YUSOSEN!



(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN KYOEI MARU No. 3:

Tabular Record of Movement

© 2009-2020 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

Revision 3


17 September 1940:
Aioi. Laid down at Harima Zosensho K. K. as a 1189 GRT tanker for Kyoei Tanker K.K., Kobe.

26 February 1941:
Launched and named KYOEI MARU No. 3.

30 June 1941:
Completed and registered at Kobe. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 1,189-tons and 574-tons. Her call sign is JGZM. [1]

23 January 1942:
Requisitioned and registered in the Sasebo Naval District as a chartered tanker (oil supply).

29 January 1942:
At Sasebo transferred from Ministry of Navy.

2 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka in a westbound convoy with TOKIWA MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU.

28 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka. Apparently waits in Tokyo Bay overnight.

29 August 1942:
At 1030 off Futtsu, joins a westbound convoy also consisting of KIZUGAWA, DURBAN and HORAI MARUs, initially escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU.

14 September 1942:
Departs Tokyo Bay in westbound convoy also consisting of SUZUKAI MARU, initially escorted by auxiliary gunboat KASAGI MARU.

1 October 1942:
Navy (Resv) Hamano Masao is appointed CO.

1 December 1942:
Departs Hesaki.

2 December 1942:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria.

3 December 1942:
Departs Dairen. Loads fuel oil.

8 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

9 December 1942:
Departs Kure.

14 December 1942:
Arrives at Dairen. Loads fuel oil.

15 December 1942:
Departs Dairen.

18 December 1942:
Arrives at Sakito.

19 December 1942:
Departs Sakito and arrives at Sasebo later that day. Unloads fuel oil.

21 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.

24 December 1942:
Arrives at Dairen. Loads fuel oil.

25 December 1942:
Departs Dairen.

28 December 1942:
Arrives at Arikawa Bay.

29 December 1942:
Departs Arikawa Bay and later that day arrives at Sasebo. Unloads fuel oil.

31 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.

1 January 1943:
Arrives at Niijima.

2 January 1943:
Departs Niijima.

5 January 1943:
Arrives at Dairen. Loads fuel oil.

6 January 1943:
Departs Dairen.

9 January 1943:
Arrives at Sakito.

10 January 1943:
Departs Sakito and later that day arrives at Sasebo. Unloads fuel oil.

20 January 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai Chinkai, Chosen (now Chinae, South Korea) with heavy fuel.

21 January 1943:
Departs Chinkai.

24 January 1943:
Arrives at Hoshigaura Bay, Dairen.

25 January 1943:
Departs Hoshigaura Bay and later that day arrives at Ryojun (Port Arthur, after WW 2 Lushun, now Lushunkou).

26 January 1943:
Departs Ryojun.

29 January 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai with heavy fuel.

30 January 1943:
Departs Chinkai.

31 January 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama Naval Fuel Depot. Loads fuel oil.

1 February 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.

3 February 1943:
Arrives at Wadamisaki, outside Kobe.

4 February 1943:
Departs Wadamisaki, Kobe.

6 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads fuel oil.

13 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

15 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama and later that same day arrives at Yokosuka and then departs.

24 February 1943:
Begins conversion and fitting of military equipment.

25 February 1943:
Completes conversion. Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

27 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama.

