Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(NISSHO MARU No. 5 prewar – Peter Cundall’s collection)

IJN NISSHO MARU No. 5:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2015 Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

October 1934:
Osaka. Laid down by Ohara Zosen Tekkosho K.K. shipyard for Marusho Kaiun K.K. as a 782-tons cargo ship.
25 January 1935:
Launched and named NISSHO MARU No. 5.
March 1935:
Completed and registered at Osaka.
1937:
Her port of registry is changed to Ura, Hyogo Prefecture.
26 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
12 September 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Kure Naval District under instruction No. 1049.
15 October 1941:
Osaka. The conversion to military duty is completed at Namura Zosensho K.K. shipyard. Assigned that same day to Kii Defence Corps under instruction No. 1253.
1941:
Assigned to Osaka Guard District, Kii Defence Corps.
December 1941:
Spec Duty Lt(jg) Shikata Shuzo is appointed CO.
8 December 1941:
Assigned to Sea Defence forces under Osaka Guard District secret instruction No. 2. Departs Yura, Wakayama Prefecture on ferry mission and arrives at Wakaura, Wakayama Prefecture.
9 December 1941:
On ferry mission at Wakaura.
11 December 1941:
On ferry mission at Wakaura.
12 December 1941:
On ferry mission at Wakaura.
13 December 1941:
Departs Wakaura and engages in minelaying with TOMOGASHIMA MARU No. 92. Arrives later that day at Yura on ferry mission.
14 December 1941:
Departs Yura on ferry mission and arrives at Shimotsu, Wakayama Prefecture later in the day.
15 December 1941:
Departs Shimotsu on ferry mission and arrives at Yura. Reserve Lt Shigetomi Hideo is appointed CO. Departs Yura on patrol.
17 December 1941:
Arrives back at Yura.
19 December 1941:
Departs Yura on patrol.
21 December 1941:
Arrives back at Yura.
22 December 1941:
Departs Yura on patrol.
23 December 1941:
Arrives back at Yura.
24 December 1941:
Departs Yura on patrol.
26 December 1941:
Arrives back at Yura.
29 December 1941:
Departs Yura on patrol.
2 January 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
4 January 1942:
Departs Yura on ferry mission and arrives back there later in the day.
7 January 1942:
Departs Yura on ferry mission and arrives at Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture later that day.
8 January 1942:
Departs Sumoto on ferry mission and arrives back there later that same day.
9 January 1942:
Departs Sumoto on ferry mission and arrives back there later in the day.
11 January 1942:
Departs Sumoto and arrives at Yura later that day.
12 January 1942:
Departs Yura and arrives at Sumoto later that same day.
19 January 1942:
Departs Sumoto on ferry mission and arrives back there later in the day.
20 January 1942:
Departs Sumoto on ferry mission and arrives at Yura later that day.
21 January 1942:
Rated as Kii Defence Forces ship No. 1 under secret instruction No. 6.
24 January 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
26 January 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
30 January 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
1 February 1942:
Arrives at Asakawa, Hiroshima Prefecture.
2 February 1942:
Departs Asakawa on patrol.
6 February 1942:
Arrives at Yura.
7 February 1942:
Departs Yura on ASW mission.
8 February 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
10 February 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
12 February 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
15 February 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives off Shimohaya Wan (Bay), Wakayama Prefecture later in the day.
16 February 1942:
Departs Shimohaya Wan on patrol and arrives back there later that day.
17 February 1942:
Departs Shimohaya Wan on patrol and arrives back there later that same day.
18 February 1942:
Departs Shimohaya Wan on patrol and arrives at Yura later in the day.
23 February 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives at Mugi Wan later that day.
24 February 1942:
Departs Mugi Wan on patrol and arrives back there later that same day.
25 February 1942:
Departs Mugi Wan on patrol and arrives at Yura later in the day.
