This class consists of 2 ships, DELHI MARU and MENADO MARU and were smaller versions of the FUKKEN MARU class completed in 1922 by Osaka Tekkosho (Iron Works) as cargo ships for Osaka Shosen Kaisha K.K. and employed mainly on the Java-Bangkok, Takao- Kwangtung cargo services. DELHI MARU was requisitioned by the IJN in November 1941 and additional bulkheads were added to her hull. Later she was deemed appropriate to be used as a Q (Decoy) ship but was not a success in this role, being sunk by USS SWORDFISH off Miyakojima on 16 January 1944. MENADO MARU was requisitioned by the IJA and coincidentally was sunk four days later, by US air attack at Swatow. She was the first OSK to have oil fired boilers.
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