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Hikawa Maru class ocean liner

HikawamaruJP14Apr05.jpg
Hikawa Maru as museum ship
Class overview
Name: Hikawa Maru class ocean liner
Builders:
Operators:
Cost:
  • Hikawa Maru and Hie Maru
  • 6,550,000 JPY
  • Heian Maru
  • 6,650,000 JPY
Built: 1928 – 1930
In commission: 1930 – 1960
Planned: 3
Completed: 3
Lost: 2
Retired: 1
General characteristics
Type: Ocean liner
Tonnage:
  • Hikawa Maru 11,622 grt
  • Hie Maru 11,621 grt
  • Heian Maru11,615 grt
Length: 163.3 m (535 ft 9 in) overall
Beam: 20.1 m (65 ft 11 in)
Draught: 12.5 m (41 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × B&W-Ikegai diesels
  • 2 shafts
  • Hikawa Maru
  • 11,000 bhp
  • Hie Maru
  • 13,122 bhp
  • Heian Maru
  • 13,404 bhp
Speed:
  • Hikawa Maru
  • 18.2 knots (20.9 mph; 33.7 km/h)
  • Hie Maru
  • 18.5 knots (21.3 mph; 34.3 km/h)
  • Heian Maru
  • 18.4 knots (21.2 mph; 34.1 km/h)
Capacity:
  • Hikawa Maru and Hie Maru
  • 331 passengers (76 first class, 69 tourist class, 186 third class)
  • Heian Maru
  • 330 passengers (76 first class, 69 tourist class, 185 third class)
Crew: 130
Armament:
  • Hie Maru and Heian Maru, 1942
  • 4 × 150 mm (5.9 in) L/40 naval guns
  • 4 × 13 mm AA guns

The Hikawa Maru-class ocean liner (氷川丸型貨客船, Hikawa Maru-gata Kakyakusen?) was a class of ocean liners of Japan, serving during the 1930s, and after World War II.

In 1927-28, the NYK Line placed an order for eight ocean liners to reinforce the Japan–Seattle route (3 × Hikawa Maru class), Japan–San Francisco route (3 × Asama Maru class), and Japan–London route (2 × Terukuni Maru class). The Hikawa Maru class were named the Hikawa Maru, Hiye Maru (later Hie Maru) and Heian Maru.

Hikawa Maru was completed on 25 April 1930. Her maiden voyage was 13 May 1930 for Yokohama–Seattle. Arrived at Seattle on 27 May. She sailed 73 times until August 1941. Her service was popular, and the cuisine was well-regarded, as NYK Line employed a chef trained in Europe.

Hie Maru was completed on 31 July 1930. Her maiden voyage was 23 August 1930 from Kobe.

Heian Maru was completed on 24 November 1930. Her maiden voyage was 18 December 1930 from Hong Kong.

All of them were enlisted by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in October–November 1941.

NYK Line Hikawa Maru on 22 March 1930

NYK Line Hie Maru

NYK Line Heian Maru in 1937

IJN Hikawa Maru in wartime

IJN Heian Maru (center) in May 1943

IJN Heian Maru in June 1943

NYK Line Hikawa Maru in 1947

Hikawa Maru on 16 December 2006


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