IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

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ShindenKai
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IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#1

Post by ShindenKai » 27 May 2022, 07:47

Looking more info on the following:

IJN Hokoku Maru
IJN Aikoku Maru
IJN Akagi Maru

Looking for plan views, hull shapes

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ijnfleetadmiral
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#2

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 27 May 2022, 08:26

What I have for them:

AIKOKU MARU
Commanding Officers
RADM OKAMURA Masao (38) - 5 September 1941 - 25 August 1942
CDR / CAPT OISHI Tamotsu (48) - 25 August 1942 - 5 April 1943
CAPT MIZUSAKI Shojiro (38) - 5 April 1943 - 20 October 1943
CAPT / RADM* NAKAMARUO Yoshizo (36) - 20 October 1943 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Operations Officers
??? – 5 September 1941 – 1 October 1943
Vessel rerated transport – 1 October 1943

Gunnery Officers
VACANT - 5 September 1941 – 15 October 1941
LCDR SAJI Shinji (56) – 15 October 1941 – 28 April 1942
LT MINOSHIMA Tatsuo (63) – 28 April 1942 – 15 May 1943
VACANT – 15 May 1943 - 1 June 1943
LCDR SUZUKI Chusuke (Res.) - 1 June 1943 - 1 October 1943
Vessel rerated transport – 1 October 1943

Navigators
LT OIZUMI Yasuo (Res.) - 5 September 1941 – 10 October 1942
LT / LCDR MATSUMOTO Shigezo (Res.) – 10 October 1942 - 10 April 1943
LT HASHIMOTO Sadaaki (Res.) - 10 April 1943 – 1 October 1943
VACANT – 1 October 1943 - 17 February 1944

Torpedo Officers
Position did not exist aboard this vessel.

Chief Engineers
(E) LT / LT YAMAGUCHI Tadashi (Res.) - 5 September 1941 - 15 January 1943
LT / LCDR* OTANI Hisashi (Res.) - 15 January 1943 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Surgeons
(S) LTJG / (S) LT TOYAMA Nobuyoshi (??) - 5 September 1941 - 17 March 1943
(S) LT MARUKI Kiyomi (??) - 17 March 1943 – 20 October 1943
VACANT – 20 October 1943 - 18 January 1944
(S) LT / (S) LCDR* ONO Takashi (??) - 18 January 1944 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Paymasters
(P) LTJG / (P) LT KAMISAKA Ryutaro (??) - 5 September 1941 – 15 December 1942
(P) LT SAKAGAMI Shizuhiro (??) – 15 December 1942 – 1 July 1943
(P) LT OZAKI Shigetake (??) – 1 July 1943 – 1 October 1943
VACANT – 1 October 1943 - 18 January 1944
(P) LT / (P) LCDR* MOGI Toshitaka (??) - 18 January 1944 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

HOKOKU MARU
Commanding Officers
CAPT AIHARA Aritaka (38) - 20 September 1941 - 25 August 1942
CAPT / RADM* IMAZATO Hiroshi (45) - 25 August 1942 - 11 November 1942 (KIA)

Operations Officers
??? – 20 September 1941 – 11 November 1942

Gunnery Officers
VACANT – 20 September 1941 – 15 October 1941
LCDR YAGI Itaro (Spec. Duty 4) – 15 October 1941 – 15 March 1942
LCDR TAKEYAMA Yasuji (Spec. Duty 5) – 15 March 1942 – 11 November 1942

Navigators
LT HIBARA Masamichi (Res.) – 20 September 1941 – 25 September 1942
LT NIHEI Kou (Res.) – 25 September 1942 – 11 November 1942

Torpedo Officers
Position did not exist aboard this vessel.

Chief Engineers
(E) LT MORIMOTO Isao (Res.) – 20 September 1941 – 15 March 1942
(E) LT / LT / LCDR* HAYASHI Hisakazu (Res.) – 15 March 1942 – 11 November 1942 (KIA)

Surgeons
(S) LTJG / (S) LT MURAKAMI Eiichiro (1939) – 20 September 1941 – 13 October 1942
(S) LT SHINOZAKI Koichi (1940) – 13 October 1942 – 11 November 1942

Paymasters
(P) LTJG / (P) LT ITO Masaru (??) – 20 September 1941 – 20 October 1942
(P) LTJG / (P) LT* FUJI Kenichiro (??) – 20 October 1942 – 11 November 1942 (KIA)

AKAGI MARU
Commanding Officers
MERCHANT CAPT KUSANO Kiyoshi - 10 September 1936 - ???
??? - ??? - 10 December 1941
CAPT SAKUMA Takeo (36) - 10 December 1941 - 2 March 1943
CAPT / RADM* KUROSAKI Rinzo (37) - 2 March 1943 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Operations Officers
??? – 10 December 1941 – 1 December 1943
Position renamed Damage Control Officer – 1 December 1943

