KYUSETSUMOKAN!
HOKAKUMOTEI!
(NAGARA MARU, in wartime)
IJN NAGARA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2023 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
25 April 1939:
Osaka. Laid down as a 855-tons cargo ship by Urabe Zosen Tekkosho G.K. for Sankyo Kaiun K.K.
21 February 1940:
Launched and named NAGARA MARU. [1]
8 April 1940:
Completed and registered at Osaka. Her Gross Registered tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 855-tons and 460-tons. Her call sign is JZVN. [2]
5 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
12 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer in the Maizuru Naval District under Instruction No. 1049. Navy Resv Lt(jg) Takezawa Teizo is appointed CO that same day.
24 September 1941:
Niigata. Conversion for military duty begins at the Niigata Iron Works shipyard.
15 October 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (36) Third Fleet, Second Base Force, 54th Subchaser Division under Instruction No. 1251.
19 October 1941:
Conversion for military duty is completed.
26 November 1941:
Rated as a Kojima Unit, 3rd escort Unit. Departs Terashima Suido (Yobukono Sedo) for Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan) escorting the third echelon of the Philippines Invasion Group.
8 December 1941:
Departs Takao escorting the Bataan Island, Philippines Invasion Convoy.
17 December 1941:
Departs Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) escorting the third transport convoy.
21 December 1941:
At 0700, joins the First and Second Escort Units.
22 December 1941:
Arrives at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines.
24 December 1941:
Participates in the combined Army and Navy landing operation in Lingayen Gulf.
31 December 1941:
Departs Santo Tomas, Philippines.
15 February 1942:
At Davao, Philippines. Escorts convoys and carries out anti-submarine patrols.
16 February 1942:
At Tarakan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Participates in the Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies invasion (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) operation. Escorts convoys and sweeps mines.
3 March 1942:
Attached to the 22nd Special Base Force. Carries out anti-submarine patrols.
10 March 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (36) Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 23rd Special Base Force, 54th Subchaser Division. Takes part in the celebration campaign.
10 April 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (36) Southwest Area Fleet, 23rd Special Base Force, 54th Subchaser Division.
25 April 1942:
Assigned to Celebes Main Force under Celebes Guard Order No. 8.
7 July 1942:
At 1525, departs Ambon, Moluccas, Netherlands East Indies with auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 escorting auxiliary transport SENKO MARU towing auxiliary gunboat TAIKO MARU. TAIKO MARU was heavily damaged in an RAAF air attack on 13 May ‘42.
11 July 1942:
At 1141, arrives with the convoy at Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia). SHONAN MARU No. 1 is detached at Makassar.
15 July 1942:
At 1608, departs Makassar escorting the same convoy.
21 July 1942:
At 1933, arrives at Singapore.
1 August 1942:
Navy Resv Lt(jg) Takezawa Teizo is confirmed as CO.
2 January 1943:
Attached to East Celebes Guard Unit. Assigned to convoy escort bound for Makassar, Surabaya, Kupang and Ambon, anti-submarine sweeping and waterway minesweeping.
16 April 1943:
Surveys ports in the Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
18 April 1943:
Meets up with auxiliary minelayer TATSUHARU MARU at 04-00N, 124-00E and escorts ship to Menado, Unknown numbered SHONAN MARU joins NAGARA MARU and takes over escorting TATSUHARU MARU to Makassar.
1 May 1943:
Released from 54th Subchaser Division under Instruction No. 831. Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwest Area Fleet, in Vice Admiral Iwamura Seiichi’s (37) 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 23rd Special Base Force under Instruction No. 834. Arrives at Halmahera, Moluccas that same day.
18 May 1943:
Departs Ambon for Makassar.
25 January 1944:
Hits a magnetic mine in Bone Bay, Celebes and thereafter is unable to navigate. Auxiliary salvage ship ARABATO MARU is sent from Surabaya to salvage the ship.
28 January 1944:
TAITO MARU is assigned to tow NAGARA MARU from Pomalaa, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia) to Makassar with an 1800 ETD.
10 February 1944:
At Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) enters drydock for hull and main engine repairs.
17 February 1944:
Undocked.
20 March 1944:
Anti-aircraft equipment is bolstered in Surabaya dock.
29 March 1944:
Undocked.
4 May 1944:
At 0630, departs Makassar carrying cargo in a convoy also consisting of IJA transport UWAJIMA MARU No. 15 with both ships escorted by auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU.
5 May 1944:
At 1100, arrives at Kendari.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Ambon.
E 2 ~ 5 June 1944:
Attached to a training unit for escorts.
6 June 1944:
Departs Ambon.
14 June 1944:
Arrives at Makassar.
26 June 1944:
Departs Makassar.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Staring Bay (now Wawosungu Bay), Celebes.
2 July 1944:
Departs Staring Bay.
3 July 1944:
Scheduled for enlargement of her transport capacity by the 102nd Navy Engineering Department.
6 July 1944:
Arrives at Bitung, Celebes.
