Japanese Auxiliary Storeships

KYURYOSEN!

(HOKKAI MARU, prewar – Peter Cundall Collection)

IJN HOKKAI MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2020 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

12 September 1933:
Kobe. Laid down by Mitsubishi Zosen KK shipyard as a 398-tons deep-sea trawler with refrigerating capacity for Shinko Suisan KK.
15 March 1934:
Launched and named HOKKAI MARU. [1]
8 May 1934:
Shinko Suisan K.K. receives a steamer trawl fishing permit (No. 23) available for 10 years. Operation areas include: The North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, N of latitude 166-00E and N of latitude 50-00N from Cape Olyutrsky to Cape Nawarin and excluding the line from Cape Kronoskie to Cape Africa.
Harvesting ports are: Hakodate, Tokyo and Osaka.
15 May 1934:
Completed and registered at Tokyo with a GRT (registered gross tonnage) of 398-tons and a NRT (registered net tonnage) of 212-tons. [1]
8 May 1934:
Shinko Suisan K.K. receives a steamer trawl fishing permit (No. 129) available for 10 years. Operation areas include: The North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, NE of latitude 166-00E and N of latitude 50-00N from Cape Olyutrsky to Cape Nawarin and excluding the line from Cape Kronoskie to Cape Africa.
Harvesting ports are: Hakodate, Tokyo and Osaka.
9 May 1934:
Completed with a GRT (registered gross tonnage) and a NRT (registered net tonnage) respectively of 399-tons and 212-tons. [2]
25 May ~ 4 October 1934:
Chartered by Nihon Godo Kosen K.K.
1935: Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 407-tons and 218-tons. [2]
22 October 1935:
Shinko Suisan K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is changed.
Operating areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) The North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, E of longitude 166-00E and N of latitude 50-00N from Cape Olyutrsky to Cape Nawarin and excluding the line from Cape Kronoskie to Cape Africa. (C) South China Sea S of latitude 21-00.
Harvesting ports are: Hakodate, Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Tobata.
Restrictions or conditions: From April 1 to September 30, operations are restricted to South China Sea only.
7 May 1937:
Her owners are changed to Nippon Suisan K.K.
October 1937:
Requisitioned by the IJN and attached to the Sasebo Naval Supply Department.
9 October 1937:
Navy (Resv) Lt Miyata Masaru is appointed supervisor.
13 October 1937:
Departs Sasebo.
31 December 1937:
Arrives at Tongao Tao (near Hong Kong), China and departs there later that day.
31 March 1938:
Arrives at Amoy (now Xiamen) Port road, China. Departs there and arrives off Kinmen Island, Amoy, China later that same day. Departs later and arrives at Amoy.
13 April 1938:
Lt Miyata is relieved by Navy (Resv) Lt Tashiro Takaji as supervisor.
14 May 1938:
1550 ~ 1641: alongside to port stern of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
E15 ~ 24 May 1938:
Departs Amoy for Wenzhou Bay, China.
25 May 1938:
1120 ~ 1225: alongside to starboard amidships of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
15 June 1938:
0935 ~ 1025: alongside to starboard of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
22 June 1938:
0756 ~ 0840: alongside to starboard of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with fresh food and commodity goods.
E23 ~ 27 June 1938:
Departs Wenzhou.
28 June 1938:
Arrives at Amoy. 0703 ~ 0805: alongside to port amidships of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
29 June 1938:
Departs Amoy.
7 July 1938:
Departs Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) for Fuzhou, China.
11 July 1938:
1325 ~ 1408: alongside to starboard of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with ice making products and fresh food.
E12 ~ 18 July 1938:
Departs Fuzhou for Amoy.
19 July 1938:
0900 ~ 0950: alongside to starboard of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions her with fresh food. Departs Amoy later in the day.
25 July 1938:
Arrives at Hou Ao, China. 0830 ~ 0918: alongside to starboard amidships of auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU and provisions het with fresh food and ice.
27 September 1938:
Her owners are restyled to Nippon Suisan G.K.
E27 ~ 29 September 1938:
Departs Hou Ao for Wuxue, China.
30 September 1938:
1255 ~ 1325: alongside to port aft of minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
E1 ~ 15 October 1938:
Departs Wuxue for Chun, China.
16 October 1938:
0735 ~ 0810: alongside to port of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
E17 ~ 31 October 1938:
Departs Chun for Hankow (now Hankou), China.
