Japanese minesweeper Otowa Maru (1920)

Otowa Maru (Japanese: 音羽丸) was a Japanese fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and converted into an auxiliary minesweeper.

History
Empire of Japan
Name: Otowa Maru
Builder: Osaka Tekkosho Sakurajima Kojo
Launched: March 1934
Sponsored by: Nippon Suisan K.K.
Acquired: requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 15 September 1940
Stricken: 3 May 1947
Homeport: Tobata[1]
Identification: 27092[1]
Fate: sunk by aircraft, 12 January 1945
Notes:
General characteristics
Class and type: trawler
Tonnage: 220 GRT[1]
Length: 35.9 m (117 ft 9 in) o/a[1]
Beam: 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)[1]
Draught: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)[1]
Armament:

History

She was laid down at the shipyard of Osaka Tekkosho Sakurajima Kojo for the benefit of Nippon Suisan K.K. and launched in March 1920.[2][3] In 1921, her port of registry was changed from Hiroshima to Shimonoseki; and in 1930, to Tobata.[2] She worked as a fishing vessel until 15 September 1940 when she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy.[2] Her conversion to an auxiliary minesweeper was started on 25 September 1940 at the Mako Naval Base and completed on 15 November 1940.[2] She was assigned to the Sasebo Guard Force until 1 September 1941 when she was assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Fleet[2] organized to invade and occupy French Indochina with Reserve Lieutenant Nagahashi Kimata (長橋喜間太) as her commanding officer.[4] She spent most of her time on patrol, conducting anti-submarine and escort duty between the ports of Sai Kung, Hong Kong, and Cam Ranh Bay.[2]

On 12 January 1945, off Cam Ranh Bay in the South China Sea (11°50′N 109°00′E), she was attacked and sunk by aircraft from Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr.'s Task Force 38 that had entered the South China Sea to raid Japanese shipping.[2][5] Otowa Maru was struck from the Navy List on 3 May 1947.[2]

References
  1. Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Sokaitei (Ship Stats)" (PDF). Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. Toda, Gengoro S. "音羽丸の船歴 (Otowa Maru - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy -Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. Toda, Gengoro S. "Tokusetsu Sokaitei (converted mineswepers)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  4. Niehorster, Leo; Donahoo, Jeff. "Converted Minesweepers of the Imperial Japanese Navy". World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle and Organizations. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  5. "Chapter VII: 1945". The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
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