YUSOSEN!
(Standard 2AT Tanker KENJO MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
EIWA MARU
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011 Bob Hackett
E 1943:
Kobe. Laid down at the Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K shipyard as a
6,923-ton Type 2A Standard Cargo Ship for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK), Tokyo.
E 1944:
Converted to a Standard 2AT Tanker while on the ways;
however, remained usable for dry cargoes.
1944:
Launched and named EIWA MARU
3 September 1944:
Completed.
September 1944:
Departs Hiroshima in an unidentified convoy
transporting troops to Fusan (Pusan).
September 1944:
Arrives at Hataka.
October 1944:
Departs Japan for Hong Kong in an unidentified convoy.
27 October 1944:
At 1958, EIWA MARU departs Hong Kong for Takao in
convoy HOMA-1 also consisting of HAMBURG, YASUKUNI, SHINETSU and KANETSU MARUs
and NISSHO MARU No. 18 escorted by minesweeper W-20, subchasers CH-30, CH-33 and
auxiliary subchaser CHa-41.
30 October 1944:
At 1358, convoy HOMA-1 arrives at Takao.
1 November 1944:
At 1800, EIWA MARU departs Takao for Manila in
convoy MOMA-06 consisting of transport HAMBURG MARU, tanker SHIMOTSU, TOTTORI,
ASOKAWA, ATLAS, DAITOKU, SHINSHO, KAKOGAWA, SEKIHO and SEIWA MARUs escorted by
old destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-7, CD-1, CD-3, minesweeper W-27, subchaser
CH-41 and fleet supply ship KURASAKI.
2 November 1944:
At 2305, LtCdr John B. Hess’ (USNA ’37) USS POMFRET (SS-391)
torpedoes and damages ATLAS MARU.
3 November 1944:
At 0435, Hess attacks ATLAS MARU again, but misses.
At 0500, POMFRET also torpedoes and damages HAMBURG MARU. At 1850, one of the
escorts scuttles her.
4 November 1944:
About 1330, ATLAS MARU goes aground. Torpedo boat
SAGI arrives from Takao and joins the escort.
8 November 1944:
Off Cape Bolinaro, Luzon. LtCdr Guy E. O'Neil, Jr’s (USNA ’37)
USS GUNNEL (SS-253) torpedoes and sinks SAGI. The convoy later arrives at Santa
Cruz, Philippines. Warned of a typhoon in the area, the convoy departs the same day and arrives at Manila Bay at 2238.
9 November 1944:
At 0925, convoy MOMA-06 arrives at Manila harbor.
Docks at Pier No. 7.
13 November 1944:
Manila. More than 350 carrier planes of Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frederick C. Sherman’s (USNA ’10)(former CO of LEXINGTON, CV-2) Task Force 38’s carrier task groups 38.1's USS HORNET (CV-12), MONTEREY (CVL-26) and COWPENS (CVL-25), TG 38.3's ESSEX (CV-9), TICONDEROGA (CV-14) and LANGLEY (CVL-27) and TG 38.4's ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30) attack shipping and port facilities.
Plannes bomb and sink EIWA MARU with 1,000 troops, tanks, war material, drummed oils and gasoline aboard at 14-35N,120-55E.
The planes also sink light cruiser KISO, destroyers HATSUHARU and OKINAMI and auxiliary subchaser CHa-116 and merchant tankers KINKA, KAKOGAWA, SEKIHO and TEIYU MARUs and cargo ships TAITOKU, HATSU, SEIWA and SHINKOKU MARUs and damage destroyer USHIO.
- Bob Hackett
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