NIPPON MARU-Class IJA Hospital Ship/IJN Transport

(Sister AMERICA MARU, prewar)

This three-ship class consisted of NIPPON, AMERICA and HONG KONG MARUs, all completed in 1898. NIPPON and HONG KONG MARUs were scrapped prewar. AMERICA MARU saw service with the IJN in WW1 as an armed merchant cruiser, with the IJA as a hospital ship in the Second Sino-Japanese War and WW2, and with the IJN as a troop transport. In Mar ‘44, AMERICA MARU was torpedoed and sunk NNW of Saipan by American submarine.

Builders and Year Completed:	C. S. Swan & Hunter, Ltd, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England and Sir J. Laing & Sons, Ltd, Deptford, England 1898
Gross tonnage:	6,070 to 6,178-tons.
Dimensions:	416.0' x 50.6' x 32.6'
Propulsion:	Steam triple reciprocating coupled engines, 1 shaft, 8,109 ihp.
Speed:	12.5 knots cruising, 17 knots maximum
Armament:	AMERICA MARU only. Varied depending on use.