Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(KAHOKU MARU, prewar)

IJN KAHOKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2022 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

5 December 1930:
Laid down by Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. Nagasaki Zosensho as a 3,277-tons cargo ship for Ryojun Kisen K.K.
20 April 1931:
Launched and named KAHOKU MARU.
30 June 1931:
Completed and registered at Ryojun, Manchukuo (formerly Port Arthur, now Dalian, China). Her Gross Registered tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 3,277-tons and 1,875 tons. Allotted vessel number is 413. Her signal code is QNCP. [1]
1933:
Her signal code is changed to JKUA.
1935:
In service on the Ryojun – Niigata route. Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 3,310-tons and 2,005-tons. [1]
11 April 1939:
Arrives at Wuhu, China.
12 April 1939:
Departs Wuhu.
30 January 1940:
Her ownership is changed to Nihonkai Kisen K.K and her registered port to Tokyo. Her vessel number is changed to 46807. Her signal code is changed to JDJO. Her GRT is changed to 3,350-tons. [1]
18 December 1940:
In service on the Niigata – Rashin (formerly Rajin), Chosen (now Rason, North Korea) – Seishin, Chosen (now Chongjin, North Korea) route.
1 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
20 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 1093. Designated as an auxiliary gunboat engaged in minelaying under instruction No. 1094. That same day, Navy Capt. Watanabe Tsutomu (34) is appointed CO.
December 1941:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 3,352-tons and 1,998-tons. [1]
8 December 1941:
Departs Seso.
11 December 1941:
Attached to Rear Admiral Tashiro Sohei’s (41) Sasebo Guard Force, Oshima Base Force.
11 December 1941:
Hits a reef on Dark Rock . Returns to Seso. Arrives there later this day for repairs.
6 January 1942:
Departs Seso on trials and returns there later that day.
9 January 1942:
Departs Seso on trials and returns to port later that day.
15 January 1942:
Attached to the Sasebo Naval district, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron. Rated as a Security Unit under Sasebo Naval District order No. 14. Attached to the Security Force under Sasebo Naval Defense Force order No. 31.
18 January 1942:
Departs Seso.
20 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
30 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
February 1942:
Rated as First Unit, First Platoon.
5 February 1942:
Attached to the Security Force under Sasebo Naval Defense Force order No. 32.
14 February 1942:
Receives Sasebo Naval District Ordnance instruction No. 27:
- 1 - Sasebo Defense Squadron CO is to directly escort Army transport ships.
A - First convoy (six vessels in 14 sections), escorted by minelayer HIRASHIMA and destroyer KARUKAYA.
- Second convoy (seven vessels in 10 sections) escorted by auxiliary gunboats KAHOKU MARU and TOMITSU MARU.
B - Sasebo Defense Squadron CO commands escort ships.
C - Assembly point is Mutsure Jima NNW Sea.
D - Departure date: 16 February for first convoy and 17 February for second convoy.
E - Escort area is Mutsure to Mako, Pescadores (now Magong, Penghu islands, Taiwan).
F - Route is direct route to Mako.
- 2 - Commander of Sasebo Naval air Group will dispatch aircraft to support escort ships.
Sasebo Naval District Ordinance instruction No. 27 point departure dates 16 and 17 February will be changed to 17 and 18 February respectively under Sasebo Naval District Ordinance instruction No. 29.
Commander of Sasebo Naval Defense Force commanding HIRASHIMA, KARUKAYA and KAHOKU MARU under Sasebo Naval District Ordinance No. 27 should carry out direct escort of Army transports under Sasebo Naval Defense Force order No. 31.
Sasebo No. 1 SLNF should dispatch four escort signal marines to Army transport ship according to Ordnance No. 27 under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 24. However boarding ship for the round trip will be HIRASHIMA and KAHOKU MARU.
15 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
16 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
18 February 1942:
Departs Moji with destroyer FUYO and auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU escorting the second echelon of 56th Army Division convoy consisting of HIBURI, KOTOHIRA, KAZUURA, KEIFUKU, MYOKO, NAPLES and SANKO MARUs. Arrives at Karatsu at 1800.
