Terukuni Maru-class ocean liner

The Terukuni Maru-class ocean liner (照國丸型貨客船,) was a class of ocean liners of Japan, serving during the 1930s, and into World War II.

Background

 * In 1925, the Swedish American Line constructed the passenger liner MS Kungsholm. The Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (日本郵船,) was concerned about the MS Kungsholms construction.
 * In 1927–28, the NYK Line placed an order for eight ocean liners to reinforce the Japan–Seattle route (3 × Hikawa Maru class), Japan–San Francisco route (3 × Asama Maru class), and Japan–London route (2 × Terukuni Maru class). The Terukuni Maru class were named the Terukuni Maru (照國丸) and Yasukuni Maru (靖國丸).

Terukuni Maru

 * 9 January 1929: Laid Down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki Shipyard.
 * 19 December 1929: Launched.
 * 31 May 1930: Completed.
 * 30 June 1930: Maiden voyage for Yokohama–London.
 * (after): She sailed 24 times until September 1939.
 * 24 September 1939: The 25th sailing to London.
 * 19 November 1939: Arrived off South Downs. She anchored here till minesweeping of the River Thames by Royal Navy was over.
 * 08:30, 21 November 1939: Weigh anchor.
 * 12:53: She struck a naval mine at 51.83333°N, 1.5°W.
 * 13:35: Sunk.

The wreck lay on its side, partly submerged and visible to wartime shipping in the Thames Estuary area.

Yasukuni Maru

 * 22 April 1929: Laid Down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki Shipyard.
 * 15 February 1930: Launched.
 * 31 August 1930: Completed.
 * 22 September 1930: Maiden voyage for Yokohama–London.
 * (after): She sailed many times until October 1939.
 * 25 October 1939: Enlisted by the Navy. Classification to the Auxiliary transport.
 * 11 December 1939: Discharged.
 * 29 October 1940: Enlisted by the Navy. 30 October, armament fitted in Kure Naval Arsenal.
 * 16 December 1940: Classification to the Auxiliary submarine tender.
 * 11 January 1941: Fitting out was completed, and assigned to the 1st Submarine Division, 6th Fleet.
 * 20 December 1941: Assigned to the 3rd Submarine Division, 6th Fleet.
 * 1 February 1942: Bombed by Task Force 8 (USS Enterprise (CV-6)) at Kwajalein.
 * 1 March 1942: Arrived at Kure Naval Arsenal and repairs were started.
 * 23 April 1942: Repairs were completed. Sailed to Truk and Kwajalein.
 * 15 September 1943: Assigned to the 6th Fleet.
 * 31 January 1944: Sunk by USS Trigger at northwest off Truk 9.25°N, 147.21667°W.
 * 10 March 1944: Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.