Kawasaki type oiler

Updated on Oct 23, 2023

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Preceded by Fujisan Maru

Name Kawasaki-type oilers Tōa Maru class Tatekawa Maru class Nisshō Maru class Kuroshio Maru class Akatsuki Maru class Builders Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation Harima Zōsen Corporation Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Operators Asano Bussan Chūgai Line Iino Lines Japan Line Kawasaki Line Kōbe Pier Kokuyō Line Mitsu Line Nippon Suisan Nittō Mining Nihon Tanker Yamashita Line Imperial Japanese Navy Imperial Japanese Army Succeeded by Type 1TL wartime standard ship Cost Tōa Maru 2,600,000 JPY

The Kawasaki-type oiler (川崎型油槽船,, Kawasaki-gata Yusōsen) was a type of oiler of Japan, serving during the 1930s and World War II. They do not have official class name. Therefore, this article uses common class names. And, this type has some variants. This article handles them collectively.

Background

The London Naval Treaty forced shrinkage of a budget to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). And it meant cooling of the Japanese shipbuilding industry worlds. The Great Depression more accelerated it. The IJN wanted to update their Notoro-class oilers and Ondo-class oilers, because these oilers were not able to chase the aircraft carrier.

In 1929, the IJN decided their combat ship (battleship, aircraft carrier, cruiser, destroyer, submarine and torpedo boat) fuel only to heavy crude oil. And, the IJN was paid a grant to newly build large/high-speed tankers.

In 1931, two marine transportation companies built the tankers which the IJN wanted. One was the 9,900 tons/17.5 knot Teiyō Maru, the other the 9,500 tons/18.8 knots Fujisan Maru.

The IJN was satisfied by Fujisan Maru. The IJN recommended building of the improved Fujisan Maru class tanker.

Construction

In 1932, the Iino Kaiun Kaisha (飯野海運,, Iino Lines) ordered two tankers Tōa Maru and Kyokutō Maru to the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. In total 17 tankers were built with the same basic drawings, until 1943.

All sisters participated to World War II. However, they were not able to survive at all.

Tōa Maru class

First production model of the Kawasaki-type tankers. Their success gave courage to other steamship companies.

Tatekawa Maru class

Second production model. They were built by the same as Tōa Maru class drawings. However, their details were different by steamship company which they placed an order for (example: Nippon Maru removed one dry cargo hold). Narrow sense of the Kawasaki-type tanker was until the Kyūei Maru. Kyūei Maru was equipped surplus stocks of the Argentina Maru machinery.

Nisshō Maru class

One of the variant of the Kawasaki-type tankers. The Mitsubishi used many curves to reduce her air friction strength.

Kuroshio Maru class

One of the variant of the Kawasaki-type tankers. Kuroshio Maru was equipped with a La-Mont boiler. Her design was used for the Type 1TL wartime standard ship.

Akatsuki Maru class

One of the variant of the Kawasaki-type tankers. The Harima Zōsen used the Sulzer diesel.

References

Kawasaki-type oiler Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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