Japanese tugboat Hokkai Maru
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Hokkai Maru (Japanese: 北海丸) was a rescue tug of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. She was the first of three ships of her class succeeding the Shōkai Maru class of high-powered tugboats.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Hokkai Maru |
| Builder | Osaka Iron Works Co., Ltd. |
| Laid down | 6 November 1941 |
| Launched | 18 February 1942 |
| Sponsored by | Ministry of the Army |
| Completed | 10 August 1942 |
| Stricken | 12 November 1942 |
| Home port | Hiroshima |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 12 November 1942 |
| Notes |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | High-powered tugboat |
| Tonnage | 457 GRT[1] |
| Length | 45 m (147 ft 8 in) o/a[1] |
| Beam | 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)[1] |
| Draught | 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)[1] |
History
Hokkai Maru was laid down on 6 November 1941[2] by Osaka Iron Works Co., Ltd. (株式會社大阪鐵工所本社造船所) at the behest of the Ministry of the Army (陸軍省).[1][3] She was launched on 18 February 1942 and completed on 10 August 1942.[2] She was made of steel and registered in Hiroshima.[1] She was fitted as a rescue tug.[2] On 12 November 1942, she was attacked and sunk by torpedoes fired from the American submarine USS Grenadier off the coast of Vietnam, south of Cam Ranh Bay (11°18′N 109°02′E).[2][4] She was struck from the Navy List on 12 November 1942.[2]