Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[Gilbert]

Janschu, if you please, can list the 7 ships in the Sado Maru class? thx. Dan

Not Jan but here you go : Sakito, Sanuki, Sado, Sagami, Sagara, Sasego and Sakura Marus

Cheers

Gilbert

[Dan K]

Thx very much, Gilbert.

[Gilbert]

Thx very much, Gilbert.

Always happy to be some kind of help Dan, usually, it is you who is helping us

Additionnally, here is a link you might find useful for Nippon Yusen Kaisha pre-war liners and cargo ships :

http://homepage3.nifty.com/jpnships/com ... shoki1.htm

Cheers

Gilbert

[Dan K]

Excellent link, Gilbert! Thx again.

[janschu]

Hello Dan,

my listing is almost identical to that from Gilbert. In brackets the pages of Motoyuki sans book where you can find them.

Kamikawa Maru class: Kamikawa Maru (p. 46, 81), Kimikawa Maru (p. 47, 80), Kiyokawa Maru (p. 46), Kunikawa Maru (p. 47), Hirokawa Maru (p. 15, 74, 84)

Sado Maru class: Sado Maru (p. 14, 74, 83, 84), Sagami Maru, Sagara Maru (p. 48), Sakito Maru (p. 83), Sakura Maru (p. 31, 74), Sanuki Maru, Sasako
(or Sasago)Maru (p. 32, 83)

I hope, i could help a bit.

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[Quincy]

Yes Gilbert, thank you for the link.




Bob Pink.


ps. I looked on the L'Arsenal site for those 13mm's you mentioned , but I couldn't find them. Could you provide a link to see them.

[Gilbert]

ps. I looked on the L'Arsenal site for those 13mm's you mentioned , but I couldn't find them. Could you provide a link to see them.

You cannot find them on our site because they are not so far been released individually, but should be hopefully very soon. In fact, L'Arsenal has released in 2007 a 1/700 C.T. (Contre-Torpilleur) L�opard/Lynx and her AA suite included some twin 13,2mm. Therefore, as I was always looking for some twin IJN 13mm MGs, I noticed the similarity with the Hotchkiss French design, which is quite normal as the former was licensed to Japan to make the latter.

You can have a look at the real thing here: http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNFR_13mm_aamg.htm

The pros are you get resin twin guns and mount and a PE seat really on scale. The minus is it's so tiny that you must be as relaxed as possible to assemble both parts . I would not recommend coffee (expresso) just before .

Anyway, when Jacques will be back from his hollidays, they will be soon listed on the catalog.

Cheers

Gilbert

[Guest]

Hi Jan,

I believe that is Jim (freighter). Who is doing the BFM SS Wentworth conversions.
You might write him a note on the colours, equipment and armament.

[Dan K]

Thx for responding, Jan

[janschu]

Hello there,

@ Jim "freighter", can you please contact me concerning the SS Wentworth conversions? I have preordered two of these
Battlefleet Models kits in order to build both the Shinkyo Maru and Gyokuyo Maru. What i need now are
informations about equipment, colours, armament, etc.

Recently i stumbled across another very interesting auxiliary vessel. It is the whale mother ship Kyokuyo Maru used
by the japanese Army as a "Special Transport/Tanker" during the war.

http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~j_kihira/othe ... o1940.html

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_ur ... =Translate

The ship seems to have the same dimensions as for example the Tonan Maru No.3 (page 66,67, 129 from Motoyuki san�s book),
the only difference is that the rear superstructure is two levels higher. Motoyuki san has build this vessel already, painting it in
the obligatory three tone dazzle scheme. Here are some pictures from his site in case you have missed it.









What do you think? Interesting ships, aren�t they?

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[Quincy]

Hi Janschu:

The very first side by side picture, is that the Brasil Maru? If so she looks to be painted all gray,also can you see if she is armed? It is very hard to tell by this picture.



Bob Pink.

[Caravellarella]

Dear Motoyuki-san, here is a photograph of the strangest-looking motorship I think I've ever seen; Mitsui Bussan Kaisha's M.V. Hakubasan Maru of 1928. She has tumblehome, a bulged funnel cap; and very unusual lattice masts which apparently were the best design solution for loading timber......

M.V. Hakubasan Maru (vii), � A. Duncan.

