Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(ATAGO MARU, prewar)

ATAGO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2016 Bob Hackett
Revision 1

E 1919:
Glasgow, Scotland. Laid down at Lithgow and Company as a 7,544-ton cargo-passenger vessel for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, K. K. (NYK Line).
June 1924:
Launched and named ATAGO MARU.
28 November 1924:
Completed as one of the first diesel-engined Japanese registered ships.
1920-1941:
In NYK's service. ATAGO MARU can accomodate nine first-class passengers. She operates between Kobe, Yokohama and the West coast of the United States and Canada.
August 1926-March 1927:
Operates on NYK’s Kobe, Yokohama to Victoria, British Columbia and Seattle route, returning from Victoria or Vancouver, BC. Some voyages also originate at Shanghai and call at Nagasaki.
3 August 1942:
ATAGO MARU departs Cap St Jacques bound for Mako, Pescadores in convoy 425 also composed of DENMARK MARU bound for Takao, OHIO MARU bound for Hai Phong, Vichy French Indochina and TOKIWA MARU No, 1 bound for Takao and TOYAMA MARU bound for Whampoa escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU.
5 August 1942:
OHIO MARU is detached from the convoy at 11-35N, 112-46E to proceed to Hai Phong.
28 December 1942:
Sasebo Naval Arsenal. ATAGO MARU begins conversion from a cargo-transport vessel to an emergency tanker.
14 February 1943:
The conversion is completed.
15 June 1943:
ATAGO MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 586 also consisting of MURORAN MARU and EIYO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU.
18 June 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
23 July 1943:
ATAGO MARU departs St Jacques in unescorted convoy No. 412 also consisting of tankers San Ramon and Kiyo Marus and eleven unescorted merchant ships. The convoy later splits into three parts.
15 August 1943:
ATAGO MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 187 also consisting of tankers KIYO MARUs and ten unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
30 December 1943:
At 0800, ATAGO MARU departs Zamboanga, Philippines in a convoy also consisting of cargo ship SHOZUI MARU escorted by CH-46. At 1800, the convoy arrives at Jolo.
31 December 1943:
At 0700, departs Jolo. At 1700, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
1 March 1944:
At 1635, ATAGO MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-07 consisting of tankers RIKKO, NITTATSU, CHIYODA and SARAWAK MARUs and transports/cargo ships TEIKO (ex-Vichy French D'ARTAGNAN), YAMAHAGI, SUGIYAMA, KENSEI and HAKUROKU (HAKUSHIKA) MARUs escorted by destroyer AMAGIRI and minesweeper W-30.
7 March 1944:
HAKUROKU (HAKUSHIKA)MARU falls behind with engine problems, but later that day rejoins convoy.
8 March 1944:
Off the coast of northern Formosa, TEIKO (ex-Vichy French D'ARTAGNAN) and YAMAHAGI MARUs are detached for Kirun (Keelung).
9 March 1944:
At 1440, arrives at Takao.
12 May 1943:
ATAGO MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 579 also consisting of HAKONE and OTOWASAN MARUs without escort.
15 May 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
1 March 1944:
At 1635, ATAGO MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-07 consisting of tankers CHIYODA, NITTATSU , RIKKO and SARAWAK MARUs and transports/cargo ships HAKUROKU, KENSEI, SUGIYAMA, TEIKO (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA) and YAMAHAGI MARUs escorted by destroyer AMAGIRI and minesweeper W-30.
4 March 1944:
MAESHIMA and destroyer ASAGAO join the escort of convoy MOTA-07.
7 March 1944:
HAKUROKU MARU falls behind with engine problems, but rejoins the convoy later that day.
8 March 1944:
Off northern Formosa, TEIKO and YAMAHAGI MARUs are detached for Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan).
9 March 1944:
At 1440, arrives at Takao.
