In September 1936, the Soviet Union ordered three ice-resistant freighters as payment for the purchase of the Southern Manchuria Railway.

[1] Due to a deterioration in the relations with the Soviet Union, the ship was never delivered and was renamed Tenryo Maru.

[1] On 1 February 1944, ownership was transferred to Tatsuma Kisen Co., Ltd. of Nishinomiya which had merged with her prior owner.

Tenryo Maru quickly sank at 46°46′N 144°16′E / 46.767°N 144.267°E / 46.767; 144.267 killing 773 out of 947 men of the 23rd Air Defense Battalion, 26 gunners, and 83 sailors.

[7] Sterlet also severely damaged Kuretake Maru which sank the following day with a death toll of 272 soldiers and six sailors.