Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(KUNISHIMA MARU, prewar)

IJN KUNISHIMA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2014 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

5 March 1937:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima K.K. Zosensho shipyard as a 4,083-ton cargo ship for Iino Kisen K.K., Kobe.
4 June 1937:
Launched and named KUNISHIMA MARU.
30 August 1937:
Completed and registered at Kobe.
E September 1938:
Chartered to Nippon Yusen Kaisha on their Tokyo ~ Calcutta line.
24 January 1940:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a transport (Ippan Choyosen). [1]
13 May 1940:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area (Japanese mandated islands).
8 July 1940:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 July 1940:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
6 September 1940:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
14 September 1940:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
5 November 1940:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Probably undergoes maintenance and repairs.
5 December 1940:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
20 January 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 January 1941:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
13 March 1941:
Her owners are restyled to Iino Kaiun Sangyo K.K. and her registered port changed to Higashi-Maizuru.
16 March 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
20 March 1941:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
16 June 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 June 1941:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
27 July 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Probably undergoes maintenance and repairs.
4 September 1941:
Departs Yokosuka. Operates in the South Seas area.
15 October 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport under internal order No. 1256 and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District. Her homeport is Yokosuka Naval Base. KUNISHIMA MARU is assigned to Yokosuka Naval District as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category. [2]
18 November 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 December 1941:
Departs Sakito for Palau, Carolines.
5 December 1941:
Arrives at Palau.
18 December 1941:
Departs Palau and arrives the same day at Garasumao, Babeldaob (Babelthuap), Palaus.
20 December 1941:
Departs Garasumao for Yokosuka.
26 December 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives the same day at Yokohama.
29 December 1941:
Departs Yokohama for Funakawa, Oga Peninsula, Akita Prefecture.
1 January 1942:
Arrives at Funakawa.
7 January 1942:
Departs Funakawa for Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
10 January 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
14 January 1942:
Departs Tokuyama for Palau.
22 January 1942:
Arrives at Palau. Departs later for Tarakan, Borneo.
5 February 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan.
3 March 1942:
Departs Tarakan for Davao, Mindanao, Philippines.
5 March 1942:
Arrives at Davao.
12 March 1942:
Departs Davao for Saigon, French Indochina.
18 March 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
25 March 1942:
Departs Saigon for Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
30 March 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
31 March 1942:
Departs Kirun for Osaka.
5 April 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
7 April 1942:
Departs Osaka and arrives the same day at Kobe.
8 April 1942:
Departs Kobe for Yokohama.
10 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama. Under internal order No. 659, KUNISHIMA MARU is attached to the Kure Naval District. Her homeport is Kure naval base. She is assigned to the Kure Naval District as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category. [2]
11 April 1942:
Departs Yokohama and arrives the same day at Yokosuka.
13 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka. Makes calls at Kobe ~ Nagashima, Aichi Prefecture ~ Moji and steams to Kirun.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Kirun. Departs later for Balikpapan, Borneo.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
6 May 1942:
Departs Balikpapan for Tarakan.
7 May 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan.
28 May 1942:
Departs Tarakan for Sanga-Sanga, Borneo.
30 May 1942:
Arrives at Sanga-Sanga, probably for coal replenishment.
13 June 1942:
Departs Sanga-Sanga up-river to Loakulu.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Loakulu.
15 June 1942:
Departs Loakulu and arrives the same day at Samarinda .
16 June 1942:
Departs Samarinda for Surabaya, Java.
18 June 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
1 July 1942:
Departs Surabaya for Balikpapan.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
5 July 1942:
Departs Balikpapan for Manila, Luzon, Philippines in convoy No. 005 with tanker SAN PEDRO MARU escorted by subchaser CH-3.
5 July 1942:
S of Palauig, Luzon, Philippines. At about 1000, LtCdr William L. Wright’s (USNA ’25) USS STURGEON (SS-187) fires two torpedoes at SAN PEDRO MARU at 16-07N, 119-13E, but misses.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Manila, Philippines.
13 July 1942:
Departs Manila for Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan) in convoy No.808 also consisting of two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 2.
16 July 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
19 July 1942:
Departs Takao, calls at Mako, Pescadores in convoy No.236 also consisting of KENZAN, GENOA, ISUZU MARUs and sixteen unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU. Departs later for Yokosuka.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
29 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives the same day at Yokohama.
1 August 1942:
Departs Yokohama for Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture.
2 August 1942:
Arrives at Aioi. Enters Harima Zozensho shipyard dock for armament fitting.
