Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

(KATSURA MARU, sistership of KASHI MARU, in wartime)

IJN KASHI MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2018 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

26 January 1940:
Osaka. Laid down by Sanoyasu Dock K.K. for Sanyo Shosen K.K. as a 544 GRT cargo ship.
7 April 1941:
Launched and named KASHI MARU. [1]
9 August 1941:
Completed and registered at Osaka.
23 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
1 December 1941:
Tokyo. Begins conversion to an auxiliary netlayer at the Ishikawajima shipyard.
10 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to Yokosuka Naval District under internal order No. 1625.
31 December 1941:
Conversion is completed. Attached that same day to Yokosuka Guard Force, in Rear Admiral Yamataka Matsujiro’s (44) Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 31, Yokosuka Base Defense Unit under Order No. 1780.
28 January 1942:
Attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 45.
20 February 1942:
Leads German passenger/cargo ship PORTLAND during the night.
15 March 1942:
Leads French cargo ship PERSEE (later requisitioned by the IJA and renamed TEIHOKU MARU).
27 March 1942:
Engages in first gunnery surface exercise.
1 April 1942:
Attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 72.
10 April 1942:
Attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 74.
11 April 1942:
On guard duty at area No. 6.
1 May 1942:
Attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 78.
4 May 1942:
Ownership is changed to Kansai Kisen K.K.
6 May 1942:
At 1935, was escorting TETSUYO MARU when latter is missed by torpedoes launched by an unidentified submarine at 34-13N, 136-55E. [2]
8 May 1942:
Anti-submarine alarm after sunset at point C.
9 May 1942:
Sights a periscope at position bearing 10 degrees, 600m from Sanyo Saito lighthouse.
15 May 1942:
Attached to Tokyo Bay Local Defense Squadron, Netlaying Unit under Tokyo local instruction No. 39.
21 May 1942:
Departs Uraga on training duties.
24 May 1942:
Departs Sagaminada on patrol and sweeping duties.
26 May 1942:
Together with the first platoon, sweeps off Nojima.
27 May 1942:
On escort guard duty between Inubo Saitama and Inubo Saki offshore. Together with auxiliary netlayer TATSU MARU escorts a convoy consisting of TENSHO, RYUTO, MAYACHI and SHOHO (1,327 GRT) MARUs headed north. Arrives at Uraga later this day.
28 May 1942:
Replenished.
29 May 1942:
At 0530, departs Yokosuka with auxiliary KOKAI MARU escorting aircraft transport KATSURAGI MARU bound for Sasebo. Then on patrol between Chichi-Jima and Nojima. At position bearing 160°, five nautical miles off Inatori, carries out an anti-submarine sweep.
30 May 1943:
Anti-submarine sweep along the Mikomoto-Jima Toshima line. Drops two depth charges 8 km from Mikomoto-Jima. Later joins auxiliary netlayers KOKAI and MATSU MARUs and continues sweeping. Later that day, ordered to abort current mission under Sea Surface Guard Force secret order No. 320.
31 May 1942:
Anti-submarine sweep between Mikomoto-Jima and Shimama. Drops six depth charges.
31 May ~ 1 June 1942:
During the night operates between Ni-Jima and Mikomoto-Jima as per Sea Surface Guard Force secret order No. 320.
2 June 1942:
On patrol off Nojima, Oshima Prefecture.
5 June 1942:
Departs Tateyama.
7 June 1942:
Departs the area for Nagaura.
15 June 1942:
Undocked and thereafter departs Yokosuka on patrol between Oshima and Nojima. Attached that same day to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 99 and to Tokyo Bay Local Defense Squadron, Netlaying Unit under Tokyo local instruction No. 42.
16 June 1942:
On patrol between Oshima and Nojima. Arrives at Nagaura later this day.
17 June 1942:
Departs Nagaura on patrol between Oshima and Nojima.
18 June 1942:
Patrols between Oshima and Nojima. Escorts auxiliary cruiser ASAKA MARU from the N zone patrol line.
19 June 1942:
Patrols between Oshima and Nojima. Guards light cruisers YUBARI and NAKA at the N line.
20 June 1942:
Patrols between Oshima and Nojima.
21 June 1942:
Patrols between Oshima and Nojima. Escorts auxiliary transport ARGENTINA MARU.
22 June 1942:
Patrols between Oshima and Nojima.
25 June 1942:
Patrols between Nojima and Oki. Arrives at Uraga later that day.
26 June 1942:
Departs Uraga.
27 June 1942:
Patrols the N line.
28 June 1942:
During the patrol, surveys the lighting from the sea near the coast.
