Part of Lists of Prisoner-of-War Camps section in the Prisoner-of-war camp

Prisoner-of-war camp

A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...

 article.

The List of Japanese hell ships encompasses those vessels used for transporting Allied prisoners of war during the Pacific War

Pacific War

The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...

.

Select list

The names of the Japanese 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 used during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 includes some variants which are different names referring to the same ship.

• Aki Maru (Japanese Kyūjitai: 安藝丸, Shinjitai
  Shinjitai
  Shinjitai are the forms of kanji used in Japan since the promulgation of the Tōyō Kanji List in 1946. Some of the new forms found in shinjitai are also found in simplified Chinese, but shinjitai is generally not as extensive in the scope of its modification...
  
  : 安芸丸)
• Akikase
• Akitsuki
• Amagi Maru
• Anami Maru
• Aramis
• Argentina Maru ^‡
• Arisan Maru
  Arisan Maru
  A 6,886-ton freighter, Arisan Maru was destined to become one of Imperial Japan's World War II hell ships.On October 24, 1944, Arisan Maru was transporting 1,782 US and Allied POWs together with about fifty allied civilians when she was hit by a torpedo strike from an American submarine , at about...
  
  - sunk by USS Snook (SS-279)
  USS Snook (SS-279)
  USS Snook , a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the common snook, an Atlantic marine fish that is bluish-gray above and silvery below a black lateral line....
  
   24 October 1944.
• Asaka Maru
• Asama Maru
  Asama Maru
  The was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1927-1929 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan....
  
  - sunk by USS Atule (SS-403)
  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...
  
   1 November 1944.^≠
• Awa Maru
  Awa Maru (1943)
  The was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1941-1943 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan...
  
  ^≠ - sunk by USS 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....
  
   1 April 1945

• Benjo Maru
• Brazil Maru^‡-bombed 15 December 1944
• Burong

• Canadian Inventor
• Canadian Prince
• Celebes Maru

• Chichibu Maru
  Chichibu Maru
  The was a Japanese passenger ship which, renamed Kamakura Maru, was sunk during World World II, killing 2,035 soldiers and civilians on board....
  
  - sunk by USS Gudgeon
  USS Gudgeon
  Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Gudgeon, named in honor of the gudgeon.*Gudgeon was a Tambor-class submarine, commissioned in 1941 and lost in 1944...
  
   28 April 1943
• Cho Saki Maru
• Chuka Maru^‡
• Chuyo - sunk by USS Sailfish (SS-192)
  USS Sailfish (SS-192)
  USS Sailfish , a , was originally named Squalus.Her keel was laid on 18 October 1937 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, as Squalus, the only ship of the United States Navy named for the squalus. She was launched on 14 September 1938 sponsored by Mrs. Thomas C...
  
   4 December 1943
• Clyde Maru
• Coastal Craft
• Coral Maru

• Dai Moji Maru
• Dai Nichi Maru
• Daikeku Maru
• Dainichi Maru
  Dainichi Maru
  Dainichi Maru is the name of several ships:*SS Dainichi Maru, a Japanese hell ship in the Second World War*SS Dainichi Maru, a refrigerated cargo ship used as a shellfish cannery from 1962-68...
  
  
• DeKlerk

• England Maru
• Enoshima Maru
• Enoura Maru
• Enuri Maru
• Erie Maru
• Ex-British Ship

• France Maru
• Fuji Maru^‡
• Fukkai Maru
• Fuku Maru
• Fukuji Maru
• Fukuju Maru

• Hakuroku Maru
• Hakusan Maru - sunk by USS Flier 4 June 1944
• Hakushika Maru
• Haru Maru
• Harukiku Maru (治菊丸, Ex-Dutch Ship Van Warweijk) - sunk by HMS Truculent
  HMS Truculent (P315)
  HMS Truculent was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P315 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 12 September 1942.-Service:...
  
