Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(KYUSHU MARU prewar – Peter Cundall Collection)

IJN KYUSHU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2015 Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

January 1936:
Osaka. Laid down by Amagasaki Zosensho G.K. shipyard for Amagasaki Kisenbu G.K. as a 632-tons cargo ship.
29 January 1936:
Launched and named KYUSHU MARU. [1]
February 1936:
Completed and registered at Osaka.
15 February 1938:
Arrives at Chefoo (now Yantai), northern China.
19 February 1938:
Departs Chefoo.
7 March 1938:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), China.
8 March 1938:
Departs Seito and arrives at Weihai, Manchuria (now northern China) later that day.
9 March 1938:
Departs Weihai.
10 March 1938:
Arrives at Seito. Departs later.
17 March 1938:
Arrives at Chefoo.
18 March 1938:
Departs Chefoo.
12 April 1938:
Arrives at Chefoo.
13 April 1938:
Departs Chefoo.
21 April 1938:
Arrives at Chefoo.
23 April 1938:
Departs Chefoo.
7 July 1938:
Comes alongside on starboard auxiliary seaplane tender KINUGASA MARU and transfers general cargo.
8 July 1938:
Comes alongside on rear starboard KINUGASA MARU and transfers general cargo.
9 July 1938:
Comes alongside on rear starboard KINUGASA MARU and transfers general cargo.
10 July 1938:
Comes alongside on rear starboard KINUGASA MARU and transfers general cargo.
9 March 1939:
Arrives at Hankow (now Hangzou), China. Departs later.
14 March 1939:
Arrives at Nanking (now Nanjing), China. Departs later.
30 June 1939:
Departs Chefoo.
8 July 1939:
Arrives at Chefoo.
9 July 1939:
At 0630, comes alongside IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) (later auxiliary destroyer tender) NIPPONKAI MARU and loads shells until 0955. At 0950, loads disassembled 18th Air Flotilla’s aircraft.
19 July 1939:
Departs Chefoo.
27 July 1939:
Arrives at Shanghai. Departs later in the day.
31 July 1939:
Departs Shanghai.
3 August 1939:
Arrives at Shanghai.
4 August 1939:
Departs Shanghai.
6 August 1939:
Arrives at Shanghai.
8 August 1939:
Departs Shanghai.
13 March 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned transport (Ippan Choyosen) attached to the Kure Naval District and assigned that same day to Kure Base Force, Ammunition Department.
24 March 1941:
Departs Kure and arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Departs later.
26 March 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
1 April 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 2 ~ 12 April 1941:
Calls at Nagashima, Aichi Prefecture ~ Tokuyama and Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
13 April 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
17 April 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 18 ~ 21 April 1941:
Calls at Sasebo and Saitozaki, S of Nagasaki.
22 April 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
25 April 1941:
Departs Kure.
E April 1941:
Calls at Hososhima, Miyazaki Prefecture.
21 May 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
24 May 1941:
Departs Kure.
E May 1941:
Calls at Sasebo.
18 June 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
20 June 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 22 ~ 26 June 1941:
Calls at Nagashima and Osaka.
28 June 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
2 July 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 3 ~ 21 July 1941:
Calls at Sasebo, Nagashima and Yawata.
22 July 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
8 August 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 9 ~ 25 August 1941:
Calls at Sasebo and Tokuyama.
26 August 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
3 September 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 4 ~ 6 September 1941:
Calls at Hososhima and Saeki, Kyushu.
7 September 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
12 September 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 13 September ~ 12 October 1941:
Calls at Sasebo and Kobe.
13 October 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
16 October 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 17 October ~ 9 November 1941:
Calls at Hososhima, Saeki and Komatsushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku.
10 November 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
18 November 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 19 November 1941:
Calls at Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
30 November 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
11 December 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 12 ~ 15 December 1941:
Calls at Saeki and Tokuyama.
16 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
21 December 1941:
Departs Kure.
E 22 ~ 27 December 1941:
Calls at Nagashima and Tokuyama.
10 January 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 11 January ~ 27 February 1942:
Calls at Sasebo, Saeki and Kobe.
