Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(MATA HARI later NICHIRIN MARU, as seen in 1915)
)

IJN NICHIRIN MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2015 Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

E 1915:
South Shields, United Kingdom. Laid down by Charles Rennoldson & Co. Ltd. for British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., South Shields as a 1,020-tons passenger/cargo ship consisting of eight cabins and 645 deck passengers.
4 March 1915:
Launched and named MATA HARI (‘Mata Hari’ is Malay for ‘eye of day’ i.e ‘sun’).
5 June 1915:
Completed and registered at South Shields with ON 134962 and Call Sign JLFP. Run trials and is later sailed out to Singapore.
2 July 1915:
Put into Gibraltar with engine trouble. Later returns to her builders for extensive repairs.
10 September 1915:
Put into Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) with engine trouble. Undergoes repairs.
15 October 1915:
Handed over to British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd and initially placed on Singapore ~ Bangkok service as this service was undermanned due to the demands of World War I.
E 1915:
Calls at Singapore and Penang, Malaya.
20 August 1924:
Her owners are changed to Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Co at a cost of £20,000. The ship had been built originally for P & O service but had been transferred before completion to the British India Steam Navigation Co, a P & O subsidiary.
1933:
Call sign is changed to MFWN.
1 September 1939:
Requisitioned by the Admiralty as an auxiliary patrol vessel in the Malayan Auxiliary Fleet.
December 1941:
Sails to the west coast of Siam (now Thailand) to collect refugees and to destroy three Italian ships at Tonkah. Eventually those had already been scuttled. Shadows later that month the Army withdrawal down Malacca Strait using a group of launches to destroy vessels and facilities that might be of use to the advancing enemy.
8 February 1942:
Arrives at Singapore after being dive bombed. Bombed again while in port but sustains no damage.
12 February 1942:
Departs Singapore for Batavia (now Jakarta), Dutch East Indies with a ship’s complement of 483: nine officers, 72 European ratings, two Asian crew, 30 Royal Marines, 50 Royal Naval personnel from HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE, 60 Army personnel, 118 civilian men and 132 women and children.
15 February 1942:
At 0300, captured by auxiliary minesweeper tender EIKO MARU, 15 nautical miles off Muntok, Dutch East Indies.
16 February 1942:
Crew and passengers are disembarked. MATA HARI is taken back to Singapore.
E February 1942:
Subsequently condemned by the Sasebo Prize Court. Possibly renamed YUMIHARI MARU.
4 March 1942:
Departs Singapore heading to Malacca Strait.
E 4 ~ 7 March 1942:
Inspects and seizes one 350-tons tugboat, one seatruck, three barges and two other small ships.
8 March 1942:
Arrives back at Singapore.
10 March 1942:
Refuelled by auxiliary oiler NICHIEI MARU with bunker fuel oil.
13 March 1942:
Embarks 20 guards.
14 March 1942:
Departs Singapore.
16 March 1942:
Arrives at Pontianak, Kalimantan,W Borneo.
19 March 1942:
Disembarks 101 construction workers and related equipment. Departs Pontianak later in the day.
20 March 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
26 March 1942:
Embarks six guards.
27 March 1942:
Departs Singapore.
E 27 ~ 31 March 1942:
Engages in searching/towing mission for the 2nd shipyard, drydock No. 4 gate drifting about one fathom from reef in Malacca Strait.
April 1942:
Ships seized in Singapore waters: one passenger/cargo ship, one 25-tons ferry, one small craft and three powerboats.
May 1942:
Ships seized in Endau, Malaya waters: two gunboats (350-tons and 150-tons) and two barges.
29 May 1942:
The Sasebo Prize Court reports issue (hold or cancel) under transmission No. 389.
24 September 1942:
Departs Singapore.
17 October 1942:
Scheduled to be renamed NICHIRIN MARU and to be converted to an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as homeport under secret instruction No. 161749. [1]
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 October 1942:
Renamed NICHIRIN MARU.
31 October 1942:
The Sasebo Prize Court issue of MATA HARI is officially solved under secret instruction No. 910-59/2 and maintenance directive No. 12540 is implemented.
