KYURYOSEN!
(AZUCHI MARU, prewar – Peter Cundall collection)
IJN AZUCHI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2017 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
28 June 1930:
Hikoshima. Laid down by Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. shipyard for Kyodo Gyogyo K.K.
22 September 1930:
Launched and named AZUCHI MARU.
1 November 1930:
Completed and registered at Tobata with a GRT (gross registered tonnage) of 361-ton and NRT (net registered tonnage) of 151-ton. [1]
11 November 1930:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K receives a steamer trawl fishing permit available for 10 years. Operation areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) Bering Sea E of 160E, within the line from Cape Olutluski to Cape Nawalin excluding sea level within 60 depths of water, (C) South China Sea.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki, Osaka, Aomori and Hakodate.
4 June ~ 31 August 1931:
Operations in Tokai and Yellow Sea are forbidden.
1 March 1932:
Harvesting ports are changed to: Tobata, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki, Osaka, Aomori, Hakodate and Hong Kong.
1933:
NRT changes to 152-ton.
3 August 1933:
Departs Tobata for Urushi.
19 August 1933:
Scheduled to arrive at Tobata.
14 May 1934:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is renewed. Operation areas are Bering Sea E of 160E, within the line from Cape Olutluski to Cape Nawalin.
Harvesting ports are: Osaka, Tokyo and Hakodate.
22 ~ 28 May 1934:
Chartered by Nihon Godo Kosen K.K.
31 August 1934:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is cancelled.
12 September 1934:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K receives a new steamer trawl fishing permit available for 10 years. Operation areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) Bering Sea E of 160E, within the line from Cape Olutluski to Cape Nawalin excluding sea level within 60 depths of water, (C) South China Sea.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki, Osaka, Aomori, Hakodate and Hong Kong.
Operations in Tokai and Yellow Sea are forbidden: 1 June ~ 31 August.
1935:
GRT changes to 397-ton and NRT changes to 198-ton. [1]
13 January 1936:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is renewed. Operation areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) South China Sea.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki, Osaka and Hong Kong.
Operations in Tokai and Yellow Sea are forbidden: 1 May ~ 31 August.
7 May 1937:
Ownership is changed to Nippon Suisan K.K.
4 June 1937:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is transferred to Nippon Suisan K.K.
5 April 1938:
Harvesting ports are: Nagasaki, Osaka, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
1938:
Arrives at Xinzhou, Yangtze River, China.
6 September 1938:
1745 ~ 1750. Alongside to port aft of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
September 1938:
Departs Xinzhou for San Weishan.
22 September 1938:
0950 ~ 1020. Alongside to starboard of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
September 1938:
Departs San Weishan for Haru.
9 October 1938:
1320 ~ 1505. At Qichun alongside to auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
24 February 1939:
Towed by salvage tugboat TATSUGAMI to Wuhu Xia Jiang.
16 June 1939:
Docked at Jiangnan dock No. 2.
23 June 1939:
Exits dock.
29 June 1939:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general transport (stores ship).
1939:
Departs Jiangnan for Sanjiang Ying.
17 July 1939:
1530 ~ 1543. Alongside to port side of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and delivers mail.
July 1939:
Departs Sanjiang for Kou An.
23 July 1939:
1710 ~ 1735. Alongside auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
8 August 1939:
1315 ~ 1320. Alongside to port side of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and delivers consignment goods.
August 1939:
Departs Kou An.
9 August 1939:
Departs Shanghai for Kou An.
12 August 1939:
1445 ~ 1510. Alongside of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
1939:
Departs Kou An for Manyu Sha.
2 September 1939:
1425 ~ 1445. Alongside of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
September 1939:
Departs Manyu Sha.
5 October 1939:
Arrives at Jinkow (now Zhenjiang).
? October 1939:
Departs Jinkow.
14 October 1939:
Arrives at Jinkow.
15 October 1939:
Departs Jinkow.
24 October 1939:
Arrives at Anking and departs later that day.
15 October 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary stores ship attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 1256.
1 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Niimi Masaichi’s (36) 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet as an auxiliary stores ship (Otsu) category under instruction No. 18. That same day, departs Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan). [2]
3 December 1941:
Arrives at Wanshan.
4 December 1941:
Departs Wanshan.
5 December 1941:
Arrives at Jieshi Bay.
6 December 1941:
Departs Jieshi Bay.
7 December 1941:
Arrives back at Jieshi Bay.
10 December 1941:
At 0815, provisions auxiliary gunboat SHOSEI MARU with fresh food.
11 December 1941:
Departs Jieshi Bay.
12 December 1941:
Arrives at Sanmen Bodi and departs later that day.
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Wanshan.
15 December 1941:
Departs Wanshan and arrives at Lingding Dao later that same day.
20 December 1941:
Departs Lingdin Dao and arrives at Wanshan later in the day.
23 December 1941:
Departs Wan Shan and arrives at Lingding Dao later that day.
28 December 1941:
Departs Lingding Dao and arrives at Hong Kong later that same day. Provisions auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
29 December 1941:
Departs Hong Kong and arrives at Lingding Dao later in the day.
30 December 1941:
Departs Lingding Dao and arrives at Hong Kong later that day.
31 December 1941:
Departs Hong Kong.
4 January 1942:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
7 January 1942:
Departs Kirun for Honghai Bay, China.
10 January 1942:
Provisions auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
15 January 1942:
Provisions auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
January 1942:
Departs Honghai Bay.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
22 January 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives at Amoy (now Xiamen), China.
23 January 1942:
Provisions auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
January 1942:
Departs Amoy.
