Home Page World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 08.12.2014
Imperial Japanese Navy
Repair Ships
In cooperation with Jeff Donahoo
The format for names is Japanese style: rank; last name, first name; Japanese name in Kaji;
(and in brackets the officer's graduating class of the Naval Academy at Etajima, if applicable).
(M) Behind the name indicates a merchant marine (civilian) officer.
Rank as was at the date he took command, whether as supervisor or captain.
If an officer is shown as being in command before the ship was commissioned, he was Chief Equipping Officer, becoming Commanding Officer on the date the ship was commissioned.
Dates are given thus: day.month.year
Commanders marked with * are known to have died.
Arabato (Nibato) Maru    新鳩丸    トバラアARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: Koninklijke Mij. de Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands 
   Call Sign: JIYL  
   Official Number: —  
   Laid Down: 25.03.1905
   Launched: 11.08.1911
   Completed as GGM gunboat S/S Albatros (807 GRT)28.03.1912
   Service:  
      GGM Gms Albatros 1912–01.09.39
      Royal Dutch Navy HrMs Albatros 01.09.39–02.03.42
      Scuttled at Soerabaja 02.03.1942
      Raised by Japanese 23.03.1943
      Repaired and renamed Arabato Maru 24.04.43–30.11.43
      Requisitioned 15.11.1943
      Sasebo ND 15.11.43–10.08.45
Fate:  Surrendered at Soerabaja. Returned to GGM 01.12.45. Converted to unmanned light ship 1947 for Moesi River in Sumatra. Turned over to Indonesia in 1949.
   Removed from Navy List: 10.08.1945
      LtCdr Augustinus H. Alfrink  
      Lt Tsujimatsu Munechika 01.05.44–
Futagami    二神    ﾌﾀｶﾐ ATS
    Type ( Class ): Salvage Tug ( Hashima )  
   Ordered: ?
   Builder: Harima Heavy Industries, Aioi  
   Laid Down: 21.10.1938
   Launched: 27.03.1939
   Completed (625 GRT): 30.04.1939
   Service:  
      Kure Harbor Master 30.04.39–01.04.43
      Fefan Island Harbor Master (at Truk), 4th Fleet 01.04.43–10.08.45
Fate:  Surrendered intact. Scuttled post-war near Tonoas, Chuuk Lagoon, Truk.
   Removed from Navy List 10.08.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Haruta Maru    春田丸    タルARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: F. Schichau, Elbing, Danzig, Germany  
   Owner: Bruusgaard & Kiøsterud, Drammen, Norway 
   Call Sign: JKYR  
   Official Number: —  
   Laid Down:  
   Launched: 08.04.1905
   Completed (1,515 GRT): 01.11.1925
   Service:  
      Civilian, Bruusgaard & Kiøsterud as S/S Halldor 1925–25.12.41
      Captured damaged in Hong Kong. Renamed Haruta Maru25.12.1941
      Requisitioned and repaired. Assigned Sasebo ND20.06.42–01.07.42
      11th Sp Construction & Repair Sect, 1st Southern Exp Fleet01.07.42–05.08.42
      11th Sp Construction & Repair Sect, Department of the Navy05.08.42–01.03.45
Fate:  Sunk 12.01.45 by aircraft USAAF 14th Air Force 50 nm S of Hong Kong (22°20'N, 114°10'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 01.03.1945
      Civilian Captain Jørgen Jørgensen –25.12.41
      Resv Ens Hidaka Saburo 01.06.44–
Hashima    初島    マシハ ATS
    Type ( Class ): Salvage Tug ( Hashima )  
   Call Sign: JHWQ  
   Builder: Kawasaki Jyuko, Kobe  
   Ordered: 1937  
   Laid Down: 15.10.1939
   Launched: ?
   Completed (625 GRT): 25.10.1940
   Service:  
      ? ?
      Yokosuka Guard Unit 01.01.41-
Fate:  Sunk 28.04.45 at 08:30 by USS Sennet (SS-408) in Kii Channel between Honshu and Shikoku. (33°55'N, 136°18'E). 12 dead; ? saved.
   Removed form Navy List 10.07.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Horei Maru    寳嶺丸ARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: Droogdok Mij., Tandjong Priok, Batavia, Java 
   Call Sign: JIMY  
   Official Number:  
   Laid Down: 26.05.1938
   Launched: 03.02.1939
   Completed as GGM patrol boat Gms Poolster 10.03.1939
   Service:  
      GGM Gms Poolster 26.08.38–01.09.39
      Royal Dutch Navy, HrMs Poolster 01.09.39–1942
      Scuttled at Tandjong Priok, Batavia, Java  
      Raised by Japanese, repaired and renamed Horei Maru01.09.43–22.11.43
      Sasebo ND  15.11.43–15.04.44
      11th Sp Construction & Repair Sect, Department of the Navy15.04.44–10.08.45
Fate:  Sunk 04.04.45 by aircraft from USAAF 498th and 500th Bomb Squadrons (345th Bomb Group) at Mako, Pescadores (23°32'N, 119°39'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 10.08.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Hoshin Maru    寳辰丸ARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: Kiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai, China  
   Owner:  
   Call Sign: JINY  
   Official Number:  
   Laid Down: ?
