Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!
(NISSHO MARU No. 18)

IJN NISSHO MARU No. 18:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014-2017 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2

E 1941:
Innoshima. Laid down by Osaka Ironworks K.K. shipyard for Marusho Kaiun K.K. as a 1,998-tons cargo ship.
May 1942:
Launched and named NISSHO MARU No. 18.
28 September 1942:
Completed and registered in Ura, Hyogo Prefecture.
6 December 1942:
In convoy East No. 37 also consisting of IJN requisitioned passenger/cargo ship (B-APK) FLORIDA MARU, IJA transports MIKAGE and TATEYAMA MARUs and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SHOHO (1,365 GRT) MARU, escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU. SHOHO MARU is bound for Tokyo.
December 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
22 December 1942:
Departs Osaka in convoy East No. 54 also consisting of auxiliary transports TAIRYU MARU and HAKUTETSU MARU No. 15, IJA transports HANKOW and TEIBI (ex French BERNARDIN DE ST PIERRE) MARUs, requisitioned (B-AK) CHIYO MARU and civilian cargo ship RYOGA MARU, escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
E 25 December 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
29 December 1942:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned ship (Ippan Choyosen) attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.
31 December 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
E 1943:
Navy Captain Yagi Sintra is appointed Supervisor.
1 January 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
10 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
12 January 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
16 January 1943:
Departs Yawata.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
24 January 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
26 January 1943:
Arrives at Saitozaki, Nagasaki Prefecture.
29 January 1943:
Departs Saitozaki.
2 February 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.
5 February 1943:
Loads 2,600-tons of coal.
6 February 1943:
Departs Maizuru.
11 February 1943:
Arrives at Saitozaki.
15 February 1943:
Departs Saitozaki.
16 February 1943:
Joins convoy No. 8216 also consisting of IJA transports GOSEI MARU and HINO MARU No. 1 escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
19 February 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
22 February 1943:
Arrives at Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture.
24 February 1943:
Departs Miike.
26 February 1943:
Arrives at Sakai, Tottori Prefecture.
28 February 1943:
Departs Sakai.
3 March 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
4 March 1943:
Departs Miike.
8 March 1943:
Arrives at Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu.
10 March 1943:
Departs Tsukumi.
12 March 1943:
Arrives at Taketoyo, Aichi Prefecture.
15 March 1943:
Departs Taketoyo.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
19 March 1943:
Departs Osaka.
21 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
30 March 1943:
Arrives at Ominato, Aomori Prefecture.
5 April 1943:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Hakodate, Hokkaido later in the day.
9 April 1943:
Departs Hakodate escorted by destroyer KAMIKAZE.
10 April 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro, Hokkaido.
14 April 1943:
Departs Kushiro.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Etorofu, Kuriles.
16 April 1943:
Departs Etorofu.
19 April 1943:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To (now Ostrov Matua), Kuriles.
20 April 1943:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
21 April 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro, Kuriles.
22 April 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and arrives at Kataoka Wan (Bay), Shimushu-To (now Zaliv Kozyrevskogo, Ostrov Shumshu), Kuriles later that same day.
28 April 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Musashi Wan (now Zaliv Vasil’yeva), Paramushiro later in the day.
29 April 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.
3 May 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
15 May 1943:
Departs Kushiro.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
17 May 1943:
At 0500, kaibokan KUNASHIRI departs Kushiro to join NISSHO MARU No. 18.
18 May 1943:
Departs Ominato.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
26 May 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Suribachi Wan, (now Bukhta Okeanskaya), Paramushiro.
8 June 1943:
Departs Suribachi Wan.
9 June 1943:
Arrives at Nagasaki, Shimushu-To.
13 June 1943:
Departs Nagasaki, Shimushu-To.
18 June 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
24 June 1943:
Departs Ominato.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
28 June 1943:
Departs Kushiro.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Tennei (now Burevestnik), Etorofu.
