Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(HAKKAISAN MARU, prewar)

IJN HAKKAISAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2021 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

26 December 1936:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima Zosensho K.K. as a 3,311-tons cargo ship for Kaburagi Kisen K.K.
25 March 1937:
Launched and named HAKKAISAN MARU.
25 May 1937:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 3,311-tons and 1,902-tons. Her call sign is JHGL. [1]
9 November 1937:
A Kawanishi E7K Type 94 “Alf’ reconnaissance seaplane from auxiliary seaplane tender KAGU MARU collides with the stern.
19 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
22 August 1941:
Yokohama. Conversion for military duty begins at Mitsubishi Zosen K.K., Yokohama shipyard.
5 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 1025. Designated as an auxiliary gunboat engaged in minelaying under instruction No. 1026. Navy Capt Irie Fuchihei (33) is appointed CO that same day.
10 September 1941:
Capt Irie is relieved by Navy Capt Fukuda Kinzo (37).
4 October 1941:
Conversion for military duty is completed.
28 October 1941:
Departs Aioi for the South Seas (Japanese mandated islands).
1 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Inoue Shiyegoshi’s (37) Fourth Fleet in Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral posthumously) Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi’s (40) 6th Base Force. Attached to the Sixth Base Force, 1st Minelaying Unit, 1st Squadron. Attached to the Marshall Defense Unit based at Kwajalein, Marshalls.
6 ~ 16 December 1941:
Departs Kwajalein and patrol area No. 5’s patrol lines.
10 December 1941:
Attached to Fourth Fleet, 6th Base Force.
17 December 1941:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
21 December 1941 ~ 1 January 1942:
Departs Kwajalein and patrol area No. 5’s patrol lines. Thereafter patrols near Eniwetok (Brown), Marshalls.
31 December 1941:
Attached to 6th Base Minelaying Force, 1st Squadron.
2 January 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
5 January 1942:
Attached to Marshall Defense Force, Kwajalein Sea Defense Force.
7 January 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Rongelap, Marshalls.
13 January 1942:
Departs Rongelap. Engages in anti-submarine warfare four nautical miles W Carlos Channel, Kwajalein Island . Drops depth charges. Arrives at Kwajalein later this day.
2 February 1942:
Departs Bigej (Begej), Kwajalein Atoll.
3 February 1942:
Arrives at Wotje, Marshalls.
E3 ~ 28 February 1942:
Patrols in Wotje waters.
28 February 1942:
Departs Wotje.
March 1942:
Assigned to Wotje Sea Defense Force under Marshalls Defense Force Command No. 18.
1 March 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
9 March 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Wotje.
13 April 1942:
Departs Wotje.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
20 April 1942:
Navy Capt. Ishiguro Tarao (37) is appointed CO.
May 1942:
Attached to Marshalls Defense Force, Kwajalein Defense Force.
6 May 1942:
Supplies small freighter OHARA MARU with fresh water.
8 May 1942:
Supplies small freighter OHARA MARU with fresh water.
13 May 1942:
Supplies 5-tons of fresh water to auxiliary patrol boat RYUJIN MARU No. 3 and 30-tons of fresh water to small freighter FUDO MARU No. 2 .
17 May 1942:
Departs Kwajalein and arrives at Roi, Kwajalein Atoll later that day.
27 May 1942:
Supplies food to auxiliary patrol boat KISHU MARU No. 2.
21 June 1942:
Departs Roi and arrives at Kwajalein later this day.
25 June 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
1 July 1942:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
3 July 1942:
Departs Saipan.
July 1942: Attached to 6th Base Force, Squadron minelaying Force. Attached to Marshalls Defense Force.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
10 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later that day.
10 July ~ 4 August 1942:
In Uraga dock for maintenance and repairs.
25 July 1942:
Navy Capt. Nakajima Kiyonobu (36) is appointed CO.
4 August 192:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka later this day.
8 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
17 August 1942:
Arrives at Roi.
18 August 1942:
Departs Roi and arrives at Kwajalein later that day.
3 September 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
4 September 1942:
Arrives at Imidji, Marshals.
25 September 1942:
Departs Imidji.
30 September 1942:
Supplies 13-tons of heavy oil and 6-tons of fresh water to auxiliary patrol boat TAIHEI MARU No. 1 GO.
4 October 1942:
At 0700, engages an enemy aircraft. Thereafter patrols in the Gilberts.
6 October 1942:
Attached to Marshalls Defense Force, Jaluit Sea Defense Force. (To be implemented after arrival at Jaluit, Marshalls).
14 October 1942:
Attached to Marshalls Defense Guard Watch.
18 October 1942:
At 0350, meets up with auxiliary patrol boat RYUJIN MARU No. 3.
22 October 1942:
At 0600, engages enemy destroyers USS MAHAN (DD-364) and USS LAMSON (DD-367) at 04-00N, 175-00E. Communication is lost after 0615. After shell hits from USS MAHAN and USS LAMSON sinks at 03-30N, 175-15E about 80 nautical miles SW Tamana (Rotcher ) Island, Gilberts. Apparently no survivors are rescued and ship and entire crew are lost including her Captain Nakajima Kiyonobu (36), promoted Rear Admiral posthumously.
30 November 1942:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 2198.

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.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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