Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

BOSEMMOTEI!

PICTURE WANTED

IJN AGATA MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2018 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

20 August 1931:
Osaka. Laid down by Fujinagata Zosensho K.K. as a 302-GRT cargo ship for Kitakyushu Shosen K.K.
5 October 1931:
Launched and named AGATA MARU. [1]
20 November 1931:
Completed and registered at Fukuoka.
1935:
Her owners are changed to Kyushu Yusen K.K.
4 July 1939:
Departs Nanking, southern China and returns there later this day.
5 August 1939:
Departs Nanking.
29 August 1939:
Arrives at Nanking.
3 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
10 November 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary anti-submarine netlayer in the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 1390.
25 November 1941:
Conversion to military duty starts at Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. shipyard.
31 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Tanimoto Umataro’s (35) Sasebo Naval District, Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Navy’s instruction No. 1780.
15 January 1942:
Attachment confirmed to Sasebo Naval District, Oshima Base Force under instruction No. 14 and to Oshima Base Defense Unit under instruction No. 31. Departs Seso, Amami Oshima, Amami Islands that same day.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
18 January 1942:
Departs Seso.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
22 January 1942:
Departs Seso.
23 January 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
24 January 1942:
Departs Seso.
25 January 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
27 January 1942:
Departs Seso.
28 January 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
31 January 1942:
Departs Seso.
1 February 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Classified as vessel No. 7 in first platoon.
4 February 1942:
Departs Seso.
5 February 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Attachment confirmed to Sasebo Naval District, Oshima Base Force under instruction No. 16 and to Oshima Base Defense Unit under instruction No. 32.
9 February 1942:
Departs Seso.
10 February 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
23 February 1942:
Departs Seso.
24 February 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
25 February 1942:
Departs Seso.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
2 March 1942:
Departs Seso.
3 March 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
6 March 1942:
Departs Seso.
7 March 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
9 March 1942:
Departs Seso.
10 March 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
11 March 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
12 March 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
13 March 1942:
Departs Seso.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
26 March 1942:
Departs Naha.
27 March 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
1 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso and returns there later that day.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso and returns there later this day.
4 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso and returns there later that day.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso and returns there later this day.
9 April 1942:
Departs Seso.
10 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Attachment confirmed to Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 22.
12 April 1942:
Departs Seso.
13 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
20 April 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
21 April 1942:
Departs Seso.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Nishikomi, Amami Oshima.
23 April 1942:
Departs Nishikomi. Departs there and arrives at Seso later this day.
28 April 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
29 April 1942:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naha later this day. Departs later.
19 May 1942:
Departs Seso.
20 May 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
24 May 1942:
Departs Seso.
25 May 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
26 May 1942:
Departs Seso.
29 May 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
30 May 1942:
East China Sea, E of Okinawa. At about 1725, LtCdr (Rear Admiral-Ret) Lewis S. Parks’ (USNA '25) USS POMPANO (SS-181) torpedoes and set on fire IJA transport ATSUTA MARU.
Departs Seso with auxiliary netlayer KASHIWA MARU, auxiliary subchaser RYOSUI MARU, auxiliary subchaser HOKOKO MARU No.3 GO and auxiliary gunboat SHINKYO MARU to rescue survivors, assist ATSUTA MARU and carries out an anti-submarine sweep under Oshima Base Force instruction No. 6. Assists as far as possible with the fire-fighting of ATSUTA MARU.
31 May 1942:
Ordered to continue current mission under Oshima Base Force instructions No. 11 and No. 12.
3 June 1942:
Around midnight ATSUTA MARU sinks with the loss of 37 passengers.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
6 June 1942:
Departs Seso.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
10 June 1942:
Departs Seso.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
16 June 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
30 June 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
July 1942:
Navy Lt (Reserve) Yoshida Takeo is appointed CO.
5 July 1942:
Departs Seso escorting a convoy.
6 July 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Departs there on anti-submarine sweep later that day.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
12 July 1942:
Departs Seso.
13 July 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
16 July 1942:
Departs Seso to lay an anti-submarine net. Returns to Seso later this day.
17 July 1942:
Loads fuel and replenishes fresh water.
