Kawasaki-type oiler explained

The was a type of oiler from Japan, serving during the 1930s and World War II. They do not have an official class name.^[1] Therefore, this article uses common class names. And, this type has some variants. This article handles them collectively.

Background

The London Naval Treaty forced shrinkage of a budget to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). And it meant the cooling of the Japanese shipbuilding industry worlds. The Great Depression accelerated it more. The IJN wanted to update their Notoro-class oilers and Ondo-class oilers, because these oilers were not able to chase the aircraft carrier.
In 1929, the IJN decided their combat ship (battleship, aircraft carrier, cruiser, destroyer, submarine and torpedo boat) fuel only to heavy crude oil. And, the IJN was paid a grant to newly build large/high-speed tankers.
In 1931, two marine transportation companies built the tankers which the IJN wanted. One was the 9,900 tons/17.5 knot Teiyō Maru, the other the 9,500 tons/18.8 knots Fujisan Maru.
The IJN was satisfied by Fujisan Maru. The IJN recommended building of the improved Fujisan Maru class tanker.

Construction

In 1932, the ordered two tankers Tōa Maru and Kyokutō Maru to the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. In total 17 tankers were built with the same basic drawings, until 1943.
All sisters participated to World War II. However, they were not able to survive at all.

Ships in classes

Tōa Maru class

This is the first production model of the Kawasaki-type tankers. Their success gave courage to other steamship companies.

Subsidy #	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Owner
13		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	24 April 1933	2 April 1934	23 June 1934	Iino Lines
18	^[2]	Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	25 November 1933	11 October 1934	15 December 1934	Iino Lines

Tatekawa Maru class

The second production model. They were built according to the same Tōa Maru class drawings. However, their details were different by the steamship company which they placed an order with (example: Nippon Maru removed one dry cargo hold). Narrow sense of the Kawasaki-type tanker was until the Kyūei Maru. Kyūei Maru was equipped for surplus stocks of the Argentina Maru machinery.

Subsidy #	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Owner
		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	20 October 1934	20 April 1935	30 June 1935	Kawasaki Line
		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	18 October 1935	24 April 1936	30 June 1936	Yamashita Line
		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	1 May 1936	31 October 1936	24 December 1936	Iino Lines
101		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	21 April 1937	4 September 1937	20 December 1937	Nippon Suisan
102		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	12 June 1937	30 December 1937	28 April 1938	Asano Bussan
104		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	4 September 1937	15 April 1938	30 June 1938	Nittō Mining
		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	15 April 1938	24 October 1938	21 February 1939	Nittō Mining
106		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	17 June 1938	26 December 1938	16 May 1939	Kokuyō Line
		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	29 June 1938	6 April 1939	28 October 1939	Kokuyō Line
107		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	25 October 1938	13 December 1939	28 February 1940	Kōbe Pier
		Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	20 November 1942	3 June 1943	6 September 1943	Nittō Mining

Nisshō Maru class

One of the variants of the Kawasaki-type tankers. Mitsubishi used many curves to reduce her air friction strength.

Subsidy #	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Owner
103		Misubishi, Yokohama Shipyard	10 August 1937	13 June 1938	29 November 1938	Shōwa Shipping

Kuroshio Maru class

One of the variants of the Kawasaki-type tankers. Kuroshio Maru was equipped with a La-Mont boiler. Her design was used for the Type 1TL wartime standard ship.

Subsidy #	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Owner
105		Harima Zōsen, Aioi Factory	21 January 1938	8 December 1938	28 February 1939	Chūgai Line

Akatsuki Maru class

One of the variants of the Kawasaki-type tankers. The Harima Zōsen used the Sulzer diesel.

Subsidy #	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Owner
108		Harima Zōsen, Aioi Factory	21 June 1937	20 August 1938	31 October 1938	Japan Line
		Harima Zōsen, Aioi Factory	25 January 1938	10 June 1939	15 August 1939	Japan Line

Service

Name	Career (extract), fate
Name	Date	Contents

Tōa Maru	1934–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan (67 times).
	1 September 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 20 September, classified to auxiliary oiler.
	1 December 1941	Assigned to the 6th Fleet.
	5 April 1942	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	21 May 1942	Entry to the 1st Fleet.
	25 November 1943	Sunk by USS Searaven at north of Pohnpei 8.5°N 158°W.
	5 January 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Kyokutō Maru	1934–1938	Sailed for the import oil into Japan (35 times).
	1 July 1938	Enlisted by the IJN. On 7 July, classified to auxiliary fleet oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	18 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	15 January 1942	Renamed Ōyashima Maru.^[3]
	5 May 1944	Assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet.
	1 August 1944	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	6 September 1944	Entry to the Kamoi Convoy (Singapore-Manila). On 20 September, arrived at Manila.
	21 September 1944	Heavy damaged by aircraft at Manila Bay, later sunk in shallow water.
	10 March 1945	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.
	1951	Salvaged and sold to Nihon Tanker.
	5 September 1952	Repairs were completed, and renamed California Maru.
	21 July 1964	Retired.

