Japanese gunboat Heijo Maru

Heijo Maru (Japanese: 平壌丸) was an auxiliary gunboat of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The vessel was initially constructed as a merchant ship in 1940, the ship was requisitioned in 1941 and remained in service until September 1943, when she was sunk by torpedoes while on convoy duty in the Solomon Islands.

History
Empire of Japan
NameHeijo Maru
Launched19 July 1940
AcquiredRequisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 28 November 1941
FateTorpedoed and sunk by USS Albacore, 4 September 1943
General characteristics
Tonnage2,627 GRT
Length93.8 ft (28.6 m)
Beam13.7 ft (4.2 m)
Draught7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Installed power1,400 hp (1,000 kW)
Propulsion1 VTE

History

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Heijo Maru was laid down as a Standard Peacetime Type C merchant ship by shipbuilder Uraga Senkyo on 29 August, 1939, and was launched on 19 July 1940.[citation needed] In 28 November, 1941, she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted to an auxiliary gunboat.[1] On 4 September 1943, she was sunk while on convoy duty after being hit by three torpedoes from the USS Albacore at (05°32′S 156°23′E / 5.533°S 156.383°E / -5.533; 156.383)[2][3] northeast of Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands.

References

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  1. ^ "IJN High Seas Auxiliary Gunboats". www.combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Albacore". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  3. ^ "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.