Yasaka Maru:
The Yasaka Maru was a Steam Passenger Ship of 10,932 Grt. built at the Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd., Kobe, Japan (Yard No. 369) for the Nippon Yusen K.K., Co., Tokyo. Her keel was laid 17 June 1913, launched 14 March 1914 and completed 15 October 1914. She was 157.5 meters in length, 18.8 meters in beam, with Triple-Expansion engines providing 616 nhp each, and 2 propellers which gave her a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16.46 knots. For the era in which she was built, this made her one of the largest steamships of the day, with accommodations for over 500 passengers in three classes and a crew of 160 personnel. The ship entered into the Japan-Europe service in December 1914.
On 21 December 1915, while enroute from Port Said to London, the Yasaka Maru was attacked, torpedoed, and sunk without warning (an uncommon practice at the time) by German submarine U-38 (Max Valentiner) approximately 60 miles Northwest-by-West from Port Said at position 31.53N/31.10E in 62-66 meters of water. This position is also approximately 15 miles offshore from the "EL Burullus" lighthouse.(Admiralty Navigation Chart No. 2574)
One reference indicates that the ship was carrying a cargo of gold sovereigns valued at $200,000 at the time, and that the ship was partially salvaged shortly after its sinking. However, I have been unable to verify this to date.
Nippon Yusen Line company postcards of the "Yasaka Maru"
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