Name Takao Maru Operator Imperial Japanese Navy Laid down 19 July 1926 Construction started 19 July 1926 Length 108 m | Owner Osaka Shosen Kaisha Yard number 317 Completed 1927 Launched 2 April 1927 Builder Uraga Dock Company | |
Takao Maru (高雄丸) was a 4,282-ton Japanese combined cargo vessel/passenger ship built in 1927 by Uraga Dock Company for Osaka Shosen Kaisha. She was originally conceived as a high speed transport for perishable fruits, especially bananas, and had an advanced mechanical ventilation system to cool her cargo hold. She could also accommodate six first-class and 64 third-class passengers.
Fate
During the opening days of World War II, while assisting Japanese troops in the Japanese invasion of Vigan in northern Luzon, Philippines on 10 December 1941, she was attacked by Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Seversky P-35 fighters and of the Far East Air Force and was beached to prevent sinking. The beached ship was later attacked by Filipino guerrillas and was rendered a complete loss.