   26 June 1944. 180 of 720 POW and 27 of 55 Japanese troops killed.
• Haruyasa Maru
• Hawaii Maru (はわい丸, Hawai Maru)
• Heiyo Maru
• Hioki Maru
• Hiyoki Maru
• Hofuku Maru
  Hofuku Maru
  The Hofuku Maru was a Japanese cargo ship, which was sunk on September 21, 1944 by American planes, carrying 1,289 British and Dutch POW's. 1,047 of them lost their lives....
  
  sunk 21 September 1943
• Hokko Maru
• Hokusen Maru (北鮮丸)
• Horror Maru
• Hozan Maru

• Ikoma Maru
• Ikuta Maru
• Interisland Steamer

• Junyō Maru
  Junyo Maru
  The was a Japanese cargo ship that was sunk in 1944 by the British submarine , resulting in the loss of over 5,000 lives.The ship was built in 1913 by Robert Duncan Co. Glasgow. It displaced 5,065 tons, was long, wide, and deep. The engines were rated at...
  
  - torpedoed with loss of over 5,000 lives including 1300 POW.

• Kachidoki Maru - sunk by USS Pampanito (SS-383)
  USS Pampanito (SS-383)
  USS Pampanito , a Balao-class submarine, was a United States Navy ship, the only one named for a variety of the pompano fish . She completed six war patrols from 1944 to 1945 and served as a Naval Reserve Training ship from 1960 to 1971...
  
   12 September 1944
• Kaishun Maru
• Kaiun Maru
• Kakko Maru
• Kalgan Maru
• Kamakura Maru-sunk by USS Gudgeon (SS-211)
  USS Gudgeon (SS-211)
  USS Gudgeon , a Tambor-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the gudgeon). Her keel was laid down by the Mare Island Navy Yard. She was launched on 25 January 1941, sponsored by Mrs. William S. Pye, and commissioned on 21 April 1941 with Lieutenant Commander...
  
   28 April 1943
• Kamikase
• Kenkon Maru (乾坤丸)
• Kenwa Maru
• Kenzan Maru
• Kibitzu Maru
• King Kong Maru
• Kohho Maru
• Kokusei Maru
• Konosue Maru
• Koryu Maru
• Kōshū Maru^‡
• Kuala
  Kuala
  Kuala is a town and subdistrict of Langkat Regency. It borders Selesai to the north, Salapian to the west, and Sei Bingai to the south and east. Most people in Kuala are Javanese people, with a significant Karo population...
  
  
• Kunishima Maru
• Kurimata Maru
• Kyokko Maru
• Kyokusei Maru

• Lima Maru^≠
• Lisbon Maru
  Lisbon Maru
  Lisbon Maru was a Japanese freighter which was used as a troopship and prisoner-of-war transport between China and Japan.When she was sunk by USS Grouper on 1 October 1942, she was carrying, in addition to Japanese Army personnel, almost 2,000 British prisoners of war captured after the fall of...
  
  (りすぼん丸, Risubon Maru)^≠

• Maebashi Maru (前橋丸, Maebashi Maru)
• Makassar Maru
• Margaret
• Maros Maru
• Maru Go (5)
• Maru Hachi (8)
• Maru Ichi (1)
• Maru Ni (2)
• Maru No. 760
• Maru Roku
• Maru San (3)
• Maru Shi (4)
• Maru Shichi (7)
• Mati Mati Maru
• Matsu Maru
• Matti Matti Maru
• Maya Maru
• Mayebassi Maru
• Melbourne Maru^‡
• Mishima Maru
• Miyo Maru
• Moji Maru
• Montevideo Maru
  Montevideo Maru
  The Montevideo Maru was a Japanese auxiliary ship that was sunk in World War II, resulting in the drowning of a large number of Australian prisoners of war and civilians being transported from Rabaul...
  
  (もんてびでお丸, Montebideo Maru)

• Nagara Maru
• Nagata Maru
  Nagata Maru
  The was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Tokyo. The ship was went into service in 1937.The name Nagata Maru derives from Nagata jinja, a Shinto shrine in Nagata Ward, Kobe, Japan.-History:...
  
  
• Nagato Maru
• Nanshin Maru
• Naruto Maru
• Natoru Maru
• Nichimei Maru
• Nishi Maru
• Nissyo Maru
• Nitikoku Maru
• Nitimei Maru
• Nitta Maru
  Nitta Maru
  The was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1938-1940 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan...
  
