In September 1941, passenger-cargo ship UKISIMA MARU (originally named UKISHIMA MARU) was requisitioned from the OSK Line by the IJN and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Her sister ship was NAMINOUE MARU. In February 1945, UKISIMA MARU was rerated an auxiliary transport. In late August 1945, in the immediate aftermath of the war, she was proceeding to Pusan, Korea loaded with Korean evacuees, but struck a mine and sank in Maizuru Bay.
Builder and Year Completed: | Mitsui Bussan K. K., Tamano. 1936 |
Displacement: | 4,730-tons. |
Dimensions: | 352'3" x 51' x 22'7" |
Propulsion: | Diesel engine, 1 shaft, 16.5 knots max. speed. |
Armament: | 6 x 120mm (4.7-inch)/45 cal LA, 1 x-7.7mm MG, mines. |