KOKAI HOKAN!
(EIFUKU MARU, prewar – Berend van der Wal Collection)
IJN EIFUKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2021 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
3 August 1938:
Yokohama. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. shipyard as a 3,520-tons passenger cargo ship for Kinkai Yusen K.K.
8 December 1938:
Launched and named EIFUKU MARU.
5 April 1939:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 3,520-tons and 2,067-tons. Her call sign is JZXM. [1]
16 August 1939:
Her owners are changed to Nippon Yusen K.K (NYK).
15 August 1941:
Yokohama. Requisitioned by the IJN. Conversion for military duty begins at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. shipyard.
16 August 1941:
Her owners receive the notice of requisition under instruction No. 873.
5 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval Jurisdiction under instruction No. 1025. Rated as an auxiliary gunboat engaged in minelaying under instruction No. 1026. That dsame day, Navy Capt Irie Fuchihei (33) is appointed CO.
16 October 1941:
Conversion is completed at Yokosuka Naval Yard. [2]
28 October 1941:
Departs Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan) for French Indochina (now Vietnam).
20 November 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) Southern Expeditionary Fleet, in Vice Admiral Togari Takamoto’s (37) 11th Special Base Force based at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
10 December 1941:
Assigned to stay at Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina (now Vinh Cam Ranh, Vietnam) from 11 till 13 Dec ‘41 and remain vigilant. (Unit, commanders, troops, procedures) Commander 3rd Minesweeper Division First Patrol Team: SHIMUSHU and TATSUYAMA, CHOSA and EIFUKU MARUs. Patrol outside the bay with one ship all the times under Malaya Force Order No. 30.
January 1942:
Escorts convoys, executes anti-submarine sweeps and provides naval gunfire support.
3 January 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet in Vice Admiral Togari Takamoto’s (37) 11th Special Base Force.
1 February 1942:
Attached to Singora (now Songkhla), Thailand Base Force. Executes base vigilance, convoy escort and maintains contact with army units.
4 March 1942:
Arrives at Cam Ranh Bay.
10 April 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (36) Southwestern Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet and Vice Admiral Togari Takamoto’s (37) 11th Special Base Force.
5 May 1942:
Departs Cam Ranh.
12 May 1942:
Departs St Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam) escorting Army transports MANSHU and YONEYAMA MARUs. At some point EIFUKU MARU is detached.
18 May 1942:
At 0900, departs St Jacques escorting a convoy consisting of HOKURYU, MIIKE, KUWAYAMA and BUYO MARUs. At some point EIFUKU MARU is detached.
20 May 1942:
The 12th May convoy arrives at Shanghai.
24 May 1942:
The 18th May 1942 convoy arrives at Shanghai.
25 July 1942:
Navy Capt Horiuchi Kaoru (40) is appointed CO.
29 August 1942:
Arrives at Cam Ranh.
1 September 1942:
Departs Cam Ranh.
7 September 1942:
Arrives at Cam Ranh.
24 September 1942:
Departs Cam Ranh.
10 October 1942:
Arrives at Cam Ranh.
23 October 1942:
Departs Cam Ranh.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
5 November 1942:
Departs Saigon.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Cam Ranh Bay with subchaser Ch-19.
19 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns there later that day still with subchaser CH-19.
27 November 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
3 December 1942:
Departs Saigon with subchaser CH-19.
4 December 1942:
Arrives at Cam Ranh Bay with subchaser CH-19.
13 December 1942:
Departs Cam Ranh.
29 December 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
31 December 1942:
Departs Saigon and waits near Poulo Cecil de Mer, French Indochina (now Cu Lao Thu, Vietnam).
January 1943:
Rated as St. Jacques Base Force in Cam Ranh Base unit.
2 January 1943:
Departs Saigon.
4 January 1943:
Raises the commander flag.
12 January 1943:
Operation OB is discontinued.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
19 January 1943:
Raises the commander flag. Departs Saigon on an anti-submarine sweep.
21 January 1943:
Off Cam Ranh Bay, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH) Lawson P. Ramage’s (USNA '31) USS TROUT (SS-202) torpedoes EIFUKU MARU at 11-49N, 109-21E. Ship is heavily damaged after being hit in 3rd hold, port side. Arrives at Cam Ranh later this day.
25 January 1943:
Transfers commander flag to kaibokan SHIMUSHU.
7 February 1943:
Departs Cam Ranh Bay towed by French tugboat BARRUO.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques. Departs later.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
March 1943:
Attached to St. Jacques Base Force.
1 April 1943:
Navy Capt Murakami Chonosuke (44) is appointed CO.
20 May 1943:
Navy Capt Watanabe Tsutomu (34) is appointed CO.
June 1943:
Rated as St. Jacques Base Force, Cam Ranh Base Unit. Begins repairs in a Vichy French Indochina Navy drydock.
14 October 1943:
Repairs are completed. Loads supplies.
18 October 1943:
Rated as a Western Unit, Supply Unit. Departs Saigon and arrives at St. Jacques later that day.
19 October 1943:
Departs St. Jacques with torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy No. 518 consisting of KIYO, HAKKO, REIYO, GYOKO, HOKKI, TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) and FRANCE MARUs.
24 October 1943:
Arrives with the convoy at Singapore. Departs there later.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Later departs for Sabang, Pulau Weh, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) and Mergui (Myeik), Burma (now Myanmar).
