Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(Type 2TL Wartime Standard Merchant Tanker by Ueda Kihachiro)

FUJISAN MARU (1944):
Tabular Record of Movement © 2010-2016 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1

21 April 1944:
Nagasaki Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. shipyard as a 10,238-ton Type 2TL Standard Merchant Tanker for Iino Kaiun Kaisha, K.K., Tokyo.
24 June 1944:
Launched and named FUJISAN MARU.
31 July 1944:
Completed and registered in the port of Maizuru.
3 August 1944:
Departs Nagasaki and later that day arrives at Hakata.
4 August 1944:
Departs Hakata.
8 August 1944:
Arrives at Ujina.
21 August 1944:
Departs Ujina.
22 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
25 August 1944:
FUJISAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-73 consisting of tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN, HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and KUROSHIO MARUs, transport/cargo liner KIBITSU MARU, ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU, ex-seaplane tenders KAGU and SANUKI MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO escorted by escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-1, CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
Off Kyushu. Later that day, the convoy is joined briefly by MANEI MARU and transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered away because of excessive smoke. MANEI MARU remains at Kyushu because of engine problems.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. FUJISAN MARU is probably detached for repairs. 13 September 1944: At 1400, HI-75 consisting of oilers NICHIEI, RYOEI, MANEI, YUHO, TOHO (1944 built), SERIA and AMATO, KUROSHIO and TAIHO MARUs, transports ASAMA and SAIGON MARU escorted by escort carrier SHINYO, flying boat tender AKITSUSHIMA, DesDiv 30’s YUZUKI and UZUKI, kaibokan KANJU, MIYAKE, MANJU arrives at Takao. Off northern breakwater lighthouse, MIYAKE goes alongside NICHIEI MARU to be replenished.
14 September 1944:
The convoy is increased by the addition of oilers FUJISAN, DAIHO (1944 built) and KUROSHIO MARUs, torpedo boat HIYODORI and kaibokan CD-28. At 1630, the convoy departs Takao. At time of departure, AMATO MARU develops engine troubles and has to be detached (NB: after repair departs Takao and finally catches up with the convoy on 19 September). At 1900, YUHO MARU develops engine problems and straggles. She soon recovers and rejoins the convoy.
16 September 1944:
At 1400, weather deteriorates with heavy rain and poor visibility. Off Paracel Islands. At 2330, in dark night and heavy rain, KANJU suffers rudder problems and collides with SERIA MARU. KANJU sustains light damages to her bridge and some other parts, but one crewman is killed. SERIA MARU sustains only superficial damage.
17 September 1944:
At 1000, SAIGON MARU and AKITSUSHIMA with escorts YUZUKI and UZUKI are detached from HI-75 and head for Manila. Enroute, SAIGON MARU is sunk by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Rueben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249). Six crewmen are KIA. The other ships arrive at Manila at 1810, on 19 September.
18 September 1944:
At 1040, kaibokan KURAHASHI joins as escort. At 2015, SERIA MARU develops trouble with her steering gear and collides with FUJISAN MARU. Both oilers sustain only slight damage. SERIA MARU recovers the problem by switching to manual steering but has to regroup herself at the end of the convoy.
19 September 1944:
At 1500, AMATO MARU rejoins the convoy.
19-20 September 1944:
The convoy is continuously hampered by mechanical problems. During these two day, in succession KUROSHIO, DAIHO, NICHIEI and FUJISAN MARUs and carrier SHINYO all suffer engine or rudder problems. It is extremely difficult to maintain formation, but the convoy remains intact.
20 September 1944:
At 1700, kaibokan CD-18 joins as escort. In the evening the weather deteriorates again, but the convoy continues without serious problems.
22 September 1944:
2 October 1944:
At 1700, FUJISAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-76 also consisting of oilers NICHIEI, SERIA, NICHINAN, RYOEI, KUROSHIO, TARAKAN and TOHO (1944) MARUs, ex-seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU and cargo ship TEIHOKU MARU escorted by escort carrier SHINYO and kaibokan KANJU, MANJU, MIYAKE, KURAHASHI and CD-28 and torpedo boat HIYODORI.
E 4 October 1944:
Arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island. TARAKAN MARU, fitted with a temporary bow, is found to be leaking, so she undergoes more repairs.
8 October 1944:
South China Sea. At 0100, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s USS BECUNA (SS-319) torpedoes and damages KIMIKAWA MARU at 14-12N, 115-53E. KIMIKAWA MARU is hit by two torpedoes, but remains navigable. She is detached from the convoy and heads for Manila escorted by HIYODORI and CD-28. At 0248 kaibokan MANJU carries out an anti submarine sweep.
