Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(HOKUAN MARU prewar)

HOKUAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-24 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal, Peter Cundall and Bob Hackett
Revision 1

10 January 1938:
Tamano. Laid down at Tama Zosensho K.K. as a 3,712-ton cargo ship for Dairen Kisen K. K., Dairen, Manchuria.
16 May 1938:
Launched and named HOKUAN MARU. [1]

31 July 1938:
Completed and registered at Ryojun, (formerly Port Arthur, Lushun, Dairen, now Dalian) Manchukuo (Manchuria, now China) with a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 3,712-tons and a Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of 2,084 tons Her call sign is JQPG. [2]
3 September 1940:
Requisitioned by the Civiian Shipping Adminisration (Sempaku-Uneikai) as a charter boat. [3]
5 September 1940:
Receives the third war preparation department’s secret requisition notice No. 292.
12 October 1940:
Allotted to the IJN as a kaigun-haitosen (B/C-AK) with a civilian crew. [3]
29 October 1940:
Departs Sasebo for north China area.
2 November 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun (a.k.a. Lushun and Port-Arthur). Manchuria.
7 November 1940:
Departs Ryojun for Northern Chinese waters.
12 November 1940:
Arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea).
24 November 1940:
Departs Chinkai for Sasebo.
1 December 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 December 1940:
Departs Sasebo for norther China waters.
13 December 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
17 December 1940:
Departs Ryojun for northern Chinese waters.
22 December 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 December 1940:
Departs Sasebo for northern Chinese waters.
29 December 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
3 January 1941:
Departs Ryojun for northern Chinese waters.
9 January 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 January 1941:
Departs Oshima for central Chinese waters.
28 January 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 February 1941:
Departs Chinkai for northern Chinese waters.
19 February 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
23 February 1941:
Departs Ryojun for northern Chinese waters.
28 February 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 March 1941:
Departs Sasebo for central Chinese waters.
20 March 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 March 1941:
Departs Sasebo for central Chinese waters.
5 April 1941:
Arrives at Karatsu Bay.
16 April 1941:
Departs Sasebo for northern Chinese waters.
30 April 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 May 1941:
Arrives at northern Chinese waters.
31 May 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun and departs later that day.
9 June 1941:
Departs Ryojun for northern Chinese waters.
14 June 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 June 1941:
Arrives at north China area.
26 June 1941:
Arrives at Nishito Zaki (Saito Zaki).
E July 1941
Departs Sasebo.
4 July 1941:
Arrives at southern Chinese waters.
22 July 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 July 1941:
Arrives at northern Chinese waters.
31 July 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun and departs later that day.
6 August 1941:
Arrives at northern Chinese waters.
12 August 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
31 August 1941:
Arrives at southern Chinese waters.
6 September 1941:
Arrives at Mako,Pescadores (now Magong, Penghu Islands, Taiwan) and later in the day arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan). Depart Takao later this same day.
10 September 1941:
Arrives at southern Chinese waters.
3 October 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
15 October 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN. Attached to the Sasebo Naval District as a special miscellaneous transport ship under instruction No. 1256. Assigned to the Sasebo Naval Base as a Otsu category special transport.
21 October 1941:
Arrives at northern Chinese waters.
26 October 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun. Departs later this day.
30 October 1941:
Arrives at northern Chinese waters.
4 November 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 November 1941:
Tamano. Begins conversion to a special transport at the Tama Zosensho K.K.
1 December 1941:
Conversion is completed. Departs Tamano.
2 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for Shanghai.
12 December 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai, China.
15 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai.
16 December 1941:
Arrives at Dinghai, China. Departs later that day.
17 December 1941:
Arrives at Yueqing Bay, Wenzhou prefecture, China. Replenishes water for auxiliary gunboats DAIGEN MARU No. 7 and SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go.
18 December 1941:
Departs Yueqing Bay.
20 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
28 December 1941:
Arrives at Koniya Ma-Saki (near Kagoshima). Departs the same day for Mako.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Mako.
1 January 1942:
Departs Mako.
2 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
6 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
7 January 1942:
Arrives at Honghai Bay, China and departs that same day.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Haikow (Haikou), Hainan Island, China.
12 January 1942:
Departs Haikow.
13 January 1942:
At 0950 arrives at Sana (Samah), Hainan island.
14 January 1942:
At 0935 departs Sana.