   Launched: 04.11.1933
   Completed (1,032 GRT):  
   Service:  
      Civilian, S/S Ho Hsin 1933–1943
      Requisitioned and renamed Hishin Maru: 15.11.1943
Fate:  Sunk 25.07.44 by USAAF aircraft 70 nm E of Hong Kong in the South China Sea (22°00'N, 115°50'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 10.09.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Kasashima    笠島 カサシマ ATS
    Type ( Class ): Salvage Tug ( Hashima )  
    Call Sign:  
    Builder: Harima Heavy Industries, Aioi  
    Ordered: ?
    Laid Down as Hashima: 15.12.1937
    Launched: 08.03.1938
    Completed (625 GRT): 27.05.1938
   Service:  
      ?    1938–1941
      Redesignated as Kasashima 25.10.40
      Harbor Master, Takao, Formosa; 2nd Base Force, 3rd Fleet11.41–10.03.42
      Harbor Master, Balikpapan, Borneo; 22nd Base Force, 2nd South Exp10.03.42–
Fate:  Sunk 25.01.44 at 13:47 by US aircraft in Formosa Straits. ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List 1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ?    ?
Katsuragawa Maru    桂川丸    ワガラツカARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: Sanoyasu Dockyard, Osaka  
   Owner: Toyo Kaiun  
   Call Sign: JYRR  
   Official Number: 49886  
   Laid Down: 23.12.1940
   Launched: 05.12.1942
   Completed (1,428 GRT): 22.02.1943
   Service:  
      Civilian, Toyo Kaiun 22.02.43–20.12.43
   Requisitioned: 20.12.1943
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 17.12.44.
   Removed from Navy List: 20.02.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Nagaura    長浦 ナガウラ ATS
   Type ( Class ): Salvage and repair Tug Boat ( Ojima )  
   Builder: Harima Heavy Industries, Aioi  
   Ordered: ?
   Laid Down: 11.01.1940
   Launched: 16.05.1940
   Completed: 31.10.1940
   Service:  
      ?    1940–1944
Fate:  Sunk 22.02.44 by USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Conway (DD-507), Dyson (DD-572), Spence (DD-512), and Stanly (DD-478) some 160 nm NW Kavieng (00°54'S, 148°38'E). 75 dead; 75 saved.
   Removed from Navy List 1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ?    ?
Ojima    雄島 ATS
   Type ( Class ): Salvage and repair Tug Boat ( Ojima )  
   Ordered: ?
   Builder: Maizuru Kaigun Kosho  
   Laid Down: 1940
   Launched: 1940
   Completed (812 GRT): 1941
   Service:  
      ? 1941–1943
Fate:  Sunk 07.10.43 by explosion of burning Kikukawa Maru at Truk. ?dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List 1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ?    ?
Sonjo Maru    尊條丸ARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: Armstrong, Mitchell, Low Walker, Tyneside, England 
   Owner:  
   Call Sign: JIKY  
   Official Number:  
   Laid Down: 21.01.2042
   Launched: 26.11.1887
   Completed as Chinese revenue cruiser S/S Chuen Tiao (379 GRT)10.02.1888
   Service:  
      Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs S/S Chuen Tiao10.02.1888–
      ? ?
      Requisitioned and renamed Sonjo Maru 15.08.1943
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 17.04.45 by mine dropped by aircaft of 20th Air Force in Yangtze River in the East China Sea off Shanghai (31°13'N, 121°52'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 25.05.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Yusho Maru    祐捷丸    ウショウユARS
   Type: Salvage Ship  
   Builder: Kobe Seikosho Harima Zosen Kojo  
   Owner: Nippon Salvage  
   Call Sign: JASC  
   Official Number: 33174  
   Laid Down: 26.05.1927
   Launched: 30.10.1927
   Completed (807 GRT): 25.01.1939
   Service:  
      Civilian, Nippon Salvage 25.01.39–20.12.41
      Requisitioned: 20.12.1941
      Combined Fleet 18.12.41–01.04.42
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 05.09.43 by mine in Makassar Strait (05°00'S, 119°00'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 01.11.1943
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
 
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