Japanese passenger cargo ship Eiko Maru 1937-1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Call sign JSXL. Owner in 1939 Osaka Syosen Kaisha, Osaka, Japan. Launched by Osaka Iron Works Ld., Innoshima, Japan on 5 October 1937, completed on 25 January 1938, requisitioned by the navy on 1 October 1941, converted into some called an auxiliary gunboat others a minesweeper tender/minecraft tender, torpedoed and sunk bu the British submarine HMS Storm (P233) in the Strait of Malacca off Penang, Malaya on 18 June 1944 and stricken on 1 October 1944. Gross tonnage 3,026tons, net tonnage 1,766 tons, deadweight 3,841 tons and as dimensions 303.0 x 45.3 x 24.4 x 9.5 (light)-20 (loaded) feet. Steam turbine propulsion, one screw, coal bunker capacity 329 tons, and speed 11.5 (normal cruising)-14 (maximum) knots. 

British passenger ship (ex-Stockholm 1948-1960, Völkerfreundschaft 1960-1985, Volker 1985-1986, Fridtjof Nansen 1986-1993, Italia I 1993-1994, Italia Prima 1994-1998, Valtur Prima 1998-2002, Caribe 2002-2005, Athena 2005-2013, Azores 2013-2016) Astoria 2016-2026

Scrapyard Gent, Belgium 12-9-2026

Building ordered in October 1944, launched by Gotaverken, Gothenburg, Sweden with yard number 611 on 9 September 1946, handed over to Swedish America Lineon 7 February 1948, commissioned on 21 February 1948, laud up in 2020 and sold to be broken up in 2025. Sweden-flagged, Gothenburg 1948-1960, East Germany-flagged, Rostock 1960-1985, Panama-flagged, Panama City 1985-1989, Italy-flagged, Naples 1989-2004 and Portugal/Madeira-flagged 2004-2025

Japanese passenger-cargo ship Hawaii Maru 1915-1944

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Call sign JHWD. Sister ships Manila Maru, Alabama Maru, Arizona Maru, Afrika Maru, Arabia Maru and Hawaii Maru. Homeport Osaka, Japan. Owner in 1939 Osaka Syosen K.K., Osaka. Homeport Osaka, Japan. Owner in 1939 Osaka Syosen K.K., Osaka. Launched by Kawasaki Dockyard Co. Ltd., Kobe, Japan on 18 May 1915, requisitioned by the army on 29 September 1941, served as attack transport and sunk as part of convoy MI-29 by the American submarine USS Sea Devil in the East China Sea on 2 December 1944. Gross tonnage 9,467 tons, under deck 8,830 tons, net tonnage 5,916 tons and as dimensions 475.0 x 61.0 x 38.1 x 11 (light)-27.7 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, horsepower 995nhp, 2 screws, 1,300 ton coal bunker capacity+2,000 ton oil bunker capacity, range 8,000 nautical miles/14 knots and speed 14 (normal cruising)-16 (maximum) knots. 

Japanese passenger-cargo ship Arabia Maru 1918-1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Call sign JEGD. Homeport Osaka, Japan. Owner in 1939 Osaka Syosen K.K., Osaka. Sister ships Manila, Maru, Alabama Maru, Arizona Maru, Afrika Maru, Arabia Maru and Hawaii Maru. Homeport Osaka, Japan. Owner in 1939 Osaka Syosen K.K., Osaka. Built by Mitsubishi Zosen Kaisha, Ld. in May 1918, requisitioned by the army in 1941, served as hospital ship and transport and sunk by the American submarine USS Bluegill in the South China Sea 25 kilometres north west of Lubang, Island, Philippines on 18 October 1944.  Gross tonnage9,480 tons, under deck 8,797 tons, net tonnage 5,790 tons and as dimensions 475.0 x 61.0 x 40.7 x 11 (light)-27.7 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, horsepower 995nhp, 2 screws, 1,300 ton coal bunker capacity+2,000 ton oil bunker capacity, range 8,000 nautical miles/14 knots and speed 14 (normal cruising)-16 (maximum) knots. 

