Japanese seaplane tender Kimikawa Maru

Kimikawa Maru was a seaplane tender of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The ship was built by the Kawasaki Dockyard Co. at Kobe as a cargo ship for Kawasaki Kisen K. K. line. In July 1941 the ship was taken over by the IJN and converted into an auxiliary seaplane tender. She was able to operate six Aichi E13A "Jake" floatplanes. She operated in northern waters including the capture of Kiska and Attu Island. She was re-rated a converted transport (Miscellaneous) on 1 October 1943. After conversion the ship operated in the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. On 23 October 1944 she was sunk by USS Sawfish (SS-276) in the South China Sea north north west of Cape Bojeador, Luzon, Philippines (18.96667°N, 118.66667°W).