Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN KORYU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010-2020 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 3

4 October 1939:
Osaka. Laid down at Naniwa Dock Co. as an 974-ton type peacetime 1 TS coastal motor tanker for Koa Kaiun K.K. .
24 June 1940:
Launched and named KORYU MARU.
17 February 1941:
Completed and registered in Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 974-tons and 486-tons. Her call sign is JQGO. [1]
19 February 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
26 February 1941:
Arrives at Central Chinese waters.
30 April 1941:
Travels in Central Chinese waters.
1 May 1941:
Departs Central Chinese waters.
30 June 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 July 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
23 July 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
26 July 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
8 September 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
12 September 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
23 September 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
27 September 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
7 October 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
10 October 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
15 October 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary transport ship (oil supply) in the Sasebo Naval District. Tactically assigned to the Chinese area fleet as an auxiliary transport, Otsu category. [2]
23 October 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
25 October 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
9 November 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
12 November 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
26 November 1941:
Returns to Sasebo.
28 November 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the central China coast area.
December 1941:
IJN Captain Mizuno Kokichi (37) is appointed Commanding Officer.
6 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes periodic maintenance.
8 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the Taichow Islands.
11 December 1941:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh water. Departs Taichow Islands for Tinghai (later Dinghai, now Zhoushan).
13 December 1941:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water.
December 1941:
Departs Tinghai and arrives at Sasebo.
21 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Tinghai.
23 December 1941:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
December 1941:
Departs Tinghai and arrives at Lu Hu Shan.
28 December 1941:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat HYAKUFUKU MARU. with fresh water. Departs Lu Hu Shan and arrives at the Taichow Islands.
28 ~ 31 December 1941:
Departs Lu Hu Shan for the Taichow Islands.
7 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh water. Departs the Taichow Islands and arrives at Shihpu. Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
7-22 January 1942:
Departs Shihpu and arrives at Sasebo.
22 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Taichow Islands.
25 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh water.
26 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water.
26-31 January 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands for Heiniu Bay.
9 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water.
9-17 February 1942:
Departs Heiniu Bay for Ssuu Chiao Shan.
17 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat HYAKUFUKU MARU with 60-tons of fresh water.
17-27 February 1942:
Departs Ssu Chiao Shan. for the Taichow Islands.
27 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
14 March 1942:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water and heavy oil. Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
Est 14- 19 March 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands for Sasebo.
29 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at the Taichow Islands. Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water.
3 April 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
5 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
8 April 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
10 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 April 1942:
Departs Sasebo for the Taichow Islands.
16 April 1942:
Refuels auxiliary auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil.
18 April 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh water.
18-20 April 1942:
Departs from the Taichow Islands.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
22 April 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
23 May 1942:
Departs Osaka.
25 May 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
29 May 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
1 June 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Yueh Ching Bay, Chikow Sea.
7 June 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water. Departs Yueh Ching Bay.
10 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
18 June 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
23 June 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
25 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at the Taichow Islands.
1 July 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh water.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
7 July 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
10 July 1942:
Merchant Captain Shiota Anzo is appointed Commanding Officer.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Yueh Ching Bay.
14 July 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboats TOSHO MARU and SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water. Suffers minor collision with TOSHO MARU.
July 1942:
Departs Yueh Ching Bay.
16 July 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
20 July 1942:
Departs Shanghai. Arrives at Tinghai.
23 July 1942:
Departs Tinghai and later that day arrives at Yueh Ching Bay.
24 July 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboats NISSHO MARU No. 12, DAIGEN and SHOSEI MARUs and SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with fresh water.
July 1942:
Departs Yueh Ching Bay.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
31 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
5 August 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
10 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai. Arrives at Yueh Ching Bay.
13 August 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
8 August 1942:
Departs Yueh Ching Bay.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo. Arrives at Shihpu.
25 August 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
Est 25-26 August 1942:
Departs Shihpu.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
30 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai. Arrives at Tinghai.
1 September 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
Est 1-3 September 1942:
Departs Tinghai.
6 September 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Yueh Ching Bay.
14 September 1942:
Departs Yueh Ching Bay. Arrives at the Taichow Islands.
15 September 1942:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
September 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands. Arrives at Shihpu.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
21 September 1942:
Departs Shanghai. Arrives at the Chikow Sea (Possibly early following day).
22 September 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh water.
September 1942:
Departs the Chikow Sea.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo for the Taichow Islands.
19 October 1942:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
Est 19-20 October 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
26 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai for Shihpu.
27 October 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboats TOSHO MARU and DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh water.
Est 27-28 October 1942:
Departs Shihpu.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for the Taichow Islands.
6 November 1942:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go heavy oil and fresh water.
Est 6-9 November 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
9 November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Shihpu.
14 November 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh water.
