Japanese minelayer Magane Maru

Magane Maru was an auxiliary minelayer, gunboat, and patrol boat of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

History

Magane Maru was laid down on 14 December 1939 at the shipyard of Harima Zosensho at the behest of shipping company, Nihon Kaiun. She was launched on 15 June 1940 and completed 5 August 1940. On 5 September 1941, she was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted to an auxiliary minelayer/gunboat under Reserve Lieutenant Maniwa Kenji. Armaments mounted were 1 x 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun, 1 twin Type 93 machinegun, 1 Type 3 heavy machine gun, and 120 mines. In December 1941, she was assigned to the 7th Base Force, Gunboat Division 10 of the 5th Fleet under Lieutenant Commandeer Sasaki Heiji. The 7th Base Force was based in Ominato. On 10 April 1942, she was detached from Gunboat Division 10 and attached to the Adak-Attu invasion force under Rear Admiral Sentarō Ōmori during the Aleutian Islands campaign. On 25 September 1942, she was reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District. On 25 May 1943, Sasaki was replaced by Reserve Lieutenant Yamazaki Kiyoichi. On 18 September 1943, Yamazaki was replaced by Reserve Lieutenant Shigematsu Yoshioka.
On 24 January 1944, she was attacked and sunk by the American submarine about northwest of Chichi Jima . She was struck from the Navy List on 10 March 1944.