Japanese Army Hospital Ships

RIKUGUN BYOINSEN

(KOHOKU MARU, prewar)

IJA Hospital Ship/Transport KOHOKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2013-2016 Bob Hackett

30 March 1915:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki shipyard Ltd. as yard No. 375, a 2,510-ton passenger-cargo ship for the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) Line of Osaka. She is designed to travel up the Hai River to Tainjin (Tientsin), China. Her hull is strengthened to enable her to navigate the frozen river in winter.
26 August 1916:
Launched and named KOHOKU MARU.
15 October 1916:
Completed.
1916:
Departs Kobe.
5 November 1916:
Placed on OSK’s Kirun ~ Fuzhou ~ Shanghai ~ Tsingtao ~ Tianjin (Tientsin) ~ Manchuria (now Dalian, China) route.
8 August 1928.
Departs Osaka ~ Kirun ~ stand south ~ Takao.
20 November 1928:
Departs Kobe on OSK’s Philippines route
21 May 1931:
Departs Kobe on OSK’s Philippines route
6 August 1931:
Departs Osaka on OSK’s Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan) route.
24 June 1935:
Departs Kobe for Okinawa.
18 June 1937:
Departs Kagoshima for Naze and Naha, Ryukyus.
14 January 1938:
Departs Kobe for Okinawa.
September 1941:
Departs Osaka on OSK’s Naha route.
29 September 1941:
Arrives at Tanggu, China. That same day, KOHOKU MARU is requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) as an Army transport.
15 October 1941:
Departs Tanggu.
20 October 1941:
Arrives at Ujina and departs.
21 October 1941:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, China)
21 November 1941: Departs Dairen.
26 November 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
5 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
8 December 1941:
Arrives at Dairen.
10 December 1941:
Departs Dairen.
14 December 1941:
Arrives at Osaka.
21 December 1941:
Arrives at Ujina.
23 December 1941:
Arrives at Pusan, Korea.
24 December 1941:
Departs Pusan.
25 December 1941:
Arrives at Ujina.
29 December 1941:
Departs Ujina.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
1 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
13 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
15 January 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
15 January 1942:
Departs Pusan.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
17 January 1942:
Departs Moji.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
22 January 1942:
Departs Kirun.
25 January 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
27 January 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
29 January 1942:
Arrives at Dairen and departs.
31 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
12 February 1942:
Departs Ujina.
16 February 1942:
Shanghai and departs.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
23 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
27 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
28 February 1942:
Departs Moji.
4 March 1942:
Arrives at Nanjing, China.
6 March 1942:
Departs Nanjing.
10 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
11 March 1942:
Departs Ujina.
12 March 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai
18 March 1942:
Departs Kure transporting military munitions. At 2200, escorted by auxiliary gunboat MASAO MARU.
19 March 1942:
At 0500, MASAO MARU is detached.
21 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
22 March 1942:
Departs Ujina.
25 March 1942:
Arrives at Pusan
26 March 1942:
Departs Pusan.
28 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
29 March 1942:
Departs Ujina.
30 March 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
1 April 1942:
Departs Pusan.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
5 April 1942:
Departs Moji.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
21 April 1942:
Departs Ujina.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai
27 April 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
3 May 1942:
Departs Ujina.
4 May 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
6 May 1942:
Departs Pusan.
7 May 1942:
Departs Ujina.
14 May 1942:
Departs Moji in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of MANILA MARU escorted by minelayer TAKASHIMA.
17 May 1942:
At 1000, arrives at Takao.
19 May 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
23 May 1942:
KOHOKU MARU departs Mutsure in convoy No. 117 also consisting of MANILA, and NISHIYAMA (SEIZAN) MARUs.
24 May 1942:
TAGONOURA MARU joins the convoy from Nagasaki.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
29 May 1942:
Departs Takao.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Guangdong, China and departs.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
9 June 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
15 June 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
26 June 1942:
Arrives at Tanggu, China.
27 June 1942:
Departs Tanggu.
30 June 1942:
Arrives at Kobe.
11 July 1942:
Departs Ujina.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Tanggu.
16 July 1942:
Departs Tanggu.
19 July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1942:
Converted to an Army hospital ship, possibly during July.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
3 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
10 August 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
15 August 1942:
Departs Ujina.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
22 August 1942:
Departs Tsingtao.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
30 August 1942:
Departs Moji.
3 September 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
5 September 1942:
Departs Dairen.
8 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
9 September 1942:
Departs Moji.
11 September 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai
14 September 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
20 September 1942:
Departs Ujina.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
1 October 1942:
