Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(KASAGI MARU, prewar- Berend van der Wal collection)

IJN KASAGI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

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

5 October 1927:
Yokohama. Laid down by Yokohama Dock K.K. as a 3,141-tons passenger-cargo ship for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK).
3 March 1928:
Launched and named KASAGI MARU.
30 April 1928:
Completed and registered at Tokyo, with a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 3,141-tons and a Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of 1,843 tons. Her call sign is JQOB. [1]
E1 ~ 9 May 1928:
In service on the Kobe-Shanghai, China route.
9 May 1928:
Requisitioned by the IJA.
E9 May ~ 5 June 1928:
Transports 1,715 Army troops and 172 Army horses.
6 June 1928:
Released to her owners.
6 March 1930:
While sailing from Kobe to Kobe port collides with passenger-cargo ship ARABIA MARU. The bow is very heavily damaged. ARABIA MARU sustains damage at lifeboats and hospital quarter on the aft deck.
6 February 1932:
Departs Shanghai for Kobe via Moji.
12 December 1932:
Collides with an unidentified Swedish ship at Osaka Port. Extent of damage is not known.
1937:
Her GRT and NRT are changed respectively to 3,140-tons and 1,845-tons. [1]
22 April 1937:
Arrives at Jaluit, Marshalls.
24 April 1937:
Departs Jaluit.
June 1937:
In service on the South Seas Route-Eastbound Line. Departs Yokohama.
24 June 1937:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas. Departs later this day for Truk, Central Carolines, Ponape, Carolines and then Jaluit.
25 August 1937:
Requisitioned by the IJA as a hospital ship.
20 October 1937:
Departs Osaka for Ujina.
24 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
25 October 1937:
Departs Moji.
29 October 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao, China.
30 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
3 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
4 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka. Departs for Ujina later this day.
7 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
8 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
12 November 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
13 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
17 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
18 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka. Departs later.
23 November 1937:
Departs Ujina.
26 November 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
27 November 1937:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
28 November 1937:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China) and departs there later that day.
1 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs there later this day.
2 December 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
15 December 1937:
Departs Ujina.
16 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs there later that day.
19 December 1937:
Arrives at Shanghai.
21 December 1937:
Departs Shanghai.
24 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs there later this day.
25 December 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
3 February 1938:
Departs Ujina.
4 February 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs there later that day.
7 February 1938:
Arrives at Shanghai.
9 February 1938:
Departs Shanghai.
12 February 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs there later this day.
13 February 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
15 April 1938:
Released to her owners.
3 March 1940:
Departs Japan.
7 March 1940:
Arrives at Saipan.
25 July 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 August 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval district under instruction No. 936. Conversion for military duty begins at the Asano Dock. Designated as an auxiliary gunboat engaged in minelaying under instruction No. 937. Navy Capt Watanabe Tsutomu (34) is appointed CO.
30 September 1941:
Conversion for military duty is completed. [2]
E30 September - 2 December 1941:
Assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District, Yokosuka Coastal Defense Squadron.
2 December 1941:
Departs Uraga on patrol in Uraga Suido and returns to port later this day.
3 December 1941:
At 0900, departs Uraga on her third minelaying training and returns there later that day. At 1930, departs Uraga on duty station training and returns to port later this night.
4 December 1941:
Departs Uraga on night monitoring mission in Uraga Suido and returns there later that night.
5 December 1941:
Departs Uraga on duty station training.
6 December 1941:
Rated as a sea surface defense unit under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 14.
8 December 1941:
In Tokyo Bay, Dutch merchant cargo ship BEATRICE is confiscated. At 1008, departs Uraga to meet up with Dutch merchant cargo ship BEATRICE and to escort her to Yokohama. After completing this, returns to Uraga and arrives there later this day. At 2200, Departs Uraga. [3]
9 December 1941:
Arrives off Minato at 106° and 6,700m of Kannonzaki. Assigned to attack the enemy outside the bay tonight under Sea Surface Defence Forces wireless No. 217. Departs off Minato and attacks an enemy submarine near buoy A.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Uraga. Departs there and arrives off Minato later that same day.
11 December 1941:
Departs off Minato and arrives off Uraga later this day.
12 December 1941:
Departs Uraga.
