This class consists of KOSHIN, ASAKAZE, NISSAN, HITACHI, NICHII, NICHIRO, NICHIZUI and HIBARI MARUs and near-sister KOGYO MARU (built by Uraga Dock K.K.), completed between Sep ‘38 and Sep ’42 for various shipping companies. All were requisitioned by the IJN, KOSHIN MARU being converted to an auxiliary transport, ASAKAZE and NISSAN MARUs being converted to collier/oilers, NICHII, NICHIRO, KOGYO and HITACHI MARUs being converted to ammunition ships, the latter being rerated as an auxiliary transport, and NICHIZUI and HIBARI MARUs serving as general requisitioned transports. All were sunk between Jun ’42 and Oct ’45 from various causes.
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