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KISHIN MARU Class - Auxiliary netlayer


(KISHIN MARU plan – Peter Cundall Collection)

This class consists of KISHIN and TAIKO MARUs, Although they are very similar to the CHOKO MARU class they differ slightly enough in appearance to be a seperate class. KISHIN and TAIKO MARUs respectively were completed in Sep ’41 and Mar ‘42 for different shipping companies. KISHIN MARU was requisitioned in Sep ‘41 by the IJN and converted the following month to an auxiliary netlayer. She survived the war and resumed her commercial service, being renamed UNYO MARU No. 6 in ‘54, until ’55 when she sank for unknown reason. TAIKO MARU was requisitioned in Mar ‘42 by the IJN and served as an auxiliary subchaser. She was bombed and sunk by USN aircraft in Jul ’44.

Builder and Year Completed: Osaka. Nakata Zosensho K.K. shipyard
1941 and 1942
Gross tonnage: 897-tons
Dimensions: 186.7’(lpp) x 32.1' x 16.7'
Propulsion: One Diesel engine, one shaft, ?? shp.
Speed: Cruising: Unknown.
Armament: Standard military equipment: One 8cm/40cal deck gun, one Type 93 single 13mm MG, one single 7.7mm MG, one 60cm searchlight, One DC thrower, Two Type 1 DC racks, 24 DCs, four Type 14 anti-submarine nets and one hydrophone.