Calling all IJN Kawasaki-type (川崎型油槽船) oiler fans

[ch hoeltge]

You mean the winches with two reels?
On my Koza Mari model the is the drive parallel to the the reel.
I have to modify my model anyway. So perhaps I should go this way.

Greetings Christian

[Hen]

I see that the tanker is a lighter tone above the 01 level in the bottom photo. Although it's pure speculation, do you think that would extend to the forward superstructure?

It's really hard to say. I suppose it's possible. There's just not enough wartime photos of various sisters to be sure of anything. Below is an enlargement of a view of the same tanker taken around the same time.

Camo did not start to appear until mid 1944.

Hey guys!
I checked the TROMs of all the Kawasaki type oilers and apart from Kyokuto Maru, only Nichiei Maru and probably Genyo Maru were at Truk during the time period in question. I think the photos were taken 21-22 June 1943; that was the date when Kyokuto Maru refuelled Umikaze according to the TROM. Also Unyo, Chuyo and Ushio were at Truk together from 21-28 June 1943.
The bridge looks like it's normal grey, but all masts and the upper parts of aft deck, vents and funnel were painted either white or a light grey. On the Kyokuto Maru in the other picture, you can see that she has white mast tops.

The order for the two-tone green camo was given out after or around the time of the Marianas Battle in June 1944.

[Dan K]

It's unfortunate that there remain some holes in the TROM dates. I, too, lean towards the unidentified tanker being Genyo or Nichei Maru, but, we have to account for the tripod mast at its rear. If it were Nichei Maru, it would require she being refitted with a tripod after mid-1942, as she clearly does not have one while towing Mogami after Midway. I have serious doubts as to that having been the case.

Genyo Maru was built with a single post aft, so it's not inconceivable that she was upgraded before the war.