Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(MAGANE MARU, prewar)

IJN MAGANE MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2023 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

14 December 1939: Aioi. Laid down by Harima Zosensho K.K. as a 3,120-tons cargo ship for Nihon Kaiun K.K.
15 June 1940:
Launched and named MAGANE MARU. [1]
5 August 1940:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 3,120-tons and 1,793-tons. Her call sign is JGNM. [2]
17 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
29 August 1941:
Yokohama. Conversion for military duty begins at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Shipyard.
5 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 1025. Rated as an auxiliary gunboat engaged in minelaying under instruction No. 1026. Navy (Resv) Lt. Maniwa Kenji is appointed CO that same day.
6 September 1941:
Lt. Maniwa Kenji embarks.
1 October 1941:
Attached to 10th Gunboat Division under instruction No. 1166. Attached to Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro’s (36) Fifth Fleet, 7th Base Force, 10th Gunboat Division
2 October 1941:
Departs Yokohama on a trial run and returns to base later this day.
4 ~6 October 1941:
Enters drydock. Hull bottom is coated.
7 October 1941:
Completes conversion for military duty. Undocked. Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
8 October 1941:
Equipped with ammunition equipment.
9 October 1941:
Loads coal and various products.
10 October 1941:
Loads coal. Thereafter, departs Yokosuka.
12 October 1941:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
14 October 1941:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
15 October 1941:
Attached to 10th Gunboat Division under instruction No. 1250.
16 October 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
20 October 1941:
Fitted with mines and depth charges.
21 October 1941:
Fitted with mines and various supplies.
24 October 1941:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tateyama later this day.
28 October 1941:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
1 November 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
4 November 1941:
Arrives at Futami, Chichi-Jima.
8 November 1941:
Unloads buoys and other goods. Departs Futami for Haha-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto and then Iwo-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto.
14 November 1941:
Arrives at Futami, Chichi-Jima.
15 November 1941:
Loads coal.
25 November 1941:
Departs Futami on minelaying training and returns there later this day.
27 November 1941:
Departs Futami on minelaying training and returns there later this day.
2 December 1941:
Departs Futami on training.
3 December 1941:
Arrives at Futami.
4 December 1941:
Comes alongside auxiliary stores ship CHOKO MARU and loads fresh food.
5 December 1941:
Comes alongside auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU and loads coal and boiler water.
7 December 1941:
Rated as the 1st Patrol Unit, Main Unit under First Patrol Unit Command No. 1. Departs Futami that same day.
16 December 1941:
Arrives at Futami, Chichi-Jima.
19 December 1941:
Supplies fresh water to auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 8.
21 December 1941:
Civilian tanker (C-AO) NANSHIN MARU supplies food.
23 ~ 24 December 1941:
Lies alongside general requisitioned ship (ex-whale factory ship), (B-AK) NISSHIN MARU No. 2 and is supplied with fresh water.
25 December 1941:
Comes alongside auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU and loads coal. Navy LtCdr. Sasaki Yuri (48) is appointed CO that same day.
7 January 1942:
Departs Futami on patrol and returns there later this day.
8 January 1942:
Departs Futami on patrol.
15 January 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
20 January 1942:
Comes alongside auxiliary stores ship CHOKO MARU and loads fresh food.
24 January 1942:
Comes alongside auxiliary collier/oiler NISSAN MARU and is supplied with boiler water.
26 January 1942:
Lt. Maniwa Kenji disembarks. Auxiliary stores ship TAKUNAN MARU supplies fresh food.
30 January 1942:
LtCdr. Sasaki Yuri embarks. Departs Futami on patrol and returns to port later that day.
2 February 1942:
Comes alongside auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU and loads boiler water.
5 February 1942:
Departs Futami on patrol and returns there later this day.
9 February 1942:
Supplies fresh water to auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 8.
12 February 1942:
Departs Futami on patrol and returns there later this day.
13 February 1942:
General requisitioned stores ship (B-AF) EBON MARU supplies fresh food. Thereafter, auxiliary transport TOYO MARU No. 2 supplies coal.
20 February 1942:
Auxiliary stores ship CHOKO MARU supplies canteen goods. Departs Futami on patrol and returns to port later that same day.
24 February 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from schooner KAIEI MARU .
4 March 1942:
Departs Futami on patrol and returns there later this day.
