Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN MANEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2018 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 6

24 August 1943:
Nagasaki. Laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a 5,226-ton Type 1TM Wartime Standard Merchant Tanker for Nitto Kisen K. K., Tokyo.
30 November 1943:
Launched and named MANEI MARU.
15 January 1944:
Completed.
31 January 1944:
Departs Nagasaki.
1 February 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 February 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
7 February 1944:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
9 February 1944:
Departs Shimotsu.
11 February 1944:
At 1600, departs Moji in convoy HI-43, also consisting of cargo passenger ship (A/C-APK) ORYOKU MARU, and EIYO MARU No. 2, fleet oiler OSE (ex-Dutch GENOTA) and two unidentified MARUs escorted by kaibokan TSUSHIMA.

16 February 1944:
At 1100, arrives at Kirun (Keelung), Formosa.
18 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Kirun.
23 February 1944:
At 1730, arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
29 February 1944:
At 0900, departs Camranh Bay.
28 February 1944:
Requisitioned by the IJN. Registered as an auxiliary transport (oil).
29 February 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay.
3 March 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Singapore.
15 March 1944:
At 1000, MANEI MARU departs Singapore in convoy HI-50 consisting of tankers OKIKAWA, MEDAN and EIHO MARUs and transports SANUKI, USSURI, and SHOHEI MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE and kaibokan SADO.
18 March 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Cape St Jacques.
20 March 1944:
At 1500, departs Cape St Jacques. Tanker KUROSHIO MARU apparently joins at this point.
24 March 1944:
At 1900, arrives at Manila.
27 March 1944:
At 1400, departs Manila.
30 March 1944:
At 1000, arrives at Takao.
1 April 1944:
At 1600, departs Takao. SADO is detached on a submatine hunt but later rejoins.
2 April 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
4 April 1944:
At 1600, departs Mako.
7 April 1944:
OKIKAWA MARU is detached off Arikawa Wan.
8 April 1944:
At 1010, arrives at Moji. Later that day, arrives at the Tokuyama naval oil depot. Off loads fuel oil.
15 April 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
20 April 1944:
At 0600, MANEI MARU departs Moji-Mutsure for Singapore in convoy HI-59 consisting of tankers OKIKAWA, NIPPPO, EIHO, MANEI (BANEI), OTORISAN and NIYO MARUs and probably KINUGASA, NOSHIRO and TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) MARUs and tanker NICHINAN MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan KURAHASHI, CD-10, CD-11 and CD-20.
21 April 1944:
KURAHASHI and CD-20 are detached.
E 28 April 1944:
South China Sea. KURAHASHI and CD-20 arrive from Manila and rejoin the convoy.
28 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
29 April 1944:
Departs Takao.
2 May 1944:
At 1200, HI-59 arrives at Manila where the convoy is dissolved.
5 May 1944:
At 1030 departs Corregidor in Rinji Convoy with NIPPO, EIHO and OKIGAWA MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-10 and CD-11.
7 May 1944:
CD-11 is detached.
10 May 1944:
At 0700 arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo. Disembarks 16 passengers.
15 May 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in a convoy consisting also of EIHO and OKIGAWA MARUs escorted by destroyers FUJINAMI and SHIRATSUYU.
18 May 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi, Philippines.
20 May 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi in a convoy also consisting of fleet oiler TSURUMI and tankers YUHO and EIHO MARUs escorted by destroyers AKIZUKI and URANAMI and kaibokan MANJU.
21 May 1944:
AKIZUKI is detached and returns to Tawi Tawi. The convoy arrives at Tarakan, Borneo.
10 June 1944:
Departs Tarakan in convoy with YUHO MARU escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE. Later that day, arrives at Karang Besar. [2]
11 June 1944:
Departs Karang Besar
12 June 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
17 June 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy also consting of transport KAGU MARU and tankers YUHO and EIHO MARUs escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE.
18 June 1944:
Arrives at the Berouw (Berau) River mouth, NE Borneo.