15 January 1942:
Rated as a direct military unit under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 14.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island.
20 January 1942:
Departs Yulin.
21 January 1942:
Arrives at Haikow.
23 January 1942:
Departs Haikow.
24 January 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
25 January 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Amoy (Xiamen).
27 January 1942:
Departs Amoy.
30 January 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.
2 February 1942:
Departs Yawata.
3 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 February 1942:
Assigned to a transportation and supply mission of personnel and munitions under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 68.
5 February 1942:
Rated as a direct military unit under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 16.
10 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
13 February 1942:
Arrives at Amoy.
15 February 1942:
Departs Amoy.
16 February 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
21 February 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
22 February 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Samah (now Sanya), Hainan Island, China.
2 March 1942:
At 0800 departs Samah. Arrives at Yulin later that day.
8 March 1942:
Departs Yulin.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
13 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
16 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
19 March 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.
20 March 1942:
Departs Yawata. Assigned to a transportation and supply mission of personnel and munitions under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 151.
21 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 ~ 26 March 1942:
Offloads 100-tons of weapons and supplies from Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), 300 No. 25 grenades and disembarks 136 personnel from Singapore.
Loads 2,400 No. 6 grenades of various types, 400-tons of gasoline drums and 700-tons of weapon supplies.
26 March 1942:
At 1400 departs Sasebo.
29 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
31 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
4 April 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
6 April 1942:
Departs Saigon.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 April 1942:
Rated as a direct military unit under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 22.
15 April 1942:
Departs Singapore.
17 April 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
21 April 1942:
Departs Saigon.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao and departs later the same day.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
2 May 1942:
Departs Moji.
3 May 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
13 May 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
15 May 1942:
Fitted with one type 92 model A 7.7mm single machine gun and five type 38 Arisaka rifles under instruction No. 5990. Departs Takao.
16 May 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
18 May 1942:
At 1200 departs Mako in convoy No. 306 also consisting of Army transport NICHIRAN MARU, and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
23 May 1942:
At 2000, arrives at St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
24 May 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
26 May 1942:
Departs Saigon.
27 May 1942:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 501 also consisting of IJA transport MOMOHA MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
6 June 1942:
Departs Singapore. (Possibly joined convoy No. 606)
9 June 1942:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
10 June 1942:
Departs St. Jacques. Arrives at Saigon later this day.
12 June 1942:
Fitted with one type 41 8cm/40cal deck gun under instruction 7426.
15 June 1942:
Departs Saigon. (Possibly joined convoy No. 412)
20 June 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
21 June 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later that day.
22 June 1942:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 127 also consisting of RAKUYO and KANTO (1547 gt) MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships without surface escort. RAKUYO MARU is later detached for Kirun.
26 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later this day.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
30 June 1942:
Assigned to a transportation and supply mission of personnel and munitions under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 281.
6 July 1942:
At 1900 departs Moji in convoy No. 134 also consisting of FUKKAI, TENRYO and KENKON MARUs escorted by destroyers FUYO and NAGATSUKI.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Takao. The other ships have detached for Kirun.
15 July 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
19 July 1942:
Departs Mako.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at St. Jacques. Departs later this day and arrives at Saigon later that same day.
30 July 1942:
Departs Saigon and later that day departs St Jacques in convoy No. 515 also consisting of ADEN, TACOMA and TEIYO (ex SAARLAND) MARUs without surface escort.
1 August 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
6 August 1942:
Departs Singapore.
8 August 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
14 August 1942:
Departs Saigon. Arrives at St. Jacques later this day.
17 August 1942:
At 1400 departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 428 also consisting of IJA transport TACOMA MARU and seven unidentified MARUs escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA. The convoy splits into two parts. HOKUAN MARU is in the second part of the convoy.
21 August 1942:
At 1000 the first part including destroyer KARUKAYA arrives at Mako and later that day arrives at Takao.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako in the second part and later that day arrives at Takao.
24 August 1942:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 254 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships without surface escort.
30 August 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 September 1942:
Scheduled to sail to Tamano after unloading at Moji and undergo regular inspection and repairs in the dock of the Tamano shipyard under secret Sasebo Naval Base order No. 336.
4 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
5 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
6 September 1942:
Departs Moji.
7 September 1942:
Arrives at Tamano. Enters Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding dockyard for maintenance and refit.
