Muroto-class collier

The Muroto-class colliers (室戸型給炭艦,, Muroto-gata Kyūtankan) were a class of collier of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving from roughly the end of World War I into World War II. Two vessels were built in 1918-19 under the Eight-four fleet plan.

• In 1917, World War I was stagnant. The lengthy war led to an increase in shipping and a shortage of merchant ships.
• The IJN utilized steamship companies to perform coal transportation duties. However, this expedient was very costly. The IJN decided to build new colliers under the Eight-four fleet plan.
• Their design was ordinary, because the IJN did not impose any special requirements on them.

• In the 1920s, they engaged in coal transportation duties.
• In February 1932, the Muroto was remodeled, becoming an auxiliary hospital ship. She was refitted as a supply ship in 1941.
• In World War II, the value of coal as fuel fell. The ships engaged in transporting goods and troops.

• Monthly Ships of the World, Special issue Vol. 47, "Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy","Kaijinsha"., (Japan), March 1997
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 34, "Japanese Auxiliary vessels","Ushio Shobō". (Japan), December 1979
• Series 100 year histories from Meiji Era, Vol. 180, Histories of Naval organizations #8, Author: Ministry of the Navy, original plot in January 1940, reprinted in October 1971
• IJN Nojima: Tabular Record of Movement, <http://www.combinedfleet.com/NojimaS_t.htm>
• IJN Muroto: Tabular Record of Movement, <http://www.combinedfleet.com/Muroto_t.htm>