Here's an interesting episode from the interwar period: the SS Hoover's grounding on the Taiwanese coast. I can imagine possibilities for dioramas (1/700?) or just for building the ships involved. USN and IJN ships are available, at least in some scales, although meticulous modelers are looking at some research and modification As I have two Revell 4-stacker kits to build, I might make one of the tin cans involved.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_President_Hoover#Aground_on_Kasho-to