19 June 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth.
20 June 1944:
Arrives and departs Tarakan. KAGU MARU is detached there. Anchors that evening in Ligitan Channel, Celebes Sea. [2]
21 June 1944:
Departs Ligitan Channel and enters the Sulu Sea via the Alice Channel.
23 June 1944:
At 0800 minesweeper W-15 and submarine chaser CH-38 departs Cebu and joins up with YUHO MARU convoy At 2150 arrives at Guimaras where W-15 is detached.
24 June 1944:
Transfers 4860 tons fuel to tanker NICHIEI MARU as well as rice rations.
26 June 1944:
Departs Guimaras Bay in convoy with tanker YUHO MARU escorted by destroyer TSUGA, kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-38, CH-49 and CH-58.
27 June 1944:
Arrives at Zamboanga, Philippines. CH-38 is apparently detached.
28 June 1944:
Departs Zamboanga still in convoy.
30 June 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi.
1 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi still in convoy with tankers EIHO MARU and TSURUMI joining at this point. Later that day, anchors in Ligitan Channel. [2]
2 July 1944:
Departs Ligitan Channel. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan. TSUGA is detached. TETSUYO MARU joins.
3 July 1944:
Arrives at Berouw River mouth. TETSUYO MARU runs aground and is detached. The ship later refloat herself and returns to Tarakan.
4 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth.
5 July 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
10 July 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy with tankers YUHO MARU, TSURUMI and EIHO MARU escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-38, CH-49 and CH-58.
11 July 1944:
Arrives at the Berouw River mouth. ANKO and TATSUMATSU MARUs and tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 join the convoy.
12 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan.
13 July 1944:
Departs Tarakan. Arrives at the Ligitan Channel. [2]
14 July 1944:
Departs the Ligitan Channel. Later that day, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
15 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi. Later that day, arrives at Jolo, Philippines. TSURUMI, TATSUMATSU and ANKO MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 2 are detached.
16 July 1944:
Departs Jolo. Later that day, arrives at Zamboanga, Philippines.
18 July 1944:
Departs Zamboanga.
19 July 1944:
Arrives at Calabasa at the northern entrance to Guimaras Strait.[2]
20 July 1944:
Departs Calabasa. Later that day, arrives at Sapian Bay, N coast of Panay Island. [2]
21 July 1944:
Departs Sapian Bay. Later that day, arrives at Pilar, N-coast of Panay.[2]
22 July 1944:
Departs Pilar. Later that day, arrives at Manila. EIHO MARU is detached.
26 July 1944:
Departs Manila in convoy also consisting of YUHO MARU escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE.
31 July 1944:
Arrives at Zamami, Kerama Retto to shelter from a typhoon.
2 August 1944:
Departs Zamami.
5 August 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure. Departs later that day. Arrives at Kure.
20 August 1944:
Undocked.
21 August 1944:
Departs Kure.
22 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
25 August 1944:
Convoy HI-73 departs Moji for Singapore consisting of IJA landing craft depot ship KIBITSU MARU, ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU, ex-seaplane tenders KAGU and SANUKI MARUs, tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN (1944), HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and KUROSHIO MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO escorted by escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-1, CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
Off Terajima Straits, Kyushu. Later that day, the convoy is joined briefly by MANEI MARU and transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered away because of excessive smoke. MANEI MARU remains at Kyushu because of engine problems.
8 September 1944:
MANEI MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-75 consisting of oilers NICHIEI, RYOEI, YUHO, TOHO (1944 built), SERIA and AMATO MARUs, passenger liner ASAMA MARU and cargo-passenger SAIGON MARU escorted by escort carrier SHINYO, flying boat tender AKITSUSHIMA, DesDiv 30’s YUZUKI and UZUKI and kaibokan KANJU, MIYAKE and MANJU.
The convoys pulls into Imari Wan for the night.
9 September 1944:
Departs Imari Wan.
12 September 1944:
SAIGON MARU, YUZUKI and KANJU are detached for the China coast. They later rejoin at Takao.