20 February 1942:
At 0700, departs Karatsu. Later that day takes over escort with destroyer FUYO and auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU of 56th Army Division’s convoy first echelon consisting of NAGARA, NAKO, AOBASAN, HARUNA, KYUSHI and SAKITO MARUs.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
24 February 1942:
Arrives at Mako. Escort duty is ended under Sasebo Instruction No. 38.
25 February 1942:
Assigned to return via Takao as soon as possible after engaging in transport duties under instruction No. 254.
26 February 1942:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that day.
3 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
7 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Scheduled for Army transport convoy escort duty under Sasebo Wireless Instruction No. 46.
13 March 1942:
Receives Sasebo Naval District order No. 46:
Escort an Army convoy consisting of four transports with replacement soldiers aboard for the 18th Infantry Division in Singapore and 500 soldiers for the Independent Garrison Unit in Oijima.
- 1 Direct escort.
- A Escort ships: auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU and destroyer MINEKAZE. - B Escort commander: CO of auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU.
- C Transport ships: YUBAE, MONTREAL and SAMARANG MARUs. [4th ship, not listed in this report, is PENANG MARU] Speed 9 knots.
- D Meeting: Hakata Bay 16 March evening.
- E Departure date and time: 17 July at 1500.
- F Escort area and route: Direct route from Hakata to Mako route No. 2 near Nansei Islands.
- G Date and time of arrival at Mako: 21 March evening of route No. 1 and 22 March morning of route No. 2.
- H Other commander’s appointment:
- 2 Sasebo Defense Squadron ships should generally sweep the route in front of the convoy and provide indirect escort in the current alert sweeping deployment.
- 3 Commander of the Sasebo Naval air group should dispatch aircraft as appropriate to cooperate with escort.
14 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
15 March 1942:
Arrives at Hakata Bay.
17 March 1942:
About dawn, departs Hakata Bay escorting a convoy consisting of YUBAE, MONTREAL PENANG and SAMARANG MARUs also escorted by destroyer MINEKAZE.
21 March 1942:
Arrives at Mako. Escort mission cancelled under Sasebo Instruction No. 285.
23 March 1942:
Departs Mako.
24 March 1942:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
27 March 1942:
Departs Kirun.
4 April 1942:
Arrives off Mutsure Jima. Scheduled for anti-submarine sweeping in second sweeping squadron W of Me Jima (near Mutsure Jima) after 6 Apr ‘42 under Sasebo Sea Defense Force Wireless Command No. 34.
5 April 1942:
Departs Mutsure Jima waters and arrives at Moji later this day.
7 April 1942:
Departs Moji.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 April 1942:
Rated as a Maritime Defense Force Sweeping Unit under Sasebo Naval Office Order No. 22.
12 April 1942:
Me Jima and 290° line at 90 nautical miles and 200° line at 100 nautical miles are to be swept at each point under Sasebo Defense Force Wireless Order No. 36. Departs Sasebo later that same day.
15 April 1942:
Rated as Sweeping Unit No. 1.
18 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 April 1942:
Temporarily displays Commander Flag.
22 April 1942:
Scheduled for anti-submarine sweeping W Me Jima in sweeping squadron No. 3 from 25 Apr ‘42 under Sasebo Sea Defense Force Instruction No. 2.
25 April 1942:
Removes Commander Flag. Departs Sasebo.
5 May 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
12 May 1942:
Arrives at Tomie.
15 May 1942:
Departs Tomie and arrives at Fukue later that day.
16 May 1942:
Departs Fukue and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
20 May 1942:
Attached to sweeping squadron No. 3 under Sasebo Sea Defense Force Order No. 36.
26 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Tomie later that day.
1 June 1942:
Departs Tomie.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 June 1942:
Receives Sasebo Naval instruction No. 73:
Escort Army convoy No. 7 transporting ammunition via Palau to the South Seas Detachment.
- 1 - Direct escort:
- A: auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU, minelayer HIRASHIMA and patrol boat PB-36. - B: Escort commander: KAHOKU MARU’s CO.
