Aoshima A001240 1/700 IJN Seaplane Tender Kiiyokawa Maru

The Kiyokawa Maru was one of nine merchant ships converted into seaplane carriers between 1937 and 1942. The ship was built at Kawasaki's Kode Shipyard and launched on December 13, 1936 as a merchant vessel for the Kawasaki Kisen K. K. Line. Requisitioned by the IJN on September 28, 1941, she was refitted as a seaplane tender. The ship served in the Pacific Campaign of World War II and was attacked by aircraft from Task Force 38 on July 20, 1945, hit by bombs and heavily damaged, then forced to beach off Shida beach north of Kaminoseki, Yamaguchi to avoid sinking. On November 22, 1945, during heavy weather, the Kiyokawa Maru sank. Raised in December 1948, she was later repaired and put into civilian passenger service, then sold to Taiwan and scrapped in 1969.

This is a water line model kit molded in grey plastic. Includes decals.