13 September 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Takao.
14 September 1944:
The convoy is increased by the addition of oilers FUJISAN MARU (1944), KUROSHIO and TAIHO MARUs, torpedo boat HIYODORI and kaibokan CD-28. At 1630, the convoy departs Takao for Singapore. Soon thereafter, AMATO MARU, and at 1900, YUHO MARU, develop engine problems and are detached.
16 September 1944:
At 2330, KANJU, suffering rudder problems, collides with SERIA MARU, but there is little damage.
17 September 1944:
At 1000, AKITSUSHIMA and SAIGON MARU are detached and head for Manila escorted by YUZUKI and UZUKI. Enroute, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks SAIGON MARU carrying 700 mines and 100 depth-charges, at 14-20N, 120-05E. Six crewmen are KIA. DesDiv 30’s YUZUKI and UZUKI hunt for the submarine, but Whitaker evades. YUZUKI and UZUKI rescue SAIGON MARU’s survivors, not including Captain Kameyama Minegoro (44). He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
18 September 1944:
At 1040, kaibokan KURAHASHI joins the escort.
19 September 1944:
At 1500, AMATO MARU rejoins the convoy.
20 September 1944:
During the day, NICHIEI, KUROSHIO, TAIHO and FUJISAN MARUs and carrier SHINYO all suffer engine or rudder problems, but the convoy remains intact.
22 September 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Singapore.
23 September 1944:
Departs Singapore. Anchors in the Berhala Straits.
24 September 1944:
Departs Berhala Straits. Anchors in the Musi River mouth.
25 September 1944:
Departs Musi River mouth and arrives at Palembang.
26 September 1944:
Departs Palembang. Later that day, arrives at Muntok, Bangka Island. Transfers fuel to RYOEI MARU.
27 September 1944:
Departs Muntok. Later that day, arrives at the Musi River mouth.
28 September 1944:
Departs Musi River mouth.
29 September 1944:
Arrives at Palembang.
30 September 1944:
Departs Palembang. Later that day, arrives at the Musi River mouth. Transfers some cargo to AYANAMI MARU.
2 October 1944:
Departs Musi River mouth.
3 October 1944:
S of Singapore. Arrives at the Dempo Strait (now Selat Dempo) anchorage at the southern end of Bintan (Riau) Archipelago. Transfers remaining cargo to NIPPO MARU. [2]
6 October 1944:
Departs Dempo Strait anchorage.
7 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra. Loads fuel oil.
8 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
9 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Loads fuel oil.
14 October 1944:
Departs Palembang.
15 October 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
22 October 1944:
Arrives at Brunei Bay, Borneo.
22-31 October 1944:
While at Brunei, refuels battleship KONGO, cruiser HAGURO and transfers fuel to tanker OMUROSAN MARU.
31 October 1944:
At 0630 HAKKO, MANEI and YUHO MARUs and storeship HAYASAKI depart Brunei escorted by kaibokan CHIBURI and CD-19, submarine chaser CH-34 and destroyer SHIGURE. At 1930 the ships arrive at Miri. MANEI MARU loads 7,000 tons of heavy oil.
6 November 1944:
Departs Miri for Manila with 7,000 tons of fuel oil in an unidentified convoy escorted by destroyer SHIGURE and kaibokan CHIBURI and CD-19.
8 November 1944:
100 miles SW of Olongapo (Subic Bay), Luzon, Philippines. The convoy is attacked by a wolf pack consisting of Cdr (later KIA) Thomas B. Oakley, Jr’s (USNA ’34) USS GROWLER (SS-215), LtCdr Frank E. Haylor's (USNA ’36) USS HAKE (SS-256) and LtCdr (later Cdr) Francis A. Greenup's (USNA ’36) USS HARDHEAD (SS-365). During the action, at about 0400, USS HARDHEAD torpedoes and sinks MANEI MARU at 13-30N, 119-25E, 36 crewmen are KIA.
The escorts launch a heavy depth charge counter-attack and possibly sink USS GROWLER that goes MIA after this attack.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors’ Notes:
[1] MANEI MARU was also known as BANEI MARU and MEN’EI MARU.
[2] Described as "Kananbena". 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 somewhat speculative. The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Erich Muehlthaler of Germany and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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