8 March 1942:
Loads coal from an unidentified freighter.
12 March 1942:
Auxiliary collier/oiler NISSAN MARU comes alongside and supplies charcoal and boiler water. Later this day departs Futami on patrol.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
20 March 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from schooner KAIEI MARU.
21 March 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from schooner KAIEI MARU.
3 April 1942:
Auxiliary stores ship CHOKO MARU comes alongside and supplies boiler water.
10 April 1942:
Detached from 10th Gunboat Division under instruction No. 652. Attached to Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro’s (36) Fifth Fleet, 7th Base Force.
17 April 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
20 April 1942:
At 0030, hit by a dud torpedo from an enemy submarine, 5 nautical miles NW Sunozaki. Arrives at Yokosuka later this day.
23 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
26 April 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
28 April 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
14 May 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
17 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
20 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later that day.
20 ~ 22 May 1942:
In drydock.
22 May 1942:
Undocked. Departs Uraga.
23 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Rated as an operation AQ (Attu, Aleutians) invasion unit minelaying unit under operation AQ invasion unit command No. 1.
24 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
28 May 1942:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Kawauchi later this day.
29 May 1942:
Departs Kawauchi and arrives at anchorage B, Ominato. Departs there later that same day.
At 1900, joins the main unit, transportation unit and seaplane unit.
30 May 1942:
At 1800 at 42-04N, 147-00E auxiliary oiler FUJISAN MARU of the supply team joins.
2 June 1942:
Around 0630, falls behind the convoy. In the afternoon, destroyer SHIOKAZE fails. At 1800, rejoins convoy.
3 June 1942:
At 0715, destroyers HATSUHARU and NENOHI detach to search for destroyer SHIOKAZE. At 1240, destroyer WAKABA detaches to search for destroyer SHIOKAZE. At 1730, destroyers SHIOKAZE, HATSUHARU, NENOHI and WAKABA rejoin convoy.
5 June 1942:
At 1540, detaches from convoy.
6 June 1942:
At 1650, destroyer HATSUSHIMO ends escort and heads towards convoy. Attached to Northern Force under Northern Forces telegram no. 97.
10 June 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay, Shimushu Island, Kuriles (now Zaliv Kozyrevskogo, Ostrov Shumushu, Russia).
11 June 1942:
Departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Kakumabetsu Bay, Paramushiro Island (now Bukhta Shelekhovo, Paramushir Island, Russia) later this day.
14 June 1942:
Departs Kakumabetsu Bay and returns there later that day.
15 June 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro’s (36) Fifth Fleet, Chichi-Jima area, Special Base Force. Departs Kakumabetsu Bay.
20 June 1942:
Arrives at Narukami (Kiska, Aleutians) Island and departs there later this day.
28 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
28 ~ 29 June 1942:
Loads 12,000 ammunition boxes and other equipment.
29 June 1942:
Departs Ominato.
1 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
3 July 1942:
Receives instructions for the Yokosuka Navy Yard to add electric military equipment under instruction No. 8209.
18 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
21 July 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
27 July 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
3 September 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
4 September 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
5 October 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
8 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 September 1942:
Attached to the Yokosuka Naval District Unit, Chichi-Jima Area Special Base Force. Rated as an Ogasawara (Bonins) Unit under Yokosuka Naval District Order No. 126.
13 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
1 November 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima. Navy LtCdr Sasaki Yuri (48) is confirmed as CO.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
7 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
18 November 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
30 November 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima and returns there later that day.
7 December 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
8 December 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
18 December 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima and returns there later this day.
4 January 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
15 January 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
20 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 January 1943:
Departs Yoksuka.
28 January 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
30 January 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
3 February 1943:
Arrives at Uraga.
5 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
8 March 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
18 March 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima and returns there later that day.
5 April 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
10 April 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
11 April 1943:
Conducts antisubmarine warfare at 22 nautical miles off Sumisu (Smith) Island, Izu Islands. Drops one depth charge.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 April 1943:
About 160 nautical miles S Marcus Island, Marianas. LtCdr (later Cdr) Royce L. Gross' (USNA ‘30) USS SEAWOLF (SS-197) torpedoes and sinks auxiliary transport KAIHEI MARU. Four crewmen are KIA.
18 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
21 April 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
23 April 1943:
Embarks 351 survivors from torpedoed and sunken auxiliary transport KAIHEI MARU. Departs Chichi-Jima at 1754, escorted by minesweeper W-24.
