(KIRI MARU No. 8 drawing Peter Cundall Collection)
This class consists of KIRI MARU No. 8, SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO and KENZAN MARU, completed between Oct 37 and Sep 38 for various shipping companies. All were requisitioned by the IJN; SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO and KENZAN MARU were converted to auxiliary gunboats. KIRI MARU No. 8 and SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO were respectively converted in Jan 44 and Apr 44 to auxiliary transports. KENZAN MARU was removed from the IJN gunboats list and requisitioned by the IJA in Jun 41 as Army transport No. 951. All were torpedoed or bombed and sunk by American aircraft or American and Dutch submarines between Nov 44 and May 45.
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| Builder and Year Completed: |
Osaka. Sanoyasu Zosensho K.K.
1937-1938
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| Gross tonnage: |
Between 938-tons and 951-tons.. |
| Dimensions: |
205.7' (Lpp) x 29.9' x 17.1' |
| Propulsion: |
One diesel engine, one shaft, 490 bhp.
- Kenzan Maru: one reciprocating steam engine, one shaft, 88 nhp.
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| Speed: |
Cruising: 10 knots Max: unknown.
- Kenzan Maru: Cruising: 9.5 knots Max: unknown.
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| Armament: |
- Kiri Maru No. 8: one Type 3 12cm/45cal deck gun, one Type 93 13mm MG, 22 Type 38 Arisaka rifles.
- Kenzan Maru: Unknown.
- Shinko Maru No. 1 Go: Two Type 3 12cm/45cal deck gun, one Type 93 13mm MG, 22 Type 38 Arisaka rifles, handguns, one 75cm searchlight, one Type 4 1.5m rangefinder, 12 Type 95 DCs, 1 DC thrower, 1 DC rack,
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