Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(HIROTA MARU, prewar)

IJN HIROTA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

E 1940:
Hakodate. Laid down by Hakodate Dock K.K. shipyard for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK) as a 2,922-tons cargo ship.
4 June 1940:
Launched and named HIROTA MARU. [1]
7 October 1940:
Completed and registered in Osaka. Her Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) is 1,673-tons. [2]
1941:
Her NRT is changed to 1,667-tons. [2]
7 December 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned transport (Ippan Choyosen).
11 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
14 December 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
15 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
19 December 1941:
Arrives at Taku Forts, China (near Tianjin). Departs and arrives at Tanggu, China later that day.
21 December 1941:
Departs Tanggu and arrives at Taku Forts later that same day.
27 December 1941:
Departs Taku Forts.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
7 January 1942:
Departs Kure.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
14 January 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
22 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao, Mindanao.
2 February 1942:
Departs Davao.
5 February 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo.
15 February 1942:
Departs Tarakan.
18 March 1942:
Arrives at Davao.
22 March 1942:
Departs Davao.
27 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
30 March 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako, Pescadores later that day.
3 April 1942:
Departs Mako.
4 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
6 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
8 April 1942:
Departs Mako.
10 April 1942:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as home port under Navy’s instruction No. 663. Tactically assigned to troop transport missions under instruction No. 27. [3]
13 April 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
19 April 1942:
Departs Osaka.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure-Jima.
21 April 1942:
Departs Mutsure-Jima.
24 April 1942:
Arrives at Kirun (now Keelung), Formosa.
26 April 1942:
Departs Kirun.
27 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao. Departs later.
4 May 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
6 May 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
10 May 1942:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Moji later in the day.
13 May 1942:
Departs Moji.
15 May 1942:
Arrives at Kirun. That same day, scheduled to be fitted with one Type A 7.7mm MG and five Type 38 Arisaka rifles under Navy’s secret instruction No. 5990.
19 May 1942:
Departs Kirun and arrives at Takao later in the day.
22 May 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later that day.
26 May 1942:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that same day.
29 May 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later that day.
31 May 1942:
Departs Mako.
6 June 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
8 June 1942:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Moji later in the day.
11 June 1942:
Departs Moji.
12 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Scheduled to be fitted with one 8cm/40cal deck gun under Navy’s secret instruction No. 7246.
14 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
15 June 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure-Jima.
16 June 1942:
Departs Mutsure-Jima.
20 June 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
25 June 1942:
Departs Kirun.
26 June 1942:
Arrives at Takao. Departs later for Mako.
3 July 1942:
Departs Mako.
4 July 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
6 July 1942:
Departs Takao.
7 July 1942:
Arrives at Mako. Departs later in the day.
13 July 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
19 July 1942:
Departs Osaka.
20 July 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure-Jima.
21 July 1942:
Departs Mutsure-Jima.
25 July 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 July 1942:
Departs Kirun.
27 July 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
31 July 1942:
Departs Takao.
1 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
10 August 1942:
Departs Mako.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
17 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
18 August 1942:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
21 August 1942:
Departs Yawata.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
23 August 1942:
Departs Moji.
24 August 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
25 August 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
29 August 1942:
Departs Osaka.
30 August 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure-Jima.
31 August 1942:
Departs Mutsure-Jima.
6 September 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
10 September 1942:
Departs Takao.
11 September 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
16 September 1942:
Departs Mako.
20 September 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
23 September 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Osaka. Departs later.
26 September 1942:
At 1140, in 33-33N 135-25E sighs an enemy submarine. Arrives back later at Osaka.
29 September 1942:
Departs Osaka.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later for Mutsure-Jima.
2 October 1942:
At 1700, departs Mutsure-Jima in convoy No. 170 also consisting of auxiliary IJN transport TOA MARU No. 2 GO, civilian oiler TAKASAGO (’41) MARU and IJA oilers PALEMBANG MARU and OGURA MARU No. 1 and IJA transport SUGIYAMA MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
6 October 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
10 October 1942:
Departs Kirun.
11 October 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
14 October 1942:
Departs Takao.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
29 October 1942:
Departs Mako and returns back there later in the day.
20 December 1942:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 210 also consisting of IJA transport TOYAMA MARU and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer NAGATSUKI.
26 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
31 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
1 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
5 January 1943:
Departs Osaka.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure-Jima.
