YUSOSEN!
(NISSHO MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
IJN NISSHO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2022 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 11
10 August 1937:
Yokohama. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Yokohama Zosensho as a 10,526-ton tanker for Showa Tanka (Tanker) K. K., Tokyo.
12 June 1938:
Launched and named NISSHO MARU. [1]
17 November 1938:
Management is entrusted to Taiyo Kaiun K.K.
29 November 1938:
Completed and registered in Tokyo. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 10,526-tons and 7,638-tons. Her call sign is JMYM. [2]
(NISSHO MARU prewar - Berend van der Wal collection)
December 1938:
On her maiden voyage the intermediate gear on her fuel injection camshaft breaks due to a manufacturing defect and drifts in the Pacific Ocean for about a week.
2 May 1939:
Taiyo Kaiun K.K. becomes chartered ship owner.
19 June 1939:
Departs Yokohama.
30 June 1939:
Arrives at San Francisco. Later, transports fuel oil from the United States west coast to Japan under charter to Taiyo Kaiun, K. K.
12 September 1940:
NISSHO MARU arrives at Batavia (Jakarta), Java (Indonesia) carrying the Japanese Minister of Commerce, Kobayashi Ichizo. At a conference at Java's Selabintanah resort, Kobayashi demands the Dutch East Indies provide Japan with 3,150,000 metric tons of petroleum annually and give a five-year guarantee of delivery. The Dutch Government representatives refuse saying it is a commercial, not governmental, matter.
26 July 1941:
The United States, Great Britain and the Dutch East Indies place an embargo on oil exports to Japan to counter Japanese aggression in Asia.
19 February 1942:
Her owners receive a requisition announcement.
23 February 1942:
NISSHO MARU is requisitioned by the IJN and registered as an auxiliary transport (oil).
25 February 1942:
Yokohama. Transferred to the IJN. Registered in the Yokosuka Naval District as a special transport (refueling ship) under ordinance No. 354.
20 April 1942:
Yokohama. Begins conversion to Naval oil tanker at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Yokohama Zosensho.
10 June 1942:
Captain Kurata Shichiro (34)(former ComDesDiv 27) is appointed Supervisor.
1 June 1942:
Taiyo Kaiun K.K. returns chartered ownership to Showa Tanka K.K.
2 July 1942:
Conversion completed at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. Departs Yokosuka later this day.
10 July 1942:
Navy commissioned Yamamoto Imachi is appointed Commanding Officer. Departs Yokohama.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
13 July 1942:
Departs Kure.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
19 July 1942:
Departs Ominato.
22 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka. Later that day arrives at Yokkaichi.
27 July 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
11 August 1942:
Departs Kure.
12 August 1942:
At 1500 arrives at Tokuyama.
15 August 1942:
At 1230 departs Tokuyama.
21 August 1942:
At 1800 arrives at Kwajalein, Marshalls.
29 August 1942:
At 0700 departs Truk apparently without escort.
3 September 1942:
Transits the Bungo Straits heading north. [2]
4 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
6 September 1942:
At 1315 departs Kure.
7 September 1942:
Departs from an anchorage off Kitsuki.
15 September 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, New Guinea (now Papua New Guinea).
16 September 1942:
Receives instructions for depth charge equipment [to be installed] under instruction No. 11672. At 1300 departs Rabaul.
17 September 1942:
At 1200 arrives at Shortland, Solomons.
18 September 1942:
At 0600 departs Shortland.
25 September 1942:
At 1730 arrives at Sasebo.
1 October 1942:
At 1500 departs Sasebo.
4 October 1942:
Transits the Bungo Straits northbound in a convoy also consisting of tanker TOHO MARU.
5 October 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Kure and at 1715 departs Kure.
12 October 1942:
Along with auxiliary oiler TOEI MARU meets up with destroyer YUZUKI and later that day at 1300 arrive at Truk.
17 October 1942:
Truk. Refuels cruiser AOBA.
18 October 1942:
Truk. Refuels oiler KENYO MARU.
19 October 1942:
At 0600 departs Truk.
24 October 1942:
Bungo Straits. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy S. Benson’s (USNA ’29) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) spots NISSHO MARU riding high in the water in ballast. Benson sets up and fires a spread of four torpedoes and gets at least one hit near the target's stern. NISSHO MARU’s screws stop and she begins emitting heavy white smoke aft, but soon gets underway. Benson fires his last torpedo as NISSHO MARU moves off, but misses. NISSHO MARU reports being hit twice in the engine room at 1000 at 32-00N, 132-20E.
25 October 1942:
Submarine tender CHOGEI begins towing NISSHO MARU. Minelayers NASAMI and NATSUSHIMA, Submarine chaser CH-36, Patrol Boat PB-31 and Auxiliary cruiser SAIGON MARU all provide an escort.
27 October 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Kure. Begins battle-damage repairs.
15 April 1943:
Repairs are completed. Departs Kure.
