Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(KYOKUYO MARU in ballast, May 1941)

IJN KYOKUYO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010-2021 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 8

7 January 1938:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki as a 17, 549-ton whaling factory ship for Kyokuyo Hogei K. K., Tokyo.
28 June 1938:
Launched and named KYOKUYO MARU.
4 October 1938:
Kyokuyo Hogei K.K. obtains a ‘Mother ship type whale’ fishery approval certificate Ki No. 1, valid from 4 October 1938 until 31 May 1939. Her operation area is S of 40S. Attached are 8 fishing boats with a total number of 250-tons or more and 1 fishing boat of 300-tons or more.
5 October 1938:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 17,548-tons and 13,875-tons. Her call sign is JQFM. [1]
11 October 1938:
Departs Kobe on her first Antartic whaling voyage.
7 November 1938:
Arrives at Fremantle, Australia.
1938:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
21 October 1938:
Kyokuyo Hogei K.K. obtains a ‘Mother ship type whale’ fishery approval certificate Ki No. 1, valid from 21 October 1939 until 31 May 1940. Her operation area is S of 40S. Attached are 8 fishing boats with a total number of 250-tons or more and 1 fishing boat of 300-tons or more.
1939:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 17,549-tons and 13,763-tons. [1]
16 April 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 April 1939:
Departs Sasebo.
1939:
Arrives at Kobe.
29 October 1939:
Departs Kobe on her second Antartic whaling voyage.
19 April 1940:
Arrives at Kobe.
10 October 1940:
Departs Kobe on her third Antartic whaling voyage.
29 March 1941:
Arrives at Kobe.
1941:
Engages in transporting heavy oil from North America.
17 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN and registered in the Yokosuka Naval District as a general chartered transport ship (oil supply). Capt. Ota Masaano is appointed Commanding Officer.
3 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka. Arrives at Kurihama.
7 December 1941:
Departs Kurihama.
15 December 1941:
Arrives at Mako.
17 December 1941:
Departs Mako.
18 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
27 December 1941:
Departs Takao.
4 January 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
4 ~ 9 January 1942:
Scheduled for a transport mission under Yokosuka Naval District order No. 4. Later this month transports mines, ammunition, bombs and other munitions.
9 January 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
21 January 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores (now Magong, Penghu Islands, Taiwan).
28 January 1942:
Departs Mako.
29 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
6 February 1942:
Departs Takao.
12 February 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
16 February 1942:
Departs Osaka.
18 February 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
19 February 1942:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Kanogawa.
21 February 1942:
Departs Kanogawa. Arrives at Kure.
23 February 1942:
Departs Kure.
1 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
3 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
5 March 1942:
Arrives at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines.
9 March 1942:
Departs Lingayen.
19 March 1942:
Arrives at Penang, British Malaya (now Malaysia).
21 March 1942:
Departs Penang.
23 March 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
25 March 1942:
Departs Singapore.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
9 April 1942:
Departs Kure.
10 April 1942:
Arrives at Aioi. Enters drydock.
14 April 1942:
Undocked. Departs Aioi.
15 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
16 April 1942:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Kanogawa.
18 April 1942:
Departs Kanogawa.
24 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 ~ 28 April 1942:
Scheduled for personnel and munitions transport under wireless transport instruction No. 948.
28 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka possibly with auxiliary transport KAIHEI MARU and auxiliary collier/oiler TAGONOURA MARU.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Kanogawa.
3 May 1942:
Departs Kanogawa.
6 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
6 ~ 9 May 1942:
Scheduled for munition transport under wireless transport instruction No. 118.
9 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
11 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
12 May 1942:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Kanogawa.
15 May 1942:
Departs Kanogawa.
17 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
17 ~ 22 May 1942:
Scheduled for munition transport under wireless transport instruction No. 18.
22 May 1942:
At 1430, departs from Off Futtsu, near Yokosuka in a southbound convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport TOYO MARU No. 2 and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KAIRYU MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No.2 GO. TOYO MARU No. 2 and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KAIRYU MARU are bound for Chichi-Jima while KYOKUYO MARU is bound for Saipan and then Rabaul.