28 February 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives at Mugi Wan later that day.
1 March 1942:
Departs Mugi Wan on patrol and arrives at Tachibana Wan, Kyushu later in the day.
2 March 1942:
Departs Tachibana Wan on patrol and arrives at Yura later that day.
3 March 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives at Tachibana Wan later that same day.
5 March 1942:
Departs Tachibana Wan on patrol and arrives at Asakawa later in the day.
6 March 1942:
Departs Asakawa on patrol and arrives at Yura later that day.
7 March 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives back there later that same day.
9 March 1942:
Departs Yura and arrives at Asakawa later in the day.
11 March 1942:
Departs Asakawa on patrol and arrives back there later that day.
12 March 1942:
Departs Asakawa on patrol and arrives at Yura later that day.
13 March 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives back there later that same day.
16 March 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
18 March 1942:
Arrives at Mugi Wan.
22 March 1942:
Departs Mugi Wan on patrol and arrives at Yura later that day.
23 March 1942:
Departs Yura and arrives at Mugi Wan later that same day.
24 March 1942:
Departs Mugi Wan on patrol and arrives at Yura later in the day.
26 March 1942:
Departs Yura and arrives at Mugi Wan later that same day.
27 March 1942:
Departs Mugi Wan on patrol.
28 March 1942:
Arrives at Yura.
31 March 1942:
Departs Yura on gunnery drill and arrives at Mugi Wan later in the day. Departs later.
4 April 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
6 April 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 April 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
10 April 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
14 April 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
15 April 1942:
Arrives at Osaka. Enters Namura Zosensho K.K. shipyard’s drydock for maintenance and repairs.
21 April 1942:
Assigned to Sea Defence forces under Osaka Guard District instruction No. 9.
26 April 1942:
Undocked. Departs Osaka and arrives at Yura later in the day.
28 April 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
30 April 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
4 May 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
6 May 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
11 May 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
13 May 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
15 May 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
17 May 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
19 May 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
21 May 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
23 May 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
29 May 1942:
Arrives back at Yura. Departs there later that same day on patrol.
31 May 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
2 June 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
4 June 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 June 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
10 June 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
17 June 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
20 June 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
23 June 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and returns back there later in the day.
26 June 1942:
Departs Yura.
28 June 1942:
Arrives at Osaka. Probably undergoes maintenance.
14 July 1942:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Yura later that day.
16 July 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
19 July 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
25 July 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and returns back there later in the day.
26 July 1942:
Departs Yura and arrives at Osaka later that day.
27 July 1942:
Departs Osaka and arrives back there later that same day.
31 July 1942:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Yura later that day.
1 August 1942:
Reserve Lt Shigetomi Hideo is confirmed as CO.
2 August 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
5 August 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 August 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
9 August 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
10 August 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
12 August 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
15 August 1942:
Replenishes boiler water. Departs Yura on patrol.
18 August 1942:
Arrives at Komatsushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku.
19 August 1942:
Departs Komatsushima on patrol and arrives at Yura later in the day.
21 August 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
24 August 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
26 August 1942:
Shifts anchorage.
29 August 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
30 August 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
2 September 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
5 September 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 September 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
11 September 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
14 September 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
17 September 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
20 September 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
21 September 1942:
Arrives back at Yura. Departs later that day on patrol.
23 September 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
26 September 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
29 September 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
3 October 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
6 October 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 October 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
10 October 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
13 October 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
16 October 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
19 October 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
22 October 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
27 October 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
31 October 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
3 November 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
5 November 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 November 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
11 November 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
14 November 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
16 November 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
19 November 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
22 November 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
30 November 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and returns back there later in the day.
2 December 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
5 December 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 December 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
10 December 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
13 December 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
16 December 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
19 December 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol.
21 December 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
24 December 1942:
Reserve Lt Fukigami Kiyomitsu is appointed CO.
26 December 1942:
Reserve Lt Shigetomi disembarks. Departs Yura on patrol.
