Home Page World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 10.12.2014
Imperial Japanese Navy
Aircraft Transports
In cooperation with Jeff Donahoo
The format for names is Japanese style: rank; last name, first name; Japanese name in Kaji;
(and in brackets the officer's graduating class of the Naval Academy at Etajima, if applicable).
(M) Behind the name indicates a merchant marine (civilian) officer.
Rank as was at the date he took command, whether as supervisor or captain.
If an officer is shown as being in command before the ship was commissioned, he was Chief Equipping Officer, becoming Commanding Officer on the date the ship was commissioned.
Dates are given thus: day.month.year
Commanders marked with * are known to have died.
Fujikawa Maru    富士川丸    ワカジフ AVT
   Builder: Mitsubishi, Nagasaki.   
   Owner: Toyo Kaiun  
   Call Sign: JMHM  
   Official Number: 45067  
   Laid Down: 20.10.1937
   Launched: 15.04.1938
   Completed as passenger cargo ship (6,938 GRT) 01.07.1938
   Service:  
      Civilian, Toyo Kaiun 01.07.38–09.12.40
      Requisitioned 09.12.1940
      Yokosuka ND 09.12.40–18.12.40
      22nd NAG, 11th Air Fleet 08.12.41–24.12.42
      Kobe. Conversion aircrfat transport 18.12.40–20.01.41
      11th Air Fleet, SE Area Fleet 24.12.42–01.01.44
      Reclassified as Transport 01.01.1944
      Supply Unit, Ministry of the Navy 01.01.44–31.03.44
   Fate: Sunk 17.02.44 by US aircraft at Truk. ? dead; ? saved.  
   Removed from Navy List: 31.03.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Ito Tokutaka (39)伊藤德堯16.12.40–25.06.41
      Capt Yamagata Shunji (45)山県駿二25.06.41–07.42
      Capt Inoue Samata (40)井上左馬太07.42–20.09.42
      Capt Kondo Tamejiro (40)近藤為次郎11.09.41–20.09.42
      Capt Aihara Aritaka (38)藍原有孝20.09.42–08.10.43
      Capt Goto Denjiro (38)後藤伝治郎08.10.43–
      Resv Capt Takayama Chuyo –18.02.44
Goshu Maru    五洲丸    ゴシュ AVT
   Builder: Kawasaki, Kobe  
   Owner: Goyo Shosen  
   Call Sign: JYON  
   Official Number: 46394  
   Laid Down: 27.12.1938
   Launched: 14.10.1939
   Completed as merchant vessel (8,592 GRT) 27.02.1940
   Service:  
      Civilian, Kawasaki Kisen 27.02.40–14.09.40
      Requisitioned. Assigned Yokosuka ND 14.09.40–01.12.41
      Yokohama. Converted to aircraft transport 16.12.40–25.01.41
      24th NAG, 4th Fleet 01.12.41–10.04.42
      24th NAG, 11th Air Fleet 10.04.42–24.02.42
      11th Air Fleet, SE Area Fleet 24.12.42–01.10.43
      Reclassified as Transport 01.10.1943
      Combined Fleet 01.10.43–21.04.44
   Fate: Sunk 30.03.44 by aircraft from US Navy TG 58 at Palau. 45 dead; ? saved.  
   Removed from Navy List: 21.04.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Sakano Minbu (38)坂野民部10.10.40–11.08.41
      Capt Ito Ko (39)伊藤 皎11.08.41–07.04.42
      Capt Furutani Keiji (43)古谷啓次07.04.42–21.06.43
      Capt Kase Saburo (44)加瀬三郎21.06.43–31.03.44
Kamogawa Maru    加茂川丸    ワガモカ AVT
   Builder: Mitsubishi, Nagasaki.   
