Japanese whale factory ship Tonan Maru No. 2 1936-1944

Laid down by Osaka Iron Works, Osaka, Japan for account of Nippon Suisan K.K./Fisheries Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan on 14 August 1936, launched on 11 May 1937, completed on 31 August 1937, required by the Japanese Imperial Navy and on 8 November 1941 begin at the Kure Naval Yard with converting her into an auxiliary transport/oil supply vessel. Torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine USS Pintado (SS 387) in the South China Sea on 22 August 1944. (1) Official number 43650, call sign JWQL. Gross tonnage 19.425 ton, net tonnage 13.402 ton and as dimensions 537.6 x 74.0 x 56.8 x 14 (light)-35.6 (loaded) feet. Speed 13 (cruising 90 rpm)-15 maximum 110 rpm) knots. Twin screw. Oil fuelled reciprocating engines. Range with speed of 14 knots and fuel bunker capacity of 2.300 ton was 18.000 nautical miles.

Note

1. Balao-class, laid down by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Pennsylvania, USA on 7 May 1943, launched on 15 September 1943, commissioned on 1 January 1944, decommissioned on 6 March 1946, stricken on 1 March 1967 and sold to be broken up on 19 February 196