The Japanese Refrigeration Ship was sunk during World War II in 1944 by an American air attack.
Irako is considered the jewel of the Coron wrecks. Here divers can access a well-preserved 125m long supply vessel, but with strong currents, challenging access points and depths of 33-42 metres, this site is not for beginners. Those who are qualified will be rewarded with access to cargo holds, engine rooms and an abundance of marine life inhabitants.
The main deck is 34m deep and has penetration opportunities in the Wheelhouse and the Cargo holds. The Engine Room is also penetrable but at this depth it should only be attempted by very experienced divers with the necessary equipment.
Provision Store Ship/Reefer (AF); Jap. “Kyuryo-kan”,
Length over all = 146.9 m
Breadth = 19.05 m
Draft = 5.94 m (unloaded); 6.05 m (at stdd.)
Displacement = 9,570 ts stdd. / 11,100 ts max.
Propulsion = 2 x 4,150 shp geared steam turbines, 6 Kampon-type waterpipe boilers, oil + coal fired; 2 shafts/2 screws/1 rudder
Max. speed = 17.5 knots
Range of operation = 6,600 naut. miles at 14.0 knots
Armament = 2 x 4.7″/50 cal. (12 cm) high angle guns in single armored stands; 5 x 1.0″ (2.5 cm) AA guns in single stands; numerous depth charges in poopdeck racks
Yard = Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Kobe/Japan
Built = May 1940 until Feb 1941;
launched = 14 Feb 1941; commissioned = 5 Dec 1941
Provisions ship
The Irako was a provisions ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, primarily designed for the transport of food. She was laid down in 1940 and completed shortly before the outbreak of the Pacific War. With a length of 145 meters and a crew of 361 men, she was smaller than her predecessor ship, the Mamiya, but equipped with more modern gear. Her supply capacity was sufficient to provide 25,000 men with provisions for two weeks. The ship had extensive facilities for food preparation and storage, including large refrigeration units, a rice mill, and even a laundry and ironing room. This equipment made her an indispensable “universal” support ship for the fleet, especially for supplying the front lines.
The Prominent Smokestack
The tall smokestack was a special feature of the Irako. It was a direct result of the coal-fired steam engine, which was installed in anticipation of a future heavy oil shortage. The smokestack was deliberately designed to be high to prevent soot particles from the coal combustion from contaminating the food on board.
Service Life and Fate
The Irako was in constant use during the war, commuting between the Japanese mainland and Pacific bases such as Saipan, Truk, and the Marshall Islands.
On September 24, 1944, the Irako was sunk during an air raid by American carrier planes in Coron Bay in the Philippines. She was heavily hit, ran aground, and was eventually abandoned. The wreck now lies at a depth of 43 meters and is considered one of the best diving sites in the region.
The dive
Depth: deck 28-35m. Bottom 43m.
I scanned the wreck on October 1st 2025. It was the Taifun raining season and as you can see on the pictures, the visibility was poor. In addition the large groups of fishes messed up the clear view to the wreck. I had 60 minutes on the wreck and 68 minutes of decompression time. Over all it was a quite challenging wreck dive.
Model
It took six days to process the data in high frame rate. It took 66kWh of electricity to process.