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Okada. Departs there and arrives off Minato later that same day. Assigned to carry out an anti-submarine sweep off Susaki Mountain under Sea Surface Defence Forces wireless No. 243.
14 December 1941:
Departs off Minato. Advances to S Nojima to search for Dutch merchant ships.
15 December 1941:
Patrols Jogashima Nanbokusen line. Thereafter, arrives off Minato, near port.
16 December 1941:
Departs off Minato. Returns there and departs again. Arrives at Uraga later this same day.
18 December 1941:
Departs Uraga on Jogashima Okinoyama Bank alert and returns there later this day.
19 December 1941:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Nagaura later this day. Temporarily lowers Command Flag.
20 December 1941:
Resupplies.
21 December 1941:
Departs Nagaura and arrives at Uraga later that day.
24 December 1941:
Changes mooring.
25 December 1941:
Transfers Command Flag to destroyer YUGUMO. Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka later this day. Unloads consignment goods for Ise Bay Defense Detachment.
26 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
27 December 1941:
Arrives off Irako coast. Departs there and arrives at Toba later this same day. Receives Command Flag.
28 December 1941:
Departs Toba on laying the fourth mine line in Ise Bay. Destroys one faulty mine. Arrives back at Toba later that day.
29 December 1941:
Departs Toba on laying first, second and third mine lines in Ise Bay.
30 December 1941:
Arrives at Uraga.
3 January 1942:
Assigned to carry out an anti-submarine sweep on the Sagami line under Sea Defense Forces wireless No. 319. Departs Uraga for Sagami Beach.
4 January 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
9 January 1942:
Departs Uraga to escort South Seas bound auxiliary ammunition ship TATSUTAKE MARU.
10 January 1942:
Arrives at Uraga. Departs there to escort South Seas bound auxiliary transport ship YAMAFUKU MARU. Arrives back at Uraga later that day.
11 January 1942:
Departs Uraga on an anti-submarine sweep within 60 nautical miles centered on Nojimisaki waters.
12 January 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
18 January 1942:
Departs Uraga to escort South Seas bound auxiliary transport MUKO MARU.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
20 January 1942:
Departs Uraga on anti-submarine sweep at 180° and 16 nautical miles of Sunozaki.
21 January 1942:
Escorts South Seas bound auxiliary oiler HOYO MARU. Arrives at Uraga later this day.
28 January 1942:
Rated as a sea surface defense unit under Yokosuka Naval District Order No. 45.
30 January 1942:
Departs Uraga for outside Tokyo Bay.
1 February 1942:
Provides indirect escort for the inbound 7th and 8th submarine units, I-7, I-20 and I-21. Arrives at Uraga later this day.
5 February 1942:
Departs Uraga.
6 February 1942:
Arrives at Borawazawa, Hachijojima, Izu Archipelago. Departs there later this day.
7 February 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 February 1942:
Departs Yokosuka to sweep the sea E and N Oshima, Izu Archipelago.
13 February 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
14 February 1942:
Departs Uraga to sweep the sea E Oshima and off Katsuura, Nojima.
15 February 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
20 February 1942:
Departs Uraga for Tokyo Bay. Arrives at Tateyama later that day.
21 February 1942:
Departs Tateyama on a guard mission near Tokyo Bay mouth and returns to port later this day.
24 February 1942:
Departs Uraga for outside Tokyo Bay and returns there later this day.
1 March 1942:
Departs Uraga for Tokyo Bay.
2 March 1942:
Arrives at Tateyama.
3 March 1942:
Departs Tateyama on an anti-submarine sweep in the sea E Oshima and Niijima, Izu Archipelago.
4 March 1942:
At 0835, meets with inbound auxiliary transport TAIRYU MARU. Arrives at Uraga later that day.
8 March 1942:
Transfers Command Flag to Torigasaki. Departs Uraga for Nojima waters patrol area.
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
12 March 1942:
Departs Uraga on Tokyo Bay mouth patrol and returns there later this day.
13 March 1942:
Assigned to immediately sail to Yokosuka, embark a rescue team and depart to distress location of auxiliary storeship CHICHIBU MARU under Yokosuka wireless No. 7. Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokosuka later this day. Embarks a rescue team and then departs for CHICHIBU MARU’s distress location.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka and disembarks rescue team.