28 February 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.

1 March 1943:
Departs Nagoya.

2 March 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu.

4 March 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.

5 March 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.

6 March 1943:
Departs Nagoya.

8 March 1943:
Arrives at Hesaki.

9 March 1943:
Departs Hesaki.

10 March 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.

11 March 1943:
Departs Chinkai.

13 March 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

14 March 1943:
Offloads 1,153.780-tons of heavy oil and loads 7,800-tons of drums. Departs Maizuru.

16 March 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure Island.

17 March 1943:
Departs Mutsure and later that day arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil. [2]

19 March 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.

21 March 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru. Offloads 1,237-tons of heavy oil.

23 March 1943:
Departs Maizuru.

25 March 1943:
Arrives at Niigata.

27 March 1943:
Departs Niigata.

29 March 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.

30 March 1943:
Offloads 1,253-tons of heavy oil.

31 March 1943:
Loads 1,241-tons of heavy oil. Departs Maizuru.

3 April 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu.

7 April 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.

8 April 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

11 April 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.

12 April 1943:
Arrives at Wadamisaki, outside Kobe.

13 April 1943:
Departs Wadamisaki.

15 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

16 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

19 April 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

22 April 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.

23 April 1943:
Arrives at Wadamisaki.

24 April 1943:
Departs Wadamisaki, Kobe.

26 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

28 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

30 April 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.

1 May 1943:
Departs Osaka and later that day arrives at Shimotsu.

6 May 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.

8 May 1943:
Arrives at Kanaya.

9 May 1943:
Departs Kanaya and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.

14 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

15 May 1943:
Arrives at Shimizu Bay and later that day departs.

20 May 1943:
Arrives at Konan (Hungnam), Chosen (now North Korea).

22 May 1943:
Departs Konan.

24 May 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

5 May 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.

27 May 1943:
Arrives at Aioi. Probably dry-docked for repairs and maintenance.

5 June 1943:
Departs Aioi and later that day arrives at Wadamisaki, Kobe.

6 June 1943:
Departs Wadamisaki, Kobe.

7 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Probably loads aviation gasoline.

8 June 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.

9 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

11 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

13 June 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

14 June 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.

15 June 1943:
Arrives at Wadamisaki.

16 June 1943:
Departs Wadamisaki.

18 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads fuel oil.

21 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 7621B also consisting of one unidentified MARU and one unidentified escort vessel. At 2350, at 77 degrees and 12,5 nautical miles of the Daiozaki Lighthouse, Cdr (MOH, posthumously Cdr (MOH, posthumously) Samuel D. Dealey’s (USNA ’30) USS HARDER (SS-257) torpedoes and damages KYOEI MARU No. 3 at 34-30N, 137-32E. Later, she is towed to Owase Bay.

24 June 1943:
Arrives at Owase Wan.

1 August 1943:
Departs Owase Wan towed by KAIGEN MARU and later that day arrives at Fukuro.

2 August 1943:
Departs Fukuro and later that day arrives at Wakanoura.

3 August 1943:
Departs Wakanoura and later that day arrives at Aioi.

4 August 1943:
Enters Harima shipyard. Undergoes repairs.

24 February 1944:
Completes repairs.

25 February 1944:
Departs Aioi.

26 February 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

27 February 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.

28 February 1944:
Arrives at Wadamisaki, Kobe.

1 March 1944:
Departs Wadamisaki, Kobe.

2 March 1944:
Arrives at Owase.

3 March 1944:
Departs Owase and later that day arrives at Irako.

4 March 1944:
Departs Irako.

5 March 1944:
Arrives at Manazuru.

6 March 1944:
Departs Manazuru and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.

7 March 1944:
Begins electric wiring repairs, possibly radio repairs.

10 March 1944:
Completes repairs.

11 March 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Kawasaki.

12 March 1944:
Departs Kawasaki and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

13 March 1944:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Nagoya.

14 March 1944:
Departs Nagoya and later that day arrives at Owase.

15 March 1944:
Departs Owase.

16 March 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

18 March 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.

19 March 1944:
Arrives at Wadamisaki, Kobe.

20 March 1944:
Departs Wadamisaki, Kobe.

21 March 1944:
Arrives at Gokosho.

22 March 1944:
Departs Gokosho.

23 March 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

24 March 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Kawasaki.

25 March 1944:
Departs Kawasaki and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.

26 March 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Kawasaki.

28 March 1944:
Departs Kawasaki and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.

31 March 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

1 April 1944:
Departs Yokohama.

2 April 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate, Hokkaido.

3 April 1944:
Departs Hakodate and later that day arrives at Miumaya.

4 April 1944:
Departs Miumaya and later that day arrives at Funakawa.

7 April 1944:
Departs Funakawa.

11 April 1944:
Arrives at Wadamisaki, Kobe.

12 April 1944:
Departs Wadamisaki, Kobe and later that day arrives at a berth at Gobo, in the mouth of the Hidaka River, Wakayama.