27 April 1943:
Due to arrive at Singapore.
1 May 1943:
At 1900 departs Singapore.
2 May 1943:
At 2000 due to arrive at Batu Pahat.
3 May 1943:
At 0800 due to depart Batu Pahat.
4 May 1943:
At 0900 due to arrive Palembang.
25 May 1943:
Capt. Kurata Shichiro is appointed Commanding Officer.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
10 June 1943:
As of 29 May 1943 attached to Assault Unit under Combined Fleet telegram No. 580.
21 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
27 June 1943:
Departs Kure for Moji.
29 June 1943:
Departs Moji in convoy W consisting of two unidentified merchant ships escorted by the kaibokan SADO.
30 June 1943:
Discovers an enemy submarine.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Mako, Pescdores (Now Magong, Penghu islands, Taiwan).
2 July 1943:
Departs Mako for St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
18 July 1943:
Departs Singapore in a convoy with KENYO MARU.
19 July 1943:
Attached to the Kido Butai under Combined Fleet wireless order No. 638. Attached to the Supply Unit under Mobile Task Force wireless order No. 96.
20 July 1943:
Detached from the Assault Unit under Assault Unit telegram No. 246.
29 July 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Truk.
1 August ~ 19 August 1943:
Departs Truk for Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
17 August 1943:
Minesweeper W-16 engaged in anti submarine and minesweeping at the north exit of the Macassar Strait, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) is assigned to provide indirect escort for the auxiliary oiler NISSHO MARU on 19 August at 1200 at 01-04N, 119-29E, South of the Macassar Strait under Second Security Force wireless order No. 97.
19 August 1943:
At 1800 W-16 and NISSHO MARU report they are unable to meet each other.
E 20 August 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya. Later transfers to Balikpapan.
4 September 1943:
At 0840 departs Balikpapan.
Joins convoy No. 2607 consisting of KYOEI, NISSHO, PACIFIC, YAMAYURI and TAKAOKA MARUs, fleet oiler NOTORO escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE and auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU.
6 September 1943:
Captain Tonomura Senzaburo (40)(former CO of ERIMO) assumes command.
8 September 1943:
At 0900 an unidentified destroyer and an auxiliary vessel join the convoy.
10 September 1943:
An unidentified oiler and auxiliary vessel are
detached. At 1600 arrives at Palau.
14 September 1943:
NISSHO MARU and tanker KUMAGAWA MARU depart Palau in convoy No. 8142 escorted by destroyer OITE and submarine chaser CH-33. The convoy sails at 12 knots.
18 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
9 October 1943:
At 1200 NISSHO MARU and AZUMA MARU are due to arrive at Balikpapan from Truk and Palau respectively, followed by AKEBONO MARU at 1500, likely from Rabaul via Palau. NISSHO MARU's departure date from Truk is unknown.
24 October 1943:
At 1730 departs Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) with auxiliary oiler KOKUYO MARU bound for Palau escorted by destroyer SANAE.
26 October 1943:
At 0700 SANAE ceases escort.
31 October 1943:
At 1415 destroyer SHIMAKAZE arrives and begins escorting.
1 November 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Truk via the south channel in a convoy consisting of tankers NISSHO and NICHIEI MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIMAKAZE. Enters Truk by the south channel.
Receives Combined Fleet Command No. 46:
1. The Commander in Chief of the Third Fleet, a resident Fleet (except the First Carrier Division) at Truk, is absent due to Operation RO and incorparated in the interceptor unit.
2. During this period auxiliary ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU, auxiliary oilers NICHIEI and NISSHO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 2 transfer to the Combined Fleet.
2 November 1943:
NISSHO MARU depart Truk for Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary oiler NICHIEI MARU escorted by destroyer SHIMAKAZE.
4 November 1943:
At 0430 at 00-20N, 150-40E, 130 miles W of Kavieng , New Ireland, Bismarck Islands (now Papua New Guinea) NISSHO and NICHIEI MARUs are damaged by AirSols aircraft based at Guadalcanal. [3]
At 0542, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “NISSHO MARU received bombing attack. Fires broke out.”
At 0625, USN codebreakers decrypt another message that reads: “Two B-24’s attacked. NISSHO MARU suffered hit in upper section of engine room and is unable to navigate.”
At 0900, USN codebreakers decrypt another message that reads: “NISSHO MARU is unable to navigate. She is drifting and receiving bombing attack from enemy planes in position 00-21 N, 150-54 E.”
At 0920, USN codebreakers decrypt another message that reads: “NISSHO MARU received a second bombing attack. Fuel oil gushing out.”
At 1015, USN codebreakers decrypt another message that reads: “Attempted towing NISSHO MARU, but because of enemy air attack released towline and discontinued towing. Considering extent of damage and repeated enemy air attacks am taking crew aboard temporarily. NISSHO MARU has 9 dead and 14 wounded.”