1 November 1942:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as homeport under Navy’s instruction No. 2022. [1]
20 November 1942:
Maintenance work is completed.
November 1942:
Call sign is changed to JWEY.
24 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea).
29 November 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
1 December 1942:
Arrives at Jinsen (now Incheon), Chosen.
3 December 1942:
Departs Jinsen.
8 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
13 December 1942:
Departs Kure.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
18 December 1942:
Departs Nagasaki.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), China.
2 January 1943:
Departs Seito.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Makiyama, Fukuoka Prefecture.
8 January 1943:
Departs Makiyama and arrives at Moji later in the day.
10 January 1943:
Departs Moji.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
27 January 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
1 February 1943:
Departs Kure.
2 February 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
3 February 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
E 6 ~ 10 February 1943:
Loads 450-tons of coal and 1,300 fuel drums.
11 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Koniya, Amami-Oshima. Proceeds to unloading cargo of 1,300 fuel drums.
18 February 1943:
Unloading is completed.
E 18 ~ 20 February 1943:
Fitted with bound sleepers by the Sasebo Building Department personnel.
20 February 1943:
Departs Koniya.
22 February 1943:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
25 February 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima.
26 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Oshima, Izu Shoto (Islands).
7 March 1943:
Departs Oshima.
9 March 1943:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
12 March 1943:
Departs Naha.
15 March 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
18 March 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
19 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
26 March 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
30 March 1943:
Arrives at Kaishu (Haizhou), now Haeju, North Korea.
5 April 1943:
Departs Kaishu.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
10 April 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
13 April 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
16 April 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima.
17 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
23 April 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
25 April 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
28 April 1943:
Arrives at Kaishu.
30 April 1943:
Departs Kaishu.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
6 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
8 May 1943:
Arrives at Oshima.
11 May 1943:
Departs Oshima.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
15 May 1943:
Departs Naha.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
20 May 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
14 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
15 June 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
16 June 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
18 June 1943:
Arrives at Koniya.
19 June 1943:
Departs Koniya.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
26 June 1943:
Departs Naha.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
1 July 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima and arrives at Sasebo later that same day.
14 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
18 July 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
19 July 1943:
Arrives at Sakai, Tottori Prefecture.
22 July 1943:
Departs Sakai.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
28 July 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
29 July 1943:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
1 August 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima and arrives at Sasebo later in the day.
5 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Chinkai later that day.
10 August 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
11 August 1943:
Arrives at Busan (Fuzan), Chosen, now Pusan South Korea.
14 August 1943:
Departs Busan.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
31 August 1943:
Departs Kagoshima in convoy No. ROKU-102 also consisting of auxiliary storeship BANSHU MARU No. 3 escorted by auxiliary netlayer KOGA MARU, and auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Koniya.
7 September 1943:
Departs Koniya.
9 September 1943:
Arrives at Naze, Amami-Oshima.
12 September 1943:
Departs Naze in convoy OKI-904 also consisting of civilian ferry-boat (C-FB) RYUKYU MARU, IJA transport KAIJO MARU and civilian cargo ship KANO MARU escorted by auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper HOEI MARU.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima (1700 ETA). Departs later that same day.
16 September 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
24 September 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
25 September 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
29 September 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
3 October 1943:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Sankaku-Jima later that same day.
6 October 1943:
Departs Sankaku-Jima.
7 October 1943:
Arrives at Komenotsu, Kagoshima Prefecture. Departs there later in the day.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 October 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
13 October 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai, China.
20 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
24 October 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
27 October 1943:
Departs Kure.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Departs there later that day.
30 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 November 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
9 November 1943:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives at Yamakawa.
10 November 1943:
Departs Yamakawa.
11 November 1943:
Arrives at Naze. Departs there and arrives at Koniya later that same day.
13 November 1943:
Departs Koniya.
14 November 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
22 November 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at Miyako-Jima, Miyako Islands, Okinawa Prefecture.
24 November 1943:
Departs Miyako-Jima and arrives at Ishigaki, Yaeyama Retto (Islands) later in the day.
