Terukuni Maru (1929)

Coordinates: 51°50′N 01°30′E / 51.833°N 1.500°E / 51.833; 1.500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

NYK Terukuni Maru, 1930s
History
Japan
NameTerukuni Maru
Operator Nippon Yusen (NYK)
Builder
Nagasaki
Yard number467
Laid downJanuary 9, 1929
LaunchedDecember 19, 1929
CompletedMay 31, 1930
In service1930
FateMined off UK coast November 21, 1939
General characteristics
Class and type
Terukuni Maru class ocean liner
Tonnage11,931 gross register tons (GRT)
Length153.92 m (505.0 ft)pp
Beam19.51 m (64.0 ft)
Draught11.28 m (37.0 ft)
Propulsion2 Mitsubishi-Sulzer diesel engines, 10,000 hp (7,500 kW)
Speed17
knots
Capacity249
Crew177
NotesSteel construction

Terukuni Maru (照国丸) was a Japanese

Kyūshū, Japan, entering service in 1930. She sank off the English coast in 1939 after striking a mine. Her sinking has been described as Japan's only World War II casualty outside East Asia before the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.[1]

History

The ship was named for the

knots. However, under increasing pressure from the Japanese government to use only equipment and technologies available domestically, the design was changed to use standard Mitsubishi-Sulzer
marine diesel engines, which reduced cruising speed to 15 knots.

The 11,931-ton steel-hulled vessel had a length of 505 feet (154 m), and a beam of 64 feet (20 m), with a single funnel, two masts, and double screws. Terukuni Maru provided accommodation for 121 first-class passengers and 68 second class passengers. There was also room for up to 60 third-class passengers. The ship and passengers were served by a crew of 177.[5]

Final voyage

On September 24, 1939, at 5 PM, Terukuni Maru departed

magnetic mine at 51°50′N 01°30′E / 51.833°N 1.500°E / 51.833; 1.500 off Harwich on the Essex coast. She sank in less than 45 minutes,[6] but there were no fatalities as all 28 passengers and 177 crew members were able to escape in lifeboats.[1][7]

As Japan was officially

diplomatic incident between Japan and both the United Kingdom and Germany. Both countries officially denied responsibility for the mine. However, it is almost certain to have been a German mine because the type of mine used is one that had been developed by the Germans and because the United Kingdom would not have placed mines in its own shipping lanes.[1] Although Japan was increasingly allied towards Germany, the Japanese government protested the loss with the Nazi German government, but the ship owner was not compensated for the loss.[1]

The wrecked ship lay partly submerged on its side at 8 fathoms (48 ft; 15 m) depth, visible to wartime shipping.[8] The wreckage was examined for salvage potential, but salvage work was not undertaken. In 1946 the ship was demolished with explosives as part of a British effort to remove war debris from coastal waters.[1] The remains of the Terukuni Maru have been recorded.[7]

A model of the ship is displayed in the library of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-59114-888-3
    .
  2. ^ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1935). The Nomenclature of the N.Y.K. Fleet, p. 50.
  3. ^ NYK Line – Nippon Yusen Kaisha. Timetableimages.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-12.
  4. ^ Arthur de Carle Sowerby, John Calvin Ferguson, China Society of Arts and Science The China journal, Volume 13. Page 136
  5. ^ Kawata, T.Glimpses of East Asia (1936) Nihon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha, p. 20
  6. ^ World War: Black Moons. Time Magazine (1939-12-04). Retrieved on 2011-12-12.
  7. ^ a b Terukuni Maru, English Heritage
  8. ISBN 0450044688
    p.17
  9. ^ Stewart, Carol (September 2011), Through the porthole, University of Strathclyde, contents credited to ‘A Fleet under Glass’ by John F. Petrie. University of Strathclyde Gazette, 1981.

References

External links

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