Japanese gunboat Aso Maru

Aso Maru (Japanese: 阿蘇丸) was a Japanese cargo ship that was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and converted into an auxiliary gunboat.

History
Empire of Japan
NameAso Maru
BuilderMitsubishi Zosen K.K, Kobe
Laid down20 November 1931
Launched26 March 1932
Sponsored byMitsui O.S.K. Lines
Completed15 April 1932
Acquiredrequisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 16 December 1940
HomeportOsaka[1]
Identification37491[1]
FateSunk by USS Gar, 9 May 1943
Notes
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage703 GRT[1]
Length51.8 m (169 ft 11 in) o/a[1]
Beam9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)[1]
Draught5.3 m (17 ft 5 in)[1]
PropulsionDiesel
Armament

History

She was laid down 20 November 1931 at the Kobe shipyard of Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. for the benefit of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).[2] She was launched on 26 March 1932, completed on 15 April 1932, and registered in Osaka.[2] She worked as a cargo ship until 16 December 1940, when she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy for service as an auxiliary gunboat.[2][3] On 15 January 1941, her outfitting was completed at the Sakurajima facility of Osaka Iron Works and she was assigned to the Maizuru Naval District.[2][4] Her two sister ships, Fuji Maru and Kiso Maru, were also requisitioned, the former as a subchaser and the latter, as a gunboat.[2] On 10 April 1941, she was assigned to the 2nd Base Force, Third Fleet, as part of the 3rd Gunboat Division (along with gunboats Kiso Maru and Nampo Maru) based at Takao, Formosa.[5][2]

Invasion of Batan Island

The 3rd Gunboat Division was assigned to the Batan Island occupation force which began simultaneously with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor tasked with establishing an air base to support future operations against American forces on Luzon during the invasion of the Philippines.[6][7]

On 8 December 1941, the occupation force met off the coast of Batan Island consisting of the 3rd Gunboat Division along with the 52nd Subchaser Division (Shonan Maru No. 17, Takunan Maru No. 5, Fukuei Maru No. 15), the 53rd Subchaser division (Korei Maru, Kyo Maru No. 2, Kyo Maru No.11), the 54th Subchaser Division (Nagara Maru, Shonan Maru No. 1, Shonan Maru No. 2), Imperial Japanese Army transport Teiun Maru (carrying part of the 24th Airfield Battalion),[8] Imperial Japanese Navy transport Kumagawa Maru[9] (carrying 490 men of the Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces),[10] destroyer Yamagumo, four Chidori-class torpedo boats (Chidori, Manazuru, Tomozuru, Hatsukari), two W-13-class minesweepers (W-13, W-14), two patrol boats (Patrol Boat No. 1, Patrol Boat No. 2), two Tsubame-class minelayers (Kamome, Tsubame),[9] and seaplane tender, Sanuki Maru escorted by destroyer Tachikaze.[11][12][13]

Sinking

On 9 May 1943, she was sunk by the US submarine USS Gar at (09°09′N 122°50′E) off the southwest coast of Negros Island.[2][14]

References
  1. Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Gunkan (Ship Stats)" (PDF). Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. Toda, Gengoro S. "阿蘇丸の船歴 (Aso Maru - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy -Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  3. Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Hokan (converted gunboats)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  4. Niehorster, Leo; Donahoo, Jeff. "Converted Gunboats of the Imperial Japanese Navy". World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle and Organizations. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  5. Niehorster, Leo; Alsleben, Al; Yoda, Tadashi. "Administrative Order of Battle - 1st Base Force, 3rd Fleet, Combined Fleet, 7 December 1941". Imperial Japanese Armed Forces.
  6. United States Strategic Bombing Survey. United States Government Printing Office. pp. 26–51.
  7. Combinedfleet.com does not note the participation of the three gunboats although Niehorster does and Japanese primary sources via Hyperwar indicate three gunboats took part
  8. Casse, Gilbert; van der Wal, Berend; Cundall, Peter (2012). "Kyusetsumokan! Bosemmotei!: Fukuei Maru No. 15: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  9. Hackett, Bob; Toda, Gengoro S.; Muehlthaler, Erich; Cundall, Peter (2012). "Kakyakusen: Transport Teiun Maru: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  10. "Disc 1, Reel 6, Page 749 (Operational Situation of the Japanese Navy in the Philippines Invasion Operations, Dec. 1941)" (PDF). hyperwar.com. 14 May 1948. p. 11.
  11. Niehorster, Leo; Donahoo, Jeff. "Initial Operations 1st Phase 8 – 10 December 1941". World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle and Organizations. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander; Alsleben, Allan; Cundall, Peter (2012). "Tokusetsu Suijoki-Bokan!: IJN Seaplane Tender Sanuki Maru:: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  13. Niehorster does not list Teiun Maru as taking part in the operation. Combinedfleet.com does not note the participation of the three gunboats although Niehorster does and Japanese primary sources via Hyperwar indicate three gunboats took part
  14. "Gar". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
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