10 October 1944:
After receiving reports of an American task force striking Okinawa, convoy HI-76 diverts to Samah, Hainan Island.
11 October 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Samah, Hainan Island.
16 October 1944:
At 0745, the convoy departs Samah.
17 October 1944:
RYOEI MARU, MANJU and MIYAKE are detached and head for Mako.
18 October 1944:
At 0800, the convoy is ordered to Samah to rendezvous with kaibokan CD-25 and CD-32. Later, HI-76 completes the rendezvous and at 1700 departs Samah. Tankers FUJISAN, NICHIEI and NICHINAN MARUs are ordered to remain at Samah.
26 October 1944:
At 1130, arrives at Moji.
6 November 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy HI-79A consisting of tanker FUJISAN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by Kaibokan CD 31 and CD 43.
13 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
27 November 1944:
At 0205 FUJISAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy SHISA-30 also consisting of EININ, TOHO, NISSHO (HIKACHI), ENRYAKU, TATSUMIYA, YAMAKUNI and DAISHU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-27, minesweeper W-34, subchasers CH-34 and CH-35 and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
30 November 1944:
Arrives at St Jacques.
7 December 1944:
Departs St Jacques.
8 December 1944:
Arrives at Hon Lon Island and shelters there and adjacent waters.
20 December 1944:
Arrives Ping Hai Bay.
21 December 1944:
Departs Ping Hai Bay.
22 December 1944:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung).
24 December 1944:
Departs Kirun.
26 December 1944:
Arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
27 December 1944:
Departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
30 December 1944:
Arrives at Pusan.
31 December 1944:
Departs Pusan and later that day arrives at Mutsure.
1 January 1945:
Departs Mutsure.
2 January 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
5 January 1945:
Departs Kure and later that day arrives at Hiro.
6 January 1945:
Departs Hiro.
7 January 1945:
Arrives at Osaka.
12 January 1945:
Departs Osaka and later that day arrives at Wakanoura.
14 January 1945:
Departs Wakanoura and later that day arrives at Osaka.
26 January 1945:
Departs Osaka.
28 January 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
31 January 1945:
At 0730, FUJISAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-95 also consisting of of Type 2TL tankers AMATO and MITSUSHIMA MARUs escorted by kaibokan INAGI, CD-66 and CD-81.
1 February 1945:
At 0100, arrives at Reisui Harbor, South Korea. Departs at 0700 that day.
6 February 1945:
Anchors at Lao Man Shan. Departs later that day.
7 February 1945:
At 0800, arrives and anchors at Yalang Bay, Hainan Island.
8 February 1945:
At 1700, departs Yalang Bay.
9 February 1945:
At 1700, arrives at Quinhon Bay, Indochina.
10 February 1945:
At 0730, departs Quinhon Bay.
14 February 1945:
Arrives at Singapore.
22 February 1945:
FUJISAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-96 also consisting of AMATO and MITSUSHIMA MARUs escorted by kaibokan INAGI, CD-66 and CD-81.
27 February 1945:
Off Camranh Bay, Indochina. At 0035, LtCdr William H. Hazzard’s USS BLENNY (SS-324) torpedoes and sinks tanker AMATO MARU at 11-56N, 109-18E. That evening, the convoy anchors at Baie de Kiquik.
28 February 1945:
Departs Baie di Kiquik. Near Hainan Island at 2025, a B-29 is spotted and air raid preparations are made by the convoy.
1 March 1945:
Hainan Strait. At 1430, an air attack by B-24 “Liberator” heavy bombers begins. On the third attack, at 1540, MITSUSHIMA MARU is damaged and forced to jettison 2,500 tons of crude. She is detached for repairs at Hong Kong escorted by kaibokan CD-66.
FUJISAN MARU escapes the attacks with only minor damage from near misses. She heads for Moji escorted by INAGI and CD-81. They stop at various anchorages up the Chinese coast.
10 March 1945:
At 1000, arrives at Shushan Island.
11 March 1945:
At 1100, departs Shushan Island.
13 March 1945:
At 1810, arrives at Moji.
15 March 1945:
Departs Moji and later that day arrives at Iwakuni.
21 March 1945:
Departs Iwakuni and later that day arrives at Ujina. Remains at anchor.
16 April 1945:
Departs Ujina and later that day arrives at Innoshima, where the ship anchors awaiting repairs.
15 August 1945:
Hostilities cease.
November 1946:
Maizuru. Towed to the Iino Heavy Industries shipyard and moored.
5 March 1949:
Kure. Undergoes remodelling at Harima shipyard.
23 November 1956:
Maizuru. Remodelled to an ore carrier at the Iino Heavy Industries shipyard and shortened by approximately 8 feet. Renamed SADASHIMA MARU.
25 January 1962:
Arrives at Onomichi.
April 1962:
Sold and scapped at Onomichi.

Authors' Note:
Thanks go to Erich Muethlthaler for info in Rev 1.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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