13 April 1944:
Departs Gobo and later that day arrives at Yokkaichi.

16 April 1944:
Departs Yokkaichi and later that day arrives at Owase.

17 April 1944:
Departs Owase.

18 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

20 April 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.

21 April 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo. Unloads fuel oil.

23 April 1944:
Departs Sasebo.

24 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

26 April 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.

27 April 1944:
Arrives at Wadamisaki, Kobe.

28 April 1944:
Departs Wadamisaki and later that day arrives at Wakanoura.

29 April 1944:
Departs Wakanoura and later that day arrives at Gokosho.

30 April 1944:
Departs Gokosho.

1 May 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads fuel oil.

2 May 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Kawasaki.

3 May 1944:
Departs Kawasaki and later that day arrives at Tsurumi.

5 May 1944:
Departs Tsurumi and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.

6 May 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

7 May 1944:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Irako.

8 May 1944:
Departs Irako and later that day arrives at Owase.

9 May 1944:
Departs Owase.

10 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

16 May 1944: :
Departs Tokuyama and later that day arrives at Wadamisaki.

17 May 1944:
Departs Wadamisaki in convoy No. 8517A also consisting of TOKO and SHORYU MARUs and later that day arrives at Gobo anchorage.

18 May 1944:
Departs Gobo and later that day arrives at Owase.

19 May 1944:
Departs Owase and later that day arrives at Irako.

20 May 1944:
Departs Irako.

21 May 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

22 May 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

23 May 1944:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Matoya.

24 May 1944:
Departs Matoya.

25 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

27 May 1944:
Departs Tokuyama and later that day arrives at Wadamisaki.

28 May 1944:
Departs Wadamisaki and later that day arrives at Gobo.

29 May 1944:
Departs Gobo and later that same day arrives at Matoya.

30 May 1944:
Departs Matoya and later that day arrives at Funagata light, north of Tateyama Bay, at the entrance to Tokyo Bay.

31 May 1944:
Departs Funagata and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.

2 June 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.

3 June 1944:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Matoya.

4 June 1944:
Departs Matoya and later that day arrives at Oshima.

5 June 1944:
Departs Oshima.

6 June 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads fuel oil.

7 June 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.

9 June 1944:
Arrives at Rashin (now Najin, also known as Rason, North Korea).

12 June 1944:
Departs Rashin.

14 June 1944:
Arrives at Ukujima Island.

15 June 1944:
Registered in the Sasebo Naval District as a specially installed transport ship (oil supply) and assigned directly to the Combined Fleet as an auxiliary transport Otsu category. That same day, departs Ukujima and later arrives at Sasebo. Unloads fuel oil.[3]

23 June 1944:
Departs Sasebo.

29 June 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung. Taiwan).

30 June 1944:
Departs Takao.

3 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila, Philippines.

7 July 1944:
Departs Manila.

9 July 1944:
Arrives at Cebu, Philippines.

10 July 1944:
Departs Cebu.

11 July 1944:
Arrives at Zamboanga, Philippines.

14 July 1944:
Departs Zamboanga and later that day arrives at Jolo, Philippines.

15 July 1944:
Departs Jolo and later that day arrives at Alfred Point, Sabah, British NE Borneo (now Malaysia).

16 July 1944:
Departs Alfred Point and later that day arrives at Point Delconte (now Tanjong Nagos), Sabah, 04-19N, 118-24E, British North-Borneo.

17 July 1944:
D Departs Point Delconte and later that day arrives at Tarakan, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Loads fuel oil.

3 August 1944:
Departs Tarakan and later that day arrives at Berouw River estuary, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies.

4 August 1944:
Departs Berouw River estuary and later that day arrives at Karang Besar, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies.

5 August 1944:
Departs Karang Besar and later that day arrives at Sangkulirang, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies.

6 August 1944:
Departs Sangkulirang and later that day arrives at Kutei estuary, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies.

7 August 1944:
Departs Kutei estuary.

8 August 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies. Loads fuel oil.

16 August 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.

17 August 1944:
Arrives at Karang Besar.

18 August 1944:
Departs Karang Besar and later that day arrives at Berouw estuary.

19 August 1944:
Departs Berouw estuary and later that day arrives at Tarakan, Borneo.

20 August 1944:
Departs Tarakan and later that same day arrives at Trusan Ligitan, Sabah, British Borneo.

21 August 1944:
Departs Trusan Ligitan and later that day arrives at Bongao, Tawi Tawi, Philippines.

22 August 1944:
Departs Bongao and later that same day arrives at Jolo, Jolo Island, Sulu Islands, Philippines.

23 August 1944:
Departs Jolo and later that same day arrives at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines.

