Front mounted wreck cannon rap on HTMS Sattakut wreck Text by Nick Shallcross Photos by Nick Shallcross and Charly Severino On a cold day in February 1944, little would the workers of the Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon, have known of the fate and unlikely resting place of the USS LCI(L) 739—now known to those who visit her as the HTMS Sattakut. This was just one of the many ships built in the aftermath of Pearl Harbour, which saw the entry of the United States into World War II. The Americans were keen to exact revenge and stop the advance of the Empire of Japan across Southeast Asia, but for this they needed more ships. After seeing out her years in both the U.S. and Thai navies, The HTMS Sattakut has now found her final resting place in the Gulf of Thailand just off a little island called Koh Tao. HTMS Sattakut 12 X-RAY MAG : 62 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Troops exiting a Landing Craft Infantry during WWII; Beach land- wreck ings at Okinawa during WWII rap (below center); 1945 U.S. postage stamp commemorating the Battle CAN’T RESIST of Iwo Jima with the iconic photo- graph, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, THE CALL OF THE by Joe Rosenthal (bottom right) UNKNOWN? ...neither can we! Photo courtesy of Jill Heinerth During the War heavy fire from machine guns and Commissioned on February 27 as a artillery. The slow but steady advance Landing Craft Infantry Large, she was of American Marines did, however, assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre eventually lead to the surrender of to assist with the war efforts against the Japanese army on the island, with Japan. It was in September of that both sides incurring heavy losses. year when she finally saw action in the With the Palau islands secure, U.S. long running battle between the two forces moved on, securing other key superpowers when she participated in islands and airfields in an attempt WIKIPEDIA COMMONS the capture and occupation of south- to cripple the ern Palau islands between September Japanese ed than Japanese and October of 1944. and halt their forces for the first With American military leaders pre- advance across time in the war. dicting the invasion would last just a the Pacific. One Although American WIN A matter of days, it was soon clear that such island would success was almost the Japanese had learned from previ- become part of guaranteed, the ous mistakes and had themselves dug one of the most Japanese showed XJOY 14 SCOOTER WORTH £2970 well into the hills behind the beach. controversial impressive mili- Their strategic position led to one of decisions made tary tactics in their the largest losses of life for U.S. forces during the war, defence of the in the Pacific, with their landing craft the invasion and island. With nowhere and troops reaching the beach amid occupation of to retreat to, U.S. forces finally over- came the resilient Japanese, leading to one of the most icon- “...the best dive show I have ic photographs of ever been to...” the war, Raising the Tom Mount, IANTD Founder Flag on Iwo Jima, by Joe Rosenthal. Whether you’re a budding technical diver, a hardcore explorer The USS LCI or simply interested in more adventurous diving, EUROTEK is 739’s next for you! EUROTEK brings together world-class speakers, dive WIKIPEDIA COMMONS action came explorers and leading manufacturers under one roof for the later that ultimate advanced diving conference. Can you afford to miss it? Iwo Jima. defended Japanese. The naval fleet month during The 739 was bombarded the island with shelling the invasion 20-21st SEPTEMBER 2014 reclassified to the and mortar fire for three days running of Okinawa, USS LCI Gunboat up to the landings, with little impact to the largest THE ICC, BIRMINGHAM, UK 739, with the addi- the Japanese in their dugouts. Even amphibious tion of larger guns, with the piece of land being deemed assault of the providing her with useless to both the U.S. Navy and Air Pacific war. the much-needed Forces, what followed was a gruesome Landing craft firepower to deal and bloody five-week battle that saw such as the 739 www.eurotektickets.com WIKIPEDIA COMMONS with the heavily more American troops killed or wound- played a huge Troops loading up ready for deployment WIKIPEDIA COMMONS 13 X-RAY MAG : 62 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck rap THIS PAGE: Scenes from the sinking of HTMS Sattakut. The ship lists in its intended position waiting to be sunk while sailors look on from some of vessels in the large Thai Navy flotilla attending the event a mecca for recre- role in the invasion and were used ational divers. for a variety of roles throughout The vessel spent this campaign. some time being As well as transporting troops stripped clean by for beach landings, they carried the Department of out vital roles including protect- Marine and Coastal ing underwater demolition divers, Resources, readying and creating smoke screens to for its final goodbye, hide the advancing fleet from leaving an empty enemy aircraft and artillery. For shell with both the this, the 739 was armed with even bow and stern can- more firepower, and was reclas- nons still attached. sified to a Landing Craft Infantry The atomic bombings of Sattakut, where she would see All electronics, contaminants Mortar, with the addition of large Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which out her years helping to transport and engine parts were removed heavy mortar cannons. came just a few months later, Thai troops for training and duties. before she was deemed fit to sink. Between March and June of finally bought an end to the war On 18 June 2011, accompa- 1945, both sides suffered large in the Pacific, and after 1946, The sinking nied by a large flotilla from the loss of life throughout the long most Landing Craft Infantry were As part of an artificial reef project Thai Navy, plus dozens of local and gruelling invasion. However, retired from duty and were either in Thailand, the HTMS Sattakut as dive boats keen to watch the the eventual capture of the sold, scrapped or transferred to well as many other vessels were vessel go down, the ship was island played a major role in the other nations. The 739 was one donated by the Thai Navy to a towed into her intended position. American advance. Situated just such vessel, and after receiving number of locations around the In typical fashion, not everything a short distance from mainland three battle stars for her services country. It was chosen that the went exactly to plan, with Mother Japan, it gave the Americans the during the war, she was trans- HTMS Sattakut would be sunk Nature doing her best to inter- perfect base for their final assault ferred to the Royal Thai Navy and off the coast of Koh Tao, a small vene. Large waves, strong wind on the Japanese. reclassified as the LCI 742 or HTMS island in the Gulf of Thailand, and and a wall of sideways rain rolled 14 X-RAY MAG : 62 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck rap Uniquely designed clothing solutions for scuba divers www.divesangha.com View from inside the old wheelhouse (top left); Bow of the Sattakut looms overhead (left); Diver exploring the wreck's interior (below) After around a month in causing many of the onlook- of successful diving, the ers to head back to the har- decision was made to bour leaving just the Thai Navy raise the wreck, placing and a few dedicated specta- her upright and in her tors to watch her final act. intended position, away The rough weather caused from the busy shipping the ship to drift out of position lane. Diving was halted and roll over as she went down. while a team of salvage She landed on her side on the experts was assembled, sea floor slightly off from the and with the help of a intended area. A small amount large crane and plat- of damage was done to the form, the ship was moved wreck as she hit the sea floor to the position she can in a great cloud of silt, but this be found in today. Laying did not deter the hoard of in around 30m of water local divers keen to get the just a minute swim from first glimpse of Koh Tao’s latest the large granite pinna- wreck. After a few days to let cles of the neighbouring the silt and the wreck settle, the dive site, Hin Pee Wee, Thai Navy declared the wreck she sits in the ideal posi- safe to dive and the divers tion to be accessed year rushed out and began diving round by divers of various her straight away. levels of experience. Fish pass by the rear mounted gun on the wreck of the HTMS Sattakut 15 X-RAY MAG : 62 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck rap 10% off QRT3EJTZ The wreck The wreck of the HTMS Sattakut has quickly become one of the most popular dive sites to visit on the island. Everyday, avid divers and students completing their Advanced Open Water, deep or wreck courses visit to marvel over the 48m-long ship.