Yasukawa Maru
1941
(Spider Navy SN-2-14)
- Class: IJA anti-aircraft transport conversion of 1941
- Displacement: 6,770 tons
- Dimensions: 450 x 61 x 30 ft.
- Machinery: Diesel engine, 6,600bhp = knots
- Armament: 6-75mm AA, 8-20mm AA guns
- Complement:
- Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast, Ireland, 1930
- Notes: Completed in Ireland in 1930 for the Silver Line as Silvercypress, she was almost destroyed in the Philippines by an engine room fire in 1937 that gutted her. She was towed to Japan for scrapping, but Kawasaki Kisen bought the hulk and decided to rebuild her for their "K" Line service. After 20 months, repairs were completed and she was renamed Yasukawa Maru. In 1941, before the start of the Pacific War, she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army and served in the China area operations. That same year, she was converted to a Boku Kikansen (anti-aircraft) vessel. In Dec 1941 she carried troops to landings at Legaspi, Luzon. In Mar 1942, she landed troops on Kragan, East Java, and in Aug delivered troops to Basabua, New Guinea. On 2 Nov 1942, she was bombed and disabled by USAAF bombers off New Guinea, and was later scuttled in the Dampier Straits.
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