HONG KONG CHINA 1902 STEAMSHIP 17 KNOTS CALIFORNIA S S NIPPON MARU HONG KONG for Sale

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HONG KONG CHINA 1902 STEAMSHIP 17 KNOTS CALIFORNIA S S NIPPON MARU HONG KONG For Sale

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HONG KONG CHINA 1902 STEAMSHIP 17 KNOTS CALIFORNIA S S NIPPON MARU HONG KONG:
$24.99

CANT READ THE LANGUAGE ALL MY GUESSHONG KONG CHINA 1902 STEAMSHIP 17 KNOTS CALIFORNIA S S NIPPON MARU HONG KONGINSCRIBED LOWER RIGHT BUT CANT MAKE IT OUT STAMPED PULL WITH WEAR
NOTE ..... FLAT RATE FOR ALL SHIPPINGCORNER WEARYOU MUST ASK QUESTIONS PLEASE
SEE SCAN FOR CONDITIONCHECK OUT MYRPPC & REAL PHOTO POSTCARD SNOTE WEAR AND CORNERWEAR LIGHT CREASING
MAYBE THIS IS THE SHIP
America Maru(亜米利加丸,Amerika-Maru)was the second of three high speedpassenger linersbuilt for theOriential Steamship Company(Tōyō Kisen). Converted into anarmed merchantmanduring theRusso-Japanese Warof 1904–1905, she played a crucial role in theBattle of Tsushima. Although used as ahospital shipduring the early part ofWorld War II, she had beencharteredby theImperial Japanese Navyas a transport in 1943, and was sunk by theUnited States Navyin 1944 with great loss of civilian lives.History[edit]Background[edit]

Asano Sōichirō, owner of theAsano zaibatsu, decided that he wished to create a shipping company, and founded Tōyō Kisen in July 1896. With the assistance of thePacific Mail Steamship Company, orders were placed with theWigham Richardson shipyardsatNewcastle upon TyneinEnglandfor three vessels. Asano\'s stipulation was that the vessels have the clean, sharp lines ofclipper ships, and were to be painted white. Up until this time, Japanese shipping companies mainly concentrated on local traffic with China. However, Asano intended to compete against thePacific Mail Steamship Company,Canadian Pacific, and other foreign shippers on trade to India and Europe, as well as North America.[2]

America Maruwaslaid downin March 1897,launchedon March 9, 1898 and completed on September 24 of the same year.[3]

Early civilian service[edit]

On her maiden voyage,America Marucalled atHong on toHonoluluandSan Francisco. With hersister ships,Nippon MaruandHong Kong Maru, she was placed into scheduled services on the north Pacific Route. Upon docking in Honolulu in October 1899, America Maru was suspected of bringing rats with thebubonic plaguetoHawaiiand was placed in quarantine by American authorities. In an effort to control the epidemic,Honolulu\'s Chinatownwas burned down.

In December 1900, noted author and physicianHideyo Noguchitravelled to the United States aboardAmerica Maru. In June 1901, afterKuomintangleaderSun Yat-sen\'s revolt against theQing dynastyfailed, he fled to Japan aboardAmerica Maru, which was inTianjinconveying supplies to Japanese forces involved in the suppression of theBoxer Rebellion.

Service in the Russo-Japanese War[edit]

With the start of the Russo-Japanese War in February 1904,America Maruwas requisitioned by theImperial Japanese Navy(IJN) for use as anarmed merchant cruiserand began conversion atYokosuka Naval Arsenalon 15 February 1904. However, a fire aboard the ship caused severe damage, and she was not ready for use until February 1905.

Under the command of Captain Ishibashi Hajime in April 1905, she was based atTsushima Islandas one of sevenarmed merchantmenand threetorpedo boat tendersassigned to patrols of theTsushima Straitto search for theRussian Baltic Fleet, which had been dispatched around the world to relieve theJapanese blockade of Port Arthur. On the night of May 26–27Shinano Maru,America Maru,Sado MaruandManshu Maruwere deployed as a lookout screen in the strait betweenGotō IslandsandJeju-do.Shinano Maru\'s early contact with the Russian fleet was a major contributing factor in the decisive Japanese victory at theBattle of Tsushima.[4]

After the battle,America Marulocated the sinking wreckage of the Russianprotected cruiserSvetlanaand rescued 291 survivors.

Post-war civilian service[edit]

After the warAmerica Marureverted to civilian use, and was assigned in November 1908 to the Japan – South America routes.

On September 20, 1911, Toyo Kisen soldAmerica Marufor 367,000 Yen toOsaka Shōsen K.K., which operated the vessel between Kobe, Japan andKeelung,Taiwan.

World War I[edit]

Requisitioned by the IJN in 1914. Returned her owners in early 1918.[5]

Post war service[edit]

Requisitioned by theImperial Japanese Army(IJA) on 28 April 1928 and again on 5 May 1928. Apparently returned to owners by February 1932 and resumed commercial operations.[6]She was damaged by a typhoon while docked at Kobe on September 21, 1934.

World War II[edit]

After theMarco Polo Bridge Incidentin 1937,America Maruwas requisitioned by the IJA as ahospital ship. In accordance with theInternational Red Crossand international norms, she was painted white with prominent red crosses on her funnels, and an official notice was sent to all belligerent countries by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was rerated as a transport sometime in 1943.[7]She was chartered by the Imperial Japanese Navy on January 12, 1944.

On May 14, 1944, while attempting to evacuate Japanese civilians, mostly women and children, fromSaipantoYokosuka, Kanagawa, she was hit by two torpedoes fired by theUnited States NavysubmarineUSSNautilus320 kilometres (200mi) south-southwest ofIwo Jima(22°19′N143°54′E). Of her complement of 602 (511 civilians, 4 military, 87 crewmen), only 43 civilians were rescued. Contemporary Japanese press labeled the sinking of a clearly marked hospital ship carrying civilians as awar crime.[8]However, it had been reverted to a transport ship in December 1943, and was known to have carried munitions via radio intercepts.[9]

Notes