Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(HOKOKU MARU, prewar – Berend van der Wal Collection)

IJN HOKOKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

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

9 August 1936:
Tsurumi. Laid down by Tsurumi Seitetsu Zosen K.K. for Hinode Kisen K.K. as a 1,274-tons engines aft cargo ship.
3 December 1936:
Launched and named HOKOKU MARU.[1]
29 December 1936:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 1,274-tons and 692-tons. Her call sign is JJJK. [2]
12 September 1939:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 September 1939:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 651. Attached to Third Gunboat Division under Civil instruction No. 652. Navy (Resv) Lt Masami Sawa is appointed CO. Rated as gunboat No. 31.
28 September 1939:
Departs Sasebo for mid Chinese waters.
15 November 1939:
Third Gunboat Division is renamed Thirteenth Gunboat Division under instruction No. 850.
7 December 1939:
At Sha Ha Lui, China. 0410 ~ 0415: switches on searchlights.
E7 ~ 28 December 1939:
Departs Sha Ha Lui.
28 December 1939:
Arrives at Haimen Channel. 1235 ~ 1850: Thirteenth Gunboat Division and auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU COs both visit HOKOKU MARU.
4 September 1940:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
8 September 1940:
Departs Kirun for S Chinese waters.
15 September 1940:
Navy (Resv) Lt Hansawa Akio is appointed CO.
15 November 1940:
Attached to Thirteenth Gunboat Division is confirmed under instruction No. 837.
22 April 1941:
Enters drydock.
15 October 1941:
Attached to Thirteenth Gunboat Division is confirmed under instruction No. 1250. Thirteenth Gunboat Division is based at Shanghai, China.
21 November 1941:
Rated as the No. 131 Gunboat.
(HOKOKU MARU, as auxiliary gunboat – Peter Cundall Collection)
1 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Koga Mineichi’s (34) China Area Fleet. Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol. Carries out intimidation shelling. 12cm and 8cm guns each fire 2 shots. Arrives at Wu Song (Woosung) later that day.
3 December 1941:
Departs Wu Song on patrol. Arrives at Heng Sha later this day.
4 December 1941:
Departs Hengh Sha on patrol and arrives at Liu He later that same day.
5 December 1941:
Departs Liu He on patrol and arrives at Chong Bao Sha later this day.
6 December 1941:
Departs Chong Bao Sha on patrol and arrives at Bell Buoy near Shanghai later this day.
8 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Koga Mineichi’s (34) China Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Makita Kakusaburo’s (38) Shanghai Special Base Force, Thirteen Gunboat Division also consisting of auxiliary gunboats HYAKUFUKU and SHOSEI MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 1.
At 0530, departs Bell Buoy for Da Ji Shan. At 0830, guards shore. At 1130, departs Da Ji Shan. At 1530, captures Panamanian NORSE CARRIER (later renamed SANA MARU) at 3 nautical miles N Ban Yang Shan.
9 December 1941:
Arrives at Bell Buoy. Departs there and arrives at Yu Shan later that same day.
12 December 1941:
Departs Yu Shan escorting captured NEW PEKING. Arrives at Wu Song later this day.
13 December 1941:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai. Loads coal, boiler water and food.
15 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai on patrol. Arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
16 December 1941:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol.
17 December 1941:
Arrives at Bell Buoy. Departs there on patrol and arrives at Yu Shan later that same day.
22 December 1941:
Departs Yu Shan on patrol and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
23 December 1941:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol.
24 December 1941:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
25 December 1941:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and arrives at Yu Shan later that day.
27 December 1941:
Departs Yu Shan on patrol and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
28 December 1941:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai. Loads coal and boiler water.
1 January 1942:
Undergoes repairs and resupply at Jiangnan.
2 January 1942:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Jiuduan later this day.
3 January 1942:
Departs Jiuduan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
4 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Yu Shan later this day.
5 ~ 8 January 1942:
Carries out assistance and guard duty at Shawei Shan Island for American passenger cargo ship PRESIDENT HARRISON (later renamed KACHIDOKI MARU). That ship was deliberately run aground by her captain to prevent her capture by the Japanese on 8 Dec ‘41.
9 January 1942:
Depart Yu Shan on anti-submarine and towing exercises. Arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
12 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
17 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Yu Shan later that day.
19 January 1942:
Departs Yu Shan escorting PRESIDENT HARRISON and arrives at the entrance lightship area later this day.
20 January 1942:
Departs entrance lightship area and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
22 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on anti-submarine and towing exercises. Returns there later this day.
23 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on anti-submarine and towing exercises. Returns there later that day.
26 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later this day.
27 January 1942:
Departs Chen Qian Shan escorting a convoy.