25 August 1944:
Departs Zamboanga.

26 August 1944:
Arrives at Cebu, Cebu Island, Philippines.

29 August 1944:
Departs Cebu.

30 August 1944:
Arrives at Zamboanga.

1 September 1944:
Departs Zamboanga in convoy with tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 and CAROLINE MARU escorted by minesweeper W-30. Later that day arrives at Jolo.

2 September 1944:
Departs Jolo and later that day arrives at Bongao.

3 September 1944:
Departs Bongao and later that day arrives at Trusan Ligitan.

4 September 1944:
Departs Trusan Ligitan and later that day arrives at Tarakan. Loads fuel oil.

7 September 1944:
Departs Tarakan and later that day arrives at Tandjung Doemaring, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies.

8 September 1944:
Departs Tandjung Doemaring and later that day arrives at Sangkulirang.

9 September 1944:
Departs Sangkulirang and later that day arrives at the Kutei estuary.

10 September 1944:
Departs Kutei estuary and later that day arrives at Balikpapan. Loads fuel oil.

14 September 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.

15 September 1944:
Arrives at Berouw estuary.

16 September 1944:
Departs Berouw estuary and later that day arrives at Tawau, Sabah, British Borneo.

17 September 1944:
Departs Tawau and later that day arrives at Trusan Ligitan.

18 September 1944:
Departs Trusan Ligitan and later that day arrives at Tangusu Bay (now Teluk Tangusu), Sabah, British Borneo.

19 September 1944:
Departs Teluk Tangusu.

20 September 1944:
Arrives at Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.

24 September 1944:
Departs Puerto Princesa and later that day arrives at Honda Bay.

25 September 1944:
Departs Honda Bay and later that day arrives at Brookes Point, Palawan.

26 September 1944:
Departs Brookes Point.

27 September 1944:
Arrives at Port Kaluton (Calton), Busuanga Island, Philippines.

28 September 1944:
Departs Port Kaluton and later that day arrives at Looc Bay, Romblon, Philippines.

29 September 1944:
Departs Looc Bay and later that day arrives at Manila.

2 October 1944:
Departs Manila and later that day arrives at Looc Bay.

3 October 1944:
Departs Looc Bay.

7 October 1944:
Arrives at Sandakan, Sabah, British Borneo.

9 October 1944:
Departs Sandakan.

11 October 1944:
Arrives at Karang Besar Island.

12 October 1944:
Departs Karang Besar Island. Undergoes an air attack at OO.47N-118.34E, 245 degrees and 27 nautical miles of Cape Mangkalihat, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies. Her 25mm guns fire 60 shots.

13 October 1944:
Arrives at Adang Bay, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies.

15 October 1944:
Departs Adang Bay and later that day arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo. Loads 1,440kl aviation volatile oil (Avgas) and cans of aviation mineral oil.

29 October 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.

31 October 1944:
Arrives at Trusan Ligitan.

1 November 1944:
Departs Trusan Ligitan.

3 November 1944:
Arrives at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines.

4 November 1944:
Departs Puerto Princesa.

5 November 1944:
Undergoes an air attack at 13.29N-120.19E, 2,1 degrees and 3 nautical miles of Cape Calavite Lighthouse, Mindoro, Philippines. Fires 150 shots.

6 November 1944:
Arrives at Manila. Uundergoes an air attack. Fires 210 shots.

11 November 1944:
At 2100 departs Manila escorted by patrol boat PB-103 and submarine chasers CH-30 and CH-31 in Taihi Refugee convoy also consisting of ASOKAWA MARU and AYAKUMO MARU.

12 November 1944:
At 13.00N-118.30E attacked by a torpedo but manages to avoid it.

14 November 1944:
At 08.20N-117.03E undergoes an air attack. The 25mm guns fire 60 shots. At 1658 arrives at Cape Buliluyan,Palawan.

15 November 1944:
At 0658 departs Cape Buliluyan and later that day at 1854, arrives at White Rock Bay, Palawan.

16 November 1944:
At 1200 departs White Rock Bay and later that day, at 1837, arrives at Jesselton, Sabah, British Borneo.