18 July 1942:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
20 July 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Replenishes fresh water.
21 July 1942:
Departs Seso guiding DesDiv10. Returns there later that day.
29 July 1942:
Departs Seso.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
1 August 1942:
Navy Lt (Reserve) Yoshida Takeo is confirmed as CO.
7 August 1942:
Departs Seso on hydrophone exercise. Returns there later this day.
8 august 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
9 August 1942:
Replenishes fresh water.
12 August 1942:
Departs Seso.
13 August 1942:
At position bearing 2 degrees 20 nautical miles off Otake Zaki, Tanegashima, carries out an anti-submarine sweep.
15 August 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Loads fuel and replenishes fresh water. Thereafter departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
5 September 1942:
Departs Naha.
6 September 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
7 September 1942:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
13 September 1942:
Loads fuel and replenishes fresh water.
18 September 1942:
Departs Seso on hydrophone exercise. Returns there later that day.
27 September 1942:
Replenishes fresh water.
29 September 1942:
Departs Seso on various exercises. Returns there later this day.
2 October 1942:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
4 October 1942:
Tries to tow a wooden dredging vessel but doesn’t succeed. Sweeps the shipping lane ahead of auxiliary transport ARGENTINA MARU (later escort carrier KAIYO).
5 October 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
8 October 1942:
Undergoes main engine exhaust valve repairs.
9 October 1942:
Departs Seso on gunnery exercise.
10 October 1942:
Arrives at Naha.
13 October 1942:
Departs Naha on anti-submarine sweep.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Naha escorting No. 309 convoy.
17 October 1942:
Departs Naha on anti-submarine sweep.
19 October 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Departs there on shipping lane sweep later that same day.
21 October 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Refuels. Departs there on anti-submarine sweep later that day.
23 October 1942:
Arrives at Nago Bay.
26 October 1942:
Departs Nago Bay, Okinawa and arrives at Naha later this day.
27 October 1942:
Departs Naha.
28 October 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Loads fuel and replenishes fresh water.
31 October 1942:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
2 November 1942:
Replenishes 20t fresh water.
4 November 1942:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Yakiuchi Bay, Kagoshima.
7 November 1942:
Departs Yakiuchi Bay and arrives at Seso later that day. Replenishes 5t fresh water.
8 November 1942:
Departs Seso escorting TOYO MARU. Arrives at Yakiuchi Bay later this day.
9 November 1942:
Departs Yakiuchi Bay escorting TOYO MARU. Arrives at Seso later that day.
10 November 1942:
Departs Seso on gunnery exercise. Returns there later this day. Attachment confirmed to Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 33.
12 November 1942:
Departs Seso on guard patrol. Arrives at Yakiuchi Bay later that day
13 November 1942:
Departs Yakiuchi Bay and returns there later this day.
14 November 1942:
Departs Yakiuchi Bay and returns there later that day.
16 ~ 17 November 1942:
Undergoes main engine exhaust valve repairs.
18 November 1942:
Departs Yakiuchi Bay on guard patrol and returns there later this day.
19 November 1942:
Undergoes main engine exhaust valve repairs.
20 November 1942:
Departs Yakiuchi Bay and arrives at Seso later this day.
21 November 1942:
Departs Seso.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Okinoerabujima, Satsunan Islands. Departs there and arrives at Seso later that day.
24 November 1942:
Departs Seso on exercise. Returns there later this day. Undergoes main engine exhaust valve repairs.
28 November ~ 2 December 1942:
Main machine intake/exhaust valve arm bearing are being repaired.
1 December 1942:
Undergoes main engine piston ring repairs.
2 December 1942:
Departs Seso.
3 December 1942:
Undergoes main engine cooling pipe temporary repairs.
4 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 ~ 11 December 1942:
In Sasebo Navy Yard drydock.
6 December 1942:
Attachment confirmed to Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 34.
17 December 1942:
Attachment confirmed to Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 47.
10 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo on trials. Returns there later that day.
14 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
15 January 1943:
Arrives at Seso. Tethers to quay and carries out cargo handling work.
16 January 1943:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
17 January 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
18 January 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Sokaru, Kagoshima later this day.
19 January 1943:
Departs Sokaru and arrives at Seso later that day.