15 March 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later that day.
20 March 1942:
Departs Uraga on her first sea defense battle gunnery training and returns there later this day.
31 March 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
1 April 1942:
Rated a sea surface defense unit under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 72. Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day.
3 April 1942:
At 0900, Command Flag is hoisted on auxiliary gunboat KEISHIN MARU. At 1900, receives Command Flag back.
5 April 1942:
Assigned to escort auxiliary storeship TAKUNAN MARU from off Futtsuzaki to South Seas and to transfer Command Flag to Torigasaki at 1200, under Defense Command No. 67. At 1830 receives Command Flag back.
10 April 1942:
Rated a sea surface defense unit under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 74. Departs Uraga on an anti-submarine sweep.
11 April 1942:
Assigned to sortie N Oshima to escort Government owned hospital Ship HOSHI MARU (ex-Panamanian FOCH), auxiliary ammunition ship KOTOKU MARU and auxiliary destroyer tender SHINSHO MARU.
12 April 1942:
Assigned to sortie N Oshima to escort auxiliary oiler NISSHIN MARU. Arrives at Tateyama later this day.
13 April 1942:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Uraga later that day.
17 April 1942:
Assigned to sortie at 0500, under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 907. Departs Uraga and sweeps ‘M’ patrol area later this day.
18 April 1942:
Assigned to sweep area ‘K’ under Sea Defense Force wireless 924. Sweeps ‘M’ and ‘K’ patrol areas, thereafter returns to Tateyama. Departs there for Sagami Nada and returns to port later this same day.
19 April 1942:
Assigned to sortie Uraga at 0500, and sweep 5th, ‘K’, ‘M’ and ‘T’ patrol areas under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 935. Departs Tateyama and returns there later this day.
20 April 1942:
Departs Tateyama on anti-submarine sweep and arrives at Uraga later that day.
22 April 1942:
Departs Uraga escorting aircraft carriers AKAGI and SORYU and battleship HIEI. Arrives at Yokosuka later this day.
24 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later that day.
29 April 1942:
Departs Uraga. Escorts South Seas bound auxiliary oiler NISSHIN MARU later this day.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
1 May 1942:
Rated as a sea surface defense unit under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 78.
2 May 1942:
Departs Uraga to rescue seaplane tender MIZUHO. Returns to Uraga while performing anti-submarine sweeping under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 58. [4]
3 May 1942:
Patrols N Inubosaki and thereafter, patrols the 10° line passing through 90° and 2 nautical miles off Hatsushima.
4 May 1942:
Sweeping area changes to near N line under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 80. Patrols ‘N’ line later this day. Scheduled to arrive at Uraga at 1700, from Saga under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 82. Arrives at Uraga later that day.
9 May 1942:
Transfers Command Flag to destroyer OBORO. Departs Uraga for outside Tokyo Bay, then heads towards 6th patrol area N Toshima and thereafter returns to outside Tokyo Bay.
11 May 1942:
Scheduled to depart Uraga to patrol 5th and 6th patrol areas under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 155. Departs Uraga patrolling assigned areas.
12 May 1942:
Patrols 6th patrol area and returns at Uraga later this day.
15 May 1942:
Rated a direct escort unit under Sea Defense Force Command No. 39.
16 May 1942:
Departs Uraga. Cooperates with auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 to collect anchor.
18 May 1942:
Patrols Sagami Nada and arrives at Nagaura later that day.
20 May 1942:
Departs Nagaura and arrives at Uraga later this day.
23 May 1942:
Scheduled to depart Uraga at 0900, for Outer Bay patrol area under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 241.
24 May 1942:
Departs Uraga on sweeping and patrolling Sagami Nada and returns there later this day.
26 May 1942:
Departs Uraga on Sagami Nada patrol.
27 May 1942:
Patrols Sagami Nada.
28 May 1942:
Arrives at Tateyama. Receives Command Flag back. Departs there later this day.
29 May 1942:
Arrives at Uraga. Departs there later that day on anti-submarine sweep in Outer Tokyo Bay.
30 May 1942:
Assigned to intercept and attack an enemy submarine at Sagami Nada under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 320. Executes an anti-submarine sweep.
