John H Marsh Maritime Collection – famous ships that called at the Cape

The 12 755 gt Japanese Argentina Maru pictured on her maiden voyage to Cape Town on August 10, 1939. The ship drew much admiration for her interior design which reflected the décor and art of the Orient. But her cruising career was cut short by the start of World War 2 and in 1941 she was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy and converted into troop transport. World War 2 scuppers grand
passenger carriers’ careers PETER DU TOIT, DAVE BERMAN IT WAS World War 2 that reshaped the future of two of the largest and most impressive passenger ships plying the westbound round-the-world route via South Africa and South American ports in 1939. The Argentina Maru (Japanese) and her sister ship Brasil Maru were delivered in May 1939 to the Osaka Shosen Kaisha Line, but were never to see the years of service their designers had intended. The approaching conflagration, World War 2, would soon determine their fate and that of the whole Japanese Merchant fleet. OSK had a long-standing custom of utilising superior ships on its westbound routes and these vessels were no exception. They were equipped with twin Sulzer diesel engines, which were the largest in the world at that time, producing a service speed of 21 knots. The Kobe – Santos sea route was covered in 38 days. Argentina Maru’s streamlined design and handsomely appointed public rooms and accommodation surpassed expectations. Passengers travelling first class had the use of lounges on the three upper decks, swimming pool and airy large dining room. Even the lowest level of travel, steerage, was well above average. Japanese yards were producing quality shipbuilding during that period. The Brasil Maru followed in the wake of her famous sister ship, and was delivered to her owners in December 1939. The advent of World War 2 was to change all this. Both ships only served a few voyages when OSK was forced to re-route them to areas closer to Japan. The writing was on the wall – the opening of the war in the Pacific in December 1941, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Japanese Merchant Marine, saw both ships requisitioned by the Japanese Navy and converted into troop transports. In December 1942 steps were taken by the Naval Authorities to convert the Argentina Maru into an aircraft carrier, with the work lasting well into 1943. On November 23, 1943 the ex-liner was commissioned as the aircraft carrier Kaiyo, bearing no resemblance to her former self. During the next period Kaiyo was used as a training and escort carrier. Before Brasil Maru could be converted, she was sunk by the United States submarine Greenling on August 5, 1942, midway between Guam and Truk. Heavy casualties resulted. The demise of the ex-Argentina Maru came in home waters when, as the Kaiyo, she was attacked and sunk by US aircraft in Beppa Bay, Kyushu, Japan on July 24, 1945. She sank in shallow waters and after being raised was broken up in 1946. At the end of hostilities, Osaka Shosen Kaisha alone lost 219 vessels aggregating 990 000 tons of shipping and 4143 men. Sadly the Argentina Maru and Brasil Maru would no longer grace our shores but the grand image of Argentina Maru at Cape Town on August 10, 1939 will remain a vivid reminder of a once remarkable ship of distinguished style and technology.