Yamato Maru Class Transport

Yamato Maru prewar

In 1915, the Italian-built passenger-cargo ship GIUSEPPE VERDI was completed for the Transatlantica Italiana (TI) Societa Anonima Di Navigazione, Genoa. Her sister was passenger-cargo ship DANTE ALIGHIERI. In '28, GIUSEPPE VERDI was purchased by Kinkai Yusen, K. K of Tokyo and renamed YAMATO MARU. In '39, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line of Tokyo acquired Kinkai Yusen and YAMATO MARU. In '43, YAMATO MARU was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine.

In '15, DANTE ALIGHIERI was also completed for the Transatlantica Italiana. In '28, DANTE ALIGHIERI also was acquired by Kinkai Yusen and renamed ASAHI MARU. In '39, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line of Tokyo acquired Kinkai Yusen and ASAHI MARU. In '37, she was requisitioned by the IJN and converted to hospital ship at Kure. In '44, she collided with an oiler in the Inland Sea and was abandoned as a constructive total loss.

Builder: Societa Esercizio Bacini
Year Completed: 1915
Displacement: 9,655 GRT
Dimensions: Length O/A 503.7', beam 59.5', draft 37.3'
Propulsion: Steam, quadruple expansion engines, 2 shafts, 16 knots.