29 June 1942:
Anti-submarine sweep at the O line.
30 June 1942:
Patrols the O line.
1 July 1942:
Patrols the O line. Arrives at Nagaura later that same day.
4 July 1942:
Departs Nagaura.
5 July 1942:
Arrives at Toba. Attached to Yokosuka Coastal Guard Squadron under Yokosuka local instruction No. 105 and to Ise Bay Coastal Guard Squadron, Patrol Unit as patrol boat No. 3 under Navy instruction No. 567. Attached subsequently to First Patrol Unit.
20 July 1942:
Attached to Yokosuka Coastal Guard Squadron, Ise Bay Coastal Guard Squadron under internal order No. 1337 and Ise Bay Patrol Unit under local instruction No. 111. Departs that same day Toba for Matoya.
22 July 1942:
Navy Reserve Lt Watanabe Shigetaka is appointed CO.
25 July 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
28 July 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
3 August 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
6 August 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
8 August 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
12 August 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
14 August 1942:
Departs Toba.
15 August 1942:
Assists auxiliary patrol boat HEIWA MARU which scratched a reef. Later this day relieved by auxiliary minesweeper BANSHU MARU No. 18.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
21 August 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol and thereafter escorts a convoy.
25 August 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
27 August 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
3 September 1942:
At Ise Wan (Bay), joins a six ship westbound convoy - details of which are unknown.
4 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
7 September 1942:
Departs Toba on her first gunnery exercise.
9 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
10 September 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
13 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
15 September 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
19 September 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
21 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
23 September 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
25 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba. Attached that same day to Yokosuka Coastal Guard Squadron, Ise Bay Coastal Guard Squadron under order No. 126.
27 September 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
1 October 1942:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
5 October 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
8 October 1942:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
12 October 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
13 October 1942:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
17 October 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
19 October 1942:
Departs Toba.
21 October 1942:
During anti-submarine sweeping, drops depth charges. Arrives at Toba later that day.
23 October 1942:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
28 October 1942:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba. Attached that same day to Ise Bay Coastal Guard Squadron, First Patrol Unit.
3 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
7 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
9 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
11 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
14 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
15 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
17 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
19 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
21 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
23 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
25 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
27 November 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
29 November 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
1 December 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol. Rated that same day as Ise Bay Patrol Naval Unit patrol boat.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
5 December 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
7 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
9 December 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
11 December 1942:
Arrives at Matoya.
12 December 1942:
Departs Matoya on patrol.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
17 December 1942:
Departs Toba and searches for a missing Suzuka aircraft crew off Hamana Lake coast.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
21 December 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
23 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
25 December 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
27 December 1942:
Arrives at Toba.
29 December 1942:
Departs Toba on patrol.
1 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
2 January 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
4 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
6 January 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
8 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
10 January 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
14 January 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
16 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
17 January 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
22 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
24 January 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
1 February 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
7 February 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
11 February 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
17 February 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
19 February 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
20 February 1943:
Departs Toba. Auxiliary transport YOSHIDA MARU suffers from an engine failure 20 nautical miles SE of Oyama Atsumi Peninsula and goes dead in the water. At 1500, she reports having being hit by a torpedo (not in US records – likely hit by a drifting mine) at 34-30N, 137-20E. KASHI MARU and auxiliary minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU take YOSHIDA MARU under tow later this day.
21 February 1943:
At 0645, destroyer YAMAGUMO arrives to tow YOSHIDA MARU. Later KASHI MARU arrives at Nagoya and departs later this day.
26 February 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
28 February 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
1 March 1943:
With subchaser CH-14 sent to assist auxiliary transport KENSHO MARU which stranded off Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture.
2 March 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
4 March 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
8 March 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
10 March 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
12 March 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Toba. Undergoes engine maintenance. Departs later.
21 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas from Truk in a convoy with auxiliary transports SEIKAI and KENYO MARUs.
24 March 1943:
Departs Saipan in a convoy with SEIKAI MARU with unknown escort.
30 March 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
E 31 March 1943:
Instructed to remove temporarily catch net equipment.
1 April 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
2 April 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
7 April 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
9 April 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
11 April 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
14 April 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
19 April 1943:
Departs Toba and arrives at Nagoya later that day. Docks at the Nagoya Zosen Shipyard.
27 April 1943:
Undocked. Departs Nagoya and arrives at Toba later that day.