   Owner: Toyo Kaiun  
   Call Sign: JDOM  
   Official Number: 44513  
   Laid Down: 26.08.1937
   Launched: 16.02.1938
   Completed (6,440 GRT) 15.04.1938
   Service:  
      Civilian, Toyo Kaiun 15.04.38–04.40
      Civilian, Mitsui Bussan 04.40–05.09.41
      Requisitioned 05.09.1941
      ? 05.09.41–12.41
      Converted to Navy auxiliary 05.09.41–15.10.41
      11th Air Fleet 12.41–15.03.42
Fate:  Sunk 02.03.42 by USS Sailfish (SS-192) off Lombok Island (08°06'S, 115°57'E). 327 dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 15.03.1942
   Commanding Officers:  
      *Capt Shimizu Iwao (39)清水 巌05.09.41–02.03.42
Kanto Maru    關東丸 AVT
   Builder: Yokohama Dock Co.  
   Owner: Harada Kisen  
   Call Sign: JJKO  
   Official Number: 36105  
   Laid Down: 11.10.1929
   Launched: 28.04.1930
   Completed as freighter (8,606 GRT) 16.09.1930
   Service:  
      Civilian, OSK Line 16.09.30–09.08.41
      Requisitioned 09.08.1941
      Converted to aircraft transport 09.08.41–10.12.42
      Kure ND 10.12.41–20.07.42
      23rd NAG, SW Area Fleet 20.07.42–20.10.42
Fate:  Sunk 11.09..42 at 21:18 by USS Saury (SS-189) NW Cape Mandra, Celebes (03°15'S, 118°27'E). 39 dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 20.10.1942
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Arima Tadashi (36)有馬 直20.07.42–11.09.42
Katsuragi Maru    葛城丸    ギラツカ AVT
   Builder: Uraga Dock. Co, Tokyo  
   Laid Down: 10.07.1930
   Launched: 15.05.1931
   Completed as merchant vessel (8,033 GRT) 02.10.1931
   Service:  
      Civilian, Kokusai Line 02.10.31–20.08.38
      Chartered as transport by IJN 20.08.38–30.11.39
      Requisitioned by Navy 30.11.1939
      Converted to aircraft transport 30.11.39–10.01.40
      ? 10.01.40–12.41
      21st NAG, 11th Air Fleet 12.41–01.05.42
      21st NAG, SW Area Fleet 01.05.42–01.11.42
Fate:  Sunk 01.10.42 by USS Sturgeon (SS-187) off Cape St. George, New Ireland (05°38'S, 153°08'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 01.11.1942
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Kusagawa Kiyoshi (38)草川 淳01.10.38–01.04.39
      Capt Otsuka Toshio (38)大塚敏雄01.04.39–15.11.40
      Capt Miura Tomosaburo (38)三浦友三郎15.11.40–11.08.41
      Capt Mori [?]森 良造11.08.41–
Keiyo Maru    慶洋丸 AVT
   Builder: Mitsubishi, Yokohama  
   Owner: Toyo Kisen  
   Call Sign: JWPL  
   Official Number: 44001  
   Laid Down: 14.04.1937
   Launched: 23.04.1937
   Completed (6,442 GRT): 15.11.1937
   Service:  
      Civilian, Toyo Kisen 15.11.37–12.08.41
      Requisitioned 12.08.1941
      Converted to aircraft transport 12.08.41–21.10.41
      ? 21.10.41–12.41
      Supply Unit, 11th Air Fleet 12.41–24.12.42
      11th Air Fleet, SE Area Fleet 24.12.42–01.01.44
      Rerated Transport 01.01.1944
      Ministry of Transport 01.01.44–10.03.45
Fate:  Beached 12.06.44 by aircraft of US Navy TF 58 about 420 nm NW of Saipan, (19°26'N, 140°19'E). ? dead;  ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 10.03.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Ikeuchi Masamichi (40)池内正方05.09.41–25.10.42
      Capt Miyamoto Sadachika (39)宮本定知25.10.42–06.04.43
      *Capt Kondo Saburo (46)近藤三郎18.01.44–08.07.44
Komaki Maru    小牧丸    キマコ AVT
   Builder: Harima, Aioi.  
