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Japanese minesweeper Otowa Maru

Coordinates: 11°50′N 109°00′E / 11.833°N 109.000°E / 11.833; 109.000
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History
Empire of Japan
Name Otowa Maru
BuilderOsaka Tekkosho Sakurajima Kojo
LaunchedMarch 1934
Sponsored byNippon Suisan K.K.
Acquiredrequisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 15 September 1940
Stricken3 May 1947
HomeportTobata[1]
Identification27092[1]
FateSunk by aircraft, 12 January 1945
Notes
General characteristics
Class and typetrawler
Tonnage220 GRT[1]
Length35.9 m (117 ft 9 in) o/a[1]
Beam6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)[1]
Draught3.8 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

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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 / 11.833; 109.000), 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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Sokaitei (converted mineswepers)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Chapter VII: 1945". The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2012.