INFANTA ISABEL
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:33 pm

Built under yard no 633 as a cargo-passenger vessel by Russell and Co., Port Glasgow for the Spanish owner Pinillos, Izquierdo y Cia. of Cadiz.
29 June 1912 launched under the name INFANTA ISABEL.
Tonnage 8.170 grt. 5.300 dwt., dim. 459.5 x 58.2 x 36.8ft.
Two quadruple expansion steam engines, 1.134 nhp. manufactured by Rowan & Co., Glasgow, twin screws, speed 15 knots. Coal fired, bunker capacity about 2.000 ton coal.
Passenger accommodation for 144 first, 150 second and 1.750 third class.
September 1912 delivered to owners.
She was built for the services between Barcelona and South America, and she sailed for her maiden voyage in this service 28 September 1912 via Cadiz and Las Palmas to Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
23 August 1914 after the outbreak of World War I, sailed from Barcelona and via Cadiz made one round voyage to repatriate Americans stranded in Europe to New York. After this voyage again in the service to South America.
After the war she made two round voyages as troopship one from Marseille (27 April 1919) the other from Bordeaux (19 June 1919).
During the early twenties she was used in the service between Spain and Havana, Galveston and New Orleans.
The Pinillos Line was a small company and during 1916 and 1919 they lost 3 ships, with heavy loss of live, they never recovered from this losses and around 1925 the company went into liquidation.
1925 INFANTA ISABEL was sold to Cia Transoceánica de Nav. Barcelona.
August 1926 Sold to Osaka Shosen K.K., Osaka, Japan, sailed under her old name from Hamburg for Japan. After arrival her name was changed to MIDZUHO MARU.
Tonnage given as 8.506 grt., 6.572 dwt. Passenger accommodation for 41 first, 1.133 second and 2.606 third.
Used in the service from Kobe to Moji and Keelung, Formosa (Taiwan).
1938 Her name is given as MIZUHO MARU.
When war broke out between Japan and China she was used as a transport.
During the Second World War classified as hospital vessel, but of she was used in this roll is not known.
21 September 1944 was she lost due to a torpedo fired by the US submarine USS REDFISH in a position 18 35N 120 39E, about 5 miles NE of Cape Bojeador, Luzon, Philippines. At that time she was given as a transport. The loss of life by the sinking of the ship till so far not known.
Maldive Islands 1997 3r sg2694, scott 2227c
Source: Register of Merchant ships completed in 1912. Merchant Ships of the world in color 1910-1929 by Lawrence Dunn. South Atlantic Seaway and North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor.