Escort Carrier Taiyo

Taiyo was originally laid down as Kasuga Maru (春日丸), a passenger-cargo liner for the NYK Line, at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Nagasaki, launched 19 September 1940. She was the last of three Nitta Maru-class liners and was requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy in early 1941 before completion as a liner. Conversion into an escort carrier was completed at Sasebo, and she was completed in September 1941 (sources give the 2nd, 5th or 15th) — one of the earliest Japanese escort carriers. At approximately 17,830 tons displacement, Taiyo could carry around 27 aircraft and was initially used to ferry aircraft to forward bases and for aircrew training. She was also employed on convoy escort duty between Japan and Singapore. On 18 August 1944, while escorting a convoy in the Luzon Strait area, Taiyo was hit aft by one or two torpedoes fired by USS Rasher (SS-269) off Cape Bolinao, Luzon; her aft aviation-fuel tank exploded. She sank 28 minutes later at approximately 18°10′N 120°22′E with heavy loss of life.