- Other Japanese Ship FAQs
-
- Maru's & PSIS 100 Document
-
Posted By: Al Peters <dsr017@attglobal.net>
Date: Sunday, 26 November 2000, at 2:18 p.m.
I have a copy of "Pacific Stratgic
Intelligence Section 100-1" date 1 Feb. 1945, 2nd Edition. It is a list
of "Japanese Merchant Ships" of 50 tons or more which bear the
suffix "Maru". It records data in the following format:
Japanese characters of the name of the vessel
Romaji Name (English name)
Int'l Call sign
Gross tons
Year laruched
Type and Number (japanese number)
Speed
Lgth, Beam, Draft
Construction of Hull
Sources (based on over 20 different sources)
Remarks (mainly as to fate)
I have entered this data into one of my
databases and it topped out at 8512 individual records.
Question, does anyone who is famaliar with this
document have an opionin as to the quality of this data.
Re: Maru's & PSIS 100 Document
Posted By: Tony Tully <atully@flash.net>
Date: Monday, 27 November 2000, at 2:55 p.m.
In Response To: Maru's & PSIS 100 Document
(Al Peters)
Generally such wartime intelligence data was
derived from either captured documents (such as a roster of Japanese officers
that is very useful) or from intercepts arranged and studied. My bet is that
it is the former here. Usually, such are fairly reliable and primary source in
origin, but you have to beware of false readings of the kanji. Sometimes the
rendering given is not the right one, but you can match up details to confirm
most of them.
Re: Maru's & PSIS 100 Document
Posted By: Al Peters <dsr017@attglobal.net>
Date: Monday, 27 November 2000, at 5:32 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Maru's & PSIS 100
Document (Tony Tully)
Tony, Thanks for your response ... the sourse
documents are a mix of what you have pointed out ... such sourses as from
1940-42 Lloyds, Japanese Commence Minsitry to captured Japanese Navy/Army
documents.
PSIS100, was received on 35mm mircofilm ... I
have an old mircofilm printer, so I printed it out ... it's a big document
running some 600+ pages .... unfortunately, since it's entry in the my
databases I have not been able to do much analysis.
I understand your concern regarding Kanji vs
Romaji ... but I don't read Japanese, so can only do "match ups" on
a vessel's phyical data .... Maybe in the future time will allow me to make a
good analysis.
Help wanted on "Maru" ships!
Posted By: Elephtheriou George <elgeorge@otenet.gr>
Date: Saturday, 18 November 2000, at 2:48 p.m.
Normaly I wouldn't visit you since I'm mostly
in the A/C. But lately, I've been given the quite hard task to translate a
Japanese document, in which ship's names are mentioned. I have the
"Imperial J. Navy" by Watts/Gordon book but could find no
information there about the following ships:
Tateyama (Tachiyama?) Maru
Mikage Maru
Fujikawa Maru
Kikukawa Maru
Ogashima Maru
Kenbu Maru
Shiganoura Maru
Ikuta Maru
Kanryu Maru
Please note that the above names might not be
100% correct, since reading of Japanese Kanji is sometimes tricky. But I'm
very sure that these ships don't exist in the above mentioned book.
Any information (especialy type) would be
EXTREMELY appreciated.
Re: "Maru" ships
Posted By: Yutaka Iwasaki <navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Saturday, 25 November 2000, at 2:28 a.m.
In Response To: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! (Elephtheriou George)
There are some phtos on the web.
"Mikage Maru 20"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu3FILE/mikage20.html
"Mikage Maru 18"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu3FILE/mikage18.html
"Kikukawa Maru"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu2FILE/kikukawa.html
"Ogashima Maru"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu2FILE/ogasima.html
"Shiganoura Maru"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu1FILE/siganoura.html
"Ikuta Maru"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu1FILE/ikuta.html
"Kenryu Maru"
http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~ichi/sbs/Senbotsu2FILE/kanryuu.html
According to these pages
"Mikage Maru 20" 2,718 GRT lost 18
Jul 43 Kwajalein to Wake (SS172 PORPOISE)
owner:MUKO-KISEN
"Kikukawa Maru" 3,833 GRT lost 7 Oct
43 Truck (Fire incident)
owner:TOYO-KAIUN(shipping co. )@
"Shiganoura Maru" 3,512 GRT lost 29
Nov 43 WNW of saipan 18.24N-139.41E (SS264 PARGO)
owner:MITSUBISHI-KISEN
"Kenryu Maru" 4,575 GRT lost 29 Nov
43 Yokosuka - truk. North West of Hachijyo Is. 33.16N-139.35E (SS-185 SNAPPER)
owner:INUI-KISEN
"Tateyama Maru" 3,787 GRT lost 5 Dec
43 Kwajalein (air attack)
owner:BABA-KISEN(steam shipping co. )
"Kenbu Maru"@ 6,816 GRT lost 05 Dec
43 Roi N09.00-E166.30 (air attack)
Captured ship
"Ikuta Maru" 2,968 GRT lost 12 Jan 44
Kwajalein (air attack)
owner:NIHON-YUSEN
"Ogashima Maru" 1,424 GRT lost 20 Jan
44 150km South East of Yap Gurtz? Is.i08.07N-137.38Ej(air attack)
owner:NAKAGAWA-KISEN
"Fujikawa Maru" 6,938 GRT lost 17 Feb
1944 Truk atoll (air attack)
owner:TOYO-KAIUN(shipping co. )@
"Mikage Maru 18" 4,319 GRT lost 10
May 44 Guam to Yap (SS236 SILVERSIDES)
owner:MUKO-KISEN
And according to The Official Chronology
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1943.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.html
10 June, Thu. 1943
Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) unsuccessfully
attacks Japanese cargo vessel "Fujikawa Maru", 2455'N, 14536'E.
19 July, Mon. 1943
Submarine Porpoise (SS-172) sinks Japanese
transport "No.20 Mikage Maru" 50 miles south of Wake Island, 1845'N,
16604'E;
29 September, Wed. 1943
Submarine Gudgeon (SS-212) damages Japanese
gunboat Santo Maru off Saipan, 1528'N, 14557'E. Transport "Kenryu
Maru" tows the gunboat into Saipan.
12 September, Sun. 1943
Submarine Permit (SS-178) damages Japanese
aircraft transport "Fujikawa Maru", 0823'N, 16512'E.
29 November, Mon 1943
Submarines Pargo (SS-264) and Snook (SS-279)
continue attacks against Japanese transport convoy northwest of the Marianas;
Pargo torpedoes and sinks Manju Maru, 1836'N,
14004'E;
Snook torpedoes and sinks "Shiganoura Maru",
1838'N, 13935'E.
Destroyer Oite and auxiliary submarine chaser
Choan Maru counterattack to no avail.
Submarine Snapper (SS-185) sinks Japanese
transport "Kenryu Maru" off Hachijo Jima, 3316'N, 13935'E
4 December, Sat. 1943
TF 50 (Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall) attacks
Japanese installations on Kwajalein and Wotje Atolls, Marshalls.
Planes from Lexington (CV-16) and small carrier
Independence (CVL 22) sink
collier Asakaze Maru, cargo ship "Tateyama
Maru",
auxiliary submarine chaser No.7 Takunan Maru,
and guardboat No.5 Mikuni Maru
and damage light cruisers Nagara and Isuzu,
stores ship Kinezaki,
auxiliary vessel "Fujikawa Maru", and
transports Eiko Maru,
"Kenbu Maru", and "No.18 Mikage
Maru".
12 January, Wed. 1944
PB4Ys (VB 108 and VB 109) bomb Japanese
shipping in Kwajalein lagoon,
sinking gunboat "Ikuta Maru", 0842'N,
16744'E.
20 January, Thu. 1944
USAAF B-25s sink transport "Ogashima Maru"
at Namu Atoll, Marshalls, 0807'N, 16800'E.
17 February, Thu 1944
TF 58 planes sink Japanese destroyer Oite
(carrying survivors of light cruiser Agano sunk the day before), 0740'N,
15145'E;
destroyer Tachikaze, 0740'N, 15155'E;
armed merchant cruiser Akagi Maru, 0754'N,
15125'E;
auxiliary submarine depot ship Heian Maru;
aircraft transport "Fujikawa Maru";
10 May, Wed. 1944
Submarine Silversides (SS-236) attacks Japanese
convoy about 120 miles south-southwest of Guam,
sinking auxiliary cable ship Okinawa Maru,
gunboat No.2 Choan Maru,
and collier "No.18 Mikage Maru", 1126'N,
14346'E
Sorry long post message
Re: "Maru" ships
Posted By: Tom Hall <hall023038@aol.com>
Date: Monday, 20 November 2000, at 3:38 p.m.
In Response To: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! (Elephtheriou George)
Tateyama Maru is listed as an "aviation
transport".
There were a number of Mikage Marus,
Numbers 3, 18, and 20. Number 18 was a
coal ship, but 3 and 20 were transports.
Fujikawa Maru was an aircraft transport.
Obscure ships like these are listed in
Jentschura, Jung & Mickel.
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships!
Posted By: Ron Wolford <wolifieeod@aol.com>
Date: Monday, 20 November 2000, at 6:57 a.m.
In Response To: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! (Elephtheriou George)
I have a copy of ONI-208J Japanese Merchant
Ship ID Manual if you give me a couple of days I can get you a lot more info
on some of these ships (builders, owners, size ect.)If you need any speical
info please let me know.
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Larry Evans <Lae519@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, 18 November 2000, at 11:52 p.m.
In Response To: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! (Elephtheriou George)
Just checked the "Miscellaneous Mercantile
Auxiliary Vessels" section, came up with the following hits:
Mikage Maru - 3 listing - No.3 ex Mifane Maru -
Transport
No.18 - Collier
No.20 - Transport
Fujikawa Maru - Aircraft transport
Kikukawa Maru - Transport
Ogashima Maru - Transport
Shiganoura Maru - Transport
Ikuta Maru - Gunboat
There is also a listing of the fates of these
ships, way to much info for this forum, Email me off line if you want/need
more info.
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: John Bullock <Johntqx@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 21 November 2000, at 1:53 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Larry Evans)
On Nov> 14th 1944 The Navy closed off an
area around the Bonin islands to all friendly forces making it a blind bombing
area, Any shipping inn this area would be considered enemy. this was for 1 day
only. I was a copilot in a PB4Y out of Tinian when our radar showed a target
100 miles south and west of Chichi Jima. The Navy wanted to try out our new
low altitude bombing gear in combat.It was 1150 PM when we started our bombing
run at 300 feet. At 0012 AM our bombs left the racks and made a direct hit on
this ship. It was 4miles outside the harbor of Chichi Jima. Ass wwe passed
over this ship it fired a salvo from a twin turret that was elevated 75 to 80
degrees, The projectals didnot explode as anti aircraft shells do. The shells
were large like 5 inch or better. For over 50 years i have been trying to find
out what kind of ship in was It went down in 1-1/2 minutes. I gotlist af the
Japanese Aircraft carriers Crusiers, Destroyers and subs that were sunk and
there dates annd location where they were sunk and nothing matched. I have had
a computer for only 3 months and have tried to find the right buttons to push
to get the right answers. Can you give me any help?
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Wednesday, 22 November 2000, at 11:42
a.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (John Bullock)
How sure are you about the date? The Japanese
fast transport T 4 was lost on 4 August 1944 off Chichijima by air attack. It
had a twin 5in/40 HA gun on the forecastle. I was unable to find any other
Japanese warship that was sunk on this date and in this area. Of course, the
reported sinking date couls also be wrong but it was stated in Jentschura and
in Watts & Gordon.
