Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!
(HAKOZAKI MARU, prewar)

IJN HAKOZAKI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2013-2024 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 6

16 December 1920:
Nagasaki. Laid down by Mitsubishi Zosen K.K shipyard for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK) as a 10,413-tons refrigerated passenger/cargo ship.
2 March 1922:
Launched and named HAKOZAKI MARU.[1]
1 June 1922:
Completed and registered in Tokyo.
1922 ~ ?:
Placed on NYK's European service.
9 September 1923:
Departs Yokohama and arrives later at Kobe.
20 November 1926:
Departs London.
24 November 1926:
Arrives at Gibraltar. Departs the same day.
26 November 1926:
Arrives at Marseilles, France.
27 November 1926:
Departs Marseilles.
29 November 1926:
Arrives at Naples, Italy. Departs later that day.
3 December 1926:
Arrives W of the Egyptian coast and later at Suez.
4 December 1926:
Departs Suez.
15 December 1926:
Arrives at Columbo, Ceylon (now Colombo, Sri Lanka). Departs later in the day.
20 December 1926:
Arrives at Singapore, Malaya.
21 December 1926:
Departs Singapore.
26 December 1926:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
27 December 1926:
Departs Hong Kong.
30 December 1926:
Arrives at Shanghai.
31 December 1926:
Departs Shanghai.
3 January 1927:
Arrives at Kobe.
7 January 1927:
Departs Kobe.
8 January 1927:
Arrives at Yokohama.
11 March 1933:
Departs Moji. Collides later in the day with passenger/cargo ship (later IJA transport) MANILA MARU and incurs slight damage.
31 July 1939:
Arrives at Shanghai. Departs the same day.
28 September 1940:
Departs Lisbon.
Early October 1940:
Put into Bermuda for contraband inspection by RN, before being allowed to proceed.
11 October 1940:
Arrives at New York.
4 November 1940:
Arrives at the Panama Canal from Lisbon, Portugal with 5755 tons of lubricating oil, steel and general cargo.
5 November 1940:
Departs the Panama Canal for Yokohama.
11 December 1940:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
16 December 1940:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary harbor affairs vessel (aka command ship) attached to the Maizuru Naval District with Maizuru as home port under Navy’s instruction No. 980. IJN Captain Oshima Ryonosuke (38) is appointed CO. That same day, starts the conversion to military duty at the Maizuru Naval Yard. [2]
January 1941:
Rated as auxiliary harbor affairs vessel No. 2 (sistership HAKUSAN MARU being No. 1).
24 March 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E 25 March ~ 2 April 1941:
Operates in medium China waters.
3 April 1941:
Arrives at Tachibana Wan (Bay), Kyushu.
14 April 1941:
Captain Oshima Ryonosuke (38) is appointed CO.
25 April 1941:
Captain Kosaka Kiyosuke (35) is appointed Supervisor.
1 May 1941:
IJN Captain Oshima is confirmed CO.
10 June 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E 12 June ~ 7 July 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
7 July 1941:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
11 July 1941:
Departs Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
23 July 1941:
Japanese and collaboratist French authorities arrive at an "understanding" regarding the use of air facilities and harbors in Southern Indochina.
24 July 1941:
Japanese forces occupy Indochina, including airfields in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) at Tan Son Nhut, Thudaumot and Bien-hoa and bases at Soc Trang, Nha Trang. Tourane (now Da Nang) and Siemreap, Pnom Penh and Kompong-tom in Cambodia. IJN vessels also move into the ports of Saigon, Tourane and Camranh Bay. IJA tanks clank through Saigon's colonial streets.
25 July 1941: Operation "FU" - The occupation of Southern French Indochina:
A total of 39 IJA/IJN troopships depart Hainan Island for Saigon, escorted by aircraft from HIRYU and SORYU. HAKOZAKI MARU is in the second convoy.
29 July ~ 27 August 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
29 August 1941:
Arrives at Osaka.
3 December 1941:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later in the day.
6 December 1941:
Departs Mako and arrives at Kirun (now Keelung), Formosa later that same day.
10 December 1941:
Assigned as the second auxiliary harbor affairs vessel No. 2 to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo‘s (36) 3rd Fleet, in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto‘s (39) 2nd Base Force.
17 December 1941:
Departs Kirun.
26 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
31 December 1941:
Departs Takao.
E 10 February 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo.
11 February 1942:
Comes alongside and transfers to auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU elements of the 2nd Signal Unit troops and 2nd Base Force personnel, equipment and ammunition.
Comes alongside on starboard’s auxiliary gunboat TAIKO MARU and transfers elements of the 2nd Signal Unit troops and 2nd Base Force personnel, equipment and ammunition.
22 February 1942:
Departs Tarakan and arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo later that day.
24 February 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
10 March 1942:
Rerated as auxiliary transport (Ko) category attached to the Maizuru Naval District with Maizuru as homeport under instruction No. 422 still with IJN Captain Oshima as Supervisor. [3]
16 March 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
25 April 1942:
IJN Captain Kosaka Kiyosuke is appointed Supervisor.
27 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture. Departs Later.
9 May 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Starts conversion to new military duty at the Maizuru Naval Yard.
19 May 1942:
The conversion is completed. Assigned that same day to transport personnel and ammunition under Navy’s secret instruction No. 6122.
20 May 1942:
Departs Maizuru and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
23 May 1942:
Tactically assigned to fleet transport unit on the forthcoming 3rd phase invasion operation.
5 June 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake’s (35) 2nd Fleet as auxiliary transport. Loads nine landing craft under Navy’s secret instruction No. 6841.
E 7 June 1942:
Embarks the No. 5 Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF).
8 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
17 June 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
19 June 1942:
Transferred from the 2nd Fleet to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Inoue Shigeyoshi’s (37) 4th Fleet.
11 July 1942:
Departs Truk.
14 July 1942:
Assigned to transport troops to eastern New Guinea in the forthcoming RZJ operation.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain still with the No. 5 Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) aboard.
20 July 1942:
Departs Rabaul with auxiliary seaplane tender KIYOKAWA MARU.
21 July 1942:
Arrives at Buna-Gona area, eastern New Guinea. The No. 5 Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) disembarks.
30 July 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Truk escorted by destroyer UZUKI.
1 August 1942:
Departs Truk.
4 August 1942:
Arrives at Guam (renamed Omiya Island after its capture).
7 August 1942:
Departs Guam.
12 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
26 August 1942: The capture of Ocean and Nauru islands:
Departs Truk for Nauru escorted by light cruiser YUBARI and destroyer YUNAGI.
27 August 1942:
Tactically assigned to transport troops to the Marshalls.
E 28 August 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
30 August 1942:
Departs Truk escorted by auxiliary cruiser UKISHIMA MARU.
5 September 1942:
UKISHIMA MARU is detached.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Departs later for Yokohama.
13 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
20 November 1942:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Hesaki, Kyushu later in the day.
22 November 1942:
Departs Hesaki.
25 November 1942:
IJN Captain Yokoyama Yataro (38) (former CO of auxiliary oiler TOA MARU) is appointed supervisor.
18 December 1942: Operation C (HEI-GO) - The Reinforcement of New Guinea:
Assigned to a transport mission under Combined Fleet secret instruction No. 178. The objective of this transport operation is to rush the 20th and 41st Army Division to Wewak. The operation consists of three separate operations, two of them divided into sub echelons sailing at different dates: The first operation HEI-ICHI GO (HEI-GO 1) is to land the main strength of the 20th Army Division consisting of 9,443 men, 82 vehicles, arms and 12,267 bundles of provisions at Wewak. The third operation is to land the main strength of the 41st Army Division consisting of 13,657 men, 123 vehicles and 95, 617 bundles of supplies and provisions at Wewak. [4]
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 December 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture.
3 January 1943:
Departs Miike.
4 January 1943:
Arrives at Busan, Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea). Loads troops of the 20th Army Division assigned to the first operations HEI-ICHI GO (HEI-1) and related supplies.
8 January 1943:
At 1530, departs Busan for Wewak with the 2nd transport echelon also consisting of auxiliary submarine tender YASUKUNI MARU and auxiliary ammunition ship ARATAMA MARU escorted by destroyer HATSUYUKI.
14 January 1943:
At 0900, arrives at Palau with the 2nd transport echelon and escorted by HATSUYUKI. ARATAMA MARU is detached and transferred to 3rd transport echelon, but remains organized as a unit of the 2nd transport echelon.
17 January 1943:
The convoy arrives at Palau.
18 January 1943:
At 0800, the convoy departs Palau. Shortly afterwards, YASUKUNI MARU is grounded. Later, she is refloated and departs a day later.
21 January 1943:
At 0730, arrives at Wewak, New Guinea escorted by destroyer HATSUYUKI and lands troops of the 20th Army Division. That evening, departs Wewak for Palau.
22 January 1943:
At 1430 YASUKUNI MARU departs Wewak escorted by destroyer HATSUYUKI.
E 26 January 1943:
Arrives at Palau. Departs later for Japan.
1 February 1943:
Departs Kobe in convoy No. 8201 also consisting of auxiliary oiler SAN LUIS MARU, auxiliary collier SHINYUBARI MARU, auxiliary transport (ex-auxiliary gunboat) NAGATA MARU, IJA transport KANSEISHI MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) KOJUN and ISSEI MARUs and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KIYOTADA (SEICHU), MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat KEISHIN MARU on the leg of the convoy from around the Omaezaki area to Tokyo Bay.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
E 24 February 1943:
Embarks 800 IJNAF personnel and 400 4th Construction Unit’s personnel.
25 February 1943:
At 0400 departs Yokosuka escorted by patrol boat PB-101. No convoy number is apparently allocated.
26 February 1943:
At 1145 arrive off Kobe, where PB-101 is detached.
28 February 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
1 March 1943:
At 1200, departs Miike escorted by minesweeper W-4. Some days later at 24 N, W-4 detaches. HAKOZAKI MARU proceeds to first Truk, then Rabaul.
8 March 1943:
At 0700 arrives off Saipan escorted by destroyer MOCHITSUKI and departs at 1600 for Truk.
E 20 March 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Troops aboard are landed.
E April 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
21 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
2 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
7 May 1943:
Departs Miike.
8 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
10 May 1943:
Departs Moji.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
14 May 1943:
At 1300, departs Yokosuka for Truk in convoy No. 3514A also consisting of auxiliary seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU and auxiliary collier/oiler TONEI MARU escorted by kaibokan OKI.
21 May 1943:
Destroyer ASANAGI meets the convoy N of Truk.
22 May 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Truk.
25 May 1943:
Captain Yokoyama is appointed CO.
26 May 1943:
Departs Truk.
E 29 May 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
21 June 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Truk in convoy No. 2213 also consisting of auxiliary storeship CHOKO (1,794 GRT) MARU and auxiliary transport SHINSEI MARU No. 18 escorted by destroyer ASANAGI. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk. Departs later.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
21 July 1943:
Collides with and sinks small harbor minesweeper No. 3.
22 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
27 July 1943:
Departs Miike and arrives at Kobe later that day.
29 July 1943:
Departs Kobe.
30 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
9 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3809 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) HOKKO MARU and auxiliary transport CHIHAYA (ex-Dutch TJISAROEA) MARU escorted by destroyer INAZUMA and minesweeper W-26.
11 August 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Chichijima.
12 August 1943:
At 1200, departs Chichijima.
14 August 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Saipan.
15 August 1943:
At 0800, departs Saipan.
17 August 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Truk.
E 21 August 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
20 September 1943:
At 0600, departs Rabaul for Truk in convoy No. 2202 also consisting of auxiliary transport ASAHISAN MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboats CHOUN MARU and CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
21 September 1943:
At 1250 attacked by a Consolidated PBY.
22 September 1943:
At 0850 attacked again (as were CHOUN MARU and CHOKO MARU No. 2 GO) by a PBY. In these two attacks HAKOZAKI MARU suffers light damage.
24 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
3 October 1943:
Departs Truk for Yokosuka in convoy No. 4003 also consisting of auxiliary transports CHIHAYA (ex-Dutch TJISAROEA) and ASAHISAN MARUs and IJN requisitioned cargo/transport (B-AK) SHIGANOURA MARU escorted by kaibokan OKI. The convoy sails at 10 knots.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Enters drydock for maintenance and repairs.
9 November 1943:
Undocked. Departs later for Yokohama.
24 November 1943:
Departs Yokohama in coastal convoy No. 7124-A also consisting of unknown merchant ships escorted by auxiliary minesweeper SENYU MARU No. 2 and others.
27 November 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
1 December 1943:
At 0900 departs Miike.
4 December 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Yokosuka.
4 ~ 10 December 1943:
Embarks 1,406 passengers and 680-tons of related equipment.
5 December 1943:
Undergoes overhaul and adjustment of her motor steering.
9 December 1943:
Work is completed.
11 December 1943:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3211A also consisting of auxiliary transport MITAKESAN MARU and auxiliary storeship SHINYO MARU escorted by kaibokan OKI, patrol boat PB-46 and subchaser CH-31.
14 December 1943:
At 0800, HAKOZAKI MARU is detached for Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins) with engine trouble. Auxiliary storeship SHINYO MARU also detaches for same destination.
22 December 1943:
About 300 nautical miles SSE of Guam, dodges a torpedo fired by a submarine at 09-40N, 145-51E. During the evasive maneuvers, collides with patrol boat PB-46, incurring concave damage to her starboard forecastle outer plate. [5]
24 December 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Truk.
25 December 1943:
Begins to unload coal and other cargo.
26 December 1943:
Comes alongside and transfers coal to auxiliary transport SHOHO MARU (1936 grt).
27 December 1943:
848 passengers disembark.
29 December 1943:
394 passengers disembark.
30 December 1943:
Comes alongside and transfers coal to auxiliary transport OKITSU MARU.
2 January 1944:
Comes alongside and transfers coal to sistership HAKUSAN MARU.
6 January 1944:
Completes coal transfers and landing operations.
8 January 1944:
164 passengers disembark.
9-10 January 1944:
Embarks 635 civilians and 382 military civilian employees.
11 January 1944:
At 0500, departs Truk in convoy No. 4111 also consisting of auxiliary transports HAKUSAN, KIMISHIMA and MITAKESAN MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIRATSUYU, kaibokan HIRADO and subchaser CH-29.
12 January 1944:
HIRADO detects a submarine 20 degrees to starboard of the convoy and attacks with six depth charges, but without result.
16 January 1944:
HIRADO detects a submarine 90 degrees to port and attacks with seven depth charges, but without result.
20 January 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Yokohama.
21 January 1944:
917 passengers disembark. Unloads related equipment.
22 ~ 27 January 1944:
Undergoes engine and hull repairs. Loads equipment.
28 January 1944:
Departs Owase Bay and arrives at Osaka later that day. Goes to the shipyard.
28 January 1944:
Completes loading operations.
4 February 1944:
Repairs are completed.
5 February 1944:
Departs Yokohama but aborts voyage due to poor visibility and returns back to port.
6 February 1944:
At 1400 departs again Yokohama and calls at Tateyama later that same day at 1700. Departs there later in the day at 2300.
7 February 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Ise Wan (Bay).
8 February 1944:
At 0600 departs Ise Wan and arrives at Owase Wan later in the day, at 1500.
9 February 1944:
At 0700 departs Owase Wan.
10 February 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Kure.
11 ~ 13 February 1944:
Loads equipment.
14 February 1944:
Loading operations are completed. Embarks 935 passengers and at 1500 departs Kure.
15 February 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Fukuoka Wan.
16 February 1944:
At 0015 departs Fukuoka Wan and arrives at Miike later in the day at 1400. Begins to load coal and embarks 343 passengers.
18 February 1944:
Loads equipment.
19 February 1944:
Coal loading operations are completed.
22 February 1944:
43 passengers disembark.
23 February 1944:
At 0630 departs Miike.
28 February 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Takao. 547 passengers disembark.
29 February 1944:
Embarks 526 passengers and at 1700 departs Takao in convoy HI-49 consisting of tankers EIHO, KYOKUHO and ASASHIO MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan SADO and SHIMUSHU.
E March 1944:
Arrives at Manila, Luzon.
15 March 1944:
Departs Manila in convoy MATA-12 also consisting of IJA landing craft carrier depot ship TAMATSU MARU and IJA transports FUSO, SEATTLE and KUROGANE MARUs escorted by destroyer KURETAKE and auxiliary subchaser CHa-24.
18 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao. Departs later.
22 March 1944:
At 0300, departs Saei near Takao in convoy TAMO-12 also consisting of IJA transports FUSO, SEATTLE, KUROGANE, CLYDE, CHINZEI, SHINYO, MISAKI, SHINKOKU, YOZAN, KAIKO, TSUKUBA, SAINEI, SHONAN (5401 GRT), and YAMAHAGI MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-38 and destroyer KURI.
23 March 1944:
At 1010, IJA transport KAMO MARU joins the convoy from Kirun (now Keelung). Later that day KAIKO MARU and six others together with KURI split from the convoy bound for Shanghai.
28 March 1944:
At 1845 arrives at Reisui (now Yosu), Korea.
30 March 1944:
Arrives at Tomie.
E 31 March 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
1 April 1944:
1,162 passengers disembark.
1 ~ 8 April 1944:
Unloads equipment.
9 April 1944:
Unloading operations are completed. Loads equipment.
11 April 1944:
At 1200 departs Osaka.
12 April 1944:
At 0530, scratches a reef off Himejima Lighthouse at 33-53N, 131-15E. At 0900, resumes her voyage arriving at Fukuoka Wan later that same day, at 1600.
13 April 1944:
At 0100 departs Fukuoka Wan and arrives at Miike later that day, at 1600.
14 ~ 17 April 1944:
Unload equipment and loads coal.
18 April 1944:
At 0930 departs Miike.
20 April 1944:
At 0230 arrives at Wada-Misaki. Departs there at 1330, and arrives at Gobo anchorage, Wakayama Prefecture later in the day, at 1800.
21 April 1944:
At 0300 departs Gobo anchorage and arrives at Atsumi Wan later that day, at 1630.
22 April 1944:
At 0400 departs Atsumi Wan and arrives at Tateyama Wan later that same day, at 1730.
23 April 1944:
At 0700 departs Tateyama Wan and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day, at 0930.
24 April 1944:
Unloads coal. Loads equipment.
25 April 1944:
Embarks 1,183 passengers and at 1300 departs Yokosuka, arriving at Yokohama later that day, at 1445.
25 April ~ 1 May 1944:
Loads equipment.
30 April 1944:
Embarks 177 passengers.
1 May 1944:
Captain Yokoyama is appointed member of the Yokosuka Naval District and disembarks.
3 May 1944:
At 0650 departs Yokohama and arrives at Tateyama later in the day, at 1340.
4 May 1944:
At 1400 departs Tateyama for the Marianas in convoy No. 3503 also consisting of auxiliary transports KEIYO and TATSUTAGAWA MARUs, auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU, IJA transports NICHIWA, ENOSHIMA, MINO, OSAKA, FUKKO, SHINFUKU, FUKOKU and KOHO MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) TAIKOKU and KOJUN MARUs escorted by destroyers ASANAGI and MINATSUKI, torpedo boat OTORI, subchasers CH-31, CH-32 and CH-52, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 and kaibokan OKI and CD-24.
9 May 1944:
CH-52 is detached from the convoy.
10 May 1944:
420 miles NW of Saipan. At 1743, LtCdr Russell Kefauver’s (USNA ’33) USS TAMBOR (SS-198) torpedoes and damages KEIYO MARU at 19-27N 140-00E. No. 2 and No. 3 holds flood. 97 crewmen are KIA. That same day HAKOZAKI MARU is rerated auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category. [3]
14 May 1944:
At 14-57N, 144-58E, KOHO and SHUNSEN MARUs and OTORI, SHONAN MARU No. 8 are detached for Guam. At 1050 HAKOZAKI MARU and at 1200, the rest of the convoy arrives at Saipan. Unloads equipment and disembarks 1,284 passengers.
