Nagoya Maru

Nagoya Maru in Nanyo Kaiun colours
History
Japan
NameNagoya Maru
NamesakeNagoya
Owner
  • 1932: Ishihara Gomei Kaisha
  • 1935: Nanyo Kaiun KK
Operator
Port of registry
  • 1932: Fuchū
  • 1935: Tokyo
BuilderMitsubishi Zosen Kaisha Ltd, Nagasaki
Completed1932
Identification
FateSunk by USS Herring, 1 January 1944
General characteristics
Typecargo ship
Tonnage6,050 GRT, 3,730 NRT
Length406.8 ft (124.0 m)
Beam55.5 ft (16.9 m)
Draught26 ft 0 in (7.9 m)
Depth32.5 ft (9.9 m)
Decks2
Installed power691 NHP
Propulsion
Speed13+1⁄2 knots (25 km/h)
Armament
Notessister ship: Johore Maru

Nagoya Maru was a Japanese cargo steamship that was built in Nagasaki in 1932. In the Second World War the Imperial Japanese Navy used her first as a submarine depot ship and then to transport aircraft. A United States Navy submarine sank her in 1944.

Building

Ishihara Sangyo Kaiun Goshi Kaisha (ISK) is a Japanese company that had mines in Malaya and operated a fleet of cargo ships.[1] In 1932 it had a pair of sister ships built by different Japanese shipyards. Harima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd built Johore Maru at Harima,[2] and Mitsubishi Zosen Kaisha Ltd built Nagoya Maru at Nagasaki.[3] The pair were almost identical in design and dimensions.

Nagoya Maru's registered length was 406.8 ft (124.0 m), her beam was 55.5 ft (16.9 m) and her depth was 32.5 ft (9.9 m). Her tonnages were 6,050 GRT and 3,730 NRT. Her single screw was driven by two engines. Her main engine was a three-cylinder triple expansion engine. Exhaust steam from its low pressure cylinder powered an exhaust steam turbine, which drove the same propeller shaft via a hydraulic coupling and double reduction gearing. Between them, her two engines were rated at a total of 691 nominal horsepower,[3] and gave her a speed of 13+1⁄2 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph).[4]

Owners

ISK registered both ships at Fuchū. Nagoya Maru's wireless telegraph call sign was JJDE.[3]

In 1935, Nanyo Kaiun KK acquired both Johore Maru and Nagoya Maru. It registered both ships in Tokyo.[5][6]

War service

In 1941 the Imperial Japanese Army requisitioned Johore Maru and the Navy requisitioned Nagoya Maru. The Navy had Nagoya Maru converted into a submarine depot ship. In 1942 Nagoya Maru was converted again, to transport aircraft.[4] Nagoya Maru was armed with six 15 cm/45 41st Year Type guns, plus two pairs of Type 93 heavy machine guns on dual mountings.[4]

In October 1943 the submarine USS Silversides sank Johore Maru in the Pacific Ocean northwest of the Bismarck Archipelago.[4]

On 31 December 1943, the submarine USS Herring sighted a convoy off the Japanese coast that included Nagoya Maru. The next day, 1 January 1944, Herring sank Nagoya Maru by torpedo[7] off the island of Aogashima at position 35°15′N 138°02′E / 35.250°N 138.033°E / 35.250; 138.033, killing 110 passengers and one member of the ship's crew.[8] The destroyer Ikazuchi counter-attacked, but without success.[9]

References

  1. ^ "History". About ISK. Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  2. ^ Lloyd's Register 1933, JOH–JOL.
  3. ^ a b c Lloyd's Register 1933, NAG–NAJ
  4. ^ a b c d "Nagoya Maru Class Auxiliaries". Imperial Japanese Navy Page. Combined Fleet. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  5. ^ Lloyd's Register 1935, JOH–JOL.
  6. ^ Lloyd's Register 1935, NAG–NAI.
  7. ^ "Herring (SS-233)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  8. ^ Kimura, Tetsu. 太平洋戦争時の喪失船舶明細表（汽船主体） (PDF) (in Japanese). www.op316.com. p. 15. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  9. ^ Allen, Tony; Lettens, Jan. "Nagoya Maru (1935~1941) Nagoya Maru (+1944)". wrecksite.eu.

Bibliography

  • Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1933 – via Southampton City Council.
  • Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. II.–Steamers and Motorships ove 300 tons. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1935 – via Southampton City Council.