14 January 1943:
Departs Mutsure-Jima.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
22 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
23 January 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
24 January 1943:
Departs Mako and arrives at Kirun later in the day.
13 February 1943:
Departs Kirun.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
18 February 1943:
Departs Mako.
19 February 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
25 February 1943:
Departs Takao.
1 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
10 March 1943:
Departs Osaka.
11 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
15 March 1943:
At 1100 (ETD), departs Moji for Takao in convoy No. 137 also consisting of auxiliary transport SHOKO (5,385 GRT) MARU, IJA transports ROKKO, HIBI and HOKKO MARUs and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) CHIYO MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
18 March 1943:
HIROTA MARU is detached from the convoy and arrives at Kirun.
24 March 1943:
Departs Kirun.
25 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
1 April 1943:
Tactically assigned to the Mako Guard District as auxiliary transport (Otsu) category. Assigned to troop transport missions under Mako Guard District secret instruction No. 6. [3]
4 April 1943:
Departs Osaka.
6 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
9 April 1943:
Departs Moji in convoy No. 145 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SANAE.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
17 April 1943:
Departs Kirun.
18 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
7 May 1943:
Departs Takao and joins convoy No. 259 also consisting of auxiliary storeship CHOKO MARU and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer HOKAZE.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
18 May 1943:
Departs Yawata.
19 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka. Departs Later.
24 May 1943:
Departs Moji in convoy No.159 also consisting of government owned cargo ships (C-AK) ROZAN (ex-British ANALOCK) and BOKO (ex British SAGRES) MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao (ETA 1700).
7 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
9 June 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
13 June 1943:
Departs Kirun.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao commercial port.
17 June 1943:
Departs Takao commercial port in convoy No. 273 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) ATLANTIC MARU, IJA transport COLUMBIA MARU and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
22 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji. ATLANTIC MARU had detached before arrival to Pusan.
26 June 1943:
Departs Moji.
27 June 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
29 June 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
1 July 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture later that day.
6 July 1943:
Departs Katsuura.
7 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji. At 1400, departs there in convoy No. 173 also consisting of IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) ZUIYO MARU, IJN auxiliary emergency tanker KOSHIN MARU, IJN auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU No. 2, auxiliary transports NACHISAN and RYUKO MARUs, IJA transports MURORAN, ASAKA, TAIYU, KYOKKO MARUs and civilian ore carrier (C-AC) GYOKUREI MARU escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA and patrol PB-36.
13 July 1943:
At 0950, arrives at Takao.
18 July 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Takao commercial port later in the day.
20 July 1943:
At 0800, departs Takao commercial port in convoy No. 284 also consisting of auxiliary transport SHOUN MARU, IJA storeship BIYO MARU, IJA transports ARGUN, KISHU, NORFOLK MARUs, auxiliary tanker MATSUMOTO MARU, IJA tanker NANEI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SANAE. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
30 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Tokuyama later in the day.
4 August 1943:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Osaka later that day.
11 August 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Moji later that same day.
12 August 1943:
Departs Moji Moji in convoy No. 186 also consisting of MAEBASHI MARU and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-2.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Takao naval base.
22 August 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Kirun later in the day.
24 August 1943:
At 1400, departs Kirun.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
1 September 1943:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao commercial port later that day.
4 September 1943:
Departs Takao commercial port and arrives at Takao naval base later that same day.
8 September 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later in the day.
9 September 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 201 and 204 combined also consisting of IJA transports TAIRIN, TOFUKU, TOKO (2747 GRT), RYUYO MARUs, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) HITORA (ex Panamanian RAMONA) MARU and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan TSUSHIMA and two unidentified escorts.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
18 September 1943:
Departs Moji and arrives at Tokuyama later that day.
22 September 1943:
Departs Moji and arrives at Osaka later that same day.
29 September 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Moji later in the day.
1 October 1943:
Departs Moji.
4 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao naval base.
13 October 1943:
Departs Takao naval base and arrives at Takao commercial port later in the day.
22 October 1943:
Departs Takao.
25 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
30 October 1943:
Departs Moji and arrives at Tokuyama later that day.
1 November 1943:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Osaka later that same day.
7 November 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Moji later in the day.
9 November 1943:
Departs Moji.
