JAPANESE PASSENGER LINER YAWATA-MARU

The Yawata Maru was a Japanese passenger ship (the so-called transatlantic liner) from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in December 1938, the launch took place in October 1939, and the entry into service took place in July 1940. The total length of the ship was 170 meters and a width of 22.5 meters. The maximum speed did not exceed 22-23 knots. At the time of launching, the vessel had no on-board armament. The Yawata Maru was built at the Nagasaki shipyard owned by Mitsubishi as the second Nitta Maru unit for the Nippon Yusen shipping line. It is worth adding that the construction of the ship was partially supported by the Japanese Imperial Navy, which assumed that when the war broke out, it would take it over and quickly convert it into an escort aircraft carrier. At the same time, at the time of designing, it was assumed that the ship would provide the highest possible comfort of travel - especially for first-class passengers. It was also assumed that the unit would operate mainly between Japan and Europe, but the outbreak of World War II thwarted these plans and Yawata Maru operated primarily in the Pacific. At the end of 1941, Yawata Maru was commandeered by the Japanese Navy and converted into the Unyo aircraft carrier. He entered service in this role in May 1942.