Tabular Record of Movement
©2012-2014 Bob Hackett
Revision 3
E 1911:
Greenock (Port Glasgow), Scotland. Laid down at Russell & Co.,
Ltd. as Yard No 633, a 8,182-ton passenger-cargo ship for Pinillos Izquierdo
& Co. Steamship Company of Cadiz, Spain.
29 June 1912:
Launched and named INFANTA ISABEL
September 1912:
Completed. She can accommodate 41 1st class passengers, 131 2nd class passengers and 663 3rd class passengers.
1925:
Transferred with Pinillos Izquierdo & Co fleet to the Trans-Oceanic Navigation Company of Barcelona, Spain. Placed in service between Barcelona, Cadiz, Las Palmas, Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1926:
Sold to the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) Line. Renamed MIDZUHO MARU.
April 1927:
In service on OSK’s Kobe ~ Kirun (Keelung) Taiwan route. Remains in OSK’s service for the next ten years.
7 July 1937: The "First China Incident" and the Beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War:
Hun River, Lukuokiao, China. Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops on night maneuvers at the Marco Polo Bridge fire blank cartridges. Chinese troops across the river think they are under attack. They fire live round back, but do not cause injuries. At morning roll call, the Japanese discover a soldier missing and assume the Chinese have captured him. The Japanese demand entry to the Peiping (Beijing) suburb of Wanping to look for the soldier, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city. An undeclared war on China begins.
1937:
Chartered by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as a troop transport.
28 August 1937:
MIDZUHO MARU departs Ujina and arrives at Moji.
29 August 1937:
Departs Moji in a convoy also consisting of BAIKAL, NOSHIRO, PINTUNG, SHINKO, YOSHINO and ZENYO MARUs. MIDZUHO MARU carries 1,250 men and 167 horses of the IJA 18th Infantry Division’s 3rd Battalion and Infantry Gun Company.
2 September 1937:
Arrives at Wusung, China.
22 October 1937:
Departs Ujina and arrives at Moji.
25 October 1937:
Departs Moji.
25 October 1937:
Arrives at Shanghai.
28 October 1937:
Departs Shanghai.
30 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
31 October 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 November 1937:
Departs Ujina.
19 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
21 November 1937:
Arrives at Shanghai.
23 November 1937:
Departs Shanghai.
26 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
27 November 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 November 1937:
Departs Ujina.
19 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs to transport wounded.
21 November 1937:
Arrives at Shanghai.
23 November 1937:
Departs Shanghai.
26 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs
27 November 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
19 December 1937:
Departs Ujina.
20 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
22 December 1937:
Arrives at Shanghai.
25 December 1937:
Departs Shanghai.
27 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs
28 December 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
1938:
Renamed MIZUHO MARU.
5 January 1938:
Departs Ujina.
7 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs
10 January 1938:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
11 January 1938: Departs Qinhuangdao and arrives at Dairen.
12 January 1938:
Departs Dairen.
14 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
15 January 1938:
Arrives at Osaka
16 January 1938:
Departs Osaka
17 January 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
27 August 1938:
Departs Ujina for Shanghai.
22 May 1939:
Arrives at Ujina.
28 December 1939:
Arrives at Nanking (Nanjing).
3 December 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Armu (IJA) and allotted Army No. 160.
That same day, arrives at Mako.
15 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
16 December 1941:
Departs Takao.
18 December 1941: The Invasion of the Northern Philippines:
At 1200,
MIZUHO MARU departs Mako, Pescadores for Lingayen Gulf, Philippines in Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Rear Admiral Nishimura Shoji's (39)(former CO of
HARUNA) 2nd Lingayen Invasion Unit with 27 other IJA transports escorted by
DesRon 2's light cruiser NAKA, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO,
minesweepers W-9, W-10, W-11, W-12, W-17 and W-18 and subchasers CH-4, CH-5,
CH-6, CH-10, CH-11, CH-12, CH-16 , CH-17 and CH-18.
The Japanese main invasion at Lingayen Gulf consists of three transport echelons. The first is composed of 27 transports from Takao under Rear Admiral
Hara Kensaburo, the second of 28 transports under Rear Admiral Nishimura and the third of 21 transports from Keelung under Rear Admiral Hirose Sueto. This force
of 76 transports carries the main part of LtGen Homma Masaharu's 80,000-man 14th Army.
23 December 1941:
MIZUHO MARU is shelled and suffers hull damage
24 December 1941:
MIZUHO MARU and Rear Admiral Nishimura's 2nd Lingayen Invasion Unit arrive at Lingayen Gulf between 0110 and 0430. At 0530,
LtGen Dobashi's 2nd Lingayen Invasion Unit begins landing troops. 12 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
13 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
15 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
22 January 1942:
Arrives at Dairen and departs.
