Built 1928 – 1930 | In commission 1930 – 1960 | |
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Cost Hikawa Maru and Hie Maru6,550,000 JPYHeian Maru6,650,000 JPY | ||
The Hikawa Maru-class ocean liner (氷川丸型貨客船,, Hikawa Maru-gata Kakyakusen) was a class of ocean liners of Japan, serving during the 1930s, and after World War II.
Contents
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.