ZATSUYOSEN!

(KOFUKU MARU prewar)

IJN KOFUKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall


2 November 1933:
Laid down by Mitsui Bussan K.K. Zosembu Tama Kojo shipyard as a 3,209-ton cargo ship for Zentaro Tajima, Tokyo.

3 March 1934:
Launched and named KOFUKU MARU. [1]

4 May 1934:
Completed and registered in Tokyo.

E 1935:
Ownership changes to Yamashina Yoshio.

E 1936:
Ownership restyled to Yamashina Keiko.

E 1937:
Ownership restyled to Yamashina Kisen K.K.

E 1938-1940:
Requisitioned by IJA as an auxiliary transport (Rikugun Yusosen, No. 144). Released by IJA to her owners at an unknown date.

16 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.

5 September 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category under internal order No. 1025 and attached to the Maizuru Naval District. Her homeport is Maizuru Naval Base. [2]

30 September 1941:
Conversion to her military auxiliary transport role completed at Namura Shipbuilding K.K., Osaka shipyard.

5 December 1941:
Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 3 and arrives the same day at Sakaiminato (Sakai), Tottori Prefecture.

6 December 1941:
Unloads 49.7-tons of steel. Departs Sakaiminato for Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

7 December 1941:
Arrives at Hikari. Unloads about 396-tons of scrap.

10 December 1941:
Departs Hikari for Kure.

11 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.

12 December 1941:
Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Tamano, Okayama Prefecture. Unloads about 115-tons of iron and steel products.

14 December 1941:
Departs Tamano and arrives the same day at Osaka.

17 December 1941:
Departs Osaka for Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.

18 December 1941:
Arrives at Yawata.

21 December 1941:
Departs Yawata for Nagasaki.

22 December 1941:
Arrives at Nagasaki. Unloads about 56-tons of condenser pipes.

24 December 1941:
Departs Nagasaki and arrives the same day at Sasebo. Unloads about 6-tons of shoes and other sundries.

25 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Moji.

27 December 1941:
Departs Moji for Maizuru.

29 December 1941:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 3,231-tons of ammunition and other supplies

7 January 1942:
Loads one 27-ton completed shaft destined for destroyer WAKATSUKI under construction. Departs Maizuru for Indoji (port for Ishida-cho), S part of Iki Island, on transport mission No. 4.

10 January 1942:
Arrives at Indoji.

11 January 1942:
Departs Indoji and arrives the same day at Nagasaki. Unloads a 5.6-ton vehicle chassis.

13 January 1942:
Loads one 7.8-ton completed boiler and other boiler parts. Departs Nagasaki and arrives the same day at Sasebo.

14 January 1942:
Unloads six light buoys.

15 January 1942:
Loads 12 AA gun turrets and their munitions and accessories. Departs Sasebo for Moji.

16 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Unloads 67.3-tons of military cargo. Departs later and arrives the same day at Shimonoseki.

19 January 1942:
Departs Shimonoseki for Maizuru.

20 January 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads two AA gun turrets, ammunition, cement and other sundries totaling about 973-tons.

25 January 1942:
Loads Type 93-1 mines and five of other type totaling about 580-tons. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 5 and arrives the same day at Sakaiminato.

26 January 1942:
Unloads about 192-tons of rails and steel. Departs Sakaiminato for Nagasaki.

27 January 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki. Unloads about 143-tons of clothing and other sundries.

29 January 1942:
Loads one 11.7-ton completed propulsion shaft and other sundries. Departs Nagasaki and arrives the same day at Sasebo.

1 February 1942:
Unloads 250 Type 93-1 mines and other sundries totaling 143-tons. Loads one old truck with other sundries totaling about 39-tons. Departs Sasebo for Saeki.

2 February 1942:
Arrives at Saeki. Unloads 222 Type 93-1 mines and other sundries totaling about 151-tons.

3 February 1942:
Departs Saeki for Kure.

5 February 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Loads steel plates and cans totaling 211-tons.

6 February 1942:
Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Yawata.

9 February 1942:
Loads steel and other sundries totaling about 2,211-tons. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji.

10 February 1942:
Loads 450-tons of cement. Departs Moji for Maizuru.

11 February 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 2,883-tons of ammunition, steel, coal, cement and other sundries.

15 February 1942:
Loads 38.5-tons of light ammunition, four steel plates and other sundries. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 6 and arrives the same day at Sasebo.

