Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(Kosei Maru, prewar)

IJN KOSEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012-2013 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1

21 October 1923:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima Steel K.K. shipyard for Sakai Shoten K.K. as a 2,170-tons cargo ship.
27 February 1924:
Launched and named MEIJI MARU.
6 April 1924:
Completed and registered in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, with 2,170-tons Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and 1,275-tons Net Registered Tonnage. [1]
E 1924:
Her registered port is changed to Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture.
17 August 1927:
Her owners are restyled to Sakai Kisen K.K.
10 June 1930:
Her owners are restyled to Sakai Shuji and her registered port to Kobe.
E January 1931:
Moored at Ujina, Hiroshima Prefecture.
19 May 1931:
Her GRT is changed to 2,205-tons and NRT to 1,299-tons [1].
24 August 1933:
Her owners change to Shimatani Shosen K.K. and her registered port to Fuchu, Kyoto Prefecture.
12 September 1933:
Renamed KOSEI MARU. [2]
22 February 1935:
Her owners are restyled to Shimatani Kisen K.K.
E 1938:
Her registered port is changed to Kobe.
29 December 1938:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned (Ippan Choyosen) transport and attached to the Sasebo Naval District. That same day, operates off Chosen (Korea) south coast.
E 1939:
Merchant Captain Shirane Toshio is appointed Commanding Officer (CO).
5 April 1939:
Captain Shirane is relieved by an unknown Captain.
7 June 1939:
Arrives at Nanking, China.
3 August 1939:
Arrives at Nanking.
29 August 1939:
Arrives at Nanking.
1 December 1939:
Merchant Captain Shirane Toshio is again appointed CO.
5 April 1940:
Captain Shirane is relieved by an unknown Captain.
28 August 1940:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
1 September 1940:
Departs Mako.
E September-October 1940:
Operates off Chosen south coast.
14 October 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
17 October 1940:
Departs Sasebo.
E October-November 1940:
Operates in Chosen waters.
14 October 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
17 October 1940:
Departs Sasebo.
E October-November 1940:
Operates in Chosen waters.
6 November 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 November 1940:
Departs Sasebo.
E November 1940:
Operates in Chosen waters.
15 November 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 November 1940:
Departs Sasebo.
E November-December 1940:
Operates in southern China waters.
23 December 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 January 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E January 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
20 January 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 January 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E January-February 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
9 February 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 March 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E March 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
28 March 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 April 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E April 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
11 April 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 April 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E April-May 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
4 May 1941:
Departs Chosen waters.
E May 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later.
8-18 May 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
E May 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later.
22 May-3 June 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
E June 1941:
Arrives at Mutsure Jima. Departs later.
E June 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
11-20 June 1941:
Operates in northern China waters.
E June 1941:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China). Departs later.
26 June-6 July 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
E July 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later.
E July 1941:
Departs Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea).
14-19 July 1941:
Operates in northern China waters.
E July 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun (ex Port-Arthur), Manchuria (now Lushun, northern China). Departs later.
22-29 July 1941:
Operates in northern China waters.
E August 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later.
12 August-14 September 1941:
Operates in Chosen waters.
E September 1941:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later.
E September 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
20 September-9 November 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
15 October 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category and attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as homeport under internal order No. 1256.[3]
E November 1941:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture. Departs later.
E November 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
16 November 1941:
Operates in northern China waters.
2 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Koniya, Amami-Oshima, Ryukyus. Transfers later in the day at Nagasaki-Bana, Kagoshima Prefecture.
11 December 1941:
Transfers to Kuji Wan (Bay), Iwate Prefecture.
23 December 1941:
Departs Kuji Wan and calls at Miura Wan (Bay) near Yokosuka. Departs later that same day for Sasebo.
25 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
30 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
2 January 1942:
At 1800 arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), China.
4 January 1942:
At 1000 departs Seito.
5 January 1942:
At 1730 arrives at Chefoo (now Yantai), China. Departs at 2130 for Ryojun.
6 January 1942:
At 0630 arrives at Ryojun.
9 January 1942:
At 1600 departs Ryojun.
