Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(PAULA prewar, later ARARE MARU)

ARARE MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010-2014 Bob Hackett
Revision 1

E 1926:
Glascow, Scotland. Laid down at Harland & Wolf, Ltd. as a 2,770 BRT tanker for Curacaosche Scheepvaart Maatshappij (CSM).
1927:
Launched and named PAULA.
November 1927:
Completed. Registered at Willemstad, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Assigned call sign TPEF and placed in the service of Anglo Saxon Oil Ltd., London.
1932:
Ownership transfers to N.V. Nederlandsh-Indische Tankstoomboot Maatshappij. Registered at The Hague, Netherlands. New call sign PNTR, later changed to PGRN.
1938:
Requisitioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy as an oiler and designated TAN 115.
1 April 1941:
PAULA passes Thursday Island, en route from Balikpapan, Borneo to Cairns, Australia.
1 March 1942:
Off Tandjong Priok (Batavia’s port). Scuttled by her crew to avoid seizure by the Japanese.
24 December 1942:
Refloated, then undergoes repairs by the Japanese. Renamed ARARE MARU and assigned call sign JBWS. The Imperial Army (IJA) contracts operation of ARARE MARU to the Darien (Manchuria) Steam Ship Co., Ltd.
31 January 1943:
Requisitioned by the IJA.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Batavia (Djakarta), Java
2 February 1943:
Departs Djakarta.
16 February 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
20 March 1943:
Departs Singapore.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra. Loads fuel oil. [1]
2 April 1943:
Departs Palembang.
4 April 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
5 April 1943:
Departs Singapore.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
10 April 1943:
Departs Palembang.
14 April 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
6 May 1943:
Departs Singapore.
8 May 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
10 April 1943:
Departs Palembang.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
20 May 1943:
Departs Singapore.
22 May 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
24 May 1943:
Departs Palembang.
26 May 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
31 May 1943:
Departs Singapore.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
4 June 1943:
Departs Palembang.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
13 June 1943:
Departs Singapore.
15 June 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
18 June 1943:
Departs Palembang.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
24 June 1943:
Departs Singapore.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
27 June 1943:
Departs Palembang.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
4 July 1943:
Departs Singapore.
6 July 1943:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil. [2]
7 July 1943:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
14 July 1943:
Departs Singapore.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
18 July 1943:
Departs Palembang.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
26 July 1943:
Departs Singapore.
28 July 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
1 August 1943:
Departs Palembang.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
7 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
9August 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
11 August 1943:
Departs Palembang.
13 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
19 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
21 August 1943:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil.
26 August 1943:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
5 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
7 September 1943:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil.
9 September 1943:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
11 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
13 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil.
18 September 1943:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
21 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
27 September 1943: - Australian "Operation Jaywick":
ARARE MARE is sunk or heavily damged by mines planted by a 2-man canoe crew of the Royal Australian Z Special Unit of Special Operations Australia (Services Reconnaissance Department. Six men left Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia on 2 Sep '43 in the KRAIT, disguised as a Japanese fishing boat. Three 2-man canoes were landed at Panjang Island on 17 Sep from which they paddled to islands south of Singapore. One ARARE MARE crewman is killed in the attack. [3]
27 September - 28 December 1943:
Undergoes salvage and repairs, most probably in Singapore.
29 December 1943:
Departs Singapore.
31 December 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
3 January 1944:
Departs Palembang.
5 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil. That same day, the IJA’s contract for operation of ARARE MARU is renewed with Darien Steam Ship Co., Ltd.
7 January 1944:
Departs Singapore.
15 January 1944:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil.
16 January 1944:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
19 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
21 January 1944:
Departs Singapore.
26 January 1944:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil.
27 January 1944:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
2 February 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
3 February 1944:
Departs Singapore.
5 February 1944:
Arrives at Pangkalan Susu. Loads fuel oil.
12 February 1944:
Departs Pangkalan Susu.
18 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and later that day departs.
20 March 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
22 March 1944:
Departs Singapore
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and later that day departs.
27 March 1944:
Departs Palembang and arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
28 March 1944:
Departs Singapore.
30 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
2 April 1944:
Departs Palembang.
7 April 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
20 April 1944:
Departs Singapore.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and later that day departs.
30 April 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
4 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
6 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
7 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
11 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
12 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
16 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
21 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
24 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and departs later that day.
26 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
29 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
30 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
