 Japanese auxiliary minesweeperBanshu Maru No. 52 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Banshu Maru No. 52 |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Zosen Kobe Zosensho |
| Laid down | 4 September 1921 |
| Launched | 5 November 1921 |
| Sponsored by | Hayashikane Shoten |
| Completed | 28 November 1921 |
| Acquired | requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 15 October 1940 |
| Decommissioned | 31 March 1944 |
| Stricken | 5 February 1942 |
| Identification | 28262 |
| Fate | Sunk after hitting mine, 20 January 1942 |
| Notes |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 234 GRT |
| Length | 37.19 m (122 ft 0 in)o/a[1] |
| Beam | 6.93 m (22 ft 9 in)[1] |
| Draught | 3.96 m (13 ft 0 in)[1] |
| Installed power | 550 bhp (410 kW)[1] |
Banshu Maru No. 52 (Japanese: 第五十二播州丸) was an auxiliaryminesweeper of theImperial Japanese Navy duringWorld War II.[2]
She waslaid down on 4 September 1921 at theKobe shipyard of Mitsubishi Zosen Kobe Zosensho at the behest of shipping company, Hayashikane Shoten[3] asBanshu Maru No.2.[2] She was launched on 5 November 1921 and completed 28 November 1921.[3] Registered in the port ofShimonoseki, she operated as afishing trawler.[2] On 14 September 1939, she was renamedBanshu Maru No. 52.[2] On 15 October 1940, she was requisitioned by theImperial Japanese Navy and converted to an auxiliaryminesweeper under Reserve Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Kubo Tadahiko (久保忠彦)[3] and assigned to Auxiliary Minesweeper division 3 (AM Div 3).[2] Kubo served until 1 December 1941 when he was replaced by Reserve Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Uchida Shoji (内田正二) and assigned to Auxiliary Minesweeper division 46 (AM Div 46),Bako Guard District.[3] On 24 December 1941, she departedSasebo, Nagasaki forMagong, Taiwan and then on toSubic Bay arriving on 17 January 1942.[2] She commenced mine sweeping activities in Subic Bay during theBattle of Bataan despite facing artillery fire from the shore.[2] GunboatsAso Maru (阿蘇丸) and Nampo Maru (南浦丸) were assigned to the area to suppress additional fire and allow the minesweeper to continue with its activities.[2]
On 20 January 1942, she struck a mine and sank inSubic Bay,Luzon,Philippines (14°45′N120°17′E / 14.750°N 120.283°E /14.750; 120.283).[2][3] She was removed from the Navy List on 5 February 1942.[2][3] Her wreck is a popular dive site.[4]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in January 1942 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
 | This article about a specific military ship or boat of Japan is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