10 January 1942:
At 0920 arrives at Dairen. At 1800 departs Dairen.
11 January 1942:
At 0445 arrives at Weihai, Manchuria. Departs at 1140 for Seito.
12 January 1942:
At 0940 arrives at Seito.
14 January 1942:
At 1645 departs Seito.
15 January 1942:
Confirmed as “graduated” transport under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 14.
17 January 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Hakata, Fukuoka Prefecture. Departs at 1810 for Sasebo.
18 January 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Sasebo.
22 January 1942:
Assigned to a transportation of personnel and supply mission to China under Sasebo Naval District confidential order No. 36.
E 22-23 January 1942:
Embarks 224 passengers and loads weapons and ammunition totaling 1,000-tons and 30-tons of castor seed.
24 January 1942:
At 1400 departs Sasebo.
26 January 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Wusong (Woosung), entrance of Shanghai, China.
27 January 1942:
Transfers to Shanghai.
28-29 January 1942:
Probably disembarks 224 passengers and unloads cargo.
30 January 1942:
At 0845 departs Shanghai.
1 February 1942:
At 1600 arrives at Tomie Wan, Nagasaki Prefecture.
2 February 1942:
At 0640 transfers to Sasebo, arriving at 1500.
6 February 1942:
Assigned to a transportation of personnel and supply mission under Sasebo Naval District confidential order No. 64.
7 February 1942:
At 1010 departs Sasebo.
8 February 1942:
At 1250 arrives at Chinkai.
12 February 1942:
At 1000 departs Chinkai.
13 February 1942:
At 0940 arrives at Seito.
14 February 1942:
At 0800 departs Seito.
15 February 1942:
At 1100 arrives at Chefoo. Departs at 1600 for Ryojun.
16 February 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Ryojun.
17 February 1942:
At 1330 transfers to Dairen, arriving at 1740.
19 February 1942:
At 1915 departs Dairen.
20 February 1942:
At 0550 arrives at Ryojun. Departs at 1200 for Seito.
21 February 1942:
At 0930 arrives at Seito.
22 February 1942:
At 1200 departs Seito.
25 February 1942:
At 1220 arrives at Hakata.
27 February 1942:
At 1200 transfers to Imari, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, arriving at 1800.
28 February 1942:
At 0800 transfers to Sasebo, arriving at 1430.
3 March 1942:
At 1400 departs Sasebo.
4 March 1942:
At 1200 arrives at Yawata.
5 March 1942:
At 1400 departs Yawata.
6 March 1942:
At 0955 arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Departs Tokuyama at 1530.
7 March 1942:
At 0830 arrives at Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture.
16 March 1942:
At 1540 departs Onomichi.
17 March 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Moji.
18 March 1942:
At 1600 departs Moji.
19 March 1942:
At 1030 arrives at Sasebo.
20 March 1942:
Assigned to a transportation of personnel and supply mission under Sasebo Naval District confidential order No. 153.
23 March 1942:
At 1400 departs Sasebo.
25 March 1942:
At 2150 arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
26 March 1942:
At 1600 departs Naha.
29 March 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Mako.
1 April 1942:
At 0650 departs Mako.
10 April 1942:
Confirmed as “graduated” transport under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 22.
4 April 1942:
At 1840 arrives at Samah, Hainan Island, China.
12 April 1942:
At 0800 transfers to Yulin, Hainan Island, arriving at 1200.
13 April 1942:
At 1915 departs Yulin.
16 April 1942:
At 2200 arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
18 April 1942:
At 1815 departs Takao.
23 April 1942:
At 1045 arrives at Ebisu Wan (Bay), S of Sasebo. Departs at 1645 for Yawata.
24 April 1942:
At 1500 arrives at Yawata.
26 April 1942:
At 1635 departs Yawata.
27 April 1942:
At 1700 arrives at Sasebo.
29 April 1942:
Assigned to a transportation of personnel and supply mission under Sasebo Naval District confidential order No. 204.
3 May 1942:
At 1200 departs Sasebo and arrives at 1930 at Tomie, Goto Reto (Islands), Nagasaki Prefecture.
4 May 1942:
At 0500 departs Tomie.
