Showing posts with label Micronesia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Micronesia. Show all posts
26 September 2007
Recensione libro: Una ballata del mare salato (1967), di Hugo Pratt, *****
Sinossi
Novembre 1913, in tutto il mondo si sente aria di guerra a causa dell'imminente conflitto mondiale; Rasputin nel suo catamarano si dedica alla pirateria e durante un assalto fa prigionieri un ragazzo di nome Cain e una ragazza di nome Pandora, entrambi di buona famiglia, con l'intenzione di chiedere un riscatto.
Durante la navigazione incontra Corto Maltese, legato ad una zattera a causa di un ammutinamento di cui è stato vittima. Rasputin accoglie controvoglia Corto sulla sua imbarcazione e Corto ricambia collaborando con Rasputin nell'assalto ad una nave olandese che trasporta carbone, i due tuttavia vengono a lite quando Corto esprime il proprio disappunto davanti all'uccisione a sangue freddo del capitano della nave da parte di Rasputin.
L'intento dei due pirati è rivendere il carbone ai tedeschi, tuttavia per evitare complicazioni i due decidono di portare i due sequestrati fuori dalla vista dei tedeschi. Durante un fortunale il catamarano di Rasputin con a bordo Corto e i due ostaggi va a fondo e i ragazzi vengono catturati da una tribù di indigeni.
Corto e i due ragazzi rischieranno più volte la vita e vivranno diverse avventure per cercare di salvarsi. (da Wikipedia)
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
Fiji,
LIBRI,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
Tonga
21 June 1994
Dive n. 209: Kensho Maru, Chuuk Lagoon, 31m, 40'
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Click on the drawing to enlarge |
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Tea cup in the Kensho maru |
Immersione con Johnny, guida locale. Sono da solo, gli altri hanno preferito tornare sul Betty. Johnny conosce il relitto come le sue tasche, mi porta in giro nel buio con grande sicurezza. Andiamo in sala macchine, poi in sala trasmissioni, dove l'enorme apparato radio è ancora tutto intero. Molte suppellettili, coppette di ceramica, vasellame.
Buy this book on Operation Hailstone, the attack by American navy on Chuuk in February 1944.
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
20 June 1994
Dive n. 207: Yamagiri, Chuuk Lagoon, 30m, 35'

Interessante elica di motore, e gli enormi proiettili da 18 pollici (46 cm) i più grandi mai costruiti e destinati alle corazzate Yamato e Musashi che stazionarono a Truk nel 1943.
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18-inch shells |
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Artillery shells |
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Spare propeller |
You can watch a video by Andrew Lee here
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
Dive n. 206: Fumizuki, Chuuk Lagoon, 33m, 35'
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Fumizuki in 1926 |

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Dive on the cruiser Fumizuki.
The Fumitsuki was a Mutsuki Class Destroyer built in 1926, 320ft/97m long with a gross tonnage of 1,913 tons normal, and 1,590 tons light after reconstruction. She was driven by 2-shaft Parsons geared turbines and 4 Kampon boilers. She could carry a complement of 150 officers and crew. She was one of only two real Japanese Navy combat ships sunk in Truk Lagoon.
She was capable of over 33.5 knots fully loaded, but was under repair at the time of her demise. The name translates as “the 7th month of the moon calendar when rice/flowers ripen.” Information from Trukwreckdiving.com
I can see the railway used to move equipment of the bridge and torpedo launchers.
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Fumizuki evading attack during Operation Hailstone |
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Railway to move shells on ship |
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Torpedo launchers |
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
19 June 1994
Dive 203: Unkai Maru
Military transport ship built in Newcastle in 1905 and sold to a Japanese shipping company in 1921. Requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy for the war.
See this video by Rod MacDonald on the Unkai Maru
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U.S. newspaper aboard from time Japan and U.S. were still neutral |
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Gas mask |
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American newspaper from California! |
See this video by Rod MacDonald on the Unkai Maru
Dive n. 204: Rio de Janeiro Maru, Chuuk Lagoon, 33m, 40'

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Drawing by the yacht Thorfinn |
Interesting dive on the Rio de Janeiro Maru where I can photograph the hugh props and tons of bottles of sake.
Stay tuned for more pics as I scan them...
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
18 June 1994
Dives n. 199, 200, 202: Nippo Maru, Chuuk Lagoon

Three memorable dives. I could see lots of artillery pieces by the stern, a tank by the bow, and the beautifully preserved pilothouse
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Artillery piece |
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Command bridge |
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Tank |
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Dive n. 201: Sankisan Maru, Chuuk Lagoon, 23m, 54'
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Click on the picture to view it in full size |
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Drawing by the Thorfinn |
In this wreck of transport ship Sankisan I could see and photograph tons of truck tires, mountains of bullets and lots of airplane engines.
My pictures are being scanned... to be included soon!
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
15 June 1994
Dives n. 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 208: Shinkoku Maru, Chuuk Lagoon, 30m, 35'
Largest divable wreck in Truk. It was an oiler.

The Shinkoku Maru is a fascinating dive. I found most interesting my visit to the galley.
Also of significance is the operating room, with the bed still almost intact.
You can watch two interesting videos on the Shinkoku here on Vimeo (see especially those by Pete Peterson) and here on Youtube .
Dives 188, 189, 190, 191 took place on 15 June. Dives 192, 193 and 194 were on 16 June. Dive 208 on June 20.

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Drawing by Thorfinn |
The Shinkoku Maru is a fascinating dive. I found most interesting my visit to the galley.
Also of significance is the operating room, with the bed still almost intact.
You can watch two interesting videos on the Shinkoku here on Vimeo (see especially those by Pete Peterson) and here on Youtube .
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Engine telegraph |
Dives 188, 189, 190, 191 took place on 15 June. Dives 192, 193 and 194 were on 16 June. Dive 208 on June 20.
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
13 June 1994
Dives n. 178-187 e 195-196: Fujikawa Maru, Chuuk Lagoon

Oggi 13 giugno, domani 14 Giugno ed il 17 1994 ho fatto 8 immersioni sul relitto del Fujikawa Maru, forse il più interessante dei relitti di Chuuk. La nave fu affondata durante l'Operazione Hailstone il 17-18 Febbraio 1944.
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Bullets |
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Engine piston cylinder |
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Telephone |
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Wall light |
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
12 June 1994
Dive sites of cruise in Chuuk Lagoon on Truk Aggressor, 13-21 June 1994

Today I arrive in Chuuk (formerly known as Truk) Lagoon for ted days of diving aboard the Truk Aggressor yacht. In the map above you can see the location of the wrecks I will be visiting. I am adding photos and commentary as I complete my research and scan my slides (in 2013)... stay tuned!
Tags (click on a tag to read posts on same topic):
diving,
MAPS,
Micronesia,
Pacific,
war
Location:
Chuuk, Micronesia
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