RIKUGUN YUSOSEN
(KOZAN MARU,prewar)
IJA Transport KOZAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2013-2016 Bob Hackett
E 1934:
Kobe. Laid down at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K. K. as a 4,180-ton cargo
ship for the Yamamoto Kisen K. K. Line of Osaka.
1935:
Launched and named KOZAN MARU.
1935:
Completed.
1935 ~ 1941:
In service on Yamamoto Kisen’s routes to Australia, New
Zealand, Noumea, India and Goa.
19 July 1937 ~ 15 May 1940:
Calls at Auckland, New Zealand nine times.
10 December 1941:
Requistioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and converted
to a troop transport. Alloted IJA No. 211.
18 February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East
Indies:
KOZAN MARU is attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi's Third Fleet,
Southern Force, Netherlands East Indies Force in Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s
Western Java Seizure Force.
Departs Camranh Bay in a convoy comprised of 56 troop transports carrying
the 2nd Infantry Division for the invasions of Merak, Bantam Bay and Eretan,
Java. Forty-five transports go to Merak and Bantam Bay and six go to Eretan
Wetan. Escort is provided by light cruisers NATORI, and YURA and DesDivs 5, 6,
11, 12 and 22. Seaplane tender SANYO MARU provides air cover.
KOZAN MARU carries elements of Colonel Shoji Toshishige’s Detachment
(“Shoji Detachment”) consisting of the 38th Infantry Division’s 230th Infantry
Regiment, • (less Battalion), one Mountain Artillery Battalion (less one
battery), one Engineer Company (less two platoons), one Anti-Tank Battalion
(less two batteries), one Light Tank Company, one AA Battery, two Independent
Engineer Companies (less three platoons), one platoon of the Bridge Material
Company, one Motor Transport Company, part of the 40th Anchorage Headquarters
and part of the Airfield Battalion.
1 March 1942:
The transports arrive at Eretan Wetan, Java and land
troops.
5 March 1942:
The transports depart Eretan Wetan for Singapore and
arrive that day.
19-23 December 1942:
KOZAN MARU departs Rabaul via Shortlands to Munda
escorted by destroyers ARIAKE and KAWAKAZE. KOZAN MARU is lifting 1,300 troops
and munitions.
24 December 1942:
Rabaul. KOZAN MARU is damaged by USAAF B-17 “Flying
Fortresses” that bomb Simpson harbor. They also damage transport KAGU MARU.
Probably undergoes repairs by repair ship YAMABIKO MARU.
Early 1943:
KOZAN MARU's weight is remeasured at 4186grt.
21 April 1943:
At 0600, KOZAN MARU departs Imari Wan (Bay) in convoy
SA-9 also consisting of CHUKA, FUKUEI, MIIKESAN, MURORAN, NARUO, RYOYO and UJINA
MARUs escorted by minelayer KAMOME. KOZAN MARU carries elements of the IJA 54th
Division’s 121st Infantry Regiment including Regiment HQ, 3rd Battalion, part of
the Regiment Gun Company, most of the Rapid Fire Gun Company and most of the
Signal Company. RYOYO MARU carries the 1st and 2nd Battalions.
23 April 1943:
Arrives at Hua Niao Shan, China where some merchants
are detached. Later that day, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Shanghai.
1 May 1943:
KOZAN MARU departs Takao in convoy No. 747 also consisting
of ERIE, RYOYO and ZUISHO MARUs escorted by kaibokan SANAE.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
15 July 1943:
At 0930, KOZAN MARU departs Saeki in convoy O-505 also
consisting of BRAZIL, CHINZEI, RYUKO and SAIPAN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat
HATO, minesweeper W-18, subchaser CH-10 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No.
7.
16 July 1943:
At about noon, W-18 and TAMA MARU No. 7 are detached at
29-N and return to Saeki.
21 July 1943:
At about 1230, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Roy M.
Davenport's (USNA ’33) USS HADDOCK (SS-231) torpedoes and sinks SAIPAN MARU at
16-29N, 123-57E. The ship is loaded with 422 passengers and 3,270 tons of
military cargo, coal and fuel oil. 33 passengers and two crewmen are KIA.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
28 July 1943:
KOZAN MARU departs Palau in convoy So-807 also
consisting of EHIME and KAZAN MARUs and two unidentified merchants escorted by
subchasers CH-10, CH-18 and CH-23.
5 August 1943:
At 0825, arrives at Rabaul.
September 1943:
At 1500, KOZAN MARU departs Manila for Takao, Formosa
(Kaohsiung, Taiwan) with TOHO MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN
MARU.
4 September 1943:
90 km. SW of Takao. At 0115, LtCdr Richard W
Petersen’s (USNA ‘31) USS SUNFISH (SS-281) fires four torpedoes and gets a hit
in KOZAN MARU's No. 3 hold. Thirteen passengers and crewmen are KIA.
5 September 1943:
63 Km. off Takao Lighthouse. At 0120, KOZAN MARU is
taken in tow by CHOHAKUSAN MARU, but flooding increases, so at 0235 she is run
aground at 22-06N, 119-50E. Deemed a comprehensive total loss (CTL).
Author’s Note:
[1] Not to be confused with KOZAN MARU (ex-British LOONG WO)(3,923 grt/06), KOZAN MARU (ex-HENG SHAN) or auxiliary minesweeper KOZAN
MARU.
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
Bob Hackett
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