SS Gyōkū Maru

Gyōkū Maru (暁空丸) was a cargo ship that was laid down 6 December, 1941 as Empire Dragon by Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co Ltd, Hong Kong for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was seized by the Japanese on 26 December, 1941 with the fall of Hong Kong and completed as Gyōkū Maru in August, 1943, serving until September 1944 when she was torpedoed and sunk by USS Thresher (SS-200) in the Yellow Sea.

Description
The ship was laid down in 1941 by Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co Ltd, Hong Kong.

The ship was 430 ft long, with a beam of 57 ft. She was assessed at.

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.

History
Empire Dragon was laid down on 6 December 1941. On 26 December, 1941, she was seized by the Japanese in an incomplete state and completed as Gyōkū Maru in August, 1943. and placed in IJA service.

On 22 August 1944, she was part of Convoy Namo 103 carrying evacuating civilians from Okinawa and attacked by USS Bowfin. The fellow ship Tsushima Maru was sunk, but Gyōkū Maru escaped.

On 18 September 1944, Gyōkū Maru was torpedoed and sunk by USS Thresher (SS-200) in the Yellow Sea (35.03333°N, 124.4°W). 1,546 civilian refugees were drowned.