There's also another supply ship, Irako (capacity described as enough to feed 25'000 personnels for two weeks). Both are Japan's first supply ship equipped with refrigeration unit inside to keep the food supplies fresh for troops stationed far from home. Two more are planned, but after losing four carriers in Midway, warships get priority for the budget.
Mamiya was the only ship of the Mamiya-class food supply ship. The budget for her construction was part of the military budget for the eight-eight fleet program of the IJN. Her hull design was patterned to a merchant ship. She was launched on October 26, 1923 and was commissioned on July 15, 1924. Her standard displacement is 15,820 tons, she is equipped with 8 Kampon boilers, 1 shaft and 1 reciprocating engine that produced 10,000 shaft horsepower. Her speed is at 14 knots while armed with two 5.5 inch 50 cal. 3rd Year Type gun and two 3 inch 40 cal. 3rd Year Type AA guns, her armaments are removable just to save more space on her deck, they are only installed when cruising. She's equipped with an enhanced radio system and cleaning equipments. Since her presence could provide morale boost for the troops, she usually escorted by destroyers, coastal defense ships, submarine-chasers, and minelayers.
She is equipped with state-of-the-art refrigerating system which allowed her to store food for 18,000 troops for more than 3 weeks, she has a stall below her deck, which could accommodate 50 cattle with meat processing equipments, she contains several facilities that allows her to produced food such as Youkan, Manjuu, Tofu and Kanyoku. She also had numerous kitchens that are divided into separate rooms. Her 'Mamiya Jelly' surely gains popularity among troops and even civilians.
Aside of being a food supply ship, she could also served as a hospital ship, she transport military supplies such such as reconnaissance aircraft stored in her afterdeck. She also tasked on towing target ships during combat practices. Because of her reputation for providing delicious food, she was the usual venue of the Naval Academy Alumni Association's reunion parties.
Upon commissioning, she was attached to Kure Naval Yard, she was assigned to the Combined Fleet on 1925. On 1935, she undergoes remodeling which replaced her mainmast with a tripod. On April 14, 1936, she departed from Ariake Bay, Kyushu for the Spring Exercise of the Combined Fleet within the Tsingtao area of China. On July 23, 1936, several vessels including Mamiya were caught in a typhoon off Beppu Bay, Kyushu, she was grounded and received minor damage. They fitted her with AA batteries during late 1937, she is present during the Imperial Naval Review on October 11, 1940.
On September 20, 1941, she was anchored at Kure Naval Yard, she's near a large fitting-out pontoon servicing the battleship Yamato, which was on her last stage of construction. Houshou was also anchored besides Mamiya while Kako and Kinugasa were anchored nearby. When war between Japan and the United States broke-up, she was assigned to the Combined Fleet's Supply and Support Unit. During the early stages of war, she provided supplies to numerous auxiliary ships in Palau, in Davao, in Balikpapan, and in Truk.
During the early months of 1943, she continued providing re-provisions to merchant ships in Truk. She departed from Truk to Saipan with Soya Maru while escorted by destroyer Mochizuki. She returned to Truk afterwards and continued her provision and re-provision other ships. She was escorted by Ikazuchi while sailing south within the Bungo Channel with several auxiliary ships and arrived at Truk afterwards. She eventually departed from Truk and joined another convoy going to Yokosuka while escorted by destroyer Yuuzuki. While off Kure, she collided with auxiliary ship Kosei Maru, Kosei Maru's bow was damaged from the collision, she departed from Truk to Yokosuka afterwards while escorted by destroyer Shiratsuyu.
She departed from Yokosuka and joined convoy No. 3009A which consisted of 3 auxiliary ships while escorted by destroyer Asanagi. October 12, 1943, while the convoy was off Chichi-Jima, they were spotted by a USN submarine USS Cero SS-225, the submarine fires torpedoes at the convoy, Mamiya was hit on her stern which possibly damaged her rudder, she becomes unnavigable. Cape attempted to finish her off and fires six torpedoes, four torpedoes hit Mamiya, one was a dud. She was hit on her starboard engine and No. 5 hold, both engines No. 5 hold and shaft alley were completely flooded. Her boiler room and No. 7 hold were slightly flooded, she was left adrift. During her a salvage operation, she collided with torpedo boat Chidori. Submarine-tender Jingei departs from Kure to assist Mamiya, she was found drifting southwest of the Ogasawara Islands, Jingei towed Mamiya until auxiliary ship Asakaze Maru towed Mamiya while by destroyers Oite and Asanagi. She arrives at Kure afterwards and undergoes battle-damaged repairs.
