(Sister AWA MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
In Sep 1941, MIIKI MARU was completed for Nippon Yusen, K.K.
(NYK Line), but was requisitioned immediately by the IJA and used as a
transport. In '44, MIIKE MARU was returning to Tokyo after transporting
troops to Palau, but was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine.
AKI MARU, completed in '42, was also torpedoed and sunk in '44 by
an American submarine.
In 1943, AWA MARU was completed for NYK, but was also requisitioned
immediately by the IJA and used as a transport. In 1944, AWA MARU was
selected by the Japanese to transport 2,000-tons of Red Cross parcels to
Allied prisoners-of-war at Singapore and Java. After delivering the Red
Cross supplies, AWA MARU, travelling under a safe passage guarantee, was
returning to Japan when she was sunk mistakenly in foggy weather by an
American submarine.
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| Builder: |
Mitsubishi, Nagasaki .
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| Year Completed: |
1941-1943
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| Displacement: |
11,249-11,708 GRT |
| Dimensions: |
Length 497.2', beam 65.6', draft ? |
| Propulsion: |
Mitsubishi diesel engines, 2 shafts,
16,141 bhp, 20.8 knots. |
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