Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(CHOKO MARU, prewar)

IJN CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO: Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

E 1926:
Sakurajima. Laid down by Osaka Tekkosho K.K. shipyard for Osaka Shosen K.K. (OSK) as a 2,629-ton refrigerated passenger/cargo ship.
7 April 1927:
Launched and named CHOKO MARU.
14 June 1927:
Completed and registered in Osaka. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 2,613-tons and 1,375-tons. [1]
19 June 1927:
Departs Kobe and arrives at Tianjin, northern China.
September 1928:
Departs Tianjin ~ Arrives at Moji.
October 1928:
Arrives at Kobe.
November 1928:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Osaka.
2 September 1929:
Departs Moji ~ Arrives at Tianjin.
5 May 1930:
Departs Kobe.
9 May 1930:
Arrives at Tianjin.
19 July 1932:
Departs Tianjin.
6 February 1933:
Departs Kobe.
10 February 1933:
Arrives at Tianjin.
September 1933:
Departs Tianjin.
30 September 1933:
Arrives at Moji.
7 January 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
21 January 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
6 February 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
14 March 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
28 March 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
10 April 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
24 April 1935:
Departs Kobe.
28 April 1935:
Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives later at Kobe.
8 May 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
22 May 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
5 June 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
19 June 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
3 July 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
17 July 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
31 July 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
15 August 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
28 August 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
11 September 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
15 September 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe.
25 September 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
10 October 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
24 October 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
7 November 1935:
Departs Kobe.
11 November 1935:
Arrives at Tianjin.
November 1935:
Departs Tianjin ~ Arrives at Kobe.
21 November 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
5 December 1935:
Departs Kobe.
9 December 1935:
Arrives at Tianjin.
December 1935:
Departs Tianjin ~ Arrives at Kobe.
19 December 1935:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tianjin ~ Departs there and arrives at Kobe. (Scheduled voyage).
30 January 1936:
Departs Kobe.
3 February 1936:
Arrives at Tianjin.
6 July 1936:
Departs Kobe.
10 July 1936:
Arrives at Tianjin.
23 November 1936:
Departs Kobe.
7 December 1936:
Departs Kobe.
11 December 1936:
Arrives at Tianjin.
1937:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 2,629-tons and 1,356-tons. [1]
1 March 1937:
Departs Kobe.
5 March 1937:
Arrives at Tianjin.
10 May 1938:
Departs Kobe.
E 15 May 1938:
Arrives at Tianjin.
25 December1938:
Departs Tianjin.
30 December 1938:
Arrives at Kobe.
2 January 1939:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tanggu, northern China. (According to timetable).
16 January 1939:
Departs Kobe ~ Arrives at Tanggu. (According to timetable).
1 September 1939:
Her owners are changed to Toa Kaiun K.K and registry port to Tokyo.
19 September 1941:
Undocked.
10 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN. That same day begins conversion to military duty at Nihonkokan K.K. Tsurumi Shipyard.
1 December 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under Navy’s instruction No. 1570. Navy Lt (Reserve) Oishi Yuzo is appointed CO.
9 December 1941:
Departs Tsurumi on trials and arrives back there later that day.
10 December 1941:
Departs Tsurumi and arrives at Yokosuka later that same day. Renamed CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO under Navy secret instruction No. 11623. Assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Inoue Shigeyoshi’s (37) Fourth Fleet, in Vice Admiral Moizumi Shinichi’s (37) 4th Base Force, 6th Gunboat Division under instruction No. 1618-1. Hoists Navy Warship ensign.
11 December 1941:
Loads provisions and quartermaster items.
12 December 1941:
Loads military equipment.
13 December 1941:
Loads ammunition.
14 December 1941:
Loads fuel.
15 ~ 16 December 1941:
Loads consignment goods.
17 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
25 December 1941:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
26 December 1941:
Assigned to 4th Base Force, Guard Force. Tethers to Natsushima anchorage.
27 ~ 28 December 1941:
Unloads consigned goods.
30 December 1941:
Departs Truk on patrol duties in northern channel.
5 January 1942:
Arrives back at Truk (Natsushima anchorage).
6 January 1942:
Departs Truk on missing person search mission and arrives back there later in the day.
7 ~ 8 January 1942:
Loads consignment goods.
9 January 1942:
Departs Truk.
11 January 1942:
Arrives at Greenwich Island, Kapingamarangi Atoll, Central Carolines.
11 ~ 13 January 1942:
Unloads consignment goods.
13 January 1942:
Departs Greenwich.
15 January 1942:
Arrives at Mortlock Islands, Carolines. Sets-up a buoy and departs there later that same day.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
19 January 1942:
Departs Truk and engages in ASW combat against an unidentified submarine.
22 January 1942:
On patrol northeast of Truk.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
28 January 1942:
Departs Truk on patrol duties northeast of the atoll.
29 January 1942:
Rated as the 62nd auxiliary gunboat.
