Miike Maru Class


(Sister AWA MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)

In Sep 1941, MIIKI MARU was completed for Nippon Yusen, K.K. (NYK Line), but was requisitioned immediately by the IJA and used as a transport. In '44, MIIKE MARU was returning to Tokyo after transporting troops to Palau, but was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine.

AKI MARU, completed in '42, was also torpedoed and sunk in '44 by an American submarine.

In 1943, AWA MARU was completed for NYK, but was also requisitioned immediately by the IJA and used as a transport. In 1944, AWA MARU was selected by the Japanese to transport 2,000-tons of Red Cross parcels to Allied prisoners-of-war at Singapore and Java. After delivering the Red Cross supplies, AWA MARU, travelling under a safe passage guarantee, was returning to Japan when she was sunk mistakenly in foggy weather by an American submarine.

Builder: Mitsubishi, Nagasaki .
Year Completed: 1941-1943
Displacement: 11,249-11,708 GRT
Dimensions: Length 497.2', beam 65.6', draft ?
Propulsion: Mitsubishi diesel engines, 2 shafts, 16,141 bhp, 20.8 knots.