11 August 1942:
Armament fitting (four AA guns) is completed. Undocked.
18 August 1942:
Gunners for her four AA guns embark.
19 August 1942:
Departs Aioi, calls at Moji and departs later for Chinnampo, Korea (Chosen).
21 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
24 August 1942:
Departs Chinnampo. E of Kirun, at 25-23N, 132-09E, KUNISHIMA MARU is attacked by an unidentified submarine. No damage is sustained and a counterattack is made with one depth-charge dropped. [3]
1 September 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
7 September 1942:
Departs Mako for Takao.
8 September 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
11 September 1942:
Departs Takao for Port Courbet, Honghay, French Indochina.
16 September 1942:
Arrives at Port Courbet.
21 September 1942:
Departs Port Courbet for Kirun.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
25 September 1942:
Departs Kirun for Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at Nagoya.
2 October 1942:
Departs Nagoya for Tokyo.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
5 October 1942:
Departs Tokyo and arrives the same day at Yokohama.
10 October 1942:
Departs Yokohama for Kobe.
11 October 1942:
Arrives at Kobe.
16 October 1942:
Departs Kobe for Kirun.
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
22 October 1942:
Departs Kirun for Manila.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
29 October 1942:
Departs Manila for Tarakan.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan.
11 November 1942:
Departs Tarakan for Balikpapan.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
22 November 1942:
Departs Balikpapan and arrives the same day at Sanga-Sanga, Borneo.
E November 1942:
Loads 667-tons of empty drums.
2 December 1942:
Departs Sanga-Sanga and arrives the same day at Samarinda, Borneo.
E 3-4 December 1942:
Unloads 45-tons of building materials. Loads 45-tons of empty drums.
5 December 1942:
Departs Samarinda and arrives the same day at Loakulu, Borneo.
E 6-7 December 1942:
Loads 1,100-tons of coal.
8 December 1942:
Departs Loakulu for Balikpapan.
9 December 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
E 10-17 December 1942:
Unloads coal and empty drums totaling 1,283-tons. 68 passengers disembark. Loads 5,389-tons of latex rubber, scrap iron and general cargo.
18 December 1942:
Departs Balikpapan for Manila with tanker OGURA MARU No.3 without escort.
22 December 1942:
At 1800, both ships arrive at Manila.
E 23-24 December 1942:
Loads 220-tons of wood. Replenish 200-tons of boiler water. Five troops embark.
25 December 1942:
Departs Manila for Takao in convoy No. 828 also consisting of an unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer FUYO.
28 December 1942:
Arrives at Takao. One soldier disembarks.
29 December 1942:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
30 December 1942:
Departs Mako for Moji in convoy No.215 only consisting of KUNISHIMA MARU without escort.
3 January 1943:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later and arrives the same day at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
E 4-8 January 1943:
Unloads 1,389-tons of scrap iron and 39 postal parcels. Loads 402-tons of boiler water and 200-tons of coal.
9 January 1943:
Departs Yawata for Osaka.
11 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
E 12-14 January 1943:
Unloads 3,804-tons of latex rubber. Loads 222-tons of boiler water.
15 January 1943:
Departs Osaka for Kure.
16 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
E 17-19 January 1943:
Unloads 416-tons of weapons and 4,000-m3 of grain and military supplies. 96 troops embark.
20 January 1943:
Departs Kure for Truk, Carolines.
21 January 1943:
Escorted through Bungo Suido by patrol boat PB-31. The escort detaches later that day.
29 January 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
E 30 January-6 February 1943:
Unloads defensive nets and grain totaling 3,312-m3. 118 troops disembark. Loads 46-m3 of ammunition. 61 troops embark.
7 February 1943:
Departs Truk for Kavieng, New Ireland in a convoy also consisting of AKIBASAN MARU and possibly others.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Kavieng. Departs the same day for Rabaul, New Britain.
11 February 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
E February 1943:
Unloads defensive nets, grain and other supplies totaling 700-m3. 96 troops disembark.
E March 1943:
Loads 300-tons of boiler water and 300-tons of coal. 120 troops embark.
14 March 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Palau.
21 March 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Palau.
E 22-23 March 1943:
One soldier disembarks. 39 troops embark.
24 March 1943:
Departs Palau and arrives the same day at Angaur, Palaus.
E 25 March 1943:
Loads 4,578-tons of phosphorite (phosphate rock).
26 March 1943:
Departs Angaur for Moji.
