Japan had serious difficulties deploying her manpower, and a few examples illustrate some of the worst events.
Tatusta Maru was a sleek, 13-year-old, 21-knot passenger liner of 16,955 tons. When she departed Japan in February 1943 with reinforcements for Truk, a submarine torpedoed her. She took down all hands, 1,481 passengers and crew, in cold, gale-driven seas.
Heavy losses occurred even in port. On February 17, 1944,
Aikoku Maru was anchored at Truk. Aboard were personnel of the 1st Amphibious Brigade. Four bombs and a torpedo ripped the ship in a great blast that killed 730 passengers and 12 crewmen. Nearby, bombs hit
Akagi Maru and set off fuel tanks, ignited her magazine, and killed 1,300 men.