26 November 1943:
Departs Ishigaki.
27 November 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Miyako. Departs later.
1 December 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
6 December 1943:
Departs Naha.
8 December 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
9 December 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
10 December 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 December 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
14 December 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
E 15 December 1943 ~ 13 January 1944:
Undergoes hull and engine repairs.
14 January 1944:
Departs Osaka.
17 January 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 January 1944:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Seso later that day.
24 January 1944:
At 1500, departs Seso escorted by minesweeper W-27.
25 January 1944:
At 1220, arrives at Naha.
26 January 1944:
Departs Naha escorted by auxiliary small subchaser FUJI MARU.
29 January 1944:
Arrives at Ishigaki. Departs there later that day.
30 January 1944:
Arrives at Miyako-Jima.
31 January 1944:
Departs Miyako-Jima.
1 February 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
9 February 1944:
Departs Naha.
12 February 1944:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
14 February 1944:
Departs Nagasaki and arrives at Sasebo later that same day.
20 February 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
21 February 1944:
Arrives at Yamakawa.
23 February 1944:
Departs Yamakawa.
24 February 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
26 February 1944:
Departs Koniya.
27 February 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
29 February 1944:
Departs Naha.
1 March 1944:
Arrives at Ishigaki.
3 March 1944:
Departs Ishigaki escorted by auxiliary minesweeper TAIHEI MARU No. 3 GO.
4 March 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
13 March 1944:
Departs Naha.
14 March 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
15 March 1944:
Departs Koniya.
16 March 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
17 March 1944:
Departs Kagoshima.
18 March 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 March 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
27 March 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
1 April 1944:
Departs Kagoshima.
2 April 1944:
Arrives at Seso, Kakeroma-Jima.
9 April 1944:
Departs Seso and joins a convoy that departed Koniya at 0000 also consisting of auxiliary transports TOYOSAKA MARU and HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO escorted by subchaser CH-58. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
10 April 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 April 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
21 April 1944:
Departs Kagoshima.
22 April 1944:
Arrives at Oshima.
3 May 1944:
Departs Oshima in Rin Oki convoy also consisting of IJA transports HAKKA, YORIHIME and SHOTO MARUs, auxiliary storeship BANSHU MARU No. 16 and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, auxiliary subchaser CHIKUTO MARU and auxiliary minesweeper SHONAN MARU No. 16.
4 May 1944:
Arrives at Sankaku-Jima.
8 May 1944:
Departs Sankaku-Jima.
9 May 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 May 1944:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Kagoshima later that day.
25 May 1944:
Departs Kagoshima in Rin KANA 105 convoy also consisting of IJA shared transport A/C-AK) UNTEN MARU, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) EISHIN, SHINO MARUs and SHINTAI MARU No. 5, and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 1 and auxiliary patrol craft CHIKUTO, HOKUYO and NAGATO MARUs.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Oshima.
27 May 1944:
Departs Oshima.
28 May 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
2 June 1944:
At 1450, departs Naha in convoy NAKA-204 also consisting of IJA transport NISSHIN (NITTSU) MARU, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) YOSHU MARU, civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) AMAKUSA MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) NANKAI MARU No.1 escorted by minesweeper W-15, minelayer TSUBAME and auxiliary patrol craft HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO, CHIKUTO and RYUSEI MARUs. At 1815 arrives at Sesoko-Jima, NW of Okinawa.
3 June 1944:
At 0250, departs Sesoko-Jima. At 1820, arrives nearby Seso.
4 June 1944:
Departs Seso waters.
6 June 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 June 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
13 June 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
15 June 1944:
Departs Kagoshima in convoy KATA-517 also consisting of civilian passenger/cargo ships (C-APK) AMAKUSA and DAISHIN MARUs, IJA transport SHINAN MARU and twelve unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU, minelayer SAISHU, auxiliary patrol craft CHIKUTO MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 13 and NANSATSU MARU No. 3 and auxiliary minesweepers NAGATO, HIMESHIMA, HOEI MARUs, HAKATA MARU No. 7 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 1.