3 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji. 158 troops disembark. Loads 100-tons of boiler water and 100-tons of coal. Departs later for Konan, NE coast of Korea (Chosen).
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Konan.
E 6 April 1943:
Unloads 4,578-tons of phosphorite. Loads 100-tons of fresh water.
7 April 1943:
Departs Konan for Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Wakamatsu.
E 9-11 April 1943:
Loads 5,497-tons of coal.
12 April 1943:
Departs Wakamatsu for Kure.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
E 14-15 April 1943:
Unloads 5,497-tons of coal.
16 April 1943:
Departs Kure for Wakamatsu.
17 April 1943:
Arrives at Wakamatsu.
E 18 April 1943:
Loads 5,443-tons of coal. Replenishes 100-tons of coal for her boilers.
19 April 1943:
Departs Wakamatsu for Kure.
20 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
E 21-22 April 1943:
Unloads 5,443-tons of coal.
23 April 1943:
Departs Kure and arrives the same day at Wakamatsu.
E 24-25 April 1943:
Loads 5,500-tons of coal.
26 April 1943:
Departs Wakamatsu for Kure.
27 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
E 28-30 April 1943:
Unloads 5,500-tons of coal.
E 1-4 May 1943:
Loads dismantled aircraft parts, bombs and tanker oil in drums totaling 4,488-tons.
5 May 1943:
Departs Kure for Moji.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
E 7 May 1943:
Replenishes 700-tons of coal.
8 May 1943:
Departs Moji for Takao in convoy No. 155 also consisting of transports TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA) and SHINKYO MARUs, tankers SAN LUIS and HOKUAN MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
13 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao. SHINKYO MARU has been previously detached and arrived at Kirun (Keelung) the previous day.
E May 1943:
Assigned to convoy No. 750.
17 May 1943:
Departs Takao for Manila in convoy No. 750 also consisting of KINUGASA MARU and an unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
E May 1943:
Assigned to a convoy.
23 May 1943:
Departs Manila for Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines probably in convoy No. 3106 also consisting of EIKO MARU No.2 Go, SANRAKU MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAGAO. At some point KUNISHIMA and SANRAKU MARUs are likely detached from convoy that is bound for Palau.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Zamboanga. Departs later for Menado, Celebes (now, Manado, Sulawesi).
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Menado.
1 June 1943:
Departs Menado for Kendari, Celebes.
3 June 1943:
Arrives at Kendari.
5 June 1943:
Departs Kendari for Macassar, Celebes.
7 June 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
12 June 1943:
Departs Macassar for Ambon, Moluccas.
15 June 1943:
Arrives at Ambon.
20 June 1943:
Departs Ambon for Ternate, Moluccas.
21 June 1943:
Arrives at Ternate.
24 June 1943:
Departs Ternate for Menado.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Menado.
28 June 1943:
Departs Menado for Tarakan.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan.
17 July 1943:
Departs Tarakan and arrives the same day at Berau Bay, Borneo.
20 July 1943:
Departs Berau Bay and arrives the same day at Tarakan.
22 July 1943:
Departs Tarakan for Davao.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Davao.
29 July 1943:
Departs Davao.
30 July 1943:
Arrives at Zamboanga. Departs later for Tabaco, southern Luzon.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Tabaco.
E August 1943:
Loads about 1,500-m3 of hemp fiber.
7 August 1943:
Departs Tabaco for Takao.
10 August 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
12 August 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives the same day at Mako.
13 August 1943:
Departs Mako for Mutsure and joins convoy No. 292 also consisting of HAKUBASAN and KOSHIN MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
E 16 August 1943:
ASAGAO is detached and turns towards Takao to escort another convoy.
18 August 1943:
At some point, KUNISHIMA MARU is detached and steams independently. Arrives at Mutsure. Departs later for Kobe.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
E 21-22 August 1943:
Unloads about 4,000-m3 of gunny.
23 August 1943:
Departs Kobe for Kure.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Enters dock for repairs and maintenance.
E August 1943:
Loads weapons, ammunition, clothing and iron plates totaling about 5,000-m3.
16 September 1943:
Undocked. Departs Kure for Kobe.
17 September 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
E 17-18 September 1943:
Loads civilian goods totaling about 300-m3.
18 September 1943:
Departs Kobe for Moji.
19 September 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
21 September 1943:
Departs Moji for Mako probably in convoy No.199 believed to also consist of DAIHO, SHINRYU MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan WAKAMIYA.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
28 September 1943:
Departs Mako for Saint Jacques in convoy No.326 also consisting of RIKKO, YASUKUNI, DOWA MARUs and one unidentified ship without escort.