9 July 1944:
Departs Bitung.
15 July 1944:
Arrives at Makassar.
22 July 1944:
Departs Makassar.
30 July 1944:
Arrives at Bitung.
2 August 1944:
Departs Bitung.
9 August 1944:
Arrives at Makassar.
13 August 1944:
Departs Makassar.
15 August 1944:
Arrives at Staring Bay.
17 August 1944:
At 0630, departs Staring Bay escorting IJA transport KURAMASAN MARU .
20 August 1944:
At 2250, arrives at Makassar.
23 August 1944:
Departs Makassar.
26 August 1944:
Arrives at Bone Reef, Celebes.
27 August 1944:
Departs Bone Reef, escorting a convoy.
28 August 1944:
Arrives at Makassar.
2 September 1944:
At 1700, departs Makassar with minesweeper W-5, auxiliary subchasers CHa-113 and SHONAN MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper KEINAN MARU escorting a convoy consisting of IJA transports KURAMASAN, KANTO and TATSUYASU MARUs, auxiliary oilers KINREI MARU and UNKAI MARU No. 12.
4 September 1944:
At 0200, off Laut Strait, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) auxiliary oilers KINREI MARU and UNKAI MARU No. 12 are detached and head to Balikpapan.
5 September 1944:
At 0200, off Cape Selatan (Cape Silat, Cape South), Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (Kalimantan, Indonesia) IJA transport TATSUYASU MARU and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 are detached and head to Singapore.
6 September 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya . Reconstruction work begins at the 102nd Navy Engineering Department.
E 10 November 1944:
Reconstruction work is completed.
11 November 1944:
Departs Surabaya in a convoy, carrying cargo also consisting of civilian tankers NANSHIN MARU No. 12 and NANSHIN MARU No. 16 and civilian cargo (C-AK) NITTEI MARU escorted by minesweeper W-12. Initially sails to Adang Bay, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Teluk Adang, Kalimantan, Indonesia) leaving the convoy behind.
14 November 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Loads machine gun ammunition, twelve rifles, liquor goods, No. 1 type crude oil and other goods. In total, loads about 200-tons of goods.
18 November 1944:
At 0900, departs Balikpapan escorting auxiliary oiler ENOSHIMA MARU.
20 November 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Makassar.
22 November 1944:
Scheduled to escort auxiliary oiler ENOSHIMA MARU. Departs Makassar with auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No . 1 and KYOKUO MARU escorting auxiliary oiler ENOSHIMA MARU. That same day, FEAF fighter bombersUSAAF planes damage ENOSHIMA MARU. Her CO is killed and seven crewmen wounded. There are 150 holes in her hull, but she returns to Makassar under her own steam.
25 November 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
1 December 1944:
At 0930, departs Balikpapan escorting again auxiliary oiler ENOSHIMA MARU.
4 December 1944:
At 0800, arrives at Makassar.
E 5 ~ 16 December 1944:
Loads 50-tons of food destined for Balikpapan and 8 miscellaneous goods destined for Surabaya, and embarks 23 passengers.
17 December 1944:
Departs Makassar with auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 escorting auxiliary oiler ENOSHIMA MARU. Arrives at Langkai Island, Celebes and departs there later this day.
20 December 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
25 December 1944:
At 1745, departs Balikpapan escorting a convoy consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
30 December 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Surabaya.
1 January 1945:
Navy Lt Kato Toru is appointed CO.
5 February 1945:
Attached to Vice Admiral Fukutome Shigeru’s (40) 10th Area Fleet, in Vice Admiral Shibata Yaichiro’s (38) 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 23rd Special Base Force.
13 February 1945:
Departs Surabaya with auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 17 escorting an unknown ship shown as KUSAKO MARU to Makassar.
25 February 1945:
Departs Makassar, calls at Langkai Island. Departs there and arrives at Surabaya later that same day.
1 March 1945:
Departs Surabaya.
4 March 1945:
At 1200, departs Surabaya with auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU and auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 1 and CHa-104 escorting IJA transports SHOYU (853 GRT) and NANMEI MARUs.
Java Sea. At about 2230, LtCdr Paul C. Stimson’s (USNA ‘36) USS SEA ROBIN (SS-407), in strong winds and high seas, fires three torpedoes and hits auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU’s starboard side. Her cargo of ammunition explodes and she sinks by the stern at about 2234, at 05-50S, 113-46E. About half of her passengers and crew are KIA.
5 March 1945:
NNE of Surabaya. At 0550, Stimson fires three torpedoes and gets one hit that sinks SHOYU MARU at 05-23S, 114-06E. One gunner and 12 crewmen are KIA. At 0607, Stimson fires three torpedoes at NAGARA MARU, but all miss. Stimson fires three more torpedoes at her and one hits in her bow. She sinks at 05-23S, 114-00E, about 78 nautical miles NE Bawean Island. Four crewmen are KIA.
10 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under Instruction No. 417.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport No. 912 (7,148 GRT, ’34).
[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.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.
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