28 January 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
29 January 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
30 January 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Jiangnan later this day.
31 January 1942:
Undergoes repairs and resupply.
1 ~ 11 February 1942:
Undergoes boilers inside cleaning.
9 February 1942:
Loads food.
10 February 1942:
Loads coal.
12 February 1942:
Departs Jiagnan and arrives at Heng Sha later that day.
13 February 1942:
Departs Heng Sha escorting a convoy probably consisting of ROKKO MARU and an unidentified ship.
14 February 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
16 February 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Sha and arrives at Bai Jie Shan. Departs there to sweep mines between Xiao Ban Islands. Thereafter, returns to Si Jiao Shan later that day.
19 February 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
21 February 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Da Ji Shan. Departs there and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
25 February 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
26 February 1942:
Departs Si Jia Shan providing indirect convoy escort. This is probably 4th Division No. 2 echelon convoy consisting of HAKUSHIN, ISSHIN, KEIKI, KANKO, SHINTEN, KOFUKU and BRISBANE MARUs and ASAHI MARU No. 2 directly escorted by destroyer TSUGA and probably others.
27 February 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
3 March 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later that day.
5 March 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
6 March 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai. Loads coal.
7 March 1942:
Loads boiler water.
10 March 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Tong Sha later this day.
14 March 1942:
Departs Tong Sha escorting a convoy.
15 March 1942:
Arrives at Shi Pu. Departs there on an anti-submarine sweep later that day.
16 March 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
18 March 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on night training and anti-submarine sweep.
19 March 1942:
Arrives at Shi Pu. At 0920, land squadron departs and returns to ship at 1255. Departs Shi Pu later this day.
20 March 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
23 March 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Da Ji Shanchong later that day.
24 March 1942:
Departs Da Ji Shanchong and arrives at Hua Niaoshan. Departs there to sweep mines at Chen Yishan. Therafter, heads to Si Jiao Shan.
28 March 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later that day.
1 April 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol at Dong Fushan Yu Shan Island. Thereafter, heads to Si Jiao Shan.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
3 April 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
4 April 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Jiangnan later that day. Enters drydock.
6 April 1942:
Loads food.
13 April 1942:
Undocked.
14 April 1942:
Departs Jiangnan and tethers to Shanghai coal pier. Loads coal.
15 April 1942:
Loads ammunition. Departs Shanghai and arrives at Jiuduan later that day.
16 April 1942:
Departs Jiuduan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
17 April 1942:
At 0900, land squadron departs and returns to ship at 1305.
20 April 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later that day.
22 April 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Putuo Shan later this day.
23 April 1942:
Departs Putuo Shan.
24 April 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
27 April 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan.
28 April 1942:
Escorts a convoy and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
29 April 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
4 May 1942:
Lies alongside coal pier and loads coal.
5 May 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Jiuduan later that day.
6 May 1942:
Departs Jiuduan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
8 May 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Bell Buoy later that day.
9 May 1942:
Departs Bell Buoy and arrives at Jinshan later this day.
10 May 1942:
Departs Jinshan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
12 May 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on gunnery and steering exercises. Returns there later this day.
13 May 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Bailong Cou later that day.
14 May 1942:
Departs Bailong Cou and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
15 May 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
18 May 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
20 May 1942:
Rated as No. 1 boat in Thirteen Gunboat Division.
22 May 1942:
Depart Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Chong Bao Sha later that day.
23 May 1942:
Depart Chong Bao Sha and arrives at Shanghai later that same day.
25 May 1942:
Division land squadron embarks. Departs Shanghai.
26 May 1942:
Arrives at 6.5 nautical miles E Luo Jia shan.
27 May 1942:
Departs Luo Jia Shan waters and arrives at Putuo Shan. Departs there later that day.
28 May 1942:
Shells enemy lookout station at Lang Ji Shan’s top. Each gun fires two shots. Thereafter, departs and arrives at Zhu Yu later that day.
29 May 1942:
Departs Zhu Yu. Shells Song Men lookout station and Song Men. Each gun fires two shots. Departs there and arrives at Yuhuan Island later that day.
30 May 1942:
Departs Yuhuan Island. At 0350, Division land squadron departs. At 0425, anchors. At 0525, provides covering fire. Each 12cm gun fires 4 shots.
31 May 1942:
Anchors in Le Qing Bay. Division land squadron returns.
1 June 1942:
Attached to Shanghai China Fleet. Departs Le Qing Bay.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai. Division land squadron disembarks.
7 June 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Jiuduan later this day.
8 June 1942:
Departs Jiuduan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
15 June 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Putuo Shan later this day.
17 June 1942:
Departs Putuo Shan and arrives Si Jiao Shan later that day.