28 April 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
30 April 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
2 May 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
4 May 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
6 May 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
10 May 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
12 May 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
14 May 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
16 May 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
18 May 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
21 May 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
3 June 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
5 June 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
9 June 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
11 June 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
16 June 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
21 June 1943:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
25 June 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
29 June 1943:
Navy Reserve Lt Watanabe Shigetaka is confirmed as CO.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
3 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
7 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
11 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
13 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
15 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
17 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
19 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
23 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
27 July 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol.
29 July 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
30 July 1943:
Meets up with convoy No. 8730 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships escorted by subchaser CH-42.
31 July 1943:
Departs Toba.
1 August 1943:
While carrying out anti-submarine sweep, drops depth charges. Arrives at Toba later that day. Resupplied with depth charges and departs on anti-submarine sweep later that same day.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
4 August 1943:
Departs Toba and arrives at Matoya later in the day.
6 August 1943:
Departs Matoya on anti-submarine sweep and thereafter escorts a convoy. Arrives at Toba later this day.
10 August 1943:
Departs Matoya on anti-submarine sweep and thereafter escorts a convoy.
12 August 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
16 August 1943:
Departs with auxiliary minesweeper SHINTOHOKU MARU and joins escort (part way) of convoy No. 8816 consisting of cargo ships SEISHO and YAMAFUKU MARUs and tanker MITSU MARU escorted by minesweeper W-27.
17 August 1943:
YAMAFUKU MARU breaks down and at 1755, at position bearing 195 degrees 1,000 meter off Omaezaki forwards a cargo tow line. At 1908, searches for cargo barrels.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
21 August 1943:
Departs Toba.
22 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 7822 consisting of ATAKA (ex-Italian ADA), MITSU, MOMOKAWA and SAWA MARUs.
23 August 1943:
Off Hamamatsu, at about 1212, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Robert H. Rice’s (USNA '27) USS PADDLE (SS-263) fires four torpedoes and gets two hits on ATAKA MARU that begins to flood. Her lookouts spot a periscope about 1,600 meters to port and her gunners take it under fire. At 1242, ‘Abandon Ship’ is ordered. At 1255, ATAKA MARU sinks at 34-36N, 138-50E. One crewman is KIA and another WIA. The 30 survivors are rescued by KASHI MARU and Japanese fishing boats and taken to Toba.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
25 August 1943:
Departs Toba escorting convoy No. 8824 to Daio-Zaki, Honshu and thereafter departs on patrol.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
1 September 1943:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep and thereafter escorts a convoy.
3 September 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
6 September 1943:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep and thereafter escorts a convoy.
9 September 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
12 September 1943:
Navy Reserve Lt Watanabe Shigetaka disembarks.
13 September 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol and thereafter escorts a convoy.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
18 September 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol and thereafter escorts a convoy.
22 September 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
23 September 1943:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep and thereafter escorts a convoy.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
28 September 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol and thereafter escorts a convoy.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
6 October 1943:
Departs Toba to escort a convoy.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
12 October 1943:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
14 October 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
18 October 1943:
Departs Toba on anti-submarine sweep.
19 October 1943: At 1200, departs Cape Wada, Kobe with patrol boat PB-101 and auxiliary patrol boat KAZUMI MARU escorting convoy No. 8019 consisting of KOSEI MARU and possibly others.
20 October 1943:
Auxiliary subchaser NUZAN MARU joins the convoy escort.
21 October 1944:
Arrives at Toba.
23 October 1943:
Departs Toba. At 1735, carries out anti-submarine sweep at position bearing 163 degrees 3 nautical miles off Kaketsuka lighthouse. Drops six depth charges.
24 October 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
28 October 1943:
Departs Toba on patrol and thereafter escorts a convoy.
30 October 1943:
Arrives at Toba.
1 November 1943:
Departs Toba.
2 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
5 November 1943:
Scheduled to remove netlaying and minesweeping equipment and subsequently to be converted to an auxiliary transport. One Type 96 25mm gun will be fitted under instruction No. 051742.
9 November 1943:
Enters drydock.
10 November 1943:
Undocked. Attached that same day to Vice Admiral Kusaka Jinichi’s (37) Southeastern Area Fleet under instruction No. 2381.
10 December 1943:
Departs Toba.
13 December 1943:
Arrives at Saipan in convoy with auxiliary netlayers TATSU and MATSU MARUs.
16 December 1943:
Departs Saipan for Truk and then Rabaul.
19 December 1943:
For reasons unknown KASHI, TATSU and MATSU MARUs return to Saipan.
17 February 1944:
Sinks at Kavieng, New Ireland near Three Island after an air attack by USAAF B-25’s. One crewman is KIA.
30 April 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 606.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA shared survey ship (654 GRT, ’40) or civilian Std. 2E Type (884 GRT, ’44).
[2] No report of such attack listed in Alden’s 4th Edition.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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

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