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Tony Tully <atully@flash.net>
Date: Monday, 27 November 2000, at 3:08 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Frido Kip)
Good suggestion. Another longshot if the month
is off and the date right is the big tender Jingei, which seems to have been
lost in that area (or was it Formosa? I forget)
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Bob <Bob5@home.com>
Date: Monday, 27 November 2000, at 4:18 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Tony Tully)
JINGEI was attacked and sunk on 10 October 1944
by Task Force 38 aircraft in the Nansei Shoto at 26-39N,127-52E. That seems a
little early and too far west
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Tony Tully <atully@flash.net>
Date: Wednesday, 29 November 2000, at 4:23 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Bob)
Agreed --- but I have not seen good description
of her sinking, and was allowing for the possibility that
maybe it was off.
There is a curious lack there for such a large vessel, and I was struck by the
description given.
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Sunday, 19 November 2000, at 1:52 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Larry Evans)
This is a vague question. First the Japanese
used the same name for more than one ship adding numbers to differentiate, but
not always. Then there were Navy requisitions, Army requisitions and civil
shipping.
I found the same ships as Larry in Lacroix'
Navy requisitions list (I do not have the others), but these would not
necessarily be the same as the ones mentioned in your text. If you can give
any background details this would be a great asset in the search.
Mikage Maru 18 coal tender 4,319 GRT lost 10
May 44
Mikage Maru 3 transport 3,111 GRT lost 13 Jul
42
Mikage Maru 20 transport 2,718 GRT lost 18 Jul
43
Kikukawa Maru transport 3,833 GRT lost 7 Oct 43
Ogashima Maru transport 1,424 GRT lost 20 Jan
44
Shiganoura Maru transport 3,512 GRT lost 30 Nov
43
Ikuta Maru gunboat 2,968 GRT lost 12 Jan 44
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Sunday, 19 November 2000, at 2:04 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Frido Kip)
Sorry, forgot three:
Tateyama Maru water carrier 3,787 GRT lost 5
Dec 43
Tateyama Maru transport 1,990 GRT lost 15 Feb
43
Kenryu Maru transport 4,575 GRT lost 29 Nov 43
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships! #2
Posted By: Elephtheriou George <elgeorge@otenet.gr>
Date: Sunday, 19 November 2000, at 8:38 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! #2 (Frido Kip)
thank you for the information. Unfortunately I
don't have anything else on these ships, except their name, dates and roughly
estimated position at a certain time. They are definetely WW2.
I'm only doing the translation on the document
and I don't have authorisation yet to tell it's nature in public. Sorry about
that. But both your information and those provided by Mr. Evans are very
important. I really hope to provide you both with more on the subject. Until
then, thank you again for the effort and your time.
Re: Help wanted on "Maru" ships!
Posted By: Larry Evans <Lae519@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, 18 November 2000, at 11:32 p.m.
In Response To: Help wanted on "Maru"
ships! (Elephtheriou George)
Found a couple of your ships in Warships of the
IJN, by Jentschura.
Tateyama Maru - 1940 - Aviation Transport
Kikukawa Maru - 1892 - Gunboat - was merchant
steamer
Ogashima Maru - 1941 - Cable Layer
Ikuta Maru - 1936 - Gunboat
There are 3 listing for a Fuji Maru
Thats all I could find in the index. Hope this
helps
Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of WW2, by
Shizu
Posted By: Fred Carbon <fcarbon@sundyne.com>
Date: Wednesday, 25 October 2000, at 8:58 a.m.
I rcently saw on the board the above
reference.Can somebody tell me if Ise/Hyuga are reviewed in this book.If yes,
how many pages are dedicated on the topic (drawing, pictures ...)
Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of WW2,
by S
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Wednesday, 25 October 2000, at 10:53 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese Naval Vessels at the
End of WW2, by Shizu (Fred Carbon)
You may be surprised but this is not an in
depth reference source! Instead it's a compilation of small handwritten pages
with sketches of all warships that were left after the surrender to aid
American authorities. Although it's interesting because it identifies
virtually every IJN vessel still afloat (or salvagable) with it's last
armament layout etc it is not what I think you are hoping for. Ise/Hyϋga
cover only half a page and a few pictures. Nonetheless I like the book very
much as I learned a lot from it, especially in regard to little known ships
such as oil supply ships etc.
Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of WW2,
by S
Posted By: Tony Tully <atully@flash.net>
Date: Wednesday, 25 October 2000, at 1:30 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at
the End of WW2, by S (Frido Kip)
What are you looking for on Ise & Hyuga? I
cover them extensively in the Inland Sea bombing chapter of my book. As for
Shizuo Fukui's book, if memory serves, you get two pictures of Hyuga bottomed
off a small island, and one of Ise bottomed leaning to starboard. The text
doesn't have much detail. However, if you want a treat, dig up a copy of
"Campaigns of the Pacific War" --- it has a whole segment on the
Kure wrecks and attack, but has to be checked against Japanese sources, which
I did.
Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of WW2,
by S
Posted By: Fred Carbon <fcarbon@sundyne.com>
Date: Thursday, 26 October 2000, at 3:48 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at
the End of WW2, by S (Tony Tully)
excuse my ignorance about your book(I am a new
comer to IJN). It is very difficult to find something on this topic in Europe.
I gather all documents about these 2 ships
(from technical to historical point of view) as hybrid.
Can I send you my file about all docs in my
hands? In order to tell what is missing or in that direction to search.
Is there any document about their dismandling
after the war.I recently saw a pic of Tone during its demolition and wonder if
the same exist for Ise.
Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of WW2,
by S
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Friday, 27 October 2000, at 11:37 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at
the End of WW2, by S (Fred Carbon)
If you like you can send your file also to me
and I will see if I can point you to some unknown territory, if one is still
left... Must agree that information on the carrier-battleships is scarse.
Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of WW2,
by S
Posted By: Tony Tully <atully@flash.net>
Date: Thursday, 26 October 2000, at 10:10 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese Naval Vessels at
the End of WW2, by S (Fred Carbon)
I am afraid your "ignorance" on my
book is understandable. Its an unpublished manuscript still. It exists only in
my home! Someday...
How many ships left?
Posted By: Jeff McGuire <jmguire@j-aircraft.com>
Date: Friday, 6 October 2000, at 10:27 p.m.
I just finished "The Kamikazes" by
Edwin P. Hoyt and have a question. In describing Operation Ten-Go, he stated
that the last of the IJN surface fleet headed for Okinawa. The tiny force
included the Yamato, eight destroyers and a light cruiser. In this operation
all were sunk but four of the destroyers. I thought that I had read somewhere
that the Junyo and a few other carriers had survived, does anyone have
anything on a list of IJN ships that survived and where they were at the end
of hostilities? Are carriers considered surface fleet?
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Allan Parry <dparry02@cableinet.co.uk>
Date: Saturday, 14 October 2000, at 4:27 a.m.
In Response To: How many ships left? (Jeff
McGuire)
I'm sure by now you have the list, but just in
case... I can list the 'surviving' carriers:
Still floating:- Junyo, Ryuho, Katsuragi and
Hosho
Aground in shallow water:- Kaiyo and Amagi
Other IJN carriers unfinished: Ibuki, Aso,
Ikoma and Kasagi.
A few damaged IJA carriers were also scrapped
after the war.
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Allan Alsleben <Wildcat42@AOL.com>
Date: Saturday, 7 October 2000, at 10:01 p.m.
In Response To: How many ships left? (Jeff
McGuire)
The "Yamato Sortie" was the last
"Offensive" Sortie by the IJN from Japan. They had just enough fuel
to reach Okinawa, but not return. Junyo was in a damaged state and never
repaired, as was many others. If you wish a list of combatant ships that
survived the war, contact me off-line and I'll provide you with a list down to
the deatroyer level. Or obtain Walls and Gordon's book on the "IJN of
World War 2" or "Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy" These
books are easy to read and very imformative.
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Jon Parshall <jonp@combinedfleet.com>
Date: Friday, 13 October 2000, at 10:50 a.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (Allan
Alsleben)
Just a nit, but it turns out that in fact the
Yamato, at least, had enough fuel for a return leg as well. That one-way trip
thing is a myth
Re: Yamato fuel
Posted By: Richard Wolff <rrwolff@bpa.gov>
Date: Monday, 16 October 2000, at 11:47 p.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (Jon
Parshall)
Ah, but what kind of fuel? The Japanese were
experimenting with alternative fuels and I have seen clues in the National
Archives that she put to sea with one of these alternative types. Anybody else
ever hear of such a thing?
Re: Yamato fuel
Posted By: Randy
Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 7:18 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Yamato fuel (Richard Wolff)
First question: standard, refined fuel oil, and
Second question: no.
Re: Yamato fuel
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 10:24 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Yamato fuel (Randy)
I agree, Yamato and her consorts appear to have
used the last drops of fuel oil from the storage tanks, making it necessary to
pump them out with hand pumps, can you imagine! The fuel had apparently been
reserved for the escort forces, which as a consequence where left without any.
Re: Yamato Return??
Posted By: Allan Alsleben <Wildcat42@AOL.com>
Date: Friday, 13 October 2000, at 11:54 a.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (Jon
Parshall)
See what happens when one falls for these type
of things?? Well, it doesn't surprise me. I learned that the fuel depot at
Tokuyama was stocked for some kind of future operations. Maybe against
operations at Kyushu, maybe??
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: J. Ed Low <Lowj@tir.com>
Date: Saturday, 7 October 2000, at 6:54 a.m.
In Response To: How many ships left? (Jeff
McGuire)
There is a book titled "Japanese Naval
Vessels at The End of World War II" which was compiled by Shizuo Fukui
and published by the U.S. Naval Institute. For a photo of book please see
following link: http://www.ijn.dreamhost.com/Reference/Reference%20-%20Techical%20covers%2003.htm
It contains drawing and notes originally made
by Mr. Fukui immediately after the war on this exact subject. It also contains
photos of these ship at that time. If you are interested in this topic this
would be the book.
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Bob Kugler <rkugler@optonline.net>
Date: Monday, 23 October 2000, at 3:44 p.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (J. Ed
Low)
I have a copy of The Maru Special--Japanese
Naval Vessels, #23, (PB, 68pp, in Japanese) which has numerous B&W photos
of Amagi, Katsuragi, Kasagi and Ikoma/Aso taken in 1946/47, plus wartime
photos of Soryu, Hiryu and Taiho. Make an offer if you wish.
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Larry Evans <Lae519@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, 21 October 2000, at 8:35 a.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (J. Ed
Low)
Do you have any idea where I can find these
books by Mr. Fukui?
Re: Fukui Books
Posted By: Randy
Date: Saturday, 21 October 2000, at 12:06 p.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (Larry
Evans)
You can purchase Fukui's,
"Japanese Vessels at the end of World War
II,"
from The United States Naval Institute Press,
listed at $47.95, ISBN 1-55750-274-9.
Contact the USNIP at 1-800-233-8764 or go to
www.nip.org.
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Bob <Bob5@home.com>
Date: Saturday, 21 October 2000, at 10:31 a.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (Larry
Evans)
A poster on combinedfleet.com just noted that
there is a list on-line at Warships of the world. Check this link:
http://warships1.com/Japan1.htm
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: J. Ed Low <Lowj@tir.com>
Date: Sunday, 8 October 2000, at 5:59 a.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (Jeff
McGuire)
The reason I forwarded the reference is because
a detailed answer to your question is very complex and probably best answer by
looking at the book since there is so many ships. If you just want numbers,
the answer is 6(6) carriers, 4(4) battlships, 11(8) cruisers, 42(12)
destroyers and 58(4) submarines. These numbers are from Fukui's book. The
number in () are the number of ships which were in damage condition.
Re: How many ships left?
Posted By: Grant Goodale <grant.goodale@sympatico.ca>
Date: Saturday, 7 October 2000, at 4:07 p.m.
