This class consists of BANSHU MARU No. 18, BANSHU MARU No. 19 and BANSHU MARU No. 21, all completed in 1923 for Hayashikane Shoten K.K. BANSHU MARU No. 18 and BANSHU MARU No. 21 were both requisitioned by the IJN in ’40, the latter being converted to an auxiliary stores ship in Oct ’41 and the former being converted to an auxiliary minesweeper in Dec ’41. BANSHU MARU No. 19 apparently remained under civilian control. BANSHU MARU No. 18 was bombed and sunk by aircraft in Jul ’45. The two others survived the war but their ultimate fate is unknown.
| ||||||||||||||