28 February 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
11 March 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 12 March ~ 30 May 1942:
Calls at Yura, Wakayama Prefecture, Kobe, Tokushima and Komatsushima.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Hososhima.
2 June 1942:
Departs Hososhima.
3 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
11 June 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 12 June 1942:
Arrives at Saeki. Departs later.
17 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
26 June 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 27 ~ 28 June 1942:
Calls at Tokuyama and Nagashima.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
8 July 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 9 July 1942:
Calls at Yawata. Departs later.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
20 July 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 21 July 1942:
Calls at Nagashima. Departs later.
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
25 August 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 27 August 1942:
Calls at Osaka. Departs later.
31 August 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
7 September 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 8 September 1942:
Calls at Yawata. Departs later.
20 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
25 September 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 26 September 1942:
Arrives at Saeki. Departs later.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
27 October 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 28 October 1942:
Calls at Yawata. Departs later.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
9 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 10 November 1942:
Calls at Saeki.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
29 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 30 November 1942:
Arrives at Yawata.
1 December 1942:
Departs Yawata.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
5 January 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 7 January 1943:
Calls at Yura. Departs later.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
26 January 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 28 January 1943:
Calls at Kobe. Departs later.
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
3 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 4 March 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
9 March 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Kure later that day.
14 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 15 March 1943:
Calls at Yawata. Departs later.
20 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
27 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 28 March 1943:
Calls at Saeki. Departs later.
11 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
7 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 8 May 1943:
Calls at Tokuyama. Departs later.
10 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
25 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 26 ~30 May 1943:
Calls at Tokuyama and Sasebo.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later for Sasebo.
1 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
E 2 June 1943:
Calls at Tokuyama. Departs later.
4 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
9 June 1943:
Departs Yawata.
12 June 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Departs later for Moji.
13 June 1943:
Departs Moji.
E 14 June 1943:
Calls at Kure. Departs later.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later.
1 December 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 2 December 1943:
Calls at Saitozaki. Departs later.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
2 January 1944:
Departs Kure.
E 3 January 1944:
Calls at Saeki. Departs later.
20 February 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
21 February ~ March 1944:
Undergoes repairs at Amagasaki shipyard.
25 March 1944:
Departs Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture.
27 March 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later for Tokuyama.
1 April 1944:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Kure Naval District with Kure as homeport under Navy’s instruction No. 528. Assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District, Transport unit. Departs Tokuyama later that same day. [2]
2 April 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
10 April 1944:
Departs Kure.
11 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
17 April 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
18 April 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
19 April 1944:
Departs Kobe.
22 April 1944:
Arrives at Yokohama.
29 April 1944:
At 0400, departs Yokohama in convoy No. 3428 also consisting of auxiliary storeship TAKUNAN MARU and IJA transports YAGI MARU and BANEI MARU No. 6, escorted by auxiliary netlayers KISHIN MARU, NISSHO MARU No. 3 and SHINTO MARU No. 2 and arrives at Niijima, Izu Shoto (Islands) later in the day.
1 May 1944:
The convoy departs Niijima.
4 May 1944:
At 0930, arrives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
10 May 1944:
At 0430, departs Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 4510 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KUMANOSAN MARU and IJA transports SEIRYU and YAGI MARUs, BANEI MARU No. 6 and ASAHI MARU No. 2, escorted by submarine chaser CH-52, auxiliary netlayers SHINTO MARU No. 2 and NISSHO MARU No. 3 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-12.
At 1308 an enemy submarine is detected at 330° of Chichi-Jima.
Engages in anti submarine warfare. The 8cm guns fire 6 shots. CH-52 carries out 9 depth charge attacks.
At 1807 an enemy periscope is spotted, followed by detection and attack. CH-52 carries out 17 depth charge attacks and then apparently detaches.
11 May 1944:
At 0330, LtCdr Charleton L. Murphy's (USNA ’32) USS STURGEON (SS-187) torpedoes and sinks SEIRYU MARU at 29-50N, 141-50E. The ship was carrying an important party of Construction Troops of whom 131 together with seven gunners and nine of the crew are killed. At 1930, subchaser CH-52 departs Chichi-Jima to reinforce the convoy.