23 January 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
28 January 1942:
Departs Tsingtao.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
February 1942:
Departs Takao.
18 February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East
Indies:
Arrives at Camranh Bay. IJA MIZUHO MARU is attached to Vice Admiral
Takahashi Ibo's (36) Third Fleet, Southern Force, Netherlands East Indies Force
in Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) Western Java Seizure Force. Departs
Camranh Bay in a convoy comprised of 56 troop transports. They carry the 2nd
Infantry Division for the invasions of Merak, Bantam Bay and Eretan, Java
escorted by light cruisers YURA and NATORI, DesDivs 5, 6, 11, 12 and 22.
19 February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East Indies:
At 0800, 39 transports of Vice Admiral Takahashi's Third Fleet,
Eastern Java Invasion Force (Toho Koryaku Butai) depart the anchorage at Jolo Island, Philippines for Java carrying the IJA’s 48th Infantry Division. Enroute,
four more marus carrying the Sakaguchi Detachment (assigned to capture Tjilatjap) join the invasion convoy.
The convoy is escorted by Rear Admiral Nishimura's heavy cruisers NACHI and HAGURO, DesRon 2's light cruisers NAKA and JINTSU and DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE,
TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE and DesDiv 7's USHIO, SAZANAMI, YAMAKAZE and KAWAKAZE and DesRon 4's light cruiser NAKA, DesDiv 2's YUDACHI, SAMIDARE,
HARUSAME, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MURASAME, MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO.
18 February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East Indies: Arrives at Camranh Bay. IJA MIZUHO MARU is attached to Vice Admiral
Takahashi Ibo's (36) Third Fleet, Southern Force, Netherlands East Indies Force in Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) Western Java Seizure Force. Departs
Camranh Bay in a convoy comprised of 56 troop transports. They carry the 2nd Infantry Division for the invasions of Merak, Bantam Bay and Eretan, Java
escorted by light cruisers YURA and NATORI, DesDivs 5, 6, 11, 12 and 22.
1 March 1942: Western Java Capture.
Arrives at Bantam Bay, Java. The Third Fleet, fourth squadron lands the 2nd Infantry Division.
10 March 1942
Embarks patients for transport accompanied by the 53rd
Medical Group. Departs Bantam Bay.
15 March 1942
Arrives at Singapore.
16 March 1942
Departs Singapore.
20 March 1942
Arrives at Saigon.
30 March 1942
Departs Saigon.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at unidentified Koshi-chan location.
6 April 1942:
Departs Koshi-chan.
11 April 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
12 April 1942:
Departs Saigon.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
22 April 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
7 May 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
28 May 1942:
Departs Ujina.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
1 June 1942:
Departs Tsingtao.
3 June 1942:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
4 June 1942:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
12 June 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
24 June 1942:
Departs Dairen.
26 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
6 July 1942:
Departs Moji.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
11 July 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
13 July 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
25July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
30 July 1942:
Departs Kirun.
7 August 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
13 September 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
14 September 1942:
Departs Dairen.
15 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
22 September 1942:
Departs Moji.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
3 October 1942:
Departs Manila.
5 October 1942:
Arrives at Takao and departs.
6 October 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
7 October 1942:
Departs Kirun.
11 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
13 October 1942:
Departs Moji.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
19 October 1942:
Departs Takao.
24 October 1942:
Arrives at Singapore
28 October 1942:
Embarks patients for transport acccompanied by the 53rd Medical Group. Departs Singapore.
29 October 1942:
Tokyo. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies all belligerents that MIZUHO MARU is employed as a hospital ship.
2 November 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
4 November 1942:
Departs Manila.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
7 November 1942:
Departs Takao.
8 November 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
9 November 1942:
Departs Kirun.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
18 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
21 November 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
24 November 1942:
Embarks patients for transport acccompanied by the 156th Medical Group. Departs Dairen.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Disembarks patients and departs.
27 November 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Dairen and departs that same day.
4 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
12 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
14 December 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
15 December 1942:
Departs Dairen.
16 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
27 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
28 December 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
29 December 1942:
Departs Dairen.
31 December 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
3 February 1943:
Departs Moji.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
9 February 1943:
Departs Takao.
16 February 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 February 1943:
Departs Singapore.
20 February 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
22 February 1943:
Departs Saigon.
27 February 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
2 March 1943:
Departs Hong Kong.
7 March 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
20 March 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
22 March 1943:
Departs Palau.
27 March 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that same day.
28 March 1943:
Arrives at Kokobo and departs that same day.
2 April 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
4 April 1943:
Departs Palau.
7 April 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
17 April 1943:
Arrives at Palau and departs that same day.
19 April 1943:
Arrives at Kokobo.
28 April 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that same day.
8 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
9 May 1943:
Departs Manila.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Palau and departs that same day.