In Response To: Re: How many ships left? (J. Ed
Low)
I have this book and I am told that it has an
interesting provenance. It is alledged that the US Navy commissioned Fukui to
do this study for their various records, assemeements, etc. Fukui properly
fulfilled his contract and then published his findings in the 60's. The SBN is
991964-00-17. If this is true then good for Fukui-san!
Tachibera Maru (sp?)
Posted By: Chip <VShank@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, 26 August 2000, at 10:05 p.m.
I am a first time participant here looking for
information on the WWII Japanese hospital ship "Tachibera Maru"(Sp?).
This ship was captured near the PI in August
1945 by two USN cruisers (destroyers?) on or about the same date as the bomb
was dropped on Hiroshima. I am tryin to compile a rememberance of my father to
pass on to my nephew, his grandson. My Dad is a retired doctor and was a Navy
Pharmicists Mate 2CL working in a three man joint services
epidemiological unit (disease control) with two
enlisted army medics (now both retired doctors) all over China and the south
pacific for most of the War. He was in Manilla when they hauled this ship in
and was NCOIC of deinfestation and clean-up. This is the hospital ship that
was found to be carrying several thousand fully armed combat troops. Dad has
told us that they had constructed "shelves" from deck to overhead
and from a central isle both sides to the hull of the ship and stacked those
guys in there like "chordwood". He still has no idea how they ate
and etc. He is very humble about his his role in WWII ("I never fired a
shot") but in this duty I feel he has touched an moment in history and I
feel compelled to document the story and his service and contribution. Anyway,
I would like to find a file photo of this ship and a history to include with
some of his pictures and a small silk rising sun battle flag that he took off
the ship in a framed historical rememberance of him before he's gone. Any help
with reference publications, correct spelling, personal knowledge, newspaper
clippings etc. about the Tachibera Maru will be greatly appreciated.
about TACHIBANA MARU
Posted By: Yutaka Iwasaki <navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Friday, 1 September 2000, at 8:25 a.m.
In Response To: Tachibera Maru (sp?) (Chip)
I find these documents on the web.
Drama of Fake Hospital Ship Capture
http://metalab.unc.edu/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DD/dd581-drama.html
http://metalab.unc.edu/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DD/dd581-mo-report.html
http://metalab.unc.edu/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DD/dd581-action.html
http://metalab.unc.edu/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DD/dd581.html
http://metalab.unc.edu/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DD/dd582.html
Re: Tachibera Maru (sp?)
Posted By: Ron Wolford <wolfieeod@aol.com>
Date: Monday, 28 August 2000, at 8:32 p.m.
In Response To: Tachibera Maru (sp?) (Chip)
The Tachibana Maru also called the Titibana
Maru was owned by the Tokiowan Kisen Steam Ship Company before the war. If you
are looking for a picture of the Tachibana Maru the book "Japanese
Passenger Ships in History" has 2 good photo, one pre war and one as a
Hospital Ship, on page 202. This book used to be available from Pacific Front
Hobbies but its expensive. The new book "The Yamato Dynasty" has a
picture of the Tachibana Maru on page 206 but they call it the Huzi Maru
(Trust Me it's the Tachibana Maru). If you want I will try to scan the page
out of the Japanese Merchant Ship Recognition Manual and E-mail it to you but
my copies are Xerox copies and I do not know how well they will come out. Hope
this helps you out.
Re: Tachibera Maru (sp?)
Posted By: Lars Ahlberg <lars.ahlberg@halmstad.mail.postnet.se>
Date: Sunday, 27 August 2000, at 11:40 a.m.
In Response To: Tachibera Maru (sp?) (Chip)
A page called "Tokai Kisen's 'Tachibana
Maru' in Her Last Days" can be found in "Sekai no Kansen"
("Ships of the World"), issue 4, 1998. Some data: Built 1935, 1,772
GRT, length 76.0m, beam 12.2m, 2 shafts, 2,400 HP, speed 15.5 knots, 1,230
passengers. The page has two photos.
Re: Tachibana Maru
Posted By: Tom Hall <hall41@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sunday, 27 August 2000, at 1:51 a.m.
In Response To: Tachibera Maru (sp?) (Chip)
A hospital ship called Tachibana Maru is listed
on
page 263 of the Jentschura, Jung & Mickel
book,
Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy,
1869-1945.
Says it was built in 1935, requisitioned as a
hospital
ship in 1838 (1938), and used in
"repatriation service"
until returned to her owners, who are not
stated.
I once attempted to find photos of some obscure
Maru
when I lived in Japan. There is precious little
on
most of them. If the steamship company or its
successor
is still around, they may have a photo. There
are
a couple of good company histories of certain
Japanese steamship companies, private printings, hard to find. Unfortunately,
I can't tell you which line had owned her.
According to this reference book, "No
ships were built specifically as hospital ships for the Imperial Japanese
Navy,..."
Re: Tachibana Maru
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Sunday, 27 August 2000, at 5:42 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Tachibana Maru (Tom Hall)
Unfortunately, I was unable to find any
specifics on Tachibana Maru, but I did find the following:
She was intercepted on 2 august 1945 by U.S.
destroyers Conner (DD582) and Charette (DD581), searched and taken as a prize
as she was carrying arms and ammo in red cross boxes. A prize crew of 80
marines and sailors were put on board and she was sent to Morotai in the
Netherlands East Indies for further examination. What happened then is not
mentioned.
Thanks to all
Posted By: Chip <VShank@aol.com>
Date: Sunday, 27 August 2000, at 7:42 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Tachibera Maru (sp?) (Lars
Ahlberg)
I appreciate the information returned. Dad is
76 years old now, blind and not in good health so memories
can fade. I will go
back to him and recheck the facts as I understood them but I am certain he
called the ship Tachibera Maru (although he was not sure of the spelling), and
it was painted as a hospital ship and it was in Manilla Bay when he went
aboard. The old man can still describe south China and the Phillipines as if
he were there last week. As far as enemy troops being transported, I'm sure if
there were they would have been removed by the time he went aboard. His
knowledge of cargo could be partially based on scuttlebutt, although I seem to
recall a Paul Harvey piece about 10-15 years ago that seemed to parallel Dad's
story, which I remember him telling 40 years ago when I was a kid. Anyway,
thanks for the help and any other info you might come across.
Tsurugisaki conversion
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Tuesday, 27 June 2000, at 12:52 p.m.
I would like to convert the Hasegawa 1/700
aircraft carrier Shτhτ into the submarine depot ship
Tsurugisaki, as the
P&I resin model appears to be no longer available.
However, I only have 2 pictures (Watts &
Gordon, Polmar & Carpenter) and 1 drawing (Jentschura) to base the
conversion on. Does anyone know if there are more photographs or better
drawings available?
Re: Tsurugisaki conversion
Posted By: David Outten <DMOutten@cs.com>
Date: Tuesday, 27 June 2000, at 8:28 p.m.
In Response To: Tsurugisaki conversion (Frido
Kip)
I don't know if this will help Frido, but on
the website "Hazegray & Underway" under the topic, Naval History
Information Center, click on World Aircraft Carrier List. It has both the
Shoho her sister Zuiho. Under Shoho, it has the same picture Watts and Gordon
use for the AS Tsurugisaki. But under the Zuiho it has a picture of the
Takasaki still fitting out as an AS. It is an oblique port bow shot, but a
close-up and quite detailed. Hope you can use it.
Re: Tsurugisaki conversion
Posted By: David Outten <DMOutten@cs.com>
Date: Tuesday, 27 June 2000, at 8:39 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Tsurugisaki conversion
(David Outten)
Frido, that photograph was a starboard view not
to port as mentioned earlier.
Re: Tsurugisaki conversion
Posted By: Frido Kip <frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Wednesday, 28 June 2000, at 10:32 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Tsurugisaki conversion
(David Outten)
Great picture! Details are scarse in this early
stage of construction but it is nonetheless very interesting. Also very
interesting site, I have to go back there next time to go through it much more
thoroughly!
Japanese Freighter "SHINYO MARU"
Posted By: Al McFarland
Date: Sunday, 25 June 2000, at 8:16 p.m.
I'm searching for info on this Japanese
Freighter that was used to transfer American POW's from Davao POW camp # 2
alleged to be going to Manila, but really taking POW's to Japan to salve labor
in the mines. She was torpodoed
by USS Paddle Sub and sunk in the Sindangan
Bay, Mindanao Philippines on September 7, 1943.......the Shinyo Maru was not
"lettered" as a POW transport.
They report that this ship was sunk late
afternoon, 9-7-44 @ 8 degrees 11'N &
122 degrees 40'E just off the Sindangan Point
(2 1/4 miles??) 83 souls survived
out of 750....many were trapped and pinned in
the holds by torpedo caused debri.
many were bound, shot, and thrown into the sea.
Four bodies washed up on the shore near Liloy. My brother was alleged to have
been on this ship, too. I'm trying to ascertain the facts, but this file was
classified until 1996. I would like to find the location. Information about
this ship wreck, the souls that went to the bottom and the friendly fire sub
are hard to come by.....The divers
in the Philippines are also unaware of this
site....Anyone out there know about
where this wreck is located. Anyone heard of
it. Anything, please. Thanks
Re: Japanese Freighter "SHINYO MARU"
Posted By: Randy <r.stone.eal@juno.com>
Date: Monday, 26 June 2000, at 12:23 p.m.
In Response To: Japanese Freighter "SHINYO
MARU" (Al McFarland)
The following is from Clay Blair Jr.,
"Silent Victory," 1975, page 737:
"While patrolling a lifeguard station on
the southwest tip of Mindoro (this is an obvious editing error, he must mean
Mindanao -- Randy), Byron Nowell in Paddle found a small convoy. He sank one
confirmed ship, Shiniyo Maru (sic), 2,500 tons. By happenstance, Shiniyo (sic)
was transporting hundreds of Allied POWs being evacuated from Mindanao to
Manila or the Empire. They had been herded into the holds and told by prison
guards that if an American submarine attacked the ship they would kill them
all. When Nowell's torpedoes struck home and the ship started down, the guards
opened fire on the POWs with tommy guns. However, a hundred or more fought up
through the hatches with clubs and improvised weapons and jumped over the
side. About fifteen or twenty were picked up by Japanese boats engaged in
rescuing Shiniyo (sic) survivors and were immediately shot. Eighty-one reached
shore on Mindanao and made contact with friendly guerillas, who sent word for
a submarine to evacuate them.
Christie ordered Narwhal, now commanded by Jack
Clarence Titus, to rescue the POWs; he picked them up on the night of
September 29 and proceeded toward the Admiralties. They were in pitiful
condition and grateful for their escape..."
This is Randy speaking: if you could get hold
of a manifest or document from the Narwhal rescue you may yet find some of
these men, some of whom are likely still alive; they may be able to recall
your brother and provide you with some kind of information.
Re: Japanese Freighter "SHINYO MARU"
Posted By: Yutaka Iwasaki
<navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Monday, 26 June 2000, at 7:50 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese Freighter "SHINYO
MARU" (Al McFarland)
From 'WARTIME SHIP HISTORY' by Shinsitiro
Komamiya,@1991.
Shinyo Maru
2,634 gross ton
Captured ship(No owner)
7.Sept.1944 02:00 departed from Zamboanga,
Mindanao for Manila P.I.
Convoy of 5 ships (Shinyo maru, Miho
maru(salvage ship), #2Eiyo maru, Kamitu(Kozu?) maru, Ryuko maru(2,813 ton))
and 2 escorts (Kiso maru, #55Sub chaser).
7.Sept.1944 16:59 torpedoed at 08-12N, 122-37E
(7km north from Sindangan Point, Mindanao Is.)