13 May 1944:
At 0820, the convoy arrives at Yokosuka. CH-52 has been detached presumably on patrol.
22 May 1944:
Departs Tateyama in convoy No. 3523 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) EDOGAWA and KUMANOSAN MARUs and tanker No. 3998 escorted by auxiliary minesweeper W-25 and subchaser CH-17. At some point, CH-17 is detached and returns to Tokyo Bay.
27 May 1944:
The convoy arrives at Chichi-Jima before proceeding to Saipan. KYUSHU MARU is detached.
E 30 May 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima probably in convoy 4530B consisting of an unknown number of merchant ships escorted by auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU and possibly minelayer W-25.
2 or 4 June 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
7 June 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
9 June 1944:
At 0800, departs Yokohama in convoy No. 3609 also consisting of auxiliary transport UNKAI MARU No. 10, IJA transport YAEI MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) TATSUEI MARU and civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-AK) SHIBAZONO MARU (which joined from Hachijo Jima) escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI, auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5.
12 June 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
14 June 1944:
At 0700, departs Chichi-Jima in ‘Yaei Maru’ convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport UNKAI MARU No. 10, IJA transport YAEI MARU and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) TATSUEI MARU escorted by subchasers CH-16 and CH-18, auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5.
15 June 1944:
At 0800, minesweeper W-25 and torpedo boat CHIDORI join the escort.
16 June 1944:
In a raging storm from about 1640, UNKAI MARU No. 10, TATSUEI and KOGI MARUs and CH-16 are separated from the convoy and steam together.
18 June 1944:
At 1220, arrives at Yokohama.
19 June 1944:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokohama later that same day.
24 June 1944:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3624 also consisting of auxiliary transport UNKAI MARU No. 10 escorted by minesweeper W-20 and auxiliary subchaser Cha-171.
25 June 1944:
Arrives at Hachijo-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto.
1 July 1944:
Departs Hachijo-Jima escorted by auxiliary subchaser Cha-171 and arrives at Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture later in the day.
2 July 1944:
Departs Shimoda and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
4 July 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture later that same day.
6 July 1944:
Departs Kisarazu and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day.
16 July 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
18 July 1944:
At 1700, departs Yokohama in convoy No. 3718B also consisting of auxiliary transport YAYOI MARU and IJA transports TSURUGA and RYUKO MARUs escorted by destroyers HATAKAZE and MATSU, torpedo boat CHIDORI, fast Navy transports/landing ships T-4, T-104 and T-153, subchaser CH-52 and auxiliary minesweepers KEINAN MARU and TAMA MARU No. 6.
22 July 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
23 July 1944:
At 1200, departs Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 4723 also consisting of auxiliary salvage ship KATSURAGAWA MARU escorted by destroyer HATAKAZE, torpedo boat CHIDORI, subchaser CH-52, auxiliary submarine chaser FUMI MARU and auxiliary patrol boat YUTAKA MARU No. 7.
26 July 1944:
Arrives at Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture.
27 July 1944:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokosuka later that same day.
29 July 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and joins convoy No. 3729 that departed earlier that day Tateyama, also consisting of auxiliary storeship HOKKAI MARU and IJA transports SHOGEN, RYUKO, TONEGAWA, ENJU MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 7 escorted by destroyer MATSU, flagship of the 2nd Convoy Escort Group's Commander Rear Admiral Takahashi Ichimatsu (40) (former CO of TSUGARU), destroyer HATAKAZE, kaibokan CD-4 and CD-12, subchasers CH-51 and CH-52 and Navy transports T-2 and T-4.
That same day, light carrier ZUIHO, escorted by destroyer FUYUTSUKI, sorties from Yokosuka to provide air and anti-submarine cover for the convoy.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
10 August 1944:
At 0750, departs Chichi-Jima escorted by subchaser CH-52 and auxiliary subchaser SEKI MARU No. 2.
11 August 1944:
At 0700, arrives at Iwo Jima, Ogasawara Gunto.
