The was a class of ocean liners of Japan, serving during the 1930s, and after World War II.
Background In 1927–28, the NYK Line placed an order for eight ocean liners to reinforce the Japan–Seattle route (3 × Hikawa Maru class), Japan–San Francisco route (3 × Asama Maru class), and Japan–London route (2 × Terukuni Maru class). The Hikawa Maru class were named the Hikawa Maru, Hiye Maru (later Hie Maru) and Heian Maru.
Service Hikawa Maru was completed on 25 April 1930. Her maiden voyage was 13 May 1930 for Yokohama–Seattle. Arrived at Seattle on 27 May. She sailed 73 times until August 1941. Her service was popular, and the cuisine was well-regarded, as NYK Line employed a chef trained in Europe.
Hie Maru was completed on 31 July 1930. Her maiden voyage was 23 August 1930 from Kobe.
Heian Maru was completed on 24 November 1930. Her maiden voyage was 18 December 1930 from Hong Kong.
All of them were enlisted by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in October–November 1941.
Ships in class Name Builder Laid down Launched Completed Note Yokohama Dock Company 9 November 1928 30 September 1929 25 April 1930 She was taken up by the Navy on 21 November 1941. Her romanization of Japanese name spelling is Hie Maru by the Hepburn style. However, her bow name spelling was Hiye Maru until 1938. The Kanji and pronunciations were not changed. Yokohama Dock Company 25 May 1929 12 February 1930 31 July 1930 Her name spelling was changed Hie Maru in 1938. She was enlisted by the Navy in 1940. Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory 19 July 1929 16 April 1930 24 November 1930 She was taken by the Navy on 15 October 1941.
Service in World War II Hikawa Maru was classified to auxiliary hospital ship on 1 December 1941, and she was assigned to the 4th Fleet. Hie Maru was classified to auxiliary submarine tender on 15 February 1942, and she was assigned to the 6th Fleet. Heian Maru was classified to auxiliary submarine tender on 15 October 1941, and she was assigned to the 6th Fleet. 17 November 1943, Hie Maru was sunk by USS Drum. 18 February 1944, Heian Maru was sunk by air raid at Chuuk. 10 August 1946, Hikawa Maru survived war, and she was reverted to the NYK Line.
Ships in class as naval vessel Name Career Fate Hikawa Maru Classified to auxiliary hospital ship on 1 December 1941.Reverted to NYK Line on 10 August 1946. Retired on 21 December 1960.She is now anchored at Port of Yokohama. Hie Maru Classified to auxiliary transport in 1940.Reverted to NYK Line in October 1940.Enlisted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 September 1941.Enlisted by the Navy on 26 November 1941, classified the auxiliary transport.Classified to auxiliary submarine tender on 15 February 1942.Classified to auxiliary transport on 1 October 1943. Sunk by USS Drum at southwest of Truk on 17 November 1943. Heian Maru Classified to auxiliary submarine tender on 15 October 1941. Sunk during the Operation Hailstone on 18 February 1944.
Photos
See also Asama Maru class ocean liner Terukuni Maru class ocean liner
Footnotes
Bibliography Tashirō Iwashige, The visual guide of Japanese wartime merchant marine, (Japan), May 2009 Ships of the World special issue, The Golden Age of Japanese Passenger Liners, , (Japan), May 2004 Voyage of a Century "Photo Collection of NYK Ships", , (Japan), October 1985 The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.29, "Japanese submarine tenders w/ auxiliary submarine tenders", (Japan), July 1979 The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.53, "Japanese support vessels", Ushio Shobō (Japan), July 1981