KOKUKI-UMPANSEN!

Stories of the IJN's Aircraft Transports
(Cargo ship by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

Before the opening of the Pacific War, the IJN requisitioned seven merchant vessels for use as specially installed aircraft transports to carry disassembled and crated aircraft, spares and air personnel. During the war three previously requisitioned auxiliaries were reconverted to serve as aircraft transports. All ten merchant auxiliary aircraft transports were lost before the end of the war.

Vessel Dimensions Displacement Machinery Speed
FUJIKAWA MARU 437.5' x 58.5' x 26' 6,938-tons Diesel Engines, 840 n.h.p, 1 shaft 18 knots
GOSHU MARU 443.2' x 60' x 40' 8,592-tons 1 turbine engine, 833 n.h.p, 1 shaft. 17.5 knots
KAMOGAWA MARU 456' x 58' x 26' 6,641-tons 2 diesel engines, 1165 n.h.p., 2 shafts. 19 knots
KANTO MARU 460' x 61.5' x 34' 8,606-tons 2 M.A.N. diesels, 2 shafts. 7,500 BHP 18.3 knots
LYONS MARU 445' x 58' x 39.6' 7,017-tons Triple expansion turbine, 632 n.h.p. 14.5 knots
KATSURAGI MARU 443.6' x 59.7' x 40.1' 8,033-tons Diesel, 814 n.h.p 17 knots
KOMAKI MARU 450' x 61' x 40' 6,456-tons 2 diesels, 2 shafts. 7,000 BHP 19.5 knots
KEIYO MARU 439.4' x 58.3' x 32' 6,442-tons 2 diesel engines, 1167 n.h.p., 2 shafts 16.6 knots
MOGAMIGAWA MARU 436' x 59' x 26' 7,497-tons Diesel Engines, 840 n.h.p, 1 shaft 16 knots
NAGOYA MARU 406.8' x 55.5’ x 32.5’ 6,072-tons 1 geared turbine, 691 n.h.p, 1 shaft. 13.5 knots