Hōkoku Maru-class ocean liner explained

The was a class of ocean liners of Japan, serving during 1940 and World War II.

Background

• 17 May 1937, the placed an order for three ocean liners to reinforce the Japan-Africa route. They were named Hōkoku Maru, Aikoku Maru and Kōkoku Maru (later renamed Gokoku Maru).
• They were beautiful, and luxuriously equipped.^[1] Their suites were named after ancient Japanese cities.^[2]

Civilian service

• Hōkoku Maru was completed on 15 June 1940. Her maiden voyage was 2–12 July 1940, Yokohama-Dalian.
• On 17 July 1940, she departed to South America on her only overseas voyage. After this she stayed close to the Japanese mainland, as the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) feared losing her.
• Aikoku Maru was completed on 31 August 1941.
• In September 1941, both ships were enlisted by the IJN.

Construction data

Name	Kanji	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Note
Hōkoku Maru	Japanese: 報國丸	Tama Shipyards	18 Aug 1938	5 Jul 1939	15 Jun 1940	She was enlisted by the navy on 20 Sep 1941.
	Japanese: 愛國丸	Tama Shipyards	28 Dec 1938	25 Apr 1940	31 Aug 1941	She was enlisted by the navy on 1 Sep 1941.
Gokoku Maru	Japanese: 護國丸 (ex-)	Mitsui, Tamano Shipyard	31 Jul 1939 as Kōkoku Maru	2 Apr 1942 as Gokoku Maru	4 Aug 1942	Renamed Gokoku Maru in early 1942. She was enlisted by the navy on 27 Jul 1942.

Service in World War II

• Hōkoku Maru and Aikoku Maru became auxiliary cruisers, and they were assigned to the 24th Raider Division, Combined Fleet. When they learned of the outbreak of war they were north of Tuamotus.
• 27 April 1942, Aikoku Maru supported submarine I-30 which departed to Germany.
• 4 August 1942, Gokoku Maru was completed. She acted in the Indian Ocean until 30 November 1942.
• 11 November 1942, Hōkoku Maru was sunk by HMIS Bengal and tanker Ondina in the Indian Ocean. Aikoku Maru returned to Singapore.
• January 1943, Aikoku Maru and Gokoku Maru were dispatched to New Guinea They engaged in troop transportation duties afterward.
• 1 October 1943, they were classified to Auxiliary transport, and removed some armaments.
• 17 February 1944, Aikoku Maru was sunk by air raid at Chuuk.
• 10 November 1944, Gokoku Maru was sunk by a US submarine.

World War II service

Name	Career	Fate
Hōkoku Maru		Sunk by HMIS Bengal and armed tanker Ondina at southwest of Cocos -20°N 93°W, 11 Nov 1942
Aikoku Maru		Sunk during the Operation Hailstone, 17 Feb 1944
Gokoku Maru		Sunk by USS Barb off Gotō Islands 33.5167°N 148°W, 10 Nov 1944

Footnotes

1. They were named the best masterpiece of Dr. Haruki Watsuji. (by Hisashi Noma)
2. Nara— Hōkoku Maru; Kyōto — Aikoku Maru; and Hakone— Gokoku Maru.

Bibliography

• Hannig. Marcus. Japanese WW II Armed Merchant Cruisers . Warship International. 2012. XLIX. 1 . 34–36. 0043-0374.
• Tashirō Iwashige, The visual guide of Japanese wartime merchant marine, Web site: Dainippon Kaiga . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021207170200/http://www.kaiga.co.jp/emp-bin/pro1.cgi/kaiga/NN/f_tobira.htm . December 7, 2002 . (Japan), May 2009
• Hisashi Noma (private publication), The Story of Mitsui and O.S.K. Liners lost during the Pacific War, May 2002
• Monthly Ships of the World No.535, Web site: Kaijinsha., (Japan), February 1998
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.53, "Japanese support vessels", Web site: Ushio Shobō. (Japan), July 1981