Ships coming from the west arriving at Gibraltar according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 25 August 1917

An item reported that between 19-20 August arrived at Gibraltar 1 Italian steamship, 1 Dutch steamship, 1 British destroyer, 1 British steam transport, 4 British steamships, 1 French passenger steamship, 1 Italian steam passenger ship and 1 Norwegian steamship.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Ships coming from the east arriving at Gibraltar according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 25 August 1917

An item reported that between 19-20 August arrived at Gibraltar 1 Italian passenger ship, 1 Norwegian steamship, 1 British steamship, 1 American passenger steamship and 1 American steamship.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Japanese passenger ship (ex-Dante Alighieri 1914-1938) Asahi Maru 1938-1944

Before the removal of the aft funnel in 1940©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Owner in 1939 Kin Kai Yusen K.K., Tokyo. Laid down by Societa Esercizio Bacini, Genoa, Italy in September 1914, launched on 28 November 1914, completed on 28 February 1915, sold to Kinkai Yusen K.K. on 15 February 1938, requisitioned by the navy in August 1937, converted at Kure into a hospital ship between 17-25 August 1937, Kinkai Yusen taken over by NYK since 6 May 1939 Since 8 September 1839 was NYK owner of the ship, the aft dummy funnel removed between 15-30 November 1940, converted at Kure Naval Yard between 1 October-28 November 1943 into an auxiliary transport, collided with the Manu Maru west of Ushijima 1.25 miles off Bizan Seto on 5 February 1944, beached, hull broken on 24 February 1944, abandoned being a total loss, cargo unloaded between 27-29 February 1944, stricken on 15 July 1944 and broken up in December 1949. Gross tonnage 9,326 tons, under deck 6,977 tons, net tonnage 5,645 tons, deadweight 5,800 tons and as dimensions 483.0 x 59.5 x 25.5 x 27 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, 2 screws, horsepower 1,512 hp, coal bunker capacity 1,185 ton and speed 15 (normal cruising)-18 (maximum) knots. 

Austrian cargo ships interned in the Netherlands on 6 December 1918

An item referred to a cablegram of the American Naval Attache at The Hague, Netherlands received by Amnavpar, Paris, France on 6 December 1918 which described the Austrian cargo ships interned in the Netherlands: Zera 5,000 ton, Java 400 ton, Laconia 7,800 ton, Plivice 4,900 ton, Thallan a former passenger ship but in the meantime converted into a 4,500 ton cargo ship and Venus (ex-Razatus).

Source

National Archive. Misc. Material Print File World War August 1918-January 1922. Drawer 3. Microfilm No. T829-403. 

French passenger ship arrived at Gibraltar according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 23 August 1917

An item reported that during the night a French passenger steamship arrived at Gibraltar.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Japanese merchant ship Canberra Maru visited Sydney and Brisbane, Australia in July 1941

Japanese passenger-cargo ship Canberra Maru 1935-1942©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported the arrival at Sydney, Australia of the Japanese merchant ship Canberra Maru on 29 July 1440K being 30 hours overdue. On 31 July she departed to Brisbane, Australia.

Source

Website Sea Power Centre Australia. O.I.C. Daily Summary of Operational-Intelligence dated 1 August 1941

Merchant ships and warships lying at Gibraltar according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 23 August 1917

Pelorus-class©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that on 20 August at Gibraltar were lying the British cruiser HMS Pelorus (1), 3 auxiliary cruiser yachts, 1 Italian auxiliary cruiser, 1 Italian passenger steamship and 9 cargo steamships.

Note

1. Laid down at the Sheerness dockyard in 1896, commissioned on 15 December 1896 and sold to be broken up in 1920. Building costs 154.315 pond sterling. Of the Pelorus-3rd class cruisers, designed by chief constructor of the British Royal Navy Sir William White (2 February 1845 Plymouth, England-27 February 1913 London, England), consisting of the Pactolus, Pandora, Pegasus, Pelorus, Perseus, Pioneer, Pomone, Prometheus, Proserpine, Psyche and Pyramus, preceded by the Arrogant-class and succeeded by the Highflyer-class.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Ships arrived at Gibraltar coming from the east according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 23 August 1917

An item reported between 18-20 August the arrival at Gibraltar coming from the east 1 French passenger steamship, 2 British steamships, 1 Japanese steamships and 1 British torpedo boat.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Dutch cargo-passenger ship Op ten Noort 1927-1945