20 January 1943:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
22 January 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
1 February 1943:
Supplied with 2t heavy oil.
3 February 1943:
Departs Seso but is forced to return because of stormy weather. Repairs sustained damage and replenishes 4t fresh water.
5 February 1943:
Departs Seso.
6 February 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
12 February 1943:
Departs Naha on anti-submarine sweep. Returns there later that day.
16 February 1943:
Departs Naha on anti-submarine sweep.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
22 February 1943:
Departs Naha.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
25 February 1943:
Departs Seso on boat lowering exercise.
26 February 1943:
Arrives at Seso. Departs on depth charge dropping exercise and returns there later this day.
3 March 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
12 March 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
13 March 1943:
Departs Seso and returns later that day.
14 March 1943:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
19 March 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
23 March 1943:
Departs Seso for Naha.
29 March 1943:
Departs Naha on anti-submarine sweep and arrives at Seso later this day.
1 April 1943:
Departs Seso on aircraft rescue mission.
3 April 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
7 April 1943:
Attachment confirmed to Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 54.
9 April 1943:
Departs Naha.
10 April 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
20 April 1943:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
22 April 1943:
Arrives at Seso. Departs on escort mission later that day.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
1 May 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
6 May 1943:
Departs Seso.
7 May 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
11 May 1943:
Departs Seso.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
15 May 1943:
Attachment confirmed to Oshima Base Force, Oshima Base Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 42.
20 May 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
21 May 1943:
Departs Seso.
22 May 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
26 May 1943:
Departs Seso on patrol.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
5 June 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze later that day.
8 June 1943:
Departs Naze.
9 June 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
15 June 1943:
Departs Naha.
16 June 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
18 June 1943:
Departs Seso.
19 June 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
22 June 1943:
Departs Seso on anti-submarine sweep.
26 June 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
1 July 1943:
Departs Naha.
3 July 1943:
Arrives at Naha outer harbor.
4 July 1943:
Departs outer harbor on escort mission.
7 July 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
10 July 1943:
Departs Seso on crashed aircraft searching mission.
12 July 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
13 July 1943:
Undergoes engine maintenance.
20 July 1943:
Departs Seso.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
23 July 1943:
Departs Naha.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
4 August 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
5 August 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
6 August 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze, Amami Oshima. Departs there later later this day.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
12 August 1943:
At 1000, departs Naha with auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2 escorting convoy OKI-201 consisting only of IKUSAI GO (ex-Chinese YU CHI).
13 August 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
20 August 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
23 August 1943:
Departs Seso.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
20 September 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later that day.
21 September 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
22 September 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze later that day.
27 September 1943:
Departs Seso and returns there later this day.
29 September 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze later that day.
30 September 1943:
Departs Naze and arrives at Seso later this day.
5 October 1943:
Departs Seso.
6 October 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
14 October 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy TA-407 consisting of IKOMASAN MARU and SHINSEI MARU No. 17 and four unidentified merchant ships also escorted by auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU. Carries out an anti-submarine sweep.
18 October 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
20 October 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-004 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships also escorted by auxiliary netlayer KOGA MARU.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze. Departs there and arrives at Seso later this day.
24 October 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze later that day. Thereafter, departs escorting HONAN MARU (5,401 GRT) towing JUYO MARU.
25 October 1943:
Auxiliary minesweeper HIMESHIMA MARU takes over the escort of HONAN MARU towing JUYO MARU. Arrives at Naze later this day.
26 October 1943:
Departs Naze and arrives at Seso later that day.
30 October 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze. Departs there later that day.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
1 November 1943:
Assigned to Nansei Shoto (Ryukyu Islands), Okinawa Surface Defense Forces under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 49.
5 November 1943:
Scheduled to remove netlaying and minesweeping equipment and to be fitted with transport accommodation and one Type 93 13mm MG. Departs Naha later that same day.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
8 November 1943:
Departs Seso.
9 November 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 November 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwest Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Tayui Minoru’s (39) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet under Navy instruction No. 2381.
3 January 1944:
At 0800, departs Naha with auxiliary DAITO MARU escorting Ta convoy (number unknown) to Kirun consisting of KYODO MARU No. 13 and others.