Gunnery Officers
LCDR HATTORI Yotsuya (Special Duty 3) – 10 December 1941 – 27 August 1942
LT MUTA Shizuo (62) – 27 August 1942 – 5 November 1942
LCDR MIZUTA Rikichi (Res.) – 5 November 1942 – 1 November 1943
LCDR / CDR* NAKATA Ichitaro (??) – 1 November 1943 – 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Navigators
LT OKABE Isao (Res.) – 10 December 1941 – 15 July 1943
LT / LCDR* KAGEYAMA Yoshie (Res.) – 15 July 1943 – 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Torpedo Officers
Position did not exist aboard this vessel.

Chief Engineers
(E) LT / LT KATAOKA Takuya (Res.) - 10 December 1941 - 15 March 1943
LT / LCDR* ASABA Hidetsugu (Res.) - 15 March 1943 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Damage Control Officers
Position established – 1 December 1943
??? – 1 December 1943 – 17 February 1944

Surgeons
(S) LTJG /(S) LT UEMATSU Toshihiko (??) - 10 December 1941 - 17 March 1943
(S) LT / (S) LCDR* OKAMURA Teizo (??) - 17 March 1943 - 17 February 1944 (KIA)

Paymasters
(P) LT SUZUKI Katsuji (??) – 10 December 1941 – 1 August 1942
(P) LTJG / (P) LT KATO Takahiko (1941) – 1 August 1942 – 1 December 1943
(P) LT / (P) LCDR* HIROOKA Kenji (??) – 1 December 1943 – 17 February 1944 (KIA)
MSG, MS State Guard (Ret.) - First Always!


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ShindenKai
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#3

Post by ShindenKai » 27 May 2022, 08:34

According to my sources all 3 carried 1 double-torpedo launcher, 53cm. I'm specifically looking for plan views, hull shapes.

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fontessa
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#4

Post by fontessa » 27 May 2022, 08:51

ShindenKai wrote:
27 May 2022, 07:47
Looking more info on the following:

IJN Hokoku Maru
IJN Aikoku Maru
IJN Akagi Maru

Looking for plan views, hull shapes
Aikoku Maru 愛国丸 / Hokoku Maru 報国丸
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B ... %E8%89%A6)
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A0%B1 ... %E8%89%A6)
Akagi Maru 赤城丸
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%B5%A4 ... %E8%89%A6)

報国丸.jpg

fontessa

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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#5

Post by ShindenKai » 27 May 2022, 09:07

That's fantastic, thank you Fontessa! I didn't realize it had double-twin mounts! -The Pete's (Mitsubishi F1M2) are also a surprise, I thought they carried 2 Kawanishi E7K Alf's. (I prefer the Pete's!)

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fontessa
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#6

Post by fontessa » 27 May 2022, 09:20

ShindenKai wrote:
27 May 2022, 09:07
That's fantastic, thank you Fontessa! I didn't realize it had double-twin mounts! -The Pete's (Mitsubishi F1M2) are also a surprise, I thought they carried 2 Kawanishi E7K Alf's. (I prefer the Pete's!)
You are correct. Firstly 2 Aif''s were installed. They were replaced with 2 Pete's later.

fontessa

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ShindenKai
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#7

Post by ShindenKai » 27 May 2022, 17:52

Thx again Fontessa, is there a book I should seek out for more info? Maru Ship?

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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#8

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 27 May 2022, 19:48

There's also these color drawings:

Image
Image
MSG, MS State Guard (Ret.) - First Always!

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ShindenKai
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#9

Post by ShindenKai » 27 May 2022, 19:58

ijnfleetadmiral wrote:
27 May 2022, 19:48
There's also these color drawings:

Image
Image
Imagine links are broken

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fontessa
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#10

Post by fontessa » 27 May 2022, 20:24

ShindenKai wrote:
27 May 2022, 17:52
Thx again Fontessa, is there a book I should seek out for more info? Maru Ship?
Are you interested in IJN ships remodeled from Maru ships?
I borrowed the Hokoku Maru Figure from the book below.
大内健二 特設艦船入門 Introduction to Auxiliary Ships written by Ouchi Kenji.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E7%89%B9%E8%A ... 400&sr=8-3
Unfortunately no English version. Contents are brief descriptions and illustrations of;
特設巡洋艦 Auxiliary Cruiser
特設航空母艦 Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier
特設水上機母艦 Auxiliary Seaplane Tender
特設潜水母艦 Auxiliary Submarine Tender
特設砲艦 Auxiliary Gun Ship
特設航空機運搬船 Auxiliary Airplane Transport
Other 6 types of "Auxiliary Ships".