31 May 1942:
Assigned to deploy tonight at Kazehayasaki Ito under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 334. Arrives at Kazehayasaki Ito and executes an anti-submarine sweep.
1 June 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
7 June 1942:
Departs Uraga on a tethered balloon experiment and returns there later this day.
14 June 1942:
Scheduled for repairs in dock from 15 Jun ‘42 under Sea Surface Force wireless No. 428.
15 June 1942:
Rated a sea surface defense unit under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 99. Rated as a direct escort unit under Sea Surface Defense Force Command No. 42.
E16 ~ 20 June 1942:
Departs Uraga.
21 June 1942:
Escorts a westbound convoy.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Tateyama. Departs there and calls at Uraga. Departs there later that same day.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
29 June 1942:
Departs Uraga. Performs defensive sea escort. Carries out anti-submarine sweeps near bay mouth.
30 June 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
5 July 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Tateyama later this day.
6 July 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
13 July 1942:
Departs Uraga. Escorts a westbound convoy. Arrives at Shimizu later that day.
14 July 1942:
Departs Shimizu.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Sagara Bay. Departs there and calls at Tateyama. Departs there and arrives at Uraga later that same day.
E16 ~ 17 July 1942:
Departs Uraga.
18 July 1942:
Escorts a westbound convoy.
20 July 1942:
Departs Off Minato. Escorts a northbound convoy. Arrives at Uraga later this day.
24 July 1942:
Departs Uraga on anti-submarine sweeping training outside Tokyo Bay and arrives at Tateyama later this day.
25 July 1942:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Uraga later that day.
31 July 1942:
Scheduled to escort a northbound convoy on 1 Aug ‘42 under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 814.
1 August 1942:
Departs Uraga escorting a northbound convoy consisting of DAIKICHI MARU No. 6 , picket boat KAMOI MARU, TAKUSAN and NICHIWA MARUs.
2 August 1942:
Arrives at Nagaura.
5 August 1942:
Departs Nagaura.
7 August 1942:
Dispatched to Sagami Nada for patrol and training on 7 Aug ‘42 together with auxiliary netlayer KOKAI MARU under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 848. Departs Uraga on training outside Tokyo Bay. In addition auxiliary netlayer MATSU MARU is assigned to join KASAGI MARU at 1300 on 7 August 1942 at 5 nautical miles south of Kenzaki under same Sea Defense Force wireless instruction No. 848. At 1300, meets up with auxiliary netlayer KOKAI MARU. They patrol and exercise together. Arrives at Tateyama later this day.
8 August 1942:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Uraga later that day.
9 August 1942:
Departs Uraga on second gunnery training outside Tokyo Bay and returns there later this day.
11 August 1942:
Assigned to escort on 12 Aug ‘42 a west coastal convoy consisting of auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU No. 3, IJA transport OMI MARU and IJN requisitioned passenger cargo ship (B-APK) FLORIDA MARU. After escorting MIYADONI MARU, KYOEI MARU No. 2 and HAGUE MARU to Omaezaki on 13 Aug ‘42 at 0400, anti-submarine sweeping in ‘Q’ patrol area and thereafter return to port under Sea Defense Force wireless no. 898.
12 August 1942:
Departs Uraga. Escorts westbound KYOEI MARU No. 3, OMI MARU, FLORIDA MARU, MIYADONI MARU, KYOEI MARU No. 2 and HAGUE MARU.
13 August 1942:
Escorts westbound TAIMEI MARU, AZUSA MARU, SAIPAN MARU and HIBARI MARU. Later this day escorts southbound TONAN MARU No. 3. Calls at Uraga. Transfers Command Flag to Torigasaki. Departs Uraga and returns there later this same day.
14 August 1942:
Receives Command Flag back.
19 August 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Tateyama later this day.
20 August 1942:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Uraga later that day.
22 August 1942:
Transfers Command Flag to Torigasaki. Departs Uraga escorting westbound YAMAZURU MARU and returns there later this day.
23 August 1942:
Departs Uraga on an anti-submarine sweep in the sea E Nojima’s peninsula .
24 August 1942:
Performs anti-submarine sweeps in ‘O’ patrol area. Assigned to carry out anti-submarine sweeps while sailing to Tateyama under Sea Surface Defense wireless No. 1318. Arrives at Tateyama later this day.