6 June 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and departs later that day.
9 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
10 June 1944:
Departs Singapore.
15 June 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
20 July 1944:
Departs Palembang.
26 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
27 July 1944:
Departs Singapore.
29 July 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
30 July 1944:
Departs Palembang.
4 August 1944:
Arrives at Port Swettenham (Port Klang) Malaya. Discharges fuel oil.
5 August 1944:
Departs Port Swettenham.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
10-11 August 1944:
Thirty-one Boeing B-29 “Super Fortress” heavy bombers of the USAAF’s Twentieth (XXth) Bomber Command’s 58th Bomb Wing at Chengtu, China stage through Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and attack the refinery at Palembang. Eight B-29's also sow mines in the Musi River near Palembang. One B-29 is lost due to fuel shortage. [4]
12 August 1944:
Departs Singapore.
14 August 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
16 August 1944:
Departs Palembang.
20 August 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
28 August 1944:
Departs Singapore.
2 September 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
3 September 1944:
Departs Palembang.
10 September 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
15 September 1944:
Departs Singapore.
17 September 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
20 September 1944:
Departs Palembang.
23 September 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
2 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
5 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
10 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
15 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
18 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
21 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
21 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
23 October 1944:
Arrives at Djakarta. Discharges fuel oil.
26 October 1944:
Departs Djakarta.
28 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
28 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
1 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
January 1945:
Departs Singapore.
4 January 1945: Operation "Lentil":
Rear Admiral (later Admiral of the Fleet/Sir) Philip Vian’s British Task Force 65 launches a successful air strike of 92 “Avengers” and “Firefly” bombers escorted by “Hellcat” and “Corsair” fighters from HMS INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS and INDEFATIGABLE. Two aircraft are lost, but their crews are rescued. Heavy damage is inflicted on the Pangkalan Brandon refinery. About a dozen Japanese aircraft are shot down and about 20 are destroyed by strafing attacks on nearby airfields.
6 January 1945:
Arrives at Batavia.
7 January 1945:
Departs Batavia (Jakarta).
10 January 1945:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
12 January 1945:
Departs Palembang.
15 January 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
17 January 1945:
Arrives at Palembang. Probably loads fuel oil and departs later that day.
18 January 1945:
Departs Palembang.
22 January 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil and later that day, departs.
24 January 1945: Operation “Meridian One”:
At 0600, Rear Admiral’s British Task Force 63’s (later renamed the British Pacific Fleet) launches a successful air strike on the oil refinery at Pladjoe, north of Palembang. The strike consists of 43 “Avengers” and 12 “Firefly” fighter-bombers armed with rockets escorted by 50 “Hellcat”, “Corsair” and “Seafire” fighters from HMS INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS and INDEFATIGABLE. 32 British aircraft are lost due to Japanese action and crash landings.
Later that day, arrives at Palembang and loads fuel oil.
25 January 1945:
Departs Palembang.
27 January 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
27 January 1945:
Departs Singapore.
29 January 1945: Operation “Meridian Two” :
Task Force 63 launches a successful air strike on the oil refinery at Soengaierong (Sungei Gerong) Sumatra. The British claim 30 Japanese planes shot down in dog-fights and another 38 destroyed on the ground, for the loss of 16 British aircraft. A small Japanese counterattack is attempted, but is defeated by fighter cover and anti-aircraft fire. [1]
Later that day, arrives at Palembang and loads fuel oil.
30 January 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
1 February 1945:
Departs Singapore.
3 February 1945:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and departs later that day.
5 February 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
7 February 1945:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil and departs later that day.
9 February 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
10 February 1945:
Departs Singapore.
13 February 1945:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
14 February 1945:
Departs Palembang.
17 February 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
20 April 1945:
Departs Singapore.
22 April 1945:
Arrives at Palembang. Possibly in a minor collision with 1,189 GRT tanker KYOEI MARU No. 3. Loads fuel oil.
E 25 April 1945:
Departs Palembang.
28 April 1945:
Arrives at Singapore. Discharges fuel oil.
September 1945: War’s End:
Singapore. Found sunk and wreck taken over by British Forces.
December 1945-1948:
Refloated and returned to Nederlandsh-Indische Tankstoomboot Maatshappij, NEI and placed in their service.
1949:
Transferred to Nederlandsh-Indische Tankvaart Maatshappij, NEI and placed in their service.
1953:
Sold to an unknown firm in Singapore and converted to a dredger.
1966:
Scrapped in Singapore

Authors' Notes:
[1] The center of oil production in Sumatra was at Prabumulih, about 70 km from Palembang. The crude was transported via pipelines to the former Royal Dutch Shell oil refineries under IJA control at Pladju (Pladjoe) a few miles from Palembang and to Soengaierong (Sungei Gerong) east of the city refinery.
[2] The 3,900 mile flight from Ceylon to Palembang and back was the longest single-stage flight undertaken by USAAF combat aircraft in WWII.
[3] For further information please see "Operation Jaywick"
[4] The IJA also operated the former Royal Dutch Shell oil refinery at Pangkalan Brandan in northern Sumatra. The oil was transported from port facilities at nearby Pangkalan Susu. The IJA used mostly smaller captured tankers to transport the oil across the Musi (Moesi) River and to carry the oil from Sumatra to Singapore for shipment to Japan.
[5] Some sources claim that at an unknown time ARARE MARU was renamed NANJO MARU. This may have occurred when the vessel was transferred from Army to Navy control. The ship was called reason ARARE MARU as late as Sep '44 probably because she continued to be known by her Army number.
Author's Note:
Thanks go to Peter Cundall of Australia.
- Bob Hackett.

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