Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(HOZAN MARU sistership of SHOEI MARU, in wartime)
IJN KANATSU MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2017-2018 Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

1942:
Laid down at Nagoya by Nagoya Zosen K.K. for Osaka Shosen K.K. (OSK) as a Standard Peacetime (C) Type 2,724 GRT cargo ship.
December 1942:
Completed and named KANATSU MARU. [1]
10 December 1942:
The ship will be requisitioned by the IJN from 13 Dec ‘42 under the Third Secret Military Preparation instructions.
1 February 1943:
Completed and registered as a general requisitioned tanker attached to the Kure Naval District.
2 February 1943:
Nagoya. Conversion to an oil tanker (primary emergency oil tanker) starts at the Nagoya Zosen K.K. shipyard.
15 March 1943:
The conversion is completed. Departs Nagoya and arrives at Yokkaichi later this day.
16 March 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
18 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
20 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
23 March 1943:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China).
28 March 1943:
Departs Dairen.
1 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later this day.
4 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
8 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later that day.
10 April 1943:
Docks and repairs begin.
3 May 1943:
Repairs are completed. Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka later this day.
6 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
15 May 1943:
Departs Dairen.
18 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
23 May 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
25 May 1943:
Departs Dairen.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
31 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
1 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Ryojun (Port Arthur, later Lushun, now part of Dalian), Manchuria. Departs later this day and arrives at Dairen (now Dalian, northern China) later that day.
10 June 1943:
Departs Dairen.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
20 June 193:
Arrives at Dairen.
22 June 1943:
Departs Dairen.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
4 July 1943:
Departs Dairen.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
17 July 1943:
Arrives at Ryojun. Departs there and arrives at Dairen later that day.
18 July 1943:
Departs Dairen.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
28 July 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
30 July 1943:
Departs Dairen.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
6 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
11 August 1943:
Departs Dairen.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
22 August 1943:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao, now Qingdao), China.
23 August 1943:
The ship will be derequisitioned from 27 Aug ‘43 under the Third Secret Military Preparation instructions (new charter planned from 31 Aug).
24 August 1943:
Departs Seito.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
27 August 1943:
Departs Dairen.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
6 September 1943:
Arrives at Ryojun. Departs there and arrives at Dairen later this day.
8 September 1943:
Departs Dairen.
11 September 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Derequisitioned and requisitioned again that same day. Registered as a Navy supply ship attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.
30 October 1943:
Designated the 19th Naval special ship.
16 November 1943:
Released to her owners.
8 December 1943:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 422.
20 February 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 216.
28 May 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
29 May ~ 2 June 1944:
Unloads 2,561t heavy oil and 487t oil drums.
31 May 1944:
At Kawauchi Bay transfers 1,595 tons of L3 to auxiliary oiler TEIYO MARU.
3 June 1944:
Departs Ominato.
4 June 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
5 June 1944:
At North Sakhalin embarks 29 oil workers.
6 June 1944:
Departs Otaru escorted by minesweeper W-23.
7 June 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
8 June 1944:
Departs Wakkanai escorted by minesweeper W-23.
9 June 1944:
At 0900, about 50-00N, 145-00E, minesweeper W-39 arrives and starts escort.
14 June 1944:
Arrives at Okha, Sakhalin.
15 ~ 29 June 1944:
Loads 2,025t crude oil, disembarks 14 passengers and embarks 25 passengers.
21 June 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 558.
30 June 1944:
Departs Okha.
4 July 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
4 ~ 5 July 1944:
Disembarks 15 passengers and embarks 25 passengers.
5 July 1944:
Departs Otaru.
6 July 1944:
Arrives at Ominato. Starts refueling operations.
7 July 1944:
Refueling is completed. Departs Ominato.
8 July 1944:
Arrives at Niigata.
E 9 July 1944:
Unloads 2,025t crude oil.
10 July 1944:
Departs Niigata.
13 July 1944:
Arrives at Moji. Starts loading 2,500t heavy oil.
14 July 1944:
Loading heavy oil is completed. Departs Moji.
15 July 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Supplied with fuel and water. Departs Tokuyama later this day.
16 July 1944:
Arrives at Yokohama (Tsurumi).
E 21 July 1944:
Unloads 2,500t heavy oil.
22 July 1944:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokkaichi later that day.
23 ~ 24 July 1944:
After unloading the remaining oil cargo is 2,506t.
25 July 1944:
Departs Yokkaichi and arrives at Yokosuka later this day.
E 26 July 1944:
Unloads the remaining 2,506t oil.
27 July 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
28 July 1944:
Departs Yokohama.
31 July 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
E 1 August 1944:
Refuels.
