Aikoku Maru 1942
Kongo Maru 1941
Bangkok Maru 1942
Noshiro Maru 1942
Awata Maru 1942
Ukishima Maru 1942
|
Name |
Launched // Comm. |
Builder |
Tonnage, BRT |
Dimensions, m (length pp) |
Speed, kts |
Engine, Power hp |
Armament |
Fate |
| 愛国丸 [Aikoku Maru] | 25.4.1940// 9.1941 | Tama SB, Tama | 10437 | 149.6x20.2x7.92 | 21 | 2 diesels, 13000 | 8 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 seaplanes | transport 10.1943 |
| 赤城丸 [Akagi Maru] | 6.6.1936/.12.1941 | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | 7387 | 140.8x19.0x9.30 | 19 | 1 diesel, 8000 | 4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT | sunk 17.2.1944 |
| 浅香丸 [Asaka Maru] | 7.7.1937/.9.1941 | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | 7398 | 141.0x19.0x10.5 | 19 | 1 diesel, 8000 | 4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT | transport 10.1943 |
| 粟田丸 [Awata Maru] | 5.8.1937/.9.1941 | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | 7398 | 140.8x19.0x9.30 | 19 | 1 diesel, 8000 | 4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT | transport 10.1943 |
| 盤谷丸 [Bangkok Maru] | 30.3.1937/.9.1941 | Mitsubishi, Kobe | 5451 | 114.7x17.0x7.01 | 18 | 2 diesels (1 shaft) | 4 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 - 7.7, 500 mines | transport 10.1943 |
| 護国丸 [Gokoku Maru] | 2.4.1942/.10.1942 | Tama SB, Tama | 10438 | 149.6x20.2x7.92 | 21 | 2 diesels, 13000 | 8 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 seaplanes | transport 10.1943 |
| 報国丸 [Hokoku Maru] | 5.7.1939/.9.1941 | Tama SB, Tama | 10438 | 149.6x20.2x7.92 | 21 | 2 diesels, 13000 | 8 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 seaplanes | sunk 11.11.1942 |
| 金城山丸 Kinjosan Maru | 1.8.1936/.3.1941 | Mitsui, Tama | 3262 | 101.4x14.3x7.6 | 1 steam turbine, 1800 | sunk 4.5.1942 | ||
| 金龍丸 [Kinryu Maru] | 16.6.1938/.9.1941 | Kawasaki, Kobe | 9309 | 146.9x19.0x12.2 | 18 | 1 diesel, 9200 | 4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT | transport 7.1942 |
| 清澄丸 [Kiyosumi Maru] | 30.6.1934/.12.1941 | Kawasaki, Kobe | 8613 | 138.3x18.5x12.2 | 18 | 1 diesel, 7600 | 4 x 1 - 140/50, 1 x 1 - 76, 2 x 1 -7.7 | transport 10.1943 |
| 金剛丸 [Kongo Maru] | 7.12.1934// 9.1941 | Harima, Harima | 8624 | 137.2x18.6x8.51 | 18 | 1 diesel, 7600 | 4 x 1 - 140/50, 1 x 1 - 76, 2 x 1 -7.7 | sunk 10.3.1942 |
| 能代丸 [Noshiro Maru] | 28.6.1934/.9.1941 | Mitsubishi, Nagasaki | 7184 | 136.7x19.0x8.43 | 18.5 | 1 diesel, 6700 | 4 x 1 - 140/50, 1 x 1 - 76, 2 x 1 - 7.7 | transport 10.1943 |
| 西貢丸 [Saigon Maru] | 28.4.1937/.9.1941 | Mitsubishi, Kobe | 5350 | 114.7x17.0x7.01 | 18 | 2 diesels (1 shaft) | 4 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 - 7.7, 500 mines | sunk 18.9.1944 |
| 浮島丸 [Ukishima Maru] | 26.12.1936/.9.1941 | Mitsui, Tamano | 4730 | 108.4x15.7x7.01 | 16.5 | 1 diesel | 6 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 -7.7 | gunboat 4.1943 |
Project history: In 1941-1942 some fast cargo- and cargo-passenger vessels of Japanese merchant fleet have been requisitioned and entered service with IJN as auxiliary (armed merchant) cruisers for operations actions on communication lines of the enemies. Ships were armed with 4-8 120-152mm guns, besides, some of them carried reconnaissance seaplanes, torpedo tubes and minelaying equipment.
As the armaments were not masked (as, for example, on German raiders), these ships were easily identified as combatants. It became one of the reasons of that auxiliary cruisers have not achieved some success, moreover, one of them, Hokoku Maru, at an attack on small convoy consisting from small Dutch tanker Ondina and Indian minesweeper Bengal, has been sunk. After that discomfiture remained auxiliary cruisers have been returned to category of transports.
Modernizations: None.
Fate Notes: Kongo Maru was sunk 10.3.1942 at Lae by US carrier aircraft. Hokoku Maru 11.11.1942 was NW off Coco by Indian minesweeper Bengal and Dutch tanker Ondina. Akagi Maru 17.2.1944 was sunk at Truk by US carrier aircraft. Saigon Maru was sunk 18.9.1944 in Manila Bay by US submarine Flasher.
Aikoku Maru
Hokoku Maru
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14