26 January 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
7 February 1944:
Departs Takao escorting convoy TAMA-02 consisting of NAGATA, TACHIBANA, KIKUSUI MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1.
8 February 1944:
At 0800 auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU takes over escort.
10 February 1944:
Departs Takao with destroyer KURETAKE, auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 escorting convoy TAMA-03 consisting of tanker YAMAKO (SANKO) MARU and fourteen unidentified merchant ships. At some point TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 detaches and returns to Takao.
22 February 1944:
Departs Takao with minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary netlayer TOKACHI MARU, auxiliary TERUKUNI MARU and one unidentified auxiliary warship escorting convoy TAMA-05 consisting of TAIKOKU, FUYO, HOZAN, CHINKAI, ZUIYO, FUJIKAWA, KACHOSAN, TEIYU (ex-Italian CARIGNANO) MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 16.
26 February 1944:
Arrives at Manila, Luzon, Philippines.
29 February 1944:
Departs Manila with minesweeper W-17 escorting convoy MAMI-03 consisting of ZUIYO MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
2 March 1944: At Imuruan Bay, Palawan Island, Philippines. Second class destroyer KURETAKE meets up with convoy MAMI-03 and begins escort duties. W-17 detaches and takes over escort of convoy MIMA-03.
6 March 1944:
Arrives at Miri, Sarawak, British Borneo (now Malaysia) with convoy MAMI-03.
10 April 1944:
Departs Singapore for Andaman, Sabang, We Island, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and then Penang, British Malaya (now Malaysia).
22 April 1944:
Departs Penang towing a torpedo boat (HATSUKARI?) for Sabang and then Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
9 June 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
21 June 1944:
Departs Port Blair on anti-submarine sweep.
23 June 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
27 June 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
2 July 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
3 July 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island.
4 July 1944:
Departs Cocos Island.
7 July 1944:
Arrives at Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar).
17 July 1944:
Departs Rangoon.
21 July 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
30 July 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
1 August 1944:
Arrives at Car Nicobar Island.
2 August 1944:
Departs Car Nicobar Island.
3 August 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
6 August 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
9 August 1944:
Arrives at Rangoon.
12 August 1944:
Departs Rangoon.
14 August 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island and departs later that day.
15 August 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
16 August 1944:
Departs Port Blair and returns there later this day.
21 August 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
22 August 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island.
24 August 1944:
Departs Cocos Island.
25 August 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
27 August 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
28 August 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island.
1 September 1944:
Arrives at Stewart Island, Andamans.
2 September 1944:
Departs Stewart Island.
3 September 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
6 September 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
7 September 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island and departs later that day.
9 September 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
11 September 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
12 September 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island and departs later this day.
13 September 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
14 September 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
15 September 1944:
Arrives at Cocos Island and departs later that day.
16 September 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
20 September 1944:
Departs Port Blair and arrives at Cocos Island later this day.
23 September 1944:
Departs Cocos Island.
24 September 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
29 September 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
30 September 1944:
Arrives at Car Nicobar Island.
2 October 1944:
Departs Car Nicobar Island.
3 October 1944:
Arrives at Car Nicobar Island and departs later that day.
5 October 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
9 October 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
12 October 1944:
Arrives at Rangoon.
20 October 1944:
Departs Rangoon.
23 October 1944:
Arrives at Port Blair.
26 October 1944:
Departs Port Blair.
28 October 1944:
Arrives at Sabang.
19 January 1945:
Departs Port Blair. Early afternoon, gunned by Lt. T.E. Barlow’s British submarine HMS SUPREME (P 252). At 1347, hit at front port at No. 53 and No. 54 bulkheads. At 1350, short deck gun is hit and cease fire after having fired eight shells. At 1352, bridge is hit and semi-collapses. At 1415, beached S Port Blair.
10 April 1945:
Departs Port Blair for Singapore carrying 20 passengers and a cargo of drums and cans.
11 April 1945:
About 11 nautical miles NE Car Nicobar Island, bombed by three RAF 203th Squadron Consolidated B-24 ‘Liberator’. Sinks at 09-21N, 93-00E with unknown casualties.
3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 327.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with Std. 2E Type (884 GRT, ’44).
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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