8 May 1942:
At 1140 arrives at Mako.
11 May 1942:
At 0610 departs Mako.
14 May 1942:
At 2000 arrives off Huang Liu (now Huangliu Zhen), Hainan Island, China.
15 May 1942:
At 0300 departs Huang Liu and arrives the same day at Samah. That same day, scheduled to be fitted with one 7.7 mm MG Type 92 and five Arisaka rifles Type 38, under Navy confidential order No. 5990.
18 May 1942:
At 1210 departs Samah.
19 May 1942:
At 2100 arrives at Haikow, Hainan Island.
22 May 1942:
At 0615 departs Haikow.
23 May 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Hong Kong.
26 May 1942:
At 1000 departs Hong Kong.
27 May 1942:
At 1415 arrives at Amoy (now Xiamen), China.
28 May 1942:
At 0920 departs Amoy.
2 June 1942:
At 1330 arrives at Sasebo.
5 June 1942:
Assigned to a transportation of personnel and supply mission under Sasebo Naval District confidential order No. 250.
9 June 1942:
At 1300 departs Sasebo and at 2030 arrives at Ainoura.
10 June 1942:
At 0500 departs Ainoura.
12 June 1942:
Scheduled to be fitted with one 8-cm/40 Type 88 gun under Navy confidential order No. 7246.
15 June 1942:
At 2030 arrives at Amoy.
17 June 1942:
At 0800 departs Amoy.
18 June 1942:
At 1910 arrives at Hong Kong.
21 June 1942:
At 1600 departs Hong Kong.
23 June 1942:
At 0200 arrives at Haikow.
25 June 1942:
At 1440 departs Haikow.
26 June 1942:
At 2200 arrives at Samah.
30 June 1942:
At 0310 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 0845.
2 July 1942:
At 1000 departs Yulin.
5 July 1942:
At 2025 arrives at Takao.
7 July 1942:
At 1820 departs Takao.
11 July 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Seso, Kakeroma Island, Amami Gunto (Islands). That same day, fitted with a gun removed from a coastal battery.
12 July 1942:
At 1200 departs Seso.
14 July 1942:
At 1045 arrives at Sasebo.
17 July 1942:
At 0900 departs Sasebo.
18 July 1942:
At 0930 arrives at Yawata.
20 July 1942:
At 0720 departs Yawata.
21 July 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Sasebo.
29 July 1942:
At 1100 departs Sasebo.
3 August 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Amoy.
5 August 1942:
At 0830 departs Amoy.
7 August 1942:
At 0815 arrives at Hong Kong.
9 August 1942:
At 1800 departs Hong Kong.
11 August 1942:
At 1920 arrives at Haikow.
15 August 1942:
At 0000 departs Haikow.
16 August 1942:
At 0753 arrives at Samah.
18 August 1942:
At 1515 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1940.
20 August 1942:
At 1000 departs Yulin.
23 August 1942:
At 1900 arrives at Takao.
29 August 1942:
At 0940 departs Takao and joins convoy No. 256 consisting of IJA transport MIIKE MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
4 September 1942:
Detached from convoy and arrives at Ebisu Wan (Bay).
5 September 1942:
Departs Ebisu Wan.
6 September 1942:
At 1015 arrives at Sasebo.
7 September 1942:
At 1100 departs Sasebo.
8 September 1942:
At 1015 arrives at Yawata.
9 September 1942:
At 1700 departs Yawata.
10 September 1942:
At 1600 arrives at Sasebo.
18 September 1942:
At 1200 departs Sasebo.
23 September 1942:
At 0450 arrives at Mako.
25 September 1942:
At 1500 departs Mako.
29 September 1942:
Ar 0250 arrives at Yulin. At 1345 transfers to Samah arriving at 1820.
4 October 1942:
At 1715 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 2150.
6 October 1942:
At 1620 departs Yulin.
11 October 1942:
At 1330 arrives at Takao.
13 October 1942:
At 0815 transfers to Mako, arriving at 1800.
15 October 1942:
At 1200 departs Mako in convoy No. 277 also consisting of auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU and tanker KYOEI MARU No. 5 escorted by destroyer MINAZUKI.