16 June 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
18 June 1944:
Departs Koniya.
19 June 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
24 June 1944:
Departs Naha.
25 June 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
29 June 1944:
Departs Koniya and arrives at Naze later in the day.
30 June 1944:
Departs Naze and arrives at Koniya later that day escorted by auxiliary KAIYO MARU No. 1 GO.
3 July 1944:
Departs Koniya in convoy NAKA-604 also consisting of civilian passenger/cargo ships (C-APK) DAISHIN, MIYAKO and AMAKUSA MARUs, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) MATSUURA MARU, IJA transports DAIRIN and TATSUJU MARUs, civilian ferry-boat (C-FB) RYUKYU MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) NISSHO MARU No. 1 escorted by subchaser CH-17, torpedo boat MANAZURU, fleet supply ship KINEZAKI, auxiliary minesweepers HIMESHIMA, HOEI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 51, auxiliary patrol craft CHIKUTO MARU and auxiliary YUKO MARU.
At 1322, in 28-53N 129-51E DAIRIN MARU with a cargo of copper ore and sugar, is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Charlton L. Murphy Jr’s (USNA ’32) USS STURGEON (SS-187). 18 crewmen and one gunner are KIA.
5 July 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Kagoshima.
8 July 1944:
Departs Kagoshima.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 July 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
23 July 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
24 July 1944:
Departs Kagoshima in convoy KANA-408 also consisting of civilian passenger/cargo ships (C-APK) AMAKUSA, MIYAKO and RYUKYU MARUs, IJN requisitioned passenger ship (B-AP) AMOY MARU, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) TAKUSAN MARU, civilian passenger ship (C-AP) YUSEI MARU and IJN shared tanker (A/C-AO) NANSHIN MARU No. 4 escorted by minelayer NUWAJIMA, auxiliary subchaser NAGATO MARU, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 1 and auxiliary patrol craft TAIAN MARU and HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO.
25 July 1944:
Arrives at Koniya. AMOY and RYUKYU MARUs are detached.
26 July 1944:
Departs Koniya.
27 July 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
3 August 1944:
Departs Naha.
4 August 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
13 August 1944:
Departs Koniya in convoy NAKA-303 also consisting of civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) RYUKYU MARU and IJN requisitioned passenger ship (B-AP) AMOY MARU escorted by auxiliary minesweeper HIMESHIMA MARU and auxiliary submarine chaser NAGATO MARU.
14 August 1944:
At 1500 (ETA), arrives at Kagoshima.
17 August 1944:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives nearby Chiringashima, Kagoshima Prefecture.
18 August 1944:
Departs Chiringashima waters and arrives at Miyanokawachi near Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture later that same day.
19 August 1944:
Departs Miyanokawachi and arrives at Sankaku-Jima later that day.
23 August 1944:
Departs Sankaku-Jima and arrives at Sasebo later in the day.
26 August 1944:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Yobuko, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu later that day.
27 August 1944:
Departs Yobuko.
28 August 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
31 August 1944:
Departs Kure.
1 September 1944:
Arrives at Yobuko.
2 September 1944:
Departs Yobuko and arrives at Sasebo later that same day.
4 September 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
5 September 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
6 September 1944:
Departs Kagoshima.
9 September 1944:
Arrives at Kerama Shoto (Islands).
12 September 1944:
Departs Kerama Shoto.
13 September 1944:
Arrives at Miyako-Jima pier.
14 September 1944:
Departs Miyako-Jima and arrives at Taira Higashi, Okinawa.
23 September 1944:
Departs Taira Higashi.
24 September 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
27 September 1944:
Departs Naha and arrives at Sesoko later that day.
29 September 1944:
Departs Sesoko.
1 October 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
4 October 1944:
Departs Koniya.
