YUSOSEN!


(Type 2TL Wartime Standard Merchant Tanker Seria Maru by Ueda Kihachiro)

KYOKUUN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

1944:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard as a 10,045 ton Type 2TL tanker.

28 September 1944:
Launched and named KYOKUUN MARU.

9 November 1944:
Completed.

15 November 1944:
At 1600, KYOKUUN MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-27 also consisting of AWAGAWA, EDOGAWA, MATSUURA, SEISHO, OSAKASAN, KOSHU, ENKEI, ENKI and CHINKAI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-61 and CD-134, minesweeper W-101 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-156 and CHa-157. The convoy detours along the Korean coast to avoid American submarines. Immediately after departing ENKEI MARU drops out with rudder problems.

16 November 1944:
KYOKUUN MARU suffers engine problems and drops out and probably returns to Nagasaki for repairs.

25 November 1944:
At 2000, KYOKUUN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-83 also consisting of transport/cargo liners SANUKI, ORYOKU and NISSHO MARUs for Manila and tankers KYOKUUN, SEISHIN, HARIMA, TOA, AKASHI and EISHO MARUs escorted by escort carrier KAIYO, destroyers YUZUKI and KAMIKAZE and kaibokan CD-35, CD-63, CD-64 and CD-207.

26 November 1944:
Departs Sasebo.

30 November 1944:
At 0600, convoy HI-83 arrives at Takao. The Manila contingent is detached from the convoy. KAIYO stops at nearby Saei.

1 December 1944:
At Takao, MIRI MARU and patrol boat No. 102 (ex-USS STEWART (DD-224) join convoy HI-83 now consisting of tankers KYOKUUN, HARIMA, SEISHIN, TOA, EISHO, AKASHI MARUs escorted by escort carrier KAIYO and kaibokan CD-63, CD-64, CD-35, CD-207.

3 December 1944:
At 0522, MIRI MARU opens fire on a surfaced enemy submarine sighted between MIRI and SEISHIN MARUs. One hour later, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Frank W. Fenno's USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) torpedoed and damages SEISHIN MARU that heads to Yulin, Hainan Island with CD-207.

At 0607, LtCdr William N. Deragon's (USNA '34) USS PIPEFISH (SS-388) torpedoes and sinks CD-64 at 18-36N, 111-54E. The convoy breaks up and each ship independently retreats towards Hainan Island. CD-63 continues searching for survivors.

9 December 1944:
Arrives at Quinhon.

10 December 1944:
Departs Quinhon.

13 December 1945:
At 1845 arrives at Singapore.

30 December 1944:
KYOKUUN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-86 also consisting of fleet tanker SAN LUIS MARU and TATSUBATO, OTSUSAN, SHOEI, KYOKUUN, EIMAN, TATEBE, YOSHU and YUSEI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 escorted by the 101st Escort Group's training cruiser KASHII and kaibokan DAITO, UKURU, CD-23, CD-27 and CD-51.

4 January 1945:
Arrives at Cape St. Jacques, near Saigon.

9 January 1945:
The convoy departs Cape St. Jacques.

10 January 1945:
Arrives at Van Fong Bay, Indochina.

11 January 1945:
Departs Van Fong. Arrives at Qui Nhon Bay.

12 January 1945:
Departs Qui Nhon. From 1100 to 1700, in the South China Sea, SB2C "Helldiver" dive-bombers and TBF "Avenger" torpedo-bombers from Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frederick T. Sherman's Task Group 38.3's USS ESSEX (CV-9), TICONDEROGA (CV-14), LANGLEY (CVL-27) and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30) attack convoy HI-86.

At 1408, KASHII is hit starboard amidships by a torpedo. Then an SB2C hits her with two bombs aft that set off her depth charge magazine. KASHII blows up and sinks stern first at 13-50N, 109-20E. UKURU rescues 19 survivors from KASHII at 1430 hours. Only three escorts survive the air attacks.

TG 38.3's planes sink YOSHU and EIMAN MARUs and damage fleet tanker SAN LUIS MARU, DAITO and kaibokan UKURU and CD-27.

KYOKUUN, OTSUYAMA, TATEBE, YUSEI and TATSUBATO MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 are so damaged by bombs and fires they have to be beached and become constructive total losses.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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