1 November 1938:
1710 ~ 1756: alongside to port of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
E2 ~ 18 November 1938:
Departs Hankow for Shi Ji, China.
19 November 1938:
1850 ~ 1930: alongside to port of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
20 November ~ 25 December 1938:
Released to her owners.
26 December 1938:
Nippon Suisan K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is renewed for 10 years.
Operating areas include: (A) The North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea, E of longitude 166-00E and N of latitude 50-00N from Cape Olyutrsky to Cape Nawarin and excluding the line from Cape Kronoskie to Cape Africa. (B) South China Sea S of latitude 21-00.
Harvesting ports are: Hakodate, Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Tobata.
Restrictions or conditions: From April 1 to September 30, operations are restricted to South China Sea only.
1939:
Requisitioned again by the IJN.
22 June 1939:
0947 ~ 1007: alongside to port of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
E23 June ~ 2 July 1939:
Departs Qixia Shan, China.
3 July 1939:
Departs Nanking (now Nanjing), China for Jiangyin, China.
11 July 1939:
0955 ~ 1030: alongside to port of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
E12 ~ 30 July 1939:
Departs Jiangyin for Kou An, China.
31 July 1939:
1337 ~ 1400: alongside to port of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
E1 ~ 19 August 1939:
Departs Kou an.
20 August 1939:
Arrives at Wuhu, China. Alongside IJA transport SUGI MARU. Departs there later that same day.
29 August 1939:
Arrives at Nanking. Departs there later in the day and arrives later at Kou An.
5 September 1939:
1220 ~ 1243: alongside to port of auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
E6 September ~ 23 October 1939:
Departs Kou An for Anqing, China.
24 October 1939:
1315 ~ 1355: alongside to port amidships of NIPPONKAI MARU and provisions her with fresh food.
24 October 1939:
Departs Anqing for Shanghai, southern China.
23 November 1939:
Navy (Resv) Lt Tashiro Takaji is confirmed as supervisor.
3 December 1939:
Departs Shanghai.
23 May 1940:
Released to her owners.
7 August 1940:
Requisitioned again by the IJN.
15 October 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary stores ship attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 1256. Attached that same day to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Inoue Shigeyoshi’s (37) Fourth Fleet as an auxiliary stores ship (Otsu) category. [3]
6 December 1941:
Assigned to resupply invasion troops under Yokosuka Naval instruction No. 14.
E7 ~ 25 December 1941:
Loads 100-tons fresh food.
26 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for the South Seas (Japanese mandated islands).
28 January 1942:
Assigned to resupply invasion troops under Yokosuka Naval instruction No. 45.
5 March 1942:
Departs Tobata.
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 March 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for the South Seas.
21 March 1942:
Arrives at Ponape, Eastern Carolines.
23 March 1942:
Departs Ponape.
25 March 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines (now Federated States of Micronesia).
26 March 1942:
1050 ~ 1102: provisions minelayer OKINOSHIMA with fresh food.
28 March 1942:
Departs Truk.
1 April 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago (now Papua New Guinea).
4 April 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
5 April 1942:
Arrives at Kavieng, Admiralty Islands.
6 April 1942:
Departs Kavieng.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
10 April 1942:
Departs Truk.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
7 May 1942:
Rescues 23 people from a raft of auxiliary armed merchant cruiser KINJOSAN MARU. [4]
8 May 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
16 May 1942:
Provisions heavy cruisers AOBA and KAKO.
19 May 1942:
Provisions minelayer TSUGARU.
22 May 1942:
Departs Truk.
24 May 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
26 May 1942:
Departs Ponape.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 June 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
15 June 1942:
Arrives at Chichi Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
16 June 1942:
Departs Chichi Jima.
18 June 1942:
Arrives at Haha Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
19 June 1942:
Departs Haha Jima.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
9 July 1942:
Departs Truk.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein, Marshalls. Departs there later.
31 August 1942:
Departs Truk for Rabaul, apparently alone and without escort.
25 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
5 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk.
19 November 1942:
Departs Truk in a convoy also consisting of IJN auxiliary stores ships HARUNA and MINATO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU.
20 November 1942:
At 05-00N, 149-00E CHOUN MARU detaches.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
24 November 1942:
Navy (Resv) Lt Tashiro is relieved by Navy (Resv) Lt Sano Takeo as supervisor.
26 November 1942:
At 1543, departs Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of IJN auxiliary transport KENYO MARU escorted by minesweeper W-22.