  ^≠
• No. 1 Yoshida Maru
  Yoshida Maru
  The was a Japanese cargo ship owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1941 by Hakodate Dock at Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaidō.-History:The Yoshida Maru was built at Hakodate; and she left port in August 1941 on her maiden voyage....
  
  ^≠
• No. 2 Hikawa Maru
  Hikawa Maru
  is a Japanese ocean liner that was built for the Nippon Yusen KK line by the Yokohama Dock Company. She was launched on 30 September 1929, and made her maiden voyage from Kobe to Seattle on 13 May 1930. She is one of three sister ships. The sister ships were named after important Shinto shrines,...
  
  ^≠
• No. 6 Kotobuki Maru
• No. 7 Hoshi Maru
• No. 17 Nanshin Maru
• No. 86
• No. 824
• Noto Maru

• Oite
• Op ten Noort
• Oryoki Maru
• Oryokko Maru
• Oryoku Maru
  Oryoku Maru
  was a Japanese passenger cargo ship. In World War II, Oryoku Maru was used as a troop transport and prisoners of war transport ship . She left Manila on December 13, 1944, with 1620 POWs, mostly American, packed in the holds. 1900 Japanese civilians & military personnel occupied the cabins...
  
  
• OSK Ferry
• Otaro Maru
• Oyo Maru

• Pacific Maru
• Panama Maru
• Potomac
• President Harrison

• Raihei Maru
• Rakuyo Maru (樂洋丸・楽洋丸)
• Rashin Maru (羅津丸)
• Rendsberg
• Rio de Janeiro Maru
• Roko Maru^‡
• Rokyo Maru^‡
• Ryūkyū Maru^‡

• Samurusan Maru
• San Diego Maru
• Sandakan Steamer
• Sanko Maru
• Seikyo Maru
• Sekiho Maru
• Shinsei Maru
• Shinyo Maru
  Shinyo Maru
  Shinyo Maru was a Japanese Cargo steamer during the Second World War. She was one of the hell ships, used to transport prisoners of war. She had served under a number of other names under a long career.-Career:...
  
  
• Shinyu Maru
• Shoun Maru
• Sibijac
• Singapore Maru
• Singoto Maru
• Soong Cheong
• SS Subuk
• Suez Maru
• Sugi Maru
• Suzuya Maru

• Tachibana Maru
• Taga Maru
• Taian Maru
• Taiko Maru
• Taikoku Maru
• Taka Maru
• Tamahoko Maru
• Tango Maru
  Tango Maru
  On February 25, 1944, the 6,200 ton cargo vessel Tango Maru, crammed with 3,500 Javanese labourers and hundreds of Allied POWs, was traveling between Java and Ambon. The American submarine USS Rasher sank the ship with three torpedo hits...
  
  
• Tanjong Penang
• 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....
  
  ^≠
• Tattori Maru
• Tatu Maru
• Teia Maru (帝亞丸・帝亜丸)
• Tenshin Maru
• Thames Maru
• Tiensen
• Toendjoek
• Tojuku Maru
• Toka Maru
• Toko Maru
• Tomohoku Maru
• Tone
• Toro Maru
• Tottori Maru
• Toyama Maru
  Toyama Maru
  Toyama Maru was a 7,089-ton Japanese troop transport during World War II. On June 29, 1944, Toyama Maru was transporting over 6,000 men of the Japanese 44th Independent Mixed Brigade when she was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Sturgeon...
  
  
• Toyofuku Maru
• Toyohashi Maru
• Trading Vessel
• Treasure
• Tufuku Maru

• Ube Maru
• Ume Maru
• Umeda Maru
• Unyo
• Uruppu Maru
• Ussuri Maru
• Usu Maru

• Van Waerwijck

• Wales Maru
• Weills Maru
• Winchester Maru

• Yamagata Maru
• Yashu Maru
• Yinagata Maru
• Yone Maru
• Yoshida Maru
  Yoshida Maru
  The was a Japanese cargo ship owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1941 by Hakodate Dock at Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaidō.-History:The Yoshida Maru was built at Hakodate; and she left port in August 1941 on her maiden voyage....
  
  ^≠
• Yubi Maru
• Yuzan Maru

_______________

• ‡ Formerly in the fleet of O.S.K. Lines
• ≠ Formerly in the fleet of N.Y.K Lines