Departs Tsingtao.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
6 October 1942:
Departs Ujina.
10 October 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
12 October 1942:
Departs Dairen.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 October 1942:
Departs Ujina.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
23 October 1942:
Embarks patients for transport and departs Tsingtao.
29 October 1942:
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies the warring parties that KOHOKU MARU is a designated hospital ship.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Osaka,
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
2 November 1942:
Departs Ujina.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai,
8 November 1942:
The second hospital group embarks patients for transport and KOHOKU MARU departs Shanghai.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
14 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
18 November 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
19 November 1942:
The second hospital group embarks patients for transport and KOHOKU MARU departs Tsingtao.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
23 November 1942:
Departs Moji.
27 November 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
28 November 1942:
Embarks patients for transport and KOHOKU MARU departs Dairen for Moji.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
4 December 1942:
Departs Ujina.
8 December 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao and departs.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
16 December 1942:
Departs Osaka.
21 December 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
22 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
21 January 1943:
Departs Ujina.
24 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki and departs.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
1 February 1943:
Departs Ujina.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
7 February 1943:
Departs Tsingtao.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
13 February 1943:
Departs Osaka.
18 February 1943:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
20 February 1943:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
3 March 1943:
Arrives at Dairen and departs.
7 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
8 March 1943:
Departs Moji.
12 March 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
15 March 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
18 March 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
20 March 1943:
Departs Ujina.
2 April 1943:
Arrives at Tanggu.
4 April 1943:
Departs Tanggu.
9 April 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
22 April 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
26 April 1943:
Arrives at Tanggu.
29 April 1943:
Departs Tanggu.
3 May 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
7 May 1943:
Departs Ujina.
15 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
17 May 1943:
Departs Manila.
19 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
21 May 1943:
Departs Takao.
24 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila
26 May 1943:
Departs Manila.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
30 May 1943:
Departs Takao.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Manila and departs.
4 June 1943:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan).
11 June 1943:
Departs Kirun.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
28 June 1943:
Arrives at Tanggu.
30 June 1943:
Departs Tanggu.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
12 July 1943:
Departs Osaka.
14 July 1943:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
16 July 1943:
Departs Moji.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
22 July 1943:
Departs Kirun.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
1 August 1943:
Departs Ujina.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
8 August 1943:
Departs Kirun.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
16 August 1943:
Departs Moji.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
19 August 1943:
Departs Moji.
22 August 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
24 August 1943:
Departs Tsingtao.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
31 August 1943:
Departs Ujina.
4 September 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
6 September 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
10 September 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
September 1943:
Reconverted to an Army transport/cargo ship, possibly during September.
17 September 1943:
Departs Osaka.
27 September 1943:
Arrives at Pusan.
29 September 1943:
Departs Pusan.
30 September 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
October 1943:
Departs Ujina.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
18 October 1943:
At 1420, KOHOKU MARU departs Moji for Takao in convoy No. 107 also consisting of JINZAN, KENSEI, MANTAI, MURORAN, NITTATSU, NICHINAN, HOKOKU, and SHOEI MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 3 and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and tanker SAN PEDRO MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
24 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
26 October 1943:
KOHOKU MARU departs Takao convoy No. 774 also consisting of IKOMASAN, JUNYO, NICHINAN, SHIRANESAN, TATSUHA, TEIKAI (ex German FULDA), TOHO, TOYAMA, MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No.1 and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE and torpedo boat TOMOZURU.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
29 October 1943:
Departs Manila.
4 November 1943:
Arrives at Cebu.
20 November 1943:
Departs Cebu.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
25 November 1943:
Departs Manila.
2 December 1943:
Arrives at Cebu.
7 December 1943:
Departs Cebu.
12 December 1943:
Arrives at Cebu.