23 June 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan escorting a convoy and arrives at Luo Jia Shan later that day.
24 June 1942:
Departs Luo Jia Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
30 June 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Bell Buoy later that day.
1 July 1942:
Departs Bell Buoy and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day. Navy (Resv) Lt Suzuki Seishiro is appointed CO.
3 July 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on an anti-submarine sweep.
4 July 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan. Departs there later that day on an anti-submarine sweep.
5 July 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
7 July 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Jiangnan later this day.
8 ~ 17 July 1942:
Undergoes bow repairs.
18 July 1942:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Heng Sha later that day.
19 July 1942:
Departs Heng Sha and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
22 July 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Chong Bao Sha later that day.
23 July 1942:
Anchor chain is cut off due to stormy weather. Departs Chong Bao Sha and calls at Heng Sha. Departs there later that day.
24 July 1942:
Arrives at Chong Bao Sha.
24 ~ 26 July 1942:
Performs sweeping mines operations.
27 July 1942:
Departs Chong Bao Sha and arrives at Jiangnan later this day.
28 July 1942: 29 July 1942:
Departs Chong Bao Sha and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
1 August 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
2 August 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Heng Sha later this day.
3 August 1942:
Departs Heng Sha and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
6 August 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Putuo Shan later this day.
9 August 1942:
Departs Putuo Shan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
10 August 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
14 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
15 August 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
31 August 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Lu Huashan later this day.
3 September 1942:
Departs Lu Huashan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
4 September 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
8 September 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Chang Jiangkou later that day.
9 September 1942:
Departs Chang Jiangkou and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
10 September 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on gunnery and steering exercises. Returns there later that day.
15 September 1942:
Depart Si Jiao Shan on a steering test. Returns there later this day.
23 September 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on an anti-submarine sweep.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
30 September 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives off Da Ji Shan later that day.
1 October 1942:
Departs off Da Ji Shan. At 1900, embarks 132 Army personnel from IJA transport LISBON MARU severely damaged by a torpedo attack. Starts towing LISBON MARU. At 2240, towing cable is cut 2 nautical miles of Er Xiongdi Island. At 2359, resumes towing.
2 October 1942:
TONE MARU and salvage and repair tug KASASHIMA arrive. At 0907, at 136 ° and 17 nautical miles of Xia Sanxing lighthouse, LISBON MARU, carrying a large number of mostly British POWs, sinks with the loss of three IJA soldiers and 826 POWs. Six or seven POWs manage to escape, assisted by the Chinese. The rest are recaptured by the Japanese. Arrives at Putuo Shan later that day. Depart there on an anti-submarine sweep later this day.
3 October 1942:
Arrives off Xi Fushan.
4 October 1942:
Departs Xi Fushan waters.
5 October 1942:
Arrives at Wu Song. Departs there and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
10 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
11 October 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
18 October 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
19 October 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol.
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
27 October 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives NE Da Ji Shan later that day.
29 October 1942:
Departs Da Ji Shan waters and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
1 November 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
2 November 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Jiangnan later this day.
3 ~ 12 November 1942:
Undergoes boilers inside cleaning and hull repairs.
13 November 1942:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Shanghai. Loads coal.
14 November 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Ya Wo Sha later this day.
15 November 1942:
Departs Ya Wo Sha and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
18 November 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later this day.
19 November 1942:
Departs Chen Qian Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
20 November 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and calls at Bell Buoy. Departs there and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
13 December 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
14 December 1942:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai. Loads coal.
19 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
20 December 1942:
Departs Wu Song.
21 December 1942:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
22 December 1942:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Xi Fushan later that day.
23 December 1942:
Departs Xi Fushan and arrives at Da Zhang Tu Shan later this day.
24 December 1942:
Departs Da Zhang Tu Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
2 January 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
7 January 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Chongming later that day.
10 January 1943:
Departs Chongming and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
11 January 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
15 January 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Yuan Sha later this day.
16 January 1943:
Departs Yuan Sha and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
21 January 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Putuo Shan later this day.
23 January 1943:
Departs Putuo Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
30 January 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan.
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
1 February 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
5 February 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
6 February 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
10 February 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Heng Sha later this day.
11 February 1943:
Departs Heng Sha and calls at Shanghai. Departs there and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
12 February 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
19 February 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Liu Huashan later this day.
20 February 1943:
Departs Liu Huashan and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later that day.
21 February 1943:
Departs Chen Qian Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
23 February 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
26 February 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later this day.
27 February 1943:
Departs Chen Qian Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
1 March 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Heng Sha later this day.
2 March 1943:
Departs Heng Sha and arrives at Jiangnan later that day.
2 ~ 5 March 1943:
Undergoes boiler repairs.