13 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
21 November 1943:
Departs Takao for Moji in convoy No. 221 also consisting of auxiliary oiler SAN RAMON MARU, auxiliary shared emergency tanker (B/C-AO) TAKETOYO MARU, IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) FUSHIMI MARU No. 3, IJA transports CHILE, SHOYU and SEIWA MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
27 November 1943:
Off Uki Jima, Goto Retto. At 0005, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter’s (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and sinks tanker SAN RAMON MARU carrying a full load of 10,600 tons of crude oil from Miri, Borneo. She sinks at 33-34N, 128-35E. Three guards and 28 crewmen are killed. Later that day, much of the remainder of convoy No. 221 arrive at Moji. Departs there and arrives at Tokuyama.
28 November 1943:
At 0900 HIROTA MARU arrives at Moji.
1 December 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
2 December 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
6 December 1943:
Departs Osaka.
7 December 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
13 December 1943:
At 1500, departs Moji in convoy No. 121 also consisting of civilian ore carrier (C-AC) NICHIREI MARU, IJA transport BATAVIA MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) SARAWAK MARU and FUSHIMI MARU No. 3, auxiliary oiler OGURA MARU No. 2, IJN shared tanker (B/C-AO) TENEI MARU and eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE and minesweeper W-33.
17 December 1943:
At 2228, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr Harry C. Stevenson’s (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) in 23-59N, 124-42E. SARAWAK and TENEI MARUs are both hit by single torpedoes and lightly damaged.
18 December 1943:
At 0325, in 23-47N, 124-40E another torpedo attack is avoided.
20 December 1943:
At 1300, arrives at Takao.
31 December 1943:
At 1100, departs Takao in convoy No. 231 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) DAIHO MARU, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) SEIZAN MARU and seven unidentified merchant ships with an unknown escort.
1944:
Current Captain is Koyanagi (first name unknown).
7 January 1944:
Arrives and departs Moji.
8 January 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Unloads two 750-ton dismantled tanks from Takao and 85 empty aviation fuel drums.
9 January 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
10 January 1944:
Arrives at Osaka. Unloads 3,000 Takao made products. Loads 200-m3 of iron wire, 100 gas pipes, 27 windlasses, 400-m3 of steel, one car, 528-m3 of typewriters and 50 other sundries.
14 January 1944:
Departs Osaka.
15 January 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
16 January 1944:
Departs Moji.
22 January 1944:
Arrives at Takao naval base.
2 February 1944:
Departs Takao naval base.
3 February 1944:
Arrives at Kirun. Unloads one Takeo ‘Ageashike’ and one ship conveyor. Loads lump coal totaling 2,000-tons. Enters drydock later in the day.
24 February 1944:
Undocked. Departs Kirun.
25 February 1944:
Arrives at Takao commercial port. Departs later for Kirun.
26 February 1944:
At 0800, departs Kirun.
27 February 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Takao commercial port.
4 March 1944:
Unloads 2,000 butanol drums from Osaka, aircraft weapons totaling 154-m3, beans and rice totaling 150-tons and 800-tons of sugar. Loads 60-tons of alcohol for Tokuyama and departs Takao commercial port.
12 March 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
18 March 1944:
Unloads 2,000-stone of lumber from Takao. Loads 1,000-tons of steel, 1,000-m3 of goods and 165-m3 of goods. Departs Osaka later that day.
19 March 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
21 March 1944:
Unloads 2,500 empty aviation fuel drums from Takao. Loads one 350-ton dismantled tank. Departs Tokuyama later that day.
22 March 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
23 March 1944:
Departs Moji in convoy MOTA-13 also consisting of IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) HIGANE MARU, government owned ships (C-AK) YULIN (ex-Norwegian HERLEIK) and KOZAN (ex-HENG SHAN) MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) BIZEN, SHOKA MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 1, IJA transport PACIFIC MARU, IJN auxiliary emergency tanker MATSUMOTO MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) SHINEI, CHIHAYA and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and IJN shared tanker (B/C-AO) YOKO MARU. (YOKO MARU joins the convoy from off Nagasaki) The convoy is escorted by kaibokan KURAHASHI and subchaser CH-26.
24 March 1944:
Reserve Captain Ueno Tamejiro is appointed supervisor.
30 March 1944:
At 0800, arrives at Takao naval base. Departs later.