28 November 1943:
Arrives at Buin, Bougainville, Solomons (now Papua New Guinea).
4 January 1943:
At 0800, departs Rabaul for Buin, likely also consisting of oiler TSURUMI and auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU and IJN requisitioned (B-AK) GIYU MARU escorted by subchaser CH-16.
6 January 1943:
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 January 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
3 February 1943:
Arrives at Tobata.
2 March 1943:
Departs Tobata and arrives at Hikojima later that day.
31 March 1943:
Her owners are changed to Nihon Kaiyo Gyogyo Tosei K.K.
1 April 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral Kusaka Jinichi’s (37) Southeast Area Fleet, in Vice Admiral Samejima Tomoshige’s (37) Eight Fleet.
9 April 1943:
Departs Hikojima.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
20 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3420 also consisting of SHINKO, SHINYUBARI and MOGAMIGAWA MARUs escorted by kaibokan OKI.
23 April 1943:
At 1000, auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 departs Saipan to join the convoy as an additional escort.
25 April 1943:
At 1710, SEKI MARU No. 3 having detached, arrives back at Saipan.
30 April 1943:
At 0600, the convoy arrives at Truk.
3 May 1943:
At 0830, departs Truk in convoy also consisting of MOGAMIGAWA and SHINYUBARI MARUs escorted by destroyer ONAMI.
7 May 1943:
At 1033, arrives at Rabaul.
15 May 1943:
At 1500, departs Rabaul for Truk in convoy No. 2152 also consisting of auxiliary oiler AZUMA MARU, auxiliary transport YAMAGIRI MARU, auxiliary minelayer MOGAMIGAWA MARU and IJA transport NOTO MARU escorted by destroyer YUZUKI. The ships sail at 10 knots.
19 May 1943:
At 1320, arrives at Truk in convoy No. 2152.
24 May 1943:
At 1200, departs Truk in convoy No. 1242 also consisting of IJA stores ship MANKO MARU and auxiliary transport NANKAI MARU No. 2 escorted by CH-33.
29 May 1943:
At 1630, arrives at Rabaul
9 July 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy SO-905 also consisting of HOKKO, TOKO, RYOYO and SHOHO MARU escorted by subchasers CH-22 and CH-24.
12 July 1943:
A series of torpedo attacks are launched against the convoy by LtCdr Oscar E. Hagberg's (USNA ’31) USS ALBACORE (SS-218) (two attacks) and LtCdr Ralph C. Lynch's (USNA ’29) USS MINGO (SS-261) (one attack).
13 July 1943:
USS ALBACORE and LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Rob R. McGregor's (USNA ’30) USS GROUPER (SS-214) make further unsuccessful attacks on the convoy.
16 July 1943:
At 2200, arrives at Rabaul.
22 July 1943:
At 1200 departs Rabaul for Otorishima, Marianas (Wake Island, USA) in convoy No. 2323 also consisting of IJN transport KINSEN MARU and IJA transport THAMES MARU escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI.
25 July 1943:
About 240 nautical miles N of Manus Island, Admiralties (now Papua New Guinea). LtCdr Earl C. Hawk’s (USNA ’28) USS POMPON (SS-267) intercepts the convoy. At 1755, Hawk fires a spread of torpedoes and hits THAMES and KINSEN MARUs. The IJA transport, hit by two torpedoes amidships in No. 4 hold catches fire and is further hit by a third torpedo that causes her to break in two. At 1811, she sinks at 02-46N, 148-35E taking down four of her crew and two gunners. KINSEN MARU is hit at the same position by two torpedoes in hold No.1 and No. 2. Her bow blown off, she stops and settles. 39 men are KIA.
27 July 1943:
Auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO arrives in the area to assist KINSEN MARU. The heavily damaged transport is towed towards Truk, and undergoes repairs till October. It seems probable that HOKKAI MARU only proceeds as far as Truk.
6 August 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 1064 also consisting of Fleet auxiliary ammunition ship/survey vessel SOYA, auxiliary transport YAMAGIRI MARU and auxiliary collier/tanker ASAKAZE MARU escorted by destroyer YUZUKI and subchaser CH-28. The convoy sails at 10 knots.
10 August 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul in convoy No. 1064.
12 August 1943:
Departs Rabaul in convoy No. 2022 also consisting of auxiliary collier/tanker TAGONOURA MARU escorted by destroyer UZUKI and subchaser CH-28.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk in convoy No. 2022.
