 Unyo Maru No. 2 prior to the Pacific War | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Unyo Maru No. 2 |
| Owner | Nakamura Kisen K.K. |
| Port of registry | Kobe, Japan |
| Builder | Mitsui Bussan Kaisha K.K.,Tamano |
| Yard number | 232[1] |
| Laid down | 22 March 1937 |
| Launched | 25 July 1937 |
| Completed | 6 August 1937 |
| In service | 1937–1941 |
| Fate | Requisitioned by theImperial Japanese Navy as anauxiliarytransport ship, 2 November 1941 |
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Unyo Maru No. 2 |
| Operator | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Acquired | 2 November 1941 |
| In service | 1941 |
| Homeport | Yokosuka, Japan |
| Fate | Sunk by Dutch bombers offKuching, 26 December 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 2,827 gross register tons (GRT) |
| Length | 94 m (308 ft)between perpendiculars |
| Beam | 13.7 m (45 ft) |
| Draught | 7.2 m (24 ft) |
| Installed power | 1,900 bhp (1,400 kW) |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft,triple-expansion steam engine |
| Speed |
|
| Armament | Unknown |
Unyo Maru No. 2 was a Japanesecargo ship.Launched in 1937, the ship was requisitioned by theImperial Japanese Navy in November 1941, a month before the outbreak of thePacific War. The ship was assigned as atransport and took part in thelandings at Sarawak and Kuching, delivering supplies and equipment. On 26 December 1941, while offKuching,Unyo Maru No. 2 was attacked byDutch Air Force bombers; the cargo ship was sunk with the loss of eight crew aboard.
Unyo Maru No. 2 was constructed inTamano byMitsui Bussan K.K for her owners, Nakamura Kisen K.K.[1][2] The cargo ship measured 2,827 gross register tons (GRT) and featured a length of 94 m (308 ft)between perpendiculars, abeam of 13.7 m (45 ft), and adraft of 23.6 ft (7.2 m).[3]Unyo Maru No. 2 could sail at a cruising speed of 11knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) and a maximum speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), and was powered by a 1,900brake horsepower (1,400 kW)triple-expansion steam engine.[3] The cargo ship waslaid down on 22 March 1937,launched on 25 July, and was completed and registered inKobe on 6 August.[1]
Unyo Maru No. 2 was requisitioned by theImperial Japanese Navy on 2 November 1941, just over a month before the outbreak of thePacific War.[1] She began a 20-day military conversion atYokosuka Naval Yard on 6 November and was ultimately registered with the navy on 10 November.[1]Unyo Maru No. 2 was assigned to theYokosuka Naval District as anauxiliary transport ship on 26 November 1941, but it almost immediately sailed forIndochina to take part in theinvasion of Borneo.[1]
On 13 December 1941, the invasion force departed fromCam Ranh Bay, Indochina to attackSarawak.[1] The naval forces, commanded byVice AdmiralNobutake Kondō, escorted thearmy group underGeneralHisaichi Terauchi.[1]Unyo Maru No. 2, carrying equipment and supplies for the naval force, arrived atLutong on 15 December and stayed there for the remainder of the invasion, which succeeded without much resistance from the British defenders.[1] On 22 December, the main body of the Japanese naval force, includingUnyo Maru No. 2, disembarked Japanese troops atMiri and sailed forKuching to commence the second phase of the invasion of Borneo.[1] The convoy arrived off Kuching two days later and supported the attack on the town, all the while being harassed by Dutch bombers and submarines.[1] During one such attack, a bombing raid by threeDutch Air ForceMartin B-10 bombers on 26 December,Unyo Maru No. 2 was set on fire by bombs and sunk, killing eight crewmen.[1] The cargo ship was struck from thenavy list on 15 January 1942.[1]
