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| USN Carrier 8,416 Tons size armament |
Ship History Built by Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. Nagasaki Zosensho shipyard at Nagasaki. Laid down October 1, 1931 as a high speed cargo ship with a Mitsubishi MS-type diesel engine. Launched July 5, 1932 as Nankai Maru. Completed January 14, 1933 and owned by Osaka Shosen (OSK) K.K. registered in Osaka. During March 1934 departs on her maiden voyage on the OSK Far East to New York service, Outbound the ship called in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Kirun (Keelung), Shanghai, Canton (Guangzhou), Kobe, Ise Bay (Ise Wan), Yokohama, Los Angeles, Cristobal then via the Panama Canal, Puerto Colombia, and New York. Returning the ship called at Hampton Roads, Savannah and homeward bound calls at Cristobal, Los Angeles, Yokohama, Osaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Philippines. Wartime History On August 7, 1941 requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as an Ippan Choyosen. On August 18, 1941 at Sasebo began conversion at Sasebo Naval Yard into a military transport. On October 15, 1941 Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Captain Maki Akira is assigned as a supervisor. On November 10, 1941 registered in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as auxiliary transport (Ko) based at Sasebo and assigned to the Combined Fleet, Third Fleet. On November 27, 1941 the conversion is completed and the next day departs Sasebo bound for Palau. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 24, 1942 departs Rabaul as part of Operation RE the Japanese landing at Milne Bay with Kinai Maru transporting the No. 5 Kure Special Naval Landing Force (No. 5 Kure SNLF) led by Commander Masajiro Hayashi escorted by Tenryū, Tatsuta, destroyers Tanikaze, Urakaze and Hamakaze with subchaser CH-22 and CH-24. On August 25, 1942 in the afternoon the convoy is spotted by a RAAF Hudson near Kitava Island then targeted by twelve P-40E Kittyhawks and a Hudson that bomb and strafe without serious damage. By 11:30pm the convoy enters Milne Bay and Daihatsu landing barges begin to land the SNLF at two locations. Due to dense fog the Japanese land further to the east than planned. On August 26, 1942 in the early morning begins unloading at the "Western Landing Point" to the east of Waga Waga. By dawn, roughly 1,150 SNLF personnel are ashore plus two Type 95 Ha Go tanks. In the morning, the unloading is cut short when P-40 Kittyhawks escorting B-17s bomb the convoy damaging Nankai Maru and Urakaze and the convoy withdraws before unloading is completed. On August 28, 1942 returns to Rabaul. On September 3, 1942 departs Rabaul escorted by light cruisers Tenryū, Tatsuta with destroyer Hamakaze bound for Milne Bay to withdraw the remainder of the Japanese force. On September 5, 1942 withdraws the remaining Japanese and that same day departs for Rabaul returning two days later and undergoes repairs until the end of the month. PARTIAL HISTORY On September 6, 1944 departs Singapore with 525 passengers, 6,500 tons of bauxite, 4,000 gasoline drums, 77 mail parcels and 18 funerary urns bound for Moji in fleet convoy HI-72 with Asama Maru, Rakuyo Maru Zuiho Maru, Shincho Maru and Kachidoki Maru escorted by kaibokan Hirado (flagship) destroyer Shinkanami, Kurahashi, Mikura, CD-11 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-19. On September 11, 1944 in the South China Sea joined by convoy MAMO-03 with Kibitsu Maru, Gokoku Maru and Kagu Maru escorted by minesweeper W-12. Sinking History On September 12, 1944 in the South China Sea east of Hainan Island targeted by a U.S. Navy (USN) wolf pack of submarines. At 3:30pm two torpedoes hit Nankai Maru on the starboard side hitting cargo hold No. 3 and No. 6 fired by USS Sealion (SS-315). References Combined Fleet - IJN Nankai Maru: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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