35 nms N of Kita-Shiretoko-Misaki Light. At 0454, tanker HAKUEI MARU runs aground and opens her No. 1 and No. 2 tanks to the sea causing the loss of about 3,000 tons of crude oil. About 2,000 tons of crude remain in her other tanks. NOMI’s CO, LtCdr Hera, is appointed commander of the salvage operation by CO of the Soya Defense Force who sends out KANATSU MARU, tug MAGANE MARU, towing oil barge YUSEN GO No. 2 and salvage vessel NASU MARU to assist in the salvage of HAKUEI MARU.
2 August 1944:
Departs Ominato.
3 August 1944:
Arrives at Otaru. Starts loading 100t coal and water.
4 August 1944:
Loading operations are completed. Departs Otaru.
5 August 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai and departs later this day escorted by kaibokan NOMI.
7 August 1944:
Arrives at Moro Oki, Karafuto (south Sakhalin).
E 8 August 1944:
Loads 1,020t crude oil from HAKUEI MARU. Supplies Minelayer ASHIZAKI, tug MAGANE MARU, salvage vessel NASU MARU and kaibokan NOMI with coal. Embarks 32 crewmen and five workers from HAKUEI MARU.
9 August 1944:
Departs Moro Oki.
11 August 1944:
Arrives at Otomari, Sakhalin.
12 ~ 13 august 1944:
Unloads 1,020t crude oil. Supplied with water.
14 August 1944:
Departs Otomari and arrives at Wakkanai later this day.
15 ~ 16 August 1944:
Disembarks the 32 HAKUEI MARU crewmen and embarks five ship workers.
17 August 1944:
At 2355, departs Wakkanai as the only ship in convoy Ra-601, escorted by subchaser CH-15.
19 August 1944:
Arrives at Okha (Oha), Sakhalin.
20 ~ 22 August 1944:
Loads 2,392t crude oil and embarks 25 passengers.
23 August 1944:
Departs Okha.
26 August 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
E 27 August 1944:
Disembarks 25 passengers and the five ship workers.
28 August 1944:
Departs Otaru.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
E 30 August 1944:
Loads 790t drums and refuels.
31 August 1944:
Departs Ominato.
3 September 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
4 ~ 5 September 1944:
Unloads 2,392t crude oil and 790t drums. Supplied with fuel and water.
6 September 1944:
Departs Tokuyama. Arrives at Kudamatsu the same day.
E 7 September 1944:
Loads 2,499t crude oil.
8 September 1944:
Departs Kudamatsu.
12 September 1944:
Arrives at Dairen.
13 ~ 15 September 1944:
Unloads 2,499t crude oil. Loads 2,387t shale oil, 22t fireproof brick and a passenger car.
16 September 1944:
Departs Dairen.
19 September 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
20 ~ 21 September 1944:
Unloads 2,387t shale oil, 22t fireproof brick and a passenger car.
22 September 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
26 September 1944:
Arrives at Dairen.
E 27 September 1944:
Loads 1,798t shale oil and 222t fireproof brick.
28 September 1944:
Departs Dairen.
3 October 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
4 ~ 7 October 1944:
Unloads 1,798t shale oil and 222t fireproof brick. Loads 12t aluminum chloride and 2,850t type 3 heavy oil.
8 October 1944:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Kure later that day.
E 9 October 1944:
Unloads 2,850t type 3 heavy oil.
10 October 1944:
Departs Kure.
14 October 1944:
Arrives at Dairen. Starts unloading 12t aluminum chloride. Loads 2,404t shale oil and 222t fireproof brick.
15 October 1944:
Departs Dairen.
19 October 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
20 ~ 21 October 1944:
Unloads 2,404t shale oil and 222t fireproof brick.
22 October 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
27 October 1944:
Arrives at Dairen.
28 ~ 30 October 1944:
Unloads 52t aluminum chloride. Loads 2,400t shale oil, 216t fireproof brick, 26t internal fuel, 14t bromine and embarks 86 passengers.
31 October 1944:
Departs Dairen.
4 November 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
5 ~ 15 November 1944:
Unloads 2,400t shale oil, 216t fireproof brick, 26t internal fuel, 14t bromine and disembarks 86 passengers. Loads 2,780t type 3 heavy oil and 15 drums hydraulic oil.
16 November 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
17 November 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
18 ~ 19 November 1944:
Unloads 2,780t type 3 heavy oil and 15 drums hydraulic oil. Loads 2,812t mud oil.
20 November 1944:
Departs Kure.
21 November 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
22 November 1944:
Departs Kobe.
24 November 1944:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
25 - 27 November 1944:
Unloads 2,812t mud oil. Loads 850t empty drums and 3,400 cans.
28 November 1944:
Departs Yokkaichi alone.
29 November 1944:
Auxiliary minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU joins as escort and escorts the ship part way.
1 December 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
2 ~ 6 December 1944:
Unloads 850t empty drums and cans. Loads 2,906t cargo.
7 December 1944:
Departs Kure.
