne D’Hoore]

If you want to learn to take great digital underwater images like these, contact us a we can line up a PADI Digital Underwater Photography Specialty with Arne.

TEC Diving website relaunched | Tech Diving, training & CCR Rebreather

We’ve just completed a major revamp of the technical diving information on the DJL Diving website. If you’re looking for info on tech & wreck diving in Thailand, make sure you check out these new pages:

Introduction to technical diving in Koh Tao

Technical/wreck diving expedition reports

Technical diving facilities in Koh Tao

Thailand wreck dive sites archive

Tech & Wreck diving liveaboards

CCR Rebreather diving in Thailand

BSAC Advanced Nitrox & Extended Range Diving course

DSAT Tec Deep Course

IANTD CCR Rebreather courses

Introduction to technical diving

Comparison of DSAT Tec Deep & BSAC Technical diving courses

Closed Circuit Rebreather [CCR] Diving comes to to DJL [Koh Tao, Thailand]

At DJL Diving, Koh Tao Thailand we’ve been joined by ex-naval engineer Leon Webber [UK]. Leon has many years experience, diving, teaching and modifying closed circuit rebreathers [CCR diving], and has now introduced CCR Rebreather Diving to DJL Diving Thailand.

We already have a Buddy Evolution unit here in Koh Tao, and a second Buddy Inspiration will be coming in early 2008. We’ll be expanding our CCR Rebreather capability throughout 2008. 

Both a 1 day ‘intro to CCR rebreather diving‘ and full IANTD rebreather certification courses are now available here on Koh Tao Thailand. Plus Leon will be helping to make DJL Diving more rebreather friendly, both here in Koh Tao and on our tec/wreck liveaboard expeditions.

We’ll be redeveloping the technical diving section of our website to incorporate info about the rebreather training which Leon is available to teach, and the rebreather diving support provided by DJL.

In the meantime please feel free to contact us if you have any CCR rebreather related enquiries.

Open throughout November 07 for PADI Open Water Diving

DJL Diving [Koh Tao Thailand] will remain open throughout November 2007, continuing to provide PADI / BSAC / SSI Scuba Diving Courses & Fun Dives for certified divers.

Many Koh Tao Thailand Dive Shops close during November, to allow for boat maintenance following our busy Summer period.

At DJL Diving, we’ll remain open throughout November. If you’re traveling to Sairee Beach Koh Tao, looking to do your PADI Scuba Open Water Diving course or any other scuba diving during November, we still have availability. [Contact DJL Diving with your individual enquiries].

We’ll be sending our big boat in for renovation during the first half of December 2007, but don’t worry - we’ll still be diving in Koh Tao off our high speed RIB. As the prevailing wind shifts to start blowing from the North East, we’ll be able to moor our RIB in the shelter of Sairee Beach, allowing us convenient fast access to the best dive sites in Koh Tao.

We aim to get the big boat finished and back to Koh Tao Thailand by mid December.

BSAC Boat Handling, Instructor Training & Extended Range Diver with Ginger

Ginger Ayres (BSAC Advanced Instructor, Marine Divers, Hong Kong) has visited Koh Tao, Thailand, hooking up with DJL Diving for BSAC Instructor & Extended Range Diver Training.

Image: Les prepares Matt, Arne & Tom for their BSAC Instructor Exams

PADI Instructors Arne and Matt have been completing a BSAC Instructor Crossover under the instruction of Les & Ginger. Also joining the group is PADI Divemaster Tom Snooks, making the step up to BSAC Open Water Instructor.

Over the last few days the guys have been practicing academic presentations, learning how to break down scuba skills for entry level divers and brushing up on their technical teaching such as search patterns, using lifting devices, shot lines etc.

The guys also just completed their BSAC Boat Handling course, learning how to handle a small boat, specifically for scuba diving applications. The course includes a mix of boat handling theory and driving experience - mooring, man overboard drills, picking up divers, rough sea training, coming alongside a dock or larger vessel plus much more.

Image: Ginger gets ready for an Extended Range Diver training session with Leona, William & Tim.

In parallel with this, Ginge has been sitting in on one of Tim’s technical diving courses. In preparation for our upcoming wreck diving liveaboard in Malaysia, students William & Leona are being put through their paces on the BSAC Extended Range Diver Course (ERD). Lots of shallow skills and drills followed by depth experience dives, getting the guys ready for their deep air deco dives next week!

Ginger has been joining these courses to build up more experience of top end BSAC training courses - in preparation for him to proceed through to BSAC National Instructor. Good luck to Ginger with his NI exams!

Learn to Dive Forum; Your questions answered!

We’ve put this forum up to allow you to ask questions about scuba diving & PADI scuba open water courses with DJL. If you have any queries you need answered, just post your question and the DJL instructors will respond. You can also view other peoples questions and comments.

PADI e-Learning introduced on Koh Tao, Thailand

Here at DJL Diving Koh Tao Thailand we’re now offering PADI e-Learning on our Open Water Diving Courses.

PADI e-Learning allows you to complete diving theory tutorials online, to satisfy the academic portion of the Open Water Course indepedently. This offers may advantages including:

- Study at your own pace

- Maximize use of your time on holiday by completing academic content at home

- Flexible to fit your schedule.

If you enrol onto the PADI e-Learning system it doesn’t mean learning alone - we are able to track your progress on the PADI website. Our instructors are available to answer any questions that you have.

If you want to find out more check out the e-Learning page on the DJL Diving website. From here you can access the PADI e-Learning portal and see an example of an online tutorial.

Also feel free to contact us if you have any questions.