17 November 1944:
At 0658 departs Jesselton and later that day, at 1542, arrives at Brunei Bay, Borneo. Loads fuel oil.

18 November 1944:
At 1210 departs Brunei Bay.

19 November 1944:
Off Brunei. Arrives at "Patches", an area of submerged reefs, S of the Ampa and Browne Patches, 4-50N, 114-20E. Later that day at 0720 departs Patches and arrives at Miri, Sarawak, British Borneo (now Malaysia) at 1839.

21 November 1944:
At 1000 departs Miri still escorted by PB-103.

24 November 1944:
At 1735 arrives at Pulau Pangkil, Riau Islands, Netherlands East Indies (now Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia).

25 November 1944:
At 0825 departs Pulau Pangkil. At 1720 arrives at Singapore, Malaya. Unloads fuel oil. Thereafter loads 1,440kl aviation volatile oil and 160 cans of aviation mineral oil.

4 December 1944:
At 0800, KYOEI MARU No. 3 departs Singapore in the SHIMA RINJI convoy consisting of tankers SHOEI (2854 gt), EIHO and KOSHIN MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-43, subchasers CH-30 and CH-31 and patrol boat PB-103.

6 December 1944:
At 2000 arrives at Tandjong Datu, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (also known as Cape Datu or Cape Datoe(k), now Indonesia). At 2400, departs Tandjong Datu.

8 December 1944:
At 0104, LtCdr John C. Martin’s (USNA ’34) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) and LtCdr Joseph P. FitzPatrick’s (USNA ’38) USS PADDLE (SS-263) attack the convoy and torpedoes SHOEI MARU (2854gt) with a cargo of 5,000-tons of gasoline at 04-02N, 111-12E. She sinks at about 0400, taking down 42 of her crew.

9 December 1944:
At 0830, arrives at Tandjong Paloh, Sarawak, British Borneo.

10 December 1944:
At 0700, departs Tandjong Paloh.

11 December 1944:
At 0900, arrives at Pending and at 1200 departs.

12 December 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Kuching, Sarawak.

13 December 1944:
At 1200, departs Kuching.

15 December 1944:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo. Loads fuel oil.

16 December 1944:
KOSHIN MARU suffers engine trouble and has to be towed into Miri. Later, the convoy departs Miri.

18 December 1944:
In the evening, arrives at Cape Paloh.

19 December 1944:
Arrives at Pending, near Kuching.

23 December 1944:
At 1400 departs Pending. At 2300, subchaser CH-30 is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Captain) Irvin S. Hartman’s (USNA ’33) USS BARBERO (SS-317).

24 December 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Cape Paloh. The convoy's destination is changed to Cape St Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).

25 December 1944:
At 1200, departs Cape Paloh.

1 January 1945:
At 1100, arrives at St. Jacques.

3 January 1945:
Departs St. Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon.

12 January 1945:
Task Force 38’s planes damage KYOEI MARU No. 3 and landing ships T.149 and T.137. Anchors at No. 1 buoy at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). The 25 mm gun fire 600 shots. Damaged after 3 near hits and strafing of the bow. The bow contains dozens of bullet holes.

31 January 1945:
Departs Saigon and later that day arrives at St. Jacques. First Southern Fleet Instruction No. 57:

KYOEI MARU No. 3 will go to Qui Nhon, French Indochina and load the volatile oil from (damaged/sunk 12 January 1945?) RYUSHO MARU (about 131 kl or cans?) and transport it to Saigon. The commander of the Eleventh Base Squadron will dispatch a ship for escorting KYOEI MARU No. 3.

3 February 1945:
Departs St. Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon, Indochina.

6 February 1945:
Departs Saigon.

7 February 1945:
Departs Cana escorted by submarine chaser CH-20.

8 February 1945:
Arrives at Qui Nhon, Indochina.

8 ~ 14 February 1945:
Loads volatile oil from RYUSHO MARU.

14 February 1945:
Departs Qui Nhon and later that day arrives at Nha Trang, French Indochina.

15 February 1945:
Departs Nha Trang.

16 February 1945:
Arrives at Saigon. Offloads volatile oil.

19 February 1945:
Departs Saigon.

24 February 1945:
Arrives at Singapore.

28 February 1945:
Departs Singapore.

29 February 1945:
Arrives at Palembang, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Loads fuel oil.

1 March 1945:
Departs Palembang and later that day arrives off Kupang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies (now East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia).

