Kamikawa Maru-class seaplane tender

The Kamikawa Maru-class cargo ship (神川丸型貨物船) was a type of cargo ship of Japan, serving during 1930s and World War II. Four of the five ships of the class were converted to seaplane tenders during the war.

Background

 * In 1930, the Ōsaka Mercantile Steamship Co.Ltd. (O.S.K. Lines) let Kinai Maru-class cargo ship go into service to Japan-New York route.
 * Japanese steamship companies sent a lot of new cargo ships to North America route to oppose this.
 * In 1936, the Kawasaki Line was fully prepared and built four Kamikawa Maru-class ships. They overwhelmed other cargo ships at high cruising speed and the big capacity.
 * However, they were commandeered in sequence and did not survive to the end of the war.

Service

 * Kamikawa Maru


 * Kiyokawa Maru


 * Kimikawa Maru


 * Kunikawa Maru


 * Hirokawa Maru