ZATSUYOSEN!

AZUMASAN MARU-Class Auxiliary Transport

(AZUMASAN MARU in wartime by Ueda Kihachiro)

This class consists of AZUMASAN and AMAGISAN MARUs completed respectively in Jul and Dec ’33 for Mitsui Bussan K.K. Both were requisitioned by the IJN in ’41 and converted to auxiliary transports. Both were bombed and sunk by USN aircraft, AZUMASAN MARU off Guadalcanal in Oct ’42 and AMAGISAN MARU at Truk Atoll in Feb ’44.

Builder and Year Completed: Tama. Mitsui Bussan K.K. Zosembu shipyard, 1933
Gross tonnage: 7,614 to 7,624-tons
Dimensions: 458' x 58.4' x 25.9'
Propulsion: One Mitsui B & W diesel engine, 1 shaft, 4,000 n.h.p.
Speed: 16 knots cruising, 18.5 knots max.
Armament: Unknown.