ZATSUYOSEN!
(KOSEI MARU. prewar)
IJN KOSEI MARU.:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2013 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
25 January 1937:
Yokohama. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Zosensho shipyard as a 3,551-ton passenger/cargo ship for Chosen Yusen K.K., Jinsen.
9 June 1937:
Launched and named KOSEI MARU. [1]
30 August 1937:
Completed and registered in Jinsen, Chosen (now Incheon, South Korea). Her Net Registered Tonnage is 2,089-tons. [2]
E 1939:
Her Net Registered Tonnage is changed to 2,084-tons.
16 April 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a transport (Ippan Choyosen). [3].
15 October 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category under internal order No. 1256 and attached to the Sasebo Naval District. Her home port is Sasebo. [4]
1 December 1941:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island, China.
3 December 1941:
Departs Samah for Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
9 December 1941:
Arrives at Kirun.
11 December 1941:
Departs Kirun for Moji.
15 December 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
17 December 1941:
Departs Moji for Sasebo.
18 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for Shanghai, China.
24 December 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai.
27 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai for Sasebo.
30 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 January 1942:
At 1440 departs Sasebo for Kirun.
8 January 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Kirun.
9 January 1942:
At 0810 departs Kirun for Amoy (now Xiamen), China.
10 January 1942:
At 0930 arrives at Amoy.
11 January 1942:
At 0850 departs Amoy for Hong Kong.
12 January 1942:
At 1220 arrives at Hong Kong.
15 January 1942:
At 0800 departs Hong Kong for Haikou (Haikow), Hainan Island, China.
16 January 1942:
At 1445 arrives at Haikou.
20 January 1942:
At 1200 departs Haikou for Samah, Hainan Island.
21 January 1942:
At 1410 arrives at Samah.
25 January 1942:
At 0800 transfers to Yulin, Hainan Island, arriving at 1200.
27 January 1942:
At 0845 departs Yulin for Kirun.
31 January 1942:
At 1645 arrives at Kirun.
1 February 1942:
At 1600 departs Kirun for Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
5 February 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Yawata.
7 February 1942:
At 1615 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
8 February 1942:
At 1420 arrives at Sasebo.
16 February 1942:
At 0830 transfers to Aiura (Ainoura), Nagasaki Prefecture. Departs later that same day for Takao (now Kaohsiung), Formosa.
21 February 1942:
At 1620 arrives at Takao.
27 February 1942:
At 1320 departs Takao for Camranh, Indochina (now Vietnam).
3 March 1942:
At 1125 arrives at Camranh.
5 March 1942:
At 0800 departs Camranh for Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
6 March 1942:
At 1830 arrives at Saigon.
8 March 1942:
At 0800 departs Saigon for Singapore, Malaya.
11 March 1942:
At 1620 arrives at Singapore.
18 March 1942:
At 0810 departs Singapore for Saigon.
21 March 1942:
At 0950 arrives at Saigon.
28 March 1942:
At 1250 departs Saigon for Mako, Pescadores.
3 April 1942:
At 1030 arrives at Mako.
4 April 1942:
At 0800 departs Mako for Moji.
10 April 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Attached that same day to Kure Naval District. Her home port is Kure. Probably undergoes maintenance and repairs.
E April 1942:
Departs Moji and arrives at Sasebo at unknown dates.
3 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
1 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea).
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
5 June 1942:
Departs Chinkai for Seito (Tsingtao), China.
8 June 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
11 June 1942:
Departs Seito for Sasebo.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Moji.
16 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
17 June 1942:
Departs Moji for Kure.
18 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
21 June 1942:
Departs Kure for Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
22 June 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
25 June 1942:
Departs Tokuyama for Kirun.
30 June 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
2 July 1942:
Departs Kirun for Mako.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
9 July 1942:
Departs Mako for Manila, Luzon, Philippines in convoy No. 708 as only merchant ship escorted by minelayer YAEYAMA.
12 July 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
14 July 1942:
Departs Manila for Balikpapan, Borneo in convoy No. 904 as only merchant ship escorted by subchaser CH- 3.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
22 July 1942:
Departs Balikpapan for Makassar, Celebes (now Sulawesi).
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
31 July 1942:
Departs Makassar for Kupang, Timor.
2 August 1942:
Arrives at Kupang.
14 August 1942:
Departs Kupang for Makassar.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Ebisu Wan.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
21 August 1942:
Departs Makassar for Balikpapan.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
24 August 1942:
Departs Balikpapan for Iloilo, Panay, Philippines probably in convoy No. 007 also consisting of auxiliary transport TARUSHIMA MARU escorted by destroyer NAGATSUKI.
27 August 1942:
Arrives at Iloilo.
8 September 1942:
Departs Iloilo for Manila.
9 September 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
13 September 1942:
Departs Manila for Mako in convoy No. 814 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer NAGATSUKI.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
19 September 1942:
Departs Mako for Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture, via Moji in convoy No. 264 also consisting of auxiliary oiler OMUROSAN MARU and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Fushiki.
30 September 1942:
Departs Fushiki for Muroran, Hokkaido.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
4 October 1942:
Departs Muroran for Tokyo.
8 October 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
13 October 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Muroran.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
19 October 1942:
Departs Muroran for Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Kawasaki.
25 October 1942:
Departs Kawasaki for Kushiro, Hokkaido.
