KYURYOSEN!
(MINOO MARU, prewar – Berend van der Wal collection)
IJN MINOO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2019 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
October 1932:
Sakurajima. Laid down by Osaka Iron Works K.K. shipyard as a 422-tons deep sea trawler for Kyodo Gyogyo K.K.
December 1932:
Launched and named MINOO MARU. [1]
15 February 1933:
Completed and registered at Shimonoseki. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 422-tons and 204-tons. [2]
25 February 1933:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K receives a steamer trawl fishing permit (No. 1) available for 10 months. Operation areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) South China Sea S of 20-00N.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Shimonoseki and Nagasaki.
Operations in Tokai and Yellow Sea are forbidden: 1 May ~ 31 July.
3 August 1933:
Departs Tobata for Urushi.
19 August 1933:
Scheduled to arrive at Tobata.
3 October 1933:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is changed. Harvesting ports are changed to Tobata, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki and Hong Kong.
1 January ~ 30 June 1934:
Osaka. At K.K. Osaka Tekkosho Honsha shipyard for hull stretching construction work. Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 472-tons and 238-tons. [2]
1 July 1934:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is transferred to Toyo Kogyo K.K.
16 August 1934:
Toyo Kogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is transferred to Kyodo Gyogyo K.K.
26 September 1934:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is changed. Operations in Tokai and Yellow Sea are forbidden: 1 May ~ 31 August.
28 December 1935:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is changed: Operation areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) South China Sea S of 20-00N. (C) NW of Yoku Misaki to Cape Naturaliste.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki, Hong Kong and Singapore.
20 June 1936:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is changed: Operation areas include: (A) Tokai and Yellow Sea, (B) South China Sea S of 20-00N. (C) NW of Yoku Misaki to Cape Naturaliste. (D) Mexico and California Gulf, Central America from Guatemala to Mariata Cape, Panama. (E) Mexico Gulf and Caribbean Sea W of 80-00W.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Hong Kong, Singapore, Los Angeles, Balboa, Cristobal, Galveston, New Orleans, Mazatlan, Veracruz, Tampico and other Mexican ports with permission of the Mexican government.
6 September 1936:
Arrives in ballast at entrance of the Panama Canal, coming from Tobata.
8 September 1936:
Departs the exit of the Panama Canal heading for Vera Cruz, Mexico.
29 October 1936:
Arrives with a cargo of fish at the entrance of the Panama Canal coming from Vera Cruz.
31 October 1936:
Departs the exit of the Panama Canal for Manzanillo, Mexico.
7 May 1937:
Her owners are changed to Nippon Suisan K.K. and her port of registry to Kobe.
4 June 1937:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is transferred to Nippon Suisan K.K.
16 June 1937:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is changed: Period of permission in (D) and (E) zones apply from 20 Jun ’49 to 31 Aug ‘51.
5 April 1938:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K. steamer trawl fishing permit is changed: Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.
8 August 1938:
Kyodo Gyogyo K.K steamer trawl fishing permit is changed: Operation areas include: (D) Mexico and California Gulf, Central America from Guatemala to Mariata Cape, Panama.
Harvesting ports are: Tobata, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Balboa, Mazatlan and other Mexican ports with permission of the Mexican government.
10 June 1939:
Departs San Pedro, Los Angeles, United States of America, with six other unidentified vessels, which are engaged in the shrimp fishing off the coast of the Gulf of California, for the Orient after general overhauling at the San Pedro drydocks. She had been ordered away from the navy’s training base on San Clemente Island by a coast guard cutter. The incident was reported to have occurred as the fleet was putting out to sea for its first maneuvers since returning from Atlantic waters a few weeks ago.
14 November 1939:
Arrives at Fremantle, Australia.
30 April 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 October 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary stores ship (Otsu) category attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 1256. Tactically assigned to Vice Admiral (Fleet Admiral posthumously) Koga Mineichi’s (34) China Theater Fleet. [3]
8 December 1941:
Departs Toba.
12 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
16 December 1941:
Departs Takao.
20 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral (Fleet Admiral posthumously) Koga Mineichi’s (34) China Theater Fleet in Vice Admiral Tayui Minoru’s (39) Third China Fleet assigned to Vice Admiral Sunagawa Kaneo’s (36) Hainan Guard District, Hainan Guard Unit under Navy’s instruction No. 31.
22 December 1941:
At 1045, arrives at Samah (also known as Sana or Sanya, now Ya Xian), Hainan Island, China escorted by auxiliary patrol craft NANSHIN MARU. Departs later.
28 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
3 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
6 January 1942:
At 1120, arrives at Samah. Departs later.
12 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
16 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
26 January 1942:
At 1455, departs Samah.
30 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
9 February 1942:
Departs Takao.
15 February 1942:
At 0830, arrives at Samah.
17 February 1942:
At 0645, departs Samah.
2 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
8 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
12 March 1942:
At 2000, arrives at Samah escorted by auxiliary patrol craft SEIUN MARU No. 3.
15 March 1942:
At 1355, departs Samah.
28 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
2 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
6 April 1942:
At 1545, arrives at Samah.
10 April 1942:
At 0705, departs Samah escorted by auxiliary patrol craft KIHO MARU.
15 April 1942:
Attached to Hainan Guard Unit under Navy’s instruction No. 15.
23 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
29 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
3 May 1942:
Arrives at Samah.