- C: Transport ships: ARIZONA, BRISBANE, MYOKO, OIGAWA, SANKO and YASUKAWA MARUs. Speed 10.5 knots.
- D: Meeting: Karatsu Bay at 1700, 5 June.
- E: Departure: 5 June night.
- F: Route: Karatsu, Aizaki, Seto Passage E Daito Islands.
- 2 - Sasebo warships should generally only conduct indirect escort in current deployment.
- 3 - Sasebo and Hakata Air Corps commanders should dispatch aircraft as appropriate to cooperate with escorts.
- 4 - Destroyer YUNAGI joins escort in Moji waters.
4 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Karatsu Bay. Departs later this day with destroyer YUNAGI escorting FS convoy consisting of ARIZONA, BRISBANE, MYOKO, OIGAWA, SANKO, KAZUURA and YASUKAWA MARUs. South Seas Detachment convoy escort is to end at 20N, 133E. Returns to Karatsu Bay.
6 June 1942:
Patrol boat PB-36 and minelayer HIRASHIMA depart Karatsu Bay and join convoy’s escort. At 1500, the convoy departs Karatsu.
E 7 June 1942:
Detaches at 20N, 133E.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
30 June 1942:
Departs Naha.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
4 July 1942:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives at Makurazaki later that day.
5 July 1942:
Departs Makurazaki and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
8 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Tomie later that day.
9 July 1942:
Departs Tomie and arrives at Tamanoura later this day.
14 July 1942:
Departs Tamanoura and arrives at Terashima Channel later that day.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo on main gunnery training No. 2.
26 July 1942:
Receives Sasebo Naval District order No. 79:
Escort the Shanghai, China March transport consisting of 5 Army transports.
- 1 - Provide direct escort.
- A: Escorts: Auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU and minelayer TSUBAME.
- B: Escort commander: KAHOKU MARU CO.
- C: Army transports: MITO, ROKKO, SURABAYA, KANKYO and PACIFIC MARUs.
- D: Meeting location: 0900 at Imari on 30 July.
- E: Departure: Around 1300.
- F: Route: Direct route from Imari to Shanghai.
- G: Arrival: Scheduled in the evening of 1 August at Wusong (Woosung) Port, China.
- H: Other commander’s appointment.
- 2 - Sasebo Naval Air Group commander dispatches aircrafts as appropriate to cooperate with escorts.
27 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
Receives Sasebo instruction No. 62:
- 1 - Minelayer KAMOME is added as escort ship in Sasebo Naval District order No. 79.
- 2 - KAMOME provides direct escort from Shirase Lighthouse to Saddle Islands’ (Maan Liedao), China vicinity.
29 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Imari later this day.
30 July 1942:
At 1300, departs Imari with minelayers KAMOME and TSUBAME escorting an army convoy consisting of MITO, ROKKO, SURABAYA, KANKYO and PACIFIC MARUs.
1 August 1942:
At 1745, arrives off Wusong.
2 August 1942:
Departs Wusong waters and arrives at Shanghai at 0928.
6 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
8 August 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Terashima later this day.
14 August 1942:
Departs Terashima and arrives at Yukinoura later that day.
15 August 1942:
Departs Yukinoura and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
17 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
18 August 1942:
Arrives at Tamanoura.
19 August 1942:
Departs Tamanoura and arrives at Tomie later that day.
20 August 1942:
Departs Tomie and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
25 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Yukinoura later that day.
26 August 1942:
Departs Yukinoura and arrives at Terashima later this day.
27 August 1942:
Departs Terashima and arrives at Ebisu Bay later that day.
28 August 1942:
Departs Ebisu Bay and arrives at Nomozaki later this day.
29 August 1942:
Departs Nomozaki and arrives at Tachibana Bay later that day.
31 August 1942:
Departs Tachibana Bay and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
2 September 1942:
Receives Sasebo Naval district order No. 81.
- 1 - Sasebo Defense Squadron Commander assigns auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU and minelayer TAKASHIMA to escort auxiliary transport SHIROGANE MARU carrying 16th Construction Corps.
- A: Escort commander: KAHOKU MARU’s CO.
