Posted by Visje visje@tref.nl on August 12, 2001.
Hi,

Can anyone give more details regarding the following vessels, all sunk by Japanese forces, are captured and in Japanese service:

- British "Kinshan" became Japanese "Hachian Maru". Sunk by USS Thresher, Dec. 30 1942.
- British "Kuala", sunk during Singapore evacuation, owned by Straits Steamship Co.
- Tandjong Piring, tug, rescued survivors of Kuala, but she was also sunk.
- British "Wenchow", became Japanese "Hachigen Maru". Sunk by USS Seawolf, Aug. 14 1942
- Portugese "Wing Wah", became Japanese Eika Maru, sunk by USS Tambor, June 2 1943.
- Philippine "Dos Hermanos", became Japanese Himeno Maru, sunk by USS Narwhal, December 5 1943. Apparently scuttled in Manila.
- British "Celebes", became Kenshin Maru, sunk Jan.17 1944 by USN aircraft at Rabaul.

Thanks in advance. I'm looking for dates of capture, tonnages, owners etc

RESPONSES:

Posted by Jan-Olof jan-olof.hendig@telia.com on August 12.

Here's some information, hope it is useful.

Kinshan - Steamship, built 1903 by Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company, 2733 grt. Seized by the Japanese in Hong Kong in December (25 ?), 1941. Renamed Hachian Maru. Torpedoed and sunk December 30, 1942 by US submarine Thresher about 120 miles west of Mata Siri Island, off southeast tip of Borneo, 04°45'N, 113°54'E.

Wenchow - Steamship, built 1923 by Taikoo Dockyard, 3113 grt. Seized by the Japanese in Hong Kong in December, 1941. Renamed Hachigen Maru. Torpedoed and sunk on August 14, 1942 by US submarine Seawolf in Sibitu Passage, 05°07'N, 119°37'E.

Wing Wah - Steamship, built 1896 by W. Hamilton & Company, 1248 grt. Seized by the Japanese ???. Renamed Eika Maru. Sunk by US submarine Tambor on June 2, 1943 (some sources say 1945, this is incorrect) in South China Sea, 20°29'N, 107°57'E.

Jan-Olof
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Posted by Axel van Eesbeeck gemyala@netcologne.de on August 12

Hallo Visje
The Kuala (952 gt, built 1911) was at the time of sunk used as Auxiliary anti-submarine. She was sunk by japanese aircraft on 14.02.1942.

For the other ships i don't have information. I hope you get more answers, which i can use than too.

Best regards
Axel van Eesbeeck
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Posted by Řistein Thomas Berge othberg@online.no on August 12.

Hello boys

Here is some more information.

(HMS) Kuala 954 tons.
Straits S.S. CO. build 1911 at Caledon S.B.&E.Co.
The steamship Kuala left Singapore on the night of February 13th, 1942, for Australia with refugees, between 100 and 200 nursing sisters and many woman and children. On the following day the ship was bombed and sunk by Japanes aircraft off Banka Island. About 150 persons managed to get ashore on Pom Pom Island. And were taken off by
(HMS) Tandjong Pinang 133 tons and was sunk by aircraft February 17th.1942. There was only three
saved.164 was lost.

Are you sure the name Himeno Maru is the right name ?

Kenshin Maru 3126 tons
Inui Kisen K.K. Build 1940 at Harima S.B.&Eng.Co.

Best regards
Řistein.
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Posted by Visje on August 12.
Hi everyone,

Thanks for the responses, they have been very helpful.
Yes, I'm sure about the name Himeno Maru. It is mentioned in the US Navy Chronology, but also on several other pages on the internet. I found out that she was apparently 834 gross tons. Do you have anything on her ?

Thanks in advance,

Visje
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Posted by Řistein Thomas Berge on August 13.

Hello

Sorry, on Himeno Maru I have nothing on.

Regards
Řistein
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Posted by Siri on August 13.

According to this site
[www.rddesigns.com] she was 834 (gt I assume), not much else on her here though, other than position of sinking
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Posted by Visje on August 14.
Hi Siri,

I see we use the same sources :)