Est 14-16 November 1942:
Departs Shihpu.
19 November 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
29 November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
4 December 1942:
Arrives at the Taichow Islands.
7 December 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh water.
Est 7-8 December 1942:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
11 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Shihpu.
17 December 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU fresh water.
Est 17-19 December 1942:
Departs Shihpu.
20 December 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
24 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
29 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo for the Taichow Islands.
8 January 1943:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
Est 8-9 January 1943:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
9 January 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
12 January 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
19 January 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
24 January 1943:
Departs Shanghai for Tinghai.
25-26 January 1943:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh water.
26 January 1943:
Departs Tinghai.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
6 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
16 February 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
18 February 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
23 February 1943:
Departs Tinghai.
25 February 1943:
Departs Tinghai and arrives at the Taichow Islands. Refuels auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil.
Late February 1943:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
1 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo. Arrives at Tinghai.
8 March 1943:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
March 1943:
Departs Tinghai.
12 March 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
15 March 1943:
Arrives at Yueh Ching Bay.
17 March 1943:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
Est 17-18 March 1943:
Departs Yueh Ching Bay.
20 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Tinghai.
25 March 1943:
Departs Tinghai and arrives at Yueh Ching Bay later that day.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
7 April 1943:
Departs Shanghai. Arrives at Tinghai.
9 April 1943:
Departs Tinghai.
10 April 1943:
Arrives at Yueh Ching Bay. Refuels auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No.1 Go with heavy oil.
10-14 April 1943:
Departs Yueh Ching Bay.
14 April 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
10 May 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
21 May 1943:
Departs Mako.
26 May 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
30 May 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
3 June 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
6 June 1943:
Departs Mako.
12 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
16 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
21 June 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
26 June 1943:
Departs Mako.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
9 July 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo and at 1300 joins convoy Shi-808 also consisting of NICHIMAN, DAIYA, KINRYO, HIDA, RIZAN, UGA and SHOKEI MARUs escorted by submarine chaser KAII (ex Chinese light cruiser HAI WEI).
20 July 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Chiku Chiao.
23 July 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
28 July 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo for the Taichow Islands.
16 August 1943:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboats DAIGEN MARU No. 7 and SHINKO MARU No.1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
16-18 August 1943:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
25 August 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
29 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
6 September 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
11 September 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 October 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
7 October 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
24 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 November 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
5 November 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
9 November 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
13 November 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 November 1943:
Departs Sasebo. Arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
21 November 1943:
Refuels and replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
21-23 November 1943:
Departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at the Taichow Islands.
27 November 1943:
Departs the Taichow Islands.
28 November 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
Early-mid December 1943:
Departs Shanghai. Arrives at the Taichow Islands.
19 December 1943:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 Go with heavy oil and fresh water.
19-29 December 1943:
Departs the Taichow Islands and arrives at Shanghai.
30 December 1943:
KORYU MARU departs Shanghai in convoy MO-006 consisting of NARUTO, WAZAN, NISSHO, MISHIMA and KAMIKAZE MARUs. At 1520, minesweeper W-15 joins the convoy and starts escorting it.
January ~ March 1944:
Her ownership is changed to Kinkai Yusosen KK.
3 January 1944:
At 0200, W-15 ends escort. At 0855, arrives at Sasebo.
20 January 1944:
At 0500, departs Hakodate. At 1500, arrives at Ominato at 8 knots. [3]
2 April 1944:
Departs Kure in convoy TA-103 consisting of an unknown number of unidentified ships and escorts.
5 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao and later departs for Tarakan, Borneo.
3 July 1944:
At 1025, KORYU MARU departs Saei, Formosa in convoy No. 3311 consisting of CHOHAKUSAN, SETSUZAN, SHOZAN, DAIICHI, FUKUEI, KAIKO, NICHIZUI, PEKING, DAIKYU, YOKO and SHOHO MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 3 escorted by destroyer HASU and gunboat OKITSU.
4 July 1944:
At 0700, YOKO MARU is detached for Keelung. Later that day, SHOHO MARU develops engine trouble and falls behind.
6 July 1944:
At 0545, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich's (USNA ’35) USS SEALION (SS-315) torpedoes and sinks SETSUZAN MARU (ex-Norwegian HELIOS) at 29-57N, 122-51E. One crewman is KIA.
10 July 1944:
At 0130, anchors near Shanghai. KORYU MARU probably rejoins the convoy at this point.
11 July 1944:
At 0600, departs the anchorage.
19 July 1944:
At 1040, arrives at Seito (Tsingtao).
20 July 1944:
At 1000, departs Seito.
25 July 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
25 August 1944:
Departs Surabaya, Java in an unnumbered convoy consisting of tanker KORYU MARU and cargo ship TENCHO MARU escorted by minesweeper W-11. At 1800, anchors off Probolinggo, East Java.
26 August 1944:
At 0100, departs Probolinggo.
27 August 1944:
At 1940, arrives at Sulat Island near Lombok. Temporaily stays there.
28 August 1944:
At 0738, Departs Sulat Island.
29 August 1944:
At 0600, at the entrance of Bima Bay, Soembawa, TENCHO MARU detaches and heads towards Bima, Soembawa. At 1343, W-11 ends escort in Sape Strait and heads towards Bima. Later KORYU MARU arrives at Maumere, Flores.
8 November 1944:
Arrives at Keelung. At 0952, departs Keelung in the Rinji Convoy consisting of tanker KORYU MARU and cargo ship HOKUYU MARU escorted by minesweeper W-102.
9 November 1944:
At 0730, near Penghu Is KORYU MARU is detached for Mako and arrives there later that same day.
13 June 1945:
Shimonoseki Straits, off Hesaki lighthouse. Twenty-nine USAAF 20th Air Force B-29s heavy bombers mine the Straits. These, or mines laid previously by B-29s, sink KORYU MARU at 33-55N, 131-07E. 14 crewmen are KIA.
10 August 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1948:
The wreck is salved for scrap.
20 April 1948:
Work is completed.

Authors' Note:
[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] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[3] Identity uncertain- could be 1919 built 2170 ship of same name.

Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France and Mr. Berend van der Wal of Netherlands. Thanks also to Gengoro Toda of Japan.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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