17 February 1942:
Unloads 2.9-tons of weapons and ammunition.

19 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Ishidacho, Iki Island.

20 February 1942:
Departs Ishidacho and arrives the same day at Kure. Unloads 316-tons of stores.

23 February 1942:
Loads three steam turbine engines and other sundries totaling 71-tons. Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Hezaki, northern tip of Kyushu.

24 February 1942:
Departs Hezaki and arrives the same day at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.

25 February 1942:
Loads 991-tons of steel.

26 February 1942:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Maizuru. Unloads ammunition and four steel plates for about 1,138-tons.

1 March 1942:
Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 7 and arrives the same day at Yuya Wan (Bay), SW coast of Honshu.

2 March 1942:
Departs Yuya Wan for Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.

3 March 1942:
Arrives at Wakamatsu.

4 March 1942:
Loads 32.5-tons of coal. Departs Wakamatsu for Maizuru.

5 March 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads 32.5-tons of coal.

7 March 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Yuya Wan (Bay) on transport mission No. 8.

8 March 1942:
Arrives at Yuya Wan.

9 March 1942:
Departs Yuya Wan and arrives the same day at Yawata.

12 March 1942:
Loads 3,302-tons of steel. Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

13 March 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 3,302-tons of steel.

17 March 1942:
Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 9 and arrives the same day at Moji.

20 March 1942:
Loads 3,395-tons of cement and coal. Departs Moji for Maizuru.

21 March 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

22 March 1942:
Unloads 3,395-tons of cement and coal.

26 March 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 10.

27 March 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

29 March 1942:
Loads about 701-tons of steel and other sundries. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Wakamatsu.

30 March 1942:
Loads 2,588-tons of coal. Departs Wakamatsu for Maizuru.

31 March 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads steel and other sundries totaling about 702-tons and about 2,588-tons of coal.

9 April 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 11.

10 April 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

13 April 1942:
Loads 1,511-tons of steel. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji.

14 April 1942:
Loads 1,800-tons of cement. Departs Moji for Maizuru.

15 April 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 1,511-tons of steel and 1,800-tons of cement.

18 April 1942:
Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 12 and arrives the same day at Yuya Wan.

20 April 1942:
Departs Yuya Wan for Yawata.

21 April 1942:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads 645.58-tons of steel and other sundries.

22 April 1942:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji.

23 April 1942:
Loads 2,200-tons of cement. Departs Moji for Maizuru.

24 April 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

25 April 1942:
Unloads cement, steel and other supplies totaling about 2,846-tons.

27 April 1942:
Loads about 160-tons of ammunition. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 13 and arrives the same day at Nagasaki.

29 April 1942:
Unloads 30-tons of ammunition. Loads 40-tons of ammunition.

30 April 1942:
Departs Nagasaki for Kobe.

1 May 1942:
Arrives at Kobe.

2 May 1942:
Loads 450-tons of ship chandlery. Departs Kobe and arrives the same day at Osaka.

4 May 1942:
Departs Osaka for Kure.

5 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Loads about 106-tons of ammunition.

6 May 1942:
Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Sasebo. Unloads 200-tons of ship chandlery.

8 May 1942:
Loads about 56-tons of ammunition. Departs Sasebo for Yawata.

9 May 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

11 May 1942:
Loads 1,548-tons of steel. Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

12 May 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 1,961-tons of steel, ammunition and ship chandlery.

17 May 1942:
Loads about 56-tons of ammunition. Departs Maizuru for Kure on transport mission No. 14.

18 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

19 May 1942:
Unloads about 56-tons of ammunition. Departs Kure for Yawata.

20 May 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

21 May 1942:
Loads about 1,039-tons of steel. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji.

23 May 1942:
Loads 2,000-tons of cement. Departs Moji for Maizuru.

24 May 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads steel and cement totaling about 3,039-tons.

29 May 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 15.

30 May 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

1 June 1942:
Loads about 810-tons of steel. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Saitozaki.

4 June 1942:
Loads about 3,433-tons of ammunition. Departs Saitozaki for Maizuru.

5 June 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads steel and ammunition totaling about 4,243-tons.

10 June 1942:
Loads 50-tons of machinery parts. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 16 and arrives the same day at Hajiki-Saki, northern tip of Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture.

