YUSOSEN!
(OGURA MARU No. 2 prewar)
IJN OGURA MARU No. 2: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2018 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 10
11 June 1930:
Nagasaki. Laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a 7,311-ton tanker for Ogura Sekiyu K. K. (Petroleum Corporation), Yokohama.
9 December 1930:
Launched and named OGURA MARU No. 2.[1]
17 February 1931:
Completed.
1931-1941:
In Ogura Petroleum Corporation’s service.
1 June 1941:
The Japanese government merges Ogura Petroleum Corporation with Nippon Sekiyu K. K., Tokyo. Port of registry is changed from Yokohama to Tokyo.
22 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as an Ippan Choyosen (General Requisitioned oil transport Ship) and attached to the Kure Naval District with Kure as homeport.
25 November 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
1 December 1941:
Departs Kure.
6 December 1941:
Arrives at Mako.
7 December 1941:
Departs Mako.
11 December 1941:
Arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea).
13 December 1941:
Departs Chinkai.
16 December 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
18 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
19 December 1941:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
26 December 1941:
Departs Yokkaichi.
29 December 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Later that day transfers to Kawasaki.
31 December 1941:
Transfers from Kawasaki to Yokohama.
2 January 1942:
Transfers from Yokohama to Yokosuka.
27 January 1942:
Due to depart from Yokkaichi.
4 February 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
9 February 1942:
Departs Kure.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Davao, Philippines.
26 February 1942:
At 1230 departs Davao escorted by auxiliary gunboat OKUYO MARU.
3 March 1942:
At 0322 an enemy submarine is detected and attacked by OKUYO MARU with gunfire and depth charges without apparent damage. At 1330 arrives at Macassar, Celebes.
9 March 1942:
Bunkers minesweepers W-7, W-8, W-11 and W-12.
12 March 1942:
Bunkers light cruiser JINTSU.
18 March 1942:
Departs Macassar.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
6 April 1942:
Departs Kure.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 May 1942:
Departs Yokohama.
14 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
16 May 1942:
Departs Kure and later that day arrives at Tokuyama.
18 May 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
25 May 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai (Chinhae).
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
8 June 1942:
Departs Takao for St Jacques, Indochina and Koh Sichang, Siam (Thailand).
23 June 1942:
Departs Koh Sichang for Singapore.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra.
5 July 1942:
Departs Palembang.
7 July 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
13 July 1942:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 616 consisting of OGURA MARU No.2 and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAGAO for St Jacques and ultimately Mako.
16 July 1942:
Arrives St Jacques.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
5 August 1942:
Departs Shimotsu.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
6 August 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
E 7-12 August 1942:
Fitted with armament.
13 August 1942:
Departs Kure.
23 August 1942:
At 1300, departs Mako in convoy No. 330 also consisting Army transports NICHIRAN and KOGANE MARUs and nine unidentified merchant ships escorted by minelayer SOKUTEN and Auxiliary Gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
30 August 1942:
At 1600, arrives at St. Jacques.
3 September 1942:
Arrives at Palembang.
6 September 1942:
Departs Palembang.
8 September 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
13 September 1942:
Departs Singapore.
14 September 1942:
Arrives at Palembang.
17 September 1942:
Departs Palembang.
19 September 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
21 September 1942:
Departs Singapore.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
19 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
25 October 1942:
Departs Yokohama.
27 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Probably loads fuel at the refinery.
2 November 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
8 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
18 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
25 November 1942:
Arrives at Saipan. Probably discharges fuel.
29 November 1942:
Departs Saipan for Palau.
7 December 1942:
Departs Palau.
12 December 1942:
Arrives Balikpapan, Borneo. Loads oil.
16 December 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
18 December 1942:
Arrives Surabaya. Probably discharges oil.
23 December 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
25 December 1942:
Arrives Balikpapan. Loads 4,000 tons crude oil.
28 December 1942:
Departs Balikpapan for Surabaya.
4 January 1943:
Departs Sourabaya.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Probably loads oil.
14 January 1943:
Departs Balikpapan.