5 April 1944:
At 0240, departs Imari Wan (Bay), Saga Prefecture, Kyushu for Takao in convoy MOTA-16 also consisting of IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) TENSHIN and TACHIBANA MARUs, IJA tanker OGURA MARU No. 1, IJA transports TOSHO, SHONAN (5,859 GRT) and SHIRAHAMA MARUs and civilian tankers (C-AO) NITTETSU, TAKETSU (BUTSU), SANKO and MITSU MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18. Arrives at 1845 at Raro Retto (Islands), Chosen (now South Korea).
6 April 1944:
Departs Raro Retto.
8 April 1944:
Arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan (now Sijiao Island), Shengsi Archipelago, China. Auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU joins as an additional escort. Departs at 1000.
10 April 1944:
At 0700 CHOHAKUSAN MARU is detached.
11 April 1944:
At 1050, arrives at Takao.
15 April 1944:
Assigned to troop transport missions under Mako Guard District secret instruction No. 16.
16 April 1944:
Departs Takao naval base and arrives at Takao commercial port later in the day.
19 April 1944:
Unloads 1,500-tons of sugar and 1,000 butanol drums from Osaka. Loads 60-tons of alcohol for Tokuyama, 300-bottles of mineral oil, 600-tons of grain products and 550-m3 of acetone. Departs Takao commercial port at 0800 as part of combined amalgamation of three convoys TASA-17, TE-03 and No. 82 also consisting of IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) tanker TENSHIN MARU, IJA transports FRANCE, NARUO, WAKO GO, JINJU, SEISHO, IKOMASAN, KAIKO, YOSHUN and NINGPO MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) RAKUZAN and OAKITA MARUs, civilian ore carriers (C-AC) KINREI and DAIYOKU MARUs, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) SHORYU, DAIBU and TOYOHI MARUs, government owned ships (C-AK) YULIN (ex-Norwegian HERLEIK) and HOKKA (ex- Chinese PEI HUA), MARUs, escorted by torpedo boat HATSUKARI, auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU, kaibokan CD-1 and minesweeper W-18. HIROTA MARU is part of convoy No.82 For Hong Kong but apparently is detached from the convoy and sails northward up the China coast to Kirun.
20 April 1944:
At 1100, departs Kirun in convoy TAMO-17 also consisting of IJA transports KYOKUZAN and TOKUSHIMA MARUs, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) KENEI and SUGIYAMA MARUs, civilian ore carrier (C-AC) HIDA MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) TOTTORI MARU, auxiliary netlayer IWATO MARU and sixteen unidentified merchant ships escorted by old destroyer HASU, subchaser CH-8 and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
26 April 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
3 May 1944:
Loads 100-tons of steel, building materials totaling 300-m3, machinery and materials totaling 1,000-m3, about 100-m3 of other sundries and lumber. Departs Osaka later that day.
4 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
7 May 1944:
Loads one 350-ton dismantled tank, 2,500 aviation fuel drums and two boilers. Departs Tokuyama later in the day.
8 May 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
9 May 1944:
Departs Moji.
16 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao naval base. Departs later for Takao commercial port.
26 May 1944:
Unloads 2,100 butanol drums from Osaka. Loads 1,620-tons of sugar, 200-m3 of goods, 135-m3 of canteen goods, another 180-tons of sugar and 30-m3 of bromine and other sundries. Departs Takao commercial port later that same day.
6 June 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
14 June 1944:
Departs Osaka.
15 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
23 June 1944:
Departs Moji and joins convoy MI-09 bound for Miri, Borneo consisting of auxiliary emergency tanker SHUNTEN MARU, auxiliary tanker KYOEI MARU No.3, IJN shared tankers (B/C-AO) YOKO MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 10, IJA tanker EIYO MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) SHIMOTSU and CHIYODA MARUs, auxiliary transport (ex-minelayer) TATSUHARU MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) NATSUKAWA MARU, IJA transports CHILE, SAIHO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and KYOKUZAN MARUs, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) NORFOLK, KENSEI, UGA, TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), AMAHI, MISAKI and NIKKO MARUs, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) SAINEI, BINGO and KINRYO MARUs and two other unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boats TOMOZURU and HATO, minelayer NUWAJIMA, kaibokan CD-9 and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs.
E 28 June 1944:
AMAHI and TEIKA (Ex French CAP VARELLA) MARUs are both detached and later that day arrive at Kirun.
29 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao naval base and is detached from the convoy.
4 July 1944:
Departs Takao naval base and arrives at Takao commercial port.