- B: Escort area: From Sasebo to near 27N, 133E. Thereafter SHIROGANE MARU continues alone.
- C: Route: Directly to Truk, Central Carolines from S Yakushima.
- D: Speed: Approximately 9 knots.
- E: Departure: 1600 on 3 September. Scheduled to arrive at Truk on 13 September morning.
- F: TAKASHIMA will join escort in SE Kusagaki Island on 4 September.
3 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo to meet up with auxiliary transport SHIROGANE MARU that also departed Sasebo at 1600, and begins escorting her.
4 September 1942:
Off Kusakaki Gunto, minelayer TAKASHIMA joins escort.
5 September 1942:
At 1200, TAKASHIMA is detached off Osumi Kaikyo. At 2400, ends escort of auxiliary transport SHIROGANE MARU NE Kita Daito Jima at N27, 133E.
8 September 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Sakito later that day.
16 September 1942:
Departs Sakito and calls at Kamiura. Departs there and arrives at Shijiki later that day.
17 September 1942:
Departs Shijiki and arrives at Nakiri Bay later this day.
18 September 1942:
Departs Nakiri Bay and arrives at Tomie later that day.
19 September 1942:
Departs Tomie and returns there later this day.
20 September 1942:
Departs Tomie and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
21 September 1942:
Commander Flag is returned.
23 September 1942:
Commander Flag is temporarily transferred to auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 2. Departs Sasebo that same day.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Commander Flag is returned.
28 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
17 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 October 1942:
Commander Flag is temporarily transferred to auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 2.
24 October 1942:
Enters Sasebo Naval Yard drydock.
25 October 1942:
Commander Flag is returned.
28 October 1942:
Undocked.
10 November 1942:
Attached to Sea Defense Force, Sweeping Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 33.
24 November 1942:
Engaged in transport duties according to Navy Ministry assigned supply units under Sea instruction No. 163.
27 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo and returns there later this day.
29 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo and returns to base later this day.
December 1942:
Rated as sweeping unit No. 4.
15 December 1942:
At 0900, departs Sasebo escorting four unidentified merchant ships.
17 December 1942:
At 1233, arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), China. Assigned to Ministry of Navy supply unit to apply corresponding transport duty under Sasebo Sea Defense Force order No. 47.
18 December 1942:
Receives Instruction No. 15557: order to reconstruct ship’s equipment. Relationship between subordinates and the various departments.
- 1 - Construction procedure:
The following auxiliary transport ships will be reconstructed. For details consult Imperial Japanese Naval Technical Department and head of IJNAF Headquarters directly related to each naval yard, naval aviation technology arsenal and the 31st naval aviation arsenal.
Yokosuka: SAGARA MARU.
Kure: NISSHO MARU No. 12.
Sasebo: KAHOKU MARU and KATSURA MARU No. 2 GO.
Maizuru: SANTO MARU and SANUKI MARU.
- 2 - Required and returned weapons:
Head of IJN Headquarters Technical Department and head of IJNAF Headquarters Administration are directly related to Navy munitions department and heads of the second and 31st Navy Aviation Depots. To do.
- 3 - Completion period: As soon as possible.
- 4 - Expense items: Omit.
- 5 - Appendix: This work is outsourced to a subordinate shipyard.
23 December 1942:
Departs Seito (Tsingtao).
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 January 1943:
Sea instruction No. 163 is cancelled under Sea instruction No. 183. Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 3. Registered as an auxiliary replenishment transport attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 4. Capt. Watanabe remains CO.
12 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
15 January 1943:
Arrives at Shibaura.
17 January 1943:
Departs Shibaura and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
E17 ~ 23 January 1943:
Embarks the Fourth Air Defense Squadron.
23 January 1943:
At 1000, departs Yokosuka in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport SANSEI (3,266 GRT) MARU escorted by minesweeper W-18.
24 January 1943:
Minesweeper W-18 ends escort off Mikura Jima (33° N) due to stormy weather.
30 January 1943:
At 14-30N, 144-40E KAHOKU and SANSEI MARU’s sailing together are met by auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU that begins escorting them.