30 January 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
31 January 1942:
Departs Truk.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Ponape, Eastern Carolines. Loads consignment goods.
3 February 1942:
Departs Ponape.
5 February 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
6 February 1942:
Unloads consignment goods.
9 February 1942:
Departs Truk on patrol duties in northern channel.
16 February 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
19 February 1942:
Loads provisions.
20 February 1942:
Departs Truk on ASW search mission.
22 February 1942:
On patrol duties in northern channel.
28 February 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
1 March 1942:
Comes alongside and replenishes water from IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) NISSHIN MARU No. 2.
6 March 1942:
Departs Truk on patrol duties in northern channel.
12 March 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
14 March 1942:
Loads fresh water.
16 March 1942:
Loads provisions and fresh water.
17 March 1942:
Loads fresh water.
18 March 1942:
Departs Truk on patrol duties in northern channel.
23 March 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
24 March 1942:
Loads provisions.
25 March 1942:
Loads fresh water.
28 March 1942:
Departs Truk on patrol duties in southern channel.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
8 April 1942:
Loads canteen goods.
10 April 1942:
Released from 6th Gunboat Division under instruction No. 652. Attached to Fourth Fleet, 4th Base Force, Guard Force under Navy’s secret instruction No. 10.
18 April 1942:
Departs Truk for Japan.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
E 26 April ~ 17 May 1942:
Undergoes hull, engine and weapons maintenance and repairs.
18 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
E 24 May 1942:
Arrives at Namonuito Island, Ororu Shoto (Islands), Central Carolines.
25 May 1942:
Departs Namonuito. At 09-20N, 148-17E meets up with auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
12 June 1942:
Departs Truk.
7 July 1942:
Departs Truk on escort mission.
9 July 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
11 July 1942:
Departs Truk on escort mission.
22 July 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
30 July 1942:
Departs Truk on escort mission.
1 August 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
5 August 1942:
Departs Truk for Palau, Western Carolines on escort mission.
10 August 1942:
Departs Palau escorting IJA transports YASUKAWA and MYOKO MARUs carrying the Yazawa Detachment of 41st Infantry Regiment.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain. Departs later.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
27 August 1942:
At 0800, departs Truk escorting auxiliary transport (later emergency tanker) MATSUMOTO MARU. Ends escort at 10-00N, 145-00E and arrives back at Truk later that day.
31 August 1942:
Departs Truk on search mission. Arrives at scheduled site and tows disabled cargo ship AOMORI MARU towards Palau.
October 1942:
Departs Palau.
19 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
2 November 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
3 November 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
6 November 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
9 November 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
10 November 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
11 November 1942:
Arrives back at Truk. Departs later that day on escort duties.
13 November 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
25 November 1942:
Departs Truk and arrives back there later in the day.
26 November 1942:
Departs Truk. Arrives back there later.
30 November 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
2 December 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
7 December 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
15 December 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
17 December 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
19 December 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
22 December 1942:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
10 January 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
16 January 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
20 January 1943:
At 0800, departs Truk with destroyer HAMAKAZE and subchaser CH-12 escorting convoy No. 6 (named after 6th infantry division) Go part "D" consisting of auxiliary transport SHINRYU MARU and IJA transports MACASSAR, KAMO, TAIHEI and SHICHISEI MARUs. [2]
Engages in rescue mission of convoy “A” survivors and later rejoins convoy “D”. [3]
22 January 1943:
Steffen Straits near Kavieng, New Ireland. Subchasers CH-18 and CH-22 rendezvous with convoy "D" to provide escort to Rabaul. At 01-23N, 152-10E CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO and CH-12 are detached to escort an outbound convoy.
27 January 1943:
Rescues at least 1,000 survivors from IJA transport BUYO MARU. [4]
28 January 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
14 February 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
22 February 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
4 March 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
8 March 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
13 March 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
21 March 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
1 April 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
2 April 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
3 April 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
8 April 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
9 April 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
11 April 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
16 April 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
21 April 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
12 May 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
14 May 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
19 May 1943:
Departs Palau on escort duties.
22 May 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
28 May 1943:
At 0900, departs Palau escorting convoy No. 8282 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
3 June 1943:
At 0700 (ETA), arrives at Truk.
9 June 1943:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
11 June 1943:
Arrives back at Truk.
19 June 1943:
Departs Truk on escort duties.
21 June 1943:
Arrives back at Truk.
28 June 1943:
Departs Truk escorting auxiliary seaplane carrier SANYO MARU under tow by auxiliary ammunition ship KOGYO MARU with destroyer URAKAZE as additional escort.
10 July 1943:
Arrives in Bungo Suido (Strait). Auxiliary patrol boats TAITON and SHINKO MARUs, minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU join the escort in the final stages.
12 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
E 13 July ~ 1 September 1943:
Undergoes hull, weapons and engine maintenance and repairs.