25 August 1942:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Uraga later that day.
27 August 1942:
Transfers Command Flag to Torigasaki. Departs Uraga escorting westbound auxiliary transport SEIZAN MARU No. 2.
28 August 1942:
Arrives at Uraga. Receives Command Flag back.
E1 ~ 2 September 1942:
Departs Uraga.
2 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Undergoes annual inspection.
4 September 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day.
8 September 1942:
Boarding Yokosuka Defense Squadron HQ.
9 September 1942:
Departs Uraga and returns there later this day.
11 September 1942:
Departs Uraga and returns there later that day.
14 September 1942:
Command Flag is hoisted in Torigasaki. Departs Uraga escorting westbound KYOEI MARU No. 3 and SUZUKAI MARU . Arrives at Uraga later this day.
15 September 1942:
Receives Command Flag back.
16 September 1942:
Departs Uraga. Escorts westbound IJA transports TAICHU and TAIRYU (4,994 GRT) MARUs and auxiliary oiler OGURA MARU No. 1. Their speed is 9 knots. Arrives at Uraga later this day.
17 September 1942:
Departs Uraga and returns there later that day.
24 September 1942:
Assigned to escort a northbound convoy at 1900, under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 0900. Departs Uraga escorting assigned convoy.
25 September 1942:
Assigned to escort tomorrow a northbound convoy until 1900, under Sea Defense Force No. 1715. Escorts a northbound convoy then performs training and arrives at Uraga later this day. Rated as a Tokyo Bay Area Unit Sea Defense Unit under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 126. Assigned to search for and attack an enemy submarine 15 nautical miles east of Miharayama, Oshima under Sea Defense Force wireless No. 2155. Departs Uraga.
26 September 1942:
Escorts northbound WAKATSU (ex-Greek ANDREAS), HEIYO, SEKIHO and TOYU MARUs. Arrives at Uraga. Departs there later that same day.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Uraga. Departs there later this day escorting a northbound convoy.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
E28 ~ 29 September 1942:
Departs Uraga.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
5 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for Uraga.
7 October 1942:
Departs Uraga. At 5 nautical miles S Sunozaki, subchaser CH-34 joins.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Yamada Bay.
10 October 1942:
Executes anti-submarine sweeps in Yamada Bay N Kinkasan and S Hachinohe, thereafter escorts a northbound convoy.
22 October 1942:
Departs Yamada Bay. Executes an anti-submarine patrol between Yamada and Miyako-kan. Arrives at Miyako later this day.
24 October 1942:
Departs Miyako and arrives at Kamaishi later that day.
26 October 1942:
Departs Kamaishi and arrives at Ofunato later this day.
27 October 1942:
Departs Ofunato and arrives at Yamada Bay later that day.
29 October 1942:
Departs Yamada Bay.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Uraga. Departs there and arrives at Yokosuka later that same day for maintenance.
7 November 1942:
Completes cleaning boiler inside. Departs Yokosuka for Uraga.
9 November 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives off Funakata coast later this day. Departs there later that day escorting westbound convoy No. 27. Transfers Command Flag to Torigasaki.
11 November 1942:
Ends escorting convoy No. 27 and arrives at Yura later this day. Departs later.
13 November 1942:
Departs Kobe escorting eastbound convoy No. 8.
15 November 1942:
Ends escort of convoy No. 8 off Futtsu and arrives at Uraga later that day. Receives Command Flag back.
17 November 1942:
Departs off Futtsu escorting eastbound convoy No. 35 consisting of auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 3 and possibly others.
18 November 1942:
Yokkaichi bound auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 3 is detached from convoy No. 35. Arrives off Yura later this day.
21 November 1942:
Departs Kobe escorting eastbound convoy No. 17.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
28 November 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Tateyama later that day.
December 1942:
Rated as a direct escort unit.
1 December 1942:
Departs Uraga.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
4 December 1942:
Departs Toba and calls at Owase. Departs there later that same day.
5 December 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.
9 December 1942:
Departs Uraga. Departs off Futtsu later this day escorting northbound convoy No. 63.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
13 December 1942:
Departs Kobui escorting convoy No. 71.
