Japanese seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru

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Kamikawa Maru (神川丸) was a seaplane tender in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The ship was initially built at Kawasaki's Kōbe Shipyard and launched on 13 December 1936 as a merchant vessel for the Kawasaki Kisen K. K. Line. On 18 September 1937 the IJN requisitioned her as an aircraft transport ship and she was refitted in 1939 as a seaplane tender. The ship subsequently saw service in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific Campaign of World War II. On May 29, 1943, Kamikawa Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Scamp approximately 250 miles (400 km) northwest of Kavieng, New Ireland at 01°36′S 150°24′E / 1.600°S 150.400°E / -1.600; 150.400.

Kamikawa Maru at Amoi, China sometime between 1938 and 1940.
History
Empire of Japan
NameKamikawa Maru
BuilderKawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard
Laid downAugust 5, 1936
LaunchedDecember 13, 1936
AcquiredMarch 15, 1937
CommissionedSeptember 18, 1937
Out of serviceMay 29, 1943
StrickenJuly 15, 1943
FateTorpedoed and sunk by United States Navy submarine Scamp
General characteristics
Class and typeKamikawa Maru-class seaplane tender
Displacement6,863 tons standard
Length479 ft (146.0 m)
Beam62 ft (18.9 m)
Draft30 ft (9.1 m)
Installed power7,600 shp (5,700 kW)
Propulsion1 Kawasaki-MAN diesel engine, 1 shaft
Speed28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Armament
Aircraft carried12 seaplanes (24 stored)
Aviation facilitiesTwo catapults, cranes

References

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  • Global Security (2009). "IJN Kamikawa Maru Seaplane Tender". Military. GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  • Hackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp; Allan Alsleben (2006). "IJN Seaplane Tender Kamikawa Maru: Tabular Record of Movement". Tokusetsu Suijoki-Bokan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  • Hackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp; Allan Alsleben (2006). "Kamikawa Maru Class". Tokusetsu Suijoki-Bokan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 May 2009.