2 September 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3902 consisting of auxiliary transport KENSHO MARU also escorted by auxiliary subchasers CHa-9, CHa-16, CHa-17, Cha-31 and Cha-32. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots initially.
5 September 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
6 September 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima still escorting convoy No. 3902.
9 September 1943:
Detaches from the convoy.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
14 September 1943:
Departs Truk with destroyer SAMIDARE escorting convoy No. 1143 consisting of auxiliary transport OKITSU MARU and IJN auxiliary storeship MANKO MARU. The convoy sails at 10 knots.
19 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
20 September 1943:
At 0600, departs Rabaul for Truk with auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU escorting convoy No. 2202 consisting of auxiliary transports ASAHISAN and HAKOZAKI MARUs. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
21 September 1943:
At 1250, HAKOZAKI MARU is attacked by a Consolidated PBY.
22 September 1943:
At 0850, HAKOZAKI MARU is attacked again (as are CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO and CHOUN MARU) by a PBY. In these two attacks HAKOZAKI MARU suffers light damage. Other ships are undamaged.
25 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk. The other ships arrive the day before.
26 September 1943:
At 1000, departs Truk for Palau escorting convoy No. 7261 consisting of one small unidentified merchant ship with prefix “Ko”. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
27 September 1943:
Auxiliary minesweeper Wa-6 is scheduled to join the convoy.
28 September 1943:
Scheduled to begin conversion to new military role under Navy’s secret instruction No. 4917-1.
1 October 1943:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 2038 and registered again as an auxiliary transport, (Ko) category attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as home port under instruction No. 2041. Assigned to Fourth Fleet under secret instruction No. 96-7. [5]
E 6 October 1943:
Arrives at Palau. Departs later for Truk.
12 October 1943:
At 0700 arrives at Truk.
14 October 1943:
At 0630, departs Truk via North channel with auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU escorting convoy No. 4014B consisting of auxiliary transports YAMAFUKU, KINSEN and KIMISHIMA MARUs and IJN requisitioned (B-AK) HEIWA and TATSUURA MARUs. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
24 October 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk via Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins) in convoy No. 3101 also consisting of auxiliary transports MUKO MARU and NANKAI MARU No. 2, IJN requisitioned collier (B-AC) HIDAKA MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KONEI MARU, IJA transports TAIKOKU and HAGURO MARUs and civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-AK) SHIBAZONO MARU escorted by destroyers ASANAGI, IKAZUCHI and INAZUMA.
3 November 1943:
The convoy departs Tateyama.
5 November 1943:
Assists HAGURO MARU that sustains mechanical issues. Rejoins later the convoy.
14 November 1943:
Convoy No. 3101 arrives at Truk. At this point the convoy has split in two and INAZUMA and CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO arrive escorting HAGURO, SHIBAZONO and KONEI MARUs.
20 November 1943:
At 1000, departs Truk in convoy No. 4120 also consisting of auxiliary transport MITAKESAN MARU escorted by minesweeper W-28.
E 24 November 1943:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas. W-28 is detached.
E 25 November 1943:
Departs Saipan.
29 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
19 December 1943:
At 0700, departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3219 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) DAITEN MARU escorted by kaibokan MANJU.
29 December 1943:
At 1623, arrives at Truk.
1 January 1944:
Assigned to Eastern Carolines Guard Force.
E 11 January 1944:
Departs Truk in convoy.
12 January 1944:
About 325 nautical miles SW of Truk. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-ret) James W. Blanchard's (USNA ’27) USS ALBACORE (SS-218) running submerged, attacks the convoy. At about 0527, Blanchard fires a spread of six Mark XIV Type 3A torpedoes and scores two hits on the transport. CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO is set afire, splits in half and sinks rapidly with the loss of 13 crewmen and many of the 300 passengers aboard. Motor gun craft H4 she was towing is scuttled at 03-37N, 147-27E.
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 427.

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] Convoy “D” was actually Part D (the equipment/baggage convoy) of Convoy No. 35 that departed Shanghai to transport the IJA’s 6th Infantry Division via Truk to Guadalcanal (after the decision is made to evacuate Guadalcanal, the convoy’s destination was changed to New Guinea).
[3] NNE of Buin, Bougainville, LtCdr Jack H. Lewis’ (USNA ’27) USS SWORDFISH (SS-193) attacked Part A of the convoy consisting of IJA transports MYOHO, TEIYO MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1. USS SWORDFISH sank MYOHO MARU at 05-38S, 156-20E. Of the 922 IJA troops and 35 IJN passengers she was carrying, 61 and three crewmen were KIA.
[4] On 26 Jan ’43, N of Dutch New Guinea, BUYO MARU was torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later KIA) Dudley W. Morton’s (USNA ’30) USS WAHOO (SS-238)(later lost) at 01-54N, 134-57E with the loss of 86 troops, one crewman and 269 Indian POWs.
[5] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without. CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO appears to have continued to act as an escort on some occasions in the months following redesignation.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa for Officers’ info.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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