23 December 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
2 January 1944:
Departs Saigon with auxiliary subchaser CHa-59 in convoy No. 537 consisting of SHOBU, MATSUKAWA, JINSEN, GYOSAN (ex-British HOSANG), SARAWAK and PEKING MARUs and two unidentified ships. The ships sail at 9 knots.
5 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
11 February 1944:
Departs Singapore transporting 25th Naval Guard Unit through Sabang.
18 February 1944:
About 20 nautical miles of Nancowry Island, Nicobar Islands, LtCdr Richard M. Favell’s HMS TRESPASSER (P 312) sights EIFUKU MARU and fires 6 torpedoes at her at 07-52N, 93-38E. Ship is heavily damaged after being hit in 2nd hold, starboard side. Arrives at Nancowry Bay later this day.
1 August 1944:
At 1100, departs St. Jacques with NICHINAN (5,175 GRT) and RAKUYO MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-34.
4 August 1944:
At 0150, arrives off Kuantan, British Malaya (now Malaysia). At 1010, departs there.
5 August 1944:
At 1430, arrives at Singapore naval port (Seletar). Departs there later.
23 August 1944:
Arrives at Saigon.
3 September 1944:
Departs Saigon for Singapore.
8 September 1944:
Receives Western Command wireless command No. 149:
1. Depart Singapore for Kota Bharu (Kota Bahru), British Malaya (now Malaysia), on 13 Sep ‘44 with transport Base properties and 12th Naval Air Flotilla personnel to Saigon.
2. Minesweeper W-34 and auxiliary minesweeper KYO MARU No. 1 are designated escorts.
E 13 September 1944:
Embarks 12th Naval Air Flotilla personnel.
14 September 1944:
At 1600, departs Singapore in convoy SHISA-27 also consisting of HEIAN MARU escorted by minesweeper W-34 and auxiliary minesweeper KYO MARU No. 1.
16 September 1944:
Arrives near Turtle Beak Island. Departs there and arrives off Kota Bharu coast later this day.
17 September 1944:
Departs Kota Bharu waters.
18 September 1944:
The convoy arrives at St Jacques.
19 September 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Saigon. Departs there later this month for Singapore.
8 October 1944:
Receives Western Command wireless command No. 162:
1. Depart Singapore as soon as ready. Escorts are torpedo boat KARI and subchasers CH-9 and W-34. Concerns an emergency transport mission towards Port Blair, Andaman Islands. Schedule the transport and report it to Port Blair.
10 October 1944:
At 1200, departs Singapore escorted by torpedo boat KARI and subchasers CH-9 and CH-34.
15 October 1944:
At 2100, the convoy arrives at Port Blair.
17 October 1944:
At 0600, departs Port Blair escorted by torpedo boat KARI and subchasers CH-9 and CH-34.
21 October 1944:
At 1400, the convoy arrives arrive at Penang, British Malaya (now Malaysia). Departs there later this month for Singapore and Saigon.
8 November 1944:
Departs Saigon towing destroyer AMATSUKAZE.
11 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore Naval Port (Seletar).
8 January 1945:
Receives Western Corps wireless command No. 219:
1. Sail as soon as ready from Singapore to Sabang, Pulau Weh, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Escorts are torpedo boat KARI and minesweeper W-34. Tow Auxiliary transport KUNITSU MARU from Sabang to Singapore.
2. EIFUKU MARU convoy will be escorted from Sabang to Singapore by subchasers CH-34, CH-35 and CH-63.
3. Commander of Naval 13th Air Flotilla will provide anti-submarine cover during entering and leaving of the Sabang port by EIFUKU MARU convoy within a range that does not interfere with training duties.
Departs Singapore that same day escorted by torpedo boat KARI and minesweeper W-34.
11 January 1945:
The convoy arrives at Sabang.
Receives Singapore Area Base Unit wireless order No. 10:
Subchasers CH-34, CH-35 and CH-63 will escort EIFUKU MARU convoy which will depart Sabang at 2000 on 11 Jan ‘45.
At 2000, departs Sabang towing damaged auxiliary transport KUNITSU MARU escorted by torpedo boat KARI, minesweeper W-34 and subchasers CH-34, CH-35 and CH-63.
16 January 1945:
At 1930, EIFUKU MARU convoy arrives at Singapore.
E1 ~ 5 February 1945:
Loads supplies, gasoline, torpedoes and ammunition and embarks 350 SNLF Marines.
5 February 1945:
Attached to Vice Admiral Fukutome Shigeru’s (40) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 11th Special Base Force.
At 1200, departs Singapore escorted by subchasers CH-33 and CH-35. She carries 350 SNLF Marines as well as war supplies.
8 February 1945:
About 235 nautical miles SW St. Jacques, LtCdr Paul E. Summers' (USNA 36) USS PAMPANITO ( SS-383) fires 3 torpedoes at EIFUKU MARU. She is hit starboard aft and breaks in two halves. Bow goes one way and stern goes in opposite direction. Mid-section blows up. After 20 minutes and several explosions, stern sinks. Thereafter, bow section explodes and sinks. She sinks at 07-05N, 104-50E. 335 SNLF Marines and four crewmen are KIA.
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] Armament:
3 single 12 cm guns, 1 13mm twin machine gun, 1 7.7mm machine gun, 1 75cm searchlight, 200 mines and a depth charge thrower.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.
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