19 January 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Probably loads oil.
22 January 1943:
Departs Palembang.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
28 January 1943:
Departs Singapore in convoy No.663 also consisting of tanker MANJU MARU and cargo ship TAIEI MARU and one unidentified merchant ship without escort.
1 February 1943:
Arrives St Jacques.
3 February 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No.470 also consisting of tankers MANJU, SHOYU and SHUNTEN MARUs and DURBAN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
10 February 1943:
Arrives Takao.
11 February 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No.230 also consisting of tankers MANJU, SHOYU, NICHIRIN and SHUNTEN MARUs, cargo ships DURBAN, SHINWA, KAYO and HOFUKU MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship with auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU as escort until ship is detached later that day. The convoy split in two shortly after sailing with OGURA MARU No.2, MANJU and SHINWA MARUs and two unidentified ships in the slower section.
13 February 1943:
Off Tong Ting Island destroyer TSUGA joins the convoy briefly.
18 February 1943:
Arrives Mutsure and departs and arrives at Kudamatsu later that same day.
23 February 1943:
Departs Kudamatsu. Later that day, arrives at Kure.
26 February 1943:
Departs Kure.
27 February 1943:
Arrives at Kobe and later the same day departs port.
1 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
11 March 1943:
Enters NKK’s Asano Dockyard for repairs.
31 March 1943:
Undocked.
6 April 1943:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.
11 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No.7411 also consisting of TOHO, KURETAKE, and SAN PEDRO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat KEISHIN MARU.
18 April 1943:
Arrives at Niigata.
28 April 1943:
Departs Niigata.
1 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
3 May 1943:
Departs Kobe.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
8 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and later the same day arrives at Yokohama.
12 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
14 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe and departs later the same day.
15 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
16 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
18 May 1943:
Departs Kobe.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Yokohama.
27 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
29 May 1943:
Departs Kobe.
30 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
2 June 1943:
Departs Moji and transfers to nearby Mutsure.
4 June 1943:
Departs Mutsure/Moji in convoy No. 162 also consisting of NITTETSU MARU and eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-2.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
10 June 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 398 also consisting of tanker RIKKO MARU and cargo ships ADEN MARU and WAKO MARU without escort. [2]
16 June 1943:
At 1805 an unsuccessfuul torpedo attack is made against OGURA MARU No. 2 at 10-48N 111-06E. Shortly after, at 1850 a further attack against tanker RIKKO MARU in 10.50N 111-00E is also unsuccessful. Submarine chaser CH-19 departs Camranh Bay at 2300 to hunt the enemy submarine.
18 June 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
E 19 June 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs St Jacques, Indochina in a convoy also consisting of WAKO MARU and tanker RIKKO MARU with an unknown escort.
22 June 1943:
Near Singapore, OGURA MARU No. 2 is detached from the convoy. At 1600, she arrives at Palembang. Probably loads fuel.
24 June 1943:
Departs Palembang.
26 June 1943:
Arrives at Pulau Bukum. Probably unloads fuel.
28 June 1943:
Transfers from Pulau Bukum to Singapore.
29 June 1943:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 601 also consisting of tanker NANEI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-2.
2 July 1943:
Arrives St Jacques.
5 July 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 408 also consisting of tankers RIKKO and NANEI MARus and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-2.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
13 July 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 281 also consisting of NITTETSU, GOKOKU, MISAKI MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure and departs later the same day.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Kobe and departs later the same day and arrives at Amagasaki.
25 July 1943:
Departs Amagasaki and shortly after arrives at nearby Kobe. Undergoes conversion and repairs at Mitsubishi.
1 August 1943:
The conversion is completed. OGURA MARU No. 2 is manned by an IJN crew. Departs Kobe.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure.
4 August 1943:
Departs Mutsure in convoy No. 183 also consisting of tankers SHOYO MARU and OGURA MARU No. 1, auxiliary ammunition ship KOGYO MARU, transports SAIHO, NIKKO and MANSHU MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
11 August 1943:
Departs Mako in the "U" convoy also consisting of tankers SHOYO and TAKETOYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
12 August 1943:
Patrol Boat No. 36 is detached from convoy and returns to Mako.