8 July 1943:
Departs Tennei.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
13 July 1943:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
20 August 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan and arrives at Suribachi Wan later in the day.
23 August 1943:
Departs Suribachi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later that day.
27 August 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
31 August 1943:
Departs Nagasaki.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Odomari, Mie Prefecture.
8 September 1943:
Departs Odomari and arrives off Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture later that day.
9 September 1943:
Departs Nagahama waters and arrives back at Odomari later in the day.
11 September 1943:
Departs Odomari in convoy with auxiliary transport KAIKO MARU.
14 September 1943:
Destroyer KAMIKAZE meets up with the ships at sea.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
2 October 1943:
At 0800, departs Musashi Wan escorted by vessels of 28th Minesweeping Flotilla.
7 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru, Hokkaido.
10 October 1943:
Departs Otaru.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at Aomori, Honshu.
12 October 1943:
Departs Aomori and arrives at Ominato later that same day.
14 October 1943:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Hakodate later that day.
16 October 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
17 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
18 October 1943:
Departs Otaru.
23 October 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
24 October 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan and arrives at Suribachi Wan at 0800.
18 November 1943:
At 0500, departs Suribachi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later that day.
21 November 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Suribachi Wan later that same day.
22 November 1943:
At 0800, departs Suribachi Wan at 7.5 knots.
27 November 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Otaru.
6 December 1943:
Departs Otaru escorted by auxiliary minesweepers KEIJIN MARU No. 3 and KEIJIN MARU No. 5.
7 December 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
9 December 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
12 December 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
15 December 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
18 December 1943:
Arrives off Mount Esan, Hokkaido.
19 December 1943:
Departs Mount Esan waters.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
26 December 1943:
Departs Kushiro and arrives off Hiroo, Hokkaido.
27 December 1943:
Departs Hiroo waters.
28 December 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
30 December 1943:
Departs Muroran.
1 January 1944:
Arrives at Akadomari, Niigata Prefecture. Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as home port under Navy’s instruction No. 16. Departs later that same day. [1]
5 January 1944:
Arrives at Maizuru.
6 January 1944:
Departs Maizuru and arrives at Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture later in the day.
8 January 1944:
Departs Miyazu.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
15 January 1944:
Departs Osaka.
17 January 1944:
Arrives at Miike.
20 January 1944:
Departs Miike.
23 January 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
24 January 1944:
Captain Yagi is relieved from duty.
25 January 1944:
Departs Osaka.
26 January 1944:
Arrives at Innoshima.
27 January 1944:
Enters drydock for maintenance and repairs.
13 February 1944:
Repairs are completed. Undocked. Departs Innoshima and arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture later that day.
15 February 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
16 February 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later that day.
17 February 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
19 February 1944:
Departs Kobe and arrives at Gobo, Wakayama Prefecture later in the day.
20 February 1944:
Departs Gobo and arrives at Owase, Mie Prefecture later that same day.
21 February 1944:
Departs Owase.
23 February 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 February 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
6 March 1944:
Departs Yokohama.
10 March 1944:
Arrives at Chichi Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
17 March 1944:
Departs Chichi Jima.
22 March 1944:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
28 March 1944:
Departs Saipan.
31 March 1944:
Arrives at Guam (renamed Omiya Jima after its capture), Marianas.
7 April 1944:
Departs Guam.
9 April 1944:
Arrives at Woleai, Central Carolines. Sustains an air raid that same day and fires 100 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against attacking Consolidated B-24 “Liberator” bombers. No damage inflicted.
12 April 1944:
Departs Woleai.
17 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
20 April 1944:
Departs Saipan and arrives at Guam later in the day.
29 April 1944:
Departs Guam and arrives at Saipan later in the day.
20 May 1944:
At 0100, departs Saipan for Guam.
29 May 1944:
At 0600, departs Guam in Batavia Maru convoy also consisting of auxiliary storeship TAKUNAN MARU and IJA transport BATAVIA MARU escorted by minelayer SARUSHIMA, kaibokan CD-12, minesweeper W-20, minelayer and auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2. At 2030 that day, the convoy arrives safely at Saipan.
