Japanese amphibious assault ship Shinshū Maru
Shinshū Maru in 1937 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Shinshū Maru |
| Builder | Harima Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 8 April 1933 |
| Launched | 14 March 1934 |
| Commissioned | 15 November 1934 |
| Fate | Sunk 3 January 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 7,100 tons standard, 8,108 tons full |
| Length | 144 m (472 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 22 m (72 ft 2 in) |
| Draft | 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) |
| Speed | 20.4 kn (37.8 km/h; 23.5 mph) |
| Complement | 2,000 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 26 × aircraft (planned) |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar and catapult; no flight deck (planned) |
Shinshū Maru (神州丸 or 神洲丸) was a ship of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. She was the world's first landing craft carrier ship to be designed as such, and a pioneer of modern-day amphibious assault ships. During some of her operations, she was known to have used at least four cover names, R1, GL, MT, and Ryujo Maru. During her career, she was outfitted with a dummy forefunnel in an effort to disguise her as the submarine tender Taigei, which was converted to the light carrier Ryūhō.
Shinshū Maru was one of the ships sunk by friendly torpedo fire at the Battle of Sunda Strait, but later salvaged and returned to service.