5 October 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
9 October 1944:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives at Chiringashima later that same day.
10 October 1944:
Departs Chiringashima in Convoy ROKU-KITA-909 also consisting of auxiliary transport TATSUWA MARU, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) KEIUN MARU and NISSHO MARU No. 1 and possibly other merchant ships with unknown escort. The convoy arrives at Ushibuka, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu later in the day.
12 October 1944:
Departs Ushibuka and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
13 October 1944:
Enters drydock No. 3 at Sasebo Naval yard.
20 October 1944:
Undocked.
21 October 1944:
Undergoes hull and various ship’s parts repairs.
26 October 1944:
Repairs are completed.
31 October 1944:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Ushibuka later that same day.
1 November 1944:
Departs Ushibuka and arrives at Kagoshima later in the day.
3 November 1944:
Departs Kagoshima in convoy KATA-322 also consisting of IJA transports KAIRYU, KEIJO, DAISEI, GINZAN, DAISHIN (1306 GRT) MARUs and TAMON MARU No.12, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) KINZAN, KENJO, SEIZAN, MALAY and HIKOSAN MARUs, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KEIUN, SOSHU and KEIZAN MARUs and IJN shared tanker (B/C-AO) HOEI MARU No. 5, escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU, minesweepers W-15 and W-16, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI and CHITOSE MARUs, TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, BANSHU MARU No. 51, TOSHI MARU No. 7 and SHONAN MARU No. 16, auxiliary patrol craft TAIAN MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 8 and auxiliary subchaser RYUSEI MARU.
5 November 1944:
Arrives at Nago, Okinawa.
6 November 1944:
Departs Nago and arrives at Naha later that day.
18 November 1944:
Departs Naha and calls at Nago. Departs there and arrives at Sesoko later that same day.
21 November 1944:
Departs Sesoko and joins convoy NAKA-804 that departed Naha also consisting of IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) UNTEN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by minelayer NUWAJIMA, kaibokan CD-44, auxiliary minesweepers KAIYO MARU No. 1 GO, CHOUN MARU No. 8, TOSHI MARU No. 7, CHITOSE MARU and auxiliary patrol craft CHIKUTO MARU and HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Koniya.
22 November 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
24 November 1944:
Departs Koniya.
25 November 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
30 November 1944:
Departs Kagoshima.
26 February 1945:
Departs Tomie, Nagasaki Prefecture in convoy SA1-01 also consisting of auxiliary transport TOYOSAKA MARU, IJN requisitioned (B-AK) EDOGAWA MARU (1,972 GRT) and IJA transport DAIKEN MARU, escorted by minelayers NUWAJIMA and TSUBAME, subchaser CH-49, kaibokan FUKUE and auxiliary subchasers SANKYO MARU and CHa-200, auxiliary minesweepers CHITOSE MARU and BANSHU MARU No. 51 and auxiliary patrol craft TENZAN MARU No. 2 GO.
E February-March 1945:
Calls at Naha and Miyakojima.
1 March 1945:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s (USNA ‘10) TF 58 aircraft pound Japanese ground installations, airfields, and shipping in the Okinawa area. 20 nautical miles S of Miyakojima, convoy SA1-01 is strafed and bombed. TOYOSAKA MARU sinks at 24-46N, 125-30E with the loss of four of her crew. DAIKEN MARU sinks at 24-45N, 125-15E with the loss of 42 passengers and 16 crewmen. EDOGAWA MARU is damaged. NICHIRIN MARU escapes south undamaged.
Off Ishigaki Shima. Task Force 58 aircraft damage NUWAJIMA and kaibokan FUKUE and sink TSUBAME (casualties unknown) at 24-23N, 124-12E.
2 March 1945:
East China Sea, about 65 nautical miles N of Taisho-Jima, Senkaku Shoto. USN VPB-119 Consolidated PB4Y-2 ‘Privateer’ aircraft bomb and sink NICHIRIN MARU at 27-12N, 124-22E with the loss of 17 crewmen.
10 May 1945:
Removed from IJN Navy’s list under instruction No. 417.

Authors notes :
[1] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[2] Not to be confused with Standard Type 1TM IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) No. 5008 (5,162 GRT, ’42).
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

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