11 June 1942:
Unloads 50-tons of machinery parts. Departs Hajiki-Saki for Muroran, Hokkaido.

12 June 1942:
Arrives at Muroran. KOFUKU MARU remains registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category under internal order No. 7246 and is scheduled to be fitted with some weapons. [2]

13 June 1942:
Loads 800-tons of pig iron. Departs Muroran and arrives the same day at Kushiro, Hokkaido. Loads some timber and 1,100 cedar logs.

16 June 1942:
Departs Kushiro for Rumoi, Hokkaido.

17 June 1942:
Arrives at Rumoi.

20 June 1942:
Loads 800 oak logs and some other timber. Departs Rumoi and arrives the same day at Otaru, Hokkaido.

22 June 1942:
Loads 800 oak logs and some other timber. KOFUKU MARU auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category, under internal order is scheduled to start her armament outfitting. Departs Otaru for Maizuru.

25 June 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads 2,757 logs and other timber.

28 June 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Nagasaki on transport mission No. 17.

30 June 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.

1 July 1942:
Departs Nagasaki for Yawata.

2 July 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

3 July 1942:
Loads about 1,537-tons of steel.

4 July 1942:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji. Loads 1,400-tons of cement.

5 July 1942:
Departs Moji for Maizuru.

6 July 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 3,035-tons of steel, cement and other sundries

13 July 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 18.

14 July 1942:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads 280-tons of steel.

16 July 1942:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji.

17 July 1942:
Loads 2,599-tons of cement.

18 July 1942:
Departs Moji and arrives the same day at Azuchi-Oshima, Nagasaki Prefecture.

19 July 1942:
Departs Azuchi-Oshima for Sasebo.

20 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Loads six barges and 32-tons of sundries.

21 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Maizuru.

22 July 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

24 July 1942:
Unloads six barges and steel, cement and sundries totaling about 2,941-tons.

E July 1942:
Goes to Maizuru Naval Arsenal to be fitted with weapons.

4 August 1942:
Outfitting is completed. She is probably fitted with one Armstrong type 8cm/40cal. gun.

6 August 1942:
Loads machinery parts and other sundries totaling about 39-tons. Departs Maizuru for Kure on transport mission No. 19.

7 August 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

8 August 1942:
Unloads machinery parts and other sundries totaling about 39-tons. Departs Kure for Yawata.

9 August 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

12 August 1942:
Loads about 2,039-tons of steel. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji.

13 August 1942:
Loads 830-tons of cement. Departs Moji for Maizuru.

14 August 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads steel, cement and other sundries totaling about 2,929-tons.

19 August 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Wakamatsu on transport mission No. 20.

20 August 1942:
Arrives at Wakamatsu.

22 August 1942:
Loads 1,087-tons of coal.

23 August 1942:
Departs Wakamatsu for Maizuru.

24 August 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads 1,087-tons of coal.

29 August 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 21.

30 August 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

1 September 1942:
Loads about 224-tons of steel. Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Saitozaki.

4 September 1942:
Loads 2,000-tons of coal.

5 September 1942:
Departs Saitozaki and arrives the same day at Yawata.

7 September 1942:
Loads about 1,058-tons of steel. Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

8 September 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

11 September 1942:
Unloads 2,000-tons of coal and about 1,281-tons of steel.

12 September 1942:
Loads about 16-tons of machinery parts. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 22 and arrives the same day at Yuya Wan (Bay).

13 September 1942:
Departs Yuya Wan for Nagasaki.

14 September 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.

15 September 1942:
Unloads about 16-tons of machinery parts. Loads 63-tons of machinery parts and other sundries.

16 September 1942:
Under internal order No. 11672, KOFUKU MARU is scheduled to be fitted with DC (depth-charge) equipment. Departs Nagasaki and arrives the same day at Sasebo. [3]

17 September 1942:
Unloads 63-tons of machinery parts and other sundries. Loads two gun turrets and other sundries totaling about 109-tons. Departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Yawata.

19 September 1942:
Loads about 951-tons of steel.

20 September 1942:
Departs Yawata for Urago Wan (Bay), Nishinoshima Island, Shimane Prefecture.

21 September 1942:
Arrives at Urago Wan.

22 September 1942:
Departs Urago Wan for Maizuru.

23 September 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads two gun turrets, steel and sundries totaling about 1,060-tons.

