RIKUGUN-SEN

Stories and Battle Histories of Selected Imperial Army Vessels

25 November 2017

By Bob Hackett

with Erich Muehlthaler, Sander Kingsepp, Peter Cundall and Gilbert Casse


(LISBON MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)



Just as the Imperial Japanese Navy requisitioned and operated some of Japan's merchant fleet's former cargo, passenger-cargo, liners and tankers prior to and during the Pacific War, the Imperial Army also followed the same practice. The Army's requisitioned vessels were converted to military use and became IJA transports including some purpose-fitted as AA transports, tankers and hospital ships. The IJA designed purpose-built landing craft depot ships and also converted transports to this use. The IJA also operated a purpose-built crane ship to transport turrets of old disarmed battleships to various coastal defense locations. Many other Army's requisitioned vessels were given other wartime roles.


IJA Auxiliary Transports
IJA Auxiliary Anti-Aircraft transports
IJA Auxiliary Hospital Ships
IJA Auxiliary Tankers
IJA Landing Craft Depot Ships
IJA Escort Carrier
IJA Crane Ship


Bibliography of Sources

About the Authors

Mr. Robert 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.

Mr. Sander Kingsepp, a native of Estonia, is also a military historian and researcher. A talented linguist, Sander's translations of Japanese source materials have greatly enhanced these TROMs.

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

Mr. Gilbert Casse is a maritime historian and researcher. Retired from aerospace industry, and later from managing Le Mans racing cars and drivers, his avocation is ship modeling, maritime photos and paintings. He resides on the SW coast of France.

Mr. 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