Hello Uboat.Net Members! I'm a writer who is researching a book about the Merchant Marine in the Dutch East Indies around the time of WW2. I'm very interested in the tragic story of the Junyo Maru, a Japanese prison ship that transported enslaved prisoners of war and Indonesian laborers from Java to Sumatra in September of 1944. Their destination was the notorious Pekanbaru Railroad.
Forum: General Discussions

Thanks for sharing that story. I'm curious to know whether your step-grandfather embarked from Tanjung Priok (Jakarta / Batavia) on the Junyo Maru, and whether there were any Romusha (Indonesian laborers) on board. And--how did he survive the sinking? What a story...
Forum: General Discussions

Capt Duffy, I'm reading your memoir right now. Just emailed you, please let me know if you don't receive it. Cordially, -DMP
Forum: General Discussions

Capt. Duffy, Coincidentally, I just purchased a copy of your book on Amazon. I've only gotten as far as the point where you come aboard the American Leader in Baltimore. It makes for some pretty hefty bedtime reading! I find it very interesting that you spoke to Konrad Hoppe at length about the war in the Far East, and about Java in particular. There are books published about the Japan
Forum: General Discussions

Capt Duffy, Is there any evidence you've come across that Allied agents were actually working on Java or Sumatra? I've read that the Japanese and Germans in Batavia were up in arms over potential spies when U-168 was sunk off the coast of Java in Oct 1944, just 24 hours out of port. I've done some reading on the topic of Allied radio transmitters in Java and there doesn't s
Forum: General Discussions

I live part-time in Jakarta, Indonesia and I’ve become fascinated by the U-boat war in that part of the world. I’ve done a bit of book research about the ships and men, and I’ve even asked around in Jakarta about the U-boat base that used to be at the main port of Tanjung Priok (nothing seems to remain of this). Still, the stories of the men—-Axis and Allied—-who made it all the way to the Far Ea
Forum: General Discussions

I live part-time in Jakarta, Indonesia and I’ve become fascinated by the U-boat war in that part of the world. I’ve done a bit of book research about the ships and men, and I’ve even asked around in Jakarta about the U-boat base that used to be at the main port of Tanjung Priok (nothing seems to remain of this). Still, the stories of the men—-Axis and Allied—-who made it all the way to the Far Ea
Forum: Technology and Operations