Asama Maru
Encyclopedia
The was a Japan
ese ocean liner
owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha
. The ship was built in 1927-1929 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.
at Nagasaki, Japan
.
The Asama Maru was built for the trans-Pacific Orient-California fortnightly service; and she was characterized as "The Queen of the Sea." Principal ports-of-call included Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe, Yokohama, Honolulu, Los Angeles & San Francisco. On her fourth voyage from Yokohama to SanFrancisco, the speed of the ship's crossing surpassed the previous record.
The vessel was created as a twin of the Tatsuta Maru
; and both ships were named after important Shinto shrines.
The 16,975-ton vessel had a length of 583 feet (178 m), and her beam was 71 feet (22 m). The ship had 4 diesel motors, two funnels, two masts, quadruple screws and an average speed of 21-knots. The Asama Maru was the first Japanese passenger liner to be propelled by diesel engines.
The ocean liner provided accommodation for 222 first-class passengers and for 96 second class passengers. There was also room for up to 504 third-class passengers. The ship and passengers were served by a crew of 330.
light cruiser
HMS Liverpool
35 miles (56.3 km) from the coast of Niijima on January 21, 1940. Alerted to reports that Axis sailors in the United States
were preparing to arrange transport to Germany, the British Government had authorised the C-in-C, China Station
to direct a warship to detain certain passengers providing the coast of Japan was not within sight. The Liverpool removed 21 of the ship's passengers believed to be survivors of the scuttled German liner Columbus
. The Government of Japan condemned it as an abuse of belligerent rights and formally protested the action, which further escalated tensions between the two countries.
In 1941 the ship became a troopship
for the Imperial Japanese Navy
.
In the summer of 1942, it was used in the repatriation
of the prewar diplomatic staffs of Japan and the Allied nations, the exchange taking place at what is now Maputo
.
In transporting Allied
prisoners, it was amongst those vessels which earned the epithet "hell ship
s."
On November 1, 1944, Asama Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine
USS Atule
in the South China Sea
100 miles (160.9 km) south of the island of Pratas.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha
Nippon Yusen
Japan-based or NYK Line, is one of the largest shipping companies in the world. It is a core Mitsubishi company. The company has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo.-1870-1900:...
. The ship was built in 1927-1929 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
at Nagasaki, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The Asama Maru was built for the trans-Pacific Orient-California fortnightly service; and she was characterized as "The Queen of the Sea." Principal ports-of-call included Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe, Yokohama, Honolulu, Los Angeles & San Francisco. On her fourth voyage from Yokohama to SanFrancisco, the speed of the ship's crossing surpassed the previous record.
The vessel was created as a twin of the Tatsuta Maru
Tatsuta Maru
The , also known as Tatuta Maru after 1938, was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1927-1930 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan....
; and both ships were named after important Shinto shrines.
History
The first passenger liner built by NYK was Asama Maru. The ship was built by Mitsubishi at Nagasaki on the southern island of Kyushu. The Asama Maru was launched on October 30, 1927. She left Yokohama on September 15, 1929 on her maiden voyage to California.The ocean liner provided accommodation for 222 first-class passengers and for 96 second class passengers. There was also room for up to 504 third-class passengers. The ship and passengers were served by a crew of 330.
Pacific War
Before Japan's entry into the Second World War she was intercepted by the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
HMS Liverpool
HMS Liverpool (C11)
HMS Liverpool , named after the port city of Liverpool in north-west England, was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy in service from 1938 to 1952....
35 miles (56.3 km) from the coast of Niijima on January 21, 1940. Alerted to reports that Axis sailors in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were preparing to arrange transport to Germany, the British Government had authorised the C-in-C, China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
to direct a warship to detain certain passengers providing the coast of Japan was not within sight. The Liverpool removed 21 of the ship's passengers believed to be survivors of the scuttled German liner Columbus
SS Columbus (1924)
The Columbus, laid down before the start of World War I, was originally to be named Hindenburg. However, her then-sister, originally named Columbus, was handed over to the White Star Line after the war as part of reparations in 1920. The Allies allowed the Norddeutscher Lloyd , her owners, to keep...
. The Government of Japan condemned it as an abuse of belligerent rights and formally protested the action, which further escalated tensions between the two countries.
In 1941 the ship became a troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
.
In the summer of 1942, it was used in the repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
of the prewar diplomatic staffs of Japan and the Allied nations, the exchange taking place at what is now Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
.
In transporting Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prisoners, it was amongst those vessels which earned the epithet "hell ship
Hell Ship
A hell ship is a ship with extremely unpleasant living conditions or with a reputation for cruelty among the crew. It now generally refers to the ships used by the Imperial Japanese Navy to transport Allied prisoners of war out of the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore during World War II. The...
s."
On November 1, 1944, Asama Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
USS Atule
USS Atule (SS-403)
USS Atule , a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the atule.Her keel was laid down on 25 November 1943 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Atule was launched on 6 March 1944 sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Louise Kauffman, the daughter of...
in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
100 miles (160.9 km) south of the island of Pratas.
External links
- Shiplover: color image
- DerbySulzer: sepia image of ship aground at Hong Kong, 1937