3 hits at portside. 1st below foremast, 2nd at
No.2 hold, 3rd between No.5 Hold and poop.
The hull broke into two at foremast, fore part
sank immediately, and the latter part in 4 minutes.
15 crews and 797 passengers died.
Next day(8.Sept.1944) Ryuko maru was torpedoed
and sunk in Sulu sea(330 troopers and 16 crews died).
Enroute Manila, Miho maru and #2Eiyo maru were
also damaged by torpedoes but survived.
I pray for the repose of victim's soul.
Re: Japanese Freighter "SHINYO MARU"
Posted By: Jim Broshot
<jbroshot@socket.net>
Date: Sunday, 25 June 2000, at 9:52 p.m.
In Response To: Japanese Freighter "SHINYO
MARU" (Al McFarland)
For what it is worth.
From U. S. Submarine Attacks During World War
II (John D. Alden) 1989 edition:
From US sources:
Date: 7 September 1944
Time: 1700 hours
Submarine: USS Paddle (SS-263)(Seventh War
Patrol)
Position: 08-11N, 122-40E
From Japanese sources:
XAP or AK 1C, 2634 or 2518 tons, Shinyo Maru
sunk at 08-12N, 122-37E
Hope this is of some help.
Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Dave Smith <gannet@cftnet.com>
Date: Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 10:48 a.m.
I would appreciate any leads on books (in or
out of print), magazine articles, or websites concerning the operations of
post-1920s seaplane tenders, of any nation. I am especially interested in
descriptions of just -how- these ships dealt with the day-to-day technical
challenges of maintaining aircraft.
Also interested in similar for military
seaplanes, although this seems to be much easier to find than info on the
tenders.
Re: Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Dave Smith <gannet@cftnet.com>
Date: Monday, 3 July 2000, at 4:13 p.m.
In Response To: Seaplane Tenders? (Dave Smith)
For my fellow seaplane/floatplane fans,
I found an interesting little book published on
the Web today: "Cruiser Scout - Recollections of War in the
Pacific". It's a firsthand account by a radio operator/technician in
floatplanes. Goes from before Pearl to after the war. Good stuff, check it
out: http://www.commpro.com/navy /
Re: Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Raymond Smith
<ssfwb1@bellatlantic.net>
Date: Friday, 30 June 2000, at 6:40 p.m.
In Response To: Seaplane Tenders? (Dave Smith)
Dave, In addition to Frido's tip on the Breyer
book, I think this may also be of
some help. " Before the Aircraft Carrier
" - The Development of Aviation Vessels
1849-1922. I know it is outside your date
criteria, but! Unless of course you are already in possesion of it. I have an
interest in the same area also. Look forward the reply stream.
Re: Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Dave Smith <gannet@cftnet.com>
Date: Monday, 3 July 2000, at 8:41 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Seaplane Tenders? (Raymond
Smith)
Thanks for the leads, to you and all
respondents.
In running searches at http://www.abebooks.com
/ I found enough interesting titles to render me broke. One in particular
looks like a first-hand seaplane tender account:
USS CHINCOTEAGUE; The Ship That Wouldn't Sink,
Murphy, Frank D.
At this point it looks like most mention of
seaplane tenders today is "in passing", in books that are ostensibly
about other subjects.
Somebody ought to do this up right. :)
Re: Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Jon Parshall <jonp@is.com>
Date: Monday, 3 July 2000, at 1:30 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Seaplane Tenders? (Dave
Smith)
The Naval Technical Mission to Japan reports
also contain information on the aviation handling equipment aboard Japanese
tenders. It's Report #A-11: Aircraft Arrangements and Handling Facilities in
Japanese Naval Vessels.
Re: Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Jim Broshot
<jbroshot@socket.net>
Date: Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 5:02 p.m.
In Response To: Seaplane Tenders? (Dave Smith)
ESCORT CARRIERS AND AVIATION SUPPORT SHIPS OF
THE US NAVY (Stefan Terzibaschitsch) ISBN 0-8317-2979-1 (Conway Press, but my
copy issued by U S Naval Institute) 1981
has brief chapter on "AV/AVP/AVD Seaplane
Tenders"
if nothing else a complete roster of US ships
of this ilk, starting with AV-1 USS WRIGHT
lots of photos
Re: Seaplane Tenders?
Posted By: Frido Kip
<frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Wednesday, 21 June 2000, at 12:48 p.m.
In Response To: Seaplane Tenders? (Dave Smith)
Unfortunately, sources on seaplane tenders are
scarse. I could find no sources that completely match your interest. Let's
hope that this situation will change in the future. Here's what I did find:
There are some interesting articles in the
annual 'Warship' (Conway Maritime Press/Naval Institute Press):
1989: Naval warfare in new dimensions - pre
1920, but historical account of seaplane use in the Great War.
1990: Engadine at Jutland - again pre 1920, but
a very detailed operational description of Engadine's virtually unknown
contribution to the Battle of Jutland.
1993: Flights of fancy - on shipboard launch
and recovery systems.
Even if you can't read German, Siegfried
Breyer's 'Flugzeugkreuzer, Flugzeugmutterschiffe, Flugzeugtender bis 1945
(Seaplane cruisers, Seaplane motherships, Seaplane tenders till 1945)' might
be an interesting booklet. It is small but contains several unusual
photographs and reasonably accurate drawings of Japanese, American, British,
Italian, French, Russian, Swedish and Spanish tenders. For instance, it shows
photographs of the Japanese seaplane carrier Nisshin and the flying boat depot
ship Akitsushima, which is very rare! However, there's not much here on their
actual operational use. It is published as the Marine-Arsenal Sonderheft Band
9 by Podzun Pallas Verlag. I hope it's still out there.
Hokoku Maru's planes
Posted By: Sander Kingsepp
<sander.kingsepp@neti.ee>
Date: Sunday, 11 June 2000, at 7:51 a.m.
Did the armed merchant cruisers Hokoku and
Aikoku Maru carry any planes during their last sortie as a pair in November
1942?
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
Posted By: Frido Kip
<frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Monday, 12 June 2000, at 6:02 a.m.
In Response To: Hokoku Maru's planes (Sander
Kingsepp)
Hokoku Maru and Aikoku Maru each carried two
Type 94 reconnaissance seaplanes (ALF) during their first sortie to the South
Pacific (one of these was actually a reserve plane). Aikoku Marus Z-1 was
lost during this mission.
When they returned to Hiroshima on 13 February
1942 both ships were refitted at Kure. The armament was updated and new Type 2
fighter seaplanes (RUFE) were shipped, again two each. The raiders left with
this complement on 10 March 1942 for their operational area in the Indian
Ocean, where Hokoku Maru was eventually lost on 11 November 1942.
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
Posted By: Sander Kingsepp
<sander.kingsepp@neti.ee>
Date: Monday, 12 June 2000, at 7:16 a.m.
Thanks a lot, Frido (especially for the
tailcode). Anyway, was the second type really A6M2-N
(Rufe)-
I mean, the plane had been barely tested by that time?
Curiously enough, Dutch eyewitnesses seem to
have witnessed 2 aircraft thrown off the deck when Hokoku Maru was sunk.
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
Posted By: Frido Kip
<frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Monday, 12 June 2000, at 1:02 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
(Sander Kingsepp)
I must admit that I had the same doubt as you.
However, as two different authors stated the same complement from different
sources I assumed they were right. Moreover, I had looked it up before I sent
you the original answer. Mikesh states that the Type 2 fighter seaplane was
only officially taken in production in July 1942, but according to Francillon
production may have started earlier, making this a possibility.
Nonetheless, I still shared your doubts and
therefore I've now looked a little further. I have a vague picture of the
Waveline kit of Aikoku Maru that clearly carries a twin float seaplane, which
can only be a Type 0 reconnaissance seaplanes (JAKE) at this date.
Unfortunately, I could find nothing in my sources to confirm this, with one
exception. Watts shows a photo of Hokoku Maru in July 1942 with a single
twin-float seaplane aft, which is moreover much too long to be a Rufe.
Therefore, both converted cruisers probably carried two Jakes each and not
Rufes.
As I stated before Hokoku Maru did indeed carry
two seaplanes, as did her sister. They were carried on top of the hatches of
nos. 4 and 5 holds aft in the ship. This was the area hit in Hokoku Maru,
destroying the two seaplanes.
Posted By: Jim Broshot
<jbroshot@socket.net>
Date: Saturday, 17 June 2000, at 10:57 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Hokoku Maru's planes (Frido
Kip)
Received a long awaited copy of HISTORY OF THE
ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY: THE FAR EAST THEATER 1941 - 46 today.
At Page 120 - 121, it states that on 11 Nov
1942, SW of the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean, "two large Japanese
armed raiders" attacked HMIS Bengal (called a corvette) and the MV Ondina
(carrying 3 Maritime Royal Artillery gunners and five naval ratings with 1x
4inch gun, 1x 20mm gun and various machine guns). The Ondina's guns hit and
sank one of the raiders.
My copy of WARSHIP LOSSES OF WORLD WAR TWO
lists the armed merchant cruiser HOKOKU MARU as sunk near the Cocos Islands on
this date by "3in gunfire of RIN minesweeper BENGAL and 4in gunfire of
Dutch tanker Ondina."
Anybody know what the other raider/armed
merchant cruiser was?
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes - Fate of the Hokoku
Maru
Posted By: Frido Kip
<frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Sunday, 18 June 2000, at 4:04 a.m.
In Response To: Hokoku Maru's planes - Fate of
the Hokoku Maru (Jim Broshot)
The other armed merchant cruiser was Hokoku
Maru's sister Aikoku Maru.
During a raid into the Indian Ocean they
encountered the minesweeper HMIS Bengal and the motor tanker Ondina on 11
November 1942 at 11:30 in the position 19-45S by 92-40E. Trying to protect the
tanker, Bengal closed the range with Hokoku Maru, which opened fire at 12:12.
Both ships were damaged in the ensuing action. At this time Aikoku Maru was
some 6 miles to the NW and closing. Then a lucky hit from Ondine's 4in gun on
the starboard torpedo tubes, detonated Hokoku Maru's torpedoes and blew off
the stern, leaving her sinking (there's some uncertainty on which ship scored
this hit, but Japanese sources apparently credit the hit to Ondine). Aikoku
Maru now joined the fight. Bengal was hit again and had to disengage. Aikoku
Maru then shifted her attention to Ondine, hitting her several times and
closing. With her ammunition expanded, the crew abandoned the tanker, but
Aikoku Maru was unable the sink the vessel, despite the use of torpedoes. By
now Hokoku Maru had gone down and Aikoku Maru rescued 278 members of her crew
before firing a last torpedo at Ondine and leaving the scene. The crew was
able to reentered the ship, patch her up and reach Fremantle.
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes - Fate of the Hokoku
Maru
Posted By: Jim Broshot
<jbroshot@socket.net>
Date: Sunday, 18 June 2000, at 8:26 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Hokoku Maru's planes - Fate
of the Hokoku Maru (Frido Kip)
The Royal Artillery history (naturally) credits
the gun crew in the Ondina. It states the Bengal was set on fire and had to
sheer off. The crew on the Ondina then got two hits, after which the raider
began to sink.
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
Posted By: Ron Wolford
<wolfieeod@aol.com>
Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2000, at 7:19 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
(Sander Kingsepp)
Here is my 2-cents worth. In Maru Special #53
there are five
pictures of the Hokoku Maru and Aikoku Maru at
Singapore in July
of 1942. The Hokoku Maru is shown with one Type
O reconnaissance
seaplane (JAKE) on top of hatch #4 and the
Aikoku Maru has one on
top of hatch #4 and one on hatch #5. Hope this
help you out.