6 March 1943:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
7 March 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
8 March 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
9 March 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on an anti-submarine sweep.
10 March 1943:
Arrives at Putuo Island.
11 March 1943:
Departs Putuo Island.
12 March 1943:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
13 March 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on an anti-submarine sweep.
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
19 March 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Dinghai later that day.
22 March 1943:
Departs Dinghai and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
25 March 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later that day.
29 March 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
1 April 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
2 April 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Jiangnan later this day.
3 ~ 23 April 1943:
Undergoes hull and engine repairs.
24 April 1943:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
25 April 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
26 April 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
6 May 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
11 May 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
12 May 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
18 May 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later that day.
29 May 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on an anti-submarine sweep.
30 May 1943:
Together with auxiliary minesweeper KOHO MARU No. 1 GO and tug KURE No. 2, tows auxiliary transport HAKOZAKI MARU (3,948 GRT) that has been torpedoed by LtCdr Anthony H. Dropp's (USNA '32) USS SAURY (SS-189) while in convoy SA-25. They arrive at Wu Song later this day. Departs there and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
1 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
11 June 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Jiangnan later that day
12 ~ 13 June 1943:
Undergoes engine repairs.
14 June 1943:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
15 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Ya Wo Sha later that day.
16 June 1943:
Departs Ya Wo Sha and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
18 June 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on gunnery and steering exercises and returns there later that day.
20 June 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
21 ~ 22 June 1943:
Carries out intensive training work.
23 June 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
25 June 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
27 June 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Lu Huashan later that day.
28 June 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
29 ~ 30 June 1943:
Carries out intensive training work.
1 July 1943:
Navy (Resv) Lt Suzuki is confirmed as CO.
3 July 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan. Departs there and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later this day.
4 July 1943:
Departs Chen Qian Shan on an anti-submarine sweep.
At 0340, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles O. Triebel’s (USNA '29) USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and damages IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) ATLANTIC MARU at 28-40N, 124-10E. IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) TAIKOKU MARU tows her towards Shanghai.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Sanmen.
6 July 1943:
Departs Sanmen and arrives at Niubi Shui Channel. Begins guarding and assisting damaged ATLANTIC and TAIKOKU MARUs.
7 ~ 9 July 1943:
Assists ATLANTIC MARU.
10 July 1943:
Departs Niubi Shui Channel escorting ATLANTIC MARU.
11 July 1943:
Arrives at Wu Song.
12 July 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
16 July 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
17 July 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
19 July 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Hua Niaoshan. Departs there and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
21 July 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
23 July 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan on an anti-submarine sweep.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Hua Niaoshan. Begins intensive training work.
25 July 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan on an anti-submarine sweep as precaution for the passing of convoy No. 5505 .
26 July 1943:
Reverses course in opposite direction. Carries out patrol and anti-submarine sweep ahead of convoy NA-503. Arrives at Hua Niaoshan later that day.
28 July 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Si Jiao shan later this day.
30 July 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Dinghai later that day.
31 July 1943:
Reverses course.
1 August 1943:
Departs Dinghai again and arrives at Putuo Island later this day.
2 August 1943:
Departs Putuo Island and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later that day.
3 ~ 5 August 1943:
Undergoes intensive training work.
6 August 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
8 August 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later that day.
10 August 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Lu Hua Shan.
11 August 1943:
Departs Lu Hua Shan and arrives near Huangpu rivers’ high bridge later this day.
12 August 1943:
Departs Gaoqiao and arrives at Jiangnan later that day.
13 August 1943:
Attached to China Area Fleet, Shanghai Special Base Force under Shanghai Area Troops instruction No. 291.
15 ~ 22 August 1943:
Lies alongside Jiangnan Shipyard for boilers inside cleaning.
23 August 1943:
Departs Jiangnan and calls at Shanghai. Loads coal. Departs there and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
24 August 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Lu Huashan later this day.
27 August 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan on patrol and returns there later that day.
28 August 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
28 ~ 29 August 1943:
Performs intensive training work.
29 August 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Lu Huashan later that day.
30 August 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan on an anti-submarine sweep. Gunboat No. 105 supplies 12 depth charges.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Ji Gu Jiao.
2 September 1943:
Departs Ji Gu Jiao and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
3 September 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and calls at Ji Gu Jiao. Departs there later this day on mine sweeping and to confirm destruction of enemy submarines.
5 September 1943:
Ends search for proof of destroyed enemy submarines and minesweeping.
6 September 1943:
Wreckage turned out to be sunken IJA transport TAKAMISAN MARU .
8 September 1943:
Departs Ji Gu Jiao and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
9 September 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Ji Gu Jiao later that day. Enemy submarine survey by diving is cancelled.
10 ~ 12 September 1943:
Performs minesweeping duties.