30 January 1942:
Arrives at Amoy.
2 February 1942:
Departs Amoy.
11 February 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
13 February 1942:
Departs Takao.
15 February 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral (posthumously Fleet Admiral) Koga Mineichi (34) China Area Fleet under instruction No. 5.
23 February 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 February 1942:
Departs Kirun for Nanao Island.
9 March 1942:
Alongside small auxiliary minesweeper RANZAN MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
March 1942:
Departs Nanao Island.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
14 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
23 March 1942:
Arrives at Amoy.
26 March 1942:
Departs Amoy.
1 April 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Niimi Masaichi’s (36) 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet under China Area Fleet instruction No. 10.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 April 1942:
Departs Kirun for Nanao Island.
9 April 1942:
0907 ~ 0927. Alongside small auxiliary minesweeper RANZAN MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
April 1942:
Departs Nanao Island.
15 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
17 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
26 April 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
29 April 1942:
Departs Kirun for Amoy.
2 May 1942:
At 0700, departs Amoy for Hong Kong.
8 May 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
15 May 1942:
Departs Takao. That same day scheduled to be fitted with one Type 92 7.7mm type A MG and five type 38 Arisaka rifles under Navy’s instruction No. 5990.
24 May 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 May 1942:
Departs Kirun.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
8 June 1942:
Departs Kirun.
10 June 1942:
At 0905, departs Amoy.
12 June 1942:
Scheduled to be fitted with one 8cm/40cal deck gun under Navy’s instruction No. 7246.
19 June 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
22 June 1942:
Departs Kirun.
4 July 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 July 1942:
Departs Kirun and arrives later at Hong Kong.
6 September 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
9 September 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
12 September 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
14 September 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
16 December 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
20 December 1942:
Arrives at Kowloon.
22 December 1942:
Departs Kowloon.
25 September 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
28 September 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
3 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
12 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
13 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
15 October 1942:
Departs Yokohama.
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
22 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
25 October 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
28 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
7 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong and arrives at Canton later that day.
10 November 1942:
Departs Canton.
11 November 1942:
Arrives at Canton.
14 November 1942:
Departs Canton and arrives at Hong Kong later that day.
17 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
27 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
5 December 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Samejima Tomoshige’s (37) Fourth Fleet.
15 February 1943:
Attached to Marshalls supply units (food) under Marshalls Command instruction No. 1.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Kusai, Marshalls.
6 March 1943:
Departs Kusai.
23 March 1943:
Departs Kwajalein, Marshalls escorted by auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 6.
24 March 1943:
Auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 replaces KYO MARU No. 6. Departs Makin, Gilberts.
27 March 1943:
Arrives at Tarawa, Gilberts.
29 March 1943:
Departs Tarawa still escorted by TAKUNAN MARU No. 6.
31 March 1943:
Ownership is changed to Nihon Kaiyo Gyogyo Tosei K.K.
3 April 1943:
Arrives at Jaluit, Marshalls.
5 April 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.
23 April 1943:
At 0400, departs Emidj in convoy with EBON MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 6.
24 April 1943:
At 1050, arrives at Jaluit. Departs there later that day.
28 April 1943:
Arrives at Tarawa. Departs there escorted by motor torpedo boat No. 2. Motor torpedo boat No.2 detaches and returns to Tarawa. Arrives back at Tarawa later that same day.
29 April 1943:
Departs again Tarawa escorted by motor torpedo boat No. 3. Motor torpedo boat No. 3 detaches later that day and returns to Tarawa.
4 May 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein. Departs later.
16 May 1943:
Departs Tarawa escorted by motor torpedo boat No. 2. Both return to Tarawa later this day.
17 May 1943:
Motor torpedo boat No. 2 is detached. At 0401, departs for Ocean and Nauru escorted by TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 as only ship of convoy SHI-12.
20 May 1943:
At 1525, arrives at Jaluit. Departs there later that day.
22 May 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
9 June 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.
13 June 1943:
Departs Tarawa escorted by motor torpedo boat No. 2. Both return to Tarawa later this day.
14 June 1943:
Motor torpedo boat No. 2 is detached. Departs again Tarawa escorted by auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 6.
15 June 1943:
Arrives at Ocean Island.
16 June 1943:
Departs Ocean Island escorted by TAKUNAN MARU No. 6.
18 June 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein. Departs later.
20 June 1943:
Departs Jaluit with auxiliary gunboat IKUTA MARU escorted by TAKUNAN MARU No. 6.
21 June 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Kwajalein.
6 July 1943:
At 1205, departs Kwajalein.
13 July 1943:
At 0646, arrives at Kwajalein.
E 17 July 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.
24 July 1943:
At 0405, arrives at Kwajalein.
28 August 1943:
Departs Tarawa with auxiliary transport KEMBU MARU (ex-EMPIRE BLOSSOM) and auxiliary aircraft transport FUJIKAWA MARU escorted by motor torpedo boat No. 3. Motor torpedo boat No. 3 detaches later that day and returns to Tarawa.
25 September 1943:
Departs Kusai for Nauru. Disappears without a trace. All 24 crew lost. The loss cause remains unknown, possibly a maritime hazard.
26 September 1943:
Considered lost.
1 February 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 2564.
Authors' Notes:
[1] NRT is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). It is calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's gross register tonnage (GRT). Net register tonnage (NRT) is not a measure of the weight of the ship or its cargo, and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement.
[2] There were two categories of Kyuryosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
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