3 June 1944:
Departs Saipan for Truk in an unnamed convoy also consisting of civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARU and IJA transport SHINFUKU MARU escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI, minelayers KYOSAI and YURIJIMA and converted indicator net-layer KISHIN MARU.
6 June 1944:
At 2150, sustains without damage an air raid at 07-43N, 147-33E and fires 78 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against the attacking aircraft.
9 June 1944:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
21 June 1944:
Departs Truk in convoy also consisting of civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARU and IJA transport SHINFUKU MARU escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI.
29 June 1944:
Arrives at Davao, Mindanao, Philippines.
7 July 1944:
Departs Davao.
9 July 1944:
Arrives at Cebu, Philippines.
11 July 1944:
Departs Cebu.
13 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila, Luzon, Philippines.
16 July 1944:
Departs Manila in convoy MATA-25 also consisting of auxiliary transport HAKOZAKI MARU, IJA transport SHINFUKU MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARUs, IJA water tanker SHINSUI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships, escorted by subchaser CH-48, kaibokan CD-10, auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU, and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8.
20 July 1944:
Arrives in Lingayen Gulf off Kaba coast.
22 July 1944:
Departs Lingayen Gulf and arrives at San Fernando later that day.
26 July 1944:
Convoy MATA-25 joins convoy YUTA-09 and departs San Fernando. The convoy consists of TATSUWA, PACIFIC, MACASSAR, JUNPO, MURORAN, HAKOZAKI, SEIGA, SHINFUKU and SHINSUI MARUs, NISSHO MARU No. 18, two unidentified merchant ships (YUTA-09) and two unidentified merchant ships (MATA-25), escorted by CD-10, submarine chaser CH-48, minesweepers W-38 and W-39, auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 8.
28 July 1944:
The combined convoy arrives at Takao.
31 July 1944:
Comes alongside auxiliary transport (ex-auxiliary seaplane tender) KIYOKAWA MARU and loads bauxite. Departs Takao later that day.
3 August 1944:
Arrives at back at Takao.
7 August 1944:
Undergoes hull and engine repairs.
31 August 1944:
At No. 1 pier. Sustains an air raid and fires 100 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against attacking Consolidated B-24 “Liberator” bombers. No damage inflicted.
5 October 1944:
Departs Takao.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
16 October 1944:
Sustains without damage an air raid and fires 30 Type 93 13mm rounds against the attacking aircraft.
27 October 1944:
At 1958, departs Hong Kong in convoy HOMA-01 also consisting of IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) EIWA MARU, IJA transports HAMBURG and KANSHU (ex-British KANCHOW) MARUs, IJA shared cargo ship (AC-AK) SHINETSU MARU and IJN shared ore carrier (B/C-AC) YASUKUNI MARU escorted by minesweeper W-20, subchasers CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41.
30 October 1944:
At 1358, convoy HOMA-01 arrives at Takao.
20 November 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy TAMA-32B also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SHOHO (1,365 GRT) MARU and auxiliary netlayers CHOKI and KISHIN MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-18 and CH-38, auxiliary subchasers CHa-176 and CHa-177, minesweeper W-39 and auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1. Arrives at Saei (Tsoying), Formosa later in the day and departs there.
21 November 1944:
At 1700, because of threat of air attack, returns to Saei.
22 November 1944:
At 0950, departs Saei again and arrives at Obansaki later that day.
24 November 1944:
Departs Obansaki.
25 November 1944:
At 0518, LtCdr John B. Hess's (USNA ’37) USS POMFRET (SS-391) torpedoes and sinks SHOHO MARU (1,365 GRT) at 20-20N, 121-40E. 16 passengers, 8 escort troops and 39 crewmen are killed. Arrives at Sabutan (Sabtang) anchorage, Philippines.