M.V. HAKUBASAN MARU; one of a pair of twin-screw motorships built for Mitsui Bussan Kaisha�s routes to the Pacific Northwest ports, Hakubasan Maru and Hakonesan Maru. Hakubasan Maru was sold to Taiyo Gyogyo Kisen Kaisha on 1st March 1938 and was torpedoed and sunk by SS-291 USS Crevalle off Cape Bolinau in The Philippines on 28th July 1944.

Builder � Mitsui, Tamano. Yard No. 150.

Laid down - 7th March 1928.
Launched - 29th September 1928.
Service (Mitsui Bussan then Taiyo Gyogyo Kisen) 4th December 1928 to 28th July 1944.

Length 133.4 metres, breadth 17.2 metres. 6,650Grt.


Here is a link to the "nifty" page for Mitsui Bussan Kaisha's pre-war fleet......
http://homepage3.nifty.com/jpnships//co ... ashoki.htm

Have you made a model of this one yet?

With best wishes, Terry (Caravellarella)

[Gilbert]

Hello there,

What do you think? Interesting ships, aren�t they?

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

Hello Jan,

Thanks for the link . Very interestings ships indeed . About Shinkyo Maru, I've noticed she is on Motoyuki San's website here:
http://ww6.enjoy.ne.jp/~iwashige/shinkyomaru.htm .

Cheers
Gilbert

[Harry @ BFM]

Hi Jan,

The Kyokuyo Maru looks very interesting.

[Freighter]

Jan,
Shinkyo Maru was built by Richardson Duck at Thornaby in 1918 as 'War Vulture'. It became Shinkyo Maru in 1933. I was planning Shinkyo Maru pre-war using this picture as reference. I'm still investigating the owner to determine pre-war colours. - Can anyone translate the narrative on this picture?

http://www.jsu.or.jp/siryo/map/allmaria ... nkyo_d.jpg

Do not confuse this with the Shinkyo Maru listed above from Iwashige-san's website. This was a freighter built in 1933

Gyokuyo Maru was built as War Ostrich. It was registered as Cutcombe in 1919 and Bennevis in 1928. As Bennevis she had an interesting wartime career, being bombed and damaged in London in September 1940 before falling into Japanese hands off Hong Kong on December 9, 1941.

I have no pictures of her in wartime colours. Here is a picture of her as Bennevis

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Shi ... is-01.html

Both ships were torpedoed and sunk in 1944.

As you've probably already found, details of Japanese pre-war merchant ships and their armaments in wartime are hard to come by in the West. The Battlefleet 'Wentworth' is a great base from which to work, being representative of one of the 'Standard' designs of WW1. Thanks to Mitchell & Sawyer 'British Standard Ships of WW1' for a lot of historical and photo details. Armament would, if fitted, probably be a 5.5 or 6 inch open mount gun mounted on a bandstand. Without specific ship by ship information the best I can do is a 'speculative build' - Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Jim S

[janschu]

Hello Bob,

the ship you mentioned is indeed the Brasil Maru.
See here

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=39282&start=135#p288154

Motoyuki san has painted her in prewar colours. Afaik both ships were repainted in army grey at the outbreak of the war.
About the armament i have no information.

I hope this helps a bit.

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[Gilbert]

Afaik both ships were repainted in army grey at the outbreak of the war.
:

Jan,
In "Japanese Merchant ships at war" book, by Hisachi Noma there are two interesting photos :

"Brasil Maru at anchor off Saipan Island or in Apra Harbor, Guam circa May/June 1942". She clearly is still painted in peacetime colours.
"Argentina Maru at anchor off Saipan Island in Apra Harbor, Guam before or after the Operations Midway Landing". She has been repainted in Grey.

About her armament, this has already been discussed on the first pages of this thread and answered by Motoyuki San.

Cheers
Gilbert

[Quincy]

Yep, you are right Gilbert. I must be getting old. I forgot about the book, and this threads previous pages.

Thanks again.


Bob Pink.

[Gilbert]

Yep, you are right Gilbert. I must be getting old. I forgot about the book, and this threads previous pages.

Thanks again.


Bob Pink.

You are most welcome Bob, but I am much older than you are (born in 1952 ) and I got the book after you wrote a review on this thread . Therefore, I can say Thanks as well
Gilbert

[janschu]

Hello Gilbert,

i have just checked the pictures in the book you mentioned and also the corresponding postings in this thread.
You are absolutely right about the colours and the armament. Sorry, if i caused any confusion.

By the way, does anybody know what three transports are displayed on the book cover?

greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan