YUSOSEN!



(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN HARIO:

Tabular Record of Movement

© 2006-2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

2 June 1944:
Aioi. Laid down at Harima Shipbuilding as an 18,500-ton tanker.

4 October 1944:
Launched and named HARIO.

1 December 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Captain Miyata Eizo is the Commanding Officer.

24 January 1945:
At 0700, HARIO departs Moji for Singapore convoy HI-89 consisting of NICHINAN MARU and TATEKAWA MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52.

25 January 1945:
At 0100, the convoy anchors in Gako Bay, southern Korea.

26 January 1945:
At 0700, the convoy departs Gako Bay.

28 January 1945:
At 0800, arrives at Nayo, China coast and departs at midnight.

30 January 1945:
At about 0050, the convoy is attacked by a large bomber, but it does no damage to the convoy. During the evening the convoy arrives at Hunghai Bay (NE of Hong Kong).

31 January 1945:
At 0300, departs Hunghai Bay.

1 February 1945:
At 1900, the convoy arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island,

2 February 1945:
At 1700, departs Yulin.

7 February 1945:
At 2000, HARIO develops engine trouble. HARIO and CD-8 are detached.

8 February 1945:
At 1530, the convoy arrives at Singapore. HARIO and CD-8 arrive about that time or somewhat later.

23 February 1945:
At 0755, HARIO departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-94 consisting of TOA MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-63 and CD-207.

26 February 1945:
Anchors at Obi Osland, Indochina.

28 February 1945:
At 0130, arrives at Nha Trang Bay, Indochina, then departs a few hours later. Cape Balera Sea. At 0832, that same day, the convoy encounters an unidentified enemy submarine. TOA MARU drops depth charges, but without effect.

1 March 1945:
At 2150, most of the convoy arrives at Yulin in a dense fog.

3 March 1945:
Yulinakin Bay, Hainan Island. Royal Australian Air Force PBY "Catalina" float planes, based in the Philippines, mine the bay.

At 0800, convoy HI-94 departs Yulin, but at 0947 in Yaroo Bay, HARIO hits a mine and begins to flood. The convoy reverses course while HARIO’s crew tries to save their ship.

At 1015, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “At 1000 in position 18-10N, 109-40E, Hario struck a mine -----.”

4 March 1945:
Off Cape Bastian. The flooding overwhelms the crew’s efforts. At 1507, HARIO sinks at 18-10N, 109-40E. Captain Miyata apparently survives as does an unknown number of her crew.

At 2241, codebreakers decrypt a message from the CO of Hario that reads: “Hario personnel will embark in Convoy HI-94 departing Yulin on 5 March and scheduled to arrive Moji on the 13th.”

10 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages and to Matthew Jones for help in identifying COs. - Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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