Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(CHORAN MARU former LAKE CHAMPLAIN)

IJN CHORAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2009-2018 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1

E 1899:
Whiteinch (Glasgow), Scotland. Laid down at Barclay Curle shipyard as a 7,392-ton passenger/cargo ship for Elder Dempster & Company.
31 March 1900:
Launched and named LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
May 1900:
Completed and set for use in Beaver Line service.
15 May 1900:
Departs Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Quebec and Montreal.
21 May 1901:
Becomes the world’s first merchant ship to be fitted with permanent Marconi wireless telegraphy.
4 June 1903:
Beaver Line’s ships and service routes are taken over by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for their Canadian Pacific Line.
7 March 1913:
Renamed RUTHENIA and placed in Trieste service.
20 March 1913:
In service on the Trieste-St John, Newfoundland route.
4 February 1914:
In service on the St John-London-Quebec-Montreal route.
1914:
During World War I, the Royal Navy decides to convert a number of merchant ships, particularly ocean liners, into imitation capital ships of the Grand Fleet. The objective is to confuse the enemy over fleet dispositions and mislead them as to the actual total fleet strength. Fourteen ships are re-modelled with mock turrets, guns and other sham devices made of wood and canvas and specially ballasted, to enable them to masquerade as capital ships. RUTHENIA is requisitioned for this purpose.
May-Sept 1915:
Rebuilt as dummy battleship and renamed HMS “KING GEORGE V”.
1915:
Remodeled to a tanker.
January 1916:
Sold to the British Admiralty and used as a naval oiler.
1929:
Singapore. In Royal Navy service as a stationary oiler.
February 1942:
Singapore. Still in Royal Navy use as an oil storage hulk.
15 February 1942 - The Fall of Singapore:
Captured by the Japanese and renamed CHORAN MARU.
2 March 1943:
Seletar Navy Base. Begins equipment installation by the 101st construction section.
10 June 1943:
Completes equipment installation. Registered in the Kure Naval District as a specially installed transport ship (oil supply) and assigned to the Navy Department as a coaling oil boat (shell).
26 June 1943:
Departs Singapore.
28 June 1943:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra. Loads fuel oil. [1]
1 July 1943:
Departs Palembang.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil. [1]
16 July 1943:
Departs Singapore.
17 July 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
22 July 1943:
Departs Palembang.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
5 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
8 August 1943:
Departs Palembang.
10 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
18 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
19 August 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
25 August 1943:
Departs Palembang.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
12 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
15 September 1943:
Departs Palembang.
18 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
24 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
25 September 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
29 September 1943:
Departs Palembang.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
13 October 1943:
Departs Singapore.
14 October 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
18 October 1943:
Departs Palembang.
19 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
27 October 1943:
Departs Singapore.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
31 October 1943:
Departs Palembang.
2 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
12 November 1943:
Departs Singapore.
14 November 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
19 November 1943:
Departs Palembang.
21 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
November 1943:
Undergoes repairs at Singapore.
10 December 1943:
Departs Singapore.
11 December 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
14 December 1943:
Departs Palembang.
15 December 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
20 December 1943:
Departs Singapore.
21 December 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
23 December 1943:
Departs Palembang.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
28 December 1943:
Departs Singapore.
29 December 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
2 January 1944:
Departs Palembang.
4 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
10 January 1944:
Departs Singapore.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
13 January 1944:
Departs Palembang.
16 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
19 January 1944:
Departs Singapore.
20 January 1944:
Arrives at Palembang with tankers NIKKAKU and KOTOKU MARUs. Loads fuel oil.
23 January 1944:
Departs Palembang.
24 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
27 January 1944:
Departs Singapore.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
30 January 1944:
Departs Palembang with tanker UNKAI MARU No. 5.
1 February 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
6 February 1944:
Departs Singapore.
7 February 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
9 February 1944:
Departs Palembang.
11 February 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
15 February 1944:
Departs Singapore.
16 February 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
19 February 1944:
Departs Palembang.
20 February 1944:
Arrives at Kepuluan Lingga.
22 February 1944:
Refuels heavy cruiser TONE with 1774 tons fuel oil.
24 February 1944:
Departs Lingga.
25 February 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
27 February 1944:
Departs Palembang.
1 March 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage. Refuels cruiser TONE with 130 tons fuel oil.
3 March 1944:
Departs Lingga.
4 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
7 March 1944:
Departs Palembang.
9 March 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
12 March 1944:
Departs Singapore.
13 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
15 March 1944:
Departs Palembang.
17 March 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
19 March 1944:
Departs Lingga.
20 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
22 March 1944:
Departs Palembang.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
26 March 1944:
Departs Lingga.
28 March 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
31 March 1944:
Departs Palembang.
1 April 1944:
Undergoes modifications at Singapore.
2 April 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
4 April 1944:
Departs Lingga.
