RIKUGUN BYOINSEN

Stories of Imperial Army Hospital Ships

4 March 2017

By Bob Hackett

with Erich Muehlthaler and Peter Cundall

(TACOMA MARU, prewar by I. Ohkubo)


The Japanese never constructed purpose-built hospital ships (Byoinsen), but before and during the Pacific War, they requisitioned 19 merchant ships and had them converted. In accordance with the Geneva Convention, Japan declared these ships as hospital ships. They were painted white overall and bore large red crosses on their decks and funnels that were illuminated at night. They also bore large red crosses amidships on both their port and starboard sides. Additionally, a green band was painted around the full length of their hulls.

The Imperial Army operated at least 20 hospital ships, many of which, during the Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars, served alternatively as troop transports and hospital ships. In their troop transport role, most were armed, painted overall dark grey, but some were given a camouflage pattern and from Jun '44 others were repainted in two tones of green and steamed in convoys.

Tabular Records of Movement:
Rikugun Byoinsen - Auxiliary Hospital Ships
(Classes link to specifications summaries)


BUENOS AIRES
MARU
Class

Buenos Aires Maru
(posted 4/6/2012)
URAL
MARU
Class

Ural Maru
(posted 6/2/2012)

TACHIBANA
MARU
Class

Tachibana Maru
(revised 4/16/2011)

SIBERIA
MARU
Class

Siberia Maru
(revised 11/1/2014)

HAWAII
MARU
Class

Arabia Maru
revised 8/1/2014)

FUSO
MARU
Class

Fuso Maru
(revised 10/8/2012)

TACOMA
MARU
Class

Seattle Maru
(revised 11/1/2013)
Chicago Maru

(revised 12/1/2014)

MANILA
MARU
Class

Manila Maru
(posted 2/2/2013)

MIZUHO
MARU
Class

Mizuho Maru
(revised 9/1/2014)

YOSHINO
MARU
Class

Yoshino Maru
(revised 11/1/2013)

ASOSAN
MARU
Class

Arimasan Maru
(revised 7/1/2013)

MAYA
MARU
Class

Mikasa Maru
(revised 9/1/2014)

NIPPON
MARU
Class

America Maru
(revised 12/1/2014)

BAIKAL
MARU
Class

Baikal Maru
(revised 9/1/2014)

RAKUTO
MARU
Class

Ryuko Maru
(revised 9/1/14)

NAMINOUE
MARU
Class

Naminoue Maru
(revised 9/1/2014)

AKIURA
MARU
Class

Kazuura Maru
(posted 1 June 2015)

HAGUE
MARU
Class

Hokushin
(ex-Honolulu)
Maru
(posted 1 July 2016)

TAIEI
MARU
Class

Taiei Maru
(revised 3/4/2017)

KONAN
MARU
Class

Kohoku Maru
(posted 11/1/2016)

HARBIN
MARU
Class

Harbin Maru
(posted 3/1/2017)



Bibliography of Sources

About the Authors

Bob Hackett is a military historian and researcher. Retired from the United States Air Force and later from the aerospace industry, he resides on the coast of Florida.

Erich Muehlthaler is a maritime historian and researcher. He resides in Germany.

Peter Cundall is a maritime historian and researcher who specializes in merchant ships. He resides in Australia.

Questions to the authors concerning these TROMs should be posted on the Discussion and Questions board.

Discussion & Questions