Japanese potential troop transport Arizona Maru in December 1921

On 22 May 1922 (!) received the Dutch naval staff at The Hague, Netherlands from the Dutch embassy at Tokyo, Japan a detailed specification of Japanese merchant ships of minimum 1.500 tons tonnage usable for troop transport over sea on 13 December 1921. If the transport was over a short distance for instance Japan-Philippines or Japan-Chinese harbours was the transport capacity increased with 10% and on a distance within 24 hours even doubled. The figures were supplied by non-Japanese experts, partly based on the troop transports between Japan-China and Japan-Siberia. The transports were kept secret. At that moment was Japan already considered as a potential enemy. For each ship was mentioned how many troops included equipment could be transported over a longer distance, for instance to an island belonging to the Dutch East Indies. In February-March 1942 invaded Japan indeed the Dutch East Indies.

Speed probably less then 10 miles, net tonnage 6,068 tons, gross tonnage 9,595 tons, transport capacity 3,200 men and owned by Osaka Shosen Kaisha. Coal-fuelled.

Laid down as cargo ship for account of the Osaka Shosen (OSK Line) K.K., Tokyo, Japan by Mitsubishi Zosensho, Nagasaki, Japan in 1919, launched in 1920, completed on 20 June 1920, temporarily requisitioned during the war with China by the Japanese Imperial Navy and converted into a hospital ship in 1937, in October 1941 at the Kure Naval Arsenal fitted out with crew accommodation, stables for horses and armed with 6-7.5cm Type 88 anti aircraft guns and 10-x1-2cm or 2.5cm anti aircraft machine guns, again (officially) requisitioned by the army on 26 November 1941 and became troopship No. 830, participated in the invasion of Java, Dutch East Indies in February-March 1942, Army Air Defense Ship since 14 November 1942 and sunk in an Allied air attack the same day down the “Slot” bound for Guadalcanal? Call sign JDZD. Gross register tonnage 9.684 ton, tonnage under deck 8.797 ton, net register tonnage 5.993 ton, deadweight 11.100 ton and as dimensions 475 (between perpendiculars) x 61 x 40.7 x 11 (light)-28 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating 995 nhp machinery with 1.300 ton oil and 2.000 ton coal bunker capacity allowing a range of 8.000 nautical miles/14 knots and a speed of 14 (cruising)-16 (maximum) knots.

Sources

Archive Dutch Naval Staff 1886-1942 inventory number 137 (National Archive at The Hague, Netherlands

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