Terukuni Maru-class ocean liner

The Terukuni Maru-class ocean liner (照國丸型貨客船,, Terukuni Maru-gata Kakyakusen) was a class of ocean liners of Japan, serving during the 1930s, and into World War II.

NYK Line Terukuni Maru
Class overview
NameTerukuni Maru class ocean liner
BuildersMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Operators
Cost6,177,000 JPY
Built1929 – 1930
In commission1930 – 1944
Planned2
Completed2
Lost2
General characteristics
TypeOcean liner
Tonnage
  • Terukuni Maru 11,931 GRT
  • Yasukuni Maru 11,933 GRT
Length160.5 m (526 ft 7 in) overall
Beam19.5 m (64 ft 0 in)
Draught11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Sulzer diesels, 2 shafts
  • 10,000 bhp cruising
  • 14,368 bhp full boost
Speed
  • Terukuni Maru
  • 17.8 knots (20.5 mph; 33.0 km/h)
  • Yasukuni Maru
  • 18.0 knots (20.7 mph; 33.3 km/h)
Capacity249 passengers (121 first class, 68 tourist class, 60 third class)
Crew177
Armament

Background

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Service

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Terukuni Maru

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  • 9 January 1929: Laid Down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki Shipyard.
  • 19 December 1929: Launched.
  • 31 May 1930: Completed.
  • 30 June 1930: Maiden voyage for Yokohama–London.
  • (after): She sailed 24 times until September 1939.
  • 24 September 1939: The 25th sailing to London.
  • 19 November 1939: Arrived off South Downs. She anchored here till minesweeping of the River Thames by Royal Navy was over.
  • 08:30, 21 November 1939: Weigh anchor.
  • 12:53: She struck a naval mine at 51°50′N 01°30′E / 51.833°N 1.500°E / 51.833; 1.500.
  • 13:35: Sunk.

The wreck lay on its side, partly submerged and visible to wartime shipping in the Thames Estuary area.[1]

Yasukuni Maru

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  • 22 April 1929: Laid Down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki Shipyard.
  • 15 February 1930: Launched.
  • 31 August 1930: Completed.
  • 22 September 1930: Maiden voyage for Yokohama–London.
  • (after): She sailed many times until October 1939.
  • 25 October 1939: Enlisted by the Navy. Classification to the Auxiliary transport.
  • 11 December 1939: Discharged.
  • 29 October 1940: Enlisted by the Navy. 30 October, armament fitted in Kure Naval Arsenal.
  • 16 December 1940: Classification to the Auxiliary submarine tender.
  • 11 January 1941: Fitting out was completed, and assigned to the 1st Submarine Division, 6th Fleet.
  • 20 December 1941: Assigned to the 3rd Submarine Division, 6th Fleet.
  • 1 February 1942: Bombed by Task Force 8 (USS Enterprise) at Kwajalein.
  • 1 March 1942: Arrived at Kure Naval Arsenal and repairs were started.
  • 23 April 1942: Repairs were completed. Sailed to Truk and Kwajalein.
  • 15 September 1943: Assigned to the 6th Fleet.
  • 31 January 1944: Sunk by USS Trigger at northwest off Truk 09°15′N 147°13′E / 9.250°N 147.217°E / 9.250; 147.217.
  • 10 March 1944: Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Photos

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lund & Ludlam. (1979) Out Sweeps! The Story of the Minesweepers in World War II. New English Library ISBN 0450044688 p.17

Bibliography

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  • Tashirō Iwashige, The visual guide of Japanese wartime merchant marine, "Dainippon Kaiga". Archived from the original on 2002-12-07. (Japan), May 2009
  • Ships of the World special issue, The Golden Age of Japanese Passenger Liners, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), May 2004
  • Voyage of a Century "Photo Collection of NYK Ships", "Nippon Yūsen"., (Japan), October 1985
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.29, "Japanese submarine tenders w/ auxiliary submarine tenders", "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), July 1979