Re: Hokoku Maru's planes
Posted By: Sander Kingsepp
<sander.kingsepp@neti.ee>
Date: Monday, 19 June 2000, at 6:44 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Hokoku Maru's planes (Ron
Wolford)
So the second type was definitely Jake.
BTW, a book complied by Kazutoshi Hando (NIPPON
GUNKAN SENKI, 2nd edition Tokyo 1996)contains an account by Hokoku Maru's
Chief Orderly, Mr Eiichi Nakajima. Although his description about the sinking
of Hokoku Maru is somewhat spotty, it contains interesting details about how
the Japanese intended to use their merchant cruisers (or Q-ships as Nakajima
called them). Before the outbreak of the war there were regular drills on both
ships how to disguise the off-duty hands as women (using wheat flour instead
of makeup) - just as it was reportedly done on British Q-ships during WW I.
Diahatsu Landing Craft on Cruisers
Posted By: John Sutherland
<john.sutherland@amcom.co.nz>
Date: Saturday, 13 May 2000, at 8:16 p.m.
Lacroix says that Nagara in her last refit was
converted to a fast troop ship and as such provided with a 13m Diahatsu
landing craft and a "special" 10m freight lighter. No indication of
where these were carried, but assumably given the size they were either on the
top deck where the catapult was and / or the main deck beside the "cut
away" area.
However, my question is how did they get these
heavy lumps on and off the ship?
They would seem to be too heavy for boat
davits. Did Nagara re-embark her aircraft crane removed with the catapult?
This would cover Nagara, but what about those
14m Diahatsu Landing Craft that Kitikami and Ooi (Oi?) embarked in place of
the nos 7 and 8 torpedo mounts? Neither of these ships ever had a crane (they
never had a catapult and aircraft) so if they embarked a crane - what pattern
was it? Note - Kitakami did embark a 10 ton crane ex Chiyoda in 1944 but we
are talking 1942 here.
Comments? Suggestions?
Anyone know of a source of 700 scale
"special 10m freight lighters"? Could that be the funny shaped boat
on the supplementary set that now comes with T/H/F/A kits?
Re: Diahatsu Landing Craft on Cruisers
Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 23 May 2000, at 9:10 a.m.
In Response To: Diahatsu Landing Craft on
Cruisers (John Sutherland)
I was thumbing thru Lacroix & Wells and
came across additional information. Late war modifications for CL Naka
included embarking 4 of the 10m freight lighters (shohatsu) for transport
& landing operations. These are apparently similar to the 14M, just
smaller at 6.52 tons with a 60 hp gasoline engine and capable of carrying 3.3
tons of cargo or 35 men. Similarly, Isuzu embarked 2 as did Nagara. All
indications are that Naka & Isuzu retained their aircraft handling cranes
and I was under the impression that Nagara did as well.
Oi & Kitakami embarked 4 of the 14m and 2
of the 10m lighters after conversion. 30 ton capacity aircraft cranes were
taken from Chitose, then under conversion to a CVL, and installed. The
Chitose/Chiyoda conversions begain late '42.
The Skywave/Pitroad set for IJN BBs carries a
number of freight lighters, though, I can't remember which ones.
Re: Diahatsu Landing Craft on Cruisers
Posted By: John Sutherland
<john.sutherland@amcom.co.nz>
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2000, at 12:01 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Diahatsu Landing Craft on
Cruisers (Dan Kaplan)
Your thoughts on Nagara are in-line with mine.
Lacroix & Wells suggests the crane was removed when the catapult was
landed, but I think either that is not correct or it was re-embarked. L&W
gives Nagara as embarking a 10m and a 14m.
The info on Oi and Kitakami confuses me.
According to L&W the outfit you described was part of the proposed 1943
conversion which, according to L&W, never eventuated. (However I have seen
other references, eg. Watts, which said it did). Kitakami did get the 30ton
crane in 1944 when converted to a Kaiten carrier.
However, from mid-42 (aug/Sep) they carried 2
14m replacing the nos 7 & 8 tubes. This was too early for any cranes from
Chitose or Chiyoda so how did they get them on/off board? I am assuming they
embarked an aircraft handling crane similar to Nagara but this would have
required rear mast modification. Oh for a photo!!!
Japanese Seaplane Tenders
Posted By: Allan Alsleben
<Wildcat42@AOL.com>
Date: Sunday, 23 April 2000, at 5:27 p.m.
Can anyone of the experts out there give me the
dates of commission on these 10 units? The only thing
I have is the year. I'm trying to narrow them down. These were the Maru's like
in Sagara Maru and such.
Re: Japanese Seaplane Tenders
Posted By: Frido Kip
<frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Sunday, 14 May 2000, at 10:25 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese Seaplane Tenders
(Allan Alsleben)
As I recently obtained the new Skywave Kimikawa
Maru kit I thought this would be a good reason to do some research on your
question.
In 1937 three conversions were ordered as a
responds to the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese conflict. These were Kamikawa
Maru, Kagu Maru and Kinugasa Maru, all three operation in 1938. Two of these,
Kagu and Kinugasa Maru were rerated transports before the start of the Pacific
War on 8 December 1941. Kamikawa Maru remained a seaplane carrier until her
loss on 28 May 43.
In 1941 five more conversions were ordered,
resulting in enlistment of Kimikawa Maru, Kiyokawa Maru, Sanyτ Maru (all
three Aug-Sep 41), Sagara Maru (20 Sep 41) and Sanuki Maru (5 Sep 41). On 14
July 1942 Kunikawa Maru was also enlisted (attached to the fourth fleet).
Sagara and Sanuki Maru were rerated transports
on 1 Dec 42, Kiyokawa and Sanyτ Maru on 1 Apr 43 and Kimikawa and Kunikawa
Maru on 1 Oct 43.
As far as I know there is no tenth converted
seaplane carrier.
I hope that this will help you out.
Re: Japanese Seaplane Tenders
Posted By: Allan Alsleben
<Wildcat42@AOL.com>
Date: Sunday, 14 May 2000, at 4:29 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese Seaplane Tenders
(Frido Kip)
Then, can you identify which of the 3 that were
in service in 1938, were attached to the 3rd Air Division or Carrier Division
during the Sino-Japanese Conflict? And also what the dates were? I only know
of Kamikawa Maru, however, there is some indication that Kinugasa Maru was
also involved. There has not been a very clear picture on the activities of
these Seaplane Tenders......
Re: Japanese Seaplane Tenders
Posted By: Frido Kip
<frido.kip@hetnet.nl>
Date: Monday, 15 May 2000, at 2:15 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese Seaplane Tenders
(Allan Alsleben)
I could not find much on these three seaplane
carriers. All three were converted for use in Chinese waters and were attached
to the China Area Fleet in 1938. However, at that time this fleet actually
consisted of the 3rd, 4th and 5th fleets, but no mention is made to which
fleets and/or squadrons these three ships belonged and where they were
operating. The fleets were renamed China Expeditionary Fleets on 15 November
1939.
When a new 3rd Fleet was formed on 10 April
1941 for use in the Philippine area Kamikawa Maru and Sanyτ Maru formed the
12th carrier squadron of that fleet. Kagu and Kinugasa Maru were probably
rerated transports at this time. The 3rd Fleet was dissolved on 10 March 1942.
Also note that the new 5th Fleet, which was formed on 25 July 1941 for the
North Pacific area, included the Kimikawa Maru.
Another fact that I found that may interest you
is that all three seaplane carriers carried 12 seaplanes when converted, four
Type 94 and eight Type 95 reconnaissance seaplanes (maximum allowance).
Brazil Maru
Posted By: M. Kelso <seaagg98@aol.com>
Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2000, at 8:38 p.m.
Thank you for the responses to my last posting.
Apparently sometime after the first Brazil Maru was sunk another vessel was
commisioned with the same name. This vessel was in Takao, Formosa the first
two weeks of 1945 and arrived at Moji, Japan around January 29, 1945. The
vessel master was named Shin Kajiyama. Is there any information out there
about this mystery Brazil Maru.
I also seek infomation on these other merchant
vessels:
Shinyo Maru (Lost 9/44 off Mindanao)
Yashu Maru
Arisan Maru (Lost 10/44)
Arisan Maru
Posted By: Yutaka Iwasaki
<navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Monday, 29 May 2000, at 8:02 a.m.
In Response To: Brazil Maru (M. Kelso)
Arisan@maru
Steel cargo ship@iWartime standard
type@2Aj@6,866 gross ton
Dimension@(Lpp~B~D)@128.00m ~18.20m
~11.10m
Main Engine@turbine@2,000SHP
Speed@10(continuous)/13.0(max)@kt
Builder@Mitsui-Senpaku shipping
co.iTokyoj
Shipyard@Mitsui-ZoseniTamano city,Okayama
pref. JAPANj@Yard No.376
Keel lay 30.Apr. 1944@
Launch@@ 5.June.1944@
Complete@22.June.1944
Sunk @@24.Oct. 1944@
at Bashi Channel(20!46N, 118!18E) by USS-279
SNOOK torpedo
Shinyo maru
4,658 gross ton
Builder Nihon-Suisan
Sunk 21.Sept.1944
East-East-South off SIBUYAN Island N12!23
E122!50
by air raid
Yashu Maru
1,873 gross ton
captured ship
Sunk 23.JAN.1943
at S05!40-E120!35 off South Celebes Is. by
submarine
(another)
Yashu Maru
2,655 gross ton
Owner Korean-Yusen
Sunk 13.Feb.1944
at Holandja imubi-bay (spelling unknown), New
Guinea by air raid
(correction)Arisan Maru
Posted By: Yutaka Iwasaki
<navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Monday, 29 May 2000, at 8:06 a.m.
In Response To: Arisan Maru (Yutaka Iwasaki)
Arisan Maru
(wrong) 6,866 gross ton
(right) 6,886 gross ton
Re: Arisan Maru
Posted By: Dale Wilber <SCRIBEV@AOL.COM>
Date: Sunday, 4 June 2000, at 9:55 a.m.
In Response To: (correction)Arisan Maru (Yutaka
Iwasaki)
The Arisan Maru was sunk in the afternoon not
in the Morning. The logical choice for the sinking Submarine is the Shark II.
It was the last ship sunk in a convoy of 12.
Re: Arisan Maru
Posted By: Yutaka Iwasaki
<navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Thursday, 8 June 2000, at 7:14 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Arisan Maru (Dale Wilber)
Shark II might sunk Arisan Maru.
The convoy(12 marus and 5 escorts) was
scattered by at least 5 submarines attack.
Each maru was attacked repeatedly, from both
sides, some torpedoes didn't explode or harmless.
Each submarine claimed their credit, but SS314
SHARK couldn't because it's sunk.
Submarines data
SS314 SHARK OCT.24
At 06:15 last transmission to SEADRAGON
lost ?:? N20!41'N;118!-27'E according to
Japaese antisubmarine attacks records
At 18:58, SEADRAGON tried unsuccessfully to
raise SHARK.
attcked Wolf Pack group
Banister's Beagle's(SS276 SAWFISH, SS367
ICEFISH, SS228 DRUM)
Blakely's Behemoths(SS194 SEADRAGON, SS221
BLACKFISH, SS314 SHARK)
? (SS279 SNOOK, ?, ?)
The list below is from the book 'Ship Artillery
2' by SINSITIRO KOMAMIYA, publisher SYUPPAN-KYODOSYA co. 1981.