2 February 1943:
Arrives at Truk with SANSEI MARU escorted by CHOUN MARU.
7 February 1943:
Departs Truk very likely in a convoy also consisting of AKIBASAN and KUNISHIMA MARUs, initially escorted by subchaser CH-11.
9 February 1943:
Subchaser CH-18 takes over as escort from subchaser CH-11.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Kavieng, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago (now Papua New Guinea). Departs there later this day.
11 February 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago (now Papua New Guinea).
19 February 1943:
Departs Rabaul possibly with auxiliary transport HINO MARU No. 5.
21 February 1943:
Arrives at Buin, Bougainville, Solomon Islands. Departs there and arrives at Shortland, Bougainville later that day.
23 February 1943:
Departs Shortland and arrives at Buin later this day.
25 February 1943:
Departs Buin.
27 February 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
2 March 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
8 March 1943:
At 0700, departs Truk with auxiliary transport NANKAI MARU escorted by destroyer NAGANAMI.
10 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas. It appears from this point on until 26 March, KAHOKU MARU is used as an escort as well as a transport, implying that any anti-submarine equipment had not been removed when conversion to a transport occurred.
16 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary netlayer SHUKO MARU on an anti-submarine patrol. Both ships return there later this day.
17 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary netlayer SHUKO MARU on an anti-submarine patrol. They both return there later that day.
18 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary netlayer SHUKO MARU on an anti-submarine patrol.
19 March 1943:
Arrives with auxiliary netlayer SHUKO MARU at Saipan. Departs there at 1300 escorting transport SAIPAN MARU.
20 March 1943:
At 0715, in 16-02N, 143-10E, SAIPAN MARU is hit by a dud torpedo on port side amidships, by LtCdr (later Cdr) Albert C. Burrows' (USNA '28) USS WHALE (SS-239). A second torpedo misses. The ships continue their voyage N.
26 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
29 March 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
2 April 1943:
Navy Capt. Takahashi Eikichi (36) is appointed CO.
14 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy 3414A also consisting of KUNIKAWA and YODOGAWA MARUs (and possibly others), with unknown escort. It seems that KAHOKU MARU is detached en route, probably at Saipan.
25 April 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
28 April 1943:
At 0600, departs Truk in convoy No. 1282 also consisting of auxiliary transport SHINSEI MARU No. 18 escorted by destroyer KIYONAMI.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
22 May 1943:
At 1500, departs Rabaul in convoy also consisting of MEIZAN, KANJO, YUBAE and HIBURI MARUs escorted by destroyer YUNAGI and subchasers CH-18 and CH-39.
26 May 1943:
At 1800, YUNAGI detaches from the convoy.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Palau, Palau Islands, Eastern Carolines.
4 June 1943:
Departs Palau and arrives at Angaur, Palau Islands later this day.
5 June 1943:
Departs Angaur and arrives at Palau later that day.
7 June 1943:
At 2020, departs Palau in convoy P-607 also consisting of IJA transport HOFOKU, auxiliary transport HIYOSHI MARU and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SAIPAN MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-31. The convoy sails at 9.5 knots.
At 1515, in the West Channel, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) John A. Tyree's (USNA ’33) USS FINBACK (SS-230) discovers a convoy consisting of four ships in two columns in line and headed by one escort. One aircraft provides air cover. Soon after loses contact with the convoy. At 2211, Tyree rediscovers the convoy.
8 June 1943:
At 0227, Tyree fires a three torpedoes spread at each of the leading ships of the two columns. At 0232, fires two torpedoes at the last ships in the two columns. The nearest leading ship is hit once, the farthest leading ship is hit twice and the farthest last ship is hit once. Only KAHOKU MARU is hit and damaged. The other hits must have been dud torpedoes. Later this morning KAHOKU MARU begins to sink. At 0941, Patrol boat PB-31 begins to rescue survivors. At 0950, KAHOKU MARU sinks at 09-30N, 134-32E, about 119 nautical miles N Koror, Palau Islands. One crewman is lost.
1 August 1943:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 1573.

Authors' Notes:
[1] 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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