15 ~ 17 May 1944:
Loads equipment.
17 May 1944:
Embarks 207 passengers.
19 May 1944:
Embarks 55 passengers.
20 May 1944:
At 0050 departs Saipan. About 20 nautical miles, at 1455 drops two depth-charges (DCs) against an unidentified submarine at 13-29N, 144-35E. Arrives at Guam later in the day, at 1640.
21 ~ 23 May 1944:
Unloads equipment and coal.
23 May 1944:
Embarks 99 passengers and 30 funerary urns.
24 May 1944:
At 0400 departs Guam and arrives at Saipan later that day, at 1740. Embarks 397 passengers.
25 May 1944:
At 0720 departs Saipan with auxiliary transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) ASAKA MARU escorted by destroyer SATSUKI.
30 May 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Yokohama. Disembarks 496 passengers and 20 funerary urns.
6-7 June 1944:
Loads equipment.
8 June 1944:
At 1600 departs Yokohama.
11 June 1944:
At 0820 arrives at Kure.
11 ~ 14 June 1944:
Loads equipment.
14 June 1944:
Embarks 809 passengers and at 1720 departs Kure.
16 June 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Miike.
16 ~ 17 June 1944:
Loads coal.
18 ~ 19 June 1944:
Loads equipment.
19 June 1944:
Embarks 330 passengers and at 0830 departs Miike.
20 June 1944:
At 0700 arrives at Moji. Embarks 211 passengers.
22 June 1944:
At 2000 departs Moji and joins convoy HI-67 bound for Singapore that departed Moji 20 June consisting of auxiliary oiler MIRI MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) OTORISAN, SARAWAK and SHINEI MARUs, auxiliary transports GOKOKU, NANKAI, KINUGASA and ASAKA MARUs and IJN requisitioned cargo/transport (B-AK) MANJU MARU, escorted by destroyer KURETAKE, minelayer SHIRATAKA, kaibokan HIRADO, KURAHASHI, CD-5 and CD-13 and subchaser CH-61.
E 26 June 1944:
Kaibokan CD-2 and destroyer ASAGAO join the escort of convoy HI-67 at sea.
29 June 1944:
Near dawn, LtCdr (later Captain) Anton W. Gallaher's (USNA ’33) USS BANG (SS-385) picks up convoy HI-67. Gallaher makes a long "end-around" in daylight. At about 1500, he fires all ten torpedoes in his bow and stern tubes at three ships. He damages MIRI and SARAWAK MARUs. Both oilers are hit in the bow, but each manages to proceed to Manila. At 1512, HAKOZAKI MARU dodges a torpedo at 17-15N, 118-23E.
30 June 1944:
At 1830 the convoy arrives at Manila. HAKOZAKI, ASAHISAN, GOKOKU, SARAWAK and MIRI MARUs are detached.
2 July 1944:
Tethers to pier No. 3. Unloads equipment and disembarks 1,350 passengers.
3 July 1944:
Still at pier No. 3.
9 ~ 13 July 1944:
At pier No. 3. Unloads equipment.
13 July 1944:
Embarks 307 passengers and 113 funerary urns. At 1050 departs pier No. 3 for anchorage.
16 July 1944:
At 1500 departs Manila in convoy MATA-25 also consisting of auxiliary transport NISSHO MARU No. 18, IJA transport SHINFUKU MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARUs, IJA water tanker SHINSUI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships, escorted by subchaser CH-48, kaibokan CD-10, and SHIMUSHU auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU, and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8.
20 July 1944:
At 1640 arrives in Lingayen Gulf off Kaba coast.
22 July 1944:
Departs Lingayen Gulf and at 1430 arrives at San Fernando.
23 July 1944:
Transfers charcoal fuel to SHINFUKU MARU and to IJA TENSHO MARU.
