Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[zavety]

Dear friends I need a photo of Japanese merchant ships IWAKI-MARU and HIBURI-MARU

On June 1st 1944, Herring (SS-233) continues to attack and sinks transport Iwaki Maru, the lone surviving ship of convoy NE attacked the previous day. 30 crewmen and 20 soldiers are KIA. Herring also sinks the merchant cargo ship Hiburi Maru (33 crew and 97 soldiers KIA), off Matsuwa Island

??? IWAKI MARU (1942)
49472/JGKP ??? 3,125G/T ?? 1941.3.15(?16) ?? 1942.4.28(?17) ?? 1942.6.29(?17)
Lpp 97.00 B 14.00 D 7.50 m ?? R 3?? 2,159IHP 11/13.393kt
?????????(??)?? Sno.303 ?????????(??)
??? Iwaki Maru
1943.11.16(?18)?????????(??)???
1944.6.1(?19)????(48.00N,153.00E)???HERRING(SS-233)????????
????(48.00N,153.00E)???HERRING(SS-233)????????

HIBURI MARU ex HEIJIN MARU
??? HEIJIN MARU 24961/RLMG?JIVD 4,363G/T 2,939IHP 10/12kt
?? 1919.4.__(?8) ?? 1919.5.__(?8) ????????(???)
??? Heijin Maru
1925(?14)??????(???)???
1934.8.28(?9)??????????(??)???
1934.12.17(?9)??? SEIKO MARU ???
1936.8.10(?11)?????????(??)???
1940.2.20(?15)??? HIBURI MARU ???
1944.6.1(?19)????????(48.00N,153.00E)???HERRING(SS-233)????????


Please, help.RGDS

[DougKn]

Hello, Zavety

Maybe not exactly, but HIBURI MARU is listed under the subgroup BATAVIA MARU (Japan 1918-1920) OA 357'. They are listed in ONI-208-J page 248 (avail online) w/ plan and photo.

Will look for other in hardcopy when I get home.

Cheers

[Harpy]

Has anyone seen any pictures of the Hie (Hiye) Maru after her conversion to a Sub Depot ship? Was she fairly identical to the Heian Maru? I know the bridge window layout was a little different.

[Quincy]

Go to page 1 of this thread and check out Motoyuki Iwashige's web site. There are both models of Hie, and Heian Marus. They will be a great visual ID for you to make your changes/adjustments.




Bob Pink.

[Harpy]

It's interesting he mounted the two side 150mm front.

Hie (Hiye) Maru
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka Navy Yard. Begins conversion. Four 5.9-inch (150-mm) single mount guns, one 3.5 m range finder, two two Type 93 dual 13.2-mm machine guns, one 1100-mm diameter and one 900-mm diameter search light are fitted.

Heian Maru
15 October 1941:
Registered as a prospective submarine tender in the Yokosuka Naval District. Begins conversion at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries� shipyard at Kobe. Four 6-inch (152-mm) 41st Year Type single mount guns, one 3.5 m range finder, two Type 93 dual 13-mm machine guns and one 1100-mm diameter and one 900-mm diameter search lights are fitted. A degaussing cable (anti-magnetic mine device) is also fitted.

23 October to 7 November 1943:
Yokosuka Navy Yard. Refitted. The four 152-mm guns are removed and replaced by two 120-mm AA gun (10th Year Type), two Type 96 25-mm twin mounts and two Type 93 13.2-mm twin mounts In addition, a Type 2 sonar is installed. The crew complement is increased to 242 men. HEIAN MARU's dazzle camoflague pattern is possibly applied at this time.

Looks like Hie Maru kept her original armament while the Heian had hers changed again if the TRM's are correct. Maybe painted Yokosuka Grey?

[Dan K]

I've looked hard for Hie Maru photos as a tender, but have come up empty.

[Peter Rathgeb]

Hi all.
I would like to build Niko's Asaka Maru as a civilian (NYK) ship.
Do you know of any drawings which could help with this conversion?
Thanks in advance and cheers,
Peter

[Dan K]

The only drawing I know of is of sister Awata Maru in what appears to be Red Cross markings, from Motoyuki Iwashige's first Japanese merchant ship volume.

[Peter Rathgeb]

Thanks a lot, Dan.
I will choose an other project, I'm not good enough cutting resin (rear deck).
Cheers, Peter

[Peter Rathgeb]

Hi all

Does anybody have a book on (prewar) Japanese cargo and/or passenger ships/liners he would like to part with?

For example:
- Journey Back in Time/Japanese Passenger Ships (OOP)
- The Golden Age of Japanese Passenger Liners (Kojinsha, Ships of the World, 2004)

Also any hints on where I could find one of these, or similar, books, would be much appreciated!

Thanks and cheers,
Peter

[Dan K]

The Golden Age of Japanese Passenger Liners (Kojinsha, Ships of the World, 2004

This volume is not listed as out of stock on the SOTW website. It must be in stock someplace, or I believe you can order direct from SOTW

http://www.ships-net.co.jp/detl/200405b/goldenj.htm

[Peter Rathgeb]

Thank you, Dan. Good to know that it should be available somewhere.
I will have a look if I find it on a Website in English language, since I don't speak (or read or write) Japanese.
It's not available any more with HLJ where I usually buy Japanese books.
Cheers, Peter

[wolfieeod@aol.com]

Hello Peter
Here is a link to the Japanese Merchant Ship Recognition Manual (1944). Just copy and paste the link to your browser and remove the extra space after the http. The Far-Eastern Small Craft Manual is also interesting.

http ://archive.hnsa.org/doc/id/index.htm

Ron Wolford

[Peter Rathgeb]

Wow, thank you, Ron, I didn't know this site! VERY interesting!
Cheers, Peter

[Dan K]

Yes, thx for posting, Ron. That is a fantastic link.


Peter, SOTW has an English language website version, though the volume in question is not listed. I can look that up at home. You can order using the information there. See: http://www.ships-net.co.jp/homee.htm

Got to What's New, then almost all the way dwon towards the bottom of that page. See also the Order and Subscription page.

[Peter Rathgeb]

Dan, thank you, I found the item where you said, on the What's New page. On the other hand, it's not on the Order Form.

And I did not find it elsewhere... any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Peter

[Dan K]

I forgot to look for a volume # last night. Have written a reminder to myself.

[Quincy]

Thank you Ron for the link! I'll have to check it out.




Bob Pink.

[Dan K]

Amazingly, there is neither a vol. #, or an ISBN # that I can find on the volume. A bit bizarre. You may have to write them directly for information.

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Everybody
I have this for the ISBN of the �The Golden Age of Japanese Passenger Liners� T1105604053809 and for a very similar book �Japanese Passenger Ships in History Vol. 1 1868-1945� ISBN4-905551-38-2 C0056 P6000E. I got �Japanese Passenger Ships in History� back in 1994, through a Japanese book store in San Diego, so it may be out of print. Both are wonderful references but the photo quality is much better in �The Golden Age of Japanese Passenger Liners�.

Ron Wolford