6 May 1942:
Departs Samah.
15 May 1942:
Scheduled to be fitted with one Type 92 7.7mm type A MG and five type 38 Arisaka rifles under Navy’s secret instruction No. 5990.
17 May 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
21 May 1942:
Departs Takao.
24 May 1942:
Arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island.
26 May 1942:
Departs Yulin.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Hikoshima.
12 June 1942:
Scheduled to be fitted with one 8cm/40cal deck gun under Navy’s secret instruction No. 7246.
15 July 1942:
Departs Hikoshima.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
1 August 1942:
Navy (Resv) Honda Yoshiki is appointed Supervisor.
9 August 1942:
Arrives at Samah.
20 August 1942:
Departs Samah and arrives at Yulin later that day.
23 August 1942:
Departs Yulin.
25 August 1942:
Arrives at Haikow (now Haikou), Hainan Island.
28 August 1942:
Departs Haikow.
29 August 1942:
Arrives at Haikow.
7 September 1942:
Departs Haikow.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Samah.
13 September 1942:
Departs Samah and arrives at Yulin later that same day.
25 September 1942:
Departs Yulin.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Haikow.
30 September 1942:
Departs Haikow.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Haikow.
15 October 1942:
Departs Haikow.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Haikow.
25 October 1942:
Depart Haikow.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at E Kawashima.
4 November 1942:
Departs E Kawashima.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
11 November 1942:
Departs Takao.
14 November 1942:
Arrives at Samah.
18 November 1942:
Departs Samah.
1 December 1942:
Attached to Hainan Guard Unit under Navy’s instruction No. 54.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
7 December 1942:
Departs Takao.
10 December 1942:
Arrives at Samah.
13 December 1942:
Departs Samah.
29 December 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
6 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
9 January 1943:
Arrives at Samah.
13 January 1943:
Departs Samah.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
5 February 1943:
Departs Takao.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at Samah.
16 February 1943:
Departs Samah.
24 February 1943:
Undergoes hull bottom inspection at Hainan Works Department.
4 March 1943:
Undergoes propeller inspection at Hainan Works Department.
5 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
8 March 1943:
Departs Takao.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Yulin.
16 March 1943:
Departs Yulin.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Yulin.
27 March 1943:
Departs Yulin.
29 March 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
31 March 1943:
Her owners are changed to Nihon Kaiyo Gyogyo Tosei K.K.
4 April 1943:
Departs Hong Kong.
6 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
11 April 1943:
Departs Takao.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Samah.
6 May 1943:
Departs Samah.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Samah.
16 May 1943:
Departs Samah.
22 May 1943:
Arrives at Samah.
29 May 1943:
Departs Samah.
1 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
6 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
11 June 1943:
Arrives at Samah.
14 June 1943:
Released from Hainan Guard Unit under Navy’s instruction No. 19.
15 June 1943:
Departs Samah for Benoa, Bali, Netherlands East Indies.
20 July 1943:
Loads frozen fresh meat from auxiliary storeship HAKUREI MARU.
6 August 1943:
Loads frozen fresh meat from auxiliary storeship HAKUREI MARU.
30 August 1943:
Loads frozen fresh meat from auxiliary storeship HAKUREI MARU.
22 September 1943:
Departs Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies in a convoy also consisting of IJA transports AKASHI and MOMO MARUs and RYOYU MARU No. 22, escorted by auxiliary minesweepers Wa-4 and Wa-105.
25 September 1943:
At 0650, LtCdr George E. Porter, Jr's (USNA ’32) USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) on her first war patrol, attacks the convoy at 06-23S, 118-55E. Three Mark XIV Type 3A Torpedoes are fired but fail to hit AKASHI MARU. Thereafter, another spread of three torpedoes are fired and one hit is scored on AKASHI MARU. The damaged transport is able to resume his course and the submarine continues to trail the convoy.
27 September 1943:
At 0030, in 06-05S, 125-55E USS BLUEFISH attacks the convoy again with two torpedoes that both hit and sinks the damaged AKASHI MARU. Four crewmen and 139 troops and other passengers are KIA. Later that day the convoy arrives at Ambon, Netherlands East Indies.
29 October 1943:
Departs Koepang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Benoa. Departs there later for Surabaya.
1 November 1943:
Loads frozen fresh meat from auxiliary storeship HAKUREI MARU.
25 November 1943:
Loads frozen fresh meat from auxiliary storeship HAKUREI MARU.
1 January 1944:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwestern Area Fleet.
19 January 1944:
At 1920, departs Ambon in a convoy escorted by auxiliary gunboat TAIKO MARU and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 17.
21 January 1944:
At 1630, arrives at Kendari.
27 January 1944:
About five nautical miles NE Kur Island (now Pulau Kur), Kai archipelago, Banda Sea, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). At 0100, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral, Ret) Walter T. Griffith’s (USNA '34) USS BOWFIN (SS-287) running on surface fires three Mark XIV Type 3A Torpedoes and scores two hits. MINOO MARU rapidly sinks at 05-25S, 132-08E with the loss of 22 crewmen.
10 May 1944:
Removed from the Navy list under instruction No. 654.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Also known as MINOWO MARU. Not to be confused with IJA transport MINO MARU (4,667 GRT, ‘44) and auxiliary minelayer MINOO.
[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] There were two categories of Kyuryosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
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