18 August 1943:
Arrives St Jacques.
20 August 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 503 also consisting of tankers SHOYO MARU and OGURA MARU No. 1 and three unidentified merchant ships without escort.
23 August 1943:
Arrives Singapore.
24 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Palembang. Probably loads fuel.
27 August 1943:
Departs Palembang.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Probably unloads fuel. Registered that same day in the IJN under internal order No. 1820 as an auxiliary oiler, (Otsu) category and attached to the Kure Naval District with Kure as homeport.
5 September 1943:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 618 also consisting of tankers KIYO, SHOYO MARUs, OGURA MARU No. 1, cargo ship HOKUYO MARU, Fleet tanker SHIRIYA without escort.
8 September 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
11 September 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 425 also consisting of tankers KIYO, SHOYO MARUs, OGURA MARU No. 1, fleet tanker SHIRIYA, transports GINYO, ARGUN, MANTAI and HOKUYO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships with destroyer ASAGAO as escort.
13 September 1943:
TEIKA MARU (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA) departs Haikow and joins convoy No. 425.
18 September 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
20 September 1943:
At 1800, departs Mako in convoy RIN-B also consisting of ARGUN, SHOYO, GYOKU, HOKUYO, KIYO and MANTAI MARUs and OGURA MARU No.1 escorted by Fleet tanker SHIRIYA and kaibokan WAKAMIYA.[3]
21 September 1943:
LtCdr (later Captain) Robert E. Dornin's (USNA ’35) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) attacks the convoy at 26-33N, 122-40E. Dornin torpedoes and sinks SHIRIYA, ARGUN MARU with the loss of two crewmen and 8,295-tons of rice, and SHOYO MARU taking down five crewmen. He also torpedoes and damages GYOKU MARU that is detached to Keelung.
25 September 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Moji and later that same day departs port.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
27 September 1943:
Departs Kobe and soon after that day arrives at Amagasaki.
2 October 1943:
Departs Amagasaki and later that day arrives at Kobe. Repairs then commenced at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe Dockyard.
15 October 1943:
Departs Kobe for Singapore.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
18 October 1943:
At 1420, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Moji for Takao in convoy No. 107 also consisting of MURORAN, JINZAN, MANTAI, KENSEI, NITTATSU, NICHINAN (2732 gt), HOKOKU, KOHOKU, SAN PEDRO and SHOEI (2764 GRT) MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
24 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
27 October 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 333 also consisting of NITTATSU MARU, KENSEI MARU (ex British HIN SANG), MIKAGE MARU No.8 and two unidentified merchant ships without escort.
2 November 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
3 November 1943:
Departs St Jacques.
7 November 1943:
Arrives at Miri. Probably loads fuel.
11 November 1943:
Departs Miri in the TOKU convoy also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU.
15 November 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
19 November 1943:
Departs Manila in convoy No. 874 also consisting of SHUNKO, MURORAN, ROKKO, HINODE, TACHIBANA (6521 GRT) and SHONAN MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU. The auxiliary minesweeper CHOUN MARU No. 21 escorts the convoy initially.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
26 November 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Takao in convoy No. 222 also consisting of HAKONE, AKITSU, HAWAII, NITTATSU, SHUNKO, HOTEN and ROKKO MARUs and tanker SEINAN MARU escorted by torpedo boat TOMOZURU.
27 November 1943:
SE of Foochow, China. Three 14th Air Force B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers attack the convoy and sink HAKONE MARU. No casualties are sustained.
28 November 1943:
The convoy less TOMOZURU and NITTATSU MARU that stayed to assist HAKONE MARU and HAWAII MARU that detaches, sails up the China coast without escort. At 1854 Naval tug KASASHIMA departs Taichow Liehtao and meets up with the convoy.
29 November 1943:
At 0713 off Chiu Shan Liehtao the escort by KASASHIMA ends.
30 November 1943:
At 0550 the convoy fully reassembles off the mouth of the Yangtse and then heads to Moji.
3 December 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
4 December 1943:
Departs Moji and arrives at Tokuyama later that day. Probably unloads fuel.
