Akagi Maru-class armed merchantmen

The Akagi Maru-class armed merchant cruiser (赤城丸, A-gata kamotsusen) was a class of three armed merchant cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Class overview
Name: Akagi Maru class
Builders: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard
Operators:  Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by: A-class cargo ship
Built: 1935–1937
In service: 1936–1944
In commission: 1941–1944
Completed: 3
Lost: 3
Retired: 0
General characteristics
Type: Armed merchantmen
Displacement: 7,389 tonnes (7,272 long tons)
Length: 147.75 m (484 ft 9 in)
Beam: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft: 8.39 m (27 ft 6 in)
Propulsion: 1 x Mitsubishi MS diesel engine (8771hp total power)
Speed: 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Range: unknown
Complement: 59–61
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2×Aichi E13A floatplane
Aviation facilities: 1 launch catapult

Background

The Akagi Maru-class vessels were originally built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for Nippon Yusen company as A-class cargo ships. They were converted to "special transport" role in 1940, and to "auxiliary cruiser" role in 1941 (and therefore armed).

Design

Operational history

Awata Maru

Awata Maru was slightly damaged in Doolittle Raid 18 April 1942. Later, it was a primary transport for the Japanese occupation of Kiska and Japanese occupation of Attu. It was sunk 22 October 1943 near Shanghai by the submarine USS Grayback.[1]

Asaka Maru

Asaka Maru circumnavigated the globe in January–April 1941, bringing 3,000 tons of much needed military equipment from Germany. It also helped supply the Japanese occupation of Kiska. Asaka Maru was sunk by air attack 12 October 1944 near Penghu 23.55°N 119.717°E / 23.55; 119.717.[2]

Akagi Maru

Akagi Maru was sunk by air attack 17 February 1944 in Chuuk Lagoon as a part of the Operation Hailstone.[3]

List of ships

See also
  • List of ships of the Second World War
  • List of ship classes of the Second World War

References
  1. IJN AWATA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  2. IJN ASAKA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
  3. IJN AKAGI MARU: Tabular Record of Movement

Bibliography
  • Hannig, Marcus A. (2016). "Question 8/46: Japanese WW II Armed Merchant Cruisers". Warship International. LIII (1): 30–31. ISSN 0043-0374.
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