Japanese transport ship Unyo Maru No. 2

Unyo Maru No. 2 prior to the Pacific War
History
Empire of Japan
Name	Unyo Maru No. 2
Owner	Nakamura Kisen K.K.
Port of registry	Kobe, Japan
Builder	Mitsui Bussan Kaisha K.K., Tamano
Yard number	232[1]
Laid down	22 March 1937
Launched	25 July 1937
Completed	6 August 1937
In service	1937–1941
Fate	Requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy as an auxiliary transport ship, 2 November 1941
Empire of Japan
Name	Unyo Maru No. 2
Operator	Imperial Japanese Navy
Acquired	2 November 1941
In service	1941
Homeport	Yokosuka, Japan
Fate	Sunk by Dutch bombers off Kuching, 26 December 1941
General characteristics
Tonnage	2,827 gross register tons (GRT)
Length	94 m (308 ft) between perpendiculars
Beam	13.7 m (45 ft)
Draught	7.2 m (24 ft)
Installed power	1,900 bhp (1,400 kW)
Propulsion	1 shaft, triple-expansion steam engine
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) cruising 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) max
Armament	Unknown

Unyo Maru No. 2 was a Japanese cargo ship. Launched in 1937, the ship was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy in November 1941, a month before the outbreak of the Pacific War. The ship was assigned as a transport and took part in the landings at Sarawak and Kuching, delivering supplies and equipment. On 26 December 1941, while off Kuching, Unyo Maru No. 2 was attacked by Dutch Air Force bombers; the cargo ship was sunk with the loss of eight crew aboard.

Unyo Maru No. 2 was constructed in Tamano by Mitsui Bussan K.K for her owners, Nakamura Kisen K.K.^[1][2] The cargo ship measured 2,827 gross register tons (GRT) and featured a length of 94 m (308 ft) between perpendiculars, a beam of 13.7 m (45 ft), and a draft of 23.6 ft (7.2 m).^[3] Unyo Maru No. 2 could sail at a cruising speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) and a maximum speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), and was powered by a 1,900 brake horsepower (1,400 kW) triple-expansion steam engine.^[3] The cargo ship was laid down on 22 March 1937, launched on 25 July, and was completed and registered in Kobe on 6 August.^[1]

Unyo Maru No. 2 was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy on 2 November 1941, just over a month before the outbreak of the Pacific War.^[1] She began a 20-day military conversion at Yokosuka Naval Yard on 6 November and was ultimately registered with the navy on 10 November.^[1] Unyo Maru No. 2 was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District as an auxiliary transport ship on 26 November 1941, but it almost immediately sailed for Indochina to take part in the invasion of Borneo.^[1]

On 13 December 1941, the invasion force departed from Cam Ranh Bay, Indochina to attack Sarawak.^[1] The naval forces, commanded by Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō, escorted the army group under General Hisaichi Terauchi.^[1] Unyo Maru No. 2, carrying equipment and supplies for the naval force, arrived at Lutong on 15 December and stayed there for the remainder of the invasion, which succeeded without much resistance from the British defenders.^[1] On 22 December, the main body of the Japanese naval force, including Unyo Maru No. 2, disembarked Japanese troops at Miri and sailed for Kuching to commence the second phase of the invasion of Borneo.^[1] The convoy arrived off Kuching two days later and supported the attack on the town, all the while being harassed by Dutch bombers and submarines.^[1] During one such attack, a bombing raid by three Dutch Air Force Martin B-10 bombers on 26 December, Unyo Maru No. 2 was set on fire by bombs and sunk, killing eight crewmen.^[1] The cargo ship was struck from the navy list on 15 January 1942.^[1]