20 September 1943:
At Manila and scheduled to leave.
1 October 1943:
At 1230, due to arrive at Davao.
5 October 1943:
Due to depart Davao for Palau.
14 October 1944:
Departs Palau in convoy SO-406 also consisting of ASUKA, FUKKO, RYUOSAN, TAGA and TAIRIN MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-17 and CH-40.
18 October 1943:
At 0345, TAIRIN MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) John S. Coye's (USNA ’33) USS SILVERSIDES (SS-236) at 00-22N, 143-23E. The ship is on Army war service carrying Army tanks and vehicles and 2,100 tons of gasoline pumps and foodstuffs. Two gunners, one watchman and one crewman are killed.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul in convoy SO-406.
13 November 1943:
At 1200, departs Rabaul in convoy O-305 also consisting of TAISHO, MACASSAR, SHICHISEI and LYONS MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-39 and CH-24. The convoy is shadowed that evening by a USAAF Consolidated ‘Liberator’ B-24. [5]
14 November 1943:
At 0003, the B-24 launches a slow low level attack and hits TAISHO MARU amidships in hold No. 3. TAISHO MARU is damaged but able to return to Rabaul arriving the following day.
20 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau in convoy O-305.
17 December 1943:
At 1200, departs Palau in convoy SO-705 also consisting of IJA transports KOYO, MEXICO and SHIRANESAN MARUs, and IJN transport SHOUN MARU with unknown escort.
24 December 1943: 27 December 1943:
Departs Rabaul in convoy O-706 also consisting of SHIRANESAN, RYUA, HIDAKA and HARUNA MARUs and KOSHU MARU No. 3 escorted by subchasers CH-33 and CH-39.
3 January 1944:
At 0800, arrives at Palau in convoy O-706.
14 January 1944:
At 1400, departs Palau as only ship in convoy HI-402 escorted by cable layer escort TATEISHI.
18 January 1944:
Arrives at Davao in convoy HI-402.
23 January 1944:
Departs Davao.
26 January 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
28 January 1944:
At 1600, departs Palau in convoy SO-805 also consisting of consisting of TOEI MARU, oiler TAKATORI MARU No. 2, TAIEI and TOKO MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-40, CH-16, CH-34 and CH-35 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-47 and CHa-61. The convoy is also given air cover.
30 January 1944:
At 0150, IJA freighter TOKO MARU, carrying troops of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 51st Division and 4th Field Hospital to Manus Island in the Admiralties, is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) at 06-20N, 138-08E. TOKO MARU sinks by the stern taking down 464 troops and 15 crewmen.
IJN transport TOEI MARU, carrying drummed gasoline and ammunition, is sunk by USS SEAHORSE's last torpedoes at 04-24N, 143-15E. 56 crewmen are KIA. LtCdr Cutter makes for Pearl Harbor.
E4 February 1944:
Arrives at Rabaul in convoy SO-805. Departs later.
17 March 1944:
At 0900, departs Palau, Western Carolines in convoy PATA-05 also consisting of OSAKA, PEKING, NANRI and TAKEGAWA MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAGAO, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 and torpedo boat SAGI.
18 March 1944:
ASAGAO is detached and returns to Palau.
E19 March 1944:
Cha-22 is detached and returns to Palau.
25 April 1944:
At 1000, arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
1 April 1944:
Attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.
5 April ~ 10 May 1944:
Undergoes hull repairs.
12 May 1944:
Departs Shimonoseki and arrives at Tobata later that same day.
13 May 1944:
Departs Tobata.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
15 May 1944:
Departs Kobe.
18 May 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 May 1944:
Transfers to Yokohama.
2 June 1944:
Departs Yokohama in convoy No. 3602 also consisting of auxiliary transport YAYOI MARU and possibly others with unknown escort. Auxiliary minesweeper No. 14 departs Nagaura, meets up with the convoy and escorts it up to a certain point, then detaches.
6 June 1944:
Arrives at Chichi Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
20 June 1944:
At 1402, departs Chichi Jima in convoy No. 4620B also consisting of HASSHO, KANESHIGE (KINJO), KUMANOSAN, SURUGA and YAYOI MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 7 and TOKAI MARU No. 4 escorted by subchaser CH-52, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI MARU No. 3, TAMA MARU No. 6 and TOSHI MARU No. 8, and auxiliary subchaser CHa-20.
