Japanese seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru
Encyclopedia
was a seaplane tender
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN). The ship was initially built at Kawasaki's Kōbe Shipyard and launched on 13 December 1936 as a merchant vessel for the Kawasaki Kisen K. K. Line
. On 18 September 1937 the IJN requisitioned as an aircraft transport ship and was refitted in 1939 as a seaplane tender. The ship subsequently saw service in the Second Sino-Japanese War
and the Pacific Campaign
of World War II
. Kamikawa Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Scamp
approximately 250 miles northwest of Kavieng
, New Ireland at 01°36′S 150°24′E on May 29, 1943.
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...
in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
(IJN). The ship was initially built at Kawasaki's Kōbe Shipyard and launched on 13 December 1936 as a merchant vessel for the Kawasaki Kisen K. K. Line
K Line
, also referred to as "K" Line, is a very large Japanese shipping company. It owns and/or controls large cargo ships, including dry cargo ships, container ships, container terminals, gas carriers, RoRo ships and tankers....
. On 18 September 1937 the IJN requisitioned as an aircraft transport ship and was refitted in 1939 as a seaplane tender. The ship subsequently saw service in the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
and the Pacific Campaign
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Kamikawa Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Scamp
USS Scamp (SS-277)
USS Scamp , a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the scamp, a member of the Serranidae family....
approximately 250 miles northwest of Kavieng
Kavieng
Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600....
, New Ireland at 01°36′S 150°24′E on May 29, 1943.