12 August 1944:
At 1530, departs Iwo Jima still escorted by CH-52 and SEKI MARU No. 2.
13 August 1944:
At 1330, arrives at Chichi-Jima. At 1647, departs there later in the day in convoy No. 4813 also consisting of civilian cargo ship (C-AK) NANYO MARU No. 1 escorted by kaibokan OKI, auxiliary subchaser SEKI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper KEINAN MARU.
14 August 1944:
At 1415 NANYO MARU No. 1 suffers a breakdown and is taken in tow by KYUSHU MARU.
18 August 1944:
At 1200 the convoy arrives off Tateyama and departs from there at 1405. At 1650 the convoy arrives at Yokosuka.
29 August 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that same day.
1 September 1944:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3901 also consisting of IJA transport TOKAI MARU No. 4 escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI, kaibokan OKI and subchaser CH-51. The convoy arrives at Tateyama at 2108 the same day.
5 September 1944:
At 0700, the convoy departs Tateyama and arrives (except OKI) at Hachijo-Jima later that day.
6 September 1944:
At 1100, departs Hachijo-Jima.
10 September 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Chichi-Jima.
15 September 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima and arrives at Haha-Jima later that same day.
16 September 1944:
Departs Haha-Jima.
17 September 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima.
18 September 1944:
Departs Iwo Jima.
19 September 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
25 September 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima and arrives at Haha-Jima later in the day.
26 September 1944:
Departs Haha-Jima.
27 September 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima. Departs there later that day.
28 September 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima. At 0500, departs Chichi Jima in convoy with IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) YONEYAMA MARU I GO and IJA transport TOKAI MARU No. 4, escorted by auxiliary subchaser FUMI MARU. At 0930, the convoy arrives at Haha-Jima and departs there at 1245.
29 September 1944:
At 0700, arrives at Iwo Jima. Departs later.
9 October 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima in convoy with YONEYAMA MARU I GO and arrives at Haha-Jima. Departs there later that same day.
10 October 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima.
12 October 1944:
Departs Iwo Jima.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
15 October 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima and arrives at Haha-Jima. Departs there later in the day.
16 October 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
17 October 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima in convoy with TOKAI MARU No. 4 and arrives at Haha-Jima. Departs there later that day.
18 October 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima.
19 October 1944:
Departs Iwo Jima.
20 October 1944:
Arrives at Haha-Jima. Departs there and arrives at Chichi-Jima later that day.
23 October 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima in convoy with CHOFUKU MARU and Navy Transport No. 137 escorted by auxiliary submarine chaser SEKI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary patrol boat KOFUKU MARU.
24 October 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima.
26 October 1944:
Departs Iwo Jima.
27 October 1944:
Arrives at Haha-Jima. Departs there and arrives at Chichi-Jima later that same day.
18 November 1944:
At 1500, departs Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 4118 also consisting of auxiliary storeship HOKKAI MARU escorted by kaibokan OKI and auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and SHONAN MARU No. 8.
21 November 1944:
At 2120, LtCdr Frederick A. Gunn’s (USNA ’34) USS SCABBARDFISH (SS-397) torpedoes and sinks HOKKAI MARU at 33-20N, 142-00E. 33 men are KIA.
USS SCABBARDFISH also torpedoes and blows the bow off OKI at 33-20N, 142-01E. Engineering officer LtCdr Okabe Zempachi and 34 sailors are killed in the explosion and four wounded.
23 November 1944:
The convoy arrives at Tateyama without OKI. The convoy departs there and arrives at 0930 at Yokosuka.
25 November 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga, Kanagawa Prefecture later in the day.
26 November ~ 22 December 1944:
Undergoes maintenance and repairs at Uraga Dock K.K. shipyard. Departs later.
23 December 1944:
At 0600, departs Tateyama in convoy No. 3223 also consisting of IJA transports DAISHO and NAGATSU MARUs and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SAIKAI (SEIKAI) MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan CD-6, subchasers CH-44 and CH-52, auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No. 7 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 . The convoy arrives back at Tateyama later that day.
