YUSOSEN!
(A wartime Standard Type 1TL tanker)
IJN KYOKUHO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2023 Bob Hackett, Peter Cundall and Berend van der Wal
Revision 3
4 June 1943:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki Jukogyo as a 10,059-ton Type 1TL Standard Merchant Tanker for Iino Shoji Kisen Kaisha, K. K. of Fuchu (Later known as Iino Kaiun Kaisha).
11 November 1943:
Launched and named KYOKUHO MARU.
27 January 1944:
Completed and registered at Tokyo with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of respectively 10,059-tons and 7,397-tons. Her call sign is JDLS. [1]
14 February 1944:
Installation of boat loading equipment at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K Shimonoseki Zosensho.
21 February 1944:
At 0700, departs Moji in convoy HI-47 also consisting of oilers AMATSU, OMINESAN and OTOWASAN MARUs and NOSHIRO MARU escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU and SADO.
26 February 1944:
At 0850, the convoy arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
27 February 1944:
Five unidentified merchants and escort kaibokan IKI join the convoy. At midnight, the convoy departs Takao.
28 February 1944:
Kaibokan SADO is detached from the convoy and returns to Takao.
29 February 1944:
At 2100, the convoy departs Takao.
4 March 1944:
South China Sea, about 300 miles W of Miri, Sarawak, British Borneo, (now Malaysia). At dawn, LtCdr Charles M. Henderson's USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) torpedoes and sinks OMINESAN MARU in shallow water at 05-29N, 108-46E. KYOKUHO MARU is detached for Cap St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
5 March 1944:
Arrives at Cap St. Jacques. At 1100, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Singapore.
7 March 1944:
KYOKUHO MARU departs Cap St. Jacques.
10 March 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
29 March 1944:
At 0950, departs Singapore in convoy HI-54 also consisting of IJN oiler MIRI MARU and IJN transports ARIMASAN and NANKAI MARUs escorted by kaibokan AWAJI.
31 March 1944:
Arrives and anchors at Cap St. Jacques.
1 April 1944:
Owner Iino Kaiun Kaisha, K. K. shifts to Tokyo.
4 April 1944:
Kaibokan AWAJI detaches and heads towards Singapore for repairs.
11 April 1944:
Cap St. Jacques. At 1130 convoy HI-56 consisting of IJN oiler ASANAGI MARU and IJA oilers OTORISAN and SARAWAK MARUs and NICHINAN MARU No.2, and two unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and torpedo boat HATO arrives and merges with convoy HI-54. The merged convoy is named HI-56.
14 April 1944:
At 0800 departs St. Jacques in convoy HI-56 now consisting of IJN transport ARIMASAN and NANKAI MARUs, IJN oilers ASANAGI and MIRI MARUs and IJA oilers, OTORISAN and SARAWAK MARUs and NICHINAN MARU No. 2 and aledgedly IJA transport TOKUSHIMA MARU, and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and torpedo boat HATO.
19 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao. At 1710 destroyer KURETAKE joins the escort of convoy HI-56. At 1800 departs Takao in convoy HI-56 now also consisting of IJA transport TOKUSHIMA MARU, IJN oiler ASANAGI MARU, IJA oilers OTORISAN and SARAWAK MARUs and, IJA oiler NICHINAN MARU No. 2 and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and torpedo boat HATO. At some point NICHINAN MARU No.2 detaches and heads for Shanghai.
24 April 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure Island.
25 April 1944:
Departs Mutsure Island.
26 April 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
28 April 1944:
Departs Kure and later that day arrives at Kobe.
9 May 1944:
Registered as an auxiliary transport (refueling ship) in the Kure Naval District under order No. 642-2 Attached to the Combined Fleet as a special transport Otsu category. [2]
11 May 1944:
Departs Kobe.
12 May 1944:
Arrives at Moji. That same day, KYOKUHO MARU is requisitioned by the IJN.
13 May 1944:
At 0400, departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-63 also consisting of tankers, SANYO, RYOEI and OTOWASAN MARUs, passenger-cargo AWA, SANUKI, TEIA (ex-Vichy French liner ARAMIS), IJA landing craft depot ships TAMATSU and KIBITSU MARUs and USSURI and NISSHO (6526 gt) MARUs escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA, IKI, CD-9 and CD-15. SANUKI MARU and other transports, except TAMATSU, KIBITSU and NISSHO MARUs, carry troops bound for Burma.