28 December 1942:
Arrives back at Yura.
31 December 1942:
Departs Yura on patrol and returns back there later in the day.
1 January 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
2 January 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
5 January 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
8 January 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
11 January 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
13 January 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
16 January 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
19 January 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
23 January 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
24 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka. Enters Sano shipyard drydock for maintenance and repairs.
18 February 1943:
Undocked. Departs Osaka on trials and returns back there later that day.
20 February 1943:
Departs Osaka (from Fuji Nagata Pier) and arrives at Yura later in the day.
23 February 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
26 February 1943:
Arrives back at Yura. Reserve Lt Fukigami disembarks. Reserve Lt Uchida Eiichi is appointed CO.
1 March 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol and arrives at Tsugawa, Niigata Prefecture later that same day.
2 March 1943:
Departs Tsugawa towing auxiliary subchaser FUJI MARU.
3 March 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
3 March 1943:
Departs Yura on trials and arrives back there later in the day.
6 March 1943:
Departs Yura and arrives at Osaka later that day.
7 March 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives back there later that same day. Undergoes maintenance at Fujinagata shipyard.
23 March 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Yura later in the day.
28 March 1943:
Departs Yura and arrives back there later that day.
29 March 1943:
Departs Yura.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Tsubakidomari, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku. Departs later that same day.
1 April 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
3 April 1943:
Departs Yura on ASW training mission and arrives back there later in the day.
4 April 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
6 April 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
8 April 1943:
Departs Yura on ASW sweeping and training mission.
13 April 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
16 April 1943:
Departs Yura on ASW sweeping and training mission.
18 April 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
22 April 1943:
Departs Yura on crew training mission.
23 April 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
26 April 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
28 April 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
4 May 1943:
Departs Yura on net dragging mission and arrives back there later that day.
5 May 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
7 May 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
12 May 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
15 May 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
17 May 1943:
Departs Yura on training mission.
18 May 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
23 May 1943:
Departs Yura and arrives at Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture later in the day.
24 May 1943:
Departs Tanabe on training mission and arrives at Yura later that day.
26 May 1943:
Departs Yura on training mission.
27 May 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
28 May 1943:
Departs Yura on training mission and arrives back there later that same day.
30 May 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
5 June 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
June 1943:
Reserve Lt Uchida Eiichi is confirmed CO.
11 June 1943:
Departs Yura on training mission.
12 June 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
13 June 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
15 June 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
16 June 1943:
Departs Yura on net trolling mission and arrives back there later that day.
24 June 1943:
Departs Yura on ASW mission.
28 June 1943:
Relieved by auxiliary subchaser HAYATOMO MARU. Returns to Yura with auxiliary subchaser FUJI MARU.
29 June 1943:
Reserve Lt Uchida Eiichi is confirmed CO.
30 June 1943:
Departs Yura on calibration mission and arrives back there later that day.
3 July 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
5 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
7 July 1943:
Departs Yura on ASW training mission and calls at Wakaura. Departs there on patrol later that same day.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
11 July 1943:
Assigned to ASW sweeping mission between ‘B’ line and E of ‘F’ line from current day nighttime until sunset under Coastal Defence instruction No. 32. Departs Yura.
12 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura. Scheduled that same day to be resupplied until 1900 under Coastal Defence instruction No. 35.
14 July 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
16 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
19 July 1943:
Departs Yura alone on training mission.
20 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
21 July 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
23 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
25 July 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
27 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
29 July 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol.
31 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yura.
3 August 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima, Izu Shoto (Islands). Departs there on patrol later that day.
5 August 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
9 August 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later that same day.
11 August 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
14 August 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later in the day.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
20 August 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later that day.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
29 August 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later that same day.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
3 September 1943:
Departs Yura and arrives at Osaka later in the day.
September 1943:
Enters drydock for maintenance and repairs.
28 September 1943:
Scheduled to be converted to an auxiliary transport under Navy’s secret instruction No. 4917.
