Japanese minelayer Magane Maru

Magane Maru (Japanese: まがね丸) was an auxiliary minelayer, gunboat, and patrol boat of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Pre-war photo of Japanese auxiliary minelayer Magane Maru
History
Empire of Japan
Name: Magane Maru
Builder: Harima Zosensho
Laid down: 14 December 1939
Launched: 15 June 1940
Sponsored by: Nihon Kaiun
Completed: 5 August 1940
Acquired: Requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 5 September 1941
Stricken: 10 March 1944
Identification: 47295
Fate: sunk by torpedo from submarine, 24 January 1944
Notes:
General characteristics
Tonnage: 3,120 GRT
Length: 97 m (318 ft 3 in) o/a[1]
Beam: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)[1]
Draught: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)[1]
Installed power: 1600 hp[2]
Propulsion: 1 x 3 cylinder triple expansion steam engine, single shaft, 1 screw[1]
Speed: 10 knots[1]
Armament: 1 x 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun[3]
1 twin Type 93 machinegun (jp:九三式十三粍機銃)[3]
1 Type 3 heavy machine gun[3]
120 mines[3]

History

Magane Maru was laid down on 14 December 1939 at the shipyard of Harima Zosensho at the behest of shipping company, Nihon Kaiun.[3][4] She was launched on 15 June 1940 and completed 5 August 1940.[4] On 5 September 1941, she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted to an auxiliary minelayer/gunboat under Reserve Lieutenant Maniwa Kenji (間庭建爾).[4] Armaments mounted were 1 x 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun, 1 twin Type 93 machinegun (jp) (based on the Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun), 1 Type 3 heavy machine gun, and 120 mines.[3] In December 1941, she was assigned to Gunboat Division 10 of the 5th Fleet under Lieutenant Commandeer Sasaki Heiji (佐々木丙二)(jp).[4] On 10 April 1942, she was detached from Gunboat Division 10[4] and attached to the Adak-Attu invasion force under Rear Admiral Sentarō Ōmori during the Aleutian Islands campaign.[5][6] On 25 September 1942, she was reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.[4] On 25 May 1943, Sasaki was replaced by Reserve Lieutenant Yamazaki Kiyoichi (山嵜來代一).[4] On 18 September 1943, Yamazaki was replaced by Reserve Lieutenant Shigematsu Yoshioka (吉岡茂松).[4]

On 24 January 1944, she was attacked and sunk by the American submarine USS Snook about 175 miles northwest of Chichi Jima (29°49′N 140°08′E)[4] (Japanese sources indicate 30°06′N 141°19′E).[3] She was struck from the Navy List on 10 March 1944.[4]

References
  1. Lettens, Jan (11 May 2010). "Magane Maru (まがね丸 Snook) (+1944)". wrecksite.eu.
  2. Gogin, Ivan (2014). "Imperial Japanese Navy (Japan) - Converted Merchant Vessels - auxiliary gunboats of WW II". navypedia.org.
  3. Toda, Gengoro S. (21 September 2019). "まがね丸の船歴 (Magane Maru - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese).
  4. Niehorster, Leo; Donahoo, Jeff. "Converted Gunboats of the Imperial Japanese Navy". World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle and Organizations. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. United States Strategic Bombing Survey (1946). The Campaigns of the Pacific War. U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) Naval Analysis Division, 1946. p. 99.
  6. Niehorster, Leo; Alsleben, Al; Yoda, Tadashi. "Aleutian Operations". Imperial Japanese Armed Forces.
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