23 May 1942:
Auxiliary transport TOYO MARU No. 2 detaches and joins a faster convoy consisting of SAIPAN MARU escorted by auxiliary minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
28 May 1942:
Departs Saipan.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, Australia (now Papua New Guinea).
8 June 1942:
Departs Rabaul in a convoy with auxiliary transport KENSHO MARU and possibly others.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 June 1942:
Departs Truk with auxiliary transport KANO MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat HEIJO MARU.
17 June 1942:
HEIJO MARU and then KANO MARU are detached. HEIJO MARU returns to Truk.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 July 1942:
Scheduled to transport 49,000t of type no. 2 heavy oil on the Saipan route and to 4 other places, as well as weapons, automibile parts and other cargo to Palau and 2 other places under transport instruction No. 804. Departs Yokosuka. Arrives at Yokohama.
5 July 1942:
Departs Yokohama escorted by survey ship KOMAHASHI.
10 July 1942:
Capt. Koma Yoshio is appointed Commanding Officer. Arrives at Saipan.
14 July 1942:
Departs Saipan.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
21 July 1942:
Departs Palau.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia). Loads fuel oil.
30 July 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
3 August 1942:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo, British Malaya, (now Malaysia). Loads fuel oil.
6 August 1942:
Departs Miri.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
22 August 1942:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.
22 ~ 28 August 1942:
Scheduled for a transport mission on the Rabaul Saipain route and 5 other places under transport instruction No. 26.
28 August 1942:
At 1300 departs Yokosuka for off Futtsu. Departs off Futtsu later that day with auxiliary transport KENRYU MARU escorted by minesweeper W-17.
30 August 1942:
W-17 is detached from the convoy and returns to Japan.
1 September 1942:
Detaches from KENRYU MARU. The two merchant ships proceed independently one to Palau then Rabaul and the other to Rabaul via Saipan.
3 September 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
11 September 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
16 September 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
20 September 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
24 September 1942:
Departs Truk escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU.
26 September 1942:
CHOUN MARU is detached.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Miri. Takes on fuel.
7 October 1942:
Departs Miri.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
25 October 1942:
Capt. Sato Teijiro is appointed Commanding Officer. Departs Yokohama. Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
12 November 1942:
Departs Truk with Naval water tanker ASAYAMA (CHOZAN) MARU escorted by destroyer ASANAGI.
13 November 1942:
At 07-15N 149-46E ASANAGI is detached.
17 November 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
19 November 1942:
Departs Palau.
25 November 1942:
Arrives at Miri. Loads fuel oil.
28 November 1942:
Departs Miri.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
19 December 1942:
Departs Yokohama in westbound convoy No. 75 also consisting of IJN transport SHINSEI MARU No. 18, civilian tanker (C-AO) MITSU MARU, IJA tanker RIKKO MARU and IJA transport SHINYU MARU escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI.
21 December 1942:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
22 December 1942:
Departs Shimotsu. Arrives at Osaka.
23 December 1942:
Departs Osaka.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
25 December 1942:
Departs Mutsure in convoy No. 107 consisting of KYOKUYO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships.
31 December 1942:
The convoy arrives Mako. KYOKUYO MARU steams on for Yulin, Hainan.
2 January 1943:
Arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island, China.
6 January 1943:
Departs Yulin.
10 January 1943:
Arrives at Miri. Loads fuel oil.
11 January 1943:
At 1520 (H), LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH) Lawson P. Ramage’s (USNA ’31) USS TROUT (SS-202) sights and correctly identifies KYOKUYO MARU moored off Miri. Ramage decides to wait for nightfall to attack. At 2109, he approaches on the surface, fires three torpedoes and gets two hits that damage KYOKUYO MARU. Ramage swings USS TROUT about and at 2113 fires a stern torpedo at 1400 yards, but the Mark 14-3A is a dud.
At 2254, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “Received enemy torpedo attack with great damage while passing in vicinity of 04-24S, 113-51E.”
19 January 1943:
Departs Miri escorted by auxiliary gunboats CHOSA MARU.
23 January 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.