6 October 1942:
Refit is completed. Leaves the dockyard for Sasebo.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 October 1942:
Assigned to a transportation and supply mission of personnel and munitions under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 376.
13 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo. (Possibly joined convoy No. 175)
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
20 October 1942:
Departs Takao with SHINAI MARU and possbly others.
21 October 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
25-26 October 1942:
Aircraft of the 10th AF / CATF attack Hong Kong.
Engages in AA combat but sustains no damage.
26 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
7 November 1942:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 643 also consisting of IJA transports GENOA and NICHIAI MARUs without surface escort.
10 November 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
Rated as a direct military unit under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 33.
15 November 1942:
Departs Saigon.
17 November 1942:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 451 also consisting of six unidentified merchant ships without surface escort.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
To be engaged in transport duties similar to those of supply force vessels assigned to the Ministry of the Navy under maritime directive No. 163.
26 November 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
28 November 1942:
At 1400 departs Mako in convoy No. 298 also consisting of fast cargo ship NISSHO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by the destroyer NAGATSUKI.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
6 December 1942:
Rated as a direct military unit under secret Sasebo Military Base order No. 34.
10 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
11 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
12 December 1942:
Departs Moji and arrives the same day at Shimonoseki.
17 December 1942:
Shimonoseki. At Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Hikoshima Shipyard. Begins conversion to an emergency oiler.
31 December 1942:
Navy commissioned Ishida Ryuzo is appointed Commanding Officer.
5 January 1943:
Transport mission in accordance with supply unit attached to the Navy Ministry under secret Sasebo Naval Base order No. 36.
14 January 1943:
Completes conversion and departs Shimonoseki.
15 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
26 January 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
8 February 1943:
Collides with auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 2 within Singapore Commercial Port causing minor damage to the minesweeper.
19 February 1943:
Departs Singapore.
22 February 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
23 February 1943:
At 1200 departs St Jacques in convoy No. 475 also consisting of IJA tankers KOZUI and SHINSHU MARUs and two unidentified MARUs escortd by destroyer FUYO. For reasons unknown (weather?) the convoy after proceeding some way returns to port.
25 February 1943:
At 0930 arrives back at St Jacques. At 1925 the convoy departs St Jacques again.
1 March 1943:
At 2250 arrives at Takao.
4 March 1943:
At 0715 departs Takao in convoy No. 237 also consisting of IJN oiler SHINSHU MARU, IJN transport KOSEI MARU and six unidentified MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-36. At 1000 the convoy arrives at Mako.
5 March 1943:
At 1150 departs Mako in convoy No. 237.
11 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
17 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
18 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji. At 1600 departs Moji convoy No. 138 also consisting of IJA tanker HAKKO MARU, and UMEKAWA and SHOEI MARUs and three unidentified ships escorted by destroyer FUYO.
23 March 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Takao.
25 March 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
26 March 1943:
Departs Mako in unescorted convoy No. 380 also consisting of IJN oiler SHOYO MARU, oiler HAKKO MARU (1917) and three unidentified MARUs. (IJA oiler SHUNTEN MARU was likely also in this convoy). Later detached.
1 April 1943:
Arrives at Cape Labaun (near Zamboanga), Philippines with IJA oiler SHUNTEN MARU. Departs later that day. Arrives at Miri, Sarawak, British Borneo, (now Malaysia) later this same day.
3 April 1943:
Departs Miri with IJA tanker SHUNTEN MARU.
6 April 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
8 April 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 486 also consisting of IJA tankers NICHIRIN and SHUNTEN MARUs and IJA transport HAWAII MARU and three unidentified merchant ships without surface escort.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
18 April 1943:
22 April 1943:
At 1530 arrives at Moji.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
25 April 1943:
Departs Kobe with IJA tanker SHUNTEN MARU.
27 April 1943:
Arrives at Tsurumi.
30 April 1943:
Departs Tsurumi and later arrives at Yokosuka.
1 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
3 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
4 May 1943:
Departs Kobe.
5 May 1943:
Arrives off He Saki. Departs later this day. Arrives at Moji later that same day.
8 May 1943:
At 1530 departs Moji in convoy No. 155 also consisting of IJN tanker SAN LUIS MARU and IJN transport KUNISHIMA MARU, IJA transports SHINKYO, NANREI, KOGANE and TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA) MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
13 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao. SHINKYO MARU had been previously detached and arrived at Keelung (Kirun) the previous day.