24 July 1944:
Transfers 240-tons of charcoal fuel and 60-tons of water to auxiliary transport TATSUWA MARU.
26 July 1944:
At 0600 convoy MATA-25 departs San Fernando and joins convoy YUTA-09 consisting of auxiliary transport TATSUWA MARU, IJA transport TEIRYU MARU (ex- German AUGSBURG) and six unidentified ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARUs.
28 July 1944:
At 1540 the combined convoy arrives at Takao.
30 July 1944:
At 1930 tethers to quay. Unloads equipment, disembarks 100 passengers and embarks 847 passengers.
31 July 1944:
Unloads current equipment and loads new cargo.
4 August 1944:
At 1125 departs quay for anchorage and from there at 1207, departs Takao for Japan later in the day in convoy MI-10 then consisting of auxiliary emergency tankers SHUNTEN and KOSHIN MARUs, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) CHIYODA and SHIMOTSU MARUs, civilian tanker (C-AO) KOTOKU MARU, civilian ore carriers (C-AC) DAIZEN and HIDA MARUs , IJA transports FUYUKAWA, KENZUI, TEIFU MARUs and WAKO GO (ex-Chinese HOHSING), civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARU and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by minelayer MAESHIMA, kaibokan CD-3 and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARUs.
10 August 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Moji. Unloads equipment and 113 funerary urns. Disembarks 150 passengers and departs Moji at 2300.
11 August 1944:
At 1910 arrives off Kobe harbor.
12 August 1944:
At 0800 tethers to Kobe No. 4 pier. 422 passengers disembark. At 1400 departs Kobe escorted by patrol boat PB-46 and later arrives at Gobo anchorage.
13 August 1944:
At 0350 departs Gobo anchorage and at 1840 arrives at Ise Wan anchorage.
14 August 1944:
At 0400 departs Ise Wan anchorage escorted by PB-46 and arrives at Tateyama at 1750.
15 August 1944:
At 0430 departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokohama later that same day, at 0830.
15 ~ 18 August 1944:
Unloads equipment.
19 August 1944:
At 1300 tethers to quay No. 9 for maintenance and repairs.
E 20-21 August 1944:
Undergoes repairs to gun crew accommodation, radar, four Type 92 special receivers, hydrophone, tank wiring, engine and other areas.
21 August 1944:
At 1000 enters drydock.
26 August 1944:
At 0937 undocked. Tethers to Takashima pier.
12 September 1944:
Repairs are completed.
13 September 1944:
Embarks 162 passengers.
14 September 1944:
Loads equipment.
15 September 1944:
At 1510 departs Yokohama, calls at Tateyama at 1755 and departs later that day at 2300, as only ship in convoy No. 7915. Sails at 11.5 knots.
16 September 1944:
At 0616, dodges a torpedo at 34-33N, 138-27E and arrives at 1646 at Owase. Escorted part way by auxiliary patrol boat KEISHO MARU.
18 September 1944:
At 0620 departs Owase escorted by auxiliary minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU.
19 September 1944:
At 1050 arrives at Kure.
20 September 1944:
Loads equipment.
22 September 1944:
Embarks 1,147 passengers.
28 September 1944:
At 0710 departs Kure and arrives off Hesaki later that day, at 1800.
29 September 1944:
Departs Hesaki waters and arrives at Moji at 0800. Embarks 252 passengers and departs Moji arriving back off Hesaki at 1830 that same day.
1 October 1944:
At 0850 departs Hesaki waters again and arrives at Arikawa Wan later that day, at 2030.
2 October 1944:
At 0650 departs Arikawa Wan in convoy HI-77 also consisting of auxiliary oilers OMUROSAN and ITSUKUSHIMA MARUs, IJA tanker OTOWASAN MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) AKANE, TAIHO, KAIHO and ARITA MARUs, IJA shared cargo/passenger ship (A/C-APK) ORYOKU MARU, German submarine depot and supply ship QUITO GO and auxiliary transports KINUGASA and MANJU MARUs and one other unidentified ship escorted by kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
4 October 1944:
At 2340 sights an unidentified submarine at 25-20N, 121-20E but avoids combat and resumes her voyage.
