Akagi_Maru-class_Armed_merchantmen References

	Akagi Maru
Class overview
Name	Akagi Maru class
Builders	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by	A-class cargo ship
Built	1935–1937
In service	1936–1944
In commission	1941–1944
Completed	3
Lost	3
Retired	0
General characteristics
Type	Armed merchantmen
Displacement	7,389 tonnes (7,272 long tons)
Length	147.75 m (484 ft 9 in)
Beam	10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft	8.39 m (27 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	1 x Mitsubishi MS diesel engine (8771hp total power)
Speed	14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Range	unknown
Complement	59–61
Armament	4 × 14 cm Type 3; 2 × 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun; 2 × 2 Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun; 2 × 4 13.2 mm (0.52 in) Type 92 MG; 1 × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) Type 92 MG; 2 × 7.7mm MG; 1 × 2 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes; 12 × depth charge;
Aircraft carried	2× Aichi E13A floatplane
Aviation facilities	1 launch catapult

The Akagi Maru-class armed merchant cruiser (赤城丸, A-gata kamotsusen) was a class of three armed merchant cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Background

The Akagi Maru-class vessels were originally built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for Nippon Yusen company as A-class cargo ships. They were converted to "special transport" role in 1940, and to "auxiliary cruiser" role in 1941 (and therefore armed).

Design

Operational history

Awata Maru

Awata Maru was slightly damaged in Doolittle Raid 18 April 1942. Later, it was a primary transport for the Japanese occupation of Kiska and Japanese occupation of Attu. It was sunk 22 October 1943 near Shanghai by the submarine USS Grayback.^[1]

Asaka Maru

Asaka Maru circumnavigated the globe in January–April 1941, bringing 3,000 tons of much needed military equipment from Germany. It also helped supply the Japanese occupation of Kiska. Asaka Maru was sunk by air attack 12 October 1944 near Penghu 23°33′00″N 119°43′01″E / 23.55°N 119.717°E / 23.55; 119.717.^[2]

Akagi Maru

Akagi Maru was sunk by air attack 17 February 1944 in Chuuk Lagoon as a part of the Operation Hailstone.^[3]

List of ships

References

Bibliography

Hannig, Marcus A. (2016). "Question 8/46: Japanese WW II Armed Merchant Cruisers". Warship International. LIII (1): 30–31. ISSN 0043-0374.

[1] IJN AWATA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement

[2] IJN ASAKA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement

[3] IJN AKAGI MARU: Tabular Record of Movement

[1]

[2]

[3]

Class overview
Akagi Maru
Name	Akagi Maru class
Builders	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by	A-class cargo ship
Built	1935–1937
In service	1936–1944
In commission	1941–1944
Completed	3
Lost	3
Retired	0
General characteristics
Type	Armed merchantmen
Displacement	7,389 tonnes (7,272 long tons)
Length	147.75 m (484 ft 9 in)
Beam	10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draft	8.39 m (27 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	1 x Mitsubishi MS diesel engine (8771hp total power)
Speed	14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Range	unknown
Complement	59–61
Armament	4 × 14 cm Type 3 2 × 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun 2 × 2 Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun 2 × 4 13.2 mm (0.52 in) Type 92 MG 1 × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) Type 92 MG 2 × 7.7mm MG 1 × 2 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes 12 × depth charge
Aircraft carried	2× Aichi E13A floatplane
Aviation facilities	1 launch catapult