16 May 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
17 May 1943:
At 1540 departs Mako in convoy No. 392 also consisting of IJA transports LIVERPOOL, KOGANE and TAMAHOKO MARUs, civilian tanker (C-AO) NITTATSU MARU, IJN oiler SAN LUIS MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
22 May 1943:
At 0300 with civilian tanker (C-AO) NITTATSU MARU detaches from the convoy for Miri.
23 May 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
25 May 1943:
Departs Miri.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
29 May 1943:
At 1300 departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 499 also consisting of general requisitioned ship (B-AK) KEMBU MARU, civilian tanker (C-AO) NITTATSU MARU and Army transport NAGATO MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
4 June 1943:
Prior to 1900, the convoy arrives at Mako. With general requisitioned ship (B-AK) KEMBU MARU detaches and heads to Takao. At 1900 arrives at Takao and departs the same day for the Koa Oil K.K. refinery at Marifu (near Iwakuni) on the Inland Sea. 6 June 1943: At 0900 departs Takao in convoy No. 269 also consisting of IJN transports NACHISAN and TATSUWA MARUs, passenger ship KASHIMA MARU, IJA tanker OGURA MARU No. 3, civilian tanker (C-AO) NITTATSU MARU and transport NEKKA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
10 June 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Moji.
11 June 1943:
Arrives at Marifu and begins to unload crude oil.
15 June 1943:
Departs Marifu.
16 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 June 1943:
Receives Sasebo Military Base order No. 217:
1 The commander of the Sasebo Defense Squadron with the command of the Sasebo Defense Squadron and four 14m special type landing crafts kept by the squadron will depart on 22 June.
Landing crafts No. 4790 and 4791 will be loaded on HOKUAN MARU and landing crafts No. 6120 and 6121 will be loaded on general requisitioned ship (B-AK) RYUOSAN MARU.
2 The Chief of the Sasebo Naval Arsenal as well as the Sasebo Regional Naval Transportation Director should cooperate in this regard.
21 June 1943:
Receives Sasebo Naval Base telegram No. 39:
The commander of the Sasebo Defense Squadron cooperates with convoy No. 169 consisting of 5 ships escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA. The convoy departs Moji on 22 June.
The IJN emergency oiler NASUSAN MARU, HOKUAN MARU and general requisitioned ship (B-AK) RYUOSAN MARU carrying the 9th and 12th Special Base reinforcement units are scheduled to departs on 23 June from Sasebo for Singapore.
Patrol boat PB-38 is assigned as a direct escort to Takao.
23 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo with IJN emergency oiler NASUSAN MARU and general requisitioned ship (B-AK) RYUOSAN MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-38. They join convoy No. 169 consisting of IJN oiler OSE (ex Netherlands GENOTA), Army shared oiler (A/C-AO) SEISHIN MARU and ore transport KINREI MARU (‘42) escorted by torpedoboat HAYABUSA later this day.
24 June 1943:
W of Amami O-shima, Ryukyus. At 1124, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles O. Triebel’s (USNA ’29) USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and severely damages OSE at 28-50N, 126-56E. Patrol Boat PB-38 drops 6 depth charges. Ore transport KINREI MARU fires one shot at the enemy periscope.
At 1149 at 28-45N, 127-03E PB-38 detects an enemy submarine and attacks it 6 times.
At 1230 receives Army shared oiler (A/C-AO) SEISHIN MARU telegram No. 002:
IJN oiler OSE will go to Amami Oshima escorted by patrol boat PB-38. PB-38 should follow the convoy after it finishes escorting IJN oiler OSE to Amami Oshima.
At 1500 patrol boat PB-38 ends sweeping and escorting IJN oiler OSE and heads back towards the convoy.
24 ~ 27 June 1943:
Ore transport KINREI MARU detaches and heads towards Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
27 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
29 June 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
30 June 1943:
At 1300 departs Mako in convoy No. 304 also consisting of IJN emergency oiler NASUSAN MARU, Army shared oiler (A/C-AO) SEISHIN MARU, civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) BISAN (ex-British MING SANG) MARU, Army transport (A/C-APK) HAKUROKU (HAKUSHIKA) MARU, general requisitioned ship (B-AK) RYUOSAN MARU and five unidentified merchant ships. Shortly after 1300, IJA oiler OTOWASAN MARU coming from Mako, joins the convoy.
