Japanese auxiliary cruiser Kongo Maru (1934) 1941-1942

Laid down by Harima Shipbuilding and Company, Japan as a cargo ship with pasenger accommodation for account of the Kokusai Kisen Kabushiki Kasiha on 22 February 1934, launched on 7 December 1934, commissioned on 5 March 1935, leased by the Nippon Ysen since January 1937, added to the Japanese navy on 6 August 1941, conversion into an auxiliary cruiser completed on 14 October 1941, added to the South Seas Force (4th Fleet) and based at Truk (Carolina Islands, Chuuk State, Micronesia) and bombed and sunk by aircraft from the American aircraft carriers USS Lexington and Yorktown while underway to Huon Gulf (Papua-New Guinea) on 10 March 1942 and stricken on 20 March 1942.

Displacement 8.762 tons and as dimensions 138,2 x 18,5 x 9,4 metres or 453.5 x 60,7 x 30.8 feet. Machinery consisted of 1-9.048shp Kawasaki MAN diesel allowing a speed of 19,63 knots. Crew as a merchant ship numbered 50 men. The armament consisted of 4-14cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns, 2-13,2mm Type 93 machineguns and 2-53,3cm/21.0” torpedo tubes. She carried one Kawanashi E7K floatplane with her. 

Japanese auxiliary cruiser Aikoku Maru (1938) 1941-1944

Aikoku Maru and Hokoku Maru

Dutch tanker Ondina

Laid down by the Tamara Shipyard on 28 December 1938, launched on 31 August 1941, enlisted by the Japanese navy on 1 September 1941, classified as an auxiliary cruiser on5 September 1941, added to the 24th Raider Division, participated in a battle with the Royal Indian corvette HMIS Bengal and the Dutch oil tanker Ondina in the Indian Ocean on 11 November 1942, classified as an auxiliary transport on 1 October 1943 and sunk during Operation Hailstone during an American air attack off Truk (Carolina Islands, Chuuk State, Micronesia) on 17 February 1944.

Part of the Hokoku Maru-class ocean liners ordered by the Osaka Mercantile Steamships Company Limited or Osaka Shosen Kaisha (O.S.K. Lines) on 17 May 1937 to be used of the Japan-Africa line, consisting of the Hokoku Maru, Aikoku Maru and Kokoky Maru (later renamed in Gokoku Maru).

Common technical class specifications. With a displacement of 7.520 tons and as dimensions 160,8 (over all) x 20,1 x 12,5 metres or 527.7 x 65.11 x 31.0 feet. The machinery consisted of 2 Mitsui-B&W Model 12-62 VF-115 diesels supplying 13.000 (cruising)-19.427 (maximum) bhp. Speed 20,9 knots. Their crew numbered 1500 men with accommodation for 400 passengers and 12.000 cubic metres cargo hold capacity. Armament consisted of 8-14cm L/50 naval guns, 4-2,5cm anti aircraft guns and 4-53,3cm/21.0” torpedo tubes. Carried 2 Kawanashi E7K aircraft in 1941, replaced in 1942 by Aichi E13A. 

Japanese light cruiser Naka 1922-1944

Naka of the Sendai-class

Agano of the Agano-class

Part of the Sendai-class of which the Sendai, Kintsu, Naka and Kako were completed. The Ayase was cancelled and replanned as a Furutaka-class cruiser with the Minase, Otonase and an anonymous cruiser cancelled under the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Preceded by the Nagara-class and succeeded by the Agano-class. Building ordered under the 1920 Fiscal Year, laid down at the Yokohama Dock Company on 10 June 1922, launched on 24 March 1925, hull burned during the earthquake and broken up, laid down again on 24 May 1924, commissioned on 30 November 1925, participated in the Battle of the Java Sea against an Allied squadron commanded by the Dutch rear admiral Karel Doorman on 27 February 1942, sunk by American aircraft from the USS Bunker Hill and Cowpens near Truk (Chuuk Lagoon or Truk Lagoon, part of the Chuuk State, Caroline Islands group, Federal States of Micronesia) on 18 February 1944 and stricken on 31 March 1944.

With a standard displacement of 5.278 tons and as dimensions 152,4 x 14,2 x 4,9 metres or 500’x 46’7” x 16’1’. The machinery consisted of Parsons geared turbines and 10 Kampon boilers supplying via 4 shafts 90.000 shp allowing a speed of 35,3 knots. With a speed of 14 knots was her range 5.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 452 men. Armour consisted of a 6,4cm/2.5” thick belt and 2,9cm/1.1” thick deck. The armament consisted of 7x1-14cm/5.5” guns, 2-8cm/3” anti aircraft guns, 4x2-61cm/24” torpedo tubes and she could carry 48 mines with her. Armament in 1943:6-14cm/15.5” guns, 1x2-12,7cm/5” dual purpose guns, 10-2,5cm/0.08 anti aircraft guns (2x3&2x2), 1x2-1,32cm/0.52” anti aircraft guns and 2x4-61cm/24” torpedo tubes. Fitted out with a catapult she could carry with her. 

Japanese cruiser light Agano 1940-1944

Naka of the Sendai-class

Agano of the Agano-class

Of the Agano-class consisting of the Agano, Noshiro, Yahagi and Sakawa, preceded by the Sendai-class and succeeded by the Oyodo-class. For the design of this class were the results of the technological experiments with the Yubari incorporated. Budget authorized under the 4th Naval Armaments Supplements Programme dated 1939. Laid down at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal on 18 June 1940, launched on 22 October 1941, commissioned on 31 October 1942, torpedoed by the American submarine USS Skate north of Truk (Chuuk Lagoon or Truk Lagoon, part of the Chuuk State, Caroline Islands group, Federal States of Micronesia) on 16 February 1944 and stricken on 31 March 1944.

General technical class specifications. With a displacement of 6,652 (standard)-7.590 (full load) tons and as dimensions 174 x 15,2 x 5,6 metres or 571’ x 50’x 18’. The machinery consisted of quadruple Gihon geared turbines and 6 Kampong boilers supplying 100.000 shp allowing a speed of 35 knots. Range with a speed of 18 knots was 6.300 nautical miles. Crew numbered 730 men. The armour consisted of a 6cm/2.4” thick belt and a 2cm/0.8” thick deck. The armament consisted of 3x2-15,2cm/5.9” Type 41 guns, 2x2-7,6cm/3” Type 98 naval guns, 2x3-2cm/0;8” type 96 anti aircraft guns, 2x2-1,3cm/0.5” machineguns, 4x2-61cm/24” torpedo tubes and she carried 48 naval mines with her. For the 2 floatplanes she could carry with her was one catapult mounted.