(KYOKUYO MARU at Singapore, Jan 1943 courtesy Berend van der Wal)

24 January 1943:
Seletar Naval Base. Begins repairs by the 101st Repair Unit.
9 June 1943:
Completes repairs. Departs Singapore in the Kyokuyo convoy consisting of auxiliary oiler OTORISAN MARU and IJA transport LONDON MARU without escort.
12 June 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
21 June 1943:
KYOKUYO MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 404 also consisting of KONSAN, HAVRE (5652 GRT), SHINKYO, TAINAN (5407 GRT), UYO and RONSAN MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA.
27 June 1943:
At 0815, arrives at Mako and departs for Takao at 1300.
28 June 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 276 also consistting of IJN oiler TAKETSU MARU, IJA oiler HONAN MARU and IJA cargo-passenger ship NEKKA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA. NANMAN and TAIAN (3670 gt) MARUs later join from Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure.
3 July 1943:
Departs Mutsure.
4 July 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
5 July 1943:
Departs Kobe.
8 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Probably offloads fuel at the refinery.
10 July 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi. At about 2200, LtCdr (KIA) Willis M. Thomas’ (USNA ’31) USS POMPANO (SS-181) fires two Mark 14-3A torpedoes at KYOKUYO MARU using radar bearings S of Shio Saki at 33-31N, 135-24E, but both run erratically and miss ahead.
11 July 1943:
Arrives at Kobe. Departs that same day.
12 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
13 July 1943:
At 1000 departs Moji in convoy No. 176 also consisting of auxiliary oiler HONAN and RAIZAN, BOKO (ex British SAGRES), FUSEI (ex British FAUSANG) and RAKUYO MARUs, likely NANMAN MARU (from Sasebo) and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
19 July 1943:
Departs Takao. Arrives at Mako that same day.
22 July 1943:
Departs Mako in the "P" convoy consisting of KYOKUYO MARU and 10 unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE.
29 July 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
31 July 1943:
KYOKUYO MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 597 with one unidentified warship escorted by an unknown warship "Tokusen (Special Ship) No. 18".
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 August 1943:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 612 consisting of KYOKUYO MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
18 August 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 416 consisting of KYOKUYO, SHOTO, KINMON, HAVRE, SAINAN and GYOYU MARUs and one unidentified ship escorted by auxiliary gunship CHOJUSAN MARU.
22 August 1943:
N of the Paracel Islands, French Indochina (now Vietnam). At about 0817, LtCdr (later Cdr) Russell Kefauver's (USNA ’33) USS TAMBOR (SS-198) attacks the convoy. Kefauver fires five Mark 14-3A torpedoes at KYOKUYO MARU at 16-44N, 113-38E and gets three hits amidships, but they are duds and bounce off. She suffers little, if any, damage.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
26 August 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 296 also consisting of auxiliary oiler KUROSHIO MARU, passenger/cargo ships ARIMASAN and AWA MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure Island.
31 August 1943:
Released to her owners under Armed Forces instruction No. 18-8-37 of 23 August 1943. Departs Mutsure.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu. Requisitioned again by the IJN. Registered as an auxiliary transport (refueling ship) in the Yokosuka Naval District under Ordinance No. 1820. Assigned to the Naval Department as an Otsu category auxiliary transport belonging to the Yokosuka Naval District. [2]
12 September 1943:
Departs Shimotsu. At Sasebo, loads 14 aircraft, 18 tons of freight, and 339 passengers.
13 September 1943:
At 0145 JST, various ships departs Moji for Kirun (Keelung) in convoy No. 197 consisting of TAKETOYO, TOMITSU, KOSO, HONAN, SAINEI, RIKKO, SHOGEN, KINREI and TANGO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU and auxiliary gunship CHOJUSAN MARU.
14 September 1943:
KYOKUYO MARU departs Sasebo and meets up with convoy No. 197.
15 September 1943:
The convoy retires to Sakura-Jima, Kagoshima Bay because of the threat of a submarine attack.
17 September 1943:
While the convoy is making preparations to leave Kagoshima, a typhoon warning is isssued at 0600: "typhoon, approx. 17N x 128E, atmospheric pressure 980 millibar, proceeding West-North-West with 25 to 30 km per hour, take strict caution". Despite the approaching typhoon, a decision is made to sail and convoy departs at 1730. The same night, the ocean becomes very stormy and all vessels are shaken like tree leaves. KYOKUYO MARU is carrying 330 naval officers and men and 14 aircraft.
18 September 1943:
At 1430, the transport commander orders the convoy to take shelter at Naze Harbor, Amami-O-Shima. About 1900, the convoy arrives at Naze, Amami-O-Shima.
19 September 1943:
At midnight, the typhoon passes Naze 55 km to the eastward. Atmospheric pressure at Naze Harbor falls to 961 millibar, wind velocity now reaches its maximum at 53 meters. At this time, the typhoon is reported ranking next only to the devastating Muroto Typhoon of 1934.
Off Amami-O-Shima. KYOKUYO MARU, carrying about half her standard weight, is riding a little high. She runs aground. At 2348 the generator no longer can be used due to the grounding, and flooding of the engineroom. She is wrecked at 28-20N, 129-30E. One crewman is KIA. TAKETOYO, KOSO and TANGO MARUs (6900 tons) are also driven ashore by the storm.
20 September 1943:
At 0820 reports there is no chance of buoyancy being achieved.
28 September 1943:
Abandoned. Later, deemed a constructive total loss
7 November 1943:
Official Cabinet Military Secret No. 1327: Instructions for handling the naval ship KYOKUYO MARU:
Nihon Kainan Kyujo K.K. shall be used as soon as possible for on site salvage operation. Necessary equipment that are difficult to obtain shall be provided by the government.
31 May 1944:
Salvage work continues.
13 July 1944:
The ship guard leaves.
15 December 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
1943-1945:
Off Amami-O-Shima. The beached hulk of KYOKUYO MARU's is bombed and torpedoed by American aircraft.
19 January 1945:
Naze. LtCdr Woodrow W. McCrory’s (USNA ’38) USS PARCHE (SS-384) torpedoes the hulks of KYOKUYO MARU and TANGO MARU. KYOKUYO MARU isn’t overly damaged.
February-March 1945:
Naze. A 120 mm gun is removed, then placed on Akaogi Ko inlet on Kasari Bay for defense.
1 March 1945::
Naze. From 1400 to 1445, about thirty ( SB2C-1, TBM-13 and F-6F) aiircraft of Task Force 58's carriers USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30) bomb and set KYOKUYO and TANGO MARUs afire. The planes also sink RYOSO (LUZON) MARU.
31 March 1945:
Naze. KYOKUYO MARU's is bombed by aircraft of USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24).
E 1946:
Scrapped at an unknown location, possibly Keelung, Taiwan.

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] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks for assistance goes to Sander Kingsepp of Estonia, Gilbert Casse of France and Allan Alsleben of Oregon. Thanks go to John Whitman for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages. Finally thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan. Thanks also go to Berend van der Wal of the Netherlands for info in Revisions 6 and 8.
Photo credit goes to Ron Wolford via Gilbert Casse.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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