Japanese aircraft transport Goshū Maru

Goshū Maru was requisitioned as an aircraft transport vessel of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The ship was initially built at Kawasaki's Kōbe Shipyard and launched on 14 October 1939 as a merchant vessel for Goyo Shosen K. K.^[1] On 14 September 1940 the IJN requisitioned as a transport ship and was refitted in 1940 as an aircraft transport. The ship subsequently saw service in the Pacific Campaign of World War II.

History
Japan
Name	Goshū Maru
Builder	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kōbe
Laid down	27 December 1938
Launched	14 October 1939
Completed	27 February 1940
Commissioned	requisitioned 14 September 1940
In service	27 February 1940
Out of service	31 March 1944
Stricken	21 April 1944
Fate	Sunk 30 or 31 March 1944
General characteristics
Displacement	8,592 tons standard
Length	443.2 feet
Beam	60 feet
Draft	40 feet
Propulsion	2 steam turbines
Armament	4.7-inch guns

On 13 May 1942, Goshu Maru received orders to pick up aviation supplies and then to sail with an occupation force bound for a target called AF. This transmission was intercepted by the US Navy, who quickly deduced that the target AF was Midway, leading to one of the most important battles in Naval history.

1 October, 1943 she was rerated a converted transport (misc). Goshū Maru was sunk by United States Navy aircraft in the Palau Islands on 30 or 31 March 1944.