5 December 1943:
Departs Tokuyama and later that day arrives at Kudamatsu.
9 December 1943:
Departs Kudamatsu. Later that day, arrives at Tokuyama.
12 December 1943:
Departs Tokuyama and later that day arrives at Moji.
13 December 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Moji in an unidentified convoy also consisting of oilers SARAWAK and TENEI MARUs, FUSHIMI MARU No. 3, and cargo ships BATAVIA, NICHIREI and HIROTA MARUs and eight other unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE and minesweeper W-33. [4]
17 December 1943:
S of the Ryukyus. At 2226, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson’s (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) torpedoes and damages SARAWAK MARU at 24-10, 124-40E. About the same time, ASPRO torpedoes and damages TENEI MARU at the same place. SHIOKAZE counterattacks, but ASPRO evades and escapes. TENEI MARU setttles by the bow, but is towed away by an unidentifed cargo ship.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
22 December 1943:
At 1600 departs Takao in convoy No.782 also consisting of tanker FUSHIMI MARU No.3 escorted by torpedo boat TOMOZURU, auxiliary netlayers KOGA and KUMANO MARUs and possibly others.
25 December 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Manila.
28 December 1943:
Departs Manila in Rin convoy also consisting of one unidentified merchant ship escorted by auxiliary netlayer KUMANO MARU.
1 January 1944:
Arrives at Miri. Probably loads fuel.
3 January 1944:
Miri, Borneo. OGURA MARU No. 2 suffers engine breakdown.
5 January 1944:
At 1800, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri for Manila in a convoy with tanker FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 escorted by torpedo boat TOMOZURU and subchaser CH-46.
SW of Palawan Island. At 2200, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Cdr) Herbert L. Juke's (USNA ’32) USS KINGFISH (SS-234). In a radar-assisted attack, Jukes hits FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 with two of four torpedoes. FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 sinks at 09-27N, 117-36E taking down 38 crewmen. TOMOZURU commences an antisubmarine sweep while CH-46 escorts OGURA MARU No. 2 out of the area.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
20 January 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Manila in convoy No. 883 also consisting of MIIKESAN MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser CHa-24. The ships sailed at 8 knots.
24 January 1944 :
Arrives at Takao.
26 January 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy No.237 also consisting of five unidentified merchant ships escorted by the destroyer ASAKAZE.
30 January 1944:
Arrives at Chusan Island Group.
31 January 1944:
Departs Chusan Island Group.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Probably unloads fuel.
12 February 1944:
Departs Tokuyama and later that day arrives at Shimonoseki/Moji. Later that day enters the dockyard at Hikoshima.
5 March 1944:
Repairs are completed.
9 March 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Tomie, Goto Retto in convoy MOTA-09 also consisting of tankers SAN LUIS and TAKETOYO MARUs, transport TEIRITSU MARU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) and cargo ships MATSUE, DAIZEN, HAMBURG, KYOKUZAN, MURORAN, BATOPAHAT, CHUYO, BUNZAN, TAIYU and SHOEI (1986 GRT) MARUs and HINO MARU No. 1 escorted by second-class destroyer WAKATAKE.
E 10 March 1944:
Patrol boat PB-38 joins the escort of MOTA-09.
11 March 1944:
CHUYO MARU No. 2 develops engine trouble. At 0950, PB-38 is detached to find her, but is unsuccessful and later rejoins the convoy.
13 March 1944:
At 1844, an enemy submarine is detected at 25-58N, 121-34E. The escorts drop 50 depth charges and drive it off.
14 March 1944:
PB-38 detects another submarine and drives it off by dropping three depth charges.
15 March 1944:
At 1845, arrives at Takao.
20 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy list under internal order No. 464.
21 March 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy TAMA-12 also consisting of TAKETOYO, SAN LUIS MARUs and NITTATSU, RIKKO, ATAGO, DAIYU, BUNZAN MARUs and HINO MARU No. 1 escorted by the destroyer KURETAKE.