16 December 1942:
Arrives at Tateyama. Departs there and calls at Uraga. Departs there and arrives at Yokosuka later that same day.
21 December 1942:
Departs off Futtsu escorting westbound convoy No. 79 consisting of civilian cargo ships (C-AK) KONRI GO (ex-Chinese KWEN LEE) and auxiliary transport KIZUGAWA MARU.
22 December 1942:
Arrives at Yura.
23 December 1942:
Departs Yura and arrives at Wakaura later this day.
25 December 1942:
Departs Kobe escorting eastbound convoy No. 55.
27 December 1942:
Arrives off Futtsu.
29 December 1942:
Departs Uraga.
30 December 1942:
At 0030, arrives at Tone River’s mouth and surveys beached TEIFUKU MARU (ex- German R.C. RICKMERS). At 0607, stops surveying TEIFUKU MARU and heads towards Uraga. At 2110, arrives at Uraga.
1 January 1943:
Departs Uraga on an experiment.
4 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
5 January 1943:
Departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 1105A.
8 January 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
10 January 1943:
Departs Off Kobui escorting convoy No. 2110 consisting of IJA transports KIFUNE and HOKUSEI MARUs, auxiliary transport SHINYO MARU No. 8, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) TSUNESHIMA MARU, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) TAIKAI (2,478 GRT) MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
11 January 1943:
Arrives at Ofunato Bay.
12 January 1943:
Departs Ofunato Bay.
13 January 1943:
Receives Sea Defense Force wireless letter No. 104:
1. Mined auxiliary transport KAIKO MARU anchors on Choshi northern coast. Nihon Kyunan Kaisha’s NASU MARU is engaged in rescue work.
2. After arriving at Yokosuka tomorrow morning join rescue team. After loading required rescue equipment, sail at maximum speed to KAIKO MARU’s position and engage in rescue work according to wireless letter No. 12.
3. Patrol boat PB-101 departs Nagaura swiftly and provides anti-submarine protection for rescue vessels and to KAIKO MARU.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka and departs there. At 0600, patrol boat PB-101 arrives at KAIKO MARU’s position. At 0900, NASU MARU tows KAIKO MARU.
15 January 1943:
At 0800, NASU MARU and KAIKO MARU arrive at Tateyama. At 1200, KASAGI MARU departs Tateyama towing KAIKO MARU. They arrive at Yokosuka later this day.
18 January 1943:
Departs Nagaura and arrives at Yokohama later this day. Departs later that day escorting convoy No. 7118.
20 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka. Navy Capt. Ikura Katsumi (36) is appointed CO.
22 January 1943:
Departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 1122.
24 January 1943:
Arrives off Futtsu. Departs there and calls at Uraga. Departs there and arrives at Yokosuka later this same day.
1 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day.
8 February 1943:
Departs Uraga and arrives off Futtsu. Departs there later this same day escorting convoy No. 1208 B consisting of civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KONRI GO (ex-Chinese KWEN LEE), auxiliary transport SHOEI MARU (3,099 GRT), IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SHINTO (KAMISHIMA) MARU and IJA transports SEIRYU and KIFUNE MARUs. 42 miles E-SE Mikura Jima. LtCdr (later Cdr) Thomas L. Wogan's (USNA '30) USS TARPON (SS-175) torpedoes and sinks auxiliary transport TATUTA (ex-TATSUTA MARU). 198 crewmen and 1283 troops are KIA.
9 February 1943:
Assigned to stop escorting convoy No. 1208 B and head to TATUTA MARU distress site at high speed at 112° and 45 nautical miles of Miyakejima, rescue victims of TATUTA MARU and carry out anti-submarine sweeps under wireless No. 132. Later this day wireless No 132 is canceled under wireless No. 133. Arrives at Yokosuka later this same day.
11 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 1211.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
16 February 1943:
Departs off Kobui escorting convoy No. 2216 consisting of IJN requisitioned (B-APK) SHOZAN MARU and IJA transports MIYO, CHIHAYA and FUKUEI MARU. Off Shiogama , auxiliary transport RYUKO MARU joins the convoy. Arrives at Yokosuka Bay later this day.