   Owner: Kokusai Kisen  
   Call Sign: JNFI  
   Official Number: 38561  
   Laid Down: 18.06.1932
   Launched: 08.07.1933
   Completed as freighter (8,524 GRT) 27.11.1933
   Service:  
      Civilian, Kokusai Line 27.11.33–29.11.40
      Requisitioned 29.11.1940
      Yokohama. Converted to aircraft transport 29.11.40–15.01.41
      ? 15.01.41–21.11.41
      23rd NAG, 11th Air Fleet 21.11.41–01.05.42
Fate:  Sunk 18.04.42 by USAAF aircraft in Rabual harbor (04°12'S, 152°10'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 01.05.1942
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Ishii Shizue (39)石井芸江15.12.40–25.03.41
      Capt Nakamura Masao (40)中村正雄25.03.41–01.05.42
Lyons Maru    りおん丸    ンオリ AVT
   Builder: Yokohama Dock Co  
   Owner: Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK)  
   Call Sign: JOMD  
   Official Number: 26949  
   Laid Down: 15.08.1919
   Launched: 03.03.1920
   Completed as freighter (7,017 GRT): 06.05.1920
   Service:  
      Civilian, NYK Line 06.05.19–13.01.41
      Requisitioned by Army as transport 05.08.37–13.01.41
      Requisitioned by Navy 13.01.1941
      Tokyo. Converted to aircraft transport 15.01.41–03.04.41
      ? 03.04.41–12.41
      11th Air Fleet 12.41–24.12.42
      11th Air Fleet, SE Area Fleet 24.12.42–01.01.43
      Supply 01.01.43–27.04.44
   Fate: Sunk 24.01.44 by US Navy aircraft at Rabual. (04°13'S, 152°12'E).? dead; ? saved.  
   Removed from Navy List: 27.04.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Kishinado Saburo (40)岸人三郎01.03.41–11.08.41
      Capt Nakao Hachiro (40)中尾八郎11.08.41–07.04.42
      Capt Takagi Banjiro (39)高木伴治郎07.04.42–07.08.42
      Capt Chiba Shio (36)千葉成男07.08.42–06.10.43
      Capt Ishiguro Torao (37)石黒虎雄06.10.43–04.12.43
      Capt Miyoshi Shichiro (34)三好七郎04.12.43–16.12.43
      Capt Minematsu Yasuo (41)峰松寧夫16.12.43–24.01.44
Mogamigawa Maru    最上川丸    ワガミガモ AVT
   Builder: Mitsubishi, Nagasaki  
   Owner: Toyo Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha (TKK)  
   Call Sign: JRH  
   Official Number: 39102  
   Laid Down: 02.10.1933
   Launched: 16.03.1934
   Completed as Getsuyo Maru (7,469 GRT): 04.06.1934
   Service:  
      Civilian, TKK Line 04.06.34–29.11.41
      Renamed Mogamigawa Maru 17.04.1940
      Requisitioned. Reclassified as minelayer 29.11.1941
      19th Squadron, 4th Fleet 26.12.41–10.02.42
      Reclassified as Aircraft Transport 10.02.1942
      24th Koku Sentai, 4th Fleet 10.02.42–10.04.42
      25th Koku Sentai, 11th Air Fleet 10.04.42–24.12.42
      11th Air Fleet, SE Area Fleet 24.12.42–15.10.43
Fate:  Sunk 31.07.43 at 23:07 by USS Pogy (SS-266) N of Truk (11°04'N, 153°18'E). 130+ dead; 600+ saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 15.10.1943
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Koyama Taiji (34)小山泰治10.12.41–23.10.42
      Capt Gouda Kiichiro (35)郷田喜一郎23.10.42–28.01.43
      Capt [?]森 良造28.01.43–15.06.43
      Capt Nakazato Ryuji (39)中里隆治15.06.43–31.07.43
 
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