Japanese minesweeper Showa Maru No. 8

Showa Maru No. 8 (Japanese: 第八昭和丸) was an auxiliary minesweeper of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

History
Empire of Japan
Name: Showa Maru No. 8
Builder: K.K. Osaka Tekkosho Honsha Kojo
Laid down: 1 April 1936
Launched: 24 July 1936
Sponsored by: Nippon Suisan K.K.
Completed: 31 August 1936
Acquired: requisitioned by Imperial Japanese Navy, 12 September 1941
Decommissioned: 10 March 1945
Homeport: Tokyo[1]
Identification: 41980[1]
Notes:
General characteristics
Tonnage: 264 GRT[1]
Length: 37.9 m (124 ft 4 in)[1]
Beam: 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in)[1]
Draught: 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)[1]

History

Showa Maru No. 8 was laid down on 1 April 1936 at the shipyard of K.K. Osaka Tekkosho Honsha Kojo at the behest of shipping company, Nippon Suisan K.K.[2][1] She was launched on 24 July 1936 and completed 31 August 1936.[2] On 12 September 1941, she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted to an auxiliary minesweeper under Reserve Lieutenant Kawai Iitsuka (河合彌).[2] Kawai served until 23 August 1943 when he was replaced by Reserve Lieutenant Kusegawa Shinji (久瀬川晋二).[2] In May 1942, she participated in the Battle of Midway (Operation "MI") where she was assigned to Miyamoto Sadachika's 16th Minesweeper Unit (along with auxiliary minesweepers Tama Maru No. 3, Tama Maru No. 5, Showa Maru No. 7; submarine chasers CH-16, CH-17, and CH-18; cargo ships Meiyo Maru and Yamafuku Maru; and auxiliary ammunition ship Soya).[3] Her fate is uncertain.[2]

References
  1. Toda, Gengoro S. (21 September 2019). "第八昭和丸 (Showa Maru No. 8 - Stats)" (PDF). Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese).
  2. Niehorster, Leo; Donahoo, Jeff. "Auxiliary Minesweepers of the Imperial Japanese Navy". World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle and Organizations. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  3. Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander; Cundall, Peter; Casse, Gilbert (2012). "IJN Subchaser CH-18". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
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