Japanese aircraft carrier Akitsu Maru
Encyclopedia
Akitsu Maru (あきつ丸) was a Japanese
escort aircraft carrier
operated by the Imperial Japanese Army
. In some sources Akitsu Maru and her sister ship Nigitsu Maru are also considered to be the first amphibious assault ship
s.
. The ship was fitted with a flight deck above the hull, but had no hangar so the aircraft were stored below the flight deck on the original main deck. Conventional aircraft were able to fly off from her deck but could not land aboard: circumstances prevented her or any of the army's other ships being provided with a deck-landing capability. It is said that the ship also operated autogyros. In addition, she could carry 27 Daihatsu class landing craft
.
Akitsu Marus planned role was to provide aircover during amphibious and landing operations; in practice the ship and her sister ship the Nigitsu Maru were essentially aircraft ferries.
, was torpedoed off the entrance to Manila Bay
by the United States submarine
Crevalle (SS-291)
. The Crevalle incorrectly reported the Akitsu Maru as sunk. The Akitsu Maru was sunk by the submarine Queenfish (SS-393)
on 15 November 1944.
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
escort aircraft carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
operated by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. In some sources Akitsu Maru and her sister ship Nigitsu Maru are also considered to be the first amphibious assault ship
Amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
s.
Design features
Akitsu Maru was a passenger liner taken over before completion by the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. The ship was fitted with a flight deck above the hull, but had no hangar so the aircraft were stored below the flight deck on the original main deck. Conventional aircraft were able to fly off from her deck but could not land aboard: circumstances prevented her or any of the army's other ships being provided with a deck-landing capability. It is said that the ship also operated autogyros. In addition, she could carry 27 Daihatsu class landing craft
Daihatsu class landing craft
The Daihatsu Class or 14m landing craft was a type of landing craft, used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It was similar to the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel , with a bow ramp that was lowered to disembark cargo upon riding up onto the beach...
.
Akitsu Marus planned role was to provide aircover during amphibious and landing operations; in practice the ship and her sister ship the Nigitsu Maru were essentially aircraft ferries.
Fate
On Thursday 18 November 1943 Akitsu Maru, while in company with large torpedo boat TomozuruJapanese torpedo boat Tomozuru
was one of four s of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She capsized in a storm on March 12, 1934, shortly after her completion. This incident forced the IJN to review the stability of all recently completed, under construction and planned ships. She was salvaged and put back into service after extensive...
, was torpedoed off the entrance to Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
by the United States 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...
Crevalle (SS-291)
USS Crevalle (SS-291)
USS Crevalle , a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the crevalle, the yellow mackerel, a food fish, found on both coasts of tropical America, and in the Atlantic as far north as Cape Cod...
. The Crevalle incorrectly reported the Akitsu Maru as sunk. The Akitsu Maru was sunk by the submarine Queenfish (SS-393)
USS Queenfish (SS-393)
USS Queenfish , a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the queenfish, a small food fish found off the Pacific coast of North America....
on 15 November 1944.