23 May 1943:
Arrives at Kokobo and departs that same day.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that same day.
>5 June 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
6 June 1943:
Departs Palau.
9 June 1943:
Arrives at Manila and departs that same day.
9 June 1943:
Departs Manila.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
14 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that same day.
1 July 1943:
At 0217, MIZUHO MARU is attacked by planes that drop three bombs at 3-42S, 52-13E 13. Later that day arrives at Kokobo.
6 July 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
8 July 1943:
Departs Palau.
11 July 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
12 July 1943:
Departs Manila.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Palau and departs that same day.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Kokobo.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that same day.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Palau and departs that same day.
7 August 1943:
??? Arrives at Manila.
9 August 1943:
Departs Manila.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
9 October 1943:
Departs Ujina.
12 October 1943:
At 1600, MIZUHO MARU departs Moji in convoy convoy HI-13 also consisting of transport/cargo ships SANUKI, NANKAI, AOBASAN, MANILA
and FUSO MARUs and tankers KYOKUEI and AMATSU MARUs. TSUSHIMA departs Moji escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
18 October 1943:
Departs Takao.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island.
24 October 1943:
Departs Samah.
30 October 1943:
At 1546, arrives at Singapore.
18 December 1943:
The Japanese Government protests attacks on the
hospital ships MIZUHO, ARABIA, TAKASAGO, AMERICAN, MANILA, URAL, HUSO, BUENOS AIRES and MURO MARUs.
29 December 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
22 January 1944:
Departs Ujina.
9 February 1944:
Arrives at Halmahera, Moluccas.
14 February 1944:
At 1400, MIZUHO MARU departs Halmahera for
Manila in convoy M-12 also consisting of FUSO, MITSUKI, KENWA, TONEGAWA,
KUROGANE and WALES MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-105 and minesweeper W-4.
16 February 1944:
At 0145, KENWA MARU is attacked unsucessfully by a
submarine, probably by LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's (USNA ’32) USS
CREVALLE (SS-291). At 2000, W-4 is detached from the convoy.
5 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
7 March 1944:
MIZUHO MARU departs Takao for Moji in convoy TAMO-08
also consisting of WAZAN, MEXICO, TONEGAWA, ADEN, MITSUKI MARUs and three
unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyers HASA and TSUGA.
8 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung).
13 March 1944:
Departs Kirun. The convoy splits into two parts after departing port.
17 March 1944:
The first part arrives at Moji.
18 March 1944:
The second part arrives at Moji.
21 April 1944:
Departs Osaka.
24 April 1944:
Off Kikopo, near Rabaul. MIZUHO MARU is machine-gunned.
3 May 1944:
3 May 1944:
A 0445, MIZUHO MARU departs Moji-Mutsure to Singapore via Manila in convoy HI-61 also consisting of tankers AKANE, TATEKAWA, NICHIEI, AZUSA, JINEI, EIYO, OTORISAN, SARAWAK and ASANAGI MARUs and fleet oiler HAYASUI escorted by escort carrier TAIYO, destroyers ASAGAO, HIBIKI and INAZUMA, kaibokan KURAHASHI, SADO, CD-7, CD-13, escorting convy HI-61 consisting of tankers AKANE, TATEKAWA, NICHIEI, AZUSA, JINEI, EIYO, OTORISAN, SARAWAK and ASANAGI MARUs and fleet oiler HAYASUI.
7 May 1944:
JINEI MARU develops engine troubles and is detached for Takao.
8 May 1944:
LtCdr Victor B. McCrea's USS HOE (SS-258) attacks convoy HI-61. AKANE MARU suffers minor damage.
9 May 1944:
At 2055, HI-61 arrives at Manila. TATEKAWA, NICHIEI and AZUSA MARUs are detached.
12 May 1944:
MIZUHO MARU departs Manila for Singapore in convoy HI-61 also consisting of empty tankers AKANE, TATEKAWA, NICHIEI, AZUSA, EIYO,
OTORISAN, SARAWAK and ASANAGI MARUs and fleet oiler HAYASUI escorted by escort carrier TAIYO, destroyers ASAGAO, HIBIKI and INAZUMA, kaibokan SADO and possibly
KURAHASHI, and CD-5, CD-7 and CD-13.
18 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
21 May 1944:
Departs Manila.
4 June 1944:
MIZUHO MARU is in a collision with destroyer HARUKAZE.
3 July 1944:
MIZUHO MARU departs Moji for Manila in convoy MOMA-01 also consisting of ARABIA, KASHII, TAMATSU, TOZAN, NISSHO, MAYASAN, RAKUYO and NICHIRAN MARUs escorted by destroyer HARUKAZE and kaibokan CD-11, CD-20 CD-26 and CD-28 and subchaser CH-28. The convoy is transporting the IJA's 5th Field Heavy Artillery, 54th Independent Mixed Brigade's 362nd Independent Infantry Battalion and elements of the 58th Independent Mixed Brigade.