25 September 1942:
Transport mission No. 23: departs Maizuru for Hikari.

26 September 1942:
Arrives at Hikari.

27 September 1942:
Departs Hikari and arrives the same day at Hiroshima.

28 September 1942:
Departs Hiroshima for Sasebo.

30 September 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.

1 October 1942:
Loads gun turrets, accessories, clothing and sundries totaling about 92-tons. Departs Sasebo for Yawata.

2 October 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

3 October 1942:
Loads about 227-tons of steel. Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

4 October 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

5 October 1942:
Unloads steel, gun turrets and accessories, clothing and other sundries totaling about 474-tons.

6 October 1942:
Loads about 98-tons of machinery parts. Departs Maizuru for Nagasaki on transport mission No. 24.

8 October 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki. Unloads 98-tons of machinery parts.

9 October 1942:
Departs Nagasaki and arrives the same day at Sasebo.

10 October 1942:
Unloads one propeller. Loads water heating equipment and other features totaling about 0.6-tons. Departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Azuchi-Oshima.

11 October 1942:
Departs Azuchi-Oshima and arrives the same day at Moji. Transfers supplies to TOKAI and SHOHEI MARUs. Departs Moji and arrives later in the day at Yawata.

12 October 1942:
Loads about 1,037-tons of steel.

13 October 1942:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Wakamatsu.

14 October 1942:
Loads 1,502-tons of coal. Departs Wakamatsu for Maizuru.

15 October 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

19 October 1942:
Unloads steel, coal and other sundries totaling about 3,455-tons. Departs Maizuru for Otaru on transport mission No. 25.

21 October 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.

22 October 1942:
Loads 2,000-tons of coal. Departs Otaru for Muroran.

24 October 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.

26 October 1942:
Loads 500-tons of firewood and pumpkins.

27 October 1942:
Departs Muroran for Maizuru.

29 October 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

30 October 1942:
Unloads 823-tons of firewood.

31 October 1942:
Unloads 1,160-tons of coal.

2 November 1942:
Unloads 270-tons of coal. Departs Maizuru for Nampo, Korea (Chosen) on transport mission No. 26.

5 November 1942:
Arrives at Nampo.

8 November 1942:
Loads 3,250-tons of coal briquettes. Departs Nampo for Maizuru.

11 November 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

14 November 1942:
Unloads 3,250-tons of coal briquettes.

17 November 1942:
Loads steel, timber and other sundries totaling about 1,641-tons.

18 November 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission 27.

20 November 1942:
Arrives at Sakaiminato. Unloads steel, timber and other sundries totaling about 1,641-tons.

21 November 1942:
Departs Sakaiminato for Yawata.

22 November 1942:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads about 2,977-tons of steel.

24 November 1942:
Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

25 November 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

27 November 1942:
Unloads 2,977-tons of steel.

28 November 1942:
Loads one barge and about 41-tons of steel.

29 November 1942:
Transport mission No. 28: departs Maizuru for Sasebo.

1 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Unloads one barge and about 26-tons of steel. Loads one landing craft and one barge, and about 22-tons of military and machinery parts.

2 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Sakito. Loads 2,500-tons of coal. Departs later in the day for Yawata.

4 December 1942:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads 725-tons of steel and departs for Maizuru.

7 December 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

9 December 1942:
Unloads coal, steel, military and machinery equipment totaling about 2,547-tons, one landing craft and one barge.

10 December 1942:
Loads about 1,728-tons of steel and wood.

11 December 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission 29.

12 December 1942:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

13 December 1942:
Unloads about 1,728-tons of steel and wood.

14 December 1942:
Departs Sakaiminato and arrives the same day at Yuya Wan.

15 December 1942:
Departs Yuya Wan and arrives the same day at Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu.

18 December 1942:
Loads 3,300-tons of cement. Departs Tsukumi for Maizuru.

21 December 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

23 December 1942:
Unloads 3,300-tons of cement.

24 December 1942:
Loads about 80-tons of machinery parts. Departs Maizuru for Nagasaki on transport mission No. 30.

26 December 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.

27 December 1942:
Unloads about 80-tons of machinery parts. Departs Nagasaki for Yawata.

28 December 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.

29 December 1942:
Loads 2,717-tons of steel.

30 December 1942:
Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

31 December 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru.

3 January 1943:
Unloads 2,717-tons of steel.

E 1943:
KOFUKU MARU’s owners change to Nakamura Kisen K.K. and her registry port to Kobe.