12 July 1944:
At 0330, departs Takao naval base in convoy MI-06 then also consisting of auxiliary oiler OGURA MARU No. 2, IJA tanker ATAGO MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) TACHIBANA and ZUIHO MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, civilian tanker (C-AO) TOKUWA MARU, IJA transports TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO, YAGI MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 escorted by kaibokan CD-14 and CD-8, patrol boat P-38, minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
17 July 1944:
At 1450 arrives at Moji. Departs later.
18 July 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
22 July 1944:
Departs Osaka.
23 July 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
24 July 1944:
Departs Kure.
25 July 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
26 July 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
27 July 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 August 1944:
At 1100, departs Moji in convoy MO-05 also consisting of IJA transports KAZUURA, TATSUJU, GYOKU and ETAJIMA MARUs and IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) YAMAHAGI and TSUSHIMA MARUs escorted by minelayer SHIRATAKA, destroyer HIBIKI, minesweeper W-20 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-2.
5 August 1944:
The convoy arrives at Okinawa.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
20 August 1944:
Departs Kirun.
21 August 1944:
Arrives at Ishigaki, Yaeyama Retto.
29 August 1944:
Departs Ishigaki.
30 August 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
5 September 1944:
Departs Kirun.
6 September 1944:
Arrives at Takao commercial port.
13 September 1944:
Departs Takao commercial port probably in convoy MI-12 then likely consisting of IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) SEISHIN, ZUIYO and OYO MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KAITO MARU, IJA transports TAIEI, GYOSAN (ex-British HOSANG) MARUs and JUNGEN GO escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI and destroyer HATSUHARU.
22 September 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
28 September 1944:
Departs Osaka.
30 September 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 October 1944:
At 0700, HIROTA MARU departs Imari Bay, near Sasebo, for Cap St. Jacques, Indochina and Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-23 consisting of IJN shared tankers (B/C-AO) EBARA and ENKI MARUs, IJA auxiliary emergency tanker MATSUMOTO MARU, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) MUNAKATA, EININ, SHOEI and KOSHIN MARUs, IJA transports YOKAI and SHIROTAE MARUs, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) ENRYAKU, YAMAZONO and UNZEN MARUs, IJA shared ore carrier (A/C-AC) HIKACHI (NISSHO) MARU, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) RITSUEI MARU and YUZAN MARU No. 2 and survey ship HAKUSA escorted by kaibokan CD-14, CD-20, CD-34, CD-38, CD-39, CD-46 and patrol boats PB-38 and PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224).
19 October 1944:
Off Sasebo. At 1600, CD-34 detects an unknown submarine. CD-38 attacks and drops about 30 depth charges. A friendly aircraft collaborates with the kaibokan. A kill is confirmed by a heavy-oil slick and many interior ship fittings found floating on the sea.
20 October 1944:
Anchors in Raro Bay, Chosen.
22 October 1944:
At the Shushan anchorage, E of Shanghai.
24 October 1944:
75 miles ENE of Foochow, China. At 1000, HIROTA, UNZEN and YOKAI MARUs are detached for Takao escorted by PB-38 and PB-102.
25 October 1944:
Arrives at Takao commercial port.
4 November 1944:
Departs Takao commercial port and arrives at Mako later in the day.
15 November 1944:
Departs Mako.
16 November 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 November 1944:
Departs Kirun.
27 November 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
16 January 1945:
Departs Zuoying, Takao in convoy TAKI-07 also consisting of auxiliary transport WAYO MARU escorted by auxiliary netlayer CHOKI MARU and possibly others.
19 January 1945:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 June 1945:
Off Uoshima, Hiuchi-nada Sea. At 34-18N, 133-32E, HIROTA MARU strikes an aerial mine laid by 20th Air Force USAAF B-29. Sustains moderate damage.
30 June 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 577. Rerated that same day general requisitioned transport under instruction No. 610/14.
9 August 1945:
Innoshima. Repairs performed by Hitachi Zosen K.K. shipyard are completed.
August 1945:
Departs Innoshima.
13 August 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
14 August 1945:
Her current captain is Ueno Tamejiro. Departs Moji for Busan (Fuzan), Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea carrying 970 passengers. About three nautical miles NNE of Mutsure-Jima, strikes an aerial mine laid by 20th Air Force USAAF B-29. The transport sinks rapidly at 34-00N, 130-52E with the loss of seven crewmen and one gunner.

Authors' Notes :
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transports No. 1021 (479 GRT, ’34) or No. 1252 (2,211 GRT, ’44).
[2]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.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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