7 July 1944:
Formosa Straits. Convoy MOMA-01 is ordered to turn back to Keelung, Formosa.
9 July 1944:
Departs Keelung escorting MOMA-01. ARABIA MARU may have joined the convoy at this point.
12 July 1944:
Bashi Strait. At 0330, LtCdr (later Cdr) Walter P. Schoeni's (USNA ’31) USS APOGON (SS-308) fires a full bow spread of torpedoes MAYASAN MARU. Schoeni fails to damage her, but USS APOGON is rammed during the attack. At 0720, LtCdr Harold E. Rubles' (USNA ’33) USS PIRANHA (SS-389) torpedoes and sinks NICHIRAN MARU at 18-50N, 122-40E. KASHII MARU rescues survivors, but 1238 troops, one gunner and 15 crewmen are KIA. The convoy seeks shelter in Aparri Harbor, Philippines.
13 July 1944:
At 0800, departs Aparri.
15 July 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Manila.
23 July 1944:
At 1545, MIZUHO MARU departs Manila for Moji in convoy MI-08 also consisting of ARABIA, MANILA, TATSUBATO and HAKUSHIKA MARUs and tankers SAN DIEGO, SAN LUIS, NITTETSU, MIRII, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO and SANKO MARUs
and KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by torpedo boat SAGI, kaibokan CD-1, CD-18 and CD-28, minesweeper W-17, minelayer ENOSHIMA and subchaser CH-61. The convoy speed is eight knots.
27 July 1944:
At 0920, auxiliary subchaser CHa-74 and auxiliary transport OYO MARU join the escort. At 1605, the convoy arrives at Takao and is again reorganized.
28 July 1944:
At 1132, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a
message that reads: “CD-26 and HARUKAZE [DD] - proceed immediately to 16-23 N.,
119-40 E. HAKUBASAN MARU (of Convoy MI-10) was attacked at 1030 -----.”
25 August 1944:
convoy HI-73 departs Moji for Singapore. Later that
day, the convoy is joined briefly by transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs
and tanker MANEI MARU.
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.
31 August 1944:
At 0400, ARABIA MARU departs Terashima Straits for
Takao in convoy MOTA-25 also consisting of MIZUHO and KOKURYU MARUs escorted by
kaibokan CD-1, CD-3 and CD-5.
3 September 1944:
At 1630, arrives at Kirun rather than Takao as
ordered by the convoy commander.
18 September 1944:
At 2056, MIZHUO MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-26 also consisting of ARABIA, AWAJI, EIMAN, HOTEN, NICHINAN, SHIRANESAN TEMPI and TSINGTAO MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 3 escorted by minesweepers W-17 and W-20 and subchasers CH-20, CH-41 and CH-63.
MIZUHO MARU is carrying 5, 415 persons, horses, baggage, equipment and a large quantity of ammunition. That same day, TAMA-26 anchors off Daibanratsu (Ta-fan-lieh), Nan Wan (South Bay), southern end of Taiwan.
19 September 1944:
Departs Daibanratsu. At 2130, convoy TAMA-26
anchors at Sabtang Channel.
20 September 1944:
At 0300, departs Sabtang Channel. At 2000, the
convoy anchors at Fuga Island, Musa Bay.
21 September 1944:
At 0300, HOTEN MARU has engine trouble and remains at Musa. At 0700, a Japanese aircraft flies to a position forward of the convoy from which it dive-bombs a submarine.
At 0705, Cdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho's (USNA ’27) USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoes and sinks AWAJI MARU carrying 600 passengers and 500-tons of ammunition, at 18-43N, 120-53E. 284 passengers, three escort troops and 40 crewmen are KIA. NICHINAN MARU rescues survivors. At 0745, the convoy reforms and heads south again.
At 0835, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's (USNA ’30) USS REDFISH (SS-395) torpedoes MIZUHO MARU. Hit by three torpedoes, she sinks at 18-37N, 120-41E. 1,313 passengers 81 crewmen and three gunners of the 2,150 troops and 3,029 civilian employees she was carrying are KIA.
W-17 counterattacks while NICHINAN MARU, KEISHU MARU (ex-British HENRY KESWICK), TOYO MARU No. 3, CH-20, CH-63 and W-20 pick up survivors. Motorized sailboats BANGI and SAROMAGE rescue 268 survivors. In all, the vessels rescue 4,102 survivors.
At 2215, the convoy arrives at Lapoc Bay.
Author's Note:
Thanks go to John Whitman of Virginia and Fontessa-san of Japan for info on 1937 in Rev 1 and TAMA-26 survivors in Rev 2. Thanks also go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
Bob Hackett