13 September 1943:
Departs Ji Gu Jiao on an anti-submarine sweep.
At 0206, LtCdr (later Rear-Admiral) Charles O. Triebel's (USNA ’29) USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and sinks civilian cargo/passenger ship YAMATO MARU at 30-18N, 123-35E. Four crewmen and 29 passengers are KIA.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Zhang Tu Shan. Embarks 66 YAMATO MARU survivors.
15 September 1943:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan and arrives at Shanghai later this day. Disembarks 66 YAMATO MARU survivors.
20 September 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
21 September 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Lu Huashan later this day.
22 September 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan on gunnery and steering exercises and returns there later that day.
23 September 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
23 ~24 September 1943:
Carries out intensive training work.
25 September 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan escorting the ‘Choji’ transport unit and arrives at Lu Huashan later that day.
26 September 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan and arrives at Hua Niaoshan later this day.
26 ~27 September 1943:
Carries out intensive training work.
28 September 1943:
Departs Hua Niaoshan and arrives at Lu Huashan later that day.
29 ~ 30 September 1943:
Carries out crew training work.
4 October 1943:
Departs Lu Huashan to meet up with Mako bound convoy TA-406 consisting of ROZAN, SHOZAN, YULIN, CHEFOO, TSUKUBA and SETSUZAN MARUs escorted by second class destroyer TSUGA and escorts convoy til’ 2250.
5 September 1943:
Arrives at Lu Huashan.
6 October 1943:
Sweeps mines N of Hua Niaoshan.
7 October 1943:
Departs Lu Hashan and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later this day.
8 October 1943:
Departs Chen Qian Shan.
9 October 1943:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
11 October 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Shanghai later that day.
12 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Jiangnan later this day. Tethers to a buoy.
13 ~ 23 October 1943: Alongside Jiangnan shipyard for hull repairs.
24 October 1943:
Departs Jiangnan and arrives at Shanghai later that day. Loads coal.
25 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later this day.
26 October 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
30 October 1943:
75 miles NE of Shanghai Army transport SAKITO MARU collides with and sinks IJN requisitioned cargo-passenger vessel (B-APK) SHANGHAI MARU with the loss of 16 crewmen.
Departs Si Jiao Shan to assist SHANGHAI MARU. Destroyer KURI is also sent to assist.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Si Jiao Shan.
5 November 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan on patrol and returns there later this day.
6 November 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Dinghai later that day.
8 November 1943:
Departs Dinghai and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
13 November 1943:
Cdr (later Captain) Robert E. Dornin’s USS TRIGGER (SS-237) (USNA '35) attacks combined convoy No. 113-MA-07 consisting of IJA transports ARABIA, TAMAHOKO, RYUYO, DAKAR, CHIYO, TOSEI, ANYO and SYDNEY MARUs, auxiliary transport NACHISAN MARU, civilian ore-carrier (C-AC) HIDA MARU and civilian tanker (C-AO) NITTETSU MARU escorted by second class destroyer KURETAKE. Dornin torpedoes and sinks NACHISAN MARU at 32-55N, 125-09E, About 60 miles SW of Saishu-To with the loss of 46 crewmen.
14 November 1943:
KURETAKE and NITTETSU MARU transfer survivors of NACHISAN MARU. Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Block House later that day.
15 November 1943:
Departs Block House and arrives at Shanghai later this day. Disembarks 140 survivors.
16 November:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
26 November 1943:
Attached to Fourth Guard Unit under Shanghai Command Unit instruction No. 66. Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Xia Ban Island later this day.
27 November 1943:
Departs Xia Ban Island and calls at Da Zhang Tu Shan. Departs there escorting storeship MUROTO later in the day.
29 November 1943:
Arrives at Xiao Ban Island. Departs there later that day.
30 November 1943:
Arrives at Wu Song. Departs there and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
1 December 1943:
Loads food.
4 December 1943:
Loads food. Departs Shanghai and arrives at Ya Wo Sha later that day.
5 December 1943:
Departs Ya Wo Sha and arrives at Xi Zhai Shan later this day.
7 December 1943:
Departs Xi Zhai Shan to meet up with and escort convoy TA-603 consisting of CHEFOO, YULIN and SAINAN MARUs escorted by second class destroyer KURI and salvage and repair tug KASASHIMA, and arrives at Nan Jiu Shan later that day.
8 December 1943:
Departs Nan Jiu Shan and arrives at Xi Zhai Shan later this day.
10 December 1943:
Departs Xi Zhai Shan and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day. Loads groceries.
11 December 1943:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan escorting CHOZAN MARU.
12 December 1943:
At 0600, ends CHOZAN MARU’s escort and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later this day.
