Japanese landing craft carrier Akitsu Maru
Landing craft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Army
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Akitsu Maru (あきつ丸) was a "Type C" landing craft carrier with a full-length flight deck built for the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The ship was originally a passenger liner taken over by the IJA before completion.[1] Akitsu Maru's planned role was to provide aircover during amphibious and landing operations; in practice the ship was essentially an aircraft ferry.[2] The ship was sunk by USS Queenfish on 15 November 1944.[1][3]
Imperial Japanese ArmyAkitsu Maru in 1944 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type C Special Purpose Ship |
| Operators | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Preceded by | Shinshū Maru |
| Succeeded by | M Type C Special Purpose Ship |
| Built | 1941–1943 |
| Planned | 2 |
| Completed | 1[a] |
| Lost | 1 |
| History | |
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Akitsu Maru |
| Builder | Harima, Harima |
| Launched | 24 September 1941 |
| Completed | 30 January 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk, 15 November 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type C Special Purpose Ship |
| Type | |
| Tonnage | 9,190 gross tons |
| Displacement | Standard: 11,800 tonnes (11,600 long tons; 13,000 short tons) |
| Length | 143.75 m (471 ft 7 in) (pp) |
| Beam | 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in) |
| Draft | 7.857 m (25 ft 9.3 in) (Maximum) |
| Installed power | 13,435 shp (10,018 kW) (Total) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 27 Daihatsu-class landing craft |
| Sensors & processing systems | Hydrophone |
| Armament | See § Armaments |
| Aircraft carried |
|
In some sources, Akitsu Maru (and Nigitsu Maru)[b] are considered to be the first amphibious assault ships. Although, this title can be disputed with the earlier 8,000-tonne (7,900-long-ton) Shinshū Maru that served a similar role, and being a template for Akitsu Maru. With the deployment of the Shinshū Maru and the larger, further refined Akitsu Maru, the Japanese amphibious forces had in hand prototypes for all-purpose amphibious ships.[4]
In 1937, British and American observers watched Shinshū Maru at work off Shanghai and immediately recognized a significant development in amphibious warfare. It also carried two catapults for aircraft but did not embark operational seaplanes. It could, however, transport and unload aircraft if necessary, a capability further developed in the Akitsu Maru, which even had a short take-off flight deck.[4]
Design
Armaments
| Dates | Armament |
|---|---|
| 30 January 1942 |
|
| 30 July 1944 |
|
| 14 November 1944 |
|
Aviation facilities
The ship was fitted with a flight deck above the hull, but had no hangar so the aircraft were stored below the flight deck on the original main deck. Conventional aircraft were able to fly off from her deck but could not land aboard due to lack of landing mechanisms.
In July 1944, KX arresting gear was fitted on the flight deck. The Kokusai Ki-76 (Liaison Aircraft Type 3) and Kayaba Ka-1 were flown off Akitsu Maru, as the former was a small, slow aircraft that could land on its short deck and the latter was an autogyro which could even more easily land on a short deck without assistance.[4]
Amphibious operation facilities
The ship carried 27 Daihatsu-class landing craft in a well deck that could be flooded, which allowed the landing craft to float free from an open stern gate. The ship could also hold additional craft on davits, but its next-most impressive function was an ability to discharge vehicles from a deck-level parking garage directly onto a pier.[4]
Service history
The IJA Shipping Section expanded its anti-submarine personnel at the same time as the concept of carrier-based anti-submarine patrol aircraft in mid-to-late 1943. A total of 20 individuals entered the Shimosizu Army Air School around the end of that year as special pilot trainee officers (1st class) for anti-submarine personnel.[5] Training began with basic training using basic training aircraft, followed by familiarization flights of the Ki-76 liaison aircraft, and anti-submarine patrol training.
On 14 November, she departed for Singapore as part of Convoy HI-81. On 15 November 1944, Akitsu Maru was torpedoed by USS Queenfish; One of the torpedoes set off her aft magazine holding depth charges, the explosion shattering the aft portion of the ship; As the seas hit her boilers, they exploded and she sank in the Korean Strait (33°17′N 128°11′E).[3] 2,046 men, mainly of the Imperial Japanese Army's 64th Infantry Regiment, including the commander, were killed. Also 104 Maru-ni EMB explosive motorboats went down with the ship. The escorts rescued 310 survivors.[1]
Photos
Akitsu Maru profile on a US recognition manual
75 mm (3 in) Type 38 field gun on an army ship mount
Ki-76 spotter planes on the deck of Akitsu Maru
Japanese Kayaba(カ号) Ka-1 autogyro
