SS Yoshida Maru

The Yoshida Maru (吉田丸) 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.

The 2,921-ton vessel had a length of 310 feet (93 m), and her beam was 45 feet (13.8 m). The single turbine, single screw propulsion produced an average speed of 11 kn.

World War II
Yoshida Maru was requisitioned as an auxiliary gunboat/minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was armed with 3 guns of 12 cm and machineguns. On 1 October, 1943 reregistered as an auxiliary transport. On 18 January 1944, she was sunk by the submarine USS Flasher at 140 miles west-southwest of Minami-Tori-shima, 23.83333°N, 151.46667°W with the loss of 76 passengers, eight crewmen and 15 gunners.