6 July 1943:
At 2350 arrives at St. Jacques.
8 July 1943:
Departs St. Jacques, arrives the same day at Saigon and returns to St. Jacques.
9 July 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 591 also consisting of IJN emergency oiler NASUSAN MARU, Army shared oiler (A/C-AO) SEISHIN MARU, tanker ICHIYO AMRU, general requisitioned ship (B-AK) RYUOSAN MARU and IJA transports RYUYO and NICHIAI MARUs.
12 July 1943:
At 1230 arrives at Singapore.
15 July 1943:
Departs Singapore with IJA tanker SHINSHU MARU.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
18 July 1943:
Departs Palembang.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
23 July 1943:
Departs Singapore in a convoy consisting of SHINSHU MARU, initially without escort.
5 August 1943:
The kaibokan FUKUE met the ships off Candor Reef and escorted them to Truk.
6 August 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Truk, Carolines.
14 August 1943:
At 1430 departs Truk for Palau in convoy No. 7144 convoy also consisting of IJN oilers KENYO, SHINSHU and TENNAN MARUs in convoy No. 7144 escorted by destroyers TAMANAMI and MAIKAZE. The convoy sails at 10 knots.
19 August 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Palau.
20 August 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy 2608 also consisting of IJN oilers KENYO, SHINSHU and TENNAN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA. The convoy sails at 9.5 knots.
23 August 1943:
Receives the third war preparation department’s secret notice No. 18-8-37: Notice of ship release:
After release each ship will be sent to increase the amount of oil taken from the south.
Third war preparation department’s secret notice No. 2442: Notification.
1 The ship will be chartered on 31 August and will continue to operate as a Navy managed ship from 1 September.
2 The chief of the Naval Transportation Headquarters gives instructions regarding the operation of the ship.
3 Restoration of the ship’s outfitting work will be determined by the commander in chief of the competent naval base.
However we will take care not to leave the ship moored for repairs as much as possible and rigging work necessary for oil transportation and protection will be carried out when the ship is released from service.
26 August 1943:
IJN oiler TENNAN MARU detaches and heads towards Tarakan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) where she arrives later this day.
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
27 August 1943:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy 011 with eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by the torpedo boat HAYABUSA.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan.
30 August 1943:
Departs Tarakan.
31 August 1943:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 1776.
1 September 1943:
Requisitioned, attached to the Sasebo Naval Base, and operated by the IJN with civilian crew (B-AO).
4 September 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Manila, Philippines in a convoy from Balikpapan with eight unidentified ships.
7 September 1943:
Departs Manila in convoy 866 also consisting of SEIZAN MARU (4232 gt) and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by the torpedo boat HAYABUSA.
9 September 1943:
South China Sea, west of Luzon HOKUAN MARU possibly rams and sinks USS GRAYLING (SS-209) with all hands.
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
14 September 1943:
Departs Takao.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
19 September 1943:
At 0950 deparets Mako in convoy No. 205 also consisting of IJN transport NICHIEI MARU, IJA transports KYOKKO, SEIZAN, CHINA, TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA), FUKUJU and DENMARK MARUs, escorted by patrol boat PB-2. TOYO MARU No. 3 still on ASW sweep, provides distant escort to that convoy.
At 1840 IJA transport SEIZAN MARU develops engine problems and drops out of the convoy.
At 1845 IJA tranport SEIZAN MARU rejoins the convoy.
20 September 1943:
At 1045, TOYO MARU No. 3 is ordered to end current ASW sweep under Mako Guard District instruction No. 280 and to escort IJA transport DENMARK MARU that sustained mechanical failure.
At 1110 civilian ore carrier (C-AC) GINREI MARU, and IJA transports BIYO, KENZUI, TATSUHA, TOSEI and JINZAN MARUs join the convoy.
23 September 1943:
IJA transport TOSEI MARU suffers mechanical failure.
At 1220 IJA transport TOEI MARU’s mechanical failure is solved.
At 1300 at 31-50N, 128-05E detaches from the convoy.
24 September 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
30 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
19 October 1943:
Departs Yokohama in convoy No. 7019 also consistoing of auxiliary gunboat MAGANE MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-2.