4 January 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Sakito on transport mission No. 31.

7 January 1943:
Arrives at Sakito.

9 January 1943:
Loads 3,054-tons of coal. Departs Sakito for Maizuru

11 January 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru

13 January 1943:
Unloads 3,054-tons of coal.

14 January 1943:
Loads about 1,203-tons of building materials.

15 January 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission No. 32.

16 January 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

18 January 1943:
Unloads about 1,203-tons of building materials.

19 January 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato for Osaka.

21 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.

22 January 1943:
Unloads 23-tons of tanks and other sundries. Loads one funnel and other sundries totaling about 24-tons. Departs Osaka for Kure.

23 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Loads one gun turret and machinery parts totaling about 39-tons. Departs Kure for Wakamatsu.

24 January 1943:
Arrives at Wakamatsu. Loads 560-tons of coal.

25 January 1943:
Departs Wakamatsu for Maizuru.

26 January 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

27 January 1943:
Unloads coal, machinery equipment, one funnel, one gun turret and other sundries totaling 683-tons.

28 January 1943:
Loads 937-tons of building materials.

29 January 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission No. 33.

30 January 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

31 January 1943:
Unloads 937-tons of building materials.

1 February 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato for Moji.

2 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.

4 February 1943:
Loads 3,000-tons of cement.

5 February 1943:
Departs Moji for Maizuru.

6 February 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

8 February 1943:
Unloads 3,000-tons of cement.

9 February 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission No. 34:

10 February 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

14 February 1943:
Unloads 1,652-tons of cement. Departs Sakaiminato for Yawata.

15 February 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.

17 February 1943:
Loads 3,275-tons of steel. Departs Yawata for Maizuru

18 February 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

21 February 1943:
Unloads 3,275-tons of steel.

22 February 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Moji on transport mission No. 35.

24 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.

26 February 1943:
Loads 2,550-tons of cement and 76-tons of diluted nitric acid.

27 February 1943:
Departs Moji for Maizuru.

28 February 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

3 March 1943:
Unloads about 2,550-tons of cement and 76-tons of diluted nitric acid. Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission No. 36.

4 March 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

5 March 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato for Yawata.

6 March 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.

8 March 1943:
Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

10 March 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

18 March 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Kure on transport mission No. 37.

19 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Unloads one 8-ton propeller. Loads 76-tons of torpedoes and other sundries.

20 March 1943:
Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Kobe.

21 March 1943:
Unloads 2,206-tons of coal and one sundry item.

22 March 1943:
Departs Kobe and arrives the same day at Osaka.

25 March 1943:
Loads 2,432-tons of wood and other sundries.

26 March 1943:
Departs Osaka for Sakaiminato.

28 March 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

30 March 1943:
Unloads 2,384-tons of wood.

31 March 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato for Maizuru.

1 April 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

2 April 1943:
Unloads 227-tons of torpedoes and other sundries.

3 April 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 38.

4 April 1943:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads 3,200-tons of steel.

6 April 1943:
Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

8 April 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads 3,200-tons of steel.

11 April 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Ichinose, Higashiwase, Toyama Prefecture, Honshu.

12 April 1943:
Arrives at Ichinose, Higashiwase. Enters shipyard dock for repairs.

23 April 1943:
Repairs are completed. Undocked. Departs Ichinose, Higashiwaze and arrives the same day at Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu. Loads timber.

26 April 1943:
Transport mission No. 39: departs Nanao for Maizuru.

27 April 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads timber.

1 May 1943:
Loads 300 empty drums. Departs Maizuru for Yawata on transport mission No. 40.

2 May 1943:
Arrives at Yawata. Unloads 300 empty drums. Loads about 2,800-tons of steel.

4 May 1943:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji. Loads about 1,000-tons of cement.

6 May 1943:
Departs Moji for Maizuru.

7 May 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 2,800-tons of steel and about 1,000-tons of cement.

12 May 1943:
Loads two boilers and accessories, and machinery parts. Departs Maizuru for Kure on transport mission No. 41.

13 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.

14 May 1943:
Loads six turbines and three gun turrets. Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Osaka.

15 May 1943:
Loads one complete smokestack.

E 16 May 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives the same day at Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture. Loads about 1,000-tons of timber.

18 May 1943:
Departs Wakayama for Maizuru.

20 May 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads six turbines, three gun turrets, a complete smokestack and about 1,000-tons of timber.

24 May 1943:
Loads 723-tons of water drums and other sundries. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 42 and arrives the same day at Sakaiminato.

