Recently, while I was visiting the Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base, I found many issues of a WW II Intelligence document, titled "United States Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Weekly Intelligence." Designed to inform area commanders about enemy activities, tactics, and equipment, they were full of interesting articles. Vol 1, No. 12, dated 29 Sep 1944, included a translation of a captured Japanese document recovered in the Marianas in 1944. It shows the capabili-ties of standard Japanese merchant vessels and tankers. Although the original document provided information on the number of cargo booms, it did not provide any nominal armament. One or two five- or six-inch guns would be appropriate for most ships, with larger vessels possibly carrying four. Players creating a convoy can use these ships if they don't have specific information on the ships present.

Type	Designation/ Classification	Gross Tonnage	Loaded Displ.	Damage Pts	Size Class	Speed kts	Draft Feet	Engines	Horse Power
Cargo	A	6400	9300	131	B	11	25.5	Triple Exp	3300 ind
Cargo	A (mod)	6670	9720	135	B	9	25.5	Turbine	Oil fuel 2500 Coal Fuel 2000
Cargo	B	4400	7100	109	B	11	24.3	Turbine	2400 shp
Cargo	C	4300	4300	76	C	10	20.7	Triple Exp	1800 ind
Cargo	D	1900	2850	52	C	9	17.5	Triple Exp	1100 ind
Cargo	D (mod)	2300	3870	69	C	8	19.2	Triple Exp	900 ind
Cargo	E	830	1270	6	C	9	14.7	Diesel	750 shp
Cargo	E1 (mod)	860	1636	32	C	6	14.7	Diesel	370 or 430 shp
Cargo	E2 (mod)	880	1586	31	C	6	14.7	Triple Exp	400 ind
Cargo	F	495	730	17	D	9	12.5	Diesel	600 shp
Tanker	TL	10000	14500	179	B	14.5	29.7	Turbine	9500 shp
Tanker	TL (mod)	10000	14500	179	B	11.5	29.7	Turbine	5000 shp
Tanker	TM	5200	7000	108	B	11	24	Turbine	3600 shp
Tanker	TM (mod)	2800	4300	76	C	7	19.7	Triple Exp	1100 ind
Tanker	TS	1000	1250	25	C	9	15.5	Triple Exp	950 ind
Ore Ship	K	5300	7900	117	B	9	24.5	Triple Exp	2100 ind
shp = shaft horsepower, ind = indicated horsepower

BT