Rio De Janeiro was at anchor in Truk and was hit by at least one bomb.

The Rio de Janeiro Maru was built in 1930 by the Mitsubishi Zosensho Company as a passenger ship.

Rio de Janeiro Maru was 461 feet long and had a  beam of 62 feet she was powered by 2-Mitsubishi Sulzer diesel engines and had a max speed of 17.6 knots.

In 1940 The Japanese Navy commendeared the Rio De Janeiro and converted  her to a submarine tender at the navy shipyard in Sasebo. They installed  two artillery guns, and  anti-aircraft guns.

  By 1943 the Japanese Navy submarine fleet  had all but been destoryed so the Rio de Janeiro Maru was converted to a transport.

The Rio De Janeiro is resting on her starboard side. The holds contain a large amount of empty beer bottles, and you will find the engine room a great place to explore.

Today the bow section of the Rio De Janeiro is completely collapsed on itself. The damage  apparently was caused by one of the live aboard dive operators who insists on anchoring directly to the wrecks.

The Nippo has one of the best preserved wheel houses of the wrecks at Truk Lagoon.

The Nippo Maru at Truk Lagoon should not be confused with  IJN Nippon Maru which was an oiler ( sometimes called Nihon ) which was sunk on January 14, 1944 by the USS Guardfish while in route to Truk.

The Nippo Maru at Truk is a cargo ship that was Swedish built and commendeared by the Japanese Navy and renamed Nippo, she is 353 feet long with a beam of  50 feet by 23 feet.

  On board the Nippo you will find tanks, coastal defense guns, mines, and munitions, you might consider a full wetsuit to protect yourself from the caustic chemicals leaking from some of the containers on board.