The Tatsuta Maru was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), constructed between 1927 and 1929 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. in Nagasaki. This vessel measured approximately 583 feet (178 meters) in length with a beam of 71 feet (22 meters) and a tonnage of 16,975 tons. Powered by four Mitsubishi-Sulzer diesel engines and equipped with quadruple screws, the ship achieved a service speed of 21 knots. She featured two funnels and two masts, although only one funnel was necessary; the second was added for aesthetic reasons. The vessel's passenger accommodations included space for 222 first-class, 96 second-class, and up to 504 third-class passengers, served by a crew of about 330. Tatsuta Maru was launched on 12 April 1929, after being laid down on 3 December 1927, and was named after the Tatsuta Shrine in Nara Prefecture. Her maiden voyage commenced on 15 March 1930 from Yokohama to San Francisco, initiating her role in NYK’s high-speed trans-Pacific service connecting Japan, China, Hawaii, and the United States. She became notable for her rapid 15-day trips and was called "The Queen of the Sea." In her early service, she carried notable passengers, including American baseball players, and was the first civilian vessel to pass under the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge in 1936. Throughout the 1930s and early 1940s, Tatsuta Maru served various roles including passenger liner, diplomatic vessel, and troopship. She transported refugees, diplomatic staff, and prisoners of war, and was involved in several notable events, such as carrying Jewish refugees and participating in diplomatic exchanges. Her last civilian voyage between Japan and the U.S. was in late 1941. Requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, Tatsuta Maru was used extensively as a troopship and for repatriation missions. On 8 February 1943, she was torpedoed by the American submarine Tarpon off Mikurajima while en route from Yokosuka to Truk. The attack sank the vessel, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,223 soldiers and passengers and 198 crew members. The sinking marked a tragic end to a ship that had played a significant role in Japan’s maritime history, serving as a symbol of Japan’s trans-Pacific maritime capabilities before her demise during wartime operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.