Terukuni Maru-class ocean liner
 NYK Line Terukuni Maru | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Terukuni Maru class ocean liner |
| Builders: | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Operators: |
|
| Cost: | 6,177,000 JPY |
| Built: | 1929 – 1930 |
| In commission: | 1930 – 1944 |
| Planned: | 2 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Lost: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ocean liner |
| Tonnage: |
|
| Length: | 160.5 m (526 ft 7 in) overall |
| Beam: | 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in) |
| Draught: | 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | |
| Capacity: | 249 passengers (121 first class, 68 tourist class, 60 third class) |
| Crew: | 177 |
| Armament: |
|
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.
Background
- In 1925, Swedish American Line was constructed the excellent passenger MS Kungsholm. The Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (日本郵船, NYK Line) was shocked for her.
- In 1927-28, the NYK Line placed an order for eight ocean liners to reinforce the Japan–Seattle route (3 × Hikawa Maru class), Japan–San Francisco route (3 × Asama Maru class), and Japan–London route (2 × Terukuni Maru class). The Terukuni Maru class were named the Terukuni Maru (照國丸) and Yasukuni Maru (靖國丸).
Service
Terukuni Maru
- 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.
- 13:35: Sunk.
The wreck lay on its side, partly submerged and visible to wartime shipping in the Thames Estuary area.[1]
Yasukuni Maru
- 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.
- 10 March 1944: Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.
Photos
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NYK Line Yasukuni Maru in 1930
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(left) IJN Aux. submarine tender Yasukuni Maru in 1941
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(center) IJN Aux. submarine tender Yasukuni Maru in 1942
See also
References
- ↑ Lund & Ludlam. (1979) Out Sweeps! The Story of the Minesweepers in World War II. New English Library ISBN 0450044688 p.17
Bibliography
- Tashirō Iwashige, The visual guide of Japanese wartime merchant marine, "Dainippon Kaiga". (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
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