On April 1, 1944, she departed from Tokyo, she joined the convoy 'Higatsu-Matsu', she was part of the No. 4 convoy with 4 auxiliary ships while escorted by destroyers Samidare and Asanagi with several coastal defense ships and a submarine-chaser. Her destination was to Palau Islands. During their voyage, her convoy was attacked by several USN submarines, USS Pollack SS-180 sank auxiliary ship Tosei Maru, USS Trigger SS-237 attacked them but missed, and USS Seahorse SS-304 damaged auxiliary ship Mimasaka Maru. On April 10, 1944, the convoy arrived at Saipan which they all separated, Mamiya arrived at Palau on April 16, 1944.
On May 2, 1944, she joined another convoy from Keelung to Moji with 4 auxiliary ships and 3 unidentified ships with.2 coastal defense ships and 1 gunboat. On May 6, 1944, she attacked by USS Spearfish SS-190, the submarine sank auxiliary ship Toyoura Maru and damaged Mamiya. Spearfish was attacked by the escorts and quickly escaped, Mamiya was towed by gunboat Uji. She arrived at Moji on May 9, 1944 and undergoes another battle-damaged repairs.
She departed Mutsure and joined convoy HI-79 with 3 transport ships and 2 tankers, they were escorted by light cruiser Kashii with 2 coastal defense ships and 1 minelayer, several ships joined the convoy during the voyage, she arrived at Takao afterwards and quickly proceed to Singapore. Mamiya departed from Saigon to Manila carrying a full load of ammunition in SAMA-14A escorted by 4 coastal defense ships. The convoy was attacked by USN submarine USS Hardhead SS-365, the submarine sank coastal defense ship CD-38, she arrives at Manila afterwards.
On December 18, 1944, she departed from Indochina provision troops in San Fernando, Philippines, escorted by destroyer Kari and 1 coastal defense ship. On December 20, 1944, about 450 miles northeast of Camranh Bay, she was attacked by USS Sealion SS-315 and damaged Mamiya. On the following day, she wast attacked by Sealion again and sunk afterwards, Captain Kase was killed.
Mamiya was sunk on December 21, 1944, at South China Sea. A memorial was erected on Nagasako Park, Kure, to honor the late food supply ship, Mamiya.
Jump into the bath!
The accomodation facility in Mamiya has a capacity exceeding the number of her own crews. There's also a large bath. This bath is used for officers to hold reunion parties or borrowed by crews of destroyers who have deficient sanitation equipment in their own ships.Special Task Ship Mamiya
Besides supply duties, Mamiya also has a hidden side to her. Despite not being a military ship, almost all of her captains held the rank of Colonel.
Also among her crews are veteran communication officers. Mamiya is equipped with complete radio communication equipment for her task of checking on the internal radio communication of the fleet.
When she found something in the communications that's against military discipline, Mamiya will send out a warning. Depending on the situation, she could even send out letters.
This conflicting face of Mamiya as both idol and chief of the discipline commitee is her charm.
The Real Idol of the Fleet
She grew her own vegetables. Carried living cow and pigs.
In addition to tools for producing Japanese food material such as tofu, konyaku, and tsukemono, she's also equipped with tools for making Japanese sweets, ramune, ice cream, and many other delicacies.
All these fresh ingredients are handled by first class professionals employed by the military.
Supply capacity: 1000 tons to stuff the fleet full (meal for 18,000 personnel for three weeks).
...and thus, every time Mamiya entered the port, everyone from troops to officers welcomed her with cheers.
Because her presence can affect the troops morale, she's always closely protected by bodyguards (destroyers). Truly the fleet's idol.
