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Toyama Maru was Laid down On, the 4th of August 1913, at Mitsubishi Dockyard & Engineering Works as Yard No. 243. In Nagasaki, and was launched on the 20th of March 1915, and completed 3 months later. Toyama Maru had a length of 445 ft (135 m) a beam of 58 ft (17 m). With a tonnage of 7,085 GRT, she had a speed of about 14kn.[1]
After Toyama Maru was completed she began her maiden voyage, under the NYK Line. During the First World War she served European routes, transportation food and Ammunition. She survived World War I, and for the next 14 years she had an uneventful career. In 1933 she was switched to the Kobe to Surabaya route, in 1937, she was sold to the Company Nanyo Kaiun K.K. She served with the Company until 1938, when she was sold to the Company Ono Shoji Gomei K.K. She had an uneventful life until September 1941.
In September 1941 she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army to serve in the Second World War. She would be used as a Troop transport and transported troops. In 1943 As the result of a merger, Toyama Maru is transferred to Taiyo Kogyo, K. K. She would continue to serve as a Troop transport until June 1944.[2]
On June 27th 1944, Toyama Maru departed Kagoshima Bay bound for Naha City on what would become her final voyage. On board were over 6000 people, she departed with 11 other Ship’s forming the Kata 412 convey. At 7:30 Am the submarine fired 4 torpedoes at Toyama Maru. 2 of the torpedoes hit the bow igniting hundreds of gasoline drums, causing the ship to be engulfed in flames. A third Torpedo hit mid ship breaking her into 2 pieces, and sinking in the Nansei Shoto, off Taira Jima, Japan. At position 27º47'N, 129º05'E. 5,400 soldiers and crew members were killed during the sinking. Although 600 others got off the ship. [3]