25 May 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato for Nagasaki.

27 May 1943:
Arrives at Nagasaki.

28 May 1943:
Departs Nagasaki and arrives the same day at Sakito.

29 May 1943:
Departs Sakito for Yawata.

30 May 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.

1 June 1943:
Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

2 June 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads cement, steel and coal totaling about 150-tons.

6 June 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Otaru on transport mission No. 43.

8 June 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.

12 June 1943:
Loads lumber. Departs Otaru for Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture.

13 June 1943:
Arrives at Fushiki.

14 June 1943:
Unloads lumber.

16 June 1943:
Departs Fushiki for Yawata.

18 June 1943:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads about 1,620-tons of steel.

20 June 1943:
Departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Moji. Loads about 1,000-tons of cement.

22 June 1943:
Departs Moji for Nagasaki.

23 June 1943:
Arrives at Nagasaki and departs the same day for Sasebo.

24 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Loads turbine machinery parts for about 70-tons.

25 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Maizuru.

26 June 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 1,620-tons of steel, 1,000-tons of cement and 70-tons of turbine machinery parts.

29 June 1943:
Loads three steel plates and steel totaling 250-tons. Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 44 and arrives the same day at Ichinose, Higash Iwase.

1 July 1943:
Unloads anchor lifting equipment and other sundries totaling 118-tons. Departs Ichinose, Higash Iwase for Sakaiminato.

2 July 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato.

3 July 1943:
Unloads cement and other sundries totaling about 593-tons.

4 July 1943:
Unloads steel and other sundries totaling about 468-tons.

5 July 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato and arrives the same day at Yawata.

6 July 1943:
Unloads 18-tons of steel plates. Loads steel and other sundries totaling about 3,720-tons until 8 July.

8 July 1943:
Departs Yawata for Maizuru.

10 July 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads steel and other sundries totaling 3,831-tons until 13 July.

14 July 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Kureon transport mission No. 45.

16 July 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Loads a propeller and other sundries totaling about 136-tons. Departs Kure for Wakayama.

17 July 1943:
Arrives at Wakayama. Loads timber until 18 July.

19 July 1943:
Departs Wakayama and arrives the same day at Osaka. Loads timber until 20 July.

21 July 1943:
Departs Osaka for Sakaiminato.

22 July 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato and departs the same day for Maizuru.

24 July 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads timber, a propeller and other sundries totaling about 135-tons until 27 July.

27 July 1943:
Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 46 and arrives the same day at Samcheok, Korea E coast. Loads about 3,900-tons of cement.

2 August 1943:
Departs Samcheok for Maizuru.

4 August 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

7 August 1943:
Unloads 2,493-tons of cement. Departs Maizuru for Sakaiminato on transport mission No. 47.

8 August 1943:
Arrives at Sakaiminato. Unloads about 1,500-tons of cement.

10 August 1943:
Departs Sakaiminato for Kure.

11 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure.

12 August 1943:
Departs Kure for Yawata.

13 August 1943:
Arrives at Yawata. Loads about 2,500-tons of steel.

15 August 1943:
Loads 700-tons of cement. Departs Yawata, makes a call at Moji and departs for Sasebo.

16 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Loads about 3,000 empty drums.

17 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Maizuru.

20 August 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

23 August 1943:
Unloads 150-tons of empty drums.

24 August 1943:
Unloads 5,150-tons of steel.

25 August 1943:
Departs Maizuru on transport mission No. 48. Calls at Nanao, Niigata and Hakodate.

27 August 1943:
Arrives at Muroran. Loads about 700-tons of pig iron.

28 August 1943:
Departs Muroran for Otaru.

29 August 1943:
Arrives at Otaru. Loads timber.

E September 1943:
Departs Otaru.

6 September 1943:
About 20 nms S of Sado Island. At 0252, KOFUKU MARU collides with Kita Nihon Kisen K.K.’s cargo ship MAOKA MARU. At 0330, she sinks at 37-42N, 138-17E. All her crew is rescued by MAOKA MARU.

1 November 1943:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 2288.


Authors Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with other ships bearing the same name such as: Kokusai Kisen K.K., (1918 - 5822 GRT), Daiko Shosen K.K., (1940 - 1920 GRT), Kawaguchi Kisen K.K. (1919-753 GRT) or Teikoku Sempaku (1923-881 GRT, captured ex-British KWONG FOOK CHEUNG .

[2] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

[3] It is unclear if KOFUKU MARU was fitted with some if any DC equipment before her sinking.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall


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