2 October 1943:
Arrives at Saint Jacques.
3 October 1943:
Departs Saint Jacques for Singapore.
5 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 October 1943:
Departs Singapore for Surabaya in a convoy also consisting of MANJU MARU (ex-SANTOS MARU) without escort.
12 October 1943:
At 05-20S, 108-35E, minesweeper W-8 is detached from RIO DE JANEIRO MARU and joins the convoy for providing escort.
13 October 1943:
At 1700, arrives at Surabaya.
E October 1943:
Unloads weapons and grain totaling 1,110-tons. 460 troops embark.
26 October 1943:
Departs Surabaya for Balikpapan.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
E October 1943:
350 troops disembark. Unloads 3,125-m3 of supplies. 559 troops embark.
9 November 1943:
Departs Balikpapan for Macassar with DAI MARU and at 1930 arrives at Kotabaru anchorage.
10 November 1943:
Departs Kotabaru anchorage.
11 November 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
E 12-18 November 1943:
Unloads tank material and weapons totaling 893-tons and 43-m3 of general cargo. 22 troops disembark. Loads 471-tons of cement and 1,402-m3 of oil drums. 20 troops embark.
18 November 1943:
Departs Macassar for Kendari.
20 November 1943:
Arrives at Kendari.
E 21-25 November 1943:
Unloads 6-m3 of hemp and 332-tons of cement. Loads 872-tons of oil drums. 30 troops embark.
26 November 1943:
Departs Kendari for Ambon.
27 November 1943:
At 1130, arrives at Ambon.
E 28-30 November 1943:
Unloads 530 oil drums. 557 troops disembark.
12 December 1943:
Departs Ambon for Pomalaa, Celebes.
15 December 1943:
Arrives at Pomalaa.
25 December 1943:
Departs Pomalaa for Macassar. Joined up with a convoy consisting of auxiliary oiler KYOKO MARU (ex-Dutch SEMIRAMIS) escorted by auxiliary subchaser CHa 101.
26 December 1943:
Arrives at Macassar without KYOKO MARU lagging behind.
27 December 1943:
About 14 nms NW of Kabaena Island. LtCdr (later RearAdmiral-Ret) Brooks J. Harral's (USNA ’32) USS RAY (SS-271) sights KYOKO MARU. At 0045, Harral makes a torpedo attack and gets three hits on the tanker. Burning furiously, KYOKO MARU breaks in two and sinks at 05-07S, 121-38E, taking with her 7,500-tons crude oil cargo, 12 crewmen and 29 passengers.
7 January 1944:
At 1300, departs Macassar for Balikpapan in convoy also consisting of KAGU MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser CHa 112.
8 January 1944:
CHa 112 is detached and meets up with MANYO and SHOZUI MARUs heading to Macassar.
9 January 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
10 January 1944:
Departs Balikpapan for Singapore.
15 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
19 January 1944:
Departs Singapore for Takao in convoy HI-30 also consisting of GOYO and ARIAKE MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan SADO.
30 January 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
6 February 1944:
Departs Takao for Kure.
11 February 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later and arrives the same day at Niihama, Shikoku.
15 February 1944:
At 1700, departs Niihama for Wakamatsu.
16 February 1944:
Arrives at Wakamatsu.
17 February 1944:
At 1700, departs Wakamatsu for Tokuyama.
18 February 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
E 19 February 1944:
Loads aviation gasoline drums and replenishes boiler water totaling 12,500-tons.
20 February 1944:
Departs Tokuyama for Kobe.
21 February 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
22 February 1944:
Departs Kobe for Yokohama as first ship in convoy 8222 escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI. KUNISHIMA MARU is still carrying 15000 drums of aviation gasoline. The constituency of this convoy is unknown. At some point auxiliary patrol boat TAKASHIMA MARU No. 3 joins as an additional escort.
24 February 1944:
Kumano-nada sea, about 8 nms SW of Daio-Saki lighthouse. In dense fog, KUNISHIMA MARU runs aground and strands at 34-12N, 136-49E. She is deemed a constructive total loss. [4]
31 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 508.

Authors Notes:
[1] See Zatsuyosen home page for a full explanation.
[2 There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[3] There is no record of this attack in allied sources.
[4] USS SUNFISH's (SS-281) patrol report claimed KUNISHIMA MARU was torpedoed and sunk off Truk Atoll, at 15-23N, 145-03E, 23 February 1944, but clearly this was a war time error.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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