Convoy 'HARUKAZE' Manila to Kaosiung(Formosa)
Seq. name gross owner sunk date time location
credit
12 KIMIKAWA MARU 6,863t KAWASAKI-KISEN 23 17:30
N18!58 E118!46 SS276 SAWFISH(Banister group)
1 KOKURYU MARU 7,369t OSAKA-SHOSEN 24 01:00
N19!42 E118!38 SS194 SEADRAGON(Blakely group)
2 KIKUSUI MARU 3,887t captured ship 24 03:15
N19!46 E118!30 SS279 SNOOK
9 TENSIN MARU 4,236t ZUIKO-SHOSEN 24 06:05
N19!54 E119!00 SS367 ICEFISH(Banister group)
4 SIGISAN MARU 4,725t MITSUI-SENPAKU 24 07:59
N20!10 E118!30 SS228 DRUM (Banister group)
5 DAITEN MARU 4,642t OSAKA-SHOSEN 24 11:20
N20!12 E119!01 SS194 SEADRAGON(Blakely group)
7 #1SINSEI MARU 5,878t HARA-SHOJI 24 12:25
N20!31 E118!42 SS279 SNOOK
6 EIKOU MARU 1,847t NIHON-YUSEN 24 14:05 N20!35
E118!32 SS194 SEADRAGON(Blakely group)
8 ARISAN MARU 6,886t MITSUI-SENPAKU 24 17:30
N20!00 E118!44 SS279 SNOOK
(N20!46 E118!18 in another book)
survived
3 RYOFU MARU 1,181t Ministry of Education
10 #3TOYO MARU 985t SAWAYAMA-KAIUN
11 EIKAI MARU 175t Army
Escorts
3 Destoroyers(HARUKAZE,TAKE,KURETAKE)
1 Mine layer(KURASAKI)
1 submarine chaser(#20)
Cargo list
Seq.
1 KOKURYU MARU 1,357 Japanese, some ship lost
crew,@494 funeral ashes
2 KIKUSUI MARU ammunition
3 RYOFU MARU unknown
4 SIGISAN MARU 3,300t manganese ore, 3,000t raw
rubber, 1,500t general goods
5 DAITEN MARU empty
6 EIKOU MARU empty
7 #1SINSEI MARU 8,000t bauxite ore,
8 ARISAN MARU 1,781 POW, 204 ship lost crew,
125 another Japanese
9 TENSIN MARU 6,250t bauxite ore
10 #3TOYO MARU unknown
11 EIKAI MARU unknown
12 KIMIKAWA MARU unknown
Japanese Ships
Posted By: M. Kelso <seaagg98@aol.com>
Date: Wednesday, 5 April 2000, at 9:14 a.m.
Do any of our friends in Japan have access to
pictures of the following merchant vessels that operated in World War Two?
Oryoku Maru
Enoura Maru
Brazil Maru
Re: Japanese Ships
Posted By: JPModeler
<navy_yard-iwa@mbj.sphere.ne.jp>
Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2000, at 7:29 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese Ships (M. Kelso)
Oryoku Maru
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~aac89510/sbs/Senbotsu1FILE/kamomidori.html
On her side, marking in 'hiragana' character as
'A-FU-RYO-KU-MA-RU'
sunked 14DEC1944 10:20 at subic bay by US air
raid
Enoura Maru
cargo ship?
Brazil Maru
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~aac89510/sbs/Senbotsu1FILE/burajiru.html
sunked 5AUG1942 00:58 en route truk to
yokosukai09.51N-150.46Ej by USSUB
Re: Japanese Ships
Posted By: William <IRISHODOWD@aol.com>
Date: Thursday, 6 April 2000, at 5:18 p.m.
In Response To: Japanese Ships (M. Kelso)
Concerning the Brazil Maru she was built in
1919 by Kawasaki shipyard
in Kobe Dimensions 385x51x27'1" spd 9kts
5860 gross tons. She is one
of many sisterships built by Kawasaki after WW1
I have pictures of two
sisterships ( Holland Maru and Atlantic Maru )
book: The Worlds Merchant
Fleets, 1939 by Rodger Jordan new book
availible at any large book store
ie... Barnes and Noble
Re: Japanese Ships
Posted By: Ingo Hohm
Date: Wednesday, 5 April 2000, at 10:24 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese Ships (M. Kelso)
Brazil Maru is feature at the US Naval
Historical Center's Online Library.
Link:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-b/brazil-m.htm
Japanese Merchant Marines
Posted By: Paul Richards
<c2water@vianet.net.au>
Date: Monday, 6 March 2000, at 8:15 p.m.
During WW2, the Japanese Merchant navy suffered
huge losses, over 6,000,000 tons of ships sunk.
There is an excellent web site for the American
Merchant Maeines and the ships they sailed, but very little about the
Japanese.
I would be interested if some one knows of a
web site which gives some insite to the the ships and crews. What kind of
training did they get? I have read a report where one ship was so poorly made
that it was sunk by a 500 pound bomb that did not even hit the ship, but went
off in the water near it. Also I have read where the Japanese refered to the
crews on cargo ships as 'fish food'.
From what I can ascertain, in the latter parts
of the war, the ships were constructed on the basis that they would only last
2 trips, if lucky. The 'Engin Maru' was commissioned in Nov. 44 and sunk in
the first week of Feb. 45.It lasted only a couple of months.
Re: Japanese Merchant Marines
Posted By: Ron Wolford
<wolfieeod@aol.com>
Date: Thursday, 9 March 2000, at 7:10 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese Merchant Marines (Paul
Richards)
The Japanese Merchant Marine was one of the
most if not the most modern and efficient merchant marines prior to WWII.
Other than the book by Mark Parillo there is very little information out there
on the Japanese Merchant Marine. The only books (that I know of)that list the
ships our the ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence)manuals. There is a new book
by Naval Institute Press "The Worlds Merchant Fleets, 1939" I have
not seen this book yet so I do not have any info on it. If your really obsess
(like me) the Naval Historical Foundation Historical services can poto copy
the ONI manuals for you. There are 3 different manuals to chose from.
ONI 208-J Japanese Merchant Ship Recognition
Mannual, dated 24 Aug 1942. 268pg. List most of the ships over 4000 tons, has
2 pages of stack marking and house flags. If you order this get these two
pages in color. All three manuals give the following info for each class of
ship, name, gross tonnage, length, beam, draft, speed, when built, machinery,
fuel, radius, complement, owners, and potential naval value. Most classes have
at least one picture of the ships.
ONI 208-J Revised no date but I think 1944.
555pg. A much more in depth manual supersede 208-J. List the entire above plus
most of the ships smaller than 4000 tons and includes all the ship captured by
Japan at the start of the war. Dose not list owners but all other info listed
above.
ONI 208-J Supplement 3 Standard Classes of
Japanese Merchant Ships January 1945. 14pg. List the war built Merchant Ships
Classes.
Re: Japanese Merchant Marines
Posted By: Jim Broshot
<jbroshot@socket.net>
Date: Tuesday, 7 March 2000, at 6:54 p.m.
In Response To: Japanese Merchant Marines (Paul
Richards)
Not a website, but Naval Institute Press
published a book some years ago that might answer some of your
questions:
THE JAPANESE MERCHANT MARINE IN WORLD WAR II
(Mark P. Parillo) (1993)
ISBN 1-55750-677-9
Manning is discussed in part and the author
notes that besides drafting ships for military (army and navy) use, the
military took merchant marine officers ans seamen for naval duties, leaving
the ships manned by inexperienced and untrained crews which were drawn in part
from sailors from the occupied territories.
"In time of manpower shortages,
inexperienced crews had to be 20 percent larger on average to compensate for
their inefficiency."
Re: Japanese Merchant Marines
Posted By: Graham Boak
<graham@boak98.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Tuesday, 7 March 2000, at 2:38 p.m.
In Response To: Japanese Merchant Marines (Paul
Richards)
Don't be too scathing about the build standard
of that ship - the blast effect from a bomb alongside a ship is magnified by
the water and will do more damage than a "direct" hit. As one
admiral said, it seems more effective to let water into the bottom of a ship
than air into the top. And there were these dams in Germany.......
I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship is that?
Posted By: Ingo Hohm
<iho@datenrevision.de>
Date: Wednesday, 23 February 2000, at 1:29 a.m.
Probably a bit far-off, but this Message-board
seems to fir best to the question:
I have a 1/1250 model of a small japanese craft
(made by Trident). The Manufacturer lists it as I-Go-Kosoku-Tei and offers two
versions. According to the manufacturers list both versions are from 1944 and
have been built in considerable number (60 and 40). I could not find this
craft in Jentschura,Jung,Mickel: "Die Schiffe der japanische
Marine", so I am stuck.
Does anybody know what craft this was and for
what purpose it was build? Has anybody technical data? And an explanation why
it might be omitted in a major reference book about the japanese navy (or why
I did not find it there)?
I guess the name is not an individual name, but
a type designation. Could anybody translate it?
Re: I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship is that?
Posted By: C. C. Cheng
<cheng.150@osu.edu>
Date: Thursday, 24 February 2000, at 2:26 p.m.
In Response To: I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship is
that? (Ingo Hohm)
I wish I can help, but I don't know Japanese
either. I guess
it's Type 1( I-Go) high speed(kosoku)
boat(tei). Well, that's
based on the similarity of Chinese
pronunciation. Maybe someone
who know Japanese well can help you latter on.
Here is a website of IJN small warships.
Unfortunately, you need
some software to read the Japanese. But there
are profile diagrams,
You perhaps can match those diagram to find
your boat.
For the monitor
http://www.down.ne.jp/ish/ijn/axhist/ksoran.html
For the subchaser
http://www.down.ne.jp/ish/ijn/axhist/scsoran.html
For the gunboat
http://www.down.ne.jp/ish/ijn/gbhist/soran.html
For the minesweeper
http://www.down.ne.jp/ish/ijn/mshist/soran.html
For the conveyer
http://www.down.ne.jp/ish/ijn/lshist/soran.html
Re: I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship is that?
Posted By: Ingo Hohm
<iho@datenrevision.de>
Date: Friday, 25 February 2000, at 1:16 a.m.
In Response To: Re: I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship
is that? (C. C. Cheng)
Thanks for your help.
The links - although interesting - are leading
to well-known
ships - all larger than the mystery one. If it
were one of those I would not have posted my question.
After posting it I found somewhere in my own
papers a remark about the
mysterious craft, telling that it is a
highspeed army transport.
That would fit both to the look of the model
(it is something like a fat and slightly oversized PT without
torpedo-armament) and your translation.
I guess the army did not have many types like
this (thus the type 1 sounds reasonable) and the designation
"highspeed" would fit both the model an the remark. And it certainly
is so small, that one would call it boat rather than ship.
The other version most probably is this
utilized in some other role.
It is a somewhat strange idea that the army
owned speedboats, but the japanese army even had submarines (small ones for
transportation), so a transport-speedboat is not unreasonable.
Re: I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship is that?
Posted By: Hiroyuki Takeuchi
Date: Friday, 25 February 2000, at 1:41 a.m.
In Response To: Re: I-Go-Kosoku-Tei: What ship
is that? (C. C. Cheng)
>it's Type 1( I-Go) high speed(kosoku)
boat(tei). Well, that's
That's exactly the translation. I have a
feeling that it's a torpedo boat because the Japanese Navy, impressed with the
effectiveness of US PT boats, built a variety of torpedo boats, none of which
really succeeded.
I know someone who may know so I will ask.
Posted By: John Videll <jvid33@cbot.com>
Date: Wednesday, 29 December 1999, at 12:34
p.m.
Does anyone know where I can obtain model kits
of IJN ships? Specifically the Oi in its torpedo-boat on steroids" form?
Thank you.
Re: IJN Oi model
Posted By: Mike Quan
<MnkQuan@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Wednesday, 29 December 1999, at 1:41 p.m.
