Japanese auxiliary gunboat Keijo Maru

The Keijo Maru (Japanese: 京城丸) was an auxiliary gunboat of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

History
Empire of Japan
Name: Keijo Maru
Builder: Uraga Senkyo
Launched: 12 October 1939
Acquired: Requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, September 1941
Fate: Sunk, 21 June 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage: 2626 gross tons
Length: 93.8 feet (28.6 m)
Beam: 13.7 feet (4.2 m)
Draught: 7.5 feet (2.3 m)
Installed power: 1400 horsepower
Propulsion: 1 VTE

History

She was laid down as a merchant ship by shipbuilder Uraga Senkyo and launched on 12 October 1939.[1] In September 1941, she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted to an auxiliary gunboat,[1] She participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Invasion of Tulagi in May 1942. On 21 June 1942, she was sunk by the submarine USS S-44 ( United States Navy) at (09°00′S 160°00′E)[2] west of the Nggela Islands in the Solomon Islands. 63 crewmen were killed and 62 crewmen were rescued by Japanese minesweeper W-20 ( Imperial Japanese Navy).[3]

References
  1. Gogin, Ivan. "Auxiliary gunboats of WW II". Navypedia - Fighting Ships of the World - Imperial Japanese Navy.
  2. "Japanese Naval And Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II By All Causes - All Japanese Naval and Merchant Vessels Sunk During World War II by United States Submarines". Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee.
  3. "S-44". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
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