YUSOSEN!
(2TM, postwar )
AYAGIRI MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2017 Bob Hackett
E 1943:
Osaka. Laid down at Hitachi Zosen K. K., Sakurajima as a 2,854-ton Type 2TM tanker for Ishihara Kisen, K.K., Tokyo.
1944:
Launched and named AYAGIRI MARU.
May 1944:
Completed.
E 1943:
Osaka. Laid down at Hitachi Zosen K. K., Sakurajima as a 2,854-ton Type 2TM tanker for Ishihara Kisen, K.K., Tokyo.
1944:
Launched and named AYAGIRI MARU.
May 1944:
Completed.
3 June 1944:
At 0415, convoy MI-05 departs Imari Bay consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO and tankers, AYAGIRI, AYANAMI, BAIEI, CERAM, KENZUI, OEI, MARIFU, NITTETSU, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA,
converted type K ore carrier YAMASACHI and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and cargo/transports KENEI, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Chinese NINGPO), FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA and TATSUJU MARUs and thirteen unidentified
merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-14, CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38, minesweeper W-17, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 and two unidentified warships.
8 June 1944:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (Keelung., Taiwan).
9 June 1944:
Departs Kirun.
11 June 1944:
Cargo ships/transports ARIMASAN, MANILA, MIIKESAN and USSURI MARUs and tankers SAN DIEGO MARU and KYOEI No. 8 and JINEI MARU escorted by minelayer MAESHIMA and
auxiliary subchaser CHa-95 from Takao join convoy MI-05.
13 June 1944:
LtCdr John D. Crowley's (USNA '31) USS FLIER (SS-250) torpedoes and damages MARIFU MARU at 15-57N, 119-42E. She is taken in tow by MIIKESAN MARU.
15 June 1944:
The convoy arrives Manila. MIIKESAN MARU and damaged MARIFU MARU arrive later.
14 July 1944:
At 1900, AYAGIRI MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-21C consisting of tankers SHONAN, MITSU and AYAZONO MARUs and MANTAI, MITSUKI, JINSAN, SEATTLE, YASUKUNI,
TENSHIN, YAMATAMA, SAINEI, HIYAMA, KOKKA, SHOZAN and SHOEI MARUs and KUSAGAKI escorted by kaibokan CD-1, CD-22 and minelayers MAESHIMA, ENTO and minesweeper W-34. [1]
16 July 1944:
At 0946, LtCdr Harold E. Ruble's USS PIRANHA (SS-389) torpedoes and sinks SEATTLE MARU at 19-17N, 120-15E. HIYAMA and SHOZAN MARUs rescue the survivors. Over the next six
hours, Captain William V. O'Regan’s wolf pack, nicknamed the "Mickey Finns", consisting of LtCdr Duncan C. MacMillian's USS THRESHER (SS-200), LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Novell G. Ward's GUARDFISH (SS-217) and Ruble's PIRANHA closes in and decimates the convoy.
At 2300, MacMillian's THRESHER torpedoes and sinks SAINEI MARU at 18-53N, 119-32E. At 2350, Ward's GUARDFISH torpedoes and sinks JINZAN MARU. Two minutes later, Ward torpedoes and sinks
MANTAI MARU.
17 July 1944:
The attacks continue. At 0034,Ward's GUARDFISH torpedoes and sinks HIYAMA MARU. W-34 and CD-1 rescue survivors. At 0345, MacMillian's THRESHER torpedoes and sinks SHOZAN MARU at 18-50N, 119-43E
19 July 1944:
At 1920, depleted convoy TAMA-21C arrives at Manila.
1 November 1944:
AYAGIRI MARU departs Singapore for Manila in convoy SIMA-04 also consisting of ATSUTA, HACHIJIN and TOYO (YUTAKA) MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-1, CH-19, CH-26 and CH-36. AYAGIRI MARU carries
a cargo of aviation gasoline.
2 November 1944:
225 miles E of Singapore. At 1717, Lt (later Vice Admiral Sir) Hugh "Rufus" MacKenzie's British submarine HMS TANTALUS attacks the convoy. In heavy weather, MacKenzie torpedoes and sinks cargo ship HACHIJIN
MARU and damages CH-1 at 00-45N, 107-441E.
14 November 1944:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Frederick C. Sherman, in temporary command of Task Force 38, launches air strikes against shipping in the Philippines. Off Sablayan Island, Mindoro, convoy SIMA-04 is attacked by F6F
“Hellcat” fighter-bombers from USS YORKTOWN (CV-10). The Hellcats sink merchant oiler AYAGIRI MARU at 12-40N, 120-41E and damage IJA cargo ship TOYO MARU and CH-1, CH-19, CH-26 and CH-36.
- Bob Hackett
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