18 February 1943:
At 1120, avoids being hit by a torpedo at 8° and 1.5 nautical miles of Shioyazaki. Fires 25 shots and drops 6 depth charges. At 1250, ends anti-submarine attack and resumes escort of convoy No. 2216.
19 February 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
22 February 1943:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokohama later this day.
23 February 1943:
Due to stormy weather, departure of convoy No. 7223 is postponed. Later this day departs Tokyo Bay escorting convoy No. 7223 A consisting of auxiliary transport SHOHO MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship KONEI MARU, Government owned MINAMI (ex-Panamanian CAPELLA) MARU and IJA transport KENZUI MARU.
25 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 7225 A.
27 February 1943:
Arrives off Yura.
1 March 1943:
Escorts convoy No. 8301.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
8 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
12 March 1943:
Off Shioya Zaki meets up with minelayer UKISHIMA and is then escorted by her.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Onagawa.
19 March 1943:
Departs Onagawa.
29 March 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
1 April 1943:
Departs Uraga.
2 April 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.
10 April 1943:
Departs Nagoya.
11 April 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
14 April 1943:
Departs Uraga.
25 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
3 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 June 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
21 June 1943:
Departs Uraga.
27 June 1943:
At 1300, departs Matoya escorted by minelayer SARUSHIMA.
28 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
29 June 1943:
LtCdr Miyamoto Haruyoshi is appointed CO.
1 July 1943:
LtCdr Miyamoto Haruyoshi is confirmed as CO.
6 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
19 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day.
24 August 1943:
29 August 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
4 September 1943:
Departs Uraga.
5 September 1943:
Off NAGAURA, minelayers UKISHIMA and SARUSHIMA join and start escorting her.
8 September 1943:
At 0730, arrives at Chichi Jima, Bonins and departs there at 1800, still escorted by minelayers UKISHIMA and SARUSHIMA.
12 September 1943:
At 0000, both SARUSHIMA and UKISHIMA participate in a hunt for an enemy submarine until 0300. At 2000, all arrive at Minami Torishima (Marcus Island).
15 September 1943:
At 0300, departs Minami Torishima escorted by minelayers UKISHIMA and SARUSHIMA.
18 September 1943:
At 1555, minelayers SARUSHIMA and UKISHIMA participate in the hunt for an enemy submarine until 1900.
19 September 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Chichi Jima escorted by minelayers UKISHIMA and SARUSHIMA.
21 September 1943:
At 1430, depart Chichi Jima escorted by minelayers UKISHIMA and SARUSHIMA.
24 September 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
23 October 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorted by minelayer SARUSHIMA. Later that day reaches 34-45N 138-19E.
24 October 1943:
At noon, reaches 31-31N 140-00E.
25 October 1943:
At noon, reaches 28-16N 141-42E. At 2040, arrives at Chichi Jima.
26 October 1943: At 2400, departs Chichi Jima still escorted by minelayer SARUSHIMA.
8 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
26 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Chichi Jima likely with other MARUs in convoy 3125 B escorted by subchasers CH-50 and CH-52. At 1500, minelayer SARUSHIMA departs Uraga and patrols in area ‘LB’ supporting the convoy.
26 January 1944:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Karl G. Hensel's (USNA '23) USS SWORDFISH (SS-193) torpedoes KASAGI MARU. Hit by four torpedoes on port side while transporting 474 troops and ammunition from Yokosuka to Minami Torishima. It is unclear if SARUSHIMA was still escorting the convoy at this time.
28 January 1944:
Sinks at 33-30N, 139-35E, about 23 nautical miles S Mikurajima (Mikyurazaki). Six crewmen and 468 troops are lost.
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s List under instruction No. 427.

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.
[2] Fitted with four single 12cm deck guns, 0-1 Type 93 twin 13mm MGs, one Type 92 single 7.7mm MG, one 75cm searchlight and 120 mines.
[3] BEATRICE was renamed BIWA MARU and sank at Karimata Strait, Java Sea, Netherlands East Indies after colliding with Army transport SATSUMA MARU on 1 Nov ‘42.
[4] MIZUHO was torpedoed 1 May ’42 by LtCdr. (later Rear Admiral) Robert H. “Bob” Rice’s (USNA ’27) USS DRUM (SS-228). She sank the following day with the loss of 7 officers and 94 men.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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

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