FUSETSUTEI!

TOKUSHIMA MARU - Class Auxiliary small minelayer


(URARA MARU, sistership of TOKUSHIMA MARU, prewar– Berend Van der Wal Collection)

This class consists of TOKUSHIMA and URARA MARUs, respectively completed in Feb’ and Mar ’35 for different shipping companies. Both were requisitioned by the IJN. TOKUSHIMA MARU served as a general requisitioned transport and survived the war. She was released to her owners and resumed commercial service until being hulked in ’65 and ultimately delete from the registers in ’78. URARA MARU was converted in Dec ‘41 to an auxiliary small minelayer. She was bombed and sunk by USN aircraft in Mar ‘44.

Builder and Year Completed: Kobe. Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K.
1935
Gross tonnage: 407-tons
Dimensions: 150.9’(lpp) x 25.6' x 11.4'
Propulsion: One diesel engine, one shaft, 330 shp.
Speed: Cruising: 12 knots, Max: Unknown.
Armament: (Standard equipment): (Standard equipment): One 8cm/25cal ‘short’ deck gun and 50 mines.