Yamafuku Maru was an auxiliary transport ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She served primarily as a troop transport and cargo ship during the war.
Yamafuku Maru was laid down in 1939 at the Sakurajima shipyard of Osaka Iron Works K.K. at the behest of shipping company, Yamashita Kisen K.K.[1] She was launched in March 1940 and completed 10 July 1940. On 15 May 1941, she was requisitioned as an auxiliary transport by the Imperial Japanese Navy and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under Captain Honda Torao Yokosuka with Yokosuka as her homeport.
In January 1942, she served as a troop transport in the second echelon of the Ambon invasion force (consisting of transports Yamura Maru, Yamagiri Maru, Kirishima Maru, Hino Maru #5, and Katsuragi Maru) escorted by the 8th Destroyer Division (consisting of destroyers,,, and), and minesweepers W-9 and W-11 which delivered 5,300 personnel consisting of the Itō Detachment of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), under Major General Takeo Itō, comprising the 38th Division HQ and the 228th Infantry Regiment, along with marines from the 1st Kure Special Naval Landing Force (part of the China Area Fleet), and two platoons of the Sasebo SNLF under Rear Admiral Koichiro Hatakeyama. In May 1942, she participated in the Battle of Midway (Operation "MI") where she was assigned to Miyamoto Sadachika's 16th Minesweeper Unit (along with auxiliary minesweepers,,, ; submarine chasers,, and ; cargo ship Meiyo Maru; and auxiliary ammunition ship).
On 23 November 1943, she departed Yokosuka for Truk as part of convoy No. 3123 with auxiliary transports Shoko Maru and Tatsutagawa Maru, IJN transport Manju Maru, cargo ship Shiganoura Maru, destroyer, and auxiliary gunboat Choan Maru No. 2 Go. On 23/24 November, the convoy was unsuccessfully attacked northwest of Hachijo-Jima by with all torpedoes missing. On 28 November 1943, the convoy was again attacked, this time and northwest of Guam; the initial attack was unsuccessful. Snook attacked again just before midnight and successfully hit and sank Yamafuku Maru with four torpedoes at (18.35°N 148°W) with 60 men lost. On 5 January 1944, she was struck from the Navy List.