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Launched by N.V. Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw-Maatschappij, Amsterdam, Netherlands with yard number 185 on 12 February 1927, delivered to the N.V. Koninklijke Paketvaart, Amsterdam, Netherlands in August 1927, on 19 February 1942 to Surabaya for conversion into a hospital ship, halted by Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze 40 miles south west of Bawean while she was underway to take over survivors of the Dutch warships Hr.Ms. Java, De Ruyter and Kortenaer, went to Makassar on 8 March, seized by the Japanese on 5 June, departed on 23 November towards Yokohama, Japan, arrived on 5 December and where her crew was interned, commissioned by Japanese as hospital ship Tenno Maru with two funnels, renamed Hikawa Maru No. 2 on 1 November 1944, on 23 August despite the Japanese capitulation on 15 August 1945 scuttled with the use of explosives west of Katshuma, Wakasa Bay. Call sign PKEA. Homeport in 1939 Batavia, Dutch East Indies. Gross tonnage 6,076 tons, net tonnage 3,566 tons , deadweight tons 4,300 tons and as dimensions 424.5 x 55.2 x 22.2 x 22 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, s screws, horsepower 616 nhp, oil bunker capacity 1,100 tons and speed 15 (normal cruising) knots. 

Austrian submarine SMS XVII torpedoed anonymous passenger ship according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 23 August 1917

An item reported that the Austrian submarine SMS XVII torpedoed on 16 August in the South Adriatic an anonymous ‘secured’ passenger steamship of about 1,000 tons. The ship stopped but if she sunk was not observed.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Dutch mail- and passenger ship Insulinde sold towards France according to the Dutch magazine Schip en Werf dated 16 June 1933

On South slip, 16 October 1913. 

Zeeuws Archief, Kon. Mij. De Schelde, collectie 7513, nr 107

Installation of one of the boilers, 13 November 1913. 

Zeeuws Archief, Kon. Mij. De Schelde, collectie 7513, nr 103

An item reported that the Dutch mail- and passenger ship Insulinde of 9.496 gross register tons and 9.437 capacity, built by the Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands in 1914 was sold by the Rotterdamsche Lloyds to the Société Baltique Océan Mediterrannée, le Havre [Marseille!], France.(1)

Note

1. Ordered by the Stoomvaart Maatchappij Rotterdamsche Lloyd, Rotterdam, Netherlands on 28 March or 18 April 1912, laid down by Kon. Mij. De Schelde,  Vlissingen, Netherlands with yard number 150 on 26 October 1912, launched on 1 November 1913,  trials 13 February and 15 March 1914, delivered on 15/21 March 1914 (was to be 15 February 1914), sold in August 1933 and renamed Banfora and in 1957 to Japan, renamed Banfora Maru and broken up. 

Dutch mail- and passenger ship Tjerimai sold twards Egypt according to the Dutch magazine Schip en Werf dated 16 June 1933

An item reported that the Dutch twin screw mail- and passenger ship Tjerimai of 7.667 gross register tons and built by the Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte, Hamburg, Germany was sold by the Rotterdamsche Lloyd, Rotterdam, Netherlands towards Egypt. 

The armament of the Dutch merchant ship Bonaire in the Second World War

Surinamekade/Afgesloten IJ. Stadsarchief Amsterdam. OSIM00004005164

According to the list and supplements 1-2 on 13 September 1945 BDZ No. 673sent by the office of armament the Royal Netherlands Navy located at 41 East 42nd Street, New York 17, USA. There were no complete records available, so there were several sources used to compile the list. Sometimes the kind of guns gave indirect information regarding the origin such as 4”/BL and 12 pounder guns were British mostly supplied in the United Kingdom, Canada or Curacao. The 4.7” guns were old Japanese guns placed on some vessels in the begin of the war at Singapore and some 4” guns in the same period at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies. The trade in which the ship was used gave also an indication were the guns were supplied, for example involved in the Pacific trade means supplied at the West Coast.