特設艦船入門.jpg
特設艦船入門.jpg (48.73 KiB) Viewed 4509 times

fontessa

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ijnfleetadmiral
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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#11

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 28 May 2022, 04:36

ShindenKai wrote:
27 May 2022, 19:58
Imagine links are broken
They show up fine for me. Try these:

http://shipbucket.com/drawings/594
http://shipbucket.com/drawings/4162
MSG, MS State Guard (Ret.) - First Always!

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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#12

Post by ShindenKai » 28 May 2022, 06:46

Very nice thank you!

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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#13

Post by Edward L. Hsiao » 23 Jun 2022, 01:46

What were the fate for all these Japanese Auxiliary Cruisers during WWII?

Edward L. Hsiao

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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#14

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 23 Jun 2022, 02:31

Edward L. Hsiao wrote:
23 Jun 2022, 01:46
What were the fate for all these Japanese Auxiliary Cruisers during WWII?
KINRYU MARU: Sunk by aerial attack 150 miles N of Guadalcanal, 25 August 1942.
ASAKA MARU: Sunk by aerial attack off Pescadore Islands, 12 October 1944.
KINJOSAN MARU: Torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS GREENLING (SS-213) off Truk, 04 May 1942.
NOSHIRO MARU: Sunk by aerial attack in Manila Bay, 21 September 1944.
KONGO MARU: Sunk by aerial attack in Huon Bay, New Guinea, 10 March 1942.
BANGKOK MARU: Torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS POLLACK (SS-180) SE of Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands, 20 May 1943.
UKISIMA MARU: Sunk by magnetic mine in Maizuru Bay, off Jajima Island; 24 August 1945.
AWATA MARU: Torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS Grayback (SS-208) off Keelung, Formosa, 22 October 1943.
AIKOKU MARU: Sunk by aerial attack at Truk, 18 February 1944.
KIYOSUMI MARU: Sunk by aerial attack at Truk, 18 February 1944.
HOKOKU MARU: Sunk by British merchant tanker ONDINA SW of Cocos Islands in Indian Ocean, 11 November 1942.
SAIGON MARU: Torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS FLASHER (SS-249) off Manila Bay, 18 September 1944.
AKAGI MARU: Sunk by aerial attack off Truk, 17 February 1944.
GOKOKU MARU: Torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS BARB (SS-220) off Goto Retto, Japan, 10 November 1944.
MSG, MS State Guard (Ret.) - First Always!

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Re: IJN Armed Merchant Cruisers

#15

Post by fontessa » 23 Jun 2022, 02:50

Edward L. Hsiao wrote:
23 Jun 2022, 01:46
What were the fate for all these Japanese Auxiliary Cruisers during WWII?

Edward L. Hsiao
Oops, it was duplicated.

Many Auxiliary Cruisers were modified into Converted Transporters in the late war.
報国丸 Hokoku Maru: As an Auxiliary Cruiser, sunk during the battle between Dutch tanker Ondina on 11 November 1942
愛国丸 Aikoku Maru: As a Converted Transporter, sunk due to Truck Atoll air raid on 17 February 1944
護国丸 Gokoku Maru: As a Converted Transporter, sunk due to USS Barb torpedo attack on 10 November 1944
浅香丸 Asaka Maru: As a Converted Transporter, sunk due to the air raid of the 38th Task Force on 12 October 1944
粟田丸 Awata Mari: As a Converted Transporter, sunk due to USS Grayback torpedo attack on 22 October 1943
赤城丸 Akagi Maru: As an Auxiliary Cruiser, sunk due to Truck Atoll air raid on 17 February 1944
能代丸 Noshiro Maru: As an Auxiliary Cruiser, sunk due to Manila air raid on 21 September 1944
金剛丸 Kongo Maru: As an Auxiliary Cruiser, sunk due to Lae-Salamaua on 10 March 1942
金龍丸 Kinryu Maru: As a Converted Transporter, sunk due to the 2nd Solomon Sea Battle
清澄丸 Kiyosumi Maru: As a Converted Transporter, sunk due to Truck Atoll air raid on 17 February 1944
盤谷丸 Bangkok Maru: As an Auxiliary Cruiser / Maine Layer, sunk due to USS Pollack torpedo attack on 20 May 1943
西貢丸 Saigon Maru: As an Auxiliary Cruiser / Maine Layer, sunk due to USS Flasher torpedo attack on 18 September 1944

fontessa

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