CruDivs 4's CHOKAI and destroyer SUZUNAMI enroute from Truk for Rabaul arrive to assist the tankers. Destroyer AMATSUKAZE, on an aircrew transport run to Rabaul, is also diverted to assist the damaged tankers.
5 November 1943:
Arrives Back at Truk.
Receives Combined Fleet wireless order No. 784:
Attached to the Southeast Area Fleet as of 1 November 1943.
7 November 1943:
Detached from the Southeast Area Fleet under Southeast Area Fleet wireless order No. 127. Attached to the Combined Fleet under Combined Fleet wireless order No. 788.
12 November 1943:
Supplies light cruiser NAKA.
12 ~ 30 November 1943:
Engine repair.
30 November 1943:
At Truk.
December 1943:
Receives fuel from tanker NICHIEI MARU.
27 December 1943:
Between 0720 and 2000 receives 5000 tons No.1 grade fuel oil and 2000 tons No. 2 grade fuel oil from TSURUMI.
28 December 1943:
At 0445 TSURUMI casts off from NISSHO MARU.
4 January 1944:
Arrives at Truk. (sic, dubious entry)
9 January 1944:
Repairs completed
10 January 1944:
Departs Truk for Surabaya escorted by destroyer TANIKAZE.
14 January 1944:
Departs Palau. At 1200, at 08-56N, 134-30E, patrol boat PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) takes over as escort.
18 January 1944:
Patrol boat PB-102 engages in antisubmarine warfare and drops 6 depth charges.
19 January 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Balikpapan.
22 January 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya. Drydocked. Undergoes repairs by the IJN's No. 103 Repair Facility.
15 February 1944:
Undocked. Departs Surabaya escorted by patrol boat PB-104 and later arrives at Balikpapan. Takes on a cargo of oil.
21 February 1944:
At 1647, NISSHO MARU departs Balikpapan in a convoy consisting of fleet oilers KYOKUTO and KOKUYO MARUs escorted by destroyers SHIMAKAZE and IKAZUCHI.
25 February 1944:
Just after midnight [US submarine not Tokyo times] LtCdr (later Cdr) Victor B. McCrea's (USNA ’32) USS HOE (SS-258), acting on a code-breaker's ULTRA message makes radar contact with the convoy. At 0045 the convoy ships come into view. At 0104 fleet tanker KYOKUTO MARU discovers the USS HOE and begins flashing a white light. At 0113 KYOKUTO MARU opens fire with her deck guns and destroyer SHIMAKAZE attacks USS HOE with depth charges.
75 miles S of Davao, Philippines. NISSHO MARU is in an unidentified convoy with fleet oiler KYOKUTO MARU. At about 0100, LtCdr (later Cdr) Victor B. McCrea's (USNA ’32) USS HOE (SS-258), acting on a code-breaker's ULTRA message, attacks the convoy. McCrea fires four torpedoes in a surface radar attack and gets two hits on KYOKUTO MARU at 05-55N, 126-05E that cause heavy damage. She stops firing. The destroyers SHIMAKAZE and IKAZUCHI intensify their depth charge attacks. At 0119 KYOKUTO MARU heads towards Banos Point, Mindanao, Philippines followed SHIMAKAZE. At the same time USS HOE’s radar looses contact with one of the destroyers. At 0214 fires six bow torpedoes at the NISSHO MARU. At 0215 NISSHO MARU is hit by three of them. The KOKUYO MARU heads towards Davao Gulf, Mindanao at high speed. At 0230 IKAZUCHI joins KOKUYO MARU. To prevent salvage McCrea fires his last four torpedoes at the NISSHO MARU at 0236 of which two hit her. About ten seconds after the second hit NISSHO MARU sinks. Captain Tonomura (40) (former CO of ERIMO) and 37 crewmen are KIA. Tonomura is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
Later this day KOKUYO MARU and IKAZUCHI arrive at Davao followed later that same day by damaged KYOKUTO MARU and SHIMAKAZE.
31 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes:
[1] NISSHO MARU was also known as NISSYO MARU using the "kokutai" method of converting kanji names to English.
[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.
[3] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[4] Tanker SHINKOKU MARU also transits the straits that same day, but it is unclear if the ships were together.
[5] AirSols was a joint command for Allied air units in the Solomon Islands campaign of World War II, from April 1943 to June 1944. It was subordinate to the Allied Pacific Ocean Areas POA Command. AirSols superseded and absorbed Cactus Air Force, which controlled Allied air units in the Solomons during 1942–43. AirSols units came from elements of the: United States Navy (USN), United States Marine Corps (USMC), the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the Thirteenth Air Force, United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
Thanks go the late John Whitman of Virginia, USA for input to Rev 1 and to Mr. Berend van der Wal of Netherlands, Mr. Gilbert Casse of France and Mr. Matthew Jones of Missisippi, USA. Finally, thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
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