24 March 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Manila.
1 May 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 sails in convoy MI-03 also consisting of cargo ships SHOHEI, NIKKO, ETAJIMA, DAIJUN, SHINNO, TOUN, KANKYO, DAITEN, RYUKA, KENWA and TAISEI MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No.1 and tankers CHIYODA, KOTOKU, ZUIYO and SHUNTEN MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5, and EIYO MARU No.2 escorted by second-class destroyer KARUKAYA, torpedo boat HATO, auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU and, kaibokan CD-1, CD-13 and subchaser CH-37.
E 7 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao and later departs port for Manila.
8 May 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 is requisitioned by the IJN as an Ippan Choyosen (general requisitioned oiler) (B-AO) and attached to Kure Naval District with Kure as home port.
E 9 May 1944:
Kaibokan KURAHASHI probably joins the escort.
10 May 1944:
150 miles NW of Manila, Luzon. Cdr (later Rear Admiral) James C. Dempsey's (USNA ’31) USS COD (SS-224) attacks convoy MI-03. At 0647, Dempsey torpedoes and sinks destroyer KARUKAYA at 15-47N, 119-32E. Dempsey then torpedoes and sinks transport SHOHEI MARU carrying 850 passengers, depth-charges, mines, guns and ammunition. Eight crewmen and 12 passengers are KIA.
13 June 1944:
As a result of a restructure, OGURA MARU No. 2 is transferred to new owners Nippon Yusosen Kisen, K.K.
20 June 1944:
At 1900, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Singapore for Miri in convoy SHIMI-04 consisting of tankers MATSUMOTO, NICHINAN (5175 GRT), NANSEI, ZUIHO and KOTOKU MARUs and another tanker also named NICHINAN MARU (1945 GRT) 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, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-06 also consisting of tankers YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, NANSEI, ATAGO, ZUIHO, BAIEI, NICHINAN (5175 gt), NICHINAN (1945 gt), MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, KOTOKU, TOKUWA MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 escorted by kaibokan CD-14, patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18. At an unknown point, tanker CERAM MARU joins the convoy.
E 1 July 1944:
W-18 is detached from the convoy.
2 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila. While entering port CERAM MARU collides with NANSEI MARU and is run agroubnd to prevent sinking. Many ships detach from the convoy.
4 July 1944:
At 1145 OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Manila in convoy MI-06 now consisting of tankers ATAGO, TACHIBANA, MATSUMOTO, TOKUWA and ZUIHO MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 5, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and transports TSUYAMA, ATSUTA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO, YAGI MARUs escorted by CD-14, patrol boat No. 38, and minesweeper W18.
10 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao. ATSUTA and MATSUMOTO MARUs are detached.
12 July 1944:
At 0330 OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Takao in convoy MI-06 now consisting of tankers ATAGO, RIKKO, JUKO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA and ZUIHO MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 5, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and transports GENKAI, HIROTA, AOBASAN, TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, IWATO, KANKYO and YAGI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-8 and CD-14, patrol boat P-38, auxiliary patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and minesweeper W-18. Later TEIKA MARU joins the convoy from Kirun.
17 July 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Moji.
26 July 1944:
At 0600, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Imari Bay in convoy MI-13 also consisting of tankers SHINCHO, TEIKON (ex German WINNETOU), TOKUWA, KYOEI and ATAGO MARUs and cargo ships HIYORI, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, URAL, SHIROTAE, KOKUSEI, CHINA, HIGANE, MATSUURA, RISSHUN and ATLAS MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and CD-14, minesweeper W-18, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU, patrol boat No. 38 and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs.
27 July 1944:
CHINA MARU sustains engine trouble and returns to Imari Bay escorted by auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
28 July 1944:
While patroling her patrol area minelayer NIIZAKI meets up with the convoy.
29 July 1944:
MATSUURA MARU detaches and heads towards Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
30 July 1944:
Together with minesweeper W-18 detaches and head towards Port Saei, Formosa (Tsoying, now Zuoying, Taiwan).
31 July 1944:
The rest of the convoy arrives at Takao. SHIROTAE MARU is detached. Tankers SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs, cargo ship SHINKO MARU and Naval Transport T. 3 join the convoy. Auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU is detached from the escort and replaced by destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokan KUSAGAKI and YASHIRO.
