Akitsu Maru (あきつ丸) was a Japanese "Type C" landing craft depot ship and escort aircraft carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA).

AKITSU MARU is loaded with the 23rd Division’s artillery and men of Hq, 64th Infantry Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions, 64th Inf, 1st Company, 2nd Battalion 72nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Company, 23rd Engineers and about 500 horses.

Takatsu Maru was a 5,656-ton, 19-knot steam ship [2] completed in January 1944 with icebreaker capability, [3] and used conventional cranes rather than gates for handling nine Toku-Daihatsu-class landing craft. [2] She was sunk by United States aircraft in Ormoc Bay during the invasion of the Philippines. [1]

Laid down as passenger liners Akitsu Maru (9186BRT) and Nigitsu Maru (9547BRT). In the summer 1941 incomplete vessels were requisitioned by Army command for conversion to landing ships with a flight deck.

Akitsu Maru (あきつ丸) was a Japanese escort aircraft carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Army. In some sources Akitsu Maru and her sister ship Nigitsu Maru are also considered to be the first amphibious assault ships.

In November, a submarine sank the 11,000-ton transport Akitsu Maru. She went down in three minutes, and 2,150 men, mostly from the 23rd Division, died.

Akitsu Maru uses a very stern and professional way of addressing herself to the Admiral, and might be the shipgirl with the most militaristic behavior among all shipgirls observed so far.

Akitsu Maru (あきつ丸?) was a Japanese landing craft depot ship and escort aircraft carrier operated by the Imperial Japanese Army. In some sources Akitsu Maru and her sister ship Nigitsu Maru are also considered to be the first amphibious assault ships.

Akitsu Maru was laid down in September, 1939 as a passenger liner for Nippon Kaiun, K.K. by Harima Shipbuilding at its Aioi shipyard. Six months later, she was requisitioned by the IJA for conversion to a large assault landing ship.

On November 15th, 1944 U.S. submarine Queenfish (SS-393) attacks the Japanese convoy HI-81 and sinks army cargo ship/aircraft transport Akitsu Maru at the southern entrance of Tsushima Strait, some 60 miles east of Saishu Island. 2,046 men of the IJA's 64th Infantry Regiment and other units aboard are KIA.