9 March 1945:
Undergoes repairs by No. 5 Group of the No. 2 Ship Repair Co.

4 April 1945:
Departs Kupang anchorage.

5 April 1945:
Arrives at the Berhala Straits.

6 April 1945:
Departs the Berhala Straits and later that day arrives at the Durian Straits.

7 April 1945:
Departs Durian Straits and later that day arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.

9 April 1945:
Departs Singapore and later that day arrives at the Berhala Straits, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).

10 April 1945:
Departs the Berhala Straits.

11 April 1945:
Arrives at the unidentified “Dorafurasu” anchorage. Later that day departs and arrives at Palembang and loads fuel oil. Departs and arrives back at Dorafurasu later that day.

12 April 1945:
Departs Dorafurasu anchorage and later that day arrives at the Berhala Straits.

13 April 1945:
Departs the Berhala Straits and later that day arrives at the Durian Straits.

14 April 1945:
Departs Durian Straits and later that day arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.

20 April 1945:
Departs Singapore and later that day arrives at the Berhala Straits.

21 April 1945:
Departs the Berhala Straits and later that day arrives at Dorafurasu anchorage.

22 April 1945:
Departs Dorafurasu anchorage. Because of steering failure, KYOEI MARU No. 3 collides with NANJO MARU (ex ARARE MARU, ex PAULA). Later that same day arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.

23 April 1945:
Departs Palembang and later that day arrives at the Berhala Straits.

24 April 1945:
Departs the Berhala Straits and later that day arrives at the southern mouth of the Durian Straits.

25 April 1945:
Departs the southern mouth of the Durian Straits and later that day arrives at the northern mouth of the Durian Straits.

26 April 1945:
Departs the northern mouth of the Durian Straits and later that day arrives at Singapore. Unloads fuel oil.

30 June 1945:
Returned to her owners. Removed from the Navy List.

17 July 1945:
At 1300, KYOEI MARU No. 3 departs Singapore for Ha Tien, French Indochina carrying 1500-tons of oil in the "Chi Go" Operation convoy consisting of tanker HISHI MARU No. 3 and another unidentified ship escorted by destroyer KAMIKAZE, auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU and two unidentified escorts

19 July 1945:
Alerted by USN aircraft, at 1945 (I), Cdr Joseph W. Williams' (USNA ’33) USS BUMPER's (SS-333) SJ radar picks up a convoy later identified as consisting of two small tankers, a very small freighter, two escorts and a KAMIKAZE-class destroyer. A Japanese floatplane is also spotted circling the convoy. William's signals his wolf pack commander Cdr Harry B. Dodge (USNA ’30) in USS BRILL (SS-330) who orders USS BUMPER to conduct a submerged patrol to intercept the convoy.

At 1815, Williams fires three torpedoes at KAMIKAZE, but they miss. KAMIKAZE counterattacks with six depth charges, but USS BUMPER evades. At 2230, USS BUMPER's SJ radar picks up interference from KAMIKAZE's radar. At about 2330, Dodge's BRILL fires torpedoes at KAMIKAZE, but she zigs away and they miss.

20 July 1945:
Gulf of Siam. At 0135, Williams fires all six bow torpedoes at KAMIKAZE, but again she zigs away and they all miss. Williams decides KAMIKAZE is using sound detection to avoid the American's torpedoes. USS BUMPER reloads her four torpedoes forward. At 0346, Williams fires those four torpedoes at the nearest ship in the convoy, but they all miss.

Near Ha Tien. At about 0529, Williams fires his last torpedoes--three in the stern--at a tanker and at 0531 observes one hit. KYOEI MARU No. 3 sinks at 08-08N, 103-40E. 47 crewmen are KIA.


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] Loading and unloading of fuel oil and gasoline noted at various ports in this TROM is speculative rather than factual.

[3] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

Thanks for assistance in translating location names go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany and Sander Kingsepp of Estonia. Thanks for general assistance goes to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France, Mr. Gengoto Toda of Japan and Mr Berend van der Wal of Netherlands.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.


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