18 May 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Manila, Philippines. TAMATSU, KIBITSU and NISSHO MARUs are detached.
20 May 1944:
At 2000, the remaining eight ships in HI-63 depart Manila for Singapore with the same escort.
24 May 1944:
150 miles W of Sarawak, British Borneo (now Malaysia). LtCdr (later Cdr) James W. Davis' (USNA ’30) USS RATON (SS-270) attacks the convoy. At about 0220 (JST), IKI is hit by two torpedoes. One hits aft, one hits below the bridge. IKI breaks into three sections and sinks in less than twenty minutes. A total of 160 sailors, including IKI’s skipper LtCdr Nakao Kusuo (57) are KIA; 18 are rescued by ETOROFU. Nakao Kusuo is promoted to Cdr, posthumously. Rear Admiral the Baron, Ijuin Matsuji’s (43) (former CO of KONGO) is also KIA. He is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously. In the same attack, Davis lightly damages MATSUWA at 01-17N 107-53E. The rest of HI-63 escapes unscathed. [3]
25 May 1944:
At 1130 arrives with IJN oiler RYOEI MARU at Singapore escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA.
27 May 1944:
At 2000 the remainder of the convoy arrives at Singapore escorted by kaibokan CD-9 and CD-15.
1 June 1944:
Departs Singapore and arrives at Pulau Bukum island later this day.
3 June 1944:
Departs Pulau Bukum.
7 June 1944:
Arrives at Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
11 June 1944:
KYOKUHO MARU is attached to the 3rd Supply Unit of the 1st Mobile Fleet and to participate in Operation “A-GO” (The Battle of the Philippine Seas). The same day departs Tawi Tawi, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines in the KYOKUHO MARU-convoy escorted by kaibokan MANJU. Later this day the convoy is attacked by an enemy submarine. MANJU counter-attacks and claims a certain kill.
12 June 1944:
The convoy arrives at Balikpapan.
14 June 1944:
At 0930 departs Balikpapan in KYOKUHO MARU convoy also consisting of IJN oilers OKIKAWA and RYOEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan MANJU.
18 June 1944:
Arrives off Masapilit Point, Buad Island (off W coast of Samar), Philippines. [4]).
21 June 1944:
Departs Masapilit.
22 June 1944:
KYOKUHO MARU breaks down. 1TL Tanker OKIKAWA MARU begins towing preparations, but discontinues them because of possible enemy attack. At 1400, arrives at Cabugao Bay, on the S coast of Catanduanes Island, Philippines.
23 June 1944:
At 0600, convoy departs Cabugao Bay. At 0840, enters Albay Gulf. Later that day, arrives at Legaspi, Philippines.
12 July 1944:
Departs Legaspi.
13 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila, Philippines.
14 August 1944:
Departs Manila and arrives at Mindoro, Philippines. Departs the next day.
17 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo.
20 August 1944:
Departs Miri.
23 August 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
25 August 1944:
At 1650, KYOKUHO MARU joins convoy HI-71 and departs Manila, Philippines with IJN oilers AZUSA and KYOKUTO MARUs, IJA oiler ZUIHO MARU, IJA transport AWA MARU and IJN transport HOKKAI MARU escorted by destroyer FUJINAMI, kaibokan HIRADO, KURAHASHI, MIKURA, CD-11 and subchaser CH-28. Later at 1845, KYOKUHO MARU develops engine trouble and drops behind escorted by FUJINAMI. Later, they catch up with the convoy.
27 August 1944:
At 1845, KYOKUHO MARU suffers a system breakdown and falls out of the convoy. Arrives at Mapankal (Candagawa or Pampandugang) Point, Palawan, Philippines later that day.
29 August 1944:
Departs Mapankal Point. Arrives at Miri.
1 September 1944:
At 1356, arrives at Singapore.