Passenger-cargo ship launched by Reiherstieg Schiffswerft&Maschinenfabrik A.G., Hamburg, Germany with yard number 578 on 14 January 1927, delivered to H.C. Horn, Hamburg as Waltraut Horn on 17 April 1926, renamed Presidente Gomez on 16 January 1936, renamed Henry Horn on 12 November 1936, arrived in the Dutch West Indies van Hamburg and interned in the Fuikbaai/Nieuwpoort, Curacao on 30 August 1939, manager/owner Westindisches Schiffahrtskontor G.m.b.H. Hamburg and renamed Henry on 11 September 1939, detained at Nieuwpoort while a valuable cargo sugar was not delivered on 11 January 1940, seized by the Royal Netherlands Navy when her crew failed to scuttle her on 10 May 1940, renamed Bonaire manager Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Amsterdam, Netherlands/owner Staat der Nederlanden, owner/manager Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Amsterdam since August 1946, sold to be broken up by N.V. Holland, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands arriving on 27 November 1957.

The Dutch newspaper De residentiebode dated 11 May 1940 reported that in the morning of 10 May the crews of the German ships Patricia, Alemania and Henry  tried to scuttle their ships. The hatches of the Henry were opened but again all closed. All three crews were interned.

Armed with 2-2cm guns,at New York on 19 March 1943 supplied with 2-2cm guns and later with 1-3? gun.

Source

Archieven van hoofd handelsbescherming en diverse handelsbeschermingsofficieren 1941-1946 inv.no. 53 (Nationaal Archief, The Hague, Netherlands. 

Japanese cargo-passenger ship Suwa Maru 1912-1943

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Ssiter ships Husimi Maru and Suwa Maru. Similar Kasima Maru and Katori Maru both built in 1913 but lacking kingposts forward of bridge. Call sign JSUD. Owner in 1939 Nippon Yusen K.K., Tokyo, Japan. Laid down by Mitsubishi Dockyard&Engineering Works, Nagasaki, Japan with yard number 236 on 28 October 1912, launched on 29 March 1914, completed on 10 September 1914, requisitioned by the army to serve as troop en stores transport in the Second Sino-Japanese War between 29 August 1937-9 January 1938, requisitioned by the army on 8 July 1941, troop transport, torpedoed by the American submarine USS Tunny off Wako and grounded on a reef preventing sinking on 28 March 1943, torpedoed by the USS Submarine Finnback on 5 April and burned and stricken on 1 July 1943

Gross tonnage 10,672 tons, under deck 8,971 tons, net tonnage 6,637 tons, deadweight 12,700 tons and as dimensions 504.9 x 63.3x x 37.4 x 13 (light)-29 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, two screws, horsepower1,337 nhp/10,958 ihp, coal bunker capacity 4,000 tons, range 10,000 nautical miles/14 knots and speed 14 (normal cruising)-16.5 (maximum with 88rpm) knots. 

Japanese cargo-passenger ship (ex-Fushimi Maru 1913-1938) Husimi Maru 1938-1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Ssiter ships Husimi Maru and Suwa Maru. Similar Kasima Maru and Katori Maru both built in 1913 but lacking kingposts forward of bridge. Owner in 1939 Nippon Yusen K.K., Tokyo, Japan. Laid down by Mitsubishi Dockyard&Engineering Works, Nagasaki, Japan in 1913, launched in 1914 and torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine USS Bonefish (SS-223) in the South China Sea off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines on 14 October 1944. Gross tonnage 10,936 tons, under deck 8,971 tons, net tonnage 6,846 tons, deadweight 12,700 tons and as dimensions 504.9 x 63.3x x 37.4 x 13 (light)-29 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, two screws, horsepower1,337 nhp/10,958 ihp, coal bunker capacity 4,000 tons, range 10,000 nautical miles/14 knots and speed 14 (normal cruising)-16.5 (maximum with 88rpm) knots. 

Dutch cargo-passenger ship Tjinegara 1929-1942

Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid. Museum Katwijk

Laid down by N.V. Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw-Maatschappij, Amsterdam, Netherlands with yard number 205 on 21 December 1929, launched on 27 September 1930, delivered to N.V. Java-China-Japan Lijn, Batavia, Dutch East Indies on 17 January 1930, as troop transport (USAT 42) serving for the US War Shipping Administration (W.S.A.) underway from Brisbane, Australia to Noumea, French New Caledonia sunk by the Japanese submarine I-169 east of Rockhampton, Australia geographical position 23.18 South and 165.23 East on 25 July 1942.