Completed in Ireland in 1930 for the Silver Line as SILVERCYPRESS, she was
almost destroyed in the Philippines by an engine room fire in 1937 that gutted
her. She was towed to Japan for scrapping, but Kawasaki Kisen bought the hulk
and decided to rebuild her for their “K” Line’s service. In 1941, before the
start of the Pacific War, YASUKAWA MARU was requisitioned by the Imperial Army
and served in the China area operations. That same tear, she was converted to a
Boku Kikansen (anti-aircraft) vessel. In '42, YASUKAWA MARU was bombed and sunk
by the USAAF off New Guinea.
