Kembu Maru also Kenmu Maru (Kanji:健武丸) was a 6,816 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Company of Hong Kong Ltd. She was built as Empire Blossom and was ready to be launched when Hong Kong was invaded by Japan in December 1941.

[1] Empire Blossom was built as a 6,603 GRT cargo ship by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Company of Hong Kong Ltd. She was laid down in May 1941,[2] as yard number 303.

[3] The engine and boilers intended for Empire Blossom were sent to Singapore on 1 December 1941 aboard the Blue Funnel Line ship Ulysses.

It was completed in February 1943 and put into service by the Imperial Japanese Navy as Kembu Maru.

[5] On 4 December 1943, Kembu Maru was bombed and torpedoed by aircraft from USS Lexington.