RIKUGUN YUSOSEN!
(Wartime Type 1TM Standard Tanker underway)
NICHINAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
©2011-2013 Bob Hackett
Rev 2
E 1941:
Yokohama. Laid down at Mitsubishi Jukogyo, K. K. as Yard No. 405, a 5,175-ton Peacetime Type TM Standard Merchant Tanker for Iino Kaiun Sangyo, K. K., Higashi-Maizuru.
1942:
Launched and named NICHINAN MARU.
30 September 1942:
Completed.
19 July 1943:
At 1100, NICHINAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-03 consisting of NANKAI, SEIA, OMUROSAN and AWA MARUs escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
22 July 1943:
Formosa Straits. At 0900, while enroute to Takao, fast passenger liner ASAMA MARU joins the convoy. At 2355, SEIA MARU is torpedoed and badly damaged by three of six torpedoes fired in a surface radar attack by LtCdr Eugene T. Sands' USS SAWFISH (SS-276) at 30-54N, 125-15E. She goes dead in the
water. Later, the ship is taken in tow by NICHINAN MARU and together they head
back to Japan.
25 July 1943:
Convoy HI-03 arrives at Takao. KARUKAYA is detached to
assist torpedoed SEIA MARU.
21 September 1943:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and assigned Army No. 831. Chartered with a civilian crew.
30 October 1943:
NICHINAN MARU departs Keelung in convoy No. 215 also
consisting of DURBAN, REIYO, KOFUKU MARUs, tankers RIKKO and ZUIYO MARUs and an
unidentified ship escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
4 November 1943:
At 0740, arrives at Moji.
2 February 1944:
At 1300, NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in
convoy HI-38 consisting of fleet oiler ASHIZURI and tankers AMATSU, OMINESAN,
OTOWASAN and OKIKAWA MARUs, transports KAGU and KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT
HARRISON) escorted by kaibokan KANJU.
8 February 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Takao.
9 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
13 February 1944:
At 1430, arrives at Moji.
1 April 1944:
Owners restyled to Iino Kisen K. K., Tokyo.
7 May 1944:
At 1900, NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy
SHIMI-02 also consisting of tankers TONAN MARU No. 2, EIYO, CHIHAYA and SHINEI
MARUs and DURBAN, CHINA, FUKUJU and KUNIYAMA MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-18
and subchaser CH-19.
11 May 1944:
At 1545, arrives at Cape Kidurang.
12 May 1944:
At 1005, the convoy arrives Miri.
23 May 1944:
A 0700, NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in
convoy HI-62 consisting of tankers OTORISAN and SARAWAK MARUs and transports
KINUGASA, NOSHIRO, NISSHO, TAMATSU and TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE)
MARUs escorted by escort carrier TAIYO and kaibokan SADO, KURAHASHI, CD-5, CD-7
and CD-13. TAIYO provides antisubmarine air cover.
29 May 1944:
HI-62 arrives at Manila.
1 June 1944:
At 0400, HI-62 departs Manila.
8 June 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure anchorage, later proceeds to Moji arriving at 0230.
20 June 1944:
At 1900, NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore for Miri in
convoy SHIMI-04 consisting of MATSUMOTO, NANSEI, ZUIHO and KOTOKU MARUs and
OGURA MARU No. 2 and another ship also named NICHINAN MARU escorted by
minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary minesweepers KIKU MARU and CHOUN MARU No. 6.
24 June 1944:
At 1145, arrives at Miri.
27 June 1944:
At 1650, NICHINAN MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy
MI-06 consisting of OGURA MARU No. 2, YAMAMIZO MARU No. 2, MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA,
NANSEI, ATAGO, ZUIHO and BAIEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-14, patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18.
E 1 July 1944:
W-18 is detached from the convoy.
17 July 1944:
At 1450, convoy MI-06 arrives at Moji.
23 July 1944:
At 0700, NICHINAN MARU departs Manila in convoy MASA-09 also consisting of RAKUYO and CHINZEI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-34 and subchaser CH-21.
28 July 1944:
At 1800, arrives at St Jacques (near Saigon), Vichy French, Indochina.
1 August 1944:
At 1100, NICHINAN MARU departs Cape St. Jacques for Singapore with EIFUKU and RAKUYO MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-34.
4 August 1944:
At 0150, anchors in the Kuantan Sea, E of Malaya. At
1010, departs.
5 August 1944:
At 1430, arrives at Singapore.
12 August 1944:
Palembang, Sumatra. NICHINAN MARU strikes a mine and
is damaged.
2 October 1944:
At 1700, NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji
convoy in HI-76 also consisting of oilers NICHIEI, RYOEI, FUJISAN, KUROSHIO,
TARAKAN and TOHO MARUs, ex-seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU and cargo ship TEIHOKU
(ex-French PERSEE) MARU escorted by escort carrier SHINYO and kaibokan DAITO,
KANJU,MANJU, MIYAKE, KURAHASHI, CD-9 and CD-28 and torpedo boat HIYODORI.
