YUSOSEN!
(Standard 2AT Tanker KENJO MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
ENKEI MARU
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012 Bob Hackett
28 August 1944:
Tamano. Laid down at the Mitsui Zosen K.K. shipyard as a 6,8486-ton
Type 2A Standard Cargo Ship for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK), Tokyo.
1944:
Converted to a Standard 2AT Tanker while on the ways.
5 October 1944:
Launched and named ENKEI MARU
30 October 1944:
Completed.
15 November 1944:
At 1600, ENKEI MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo
via Takao, Formosa in convoy MI-27 also consisting of AWAGAWA, EDOGAWA, SHOHO,
MATSUURA, SEISHO, KYOKUUN, KOSHU, OSAKASAN and CHINKAI MARUs escorted by
kaibokan CD-61, CD-134, minesweeper W-101 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-156 and
CHa-157.
The convoy detours along the Korean coast to avoid American submarines.
Immediately after departing ENKEI MARU drops out with rudder problems.
30 November 1944:
At 0900, ENKYOMARU departs Moji for Singapore in
convoy MI-29 also consisting of CLYDE, BRAZIL, AKISHIMA, MEIRYU, HAWAII, ENOURA,
DAII, SHINYU, and KAZUURA MARUs, HOSHI MARU No. 11 and KONAN MARU No. 1 and
tankers ENCHO, ENGEN, AKIKAWA and 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. ENKEI, ENCHO, DAII and ENGEN MARUs 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:
ENKEI MARU departs Takao for Singapore in convoy
HI-85 also consisting of TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), DAINAN, ENCHO, 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.
9 February 1945:
At 0800, CH-63 departs Singapore with patrol boat
PB-104 and kaibokan CD-132 escorting convoy HI-88E consisting of tanker ENKEI
MARU and cargo ship SHINYU MARU.
E 14 February 1945:
Arrives at Cap St Jacques, Indochina. CH-63 is
detached.
15 February 1945:
At 1640, arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
16 February 1945:
At 0700, departs Camranh Bay. That evening, at
1124, anchors at Binhoang Bay.
17 February 1945:
At 0600, departs Binhoang Bay Indochina.
18 February 1945:
At 1928, arrives at Tourane (DaNang).
19 February 1945:
At 0800, departs Tourane. A B-24 attack is beaten
off without loss.
21 February 1945:
Hainan Island Strait. Lays over several hours
because of dense fog.
7 March 1945:
At 1605, arrives Miura Bay, Tsushima.
8 March 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
March 1945:
Departs Moji and later arrives at Kobe.
17 March 1945:
Kobe. 20th Air Force USAAF B-29s bomb and damage ENKEI
MARU, transport TEIKA MARU (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA), cargo vessels, HYOGO
and TENRYU MARUs and submarine I-158.
December 1945:
Refitted for dry cargo service.
1950:
Rebuilt and reengined.
1954:
Sold to Toho Kaiun K.K., Tokyo
1962:
Toho Kaiun merges with Shinwa K.K. and becomes Shinwa Kaiun
K.K., Tokyo
18 September 1963:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
14 October 1963:
Scrapping begins.
Author's Notes:
[1] Also known as ENKYO MARU.
-Bob Hackett
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