1 October 1943:
Reserve Lt Uchida Eiichi disembarks. Detached from the Sea Defence Corps under instruction No. 2039. Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 2040. Registered that same day in the Navy’s list as an auxiliary transport attached to the Kure Naval District with Kure as home port under instruction No. 2041.
October 1943:
Navy Commission Suzuki Sanshiro is appointed supervisor.
October 1943:
Undocked.
2 October 1943:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Yura later in the day.
11 October 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later that same day.
13 October 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
15 October 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later in the day.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
20 October 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later that day.
22 October 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
26 October 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Oshima. Departs there on patrol later that same day.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
29 October 1943:
Departs Yura on patrol; calls at Kure. Departs there later in the day.
2 November 1943:
Arrives at Yura.
4 November 1943:
Departs Yura and arrives at Osaka later that day.
November 1943:
Enters drydock.
December 1943:
Undocked. Departs Osaka.
9 December 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
December 1943:
Undergoes conversion to actual military duty at Kizugawa Senkyo K.K. shipyard.
11 December 1943:
Departs Osaka.
17 December 1943:
Arrives at Chinnampo, Chosen (now North Korea).
19 December 1943:
Departs Chinnampo.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at Saeki, Kyushu.
29 December 1943:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Kure later in the day.
1 January 1944:
Assigned to Combined Fleet in Vice Admiral (Admiral posthumously) Endo Yoshizaku’s (39) 9th Fleet as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category. [1]
January 1944:
Assigned to troop transport Operation No. 6 to New Guinea.
12 January 1944:
Departs Kure.
13 January 1944:
Arrives at Saeki.
23 January 1944:
Departs Saeki.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Transfers later to Yokohama.
12 February 1944:
Navy Commission Tamai Denzaburo is appointed supervisor.
21 February 1944:
At 1630, departs Yokohama as overall command ship of “C” (Hinoe) fishing boat fleet being repositioned south to Saipan. All fishing boats carry a small amount of ammunition for the garrison. The boats sail in four echelons with echelon one consisting of HOKO MARU, TOKUEI MARU No. 2, DAIHAKU MARU No. 15, KOMPIRA MARU No. 1 and KOKO MARU No. 3.
Echelon two consists of TENYO and KINTOHIRA MARUs and KOFUKU MARU No. 2, KYOSHO MARU No. 1 and YAKUSHI MARU No. 2 escorted by command ship (Naval storeship) TAKUNAN MARU.
Echelon three consists of SHINSEI MARU, ARIAKE MARU No. 3, SHOCHU MARU No. 3 and KAMESHIMA MARU No. 2.
Echelon 4 consists of EFUKU MARU No. 2, KICHIBEI MARU No. 2 GO, BANEI MARU No. 2 (not the larger merchant ship of same name) and WAKASA MARU No. 3.
After departing the Uraga channel high wind and waves causes the convoy to break up. HOKO MARU later returns to Yokohama. TAKUNAN MARU takes the slowest vessel KICHIBEI MARU No. 2 GO under tow, though the tow later breaks. Eventually TAKUNAN MARU and ten of the vessels arrive at Chichi Jima (at 1700 on 25th February) 26 February 1944:
At 0900, arrives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins) alone. Over the next few days all of the remaining fishing fleet except HOKO MARU arrive.
7 March 1944:
At 1200, departs Chichi-Jima still escorting the same convoy (less ARIAKE MARU No. 3 that has been detached) bound for Saipan.
12 March 1944:
The convoy arrives at Saipan.
24 March 1944:
NISSHO MARU No. 5 arrives at Palau.
31 March 1944:
At Palau Harbor, Western Carolines. Bombed and sunk by TF-58 carrier aircraft with unknown casualties. The ship took a hit to the bridge as well as hull damage and sank on the NE side of Ngargol Island.
10 May 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 654.

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. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa for Officers’ info.

Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

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