In Response To: IJN Oi model (John Videll)
The only kits available of the IJNS Oi as a
torpedo boat are by Pitroad as a 700th waterline resin kit, and the
identically-priced more recent 700th release by Skywave in injected plastic
form. IMHO, the Skywave kit is better detailed. They both run around $25-$30.
Stateside, try Pacific Front Hobbies in Roseburg Oregon for both kits -- see
link below. If ordering from Japan, HobbyLink Japan or Rainbow Ten carry these
kits. HTH.
Hasegawa's Heian Maru
Posted By: V. Tapasanan
<tvidya@hotmail.com>
Date: Monday, 27 December 1999, at 10:03 p.m.
According to Hasegawa planned new release for
2000, they mention 1/700 Armed Auxillary Cruiser "Heian Maru". Does
anybody have information about this particular ship and her war record ?
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru correction
Posted By: V.Tapasanan
<tvidya@hotmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999, at 4:40 a.m.
In Response To: Hasegawa's Heian Maru (V.
Tapasanan)
Correction. Heian Maru was Submarine Tender
converted from merchant ship, it was about 10,000 tons and was sunk in Dec.
1944. More information about this ship will be very much welcomed.
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru diorama
Posted By: Mike Quan
<MnkQuan@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999, at 11:13 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru
correction (V.Tapasanan)
As a further follow up to the Heian Maru, a
nice diorama of the Hikawa Maru converted to the Heian Maru is featured in the
February 2000 issue of Fine Scale Modeler on page 42 of the Reader Gallery
feature.
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru correction
Posted By: Mike Quan
<MnkQuan@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999, at 7:34 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru
correction (V.Tapasanan)
As I recall from a very old German modeling
magazine, the Heian Maru is a sister ship to the already available Hikawa Maru
from Hasegawa, and thus will probably feature only a cursory paint and decal
change from the already tooled Hasegawa kit, with the possible exception of
the addition of a couple of guns or AA. the German magazine as I recall, had
an article for the conversion of the hospital ship to the AS, featureing a
rather dazzling, crazy-quilt camoflage pattern. HTH!
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru correction
Posted By: V.Tapasanan
<tvidya@hotmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999, at 3:56 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru
correction (Mike Quan)
Many thanks. I used to wonder why Hasegawa's
going to release 1/700 Heian Maru which was not so
well-known but I do hope
that the camouflage color scheme and weapons added will be worth to take into
consideration.
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru correction
Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1999, at 10:41 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru
correction (V.Tapasanan)
Actually, Heian Maru and Hikawa Maru were part
of a trio of sister passenger liners built for Nippon
Yusen KK and
requisitioned for war service at the outset of the war. The third ship is the
Hie Maru, also requisitioned as a submarine tender like the Heian Maru.
There's a good article with interpolated camouflage on the Heian Maru by Dan
Jones in the 1996/1 issue of Plastic Ship Modeler.
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru correction
Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>
Date: Friday, 4 February 2000, at 10:23 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru
correction (V. Tapasanan)
Guess what? Hasegawa is apparently releasing a
Heian Maru Version this spring. I just received the new 2000 catalog and while
there's no version yet shown, there was an annoucement insert with a detailed
line profile. The profile shows shielded bow & stern gum mounts, a more
diverse assortment of ship's boats, no indication of whether or not there is a
camouflage scheme.
The announcement was also posted by HLJ.
Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru correction
Posted By: V. Tapasanan
<tvidya@hotmail.com>
Date: Friday, 4 February 2000, at 4:06 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Hasegawa's Heian Maru
correction (Dan Kaplan)
Hasegawa's Heian Maru Submarine Depot ship was
just released last week and is now on sale. The ship feature the camouflage
scheme like Kimikawa maru Seaplane tender and looks very nice although it is
almost the same model of Kikawa maru Hospital ship plus weapons.
AO SHIRETOKO
Posted By: Ron Wolford
<wolfieeod@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 21 December 1999, at 10:44 a.m.
A couple of years ago I purchased from Pacific
Front Hobbies a 1/700 model of the Oilier Shiretoko (A-44) When I received it
I noticed that it represent the ship in an unusual configuration. Can any body
explain this configuration to me? She has two large above deck hatches with
two large tripod
derrecks instead of the usual kingposts. This
configuration is shown on page 19 of Kaijinsha Auxiliary Vessels of the
Imperial Japanese Navy, but since I don't read Japanese I don't know if it
gives any details
Re: AO SHIRETOKO
Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>
Date: Sunday, 26 December 1999, at 12:14 p.m.
In Response To: AO SHIRETOKO (Ron Wolford)
I, too, have an as yet unbuilt Shiretoko
sitting on the shelf. I'm using Jentschura and the Maru # 34 as references but
I can't really shed any light. PP 12-13 in the Maru shows 3 ships of this
class, one is cited as Shiretoko. One shot shows only the aft tripod. Three of
the other shots shows at least one other vessel with a rear tripod in addition
to two masts and kingposts. Strictly a guess, but the different tripod
configurations might have been part of the trial fueling rigs for fore-and-aft
fueling as opposed to side-by-side fueling that the IJN experimented with. One
other thought, the two large tripods and hatches seem more appropriate to a
special services transport ship like the Kashino. Maybe there was a
conversion? Ithink I will attempt to configure her as more typical of the
class.
Question for you: According to the kit diagram,
the foredeck looks like wood planking. What about the rest of the decking?
Wood? Linoleum? Plating?
Re: AO SHIRETOKO
Posted By: Ron Wolford
<wolfieeod@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 4 January 2000, at 4:44 p.m.
In Response To: AO SHIRETOKO (Ron Wolford)
Sorry this is so late getting back to you. I
agree with you that she was a special service transport like the
Kashino. The
picture I have of her in this configuration (National Archives 80-G-216865)
says that this photo was captured on Kwajalein in Feb 1944. This plus ONI-208J
Rev. (Japanese Merchant Ship Rec Manual) shows her in her tanker fit leads me
to believe that this was a war time configuration. Yes I think the foredeck is
wood planking also if you want to make the tanker version the foward well deck
needs to be extended up to the base of the foward leg of the tripod. As for
the rest of the ship both welldecks are steel plating, The raised area around
the bridge and the raised area with the lifeboats is wood planking. And the
stern steel plating. I hope this help you out if you have any outher questions
please let me know.
Need a list of secret and experimental IJN
ships and subs of WWII
Posted By: DANIS Jean-Charles
<amar.derni@cfwb.be>
Date: Wednesday, 24 November 1999, at 4:11 a.m.
As my primary interest in modelling covers
experimental, prototype and secret vehicles (planes,AFVs and ships), does
anyone can give me a list of Japanese ships and submarines that can be listed
in these categories.
Re: Need a list of secret and experimental IJN
ships and subs of WWII
Posted By: Kevin Pryor
<kpryor@mail.millikin.edu>
Date: Monday, 29 November 1999, at 10:29 a.m.
In Response To: Need a list of secret and
experimental IJN ships and subs of WWII (DANIS Jean-Charles)
Going off memory here, there are quite a few
"secret" IJN weapons in Japan's arsenal, and they're usually
a
little more unconventional than standard secret weapons.
One of the most obvious examples of a secret
weapon was the A-type midget submarine. I believe in Zenji Orita's book
"I-Boat Captain," he mentioned how the subs were hidden from regular
Japanese officers as boiler tubes or something of that sort. These midgets and
their offspring were not very successful (although one nearly sank a Brit BB
off Madagascar) but they definitely fall under the jurisdiction of a secret
weapon (hidden development, novelty, technical, used in special ops, etc.,
etc.) If you're looking for a kit, I believe Fine Molds does one of the Type A
and the Kaitan in 1/72. You can order it from HLJ, as Fine Molds is really
hard to find outside of Japan right now.
Another secret weapon was a semi-submersible
tank developed by the Army, that was a complete disaster. It was intended to
wade onto U.S. held islands and cause havoc, but the tanks had so many flaws
that they were deathtraps.
The IJN's most successful secret weapon was the
Type 93 torpedo, the famous "Long Lance". Other navies toyed around
with oxygen torpedoes, but only the IJN put the effort in that was necessary
to make the Type 93 a viable platform. Again, the Japanese went through
elaborate security precautions to hide the weapon's existence, and its
performance in the Solomons shocked many U.S. commanders. Although the Type 93
had its own dangers (there was a reason aside from technical problems that
other navies didn't adapt the oxygen torpedo), the risk (IMHO) was justified
in that it gave IJN cruisers and destroyers an edge that their contemporaries
lacked.
Although not necessarily secret, the Yamato
superbattleships could fall into this category. The IJN intended that their
18.1 inch guns and heavy armor would be kept as secret as long as possible.
When the U.S. responded with similar ships (like the Montanas), the Japanese
would have a few years lead in the design and would start the construction of
massive 20 inch behemoths while America played catch up.
That's all I could think of at the top of my
head for now. I'll look into the Orita book and see if I can find any more
details on the mini-subs and the tanks.
seaplane tender
Posted By: Gary Majchrzak
<GAMAKACH@MR.NET>
Date: Thursday, 10 June 1999, at 8:09 p.m.
Could someone direct me to or supply me with
the a photo of the crane or other device used to recover japanese seaplanes
(Jake & Glen) from the water. Even a basic line drawing would be of
assistance.
Re: seaplane tender
Posted By: Ryan Toews
<ritoews@mb.sympatico.ca>
Date: Saturday, 19 June 1999, at 8:59 a.m.
In Response To: seaplane tender (Gary
Majchrzak)
The cranes used on Japanese ships were not
standardized. Each class of ship used different patterns of
cranes and these
patterns could change over time as a ship underwent refitting. However, if you
have a specific ship in mind it should be possible to provide details on the
crane it used.
Posted By: Gary Majchrzak
<gamakach@mr.net>
Date: Saturday, 19 June 1999, at 4:37 p.m.
In Response To: Re: seaplane tender (Ryan
Toews)
Thanks for your answer. My interest in the
crane system is specific. I'd like to see any type that that was
used to
retrieve the "Jake" or "Glen" from the water. I already
have the launch rail from which these planes were jettisoned.
Also of interest would be photos of the
immediate area (deck), where these systems were and what they looked like.
If you haven't guessed, I am planning a diorama
of the above. Mr. Aiken was very helpful in sending me some crane info. But I
would appreciate anything anyone has that they feel would help me in my cause.
I have noticed an increase in interest in
japanese/Pacific
Re: seaplane tender/cranes
Posted By: Gary Majchrzak
<gamakach@mr.net>
Date: Saturday, 19 June 1999, at 4:44 p.m.
In Response To: Re: seaplane tender/cranes
(Gary Majchrzak)
Hit the wrong key. As I meant to finish, I've
seen the increase in interest in the Japanese/Pacific WWII period in the
modelling market. I can see why. There is a panorama of subjects yet to be
explored by modelers who are tired of Tiger tanks and Folke-Wulfs. The
manufacturer(s) who jumps on this market will be i demand.
What do you think?
Re: seaplane tender/cranes
Posted By: Ryan Toews
<ritoews@mb.sympatico.ca>
Date: Monday, 21 June 1999, at 7:32 a.m.
In Response To: Re: seaplane tender/cranes
(Gary Majchrzak)
I hope you are right about an increase in
Japanese subjects but I expect that the European Theatre will always continue
to hold the majority's interest in WWII.
I will try to expand a bit on seeing if I have
anything that may be of help to you. I have next to no information on the
recovery devices used for operations with the "Glen". This aircraft
was, as far as I know, used only on submarines, a subject which so far is
absent from my library.
The "Jake" was used on a varity of
vessels, including battleships, cruisers, and seaplane tenders. Thus far my
interest lies primarily with cruisers; however, if you are looking for
information on the aircraft launch and recovery systems for a particular class
or ship of this size let me know and I'll be glad to see what I can find on my
shelves.