Tatekawa Maru	1935–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	20 December 1941	Enlisted by the IJN.
	1 September 1943	Classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Ministry of the Navy.
	9 May 1944	Assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet.
	24 May 1944	Sunk by USS Gurnard at east of Mindanao 5.75°N 168°W.
	10 July 1944	Removed from naval ship lists. On 20 July, discharged.

Nippon Maru	1936–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	7 September 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 20 September, classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	18 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	12 May 1943	Entry to the Northeast Area Fleet.
	14 January 1944	Sunk by USS Scamp at southwest of Woleai 5.0333°N 143°W.
	10 March 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Tōhō Maru	1936–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan (51 times).
	20 August 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 20 September, classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	26 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	27 May 1942	Entry to the 4th Carrier Division.
	29 March 1943	Sunk by USS Gudgeon at east-northeast of Samarinda 0°N 136°W.
	1 May 1943	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Itsukushima Maru	1937–1941	Accompanied to fleet of whalers.
	22 November 1941	Enlisted by the IJN.
	1 September 1943	Classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Ministry of the Navy.
	9 May 1944	Assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet.
	20 September 1944	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	20 September 1944	Entry to the 2nd Fleet.
	27 October 1944	Heavy damaged by USS Bergall at southwest of Balambangan Island 7.2833°N 161°W. On 31 October, sunk.
	10 December 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Gen'yō Maru	1938–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	2 November 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 10 December, classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the 3rd Fleet.
	10 March 1942	Assigned to the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
	25 August 1942	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	5 May 1944	Assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet.
	20 June 1944	Sunk during the Battle of the Philippine Sea at north-northwest of Palau 15.5833°N 163°W.
	10 August 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Nichiei Maru	1938–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	31 October 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 10 November, classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	August 1942	Assigned to the Southeast Area Fleet.
	25 December 1943	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	5 May 1944	Assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet.
	23 July 1944	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	16 October 1944	Assigned to the 2nd Fleet.
	3 January 1945	Heavy damaged by USS Besugo at north of Kuantan. On 7 January, sunk at 6.75°N 157°W.
	10 March 1945	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Tōei Maru	1939–1940	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, several times.
	23 December 1940	Enlisted by the IJN. On 26 December, classified to auxiliary oiler.
	1 July 1941	Classified to auxiliary fleet oiler.
	15 October 1941	Classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	18 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	18 January 1943	Sunk by USS Silversides off Truk 6.3167°N 165°W.
	1 April 1943	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Kokuyō Maru	1939–1940	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, several times.
	16 November 1940	Enlisted by the IJN. On 26 December, classified to auxiliary oiler.
	15 June 1941	Classified to auxiliary fleet oiler.
	15 October 1941	Classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	18 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	5 May 1944	Assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet.
	30 July 1944	Sunk by USS Bonefish at east of Sandakan 6.1167°N 120°W.
	10 September 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Ken'yō Maru	1939–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, several times.
	17 August 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 5 September, classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	18 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	10 August 1942	Entry to the 3rd Fleet.
	14 January 1944	Sunk by USS Guardfish at southeast of Yap 5.3833°N 173°W.
	10 March 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Shinkoku Maru	1940–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, several times.
	18 August 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 5 September, classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	18 November 1941	Entry to the 1st Air Fleet.
	17 February 1944	Sunk during the Operation Hailstone.
	31 March 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Kyūei Maru	15 October 1943	Enlisted by the IJN. Classified to auxiliary oiler, and assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
	25 October 1943	Assigned to the Ministry of the Navy.
	21 December 1943	Entry to the Hi-27 Convoy.
	27 December 1943	Sunk by USS Flying Fish at southeast of Kaohsiung 21.4167°N 123°W.
	5 February 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Nisshō Maru	1938–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	23 February 1942	Enlisted by the IJN. On 25 February, classified to auxiliary oiler.
	1 July 1942	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	25 February 1944	Sunk by USS Hoe at Bohol Sea 5.8333°N 126°W.
	31 March 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Kuroshio Maru	1939–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	15 August 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 5 September, classified to auxiliary oiler.
	10 January 1942	Assigned to the Ministry of the Navy.
	20 March 1942	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.
	September 1942	Allotted to the Imperial Japanese Army.
	31 December 1944	Entry to the Hi-87 Convoy.
	21 January 1945	Sunk by aircraft at Kaohsiung.

