For many years the only Japanese passengers vessels seen in Europe were these of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), which opened a line service between Japan and Europe in 1896 first with the TOSA MARU.
Slowly this service was extended with more and larger vessels, and one of these vessels was the SUWA MARU.
Built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No 236 by the Mitsubishi Dockyard & Eng. Works at Nagasaki for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Tokyo.
29 March 1914 launched under the name SUWA MARU, two sisters the FUSHIMI MARU and YASUKA MARU.
Tonnage 10.927 grt, 12.700dwt.. dim. 521.0 x 62.6 x 37.5ft, draught 29ft.
Powered by two triple expansion steam engines manufactured by the shipsbuilder, 11.000 bhp., speed 16.5 knots. Twin screws. Seven boilers, coal consumption 130 tons a day, bunker capacity about 4000 tons of coal.
Passenger accommodation for 120 first, 50 second and 300 steerage. Crew 160.
She had six holds and two continuous and a third particular deck in three holds.
September 1914 delivered to owners.
Used in the liner service between Japan and Europe, during World War I via the Cape of Good Hope, otherwise through the Suez Canal.
From 1917 used in the Trans-Pacific service between Japan and the USA, in 1920 again in the service to Europe.
When the TEREKUNI MARU of the same company hit a mine in the Thames estuary in November 1939, the service was suspended.
During World War II used by Japan as a troop and transport vessel.
On a voyage from Kwajalein to Wake Island she was torpedoed in position 19 13N and 166 34E (about 5 miles SW of Wake Island) by the submarine USS TUNY on 28 March 1943. She was grounded on the South shore of Wake Island, a week later she was again torpedoed by the submarine USS FINBACK and USS SEADRAGON, and completely destroyed.
In 1963 a Japanese salvage team came to Wake Island and removed most of the remains of the wreck, the scrap was shipped to Japan.
Maldive Islands 1997 3r sg 2695, scott 2227d
Source: Merchant Ships of the World in color 1910-1929 by Laurence Dunn. Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1914. http://www.goldtel.net/ddxa/suwa.html