 |
KASHINO was specifically built to transport the YAMATO-class batttleships' main armament 457mm (18.1-inch) Type 94 guns and turrets from their point of manufacture (Kure Naval Arsenal) to the shipbuilders' yard. After transporting the last of MUSASHI's ordnance KASHINO reverted to an ammunition transport.
SOYA was one of the IJN's auxiliary ammunition ships. She was built with an ice breaker's bow for operation in northern areas, but during the war was based at Rabaul and Truk. SOYA survived the war. After duty with the Allied Repatriation Service, served with the Japanese Martime Safety Agency on expeditions to the South Pole. Today, she is a museum ship in the Tokyo area.
The IJN also requisitioned another 12 merchant vessels during the war for use as ammunition ships. ARATAMA MARU was one of these. She was abandoned off Guam after being torpedoed in Apr' 44. Auxiliary ammunition ship ONOE MARU was torpedoed and sunk in the Bismarcks in November 1943.
HITACHI MARU was bombed and sunk off Buin, Bougainville in Feb '43, TATSUTAKE MARU was torpedoed and sunk in May '43 and NICHIRO MARU was torpedoed and sunk off Palau in Feb '44. TATSUGAMI MARU was sunk by USN destroyers off Balikpapan, Borneo in Jan '42. NICHII MARU was bombed and sunk in Nov '43 enroute to Truk.
NARUTO MARU was torpedoed and sunk off Saipan in Aug '43 while KOGYO MARU was bombed and sunk in Sep' 44 at Coron Bay, P.I. HIDE MARU was torpedoed and sunk off Truk in Jun '43 and KOTOKU MARU was bombed and sunk near Salamaua, New Guinea in Jul '42.
| Vessel | Dimensions | Displacement | Machinery | Speed | Armament | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KASHINO | 451' x 61'6" x 21'8" |
10,360-tons | Geared turbines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts. | 14 knots | 2 x 4.7-in. (2x1), 4-13mm mgs (2x2) | Unknown |
| SOYA | 257' x 42' x 20' |
3,800-tons | VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 1 shaft. | 12.4 knots | 1 x 80 mm (3-in.), 2 x 25mm AA, 10 DCs | 35 |
| ARATAMA MARU | 446.5' x 59.1' x 33.8' | 6,873-tons | Turbine engines, 398 n.h.p. | 15 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| ONOE MARU | 461' x 59' x 26' | 6,667-tons | Steam turbine engine, 1 shaft, 7,400 i.h.p. | 18 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| HITACHI MARU | 424.2' x 57.4' x 33' | 6,540-tons | Steam turbine engines. | 15.5 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| TATSUTAKE MARU | 441.6' x 58.4' x 33' | 7,068-tons | Steam turbine engine, 1 shaft. | 12.5 knots | 1 x 20 cm (7.8-in.), 1 x 20mm AA | Unknown |
| NICHIRO MARU | 437.5' x 56.8' x ? | 6,534-tons | Steam turbine engine, 4,112 s.h.p. | 15.5 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| TATSUGAMI MARU | 420' x 57.8' x ? | 7,064-tons | Steam turbine engine, 1 shaft. | 12.5 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| NICHII MARU | 420' x 56.8' x 34.4' | 6,543-tons | Steam turbine engine, 1 shaft. | 15.5 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| KOGYO MARU | 419' x 58.5' x 32.8' | 6,353-tons | Steam turbine engine, 1 shaft. | 12 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| NARUTO MARU | 425' x 61.7' x 34.4 | 7,149-tons | 1 diesel, 1 shaft. | 16 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| HIDE MARU | 397' x 52.6' x 30.8' | 5,181-tons | Steam turbine engine, 1 shaft. | 12 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
| KOTOKU MARU | 454' x 58.6' x 26.3' | 6,702-tons | 1 diesel, 1 shaft. | 13 knots | Unknown | Unknown |