20 October 1942:
Detached from the convoy and at 1440 arrives at Sasebo.
22 October 1942:
At 0945 departs Sasebo.
23 October 1942:
At 1245 arrives at Yawata.
26 October 1942:
At 0830 departs Yawata and arrives at 1810 at Karatsu Wan (Bay), Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
27 October 1942:
At 0000 transfers to Sasebo, arriving at 1515.
2 November 1942:
At 1200 departs Sasebo.
7 November 1942:
At 1200 arrives at Takao.
10 November 1942:
At 0800 transfers to Mako, arriving at 1700.
12 November 1942:
At 1340 departs Mako.
13 November 1942:
At 1445 arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
18 November 1942:
At 0800 departs Kirun.
22 November 1942:
At 0845 arrives at Kagoshima, Kyushu.
23 November 1942:
At 1200 departs Kagoshima.
24 November 1942:
At 0945 arrives at Nagasaki.
25 November 1942:
At 1000 transfers to Sasebo, arriving at 1515.
28 November 1942:
At 1200 departs Sasebo.
1 December 1942:
At 0920 arrives at Shanghai.
2 December 1942:
At 1100 departs Shanghai.
6 December 1942:
At 0930 arrives at Ryojun.
10 December 1942:
At 1300 departs Ryojun.
11 December 1942:
At 2050 arrives at Seito.
15 December 1942:
At 1600 departs Seito.
18 December 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Hakata.
22 December 1942:
At 1550 departs Hakata.
23 December 1942:
At 1550 arrives at Sasebo.
30 December 1942:
At 0900 departs Sasebo. Possibly joins convoy No. 109 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
4 January 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Takao.
6 January 1943:
At 0900 departs Takao.
9 January 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Samah.
12 January 1943:
At 0400 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1000.
14 January 1943:
At 1840 departs Yulin.
19 January 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Mako.
20 January 1943:
At 1215 departs Mako.
27 January 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Sasebo.
28 January 1943:
At 1000 departs Sasebo.
29 January 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Yawata.
1 February 1943:
At 0800 transfers to Moji, arriving at 1000.
2 February 1943:
DAt 1530 departs Moji.
3 February 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Sasebo.
10 February 1943:
At 1220 departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 126 also consisting of auxiliary transports RYOTOKU and KOSHIN MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships without escort.
15 February 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Takao.
17 February 1943:
At 1600 departs Takao.
21 February 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Samah.
25 February 1943:
At 0400 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 0850.
26 February 1943:
At 1940 departs Yulin.
3 March 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Takao.
4 March 1943:
At 0730 transfers to Mako, arriving at 2000.
5 March 1943:
At 1220 departs Mako and joins convoy No. 237 that departed earlier Takao, consisting of IJN requisitioned tanker (B-AO) SHINSHU MARU, auxiliary tanker HOKUAN MARU and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
11 March 1943:
Detached from the convoy and at 0915 arrives at Sasebo.
12 March 1943:
At 1240 departs Sasebo.
13 March 1943:
At 1340 arrives at Yawata.
16 March 1943:
At 0900 departs Yawata.
17 March 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Sasebo.
21 March 1943:
At 1000 departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 139 that departed earlier that day Moji and consisting of auxiliary tankers SHUNTEN and SHOYO MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-39.
26 March 1943:
At 1020 arrives at Takao. The convoy proceeds to Mako where SHUNTEN and SHOYO MARUs are detached.
29 March 1943:
At 1000 departs Takao.
1 April 1943:
At 2310 arrives at Samah.
5 April 1943:
At 0500 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1000.
6 April 1943:
At 0715 departs Yulin.
11 April 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Takao.
12 April 1943:
At 1200 departs Takao.
20 April 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Sasebo.
21 April 1943:
At 1435 departs Sasebo.
22 April 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Yawata.
25 April 1943:
At 1645 departs Yawata.
26 April 1943:
At 1115 arrives at Sasebo.
2 May 1943:
At 1000 departs Sasebo.
8 May 1943:
At 1425 arrives at Hong Kong.
