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  Aikoku Maru

Ships

Name	Launched // Comm.	Builder	Tonnage, BRT	Dimensions, m (length pp)	Speed, kts	Engine, Power hp	Armament	Fate
愛国丸 [Aikoku Maru]	25.4.1940// 9.1941	Tama SB, Tama	10437	149.6x20.2x7.92	21	2 diesels, 13000	8 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 seaplanes	transport 10.1943
赤城丸 [Akagi Maru]	6.6.1936/.12.1941	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	7387	140.8x19.0x9.30	19	1 diesel, 8000	4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT	sunk 17.2.1944
浅香丸 [Asaka Maru]	7.7.1937/.9.1941	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	7398	141.0x19.0x10.5	19	1 diesel, 8000	4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT	transport 10.1943
粟田丸 [Awata Maru]	5.8.1937/.9.1941	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	7398	140.8x19.0x9.30	19	1 diesel, 8000	4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT	transport 10.1943
盤谷丸 [Bangkok Maru]	30.3.1937/.9.1941	Mitsubishi, Kobe	5451	114.7x17.0x7.01	18	2 diesels (1 shaft)	4 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 - 7.7, 500 mines	transport 10.1943
護国丸 [Gokoku Maru]	2.4.1942/.10.1942	Tama SB, Tama	10438	149.6x20.2x7.92	21	2 diesels, 13000	8 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 seaplanes	transport 10.1943
報国丸 [Hokoku Maru]	5.7.1939/.9.1941	Tama SB, Tama	10438	149.6x20.2x7.92	21	2 diesels, 13000	8 x 1 - 140/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT, 2 seaplanes	sunk 11.11.1942
金城山丸 Kinjosan Maru	1.8.1936/.3.1941	Mitsui, Tama	3262	101.4x14.3x7.6		1 steam turbine, 1800		sunk 4.5.1942
金龍丸 [Kinryu Maru]	16.6.1938/.9.1941	Kawasaki, Kobe	9309	146.9x19.0x12.2	18	1 diesel, 9200	4 x 1 - 152/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2, 2 x 2 - 533 TT	transport 7.1942
清澄丸 [Kiyosumi Maru]	30.6.1934/.12.1941	Kawasaki, Kobe	8613	138.3x18.5x12.2	18	1 diesel, 7600	4 x 1 - 140/50, 1 x 1 - 76, 2 x 1 -7.7	transport 10.1943
金剛丸 [Kongo Maru]	7.12.1934// 9.1941	Harima, Harima	8624	137.2x18.6x8.51	18	1 diesel, 7600	4 x 1 - 140/50, 1 x 1 - 76, 2 x 1 -7.7	sunk 10.3.1942
能代丸 [Noshiro Maru]	28.6.1934/.9.1941	Mitsubishi, Nagasaki	7184	136.7x19.0x8.43	18.5	1 diesel, 6700	4 x 1 - 140/50, 1 x 1 - 76, 2 x 1 - 7.7	transport 10.1943
西貢丸 [Saigon Maru]	28.4.1937/.9.1941	Mitsubishi, Kobe	5350	114.7x17.0x7.01	18	2 diesels (1 shaft)	4 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 - 7.7, 500 mines	sunk 18.9.1944
浮島丸 [Ukishima Maru]	26.12.1936/.9.1941	Mitsui, Tamano	4730	108.4x15.7x7.01	16.5	1 diesel	6 x 1 - 120/45, 1 x 1 -7.7	gunboat 4.1943

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Project history

In 1941-1942 some fast cargo- and cargo-passenger vessels of Japanese merchant fleet have been requisitioned and entered service with IJN as auxiliary (armed merchant) cruisers for operations actions on communication lines of the enemies. Ships were armed with 4-8 120-152mm guns, besides, some of them carried reconnaissance seaplanes, torpedo tubes and minelaying equipment.

As the armaments were not masked (as, for example, on German raiders), these ships were easily identified as combatants. It became one of the reasons of that auxiliary cruisers have not achieved some success, moreover, one of them, Hokoku Maru, at an attack on small convoy consisting from small Dutch tanker Ondina and Indian minesweeper Bengal, has been sunk. After that discomfiture remained auxiliary cruisers have been returned to category of transports.

Modernizations

None.

Fate Notes

Kongo Maru was sunk 10.3.1942 at Lae by US carrier aircraft. Hokoku Maru 11.11.1942 was NW off Coco by Indian minesweeper Bengal and Dutch tanker Ondina. Akagi Maru 17.2.1944 was sunk at Truk by US carrier aircraft. Saigon Maru was sunk 18.9.1944 in Manila Bay by US submarine Flasher.