5 October 1944:
Early am ORYOKU and HAKOZAKI MARUs are detached from the convoy. At 0500, arrives off Kirun. At 0920, tethers to quay No. 18. 1,561 passengers disembark.
5 ~ 7 October 1944:
Unloads equipment.
8 ~ 9 October 1944:
Loads equipment.
10 October 1944:
Embarks 1,514 passengers and departs quay for anchorage.
11 October 1944:
Due to potential air raids warning, tethers again to quay No. 18. All passengers disembark.
12 October 1944:
USN TF.38 carrier planes bomb Kirun. HAKOZAKI MARU is hit twice on port side near the waterline and near missed three times. Those blows put her aground with a flooded engine room and 37 crewmen killed or wounded.
13 October 1944:
Sustains another airstrike without further damage.
15 October 1944:
Enters drydock.
15 ~ 27 October 1944:
Undergoes emergency repairs to her deck and hull.
16 October 1944:
Disembarks again 1,514 passengers.
29 ~ 31 October 1944:
All cargo is unloaded during docking work.
2 November 1944:
At 1100 docked in Kirun drydock.
15 November 1944:
At 0815 undocked. Tethers to No. 18 quay.
16 November 1944:
Loads equipment.
18 November 1944:
At 1800 loads three items of equipment.
19 ~ 22 November 1944:
Loads additional equipment.
23 November 1944:
Embarks 1,389 passengers.
24 November 1944:
Takes 46 funerary urns aboard.
25 November 1944:
At 1600 departs quay for anchorage.
26 November 1944:
Emergency repairs are completed. At 0130 departs Kirun in convoy TAMO-30 and arrives off Incog-jima lighthouse later in the day, at 2240. TAMO-30 also consists of BANSHU MARU No. 32 and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-18 and CD-26 and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU.
27 November 1944:
At 1720 the convoy departs the area for Japan.
3 December 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
E December 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
E December 1944 ~ March 1945:
Undergoes extensive repairs.
16 March 1945:
At 0900, departs Mutsure for Kirun in convoy MOTA-43 also consisting of auxiliary transports KIYOKAWA and TATSUHARU MARUs and IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) NIKKO MARU escorted by kaibokan CHIKUBU, CD-40, CD-102 and CD-106.
19 March 1945:
225 miles NNE of Shanghai. At 0258, at 33-07N, 122-05E, LtCdr Robert K. Worthington's (USNA ’38) USS BALAO (SS-285) attacks the convoy and torpedoes TATSUHARU and HAKOZAKI MARUs. Another torpedo just misses CD-40. HAKOZAKI MARU is torn apart by internal explosions as her cargo of gasoline, shells and torpedoes ignites and blows off her stern. She quickly sinks, but her forward section stays afloat blazing until finally sinking at 0320. The combination of fire, explosions and 5 degrees centigrade water means that almost all aboard perish. 928 passengers, 51 gunners and 139 crewmen, a total of 1,118 are KIA.
The torpedo strike on TATSUHARU MARU kills 149 military personnel, but the ship remains afloat and later makes Shanghai. CD-102 and CHIKUBU launch an unsuccessful depth charge counter-attack on USS BALAO, then rescue 130 survivors.
21 March 1945:
The light cruiser KASHIMA provides accomodation for TATSUHARU and HAKOZAKI MARUs surviving crew members.
1 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 417.

Authors Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport No. 843 (3,939 GRT ’39) .
[2] The role of the harbor affairs vessel (Tokusetsu Komukan) was to take harbor office of Naval Base Corps on board.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[4] The second of the three planned movements, Operation HEI-NI-GO (Hei-2), the transport of the 208th Air Group was cancelled.
[5] The unsuccessful torpedo attack probably was made by LtCdr Michael P. Russillo's (USNA ’27) USS MUSKALUNGE (SS-262).
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan, to Matt Jones of Ohio, USA and to the late John Whitman also of USA. Thanks also go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany for his assistance concerning Operation C (HEI-GO).

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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