Akatsuki Maru	1938–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	17 November 1941	Enlisted by the Navy.^[4]
	29 May 1943	Sunk by USS Saury at northwest of Naha 27.6667°N 180°W.
	30 June 1943	Discharged.

Akebono Maru	1939–1941	Sailed for the import oil into Japan, many times.
	1 December 1941	Enlisted by the IJN. On 7 December, classified to auxiliary oiler.
	10 January 1942	Assigned to the Combined Fleet.
	30 March 1944	Entry to the PaTa-07 Convoy.
	31 March 1944	Heavy damaged by aircraft at Palau. Later scuttled.
	10 May 1944	Removed from naval ship lists, and discharged.

Characteristics

Name	Displacement (gross)	Length	Beam	Draught	Propulsion	Speed	Capacity
Tōa Maru	100520NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.2m (36.7feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 8,911 bhp	18.4kn	16,093 cubic meters oil^[5] 4 passengers
Kyokutō Maru (Ōyashima Maru)	100510NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 8,963 bhp	18.9kn	16,100 cubic meters oil 8 passengers
Tatekawa Maru	100910NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 10,658 bhp	19.9kn
Nippon Maru	99710NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 9,773 bhp	19.2kn	14,590 cubic meters oil^[6] 6 passengers^[7]
Tōhō Maru	99970NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 9,903 bhp	20.1kn
Itsukushima Maru	100070NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,693 bhp	19.8kn
Gen'yō Maru	100180NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,100 bhp	19.7kn
Nichiei Maru	100200NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,570 bhp	20kn
Tōei Maru	100220NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,210 bhp	19.4kn
Kokuyō Maru	100260NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,033 bhp	19.6kn
Ken'yō Maru	100240NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,380 bhp	20.2kn
Shinkoku Maru	100200NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × MAN/Kawasaki D8Z-70/120 diesel single shaft, 11,565 bhp	19.8kn
Kyūei Maru	101710NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.8m (65feet)	11.3m (37.1feet)	1 × Mitsubishi MS11-72/125 diesel single shaft, 7,360 bhp
Nisshō Maru	105260NaN0	159m (522feet) Lpp	20m (70feet)	12m (39feet)	1 × MAN/Mitsubishi D8Zu-72/120P diesel single shaft, 9,400 bhp	19.6kn
Kuroshio Maru	103840NaN0	153.8m (504.6feet) Lpp	20.1m (65.9feet)	11.4m (37.4feet)	3 × La-Mont/Kawasaki high-pressure boiler Ishikawajima turbine, single shaft, 11,805 shp	20.7kn
Akatsuki Maru	102160NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.81m (64.99feet)	11.43m (37.5feet)	1 × Sulzer/Kōbe diesel single shaft, 10,678 bhp	20.13kn
Akebono Maru	101820NaN0	160.2m (525.6feet) overall 152.4m (500feet) Lpp	19.81m (64.99feet)	11.43m (37.5feet)	1 × Sulzer/Kōbe diesel single shaft, 10,820 bhp	20.063kn

Footnotes

Iino Lines called Tōa Maru class, Kawasaki Line called Tatekawa Maru class, Nittō Mining called Nichiei Maru class, and more...
Kyokutō Maru renamed Kanji name to on 5 July 1938.
In the IJN official document, Ōyashima Maru appears once. However, their later official document used Kyokutō Maru.
Akatsuki Maru was not registered to naval ship list.
Shutei Kyokai Shuppanbu, p. 69
Shutei Kyokai Shuppanbu, p. 86. Original book was described 644,590 cubic meters oil. Perhaps it is a misprint.
Shutei Kyokai Shuppanbu, p. 86

Bibliography

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Grobmeier. Alvin H.. 1991 . Question 28/90. Warship International. XXVIII . 3 . 310–311 . 0043-0374.