At 1337 SHOEI MARU (2,764 GRT) joins the convoy from Yokosuka and IJN transport HOKKAI MARU (8,416 GRT) joins the convoy from Shimizu.
At 1630, PB-2 detaches due to a generator failure at 128° and 5 nautical miles off the Tsurugisaki lighthouse and returns to Yokosuka.
25 October 1943:
Rated as the 19th designated ship. Sasebo. Enters the Navy Yard for a refit.
E early November 1943.
Refit is completed.
15 November 1943:
Due to depart Takao.
25 November 1943:
Due to arrive Miri.
27 November 1943:
Due to depart Miri.
4 December 1943:
Arrives St. Jacques.
7 December 1943:
At noon, HOKUAN MARU departs Cap St. Jacques for Takao in convoy No. 447 also consisting of IJN oiler CHIHAYA MARU, IJA transport GINYO MARU and IJN transport TEIKO (ex-French D’ARTAGNAN) MARU escorted by kaikoban MATSUWA.
10 December 1943:
At 2000, TEIKO MARU is detached independently for Manila. HOKUAN MARU is also detached independently for Takao.
16 December 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Takao.
20 December 1943:
At 1200 departs Takao in convoy No. 228 also consisting of NORFOLK, HIDA, FUKUJU MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
22 December 1943:
At 1420 off the Taichow Islands, China Coast, auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO joins the convoy.
23 December 1943:
At 0630 off Chusan Islands SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO is detached.
27 December 1943:
At 0400 arrives at Moji and departs immediately. Later that day arrives at Iwakuni.
1 January 1944:
Offloads 4,500-tons of cargo.
2 January 1944:
Departs Iwakuni and arrives at Tamano.
2 ~ 10 January 1944:
Enters a dock at the Mitsui Zosen K.K. Tamano shipyard.
10 January 1944:
Departs Tamano.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Refuels.
11 ~ 12 January 1944:
Loads 2000-tons of cargo.
12 January 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
13 January 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
13 ~ 14 January 1944:
Embarks 147 passengers.
15 January 1944:
At 0730 departs Moji in convoy No. 129 also consisting of IJA transports FUSO, MIZUHO, WALES, SEATTLE MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
21 January 1944:
At 0926 arrives at Takao.
21 ~ 24 January 1944:
Offloads 2000-tons of cargo and dismebarks 147 passengers. Loads 500-tons of cargo.
24 January 1944:
Departs Takao.
26 January 1944:
Joins convoy No. 788 consisting of IJA transports FUSO, MIZUHO, WALES, and SEATTLE MARUs, IJN stores ship IKUTAGAWA MARU, IJA oiler OGURA MARU No. 1 and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
26 ~28 January 1944:
Detaches and heads towards Manila.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
28 ~ 30 January 1944:
Offloads 500-tons of cargo.
1 February 1944:
At 1400 departs Manila in convoy No. 3105 also consisting of IJN oilers CHIHAYA, and SAN LUIS MARU IJA oiler KOKUEI MARU, IJA transport BENGAL MARU and auxiliary netlayers KANKO, SHOEKI and SHUNSEN MARUs with auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-24 as escort.
3 February 1944:
Arrives with the convoy at the southern point of Palawan, Philippines. The convoy subsequently dissolves. KANKO MARU and SHUNSEN MARU sail together south.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
4 ~ 9 February 1944:
Loads 4,500-tons of cargo.
9 February 1944:
Departs Miri for Moji via Manila, loaded with 6,000 tons of gasoline and oil, in convoy 3204 also consisting of IJN tankers SAN LUIS MARU and CHIHAYA MARU escorted by auxiliary minesweeper CHOUN MARU No. 6.
14 February 1944:
At 0505, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker’s (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) attacks nearby convoy MO-72. USS FLASHER fires three torpedoes at IJA repair ship MINRYO MARU, She dodges the first two, but the third torpedo hits her No. 2 hold. She sinks at 13-43N, 120-39E. Eight crewmen are KIA.
At 0750, Whitaker attacks the 3204 convoy. Three torpedoes hit and sink HOKUAN MARU at 13-44N, 120-29E. 45 crewmen are KIA.

Authors’s Note:
[1] Not to be confused with the salvage vessel (558 GRT, ’42).

[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] See the YUSOSEN! home page for a full explanation.
[4] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal, Peter Cundall and Bob Hackett

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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