Class overview
NameAkagi Maru class
BuildersMitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard
Operators Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded byA-class cargo ship
Built1935–1937
In service1936–1944
In commission1941–1944
Completed3
Lost3
Retired0
General characteristics
TypeArmed merchantmen
Displacement7,389 tonnes (7,272 long tons)
Length147.75 m (484 ft 9 in)
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft8.39 m (27 ft 6 in)
Propulsion1 x Mitsubishi MS diesel engine (8771hp total power)
Speed14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Rangeunknown
Complement59–61
Armament
Aircraft carriedAichi E13A floatplane
Aviation facilities1 launch catapult

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.

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°33′00″N 119°43′01″E / 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

References

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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