| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Yamafuku Maru |
| Builder | Osaka Iron Works K.K. shipyard inSakurajima |
| Laid down | 1939 |
| Launched | March 1940 |
| Sponsored by | Yamashita Kisen K.K. |
| Completed | 10 July 1940 |
| Acquired | requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 15 May 1941 |
| Stricken | 5 January 1944 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 28 November 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 4,928 long tons (5,007 t) standard |
| Length | 369.8 ft (112.7 m)o/a[1] |
| Beam | 54.1 ft (16.5 m)[1] |
| Draught | 29.2 ft (8.9 m)[1] |
| Propulsion | One steam turbine 3,100 bhp (2,312 kW) and one 1 shaft 2,600 bhp (1,939 kW)[1] |
| Speed | 16knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)[1] |
Yamafuku Maru was an auxiliarytransport ship of theImperial Japanese Navy duringWorld War II. She served primarily as a troop transport and cargo ship during the war.
Yamafuku Maru was laid down in 1939 at theSakurajima shipyard of Osaka Iron Works K.K. at the behest of shipping company, Yamashita Kisen K.K.[2] She was launched in March 1940 and completed 10 July 1940.[2] On 15 May 1941, she was requisitioned as an auxiliary transport by theImperial Japanese Navy and attached to theYokosuka Naval District under Captain Honda Torao Yokosuka withYokosuka as her homeport.[2]
In January 1942, she served as atroop transport in the second echelon of theAmbon invasion force (consisting of transportsYamura Maru,Yamagiri Maru,Kirishima Maru,Hino Maru #5, andKatsuragi Maru) escorted by the 8th Destroyer Division (consisting ofdestroyersAmatsukaze,Tokitsukaze,Yukikaze, andHatsukaze), and minesweepersW-9 andW-11[2] which delivered 5,300 personnel consisting of the Itō Detachment of theImperial Japanese Army (IJA), underMajor GeneralTakeo Itō, comprising the38th Division HQ and the 228th Infantry Regiment, along withmarines from the 1st KureSpecial Naval Landing Force (part of theChina Area Fleet), and two platoons of the Sasebo SNLF underRear Admiral Koichiro Hatakeyama. In May 1942, she participated in theBattle of Midway (Operation "MI") where she was assigned to Miyamoto Sadachika's 16th Minesweeper Unit (along with auxiliary minesweepersTama Maru No. 3,Tama Maru No. 5,Showa Maru No. 7,Showa Maru No. 8; submarine chasersCH-16,CH-17, andCH-18; cargo shipMeiyo Maru; and auxiliary ammunition shipSoya).[2]
On 23 November 1943, she departedYokosuka forTruk as part of convoy No. 3123 with auxiliary transportsShoko Maru andTatsutagawa Maru, IJN transportManju Maru, cargo shipShiganoura Maru, destroyerOite, and auxiliary gunboatChoan Maru No. 2 Go.[2] On 23/24 November, the convoy was unsuccessfully attacked 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) northwest ofHachijo-Jima byUSS Snapper with all torpedoes missing.[2] On 28 November 1943, the convoy was again attacked, this timeUSS Pargo andUSS Snook 500 nautical miles (930 km; 580 mi) northwest ofGuam; the initial attack was unsuccessful.[2]Snook attacked again just before midnight and successfully hit and sankYamafuku Maru with four torpedoes at (18°21′N140°08′E / 18.350°N 140.133°E /18.350; 140.133) with 60 men lost.[2] On 5 January 1944, she was struck from the Navy List.[2]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1943 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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