4 August 1944:
At 0830, the reconstituted convoy departs Takao. Off the coast of Saei, together with minesweeper W-18 rejoins the the convoy.
7 August 1944:
At 2205, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskin's (USNA ’33) USS GUITARRO (SS-363) torpedoes and sinks kaibokan KUSAGAKI at 14-50N, 119-57E. 140 crewmen are KIA.
8 August 1944:
At 0900, the convoy arrives at Manila. DURBAN, KIZAN, RISSHUN, KUNIYAMA, SHINKO and ATLAS MARUs are detached. SHOEI MARU (2764 gt) joins the convoy. All of the escorts are detached except CD-14, patrol boat P-38 and subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
11 August 1944:
At 2100, the convoy departs Manila for Miri.
12 August 1944:
At 0730, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s (USNA ’33) USS PUFFER (SS-268) attacks the convoy. Selby torpedoes and damages SHINPO MARU. 20 crewmen are KIA. She is taken under tow by SHOEI (2764 gt) and KYOEI MARUs and beached, then abandoned. Selby torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU (ex German WINNETOU) with no casualties. CD-14 and patrol boat P-38 counter-attack with 37 depth charges, but USS PUFFER slips away unscathed. The convoy shelters in Paluan Bay, Mindoro Island. Loans a towing wire to KYOEI MARU.
14 August 1944:
Departs Paluan Bay in convoy MI-13. Patrol boat PB-38 detaches later this day and returns to Manila Bay.
17 August 1944:
At some point, subchasers CH-30 and CH-33 are detached from the convoy.
18 August 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Miri. Probably loads fuel. Receive borrowed towing wire back from tanker KYOEI MARU.
29 August 1944:
At 0830, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-14 also consisting of tankers ATAGO and TOKUWA MARUs and cargo ships KENSEI, IIDA, JUZAN, CHUKA and SURAKARUTA MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-14, subchaser CH-20 and patrol boat P-38.
5 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila. The convoy is reformed to consist of OGURA MARU No. 2 and tankers ATAGO and TOKUWA MARUs and TOKUSHIMA, ENOSHIMA, MIHO, KENSEI and KEISHU MARUs with the same escorts.
9 September 1944:
At 1600, departs Manila. Enroute north, the convoy is joined by minesweepers W-38 and W-39.
16 September 1944:
At 0440, departs Basco Bay, Batan Island, Philippines.
Bashi Channel. At 1355, TOKUSHIMA MARU carrying 112 passengers and a cargo of 5,400-tons of chrome ore, is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho‘s (USNA ’27) USS PICUDA (SS-382) at 21-57N, 121-35E. 47 crewmen, 50 gunners and 82 passengers are KIA. TOKUSHIMA MARU’s explosion damages nearby oiler OGURA MARU No. 2.
OGURA MARU No. 2 stops for repairs, but at 1515, she is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's (USNA ’30) USS REDFISH (SS-395) at 21-42N, 121-41E. 15 crewmen, three guards and 23 passengers are KIA.
Author's Notes:
[1] The kanji for Ogura is the same as for Kokura. Kokura, near Moji on the Shimonoseki Straits, has long been an oil tank farm location. It is possible that although western records, almost without exception, record the name as Ogura, that the correct name may be Kokura.
[2] Most records show only three ships in convoy- it's possible one of the faster ships left on the same day in convoy No. 397 that arrived at St Jacques on 14 June.
[3] The tanker TAKETSU MARU was shown in earlier TROMs as in this convoy. The source was Shinshichiro Komamiya's Senji Yuso Sendan Shi. Recent research strongly suggests TAKETSU MARU was not in convoy and further that HOKUYO MARU and OGURA MARU No.2 were convoy members. These have been shown accordingly.
[4] According to an Ultra report, two unidentified convoys crossed at 24-10N, 124-40E consisting of the ships listed. Exactly which ships belonged to which convoy is unknown.
Photo credit goes to Matthew Jones. General thanks to Gilbert Casse of France.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
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