YUSOSEN!
(Standard 2AT Tanker KENJO MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
DAIGYO MARU
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011 Bob Hackett
E 1943:
Tamano. Laid down at the Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K., shipyard as a
6,892-ton Type 2A Standard Cargo Ship for Osaka Shosen K.K. (OSK), Osaka.
1944:
Converted to a Standard 2AT Tanker while on the ways.
1944:
Launched and named DAIGYO MARU
12 November 1944:
Completed.
27 December 1944:
DAIGYO MARU departs Takao for Singapore in convoy
HI-85 also consisting of TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), DAINAN, ENKEI, ENGEN,
ENCHO, YAMAZAWA, OESAN, FUEI, OEI, SHINGI, SERIA MARUs and cargo ship SHINYU
MARU escorted by light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan DAITO, UKURU, TSUSHIMA,
CD-23, CD-51 and CD-27.
28 December 1944:
TSUSHIMA and TEIHOKU are detached from the convoy
and make for Yulin, Hainan Island. At some point, OTSUSAN MARU is probably
detached and heads directly for Singapore.
29 December 1944:
South China Sea. At 1725, minesweeper W-101 joins
HI-85’s escort.
30-31 December 1944:
On both days, sporadic attacks by B-24s are
beaten off without loss.
1 January 1945:
At 1720, convoy arrives Qui Nhon Bay.
2 January 1945:
Departs Qui Nhon Bay. That evening, the convoy
anchors at Nha Trang Bay, Indochina.
3 January 1945:
At 0730, the convoy departs Nha Trang. While
proceeding south, near the east entrance of Hainan Straits, the convoy is
attacked by one PB4Y (B-24). One bomb hits TEIHOKU MARU. She and escort TSUSHIMA
are detached to Yulin for repairs.
4 January 1945:
At 1030, convoy HI-85 arrives at Cape St. Jacques
where it is ordered dissolved.
4 February 1945:
DAIGYO MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy
HI-88-D also consisting of ENGEN, and HARUYASU MARUs (ex Dutch VAN DER HAGEN)
escorted by kaibokan CD-13, CD-31 and YAKU.
DAIGYO MARU is carrying a cargo of 9,300-tons of heavy oil, tin and crude rubber.
5 February 1945:
A surfaced enemy submarine is sighted at 04-55N,
103-40E. At 0830, the convoy changes course.
6 February 1945:
South China Sea. At 0230, kaibokan YAKU's lookouts
sight a surfaced submarine and the convoy successfully evades. At 2157, Cdr
(later Rear Admiral) Frank W. Fenno's (USNA ’25) USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) fires six torpedoes
at ENGEN MARU. She explodes in a huge ball of fiery gasoline at 06-31N, 106-12E. 29 crewmen, nine guards and six passengers are KIA.
DAIGYO MARU drops a few depth charges while YAKU searches unsuccessfully
for the submarine. CD-31 rescues survivors and returns to Singapore.
7 February 1945:
At 0300, YAKU detects PAMPANITO off the port side.
The convoy turns away. At 0454, a second submarine, LtCdr Ralph H. Lockwood's
USS GUAVINA (USS-362) fires six torpedoes at the convoy. Three hit DAIGYO MARU that sinks in
five minutes at 06-58N, 106-08E. Five crewmen are KIA.
GUAVINA surfaces and her crew takes pictures of the oil-clad survivors, many of whom fake death.
At about 0800, YAKU finds and rescues the survivors of
DAIGYO MARU.
Author’s Note:
Also known as TAIGYO MARU.
-Bob Hackett
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