USS Grouper Sinks Lisbon Maru with POWs Aboard
October 1st, 1942
October 1st, 1942

How Long Ago?
82 years, 5 months, 13 days ago
Location
South China Sea
Category
Military & Warfare
War/Conflict
World War II
Links & References
Tags
USS Grouper Sinks Lisbon Maru with POWs Aboard
The USS Grouper, a United States Navy submarine, torpedoed the Japanese transport ship Lisbon Maru in the South China Sea, unknowingly targeting a vessel carrying British prisoners of war from Hong Kong. The attack occurred during World War II, primarily aimed at disrupting Japanese supply routes. After the strike, chaos ensued as the Lisbon Maru sank, leading to the tragic loss of lives among the POWs, who were previously captured during the fall of Hong Kong. This incident highlighted the complexities and tragedies of wartime engagements.
USS Grouper targeted Lisbon Maru on October 1, 1942.
Lisbon Maru was carrying British POWs from Hong Kong.
The attack disrupted Japanese supply lines in the region.
Chaos ensued post-attack with many lives lost.
What Happened?
The USS Grouper was conducting operations in the South China Sea during World War II when it aimed to disrupt Japanese maritime supply lines. On October 1, 1942, while patrolling the area, the Grouper spotted the Japanese transport ship Lisbon Maru and launched a torpedo strike. Unknown to the crew of the Grouper, the Lisbon Maru was transporting British prisoners of war captured during the Battle of Hong Kong in late 1941. The ship had been repurposed by the Japanese to carry around 1,800 prisoners, subjecting them to perilous conditions aboard. The torpedo struck and ultimately led to the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, creating confusion and panic among the POWs on board. The aftermath saw many prisoners trapped in the maritime disaster, with scores losing their lives or struggling to survive in the water. As the Japanese military scrambled to manage the wreck and recover its personnel, the incident further cemented the theme of tragic miscommunication and the often-overlooked humanity of wartime struggles. The sinking remains a stark reminder of the brutal realities faced by both military personnel and civilians during the vast and tumultuous scope of the war. The event gained notoriety in subsequent accounts of naval warfare and the untold stories of POWs caught in the crossfire.
Why Does it Matter?
The sinking of the Lisbon Maru serves as a poignant example of the unforeseen consequences of warfare, particularly in terms of collateral damage involving non-combatants. It raises critical questions regarding the treatment of POWs during wartime and the ethical implications of military strategies. Ultimately, such incidents illuminated the dire conditions prisons aboard ships faced and contributed to discussions post-war regarding the rights and humane treatment of prisoners.
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