Japanese minesweeper Otowa Maru
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Otowa Maru |
| Builder | Osaka Tekkosho Sakurajima Kojo |
| Launched | March 1934 |
| Sponsored by | Nippon Suisan K.K. |
| Acquired | requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 15 September 1940 |
| Stricken | 3 May 1947 |
| Homeport | Tobata[1] |
| Identification | 27092[1] |
| Fate | Sunk by aircraft, 12 January 1945 |
| Notes | |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | trawler |
| Tonnage | 220 GRT[1] |
| Length | 35.9 m (117 ft 9 in) o/a[1] |
| Beam | 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)[1] |
| Draught | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)[1] |
| Armament |
|
Otowa Maru (Japanese: 音羽丸) was a Japanese fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and converted into an auxiliary minesweeper.
History
[edit]She was laid down at the shipyard of Osaka Tekkosho Sakurajima Kojo for the benefit of Nippon Suisan K.K. and launched in March 1920.[2][3] In 1921, her port of registry was changed from Hiroshima to Shimonoseki; and in 1930, to Tobata.[2] She worked as a fishing vessel until 15 September 1940 when she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy.[2] Her conversion to an auxiliary minesweeper was started on 25 September 1940 at the Mako Naval Base and completed on 15 November 1940.[2] She was assigned to the Sasebo Guard Force until 1 September 1941 when she was assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Fleet[2] organized to invade and occupy French Indochina with Reserve Lieutenant Nagahashi Kimata (長橋喜間太) as her commanding officer.[4] She spent most of her time on patrol, conducting anti-submarine and escort duty between the ports of Sai Kung, Hong Kong, and Cam Ranh Bay.[2]
On 12 January 1945, off Cam Ranh Bay in the South China Sea (11°50′N 109°00′E / 11.833°N 109.000°E), she was attacked and sunk by aircraft from Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr.'s Task Force 38 that had entered the South China Sea to raid Japanese shipping.[2][5] Otowa Maru was struck from the Navy List on 3 May 1947.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Sokaitei (Ship Stats)" (PDF). Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Toda, Gengoro S. "音羽丸の船歴 (Otowa Maru - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy -Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Sokaitei (converted mineswepers)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ Niehorster, Leo; Donahoo, Jeff. "Converted Minesweepers of the Imperial Japanese Navy". World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle and Organizations. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Chapter VII: 1945". The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
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