ZATSUYOSEN!

(DAICHO MARU drawing – Peter Cundall collection)

IJN DAICHO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement


© 2015-2018 Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

E 1941:
Osaka. Laid down by Horai Zosen Tekko K.K. shipyard for Daicho Kisen K.K. as a 1,135-tons cargo ship.

July 1942:
Launched and named DAICHO MARU.

1 November 1942:
Completed and registered at Tokyo.

21 December 1942:
In East convoy No. 51 also consisting of auxiliary transports KANAYAMASAN and KOSHIN (6,530 GRT) MARUs, IJN requisitioned (B-AK) TOYU MARU, IJA transport TAIKYU MARU and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU. Arrives at Tokyo later in the day.

28 December 1942:
At 1500, departs off Futtsu inWest convoy No. 86 also consisting of auxiliary transport KIZUGAWA MARU, IJA transports BENGAL and NANKA MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KOJUN MARU and IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by destroyer HATAKAZE. DAICHO MARU is bound for Osaka.

9 February 1943:
In convoy No. 8209 also consisting of IJA transports YAMAZURU, TENSHIN and TOYO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU. Arrives at Tokyo later that same day.

15 February 1943:
At 1200, departs Yokosuka for Tokuyama in convoy No. 7215 also consisting of auxiliary transport KAISHO MARU and IJA transports CHOSEN and FUSHIMI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-18. Arrives at Tokuyama later in the day.

2 November 1943:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned transport attached to the Kure Naval District. Assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwest Area Fleet.

1943:
Her ship owners are changed to Taiyo Kogyo K.K.

1 January 1944:
Registered in the Navy’s list as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Kure Naval District with Kure as home port under instruction No. 16. Assigned to Vice Admiral Kusaka Jinichi’s (37) Southeast Area Fleet. [1]

12 January 1944:
Departs Sabang with IJA transports TEMPEI and ZUISHO MARUs escorted by minelayer HATSUTAKA bound for Merak anchorage then Sibolga and Padang. DAICHO MARU is then due to go to Surabaya, Java.

17 January 1944:
At 1500, due to arrive at Jakarta, Java.

9 March 1944:
Arrives at Padang.

11 June 1944:
At 0600 departs Ambon, Moluccas escorted by destroyer HOKAZE and torpedo boat KIJI.

12 June 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Sorong, New Guinea.

14 June 1944:
Assigned to transport personnel and materials to Ambon under telegram No. 123.

15 June 1944:
At 0800 departs Sorong escorted by torpedo boat KIJI.

19 June 1944:
At 1535 arrives at Ambon.

21 June 1944:
Assigned to troop transport mission under western district troops commander’s telegram No. 441.

26 June 1944:
At 0755, departs Ambon escorted by minesweeper W-4, and auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 5 and SHONAN MARU No. 17 and arrives at Namlea, New Guinea later that day. Departs there later without TAKUNAN MARU No. 5 and SHONAN MARU No. 17. The convoy sails at 9 knots.

27 June 1944:
At 1820, arrives at Teluk Vesuvius, Mangole Island.

28 June 1944:
At 0400, departs Teluk Vesuvius.

30 June 1944:
Arrives at western mouth of Tioro Straits later that day.

1 July 1944:
At 0700, departs Tioro Straits.

3 July 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Macassar.

5 July 1944:
At 1300, departs Macassar with auxiliary netlayer KANKO MARU.

7 July 1944:
Escorted by a small auxiliary to the N of Laut Island, Borneo.

29-30 July 1944:
In Pangkor/Sembilan Is area off Malaya.

4 September 1944:
Assigned to transport health goods, motor vehicles, fuel and other sundries to Car Nicobar, Nicobars under western district troops telegram No. 145.

6 September 1944:
Departs Singapore.

8 September 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Penang.

15 September 1944:
Departs Penang, Malaya escorted by subchaser CH-9.

19 September 1944:
At 0030, arrives at Car Nicobar.

22 September 1944:
At 0900, departs Car Nicobar escorted by subchaser CH-9.

25 September 1944:
At 1200, arrives back at Penang.

Late September 1944:
Arrives back at Singapore.

October 1944:
Departs Singapore.

11 October 1944:
Arrives at Sabang, Malaya.

12 October 1944:
Departs Sabang.

E 14 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.

7 December 1944:
At 1000, departs Singapore escorted by subchaser CH-7.

10 December 1944:
At 1040, arrives at Sabang.

12 December 1944:
At 1150, departs Sabang escorted by subchaser CH-7. At some point on return journey subchaser CH-63 joins escort.

15 December 1944:
At 1035, arrives back at Singapore.

21 December 1944:
At 1000, departs Singapore escorted by minesweeper W-4.

24 December 1944:
At 1738, arrives at Jakarta, Java.

27 December 1944:
Jakarta. Tethered to Tanjung Priok 2nd pier. Blows up while loading ammunition and sinks at 06-15S, 106-45E with unknown casualties.

5 February 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 101.

Authors notes :
[1] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

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