12 May 1943:
At 0830 departs Hong Kong.
14 May 1943:
At 1740 arrives at Samah.
18 May 1943:
At 1220 departs Samah and at 1715 arrives at Yulin.
19 May 1943:
At 1400 departs Yulin for Takao.
24 May 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Takao.
25 May 1943:
At 1900 departs Takao.
28 May 1943:
Arrives off Kazan Retto (Volcanic Islands) coast, S of Shanghai.
29 May 1943:
Transfers to Yamakita anchorage. Departs later that day for Sasebo.
1 June 1943:
At 0720 arrives at Sasebo.
2 June 1943:
At 1400 departs Sasebo.
3 June 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Yawata.
5 June 1943:
At 1500 departs Yawata.
6 June 1943:
At 1050 arrives at Sasebo.
10 June 1943:
At 1500 departs Sasebo.
11 June 1943:
At 0030 arrives at Imari Wan.
12 June 1943:
At 1530 departs Imari Wan in convoy Shi-208 also consisting of IJA transports KAZAN, SHOGEN, SHINWA, ARGUN, FRANCE and AWA MARUs and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) MUNAKATA MARU, escorted by destroyer MINEKAZE.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at the Yangtse River mouth. Departs later that day for Takao.
16 June 1943:
At 1650 arrives at Takao.
22 June 1943:
At 1630 departs Takao. Transfers later to Mako.
23 June 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 302 also consisting of auxiliary tankers KIYO and GOYO MARUs, IJA transports RYUKO and NORFOLK MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
E 24 June 1943:
At some point, KOSEI MARU is detached from the convoy and heads to Samah.
26 June 1943:
At 1930 arrives at Samah.
30 June 1943:
At 1030 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1700.
2 July 1943:
At 1010 departs Yulin and joins convoy No. 407 also consisting of auxiliary transports CHILE and HOKUSHO MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU.
6 July 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Takao.
9 July 1943:
Transfers to Takao naval base.
11 July 1943:
At 1000 departs Takao naval base.
21 July 1943:
At 1145 arrives at Sasebo.
23 July 1943:
At 1500 departs Sasebo.
24 July 1943:
At 1045 arrives at Yawata.
27 July 1943:
At 1240 departs Yawata.
28 July 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Onomichi.
29 July 1943:
Enters dock for maintenance and repairs.
11 August 1943:
Undocked. At 1200 departs Onomichi.
12 August 1943:
At 1840 arrives at Sasebo.
22 August 1943:
At 1050 departs Sasebo and later joins convoy No. 189 that departed Moji, consisting of IJA transport KOKAI MARU and four unidentified ships escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
28 August 1943:
At 1715 arrives at Takao naval base.
2 September 1943:
At 0800 departs Takao naval base and joins convoy No. 320 en route to St Jacques also consisting of auxiliary tankers KIRISHIMA and NICHIYOKU MARUs, cargo ships NORWAY, HIDA, BOKUYO and SHINNO MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
6 September 1943:
Detached from the convoy and at 1600 arrives at Yulin.
7 September 1943:
At 1540 transfers to Samah, arriving at 2020.
10 September 1943:
At 0700 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 0900. Departs at 2100 for Mako and probably joins convoy No. 424 consisting of IJA tanker CHIYODA MARU, IJA transports TEIRYU (ex-German AUGSBURG), KENSEI (ex-British HINSANG), CHINA, BIYO, JINZAN, FUKUJU, TOSEI, BELGIUM and KAIKO MARUs and shared (B/C-APK) passenger/cargo ship ANKO (ex-Chinese AN SHING) MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-2 and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
14 September 1943:
At 0800, the convoy arrives at Mako less TEIRYU, TOSEI, ANKO and KAIKO MARUs that were detached earlier.
15 September 1943:
At 0500 departs Mako in convoy No. 204 with eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA.
20 September 1943:
Detached from convoy and at 1325 arrives at Sasebo.
24 September 1943:
At 1500 departs Sasebo.
25 September 1943:
At 0915 arrives at Yawata.
28 September 1943:
At 1400 departs Yawata.
