Sōya (宗谷) is a Japanese icebreaker that serves as a museum ship in Tokyo now.
World War Two - as an auxiliary ammunition supply and survey vessel. Sōya survived the war.
Antarctic Research Ship (1950 ~ 1978)
Sōya first voyage (1956) - modifications included the replacement of her steam engine with twin diesel engines and the installation of a helicopter deck for Bell 47G.
Sōya second voyage (1958) - rescued personnel stranded at the Showa research station in the face of approaching winter, but 15 Karafuto-Ken huskies (Sakhalin Husky 樺太犬) were abandoned to fend for themselves on the ice.
Sōya third voyage (spring, 1959) - Sōya returned to find two dogs (Taro & Jiro) still alive. Movie about this rescue: Nankyoku Monogatari (Antarctica 南極物語 1983)
Sōya was fully decommissioned in 1978 and as a museum ship at the Museum of Maritime Science, in Tokyo.
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