8 October 1944:
South China Sea. At 0100, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s USS
BECUNA (SS-319) torpedoes and damages KIMIKAWA MARU at 14-12N, 115-53E. KIMIKAWA
MARU is hit by two torpedoes, but remains navigable. She is detached from the
convoy and heads for Manila escorted by HIYODORI and CD-28.
10 October 1944:
After receiving reports of an American task force
striking Okinawa, convoy HI-76 diverts to Samah, Hainan Island.
11 October 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Samah.
16 October 1944:
At 0745, departs Samah.
17 October 1944:
RYOEI MARU, MANJU and MIYAKE are detached and head
for Mako.
18 October 1944:
At 0800, the convoy is ordered to Samah to
rendezvous with CD-25 and CD-32. Later, HI-76 completes the rendezvous. NICHINAN
MARU and oilers NICHIEI and FUJISAN MARUs are ordered to remain at Samah.
17 November 1944:
NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy HI-80
also consisting of tankers TENEI, MATSUSHIMA, RYOEI, MUNEKATA, ARIMASAN,
KUROSHIO and KAIHO MARUs and transport ARIMASAN MARU escorted by light cruiser
KASHII (F) with Rear Admiral Yoshitomi Setsuzo, CINC, 5th Escort Group embarked,
kaibokan MANJU, NOMI, KASADO, MIYAKE, UKURU, CD-17, CD-23 and CD-51 and
minelayer NIIZAKI.
20 November 1944:
At 1240, CD-17 is detached for Saigon.
27 November 1944:
At 0930, RYOEI and ARIMASAN MARUs escorted by
NIIZAKI are detached for Takao.
4 December 1944:
HI-80 arrives at Sasebo and later at Moji.
24 January 1945:
NICHINAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy
HI-89 consisting of TATEKAWA MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler HARIO escorted by
kaibokan CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52.
25 January 1945:
At 0100, the convoy anchors in Gako Bay, southern
Korea.
26 January 1945:
At 0700, the convoy departs Gako Bay.
28 January 1945:
At 0800, arrives at Nayo, China coast and departs at
midnight.
30 January 1945:
At about 0050, the convoy is attacked by a large
bomber, but it does no damage to the convoy. During the evening the convoy
arrives at Hunghai Bay (NE of Hong Kong).
31 January 1945:
At 0300, departs Hunghai Bay.
1 February 1945:
At 1900, the convoy arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island,
2 February 1945:
At 1700, departs Yulin.
7 February 1945:
At 2000, HARIO develops engine trouble. HARIO and
CD-8 are detached.
8 February 1945:
At 1530, the convoy arrives at Singapore. HARIO and
CD-8 arrive about that time or somewhat later.
15 February 1945:
At 0100, NICHINAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji
in convoy HI-90 consisting of EIYO MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-32 and
CD-52.
19 February 1945:
At 2200, the convoy anchors at Ca Na, southern
Indo-China.
20 February 1945:
At 0800, departs Ca Na. At 0902, LtCdr Ralph H.
Lockwood's USS GUAVINA (SS-362) torpedoes EIYO MARU that sinks at 1300 at
11-55N, 109-20E. 20 troops, 27 passengers and 33 crewmen are KIA.
GUAVINA endures 98 depth-charges and incurs some damage. NICHINAN MARU
heads back to the Ca Na anchorage. A short while later, she sets out again.
At 1324, LtCdr William H. Hazzard's USS BLENNY (SS-324) fires six
torpedoes at her without getting any hits. CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52 counter-attack
and drop 41 depth-charges that damage BLENNY. At 1920, the convoy anchors in Van
Phong Bay, Indochina.
21 February 1945:
At 0950, departs Van Phong Bay. At 1900, arrives at
Quinhon Bay.
22 February 1945:
At 0715, departs Quinhon Bay.
23 February 1945:
Gulf of Tonkin. At about 1950, a B-24 "Liberator"
heavy-bomber raid occurs, but no damage is incurred. At 2340, the convoy arrives
at a Hainan Island anchorage.
24 February 1945:
At 2330, the convoy arrives at a deep anchorage at
Hainan Island.
25 February 1945:
At 0730, departs Hainan.
28 February 1945:
At 0900, the convoy arrived at the Shushan Island
anchorage.
1 March 1945:
At 2100, departs Shushan Island.
3 March 1945:
At 1734, arrives at Kyosai Island.
4 March 1945:
At 0400, departs Kyosai Island and arrives safely at
Moji at 1430.
25 July 1945:
Inland Sea, near Iwai Shima. NICHINAN MARU is bombed and damaged heavily by USN aircraft of Vice Admiral John S. McCain's Task Force 38. Beached at Miura Beach, Iwai Shima.
1945:
Stricken from the IJA register.
Postwar:
Refloated and repaired. Further use unknown.
August 1964:
Kure. Broken up by Tokyo Kaiji Kogyo K.K
Author's Note:
Thanks go to Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett
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