14 December 1943:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan on patrol and returns there later that day.
17 December 1943:
Loads food.
20 December 1943:
Departs Zhan Tu shan and arrives at Niubu Shan Shui Channel later this day.
22 December 1943:
Departs Niubu Shan Shui Channel and arrives at Luo Jia Shan later that day.
23 December 1943:
Departs Luo Jia Shan escorting convoy No. 228. At 1100, ends escort and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
24 December 1943:
Loads food.
25 December 1943:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
26 December 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Shanghai later this day.
27 December 1943:
Loads food.
30 December 1943:
Loads groceries, supplies and clothes. Departs Shanghai and arrives at Wu Song later that day.
31 December 1943:
Departs Wu Song and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later this day.
2 January 1944:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day.
3 January 1944:
Departs Zhang Tu shan escorting a convoy.
4 January 1944:
At 0345, escort ends. Arrives at Nan Jiu Shan later this day. Departs there and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day.
5 January 1944:
Loads food.
10 January 1944:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan and arrives at Chen Qian Shan later this day.
11 January 1944:
Departs Chen Qian Shan and arrives at Si Jiao Shan later that day.
12 January 1944:
Departs Si Jiao Shan and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later this day.
13 January 1944:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan escorting a convoy.
14 January 1944:
At 0555, ends escort. Arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day.
15 January 1944:
Loads food.
16 January 1944:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan escorting convoy TA-602 consisting of KAIKO and TSUKUBA MARUs. At 2350, ends escort. Arrives at Nan Jiu Shan.
17 January 1944:
Departs Nan Jiu Shan and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day.
20 January 1944:
Loads food. Departs Zhang Tu Shan and arrives at Fu Du Channel later this day.
21 January 1944:
Departs Fu Du Channel and arrives at Dinghai later that day.
23 January 1944:
Loads food.
24 January 1944:
Departs Dinghai and arrives off Zhenhai later this day.
25 January 1944:
Departs Zhenhai waters and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day.
26 January 1944:
At 0705, Thirteenth Gunboat Division lands Division squadron. Sweeps Buluo Sao. At 1648, returns.
27 January 1944:
Loads food. Departs Zhang Tu Shan and arrives at Nan Jiu Shan later this day.
28 January 1944:
Departs Nan Jiu Shan and arrives at She Qishan later that day.
29 January 1944:
Departs She Qishan escorting a convoy and arrives at Taohua Shan later this day.
30 January 1944:
Departs Taohua Shan escorting a convoy and arrives at Zhang Tu Shan later that day.
1 February 1944:
Departs Zhang Tu Shan.
2 February 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.
4 February 1944:
Loads food. Renovation work starts alongside Yangshupu dock.
6 February 1944:
Loads food.
14 February 1944:
Loads food.
16 February 1944:
Loads food.
19 February 1944:
Loads food.
20 February 1944:
Stores grain. Released from China Fleet Area under Shanghai Command Unit instruction No. 86. Released from Thirteenth Gunboat Division under Decree No. 345. Attached to Vice Admiral Tosuka Michitaro’s (38) Northeastern Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide’s (39) Fifth Fleet, Twenty-second Squadron.
25 February 1944:
Departs Shanghai.
7 March 1944:
Arrives at Yamashita Pier, Yokohama.
8 March 1944:
Unloads 194-tons iron plate bolts, 361-tons electric appliances and other goods.
10 March 1944:
Assigned to Fourth Patrol Fleet under Cabinet instruction No. 426. Tactically attached to Northeastern Area Fleet, Twenty-second Squadron, Fourth Patrol Fleet.
11 March 1944:
Departs Yamashita Pier, Yokohama and arrives at Asano dock later this day.
12 March ~ 12 April 1944:
Undergoes renovation work and fittings including Type 3 radio direction finder, Type 91 azimuth measuring device, Type 3 hydrophone, partially remodeled warehouse, office, public and private rooms, troop’s room, etc. as a monitoring boat corps mother ship facility. Expansion of coal storage.
2 ~ 12 April 1944:
Starts fitting of two Type 96 25mm guns and hydrophone.
4 April 1944:
Completion of new hydrophone.
10 April 1944:
Completion of expansion work for each department warehouse, 1st and 2nd troop rooms.
12 April 1944:
Completion of Type 3 radio direction finder, wireless telegraphy room and Type 96 25mm guns.
13 April 1944:
Departs Yokohama for Type 96 25mm guns and hydrophone trials. Arrives at buoy H7, Yokosuka later that day.
14 April 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for radio detector test and compass adjustment and returns to port later this day.
15 April 1944:
Attached to Second Base Air Force, Second Patrol Unit. Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yamashita Pier, Yokohama later that day.
16 ~ 18 April 1944:
Carries out loading operations.
