YUSOSEN!
(2TM SOEI MARU postwar )
KOSHIN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011 Bob Hackett
E 1943:
Osaka. Laid down at Hitachi Zosen K. K., Sakurajima, as a 2,855-ton Type 2TM Standard Merchant Tanker for Kyodo Kigyo K.K., Tokyo.
E 1944:
Launched and named KOSHIN MARU.
March 1944:
Completed.
1944:
At an unknown date, Nippon Yusosen K. K. of Tokyo assumes ownership of KOSHIN MARU.
18 October 1944:
At 0700, KOSHIN MARU departs Imari Bay, near Sasebo, for Cap St. Jacques, Indochina and Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-23 consisting of MUNAKATA, ENRYAKU, HIKACHI (NISSHO), MATSUMOTO, EININ, RITSUEI, YAMASONO,
EBARA, ENREKI, SHOEI, HIROTA, UNZEN, YOKAI and SHIROTAE MARUs and YUZAN MARU No. 2 and survey ship HAKUSA escorted by kaibokan CD-14, CD-20, CD-34, CD-38, CD-39, CD-46 and patrol boats PB-38 and PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224).
19 October 1944:
Off Sasebo. At 1600, CD-34 detects an unknown submarine. CD-38 attacks and drops about 30 depth charges. A friendly aircraft collaborates with the kaibokan. A kill is confirmed by a heavy-oil slick and many interior ship fittings found floating on the sea.
20 October 1944:
Anchors in Raro Bay, Chosen (Korea).
22 October 1944:
At the Shushan anchorage, E of Shanghai.
24 October 1944:
75 miles ENE of Foochow, China. At 1000, HIROTA,
UNZEN and YOKAI MARUs are detached for Takao escorted by PB-38 and PB-102.
25 October 1944:
Formosa Strait. At 0208, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Richard H. O’Kane’s USS TANG (SS-306), running on the surface, torpedoes and sinks EBARA MARU at 25-04N, 119-35E. O’Kane also damages MATSUMOTO MARU.
TANG commences another attack, but her last remaining torpedo commences a circular run. CD-34’s lookouts spot the torpedo and witness an explosion which sinks the submarine. Nine American submariners are found drifting on the surface including Captain O’Kane. CD-34 rescues the survivors and later claims to have sunk TANG, but, in fact, the submarine was sunk by TANG's own torpedo - a defective Mark-18. CD-34 is detached with the POWs for Takao, Formosa.
29 October 1944:
At 0700, the convoy departs Amoy for Cape St. Jacques, Indochina.
30-31 October 1944:
Aircraft attack the convoy, but no damage is sustained.
4 November 1944:
At 1803, arrives at Cape St. Jacques.
11 January 1945:
Departs Saint Jacques for Takao, Formosa carrying 4,500-tons of crude oil in convoy SATA-05 also consisting of KENSI, TOYU, EIHO (ex-Dutch PENDOPO) and AYAYUKI MARUs and LST T-149 escorted by kaibokan CD-35 and CD-43, patrol boat PB-103, minesweeper W-101 and subchaser CH-31. In the ning, T-149 finds the heavy seas too dangerous. She is detached from the convoy and returns to St. Jacques.
12 January 1945: Operation "Gratitude"- Task Force 38's Strikes on Indochina:
15 miles S of Cap Padaran, Indochina. Aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task Force 38 attack SATA-05.
At about 0830, ten planes bomb and strafe KOSHIN MARU. She suffers two direct hits and many near misses that hole and flood the ship. At 0925, KOSHIN MARU sinks at 11-08N, 108-49E. 44 crewmen are KIA.
TF 38 eventually sinks the entire convoy. Even LST T-149 back at St. Jacques is bombed and
sunk.
- Bob Hackett
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