29 September 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Sasebo.
7 October 1943:
At 0630 departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 104 that departed Moji that same day and consisting of shared (A/C-AO) tanker YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Taichow Liehtao, Taishan (now Chuanshan) Archipelago, southern China and shelters overnight.
11 October 1943:
Departs Taichow Liehtao.
12 October 1943:
At 1645 arrives at Takao.
18 October 1943:
At 0700 transfers to Mako, arriving at 1430.
19 October 1943:
At 0830 departs Mako in convoy No. 331 also consisting of IJN requisitioned passenger/cargo (B-APK) AMERICA MARU and cargo ships BIYO, GYOKUREI, MIKASA, HEIAN, NICHIEI, GYOTEN and HIDA MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
23 October 1943:
Detached from the convoy and at 1030 arrives at Samah. HIDA MARU is detached for Yulin.
25 October 1943:
At 1330 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1530.
26 October 1943:
At 1800 departs Yulin. That same day her owners change to Mitsui Senpaku K.K.
31 October 1943:
At 1530 arrives at Takao.
8 November 1943:
At 0900 departs Takao in convoy No. 217 also consisting of IJA tanker ICHIYO MARU, IJN shared (B/C-AK) ship TEISHO MARU (ex-German HAVENSTEIN), IJA transports KAZUURA, KYOKUZAN MARUs, and twelve unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU and cable layer escort ODATE.
11 November 1943:
Arrives at the Yangtse River mouth. Departs later that day for Sasebo.
13 November 1943:
The first part of the convoy arrives at Moji. KOSEI MARU is detached before arrival and heads to Sasebo, arriving at 1310.
16 November 1943:
At 1530 departs Sasebo.
17 November 1943:
At 1045 arrives at Yawata.
20 November 1943:
At 1600 departs Yawata.
21 November 1943:
At 1040 arrives at Sasebo.
2 December 1943:
At 1300 departs Sasebo and arrives later that day at Arikawa Wan (Bay), Wakamatsu Island, Nagasaki Prefecture.
3 December 1943:
Departs Arikawa Wan.
9 December 1943:
At 1345 arrives at Hong Kong.
13 December 1943:
At 1615 departs Hong Kong.
15 December 1943:
At 1330 arrives at Samah.
18 December 1943:
At 1100 transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1145. At 1800 departs Yulin.
23 December 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Takao.
27 December 1943:
At 0720 departs Takao.
1 January 1944:
Arrives at Si Jiao (Sizhow) mountain anchorage, near Shanghai. Departs later that day for Japan.
4 January 1944:
Arrives at Ebisu Wan. Departs later that day for Sasebo and arrives at 2115.
7 January 1944:
At 1500 departs Sasebo.
8 January 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Yawata.
9 January 1944:
At 1400 departs Yawata.
10 January 1944:
At 0900 arrives at Sasebo.
15 January 1944:
At 0500 departs Sasebo and arrives at 1300 at Imari Wan.
16 January 1944:
At 1700 departs Imari Wan.
20 January 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Fu Yao Island, southern China.
23 January 1944:
At 1700 departs Fu Yao Island.
24 January 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Takao.
26 January 1944:
At 1600 departs Takao for St. Jacques, Indochina, in convoy No. 356 also consisting of IJA transport SHORYU MARU and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KIKUZUKI MARU without escort.
27 January 1944:
54 nautical miles SW of Takao. At 0110, LtCdr (later Cdr) Duncan C. MacMillan (USNA ’26) USS THRESHER (SS-200) torpedoes and hits KOSEI MARU. At 0125, she sinks at 22-10N, 119-30E taking down 19 crewmen. About 0200, KIKUZUKI MARU is also torpedoed and sunk by USS THRESHER. 10 crewmen and many of her 179 passengers are killed.
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 1258.

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] Numerous ships bore that name like auxiliary transport (3,551 GRT ’37), auxiliary collier/oiler (6,666 GRT ’33), auxiliary storeship (8,266 GRT ’20), auxiliary small minelayer (1026 GRT ’15), IJA transport (1,943 GRT ’43), Okada Shosen cargo ship (3,262 GRT ’19) and other smaller vessels.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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