Toyama Maru

Japanese ship

Toyama Maru
Toyama Maru in 1941
History
Japan
NameToyama Maru
NamesakeToyama
OwnerNYK Line (1915-1937)

Nanyo Kaiun K.K. (1937-1938) Ono Shoji Gomei K.K. (1938-1943)

Taiyo Kogyo, K. K (1943-1944)
Ordered1913
BuilderMitsubishi Dockyard & Engineering Works
Laid down4 August 1913
Launched20 March 1915
Completed3 June 1915
In serviceJune 1915
Out of serviceJune 29th 1944
FateSunk by USS Sturgeon near Tairajima, 29 June 1944
Notes6th deadliest Maritime disaster
General characteristics
TypeTroop transport
Tonnage7,085 GRT
Length135.6 metres (445 ft)
Beam17.7 metres (58 ft)
Draught10.4 metres (34 ft)
Installed power5700 shp
Propulsion4 x Steam turbine engines DR geared to dual shaft, 2 screws, 4 single boilers, 12 corrugated furnaces
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph)
Complement4330
Crew76

Toyama Maru (富山丸) was a 7,089-ton Japanese troop transport during World War II. On 29 June 1944, Toyama Maru was transporting over 6,000 men of the Japanese 44th Independent Mixed Brigade when she was torpedoed and sunk.

Building and registration

Toyama Maru was Laid down On, the 4th of August 1913, at Mitsubishi Dockyard & Engineering Works as Yard No. 243. In Nagasaki, and was launched on the 20th of March 1915, and completed 3 months later. Toyama Maru had a length of 445 ft (135 m) a beam of 58 ft (17 m). With a tonnage of 7,085 GRT, she had a speed of about 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[1]

Career

After Toyama Maru was completed she began her maiden voyage, under the NYK Line. During the First World War she served European routes, transportation food and Ammunition. She survived World War I, and for the next 14 years she had an uneventful career. In 1933 she was switched to the Kobe to Surabaya route, in 1937, she was sold to the Company Nanyo Kaiun K.K. She served with the Company until 1938, when she was sold to the Company Ono Shoji Gomei K.K. She had an uneventful life until September 1941.

Service in World War 2

In September 1941 she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army to serve in the Second World War. She would be used as a Troop transport and transported troops. In 1943 As the result of a merger, Toyama Maru is transferred to Taiyo Kogyo, K. K. She would continue to serve as a Troop transport until June 1944. [2]

Sinking

On June 27th 1944, Toyama Maru departed Kagoshima Bay bound for Naha City on what would become her final voyage. On board were over 6000 people, she departed with 11 other Ship’s forming the Kata 412 convey. At 7:30 Am the submarine USS Sturgeon (SS-187) fired 4 torpedoes at Toyama Maru. 2 of the torpedoes hit the bow igniting hundreds of gasoline drums, causing the ship to be engulfed in flames. A third Torpedo hit mid ship breaking her into 2 pieces, and sinking in the Nansei Shoto, off Taira Jima, Japan. At position 27º47'N, 129º05'E. 5,400 soldiers and crew members were killed during the sinking. Although 600 others got off the ship. [3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Toyama Maru (+1944)". wrecksite. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  2. ^ Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall. "IJA Toyama Maru". Combined Fleet website. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Toyama Maru (+1944)". wrecksite. Retrieved 13 August 2024.

* Duncan, George. "1944: Maritime Disasters of World War II". Historical Facts of World War II.

27°47′N 129°05′E / 27.783°N 129.083°E / 27.783; 129.083

  • v
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in June 1944
Shipwrecks
  • 1 Jun: USS Herring
  • 3 Jun: U-477, WBS 2 Coburg
  • 5 Jun: V 622 Almuth, USS Osprey
  • 6 Jun: USS Corry, USS LCI(L)-93, Minazuki, USS PC-1261, HNoMS Svenner, V 421 Rauzan, HMS Wrestler
  • 7 Jun: HMS Centurion, Empire Defiance, Hayanami, USS Susan B. Anthony, USS Tide, U-629, U-955
  • 8 Jun: Audacious, Harusame, James Iredell, Kazagumo, HMS Lawford, USS Rich, U-373, U-441, U-970, West Grama
  • 9 Jun: Courbet, Dover Hill, HMS Durban, Empire Bunting, Empire Flamingo, Matsukaze, USS Meredith, HNLMS Sumatra, Tanikaze, Z32, ZH1
  • 10 Jun: USS Glennon, Innsbruck, Mistral, Ro-111, U-821
  • 11 Jun: USS Partridge, Ro-42, U-980
  • 12 Jun: Kainan Maru, HMS Sickle, U-490, V 206 Otto Bröhan, V 212 Friedrich Busse
  • 13 Jun: HMS Boadicea, I-33, Ro-36, U-715
  • 14 Jun: USS Golet
  • 15 Jun: HMS Blackwood, M 507, PA 1, PA 2, Shiratsuyu, U-860, U-987, V 202 Franz Westermann
  • 16 Jun: I-6, Ro-44, U-998
  • 17 Jun: Ro-114, Ro-117
  • 18 Jun: Albert C. Field, U-767
  • 19 Jun: I-184, Shōkaku, Taihō
  • 20 Jun: Hiyō, HMAS Matafele
  • 21 Jun: Bolzano, HMS Fury
  • 22 Jun: Eurydice, I-185, Sirène
  • 24 Jun: Derrycunihy, I-52, U-971, U-1225
  • 25 Jun: U-269
  • 26 Jun: Aquileia, U-317, U-719, Harugiku Maru
  • 27 Jun: Kizugawa Maru
  • 28 Jun: V 213 Claus Bolten, Kondor, Nerissa
  • 29 Jun: Toyama Maru, Tsugaru, U-988, USS Valor
  • 30 Jun: SS Nikkin Maru, U-478, V 422 Kergroise
  • Unknown date: Bosna, USS LCT-209, U-740
Other incidents
  • 7 Jun: USS Meredith
  • 11 Jun: HMS Halsted
  • 16 Jun: U-998
  • 18 Jun: USS Hawkbill
  • 23 Jun: HMS Scylla
  • 25 Jun: HMS Glasgow, HMS Goodson
  • 26 Jun: Gorizia
  • Unknown date: HMS Sickle, Sonderburg