19 April 1944:
Loads coal.
20 April 1944:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Tateyama later this day.
21 April 1944:
Departs Tateyama.
22 April 1944:
Arrives at Onagawa.
23 April 1944:
Departs Onagawa and arrives at Yamada later that day.
24 April 1944:
Departs Yamada and arrives at Buoy No. 1, Kushiro.
26 April 1944:
Loads coal and boiler water.
27 April 1944:
Loads boiler water.
29 April 1944:
Departs Kushiro. Navigating is difficult due to drifting ice; returns to Kushiro later this day. Moors at buoy No. 1.
30 April 1944:
Departs Kushiro.
1 May 1944:
CO Suzuki Seishiro is promoted to LtCdr.
4 May 1944:
Arrives at Asahi Bay.
5 May 1944:
Departs Asahi Bay and arrives at Kataoka Bay, Shimushu, Kuriles (now Zaliv Kozyrevskogo, Ostrov Shumushu, Russia) later that day.
6 May 1944:
Loads boiler water.
13 May 1944:
Departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later this day.
20 May 1944:
Departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day. Loads boiler water.
21 May 1944:
Loads coal and water.
22 May 1944:
Departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later this day.
1 June 1944:
At 0500 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 0605. Loads boiler water.
2 June 1944:
At 1030 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later this day at 1130.
4 June 1944:
At 1800 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 1930.
7 June 1944:
At 0605 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later this day at 0630.
11 June 1944:
At 1425 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 1505.
11 ~ 12 June 1944:
Loads boiler water.
12 June 1944:
At 0800 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later this day at 0855.
13 June 1944:
At 0330 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 0645.
15 June 1944:
At 1135 departs Kataoka Bay and at 1225 arrives at Torikawa.
16 June 1944:
At 0525 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 0610.
19 June 1944:
Loads boiler water.
22 June 1944:
At 0940 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1020.
27 June 1944:
At 0520 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 0610. Loads coal and boiler water.
28 June 1944:
At 1505 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1555.
2 July 1944:
At 0700 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 0750.
3 July 1944:
Loads boiler water.
4 July 1944:
Loads coal.
8 July 1944:
At 0627 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 0705.
9 July 1944:
At 0730 departs Torikawa and calls at Kataoka Bay at 0830. Departs there at 1850 and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1945.
10 July 1944:
Rated as Northeastern Unit, Second Patrol Unit.
14 July 1944:
At 0755 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 0840. Loads boiler water.
15 July 1944:
At 1130 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1225.
20 July 1944:
At 0500 departs Torikawa and calls at Kataoka Bay at 0555. Loads boiler water. Departs there at 1655 and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1750.
22 July 1944:
At 0705 departs Torikawa for Kataoka port. Returns to port due to stormy weather later this day at 0935.
23 July 1944:
At 0610 departs Torikawa again and arrives at Kataoka Bay at 0655. Loads coal and boiler water.
31 July 1944:
At 0530 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 0620.
1 August 1944:
Twenty-second Squadron, Fourth Patrol Division is directly attached to Combined Fleet. Assigned to Kurils Area, Kurils Defense Unit, Patrol Unit. At 1225 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1335.
2 August 1944:
At 0655 departs Torikawa and calls at Kataoka Bay at 0755. Departs there at 1555 and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1645.
5 August 1944:
At 1102 departs Torikawa and calls at Kataoka Bay at 1145. Departs there at 1507 and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1625.
6 August 1944:
At 0610 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 0725.
7 August 1944:
Loads boiler water.
8 August 1944:
At 0530 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 0630.
10 August 1944:
Loads food.
11 August 1944:
At 1520 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 1610.
12 August 1944:
At 0827 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 0930.
13 August 1944:
Sustains an air attack.
17 August 1944:
At 0950 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 1040. Loads coal and boiler water.
18 August 1944:
At 1100 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1210.
20 August 1944:
At 1050 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later this day at 1300.
22 August 1944:
At 0705 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 0755.
24 August 1944:
Loads food.
25 August 1944:
At 0500 departs Torikawa and calls at Kataoka Bay at 0620. Loads boiler water. Departs there at 1255 and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1400.
27 August 1944:
At 0700 departs Torikawa and arrives outside Kataoka Bay. Loads boiler water. Departs there and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 1305.
31 August 1944:
At 1130 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later this day at 1250.
E September 1944:
Departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay.
4 October 1944:
Sustains an air attack. Type 96 25mm guns fire 11 rounds.
7 October 1944:
At 1305 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Torikawa later that day at 1350.
8 October 1944:
At 0535 departs Torikawa and returns to port later this day at 0650.
9 October 1944:
At 0745 departs Torikawa and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 0830. Loads boiler water.
