Home Page World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 05.12.2014
Imperial Japanese Navy
Water Distillers
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.
Amakusa Maru No. 1    第1天草丸    サクマア AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Kawaminami Kogyo, Koyagijima Zosensho  
   Owner: Amakusa Sangyo Kisen  
   Call Sign: JJXK  
   Official Number: 46745  
   Laid Down: ?
   Launched: 16.08.1939
   Completed (1,913 GRT): 06.02.1940
   Service:  
      Civilian, Amakusa Sangyo Kisen 06.02.40–15.10.41
      Requisitioned: 15.10.1941
      ? ?
Fate:     Sunk 24.12.42 by USS Triton (SS-201) S of Wake Island (19°16'N, 166°36'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 01.02.1943
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Asayama (Chosan) Maru    朝山丸    ンザウチョ AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Kawaminami Kogyo, Koyagijima Zosensho  
   Owner: Yamamoto Kisen  
   Call Sign: JBBP  
   Official Number: 47964  
   Laid Down  
   Launched: 28.01.1941
   Completed (1,917 GRT): 10.03.1941
   Service:  
      Civilian, Yamamoto Kisen 10.03.41–01.12.43
      Requisitioned: 01.12.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 06.11.43 USAAF aircraft W of Buka.
   Removed from Navy List: 05.01.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Goryu Maru    五隆丸 AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Kawaminami Kogyo , Koyagijima Zosensho  
   Owner: Goyo Shosen  
   Call Sign: JYZN  
   Official Number: 46931  
   Laid Down:  
   Launched: 25.03.1940
   Completed (1,912 GRT): 07.06.1940
   Service:  
      Civilian, Goyo Shosen 07.06.40–15.10.41
      Requisitioned: 15.10.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Badly damaged and beached 21.11.43. Sunk 04.02.44 by aircraft of US Navy PV-1 off Emidj Island, Jaluit (06°00'N, 169°44'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 30.06.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Kisogawa Maru    木曽川丸 AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Kawaminami Kogyo, Koyagijima Zosensho   
   Owner: Toyo Kaiun  
   Call Sign: JQDO  
   Official Number: 47841  
   Laid Down: 27.02.1940
   Launched: 20.08.1940
   Completed (1,914 GRT): 22.11.1940
   Service:  
      Civilian, Toyo Kaiun 22.11.40–10.11.41
      Requisitioned: 10.11.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 10.11.43 at 06:26 by HMS Tally-Ho (P.317) off Penang, Malaya (06°11'N, 99°35'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 05.01.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Koan Maru    興安丸 AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Uraga Senkyo, Uraga Kojo  
   Owner: Dairen Kisen  
   Call Sign: JQCG  
   Official Number:  
   Laid Down: 12.03.1936
   Launched: 03.06.1936
   Completed (3,462 GRT): 27.08.1936
   Service:  
      Civilian, Dairen Kisen 27.06.38–05.09.41
      Requisitioned: 05.09.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 24.01.44 by Allied aircraft at Rabaul (04°13'S, 152°11'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 31.03.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Noda Kenzo (36)野田謙三05.09.41–01.12.42
      ? ?
Nippo Maru    日豊丸 AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Kawasaki Zosensho  
   Owner: Okazaki Honten  
   Call Sign: JGPL  
   Official Number: 42071  
   Laid Down: 14.04.1936
   Launched: 16.09.1936
   Completed (3,763 GRT): 10.11.1936
      Civilian, Okazaki Honten 10.11.36–15.10.41
      Requisitioned: 15.10.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 17.02.44 by Allied aircraft in Truk Lagoon, Caroline Islands (07°25'N, 151°47'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 20.04.1943
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Taihosan Maru    大寳山丸 AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Tama Zosensho  
   Owner: Baba Shoji  
   Call Sign: JCBM  
   Official Number: 44159  
   Laid Down: 12.06.1937
   Launched: 18.12.1937
   Completed (1,804 GRT): 26.03.1938
   Service:  
      Civilian, Baba Shoji 26.03.38–15.10.41
      Requisitioned: 15.10.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Sunk 12.03.43 by USS Plunger (SS-179) off Ponape, Caroline Islands (07°15'N, 159°10'E).
   Removed from Navy List: 05.02.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
Tateyama Maru    立山丸    マヤテタ AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Mitsui Bussan, Zosembu Tama Kojo  
   Owner: Baba Shoji  
   Call Sign: JKVL  
   Official Number: 43365  
   Laid Down: 03.02.1937
   Launched: 11.05.1937
   Completed (3,787 GRT): 12.07.1937
   Service:  
      Civilian, Baba Shoji 12.07.37–20.09.41
      Requisitioned: 20.09.1941
      ? ?
Fate:  Badly damaged 05.12.43 by aircraft from USS Lexington (CV-16) and USS Independence (CVL-22) in Kawajalein South Atoll. Sunk 15.02.44 by USS Pickerel (SS-177).
   Removed from Navy List: 05.02.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Ozawa Kakusuke (34) 20.09.41-15.04.43 小沢覚輔
      ? ?
Wayo Maru    和洋丸    ウヨワ AW
   Type: Distilling Ship  
   Builder: Mitsubishi Jukogyo, Yokohama Zosensho  
   Owner: Toyo Kisen  
   Call Sign: JADR  
   Official Number: 49059  
   Laid Down: 25.03.1941
   Launched: 27.08.1941
   Completed (2,726 GRT) and chartered by Navy same day: 22.12.1941
   Service:  
      Yokosuka ND 27.12.1941
      4th Fleet 30.12.41–14.07.42
      Yokohama. Converted to Navy auxiliary 27.12.41–10.01.42
      8th Fleet 14.07.42–15.08.44
      4th Fleet 15.08.44–01.09.44
      Reclassified as Transport. Assigned to Yokosuka ND 01.09.44–10.05.45
Fate:  Sunk 11.03.45 by aircraft 40 nm SW Macao (21°31'N, 112°25'E). 18 dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List: 10.05.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      ? ?
 
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