26 November 1944:
Departs Sabutan anchorage and arrives at 2335 at Musa Bay, Fuga Island, Philippines.
27 November 1944:
At 0930, departs Musa Bay but reverses course because of fears of impending attacks and arrives back at 1555.
28 November 1944:
At 0550, departs again Musa Bay and arrives at 2155 at Lapoc Bay.
29 November 1944:
At 0630, departs Lapoc Bay and arrives at San Fernando later that day.
30 November 1944:
Departs San Fernando and at 1635, arrives at Santa Cruz.
1 December 1944:
At 0600, departs Santa Cruz.
2 December 1944:
At 0125, arrives at Manila.
4 December 1944:
Departs Manila in convoy MATA-36 only consisting of NISSHO MARU No. 18 escorted by auxiliary netlaters KISHIN and CHOKI MARUs and KIRI MARU No. 1 GO.
5 December 1944:
Arrives at San Fernando.
6 December 1944:
Departs San Fernando and arrives at Currimao later that day.
7 December 1944:
Departs Currimao but reverses course and arrives back at Currimao later that same day.
12 December 1944:
Departs again Currimao and arrives at San Pio Quinto later in the day.
13 December 1944:
Departs San Pio Quinto.
15 December 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
23 December 1944:
Departs Takao.
26 December 1944:
Arrives at Kirun (now Keelung), Formosa.
3 January 1945:
At pier No. 9. Sustains without damage an air raid and fires 103 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against the attacking aircraft.
9 January 1945:
At pier No. 8. Sustains without damage an air raid and fires 53 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against the attacking aircraft.
21 January 1945:
At pier No. 8. Sustains without damage an air raid and fires 350 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against the attacking aircraft.
3 March 1945:
At 0200 convoy TAMO-47 consisting of KINYU MARU No.7, NISSHO MARU No. 18, SEISHU MARU and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-55, CD-82 and CD-150 departs Kirun.
5 March 1945:
Arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
6 March 1945:
At 1435 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
9 March 1945:
Arrives at Kiura, Saishu-To, Chosen (now Mokpo, Jeju-Do, South Korea).
11 March 1945:
Departs Kiura.
12 March 1945:
Arrives at Mutsure-Jima.
13 March 1945:
Departs Mutsure-Jima.
14 March 1945:
Arrives at Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
15 March 1945:
Departs Wakamatsu.
17 March 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
18 March 1945:
Departs Moji.
19 March 1945:
Off Kameoka village, Ehime Prefecture. At 0905, fires 52 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against attacking aircraft at 36-06N, 132-54E.
20 March 1945:
Arrives at Innoshima.
21 March 1945:
Departs Innoshima.
25 March 1945:
Arrives at Osaka. Departs later in the day.
26 March 1945:
Arrives at Innoshima. Enters drydock for maintenance and repairs.
28 April 1945:
Repairs are completed. Undocked. Departs Innoshima.
29 April 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
30 April 1945:
Departs Moji and arrives at Saitozaki later that day.
18 May 1945:
About five nautical miles NW of Awajishima. NISSHO MARU No. 18 strikes a mine and is disabled at 34-33N, 134-47E.
May 1945:
Under repairs at Sakurajima Hitachi Zosen K.K. shipyard drydock.
1 June 1945:
Sustains an air raid and fires 32 Type 93 13mm MG rounds against the attacking aircraft. NISSHO MARU No. 18 is further damaged by incendiary bullets and one bomb hit on the rear deck.
30 June 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 577.
15 August 1945:
End of hostilities. NISSHO MARU No. 18 is reported salvable by the U.S. Naval Technical Mission to Japan and given allotted SCAJAP number No. N-024.
E 1945:
Returns to commercial service.
1961:
Her owners are changed to Sumitomo Kaiun K.K. Renamed KOSEI MARU No. 1.
25 September 1969:
Broken up at Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture.

Authors Notes:
[1] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan. .

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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