29 October 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
31 October 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
7 November 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
10 November 1942:
Transfers to Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture.
14 November 1942:
Departs Wakayama for Yoshiura near Kure.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Yoshiura and transfers later that same day to Kure.
25 November 1942:
Departs Kure for Tokuyama.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
30 November 1942:
Departs Tokuyama for Moji.
1 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
3 December 1942:
Departs Moji for Kirun.
7 December 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
13 December 1942:
Departs Kirun for Mako.
14 December 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
18 December 1942:
Departs Mako for Manila in convoy No. 730 also consisting of another unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer FUYO.
21 December 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
28 December 1942:
Departs Manila for Balikpapan.
2 January 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
10 January 1943:
Departs Balikpapan for Macassar.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
14 January 1943:
Departs Macassar for Kendari, Celebes.
15 January 1943:
Arrives at Kendari.
19 January 1943:
Departs Kendari for Macassar.
20 January 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
2 February 1943:
Departs Macassar for Surabaya, Java.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
11 February 1943:
Departs Surabaya for Macassar.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
16 February 1943:
Departs Macassar for Passarojiyo (now Pasarwajo), Celebes.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Passarojiyo.
24 February 1943:
Departs Passarojiyo for Kendari.
25 February 1943:
Arrives at Kendari.
14 March 1943:
Departs Kendari for Macassar.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
19 March 1943:
Departs Macassar for Surabaya.
22 March 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
29 March 1943:
Departs Surabaya for Balikpapan.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
8 April 1943:
Departs Balikpapan for Menado (now Manado), Celebes.
11 April 1943:
Arrives at Menado.
16 April 1943:
Departs Menado for Manila.
20 April 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
26 April 1943:
Departs Manila for Takao in convoy No. 844 also consisting of two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
28 April 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Takao.
1 May 1943:
Departs Takao for Sasebo in K Convoy also consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. The rest of the convoy continues to Moji.
9 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Osaka.
11 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
13 May 1943:
Departs Osaka for Kure.
14 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
15 May 1943:
Departs Kure for Haizhou (Haichow), China.
18 May 1943:
Arrives at Haizhou.
23 May 1943:
Departs Haizhou and arrives later that same day at Jinsen, Chosen.
26 May 1943:
Departs Jinsen for Kure.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
5 June 1943:
Transfers to Kasado, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Probably enters drydock for maintenance and repairs.
22 June 1943:
Departs Kasado for Moji.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
24 June 1943:
Departs Moji for Kenjiho, Chosen (now Kyomipo, North Korea).
26 June 1943:
Arrives at Kenjiho.
29 June 1943:
Departs Kenjiho for Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China).
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
2 July 1943:
Departs Dairen for Osaka.
6 July 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
10 July 1943:
Departs Osaka for Kure.
11 July 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
20 July 1943:
Departs Kure for towing trials of a Type A Tokugata Unkato "pipe" [5]
Type A Tokugata Unkato "pipe" at Rabaul, postwar
22 July 1943:
Off Kure. Sustains bow damage due to collision with fleet supply ship MAMIYA. Arrives at Kobe later that same day.
E July-August 1943:
Undergoes extensive repairs.
20 August 1943:
Departs Kobe for Yokosuka.
22 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk, central Carolines in convoy No. 3827A also consisting of IJN requisitioned transport NIKKO (5,949 GRT) MARU escorted by kaibokan FUKUE.
6 September 1943:
At 0900, arrives at Truk.
21 September 1943:
At 1300, departs Truk for Rabaul, New Britain in convoy No. 1212 also consisting of Navy allotted cargo ship (B/C-AK) TETSUYO MARU escorted by Destroyer TACHIKAZE, subchaser CH-30 and auxiliary subchasers
CHa-9, CHa-16, CHa-17 and CHa-31.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
25 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Palau, western Carolines in convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport TAITO MARU and IJA transport SAN FRANCISCO MARU with unknown escort.
2 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
5 November 1943:
At 1000, departs Palau for Kure in fleet convoy FU-503 also consisting of IJA transports TAGA and BUNZAN MARUs escorted by destroyer SATSUKI.
9 November 1943:
Early afternoon, LtCdr Philip W. Garnett's (USNA 33) USS SARGO (SS-188) intercepts the convoy. At 1320, Garnett torpedoes and hits TAGA MARU in the engine room at 21-40N, 131-12E. Six men are KIA. Unable to navigate, TAGA MARU is scuttled.
11 November 1943:
About 60 nms ESE of Kikaishima, Amami Gunto, Ryukyus. Early afternoon, Garnett again attacks the convoy. At 1335, USS SARGO torpedoes and hits KOSEI MARU in the engine room at 28-15N, 130-35E. 12 crewmen are KIA. Unable to navigate, the transport drifts and floods gradually. She sinks later that day at 27-40N, 109-28E.
5 January 1944:
Removed from the Navys list under internal order No. 54.
Authors Notes:
[1] Numerous ships bore this name like auxiliary transport (2,205 GRT 24), 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.
[2] 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 reducing 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.
[3] See Zatsuyosen home page for full explanation.
[4] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[5] Two Type A Tokugata Unkato were completed at Kure in May '43. No. 1 was towed to Rabaul in Autumn '43 and survived the war.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
Photo credit goes to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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