9 September 1944:
At 0722, departs Miri with IJN oiler KYOKUTO MARU escorted by destroyer SATSUKI and subchasers CH-28, CH-30 and CH-33. KYOKUHO MARU is carrying 15,000-tons of heavy oil and 68 infantrymen of the IJA’s 112th Regiment. Shortly after leaving port, KYOKUHO MARU due to a condenser failure returns to Miri.
15 September 1944:
At 1500, departs Miri for Manila in convoy MIMA-11 also consisting of IJA oilers HOKKI, TACHIBANA and TENSHIN MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and IJA shared oiler (A/C-AO) ZUIYO (ex British ATHELTARN) MARU, IJN oilers, KYOEI MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 (clean oiler), IJN general transport (B-AO) SHOEI (2764 GRT) MARU, IJA transports IMAHARU (ex-Dutch De KLERK), SHIKISAN, and URAL MARUs, and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, IJN transports (ex minelayer) TATSUHARU MARU and, civil merchant OMINE MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25, CD-28 and CD-32. The convoy hugs the coast calling at various small anchorages. That same day at 1800, arrives at Kimanis Bay, NW Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia).
17 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Kimanis Bay. That same day at 1830, arrives at White Rocks Bay, NW Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia).
18 September 1944:
At 0100 departs White Rocks Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives off Tarahican Island (Darahikan/Dalahican) between Palawan Island and Balabac Island, Philippines.
19 September 1944:
At 0100 departs Tarahican Island. That same day at 0850, arrives at Eran Bay, Palawan.
20 September 1944:
At 0400 departs Eran Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives at Saint Paul’s Bay, Palawan.
21 September 1944:
At 0700 departs St Paul’s Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives at Bacuit Bay, Palawan.
24 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Bacuit Bay, but later returns at 1830.
25 September 1944:
At 0845 departs Bacuit Bay. Soon after due to fears of air attacks on Manila a part of the convoy likely consisting of IJA transports SHIKISAN and IMAHARU MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, IJA oiler TENSHIN MARU, IJN oiler KYOEI and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and IJN transport (ex minelayer) TATSUHARU MARU is detached and returns to Bacuit Bay escorted by kaibokan CD-32. The rest of the convoy is diverted to Takao.
27 September 1944:
At 0807, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks URAL MARU at 15-32N, 117-16E. 144 passengers, 40 crewmen and five gunners are KIA. Survivors are picked up by IJA shared oiler (A/C-AO) ZUIYO (ex British ATHELTARN) MARU. Two hours later, LtCdr Donald G. Baer's (USNA ’37) USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes HOKKI MARU at 15-50N, 117-41E She catches fire and is abandoned. Civil merchant OMINE MARU takes her in tow, but she sinks at 15-50N, 117-41E. Two crewmen are KIA.
28 September 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Santa Cruz, Luzon, Philippines.
1 October 1944:
At 0700, departs Santa Cruz in convoy MIMA-11 for Takao. At 1100, LtCdr William C. Thompson's USS CABRILLA (SS-288) torpedoes and sinks IJA shared oiler (A/C-AO) ZUIYO (ex British ATHELTARN). At 1155, Thompson also torpedoes and sinks KYOKUHO MARU at 16-15N, 119-43E, about 10km west-northwest of Cape Reyna (Rena Point), Luzon, Philippines. 66 Crewmen, 9 gunners and 43 soldiers are KIA.
10 December 1944:
Removed from the Navy List under order No. 1348.
Authors' Notes:
Author’s 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] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[3] Australian diver/photojournalist Kevin Denlay reports that in 2004 divers from M/V EMPRESS out of Singapore located the bow section of IKI laying on its starboard side in about 50m/165ft of water. However, although they searched nearby, they did not find the rest of the wreck.
[4] The Japanese used the phonetic Katakana syllabary to describe place names for most locations outside of Japanese territory and China. In most cases these Katakana names were phonetic representations of original English, Spanish, Dutch, Malay and Indonesian names. In some cases, the Bahasa Indonesia rendering of the name was different from the Colonial Dutch rendering of the same name. After Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands there were a number of name changes with Dutch and Anglo names excised. Thus, the noted locations given in the TROM are speculative at best.
Thanks go to Erich Muethlthaler of Germany for info in Rev 2. Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Bob Hackett, Peter Cundall, Berend van der Wal
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