YUSOSEN!
(Standard 2AT Tanker KENJO MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
ENCHO MARU
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2012 Bob Hackett
1944:
Koyagishima. Laid down at the Kawaminami Kogyo K. K. shipyard as a 6,944-ton Type 2A Standard Cargo Ship for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK), Tokyo.
1944:
Converted to a Standard 2AT Tanker while on the ways.
1944:
Launched and named ENCHO MARU
November 1944:
Completed.
30 November 1944:
At 0900, ENCHO MARU departs Moji for Singapore in
convoy MI-29 consisting of CLYDE, BRAZIL, AKISHIMA, MEIRYU, HAWAII, ENOURA,
DAII, SHINYU, and KAZUURA MARUs, HOSHI MARU No. 11 and KONAN MARU No. 1 and
tankers ENGEN, AKIKAWA and ENKEI MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAGAO, kaibokan
KANJU, IKUNA, SHINNAN and CD-41, CD-66, subchaser CH-28 and auxiliary subchaser
CHa-223.
2 December 1944:
LtCdr Ralph C. Style's USS SEA DEVIL (SS-400)
torpedoes and sinks HAWAII and AKIKAWA MARUs at 30-24N 128-17E. KONAN MARU No.1
rescues survivors from AKIKAWA MARU. The convoy formation breaks up.
BRAZIL MARU goes to Keelung. ENCHO, DAII and ENGEN MARUs and another ship
go to Koniya, Amami-Oshima and CLYDE MARU, HOSHI MARU No. 11 with IKUNA go to
Takao. Later, the Koniya ships rejoin at Takao, but at this point the convoy is
officially dissolved.
27 December 1944:
ENCHO MARU departs Takao for Singapore in convoy
HI-85 also consisting of TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), DAINAN, ENKEI, DAIGYO,
ENGEN, 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, ENGEN and OTSUSAN MARUs are
probably detached and head directly for Singapore.
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.
31 January 1945: At 0800, ENCHO MARU departs Singapore convoy HI-88C
consisting of transport OESAN MARU escorted by kaibokan MIYAKE and KANJU and
minesweeper W-20.
8 February 1945:
In the evening, the convoy arrives and anchors in
Quinhon Bay, Indochina.
9 February 1945:
In the early morning, the convoy departs Quinhon
Bay.
11 February 1945:
MIYAKE is damaged by aircraft at 19-08N, 108-15E.
12 February 1945:
At 1800, arrives at Zensui Bay, China.
13 February 1945:
At 0500, the convoy departs Zensui Bay.
16 February 1945:
The convoy arrives at Quemoy.
17 February 1945:
In the early morning, departs Quemoy. That evening,
arrives at Nanhi Island.
18 February 1945:
At 0700, departs Nanhi Island.
21 February 1945:
The convoy arrives at the mouth of the Yangtse
River. ENCHO MARU, MIYAKE and W-20 are detached and arrive at Shanghai later that day. ENCHO MARU discharges 3,500 tons of fuel oil or half her cargo.
25 February 1945:
At 1000, ENCHO MARU departs Shanghai escorted by kaibokan MIYAKE and minesweeper W-20.
2 March 1945:
The convoy arrives at Moji. ENCHO MARU discharges the remaining 3,500 tons of her oil cargo plus some raw rubber.
April 1945:
ENCHO MARU is reconverted to dry cargo service.
1 June 1945:
Osaka. 458 B-29 “Super Fortress” heavy bombers of the USAAF 20th Air Force raid the port. ENCHO MARU, laid up at the Hitachi Dock Yard, is badly burned out.
September 1945: War Ends:
Found undergoing repairs.
1956:
Sold to Nissho Kisen K.K., Tokyo. Renamed NISSHO MARU.
1961:
Sold to Daiwa Kaiun K.K., Osaka.
1962:
Broken up at Onomichi.
-Bob Hackett
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