6 April 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
10 April 1944:
Departs Singapore.
11 April 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage. Refuels heavy cruiser ATAGO.
14 April 1944:
Departs Lingga.
15 April 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
19 April 1944:
Departs Palembang.
21 April 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
23 April 1944:
Departs Lingga.
25 April 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
26 April 1944:
Departs Palembang.
28 April 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
29 April 1944:
Departs Lingga and later that day arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
5 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
8 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
12 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
14 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
15 May 1944:
At Lingga transfers 860 tons fuel oil to heavy cruiser ATAGO.
16 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
18 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
20 May 1944:
Departs Lingga and later that day arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
25 May 1944:
Departs Singapore and later that day arrives at Lingga anchorage.
26 May 1944:
Departs Lingga.
27 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
28 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
31 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
3 June 1944:
Departs Singapore.
5 June 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
6 June 1944:
Departs Palembang.
9 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
18 June 1944:
Departs Singapore.
20 June 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
21 June 1944:
Departs Palembang.
23 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
27 June 1944:
Departs Singapore.
29 June 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
30 June 1944:
Departs Palembang.
2 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
6 July 1944:
Departs Singapore.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
12 July 1944:
Departs Palembang.
14 July 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
16 July 1944:
Departs Lingga.
17 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
19 July 1944:
Departs Singapore.
20 July 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
22 July 1944:
Departs Lingga.
24 July 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
25 July 1944:
Departs Palembang.
27 July 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
6 August 1944:
Departs Lingga.
7 August 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
11 August 1944:
Departs Singapore.
13 August 1944:
Arrives at Muntok, Bangka Island.
14 August 1944:
Departs Muntok.
15 August 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
24 August 1944:
Departs Singapore.
26 August 1944:
Arrives at Muntok.
3 September 1944:
Departs Muntok.
4 September 1944:
Arrives at Lingga anchorage.
7 September 1944:
Departs Lingga. Later that day, arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
9 September 1944:
Departs Singapore.
11 September 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
12 September 1944:
Departs Palembang.
15 September 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
18 September 1944:
Departs Singapore.
20 September 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
22 September 1944:
Departs Palembang.
25 September 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
29 September 1944:
Departs Singapore.
1 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
2 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
4 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
8 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
9 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
10 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
17 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
19 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
20 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
23 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
25 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
27 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
28 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
31 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
3 November 1944:
Departs Singapore.
5 November 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
6 November 1944:
Departs Palembang.
8 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
14 November 1944:
Departs Singapore.
16 November 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
17 November 1944:
Departs Palembang.
19 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.
28 November 1944:
Departs Singapore.
30 November 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
15 August 1945:
Cessation of Hostilities.
September 1945:
Recaptured. Her name reverted to RUTHENIA.
26 January 1946:
Departs Singapore on the first repatriation voyage.
10 February 1946:
Attives at Otaka.
15 February 1946:
Docked at Mukojima for repairs.
18 April 1946:
Repairs are completed.
23 April 1946:
Departs Kure.
25 April 1946:
Transferred to the Kure local demobilisation bureau as a Special Transport.
29 April 1946:
Arrives at Saipan and departs later that day.
14 May 1946:
Arrives back at Otaka.
2 June 1946:
Departs Miike.
18 June 1946:
Arrives at St Jacques, French Indo China.
20 June 1946:
Departs St Jacques.
3 July 1946:
Arrives at Singapore.
14 July 1946:
Departs Singapore.
19 July 1946:
Arrives at St Jacques.
24 July 1946:
Departs St Jacques.
3 August 1946:
Arrives at Otaka.
22 August 1946:
Docked at Mukojima for repairs.
23 September 1946:
Repairs are completed.
10 October 1946:
Departs Miike.
24 October 1946:
Arrives at Palembang.
30 October 1946:
Runs aground off Pladjoe in the Moesi River and 3 attempts are made by the tugs EMPIRE COURIER and GRIPER to pull her off unsuccessfully.
12 November 1946:
Finally refloated with the united efforts of 3 tugs, an Indonesian dredger and much heavy ground tackle. Repairs effected and returns to service.
3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy List.
22 May 1947:
Sailed from Singapore to Kure with 5,000 Japanese Prisoners of War as passengers.
6 August 1947:
Loaded a further 5,500 Japanese Prisoners of War at Singapore for a repatriation trip of prisoners of war to Japan.
12 March 1949:
After serving at Vladivostok, she returned to Singapore and was sold to BISCO for scrap.
3 April 1949:
Sailed from Singapore in tow of the tug ENGLISHMAN.
18 June 1949:
Arrives at Dalmuir, Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Broken up for scrap.
18 July 1949:
Towed to Troon for final demolition.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Loading and unloading of fuel oil and gasoline noted at various ports in this TROM is speculative, but probable.
Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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