24 June 1944:
At 34-45N, 139-30E, LtCdr Frederick H. Wahlig's (USNA ’33) USS GROUPER (SS-214) torpedoes and sinks KUMANOSAN MARU carrying 109 passengers. One crewman and seven gunners are KIA. Arrives with the rest of convoy No. 4620B at Yokosuka later this day.
27 July 1944:
Transfers to Yokohama.
29 July 1944:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Tateyama. At 2000, departs there in convoy No. 3729 also consisting of SHOGEN MARU (4,739-tons) TONEGAWA MARU (4,997-tons), ENJU MARU (5,374-tons), UNKAI MARU No. 7 (2,182-tons), KYUSHU MARU (632-tons) and RYUKO MARU (5,626-tons) escorted by destroyers MATSU (flagship) and HATAKAZE, kaibokan CD-4 and CD-12 and subchasers CH-51 and CH-52. Also steaming in close company is a second group of two fast transports, T-1 and T-2. The convoy is so important that light carrier ZUIHO and destroyer FUYUZUKI sail astern of the convoy providing cover from beyond the horizon.
1 August 1944:
Arrives at Futami, Chichi Jima.
5 August 1944:
Undergoes an air attack. Strafed and subsequently runs aground, but is apparently quickly refloated.
23 August 1944:
Departs Chichi Jima in convoy No. 4823 also consisting of EIKO, and HASSHO MARUs escorted by minelayers NARYU and SAISHU and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 5. At 1047, the convoy is attacked NW of Chichi-Jima by two Consolidated ‘Privateers’ PB4Y-1 (B-24s) of VB-102. Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 5 sustains a bomb hit. At about 1215, she bursts into flames, blows up and sinks at 27-07N, 142-06E with unknown casualties.
29 August 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Yokosuka.
13 September 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day. Enters Uraga Senkyo K.K. dock for repairs.
28 October 1944:
Repairs are completed.
29 October 1944:
Departs Uraga.
29 October 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 November 1944:
Scheduled to sail in convoy No. 3105 also consisting of KISARAGI MARU escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI, kaibokan AMAKUSA and minesweeper W-29 under direct escort unit instruction No. 285.
2 November 1944:
Direct escort unit instruction No. 285 is cancelled.
9 November 1944:
Scheduled to sail in convoy No. 3112 also consisting of KISARAGI MARU escorted by kaibokan OKI and auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and SHONAN MARU No. 8 under direct escort unit instruction No. 295.
13 November 1944:
At 0700, departs Tateyama in convoy No. 3112 also consisting of KISARAGI MARU and escorted by kaibokan OKI, auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and SHONAN MARU No. 8.
16 November 1944:
At 0300, LtCdr Frederick A. Gunn’s (USNA ’34) USS SCABBARDFISH (SS-397) torpedoes and sinks KISARAGI MARU at 29-03N, 142-12E. 14 men are KIA. SHONAN MARU No. 8 carries out an anti-submarine sweep and drops depth charges. Thereafter, she heads with TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 towards Haha-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto.
17 November 1944:
At 0700, arrives at Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 3112 escorted by kaibokan OKI.
18 November 1944:
Auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and SHONAN MARU No. 8 depart Haha-Jima and arrive at Chichi-Jima later that day.
At 1500, departs Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 4118 also consisting of auxiliary transport KYUSHU MARU, escorted by kaibokan OKI and auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and SHONAN MARU No. 8.
21 November 1944:
At 2120, at 33-20N, 142-00E about 129 nautical miles E Hachijo Jima, Izu Shoto, LtCdr Frederick A. Gunn’s (USNA ’34) USS SCABBARDFISH (SS-397) torpedoes and sinks HOKKAI MARU at 33-20N, 142-00E. 33 men are KIA.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with Dairen Kisen’s (2,278 GRT, ’40), IJA small repair ship (457 GRT, ’42) and auxiliary transport (8,416 GRT, ’33).
[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 Kyuryosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[4] KINJOSAN MARU was torpedoed and sunk on 4 May ’42 by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Henry C. Bruton’s (USNA '26) USS GREENLING (SS-213).
[5] Available records list HOSHI MARU No. 7 as part of the convoy, but since she was not completed until 2 Nov’ in Japan, her inclusion seems unlikely. HOSHI MARU No. 5, however, was completed on 30 Sep’, (later renamed KOMADORI MARU) and was known to be in the area.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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

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