22 December 1943:
Departs Cebu.
23 December 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
2 January 1944:
At 0600, KOHOKU MARU departs Manila in an ”H” convoy (number unknown) also consisting of ADEN, JINJU, NANKA and NISHI (ex-British KALGAN) MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-105.
4 January 1944:
Arrives at Cebu. NISHI MARU is detached.
10 January 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
20 January 1944:
Departs Davao.
21 January 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
25 January 1944:
Departs Cebu.
27 January 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
1 February 1944:
Departs Manila.
5 February 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
11 February 1944:
Departs Cebu.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
21 February 1944:
Departs Davao.
29 February 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
3 March 1944:
Departs Cebu and arrives at unknown “Bull Vantan” location.
6 March 1944:
Departs “Bull Vantan”.
9 March 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
18 March 1944:
Departs Cebu.
23 March 1944:
Arrives at Halmahera, Moluccas.
28 March 1944:
Departs Halmahera.
30 March 1944:
Arrives at Ambon.
22 April 1944:
Departs Ambon.
28 April 1944:
Arrives at Halmahera.
3 May 1944:
Departs Halmahera.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
28 May 1944:
At 1300, KOHOKU MARU departs Manila in convoy H-27 also consisting of SHINNO, KOSEI, MURORAN, TAIYU, TEIYU, SHIROGANESAN and JUZAN MARUs escorted by destroyer TSUGA, patrol boat PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224), PB-104, subchaser CH-38 and auxiliary netlayer KOREI MARU.
3 June 1944:
At 2044, arrives at Banka anchorage, NE Celebes.
4 June 1944:
At 0555, departs Banka anchorage.
8 June 1944:
At 1617, arrives at Wasile, Halmahera.
15 June 1944:
At 0300, KOHOKU MARU departs Kau, Halmahera for Ambon, Moluccas in a convoy also consisting of BUNZAN and RYOCHI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-4, subchaser CH-26, auxiliary minesweeper Wa-105 and auxiliary NITTO MARU No. 18. That evening, arrives at Teluk Buli.
16 June 1944:
KOHOKU MARU departs Teluk Buli escorted by minesweeper W-4 and auxiliary NITTO MARU No. 18.
19 June 1944:
At 1430, arrives at Ambon.
24 June 1944:
Departs Ambon and arrives at Namurea.
25 June 1944:
Departs Namurea.
26 June 1944:
Arrives at NW Cape Marikasu.
27 June 1944:
Arrives at Purotoa and departs. Arrives at Cape Fresco.
28 June 1944:
Departs Cape Fresco and arrives at Beaton.
7 July 1944:
Departs Beaton.
8 July 1944:
Arrives at Ternate.
14 August 1944:
At 1800, KOHOKU MARU departs Menado escorting a convoy also consisting of BUNZAN, CELEBES, KYOKUZAN, RYOCHI and TAIKAI, MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-26.
16 August 1944:
Arrives at Tolitoli.
14 August 1944:
Arrives at Menado.
16 August 1944:
Arrives at Toritori and departs for Ambon.
3 September 1944:
Departs Ambon.
16 September 1944:
Arrives at Sandakan, Borneo.
26 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
3 October 1944:
At 1830, KOHOKU MARU departs Manila for Takao in convoy MATA-28 also consisting of BUNZAN, HISHIGATA, HOKUREI, SHOEI, HOKUSEN, TACHIBANA, TERUKUNI, MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 and fleet oiler KAMOI escorted by kaibokan CD-8, minesweepers W-20 and W-41 and subchaser CH-41. At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI accompanied by kaibokan CD-8 are detached.
4 October 1944:
At 1908, arrives at Santa Cruz.
5 October 1944:
At 0630, departs Santa Cruz and at 1800, arrives at North San Fernando. W-41 is detached.
6 October 1944:
At 0618, KOHOKU MARU departs North San Fernando as part of combined MATA-28 and MIMA-11 convoys also consisting of BUNZAN, HISHIGATA, HOKUREI, HOKUSEN, OMINE, SHOEI, TACHIBANA and TERUKUNI MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 and oilers KAMOI and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25 and CD-32, minesweeper W-20 and subchasers CH-28, CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41.
At about 0800, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) attacks the convoy. Stevenson fires three torpedoes by periscope at a tanker and claims one hit, but actually achieves no results.
At about 0800, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) attacks the convoy. Stevenson fires three torpedoes by periscope at a tanker and claims one hit, but actually achieves no results.
At 1530, LtCdr Thompson's CABRILLA torpedoes HOKUREI MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2. HOKUREI MARU is badly damaged and beached off Vigan. Five passengers and four crewmen are killed in the torpedo attack. YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 sinks with the loss of 56 crewmen. Only two survivors are rescued. At 1830, the convoy retires to Lapoc Bay, Philippines.
7 October 1944:
At 0030, the rest of convoy departs for Yulin, Hainan Island, except for TERUKUNI and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8. At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI are detached accompanied by kaibokan CD-8.
8 October 1944:
At 1630, the air raid warning for Takao is cancelled. At 1800, the convoy reverses course for Takao. At 2325, LtCdr (later Cdr) Victor B. McCrea's (USNA ’32) USS HOE (SS-258), in a night surface radar attack, torpedoes and sinks KOHOKU MARU at 18-31N, 116-00E. 361 passengers including 20 surviving crewmen of SHIRAHAM MARU, ten guards, five watchmen and 41 crewmen including Captain Deguchi Kenzo are KIA – a total of 417 men killed.
Earlier that night, in a similar attack, McCrae also torpedoes and heavily damages CD-8. CD-25 and CH-41 launch an immediate, but unsuccessful depth charge attack, while CD-32 and W-20 shepherd the convoy away from the area.

Author's Notes:
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

Bob Hackett

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