24 April 1943:
At 1930, At 30N-41N, 140-26E minesweeper W-24 conducts a depth charge attack. Drops 6 DCs. At 2100, separates from minesweeper W-24 due to stormy weather.
25 April 1943:
At 1000, rejoins with minesweeper W-24 SE Aogashima, Izu Islands.
26 April 1943:
At 1240, arrives at Yokosuka. Disembarks the 351 survivors.
29 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
4 May 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Iwo-Jima.
8 May 1943:
Departs Iwo-Jima.
9 May 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
25 May 1943:
Navy (Resv) Lt Yamasaki Kiyoichi is appointed CO.
29 May 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
1 June 1943:
Arrives at Iwo-Jima. Departs there later.
5 June 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
10 June 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
13 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
21 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
24 June 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
4 July 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
13 July 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
23 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
31 July 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Iwo-Jima.
5 August 1943:
Departs Iwo-Jima.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
19 August 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima escorting shared requisitioned cargo ship (B/C-AK) TETSUYO MARU.
21 August 1943:
At 2022, in 33-37N, 139-43E TETSUYO MARU is missed by three torpedoes fired by LtCdr (later Cdr) Thomas L. Wogan's (USNA '30).
22 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
22 ~ 31 August 1943:
Her owners are changed to Ishihara Kisen K.K.
31 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
8 September 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
11 September 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
18 September 1943:
Navy (Resv) Lt. Yoshioka Shigematsu is appointed CO.
19 September 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives off Tateyama later this day.
20 September 1943:
At 0430, departs Tateyama waters escorted by minesweeper W-33 and auxiliary subchaser SEKI MARU No. 2.
23 September 1943:
At 0530, arrives at Chichi-Jima.
24 September 1943:
After a submarine attack on convoy No. 3921, MAGANE MARU departs towards Minami Torishima (Marcus Is.) to carry out an anti-submarine sweep.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
16 October 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
19 October 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Departs there in convoy No. 7019 escorted by patrol boat PB-2 and NITTO MARU No. 9. At 1337, requisitioned shared tanker (B/C-AO) SHOEI (2,764 GRT) MARU and auxiliary transport HOKKAI MARU join the convoy off Yokosuka. At 1630, PB-2 detaches due to a generator failure at 128° and 5 nautical miles off Tsurugisaki lighthouse and returns to Yokosuka, arriving at 1830.
20 October 1943:
Auxiliary SENYU MARU No. 2 joins as additional escort.
25 October 1943:
Departs Yokosuka as only ship in convoy No. 3026B escorted by auxiliary minesweeper MISAGO MARU No. 11. The ships stop at Tateyama for the night.
26 October 1943:
At 0400, departs Tateyama. Later, Minesweeper W-33 joins and begins escorting.
28 October 1943:
At 1730, arrives at Chichi-Jima.
30 October 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
18 November 1943:
2 December 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
7 December 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima escorting auxiliary netlayer SANSEI MARU.
8 December 1943:
About 27 nautical miles ESE Iwo-Jima, LtCdr Eugene T. Sands’ (USNA ’30) USS SAWFISH (SS-276) intercepts the convoy. At 0200, Sands torpedoes and damages auxiliary transport SANSEI MARU at 25-20N, 141-46E. There are no casualties. She is taken in tow by MAGANE MARU.
11 December 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
14 December 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
4 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
9 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 January 1944:
Arrives at Iwo-Jima.
20 January 1944:
Departs Iwo-Jima.
23 January 1944:
At 0146K, LtCdr Charles Otto Triebel’s USS SNOOK (SS-279) makes radar contact with a large ship (MAGANE MARU) and a small escort. Triebel conducts a radar guided torpedo attack. He fires 6 torpedoes of which 2 hit MAGANE MARU. She sinks at 30-06N, 141-19E, about 59 nautical miles SE Torishima, Izu Islands. Three crewmen are KIA. [3]
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 427.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with cargo ship (1,416 GRT, ’29).
[2] 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.
[3] Kilo Time Zone is often used in aviation and the military as another name for UTC +10. Kilo Time Zone is also commonly used at sea between longitudes 142-5° East and 157-5° East. The letter K may be used as a suffix to denote a time being in the Kilo Time Zone.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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