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| IJN Cargo Koshin Maru-class Auxiliary Transport 6,534 Tons 424' 1" x 57' 4" x 34' 4" 2 x 76.2mm AA guns  Nissan Kisen K.K. 1939  Hupp August 24, 2017 |
Ship History Built by Osaka Iron Works K.K. at Sakurajima. Laid down June 30, 1938 with yard number 1369 as a 6,536 ton vessel with a direction finder and two decks with a cruiser stern. Launched November 6, 1938 as Nissan Maru 日産丸 with number 45503 and code letters JZLM. Completed January 15, 1939 owned by Nissan Kisen K.K. as a cargo vessel and registered in Tokyo. The center smoke stack had a large "S" painted on a white background with two stripes. Nissan Maru began civilian service as a cargo vessel. On July 19, 1939 while steaming down the Whangpoo River at Shanghai accidentally collided with SS President Coolidge tied up at a pier without injuries aboard either ship. The bow of Nissan Maru was damaged and later repaired. At the start of World War II, Japanese flag was painted amidships designating the vessel as flagged to a neutral nation. Wartime History On January 15, 1941 requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as a cargo vessel. On September 20, 1941 registered as an auxiliary collier/oiler attached to the Maizuru Naval District at Maizuru and the same day assigned to the 5th Fleet under the supervision of Captain Takao Sakuma. Four days later, began a conversion into Koshin Maru-class Auxiliary Transport at Osaka Iron Works K.K. for use as a collier/oiler and was ready by the middle of October 1941. On November 25, 1941 assigned to Captain Hachiro Naotsuka. On November 26, 1941 departs Yokosuka and two days later arrives at Akkeshi on Hokkaido. On December 4, 1941 at 7:00am departs for Matsuwa in the Kurile Islands arriving two days later. On December 7, 1941 departs for Paramushiro arriving the next day. PARTIAL HISTORY On June 6, 1942 anchored inside Kiska Harbor off Kiska and unloaded fuel and supplies for the Japanese occupation. On June 18, 1942 at 8:30am in Kiska Harbor bombed by B-17s and B-24s from high altitude and sustains several bomb hits and his heavily damaged with one crew member killed. Sinking History On June 19, 1942 at 5:00am again bombed by three B-17s and four B-24s plus a single LB-30 and is again hit by bombs and sinks at 7:00am at roughly Lat 52° 30' N, Long 176° 30' E into Kiska Harbor. On June 21, 1942 the sunken ship was confirmed by U.S. photographic reconnaissance. On July 1, 1942 officially removed from the Navy list. Shipwreck The bow of the shipwreck is partially above the surface of Kiska Harbor with the name of the vessel in kanji and the letters "N A" of Nissan Maru. On the bow is the 3" gun on a ten sided mount. The bow has a 76.2mm deck guns on ten-sided gun mount with ammunition boxes nearby with their lids still closed reflecting the sudden air attack that sank the vessel. The stern has another 76.2mm gun on a ten sided mount. The telegraph in place, but the binnacle has been removed, probably by SCUBA divers in recent years. References Nissan Maru : Lloyd's Register of Ships Lloyd's of London 1939-1940 - No. 30495 Nissan Maru 6534 Tons [PDF] Combined Fleet - IJN Nissan Maru: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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