24 December 1944:
At 0400, the convoy departs Tateyama again.
27 December 1944:
At 0530, arrives at Chichi-Jima.
28 December 1944:
At 0200, departs Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 4228 also consisting of IJA transports DAISHO and NAGATSU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-6, subchasers CH-44 and CH-52 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8.
1 January 1945:
At 0400, the convoy arrives at Tateyama. Departs there and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.
4 January 1945:
Assigned to convoy No. 3107 under Escort General Command instruction No. 5.
5 January 1945: Departs Yokosuka and later that same day arrives at Tateyama.
8 January 1945:
At 0600, departs Tateyama for Haha-Jima in convoy No. 3107 also consisting of IJA transports DAISHO and NAGATSU MARUs bound for Chichi-Jima, escorted by kaibokan CD-6 and CD-47, subchaser CH-52 and auxiliary patrol boats KINJO MARU and YUTAKA MARU No. 7.
11 January 1945:
At 1117, arrives at Haha-Jima escorted by kaibokan CD-47.
12 January 1945:
Departs Haha-Jima for Tateyama escorted by kaibokan CD-47 and meets up with convoy No. 4112 consisting of IJA transports DAISHO and NAGATSU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-6 and CD-47, subchaser CH-52 and auxiliary patrol boat KINJO MARU.
15 January 1945:
Under stormy weather, straggles behind the convoy escorted by subchaser CH-52 and auxiliary patrol boat KINJO MARU.
16 January 1945:
At 1920, subchaser CH-52 detaches from the escort and engages in ASW sweep at position 34-15N, 140-05E.
17 January 1945:
At 2045, arrives at Tateyama.
18 January 1945:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day.
24 January 1945:
Assigned to convoy No. 3126 under Escort General Command instruction No. 11.
26 January 1945:
At 0900, departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3126 also consisting of IJA transports DAISHO, AITOKU and RYUJIN MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-47, subchaser CH-51 and CH-52 and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 10. The convoy arrives later that day at Tateyama.
29 January 1945:
At 0600, the convoy departs Tateyama. At 2108, three North American B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers attack the convoy. They hit auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 10 with five rockets that leave her flooding and unnavigable. Two crewmen are KIA. CD-47 is also damaged by the planes at 27-45N, 142-00E.
At about 0200, subchaser CH-52 takes TAKUNAN MARU No. 10 under tow, but the tow line parts and the auxiliary subchaser sinks.
30 January 1945:
The convoy arrives at Chichi-Jima and unloads. At 2230, all ships depart except RYUJIN MARU forming convoy No. 4130.
3 February 1945:
Arrives at Tateyama. Departs later.
20 March 1945:
At 1245, departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tateyama. Departs at 2100 in convoy No. 3320 also consisting of IJA transport TOKO MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) NANYO MARU No. 1 escorted by kaibokan SHISAKA and auxiliary subchaser SEKI MARU No. 2.
21 March 1945:
At 1300, arrives at Kaminato, Hachijo-Jima.
26 March 1945:
Departs Kaminato, Hachijo-Jima escorted by auxiliary subchaser SEKI MARU No. 3.
27 March 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 April 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 April 1945:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 1413 with HAYASHIO MARU (ex Dutch DE JONGH) escorted by kaibokan AMAKUSA.
15 April 1945:
Assigned to troops transport mission under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 93.
29 April 1945:
Arrives at Muroran, Hokkaido.
1 May 1945:
Departs Muroran.
30 May 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
3 June 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
E 6 June 1945:
Arrives at Muroran. Departs later.
26 June 1945:
Departs Onogawa, Miyagi Prefecture for Yokosuka.
27 June 1945:
About four nautical miles NE of Otsu, Ibaraki Prefecture. KYUSHU MARU is bombed and sunk by Consolidated B-24s ‘Liberator’ aircraft. 15 crewmen and eight gunners are KIA.
10 August 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 727.
________________________________________

Authors notes :
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport No. 906 (8,666 GRT, ’38).
[2] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

Back to IJN Transports Page