Re: seaplane tender/cranes
Posted By: Gary Majchrzak
<gamakach@mr.net>
Date: Monday, 21 June 1999, at 1:38 p.m.
In Response To: Re: seaplane tender/cranes
(Ryan Toews)
Thank you for your generous offer to help.
Since Japanese ships is not my strong suit I wholly accept your bid to assist.
I would like to view a launch rail and recovery
crane from both a Cruiser and a Tender. If whatever you can find shows a bit
of the nearby deck or even superstructure, I will likely include it in my
model. General detail is fine as I will build this in 1/72 scale which is too
small to sweat the little stuff.
If you come up with something and want to send
it directly to me that would be fine. I don't know if the folks here would
want it clogging up their site.
Green Cross
Posted By: Tom Hall
<hall41@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Friday, 19 March 1999, at 5:36 a.m.
Can someone please tell me and Ms. Baacke
whether a Japanese hospital
ship would have had green crosses painted on
the sides? Or were they
red crosses? What is shown on the Hikawa Maru
kit box? Is that accurate?
Re: Green Cross
Posted By: Tennessee Katsuta
<kinson-garments@on.aibn.com>
Date: Friday, 19 March 1999, at 1:24 p.m.
In Response To: Green Cross (Tom Hall)
According to Model Art No.505"1/700 Scale
Model Japanese War Ships Hand Book", Hikawamaru as a hospital ship had
RED crosses, not green. Apparently the box art is accurate with the ship
painted white with green stripe on the sides. There were two red crosses each
on both sides of the ship, one on the front of the bridge, and one on both
sides of the funnel. Behind the funnel, there was a red cross made from a
large red neon light!
Early in her career as a hospital ship,
Hikawamaru had only one red cross each on both side of the hull, instead of
two each.
I hope this helps.
Re: Green Cross
Posted By: Tom Hall
<hall41@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Friday, 19 March 1999, at 4:33 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Green Cross (Tennessee
Katsuta)
Yes, it helps a lot. Thank you.
Let me ask a question that may take us beyond
modeling guides:
Is there any possibility that Japan traded the
red cross for a green
cross during the war years? Wasn't there a
danger of confusion of
the red cross on a white field with a hinomaru
on a white field,
especially at a distance?
Posted By: Franηois P. WEILL
<frpawe@wanadoo.fr>
Date: Friday, 19 March 1999, at 6:11 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Green Cross (Tom Hall)
I don't think there is any chance.
International conventions were supposed to give
immunity to ships (and other equipement) bearing a red cross... Not so for a
green one.
23 december 1941
Posted By: Jasper Versteeg
<jasper.versteeg@student.utwente.nl>
Date: Tuesday, 16 March 1999, at 7:49 a.m.
I would like to know more about the following
ships:
Japanese troopship SS Katori Maru (9848t)
Japanese troopship SS Hiyoshi Maru (4943t)
these ships were sunk at 23 december 1941 by
the Dutch submarine K-XIV which
in the same attack also damaged the following
ships:
Japanese troopship MS Hokkai Maru (8416t)
Japanese troopship SS Nichiran Maru (6503t) (or
Ninchinan Maru)
further on the submarinetreid to attack a
Japanese freighter and a destroyer
these attacks were without results.
If anyone has some info about these ships it
would be welcome. Names could
be written wrong.
One warning I am not a ship builder but an
airplane builder who took a little
side road and is now planning to build the
K-XIV in 1/72.
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Ryan Toews
<ritoews@mb.sympatico.ca>
Date: Wednesday, 24 March 1999, at 12:52 p.m.
In Response To: 23 december 1941 (Jasper
Versteeg)
In The Imperial Japanese Navy (1941-1945), page
42, Paul Dull briefly mentions the attack of 23 December as follows,
"Since 15 December, the Japanese forces had been subject to sporadic air
and submarine attacks. Further losses were incurred when the destroyer Sagiri,
on 24 December, was torpedoed twice and sunk, with 121 men killed, by the
Dutch submarine K-XVI. At Kuching one transport was sunk by planes, and one by
the K-XVI. Three transports were also damaged by the K-XIV."
Unfortunately I cannot find any more details on these transports.
As I understand it, SS means steam ship and MS
means motor ship (ie. diesel). MV, or motor vessel, is sometimes used instead
of MS.
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Jasper Versteeg
<jasper.versteeg@student.utwente.nl>
Date: Wednesday, 24 March 1999, at 1:19 p.m.
In Response To: Re: 23 december 1941 (Ryan
Toews)
Thanks for the reply. But I mentioned the K-XIV
and you mentioned the K-XVI
these are two different ships as a mather of
fact the K-XVI was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-66 just a day afther this
attack whil the K-XIV survived
the war.
Thanks for the explaning of MS and SS. But do
you know anything about the Japanese names? What means Maru? Ship?
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Graham Boak
<graham@boak98.freestyle.co.uk>
Date: Thursday, 25 March 1999, at 11:18 a.m.
In Response To: Re: 23 december 1941 (Jasper
Versteeg)
I understand that Maru is applied as a suffix
to all commercial ships (including a number of auxiliary warships based on
civil hulls) and an approximate translation is "tubby" i.e. fat,
stemming from their shape compared with the slender design of warships. But
I'm not expert in Japanese.
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Tennessee Katsuta
<kinson-garments@on.aibn.com>
Date: Thursday, 25 March 1999, at 7:01 p.m.
In Response To: Re: 23 december 1941 (Graham
Boak)
Graham is absolutely correct about
"maru" being used as a suffix to commercial ships. The direct
translation of "maru" is "circle". I do not know why it's
use is limited only to commercial ships(although if memory serves correctly, I
believe early Japanese warships from late 1800's often had the suffix
"maru").
I looked up "maru" in a Japanese
dictionary, and it stated that "maru" was often used as a suffix for
names of persons, swords, art work, ships, and even pet dogs. It also explaned
that the word maru, when used as suffix, was derived from an old Japanese
word(we're talking about about 1000 years ago),"maro." "Maro
" was often used as a suffix to a male name. It didn't say how the usage
of "maru" to represent a ship's name came about.
I deduce that the meaning of the word
"maru(which is "cicle")" has very little to do with its
use in a ship's name. After all, it's also used to name swords, which are far
from being circular or round.
Are there any linguists out there who can
explain how they came about using "maru" to represent ships?
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Ryan Toews
Date: Thursday, 25 March 1999, at 4:05 a.m.
In Response To: Re: 23 december 1941 (Jasper
Versteeg)
The K-XIV was the sub that was said to have
damaged the 3 tranports. I am not able to say what the ships' names translate
as but I believe that Maru means ship.
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Jasper Versteeg
<jasper.versteeg@student.utwente.nl>
Date: Thursday, 25 March 1999, at 8:46 a.m.
In Response To: Re: 23 december 1941 (Ryan
Toews)
Sorry I aperaintly read the message not
completly right, due to the language
problem I guess. Thanks for your reply.
Re: 23 december 1941
Posted By: Jasper Versteeg
<jasper.versteeg@student.utwente.nl>
Date: Saturday, 20 March 1999, at 8:08 a.m.
In Response To: 23 december 1941 (Jasper
Versteeg)
Sorry everyone,
But I'm still looking for info on the Japanese
ships meantioned in my firstmail on this messageboard. Certainly I would like
to know what it is:
SS Nichiran Maruor or SS Ninchinan Maru.
Further on is there a translation possible of these names and what means SS or
MS?
Re: Japanese names
Posted By: Roland Mar <tsuma@rmi.net>
Date: Friday, 2 April 1999, at 7:00 p.m.
In Response To: Japanese names (Jasper
Versteeg)
I hope I am not intruding, as I just blundered
into this website, but in answer to your questions: S.S. means "Steam
Ship" and M.S. means "Motor Ship". The latter means the ship is
diesel powered. I hope this helps.
Re: Japanese names
Posted By: Randy <r.stone.eal@juno.com>
Date: Tuesday, 30 May 2000, at 6:12 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese names (Roland Mar)
Anyone who 'blunders' into a website, as I
have, such as this is to be welcomed. Any-way, your definition
of MS versus SS
is dead on and it helps those of us not
so enlightended.
Japanese landing crafts of WWII
Posted By: Ulrich Schulte-Ebbert
<kingfischer@thepentagon.com>
Date: Friday, 26 February 1999, at 9:53 a.m.
does anyone know where I can find photos and
scale plans of Japanese landing crafts of WWII. I like to construct 1:100
scale models of them.
Re: Japanese landing crafts of WWII
Posted By: Ron Perry <ron@perry.nl>
Date: Tuesday, 9 March 1999, at 3:12 a.m.
In Response To: Japanese landing crafts of WWII
(Ulrich Schulte-Ebbert)
There is a book 'ASSAULT from the SEA' dy
J.D.Ladd containing 12 pages on Japanese landing craft with 1 picture of
'Landing Ship Class I' and one of the
'Landing ship no. T149 , but no drawings.
I can make you a copy if you like .
Re: Japanese landing crafts of WWII
Posted By: Paul <pesnbrg@marin.k12.ca.us>
Date: Monday, 15 March 1999, at 8:20 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Japanese landing crafts of
WWII (Ulrich Schulte-Ebbert)
The Special fast landing ships of the Imperial
Japanese Navy,Parts 1 and 2, Hans Lengerer, Sumie Kobler-Edamatsu and Tomoko
Rehm-Takahara, appeares in Warship, Vol X,Conway Maritime Press Ltd, 1986.
This was published in the U.S. by the Naval Institute Press.
I don't know if it is still in print, but if
you can get this volume, the article includes some photos and basic plan views
that might be of some help. Unfortunately there is not adequate information
for an accurate model in 1:100 scale.
P.S. I would be interested in doing this
project also. If you find a good source for 1:100 scale plans, let me know -
Thanks
Skywave IJNS Oi question
Posted By: Mike Quan
<MnkQuan@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Wednesday, 27 January 1999, at 6:20 p.m.
Hello all! The new Skywave kit of the Oi has
posed a new twist to the IJN torpedo cruiser paradigm. All
sources on the IJNS
torpedo cruiser Oi show the ten quad torpedo tube mounts as being shielded.
The only exception is the illustration in Jentschura, Mickel, & Jung's IJN
Warships - 1896-1945, which shows unshielded torpedo tubes which is what is
provided in the kit. Strangely, the Skywave instructions say:
"According to recent theory, the TT mounts
were not shielded as molded in the kit. However, Mr. Tatsu Abe, who was a
"Kitakami" crew, advised that they were. If you prefer his theory,
please use No. 20 parts of E-10 Equipment for Japan Navy Ship WW2 V (4 in 1
box)."
Can anyone out there expand on Skywave's
contention of "recent theory"? Thanks.
Re: Skywave IJNS Oi question
Posted By: Lars Ahlberg
<lars.ahlberg@halmstad.mail.postnet.se>
Date: Friday, 12 February 1999, at 5:09 a.m.
In Response To: Skywave IJNS Oi question (Mike
Quan)
The theory of "not shielded" torpedo
mounts is completely new to me and I cannot find anything that supports this
"recent theory". I have only consulted a few sources (see below) but
they are all in agreement: The "Kitakami" and "Τi" were
both equipped with ten quadruple Type 92 Model 3 mounts (shielded).
* Hans Lengerer, Sumie Kobler-Edamatsu &
Tomoto Rehm-Takahara, "Warship" #37, "Kitakami".
* Eric Lacroix & Linton Wells II,
"Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War".
* Mori Tsunehide, "Gunkan Mekanizumu
Zukan: Nihon no Jun-yτkan".
* "The Maru Special: Japanese Naval
Vessels" #46.
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