12 October 1944:
Loads boiler water.
13 October 1944:
At 0640 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Kashiwara later this day at 0845.
14 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Kashiwara and arrives at Kataoka Bay at 0635. Loads coal.
15 October 1944:
At 0810 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Kashiwara later this day at 0850.
16 October 1944:
At 0840 departs Kashiwara and arrives at Kataoka Bay at 0905. Loads coal.
17 October 1944:
At 0755 departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Kashiwara later this day at 0825.
18 October 1944:
At 1135 departs Kashiwara and arrives at Kataoka Bay later that day at 1155.
23 October 1944:
At 1545, departs Kataoka Bay for Otaru, Hokkaido with destroyer KAMIKAZE and kaibokan FUKUE escorting convoy WO-303 consisting of HAKUYO and UMEGAWA MARUs. Shimushu and Paramushiro Islands are being closed for winter and naval base and a fishery company personnel are embarked aboard ships. HOKOKU MARU is still an auxiliary gunboat but appears to have carried cargo.
23 October 1944:
Discovers two torpedo wakes.
25 October 1944:
Surfacing enemy submarine is detected by ship’s radio detector.
At 0745, LtCdr Harry B. Dodge's (USNA '30) USS SEAL (SS-183) torpedoes HAKUYO MARU at 50-21N, 150-20E. HAKUYO MARU was carrying 1,320 passengers most being naval personnel engaged in repatriation duties, 150 crewmen and a cargo that included drummed gasoline, foodstuffs and stores. HAKUYO MARU sinks in about one minute. 113 crewmen, 26 gunners and 1,312 passengers die in the explosion, fire or freezing water. USS SEAL evades depth charging by the escorts. The convoy proceeds to Otaru.
27 October 1944:
Loses contact with UMEKAWA MARU and destroyer KAMIKAZE.
28 October 1944:
Fires one test shot.
30 October 1944:
At 0350 arrives at Otaru port. Departs there at 0730 and returns later this day at 0810. Loads coal and boiler water.
E1 ~ 11 November 1944:
Departs Otaru.
11 November 1944:
Arrives at Yokohama.
15 November 1944:
Navy (Resv) Lt Watanabe Shigemi is appointed CO.
20 February 1945:
Released from Fourth Patrol Boat Fleet under Decree No. 159.
Removed from Navy’s list under instruction No. 162. Requisitioned again as an auxiliary transport ship with tanker capacity and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under Instruction No. 163. Lt Watanabe is confirmed as CO.
3 March 1945:
Departs Yokohama.
16 April 1945:
Off Yamada, minesweeper W-1 meets up with convoy No. 1415 consisting of HOKOKU, KOAN and SHINKYO MARUs bound for Hokkaido.
1 May 1945:
Off Sanriku coast, N Honshu auxiliary subchaser CHa-161 begins escorting HOKOKU MARU.
18 May 1945:
Reported in a convoy (sailing direction unknown) between Tokyo and Hokkaido consisting of HOKOKU and RYUJIN MARUs and Fleet storeship SOYA.
28 May 1945:
Again reported sailing alone without direct escort between Tokyo and Hokkaido with unknown sailing direction.
13 June 1945:
Arrives at Hachinohe.
14 June 1945:
Departs Hachinohe. Engaged in anti-submarine warfare with a submerged enemy submarine at 347° and 15 nautical miles of Samekado. Fires 15 rounds with her 12 cm guns.
14 June ~ 13 July 1945:
Transports coal on the Hokkaido, Hachinohe, Shiogama and Yokohama route.
4 July 1945:
Arrives at Hachinohe escorted by minesweeper W-27.
13 July 1945:
Departs Shiogama for Ominato and arrives at Same port, near Hachinohe later that day.
14 July 1945:
CO Watanabe is promoted to LtCdr. In the morning the Hachinohe airfield is attacked by air. Departs Same port at full speed (12.5 knots) and engages in AA combat. During this air attack, 60% of the crew are killed or injured. After air attack, continues her journey to Ominato. At around 1400, arrives off Cape Oma when Hakodate is attacked by air. After this attack some of the returning aircraft discover her and attack. Since most of her gunners died during the first air attack she is unable to defend herself. At 1430, CO Watanabe orders warship’s flag lowering and orders crew to abandon ship. She sinks at 41-33N, 141-08E. Watanabe ties himself to the helm and goes down with her ship together with 90 of his crew and passengers. 48 crew and passengers survive the sinking. Of these, many drown before being rescued. Overall 135 people lose their lives.
30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 301730.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with auxiliary armed merchant cruiser (10,438 GRT, ’40), or Government rail-ferry (430 GRT, ’43).
[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.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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

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