Joel BergsmaUnderwater photographer · Expedition diver

Palau07°21'N 134°29'EFeb 201217 photos

WWII Wreck - Japanese LST Type 1 (Palau)

The Japanese LST ship lies upside down in two large pieces and some smaller items. The LST is a "292-foot long Japanese landing ship, designed to carry landing crafts, tanks, midget submarines, cargo and troops. Lies at 20m/66ft to 30m/99ft." http://www.palautours.com/dive-wreck.html 2/14/2012.

← Palau

Looking toward the Bow of the Japanese LST wreck, which lies upside down in two large pieces and some smaller items. The LST is a "292-foot long Japanese landing ship, designed to carry landing crafts, tanks, midget submarines, cargo and troops. Lies at 20m/66ft to 30m/99ft."The LST's very large rudder lies upside down on the ocean floor. The LST was bombed, split in two, and sunk upside down.Gun on the LST.A very large propeller shaft of the LST.
Wreckage of the LST.Inside the wrecked body of the ship.A disintegrating oil drum lies in the sand beside the wreck.Winch with rope. (I turned the photo upside down for better viewing because the ship wrests upside down.)
Penetrating the weck, as best we could.A clam has affixed itself to one of the ship's beams.The Japanese LST had one large, 3 barreled anti-aircraft gun to protect it from allied airstrikes. The gun rests upside down under the wreckage. Shown are the three barrels.The Japanese LST had one large, 3 barreled anti-aircraft gun to protect it from allied airstrikes. The gun rests upside down under the wreckage. Shown are the three barrels.
A forward gun had two barrels.Camera 14MP-9PCThis piece of the LST wreck lies on its side.This bomb lies near the Japanese LST wreckage.
The tip of the bomb is lit by my flash. The bomb lies near the Japanese LST wreckage.