Niminoa Wreck

 Second World War 1939-1945, battlefield, place with historical importance, shipwreck

Built during the interwar years as a small British frieghter, the Niminoa was run aground here and abandoned by her British crew when the Japanese invaded Tarawa. She remained partially sunk, derelict and unremarkable until the Invasion of Tarawa by US forces on November 20-23, 1943.

Japanese troops swam out to the rusting hulk of the Niminoa when the American assault began and set up several clandestine machine gun nests and waited for the invasion to begin. As the American Amtraks ran aground on the shallow reefs and their troops had to wade across several hundred yards of open water unprotected, the Japanese troops on the Niminoa opened fire into the backs of the hapless US troops. The gunners on the Niminoa killed or injured so many American Marines the entire shore assault of Red Beach 2 was halted until the wreck was destroyed by Naval Gunfire and Air attack.

Today the wreck remains in its post-assault state, covered in bullet holes and decimated by shellfire and bomb explosions. There is still live ammunition in and around the wreck, so any visitors should take extreme care when near the ship.

tarawaontheweb.org/niminoa.htm