21 March 1944:
ATAGO MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-12 also consisting of BUNZAN, NITTATSU, RIKKO, SAN LUIS, TAIYU and TAKETOYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
18 June 1944:
ATAGO MARU departs Manila in convoy MI-05 now consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO, tankers TACHIBANA, JINEI, SAN DIEGO, BAIEI, KENZUI, AYANAMI, CERAM, OEI and TOKUWA MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and KYOEI MARU No. 8 and cargo/transports ARIMASAN, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Chinese NINGPO), TATSUJU, SURAKARUTA, TEIFU (ex-Vichy French BOUGAINVILLE), ROKKO, DAIZEN, MIIKESAN, NICHIYO, HIDA and SEIWA MARUs with the same escorts.
23 June 1944:
At 1257, arrives at Miri.
27 June 1944:
At 1650, ATAGO MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-06 also consisting of tankers NICHINAN, MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, NANSEI, ZUIHO, BAIEI, KOTOKU, TOKUWA MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and UNKAI MARU No. 5 escorted by kaibokan CD-14, patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18. At an unknown point, tanker CERAM MARU joined the convoy.
E 1 July 1944:
W-18 is detached from the convoy.
2 July 1944:
At 0845, arrives at Manila in convoy MI-06.
4 July 1944:
At 1145, ATAGO MARU departs Manila in convoy MI-06 now consisting of now consisting of tankers TACHIBANA, TOKUWA and ZUIHO MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5, OGURA MARU No. 2 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and transports TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO, YAGI MARUs and two unidentified ships (probably PACIFIC and MURORAN MARUs) escorted by CD-14, patrol boat PB-38.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao. The two unidentified ships are detached.
12 July 1944:
At 0330, convoy MI-06 departs Takao now consisting of the same 11 ships and escorts with additional escorts kaibokan CD-8 and auxiliary patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
17 July 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Moji.
26 July 1944:
At 0600, ATAGO MARU departs Imari Bay in convoy MI-13 also consisting of tankers KOKUSEI, HIGANE, HIYORI, SHINCHO, TEIKON (ex-German WINNETOU), TOKUWA, KYOEI and OGURA MARU No. 2 and cargo ships ATLAS, CHINA, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, MATSUURA, RISSHUN, SHIROTAE and URAL MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA, CD-14, patrol boat PB-38, minesweeper W-18, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs.
27 July 1944:
CHINA MARU suffers engine trouble and drops out of convoy. The auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No.3 escorts the ship back to Imari Wan.
31 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao. SHIROTAE, CHINA and MATSUURA MARUs are detached and tankers SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs and cargo ship SHINKO MARU join the convoy. TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and CHOHAKUSAN MARU are detached from the escort and replaced by destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokan KUSAGAKI and YASHIRO. Naval Transport T. 3 also joins.
4 August 1944:
At 0830, ATLAS MARU departs Takao in reconstituted convoy MI-13 also consisting of tankers ZUIYO, SHIMPO, SHINCHO, TEIKON (ex-German WINNETOU), TOKUWA, KYOEI and ATAGO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2, cargo ships SHINKO, HIYORI, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, URAL, KOKUSEI, HIGANE, RISSHUN and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and Naval Transport T. 3 escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE, kaibokan KUSAGAKI, YASHIRO, MATSUWA and CD-14, Naval Transport T. 3, minesweeper W-18, patrol boat PB-38 and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs.
7 August 1944:
At 2205, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskin's USS GUITARRO (SS-363) torpedoes and sinks kaibokan KUSAGAKI at 14-50N, 119-57E.
8 August 1944: At 0900, the convoy arrives at Manila. DURBAN, KIZAN, RISSHUN, KUNIYAMA, SHINKO and ATLAS MARUs are detached. SHOEI MARU joins the convoy. All of the escorts are detached except CD-14, patrol boat PB-38 and subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
11 August 1944:
At 2100, the convoy departs Manila for Miri.
12 August 1944:
At 0730, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s USS PUFFER (SS-268) torpedoes and damages SHINPO MARU. 20 crewmen are KIA. She is taken under tow by SHOEI and KYOEI MARUs and beached, then abandoned. Selby also torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU (ex-German WINNETOU), but no casualties are sustained. CD-14 and patrol boat PB-38 drop 37 depth charges, but PUFFER slips away unscathed.