8 December 1944:
Auxiliary minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU and auxiliary minesweeper MISAGO MARU No. 3 join and escort the ship part way. The ships sail at 10 knots.
11 December 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 1263.
12 ~ 14 December 1944:
Unloads 2,906t cargo. Loads 1,020m3 cargo.
15 December 1944:
Departs Yokosuka.
20 December 1944:
Arrives at Kure (Yoshiura). Starts unloading 1,020m3 cargo.
21 December 1944:
Departs Yoshiura and arrives at Mitsuzuhama later this day.
22 ~ 24 December 1944:
Loads 2,492 kg liter cargo.
25 December 1944:
Departs Mitsuzuhama and arrives at Tokuyama later that day.
E 26 December 1944:
Loads 465t cargo.
27 December 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
1 January 1945:
Arrives at Dairen.
2 ~ 4 January 1945:
Unloads 2,492 kg liter cargo and 465t cargo. Loads 2,740t cargo.
5 January 1945:
Departs Dairen.
9 January 1945:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
E 10 January 1945:
Unloads 2,740t cargo.
11 January 1945:
Departs Tokuyama.
12 January 1945:
Arrives at Kure. Loads 2,807t cargo. Departs Kure later that day.
13 January 1945:
Arrives at Kobe.
14 January 1945:
Departs Kobe.
18 January 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
E 19 January 1945:
Unloads 2,807t cargo. Loads 584t cargo.
20 January 1945:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later this day.
21 January 1945:
Departs Yokohama.
26 January 1945:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
E 27 January 1945:
Unloads 584t cargo.
28 January 1945:
Departs Tokuyama.
29 January 1945:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
30 January ~ 2 February 1945:
Loads 2,509t cargo.
3 February 1945:
Departs Shimotsu.
4 February 1945:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
5 ~ 8 February 1945:
Unloads 2,509t cargo. Loads 2,000t cargo.
9 February 1945:
Departs Tokuyama.
10 February 1945:
Arrives at Kobe.
12 February 1945:
Departs Kobe.
15 February 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 -19 February 1945:
Unloads 2,000t cargo.
23 February 1945:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 7223 with MIYAJIMA and KOAN MARUs with unknown escort. The convoy sails at 7 knots.
26 February 1945:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Starts loading 1,000t cargo.
27 February 1945:
Completes loading 1000t cargo. Departs Tokuyama.
2 March 1945:
Arrives at Busan, Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea)
E 3 March 1945:
Unloads 1,000t cargo.
4 March 1945:
Departs Busan and arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea) later that day. Starts loading 2,432t cargo.
5 March 1945:
Loading 2,432t cargo is completed. Departs Chinkai (Jinhae).
6 March 1945:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 ~ 11 March 1945:
Unloads 2,432t cargo. Loads 238t cargo.
12 March 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
14 March 1945:
Arrives at Osaka.
15 ~ 21 March 1945:
Unloads 238t cargo.
22 March 1945:
Osaka. Enters the Fujinagata Shipyards drydock for repairs.
1 May 1945:
Repairs are completed. Leaves the drydock and moors in Osaka port.
17 May 1945:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Kobe later this day.
18 May 1945:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 527. Departs Kobe for Tokuyama. Off northern Shodoshima Island (N34-34.5N, 134-14E) strikes a mine. Arrives at Shodoshima later this day.
20 May 1945:
Departs Shodoshima and arrives at Osaka later that day.
23 May 1945:
Enters the Fujinagata Shipyards drydock for repairs.
24 July 1945:
Sinks by air strike 3km NW Awashima (34-18N, 133-36E). Later salved. At some point apparently reconverted to a cargo ship. Assigned a new official number 63426, suggestive of salvage much later than 1945-46, probably 1951.
December 1948:
Sold to Chuyo Kisen K.K. (Osaka). Raised by Kitagawa Industry.
30 March 1949:
Assigned to repatriation service. Her call sign is SCAJAP No. K-315. No evidence the ship ever served on repatriation services - she was likely still semi submerged or salvaged but laid up.
April ~ August 1949:
Repairs start at Hitachi Zosen K.K.
7 January ~ 14 February 1951:
Reconstructed at Hitachi Zosen K.K. Probably the Korean War made repairs rather than scrapping a viable option.
1958:
Sold to Sanoyasu Shoji K.K. (Osaka).
February 1959:
The main engine is replaced with D 2, 100 BPH.
1960:
Renamed KANA MARU.
1964:
Sold to Kondo Kaiun K.K. (Imabari).
1967:
Sold to Perola Navigation & Trading Co. S. A. (Panama) and renamed BRILLIANT. Beneficial owners are Chang Wing Fai in Hong Kong.
1969:
Scrapped at Hong Kong by Fuji, Marden & Co. Ltd.

Author’s notes:
[1] Also known as KANETSU MARU or KANAZU MARU.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

Back to the Oilers Page