18 August 1944:
At 1700, the convoy arrives at Miri.
29 August 1944:
At 0830, ATAGO MARU departs Miri in convoy MI-14 also consisting of tankers OGURA MARU No. 2 and TOKUWA, KENSEI, IIDA, JUZAN, CHUKA and SURAKARUTA MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-14, patrol boat P-38 and subchaser CH-20.
5 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila. The convoy is reformed to consist of oilers ATAGO and OGURA MARU No. 2, and TOKUWA MARU TOKUSHIMA, ENOSHIMA, MIHO, KENSEI, KEISHU MARUs with the same escorts.
9 September 1944:
At 1600, departs Manila. Enroute north the convoy is joined by minesweepers W-38 and W-39 off Musa Bay, Fuga Island.
11 September 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
16 September 1944:
At 0440, departs Basco Bay, Batan Island, Philippines. At 1355, TOKUSHIMA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho‘s USS PICUDA (SS-382) in the Bashi Channel at 21-27N, 121-35E. She was carrying 112 passengers and 5,400 tons of chrome ore. 82 passengers, 47 crewmen and 50 gunners are KIA.
TOKUSHIMA MARU’s explosion damages nearby oiler OGURA MARU No. 2. She stops for repairs, but at 1515 is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Louis D. McGregor's USS REDFISH (SS-395) at 21-42N, 121-41E. 15 crewmen, 3 guards and 23 passengers are KIA.
17 September 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. CH-20 is detached from the convoy.
20 September 1944:
ATAGO MARU departs Takao convoy MI-14 that now consists of cargo ships BIYO CHINKAI, ENOSHIMA and KENSEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-14 and patrol boat PB-38.
29 September 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
3 November 1944:
At 1000, ATAGO MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-25 also consisting of KACHAOSAN, GYOSHIN, NIKKO, DAIRETSU, DAIA, DAITO, RYUSHO, OTSUSAN, AKAGISAN, NICHIYO, KENSEI, HINAGA, YAMAMURA, TATSUTAMA, DAISHU, DAIEI and SHOEI MARUs and YUZAN MARU No. 2 and three unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan CD-23, CD-33, CD-51, CD-52 and CD-130.
8 November 1944:
KACHAOSAN and NIKKO MARUs and the three unidentified ships are detached for Formosan ports. Another ship later is detached for Mako. Thirteen ships remain in the convoy.
15 November 1944:
18 km SE of Cap Padaran, Indochina. At 0100, LtCdr Albert S. Fuhrman's USS JACK (SS-259) torpedoes HINAGA MARU and YUZAN MARU No. 2 at 11-16N 108-54E. HINAGA MARU sinks immediately. Onecrewman and 34 soldiers are KIA. YUZAN MARU No. 2 is run aground and becomes a total loss. Seven crewmen are KIA.
16 November 1944:
At 1600, arrives at St Jacques. All except ATAGO and GYOSHIN MARUs and kaibokan CD-33, CD-52 and CD-130 are detached.
22 November 1944: ATAGO and GYOSHIN MARUs depart St Jacques escorted by kaibokan CD-33, CD-51, CD-52 and CD-130. CD-23 is detached.
26 November 1944:
At 1330, convoy MI-25 arrives at Miri.
28 November 1944:
N of Miri, Sarawak, Borneo. While at anchor about one mile off of the Lutong refinery, ATAGO MARU is bombed and sunk by a USAAF 13th Air Force B-24 “Liberator” heavy bomber three miles W of Piasau at 04-29N, 114-00E. [1]

Author's Note:
[1] ATAGO MARU lies in 46 feet of water, originally with much of the superstructure still visible, but over time, monsoon waves demolished the superstructure and she slowly settled into the seabed, leaving only the two masts visible. In 1981, the foremast fell and the aft mast a few years later. The wreck lists slightly to port leaving just one metre freeboard on the starboard side amidships. On the port side, the deck runs to the sea bed where there is considerable debris from the superstructure.
Photo credit goes to Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks also go to Berend van der Wal of the Netherlands.
- Bob Hackett

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