Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(OGURA MARU No. 1 prewar)

IJN OGURA MARU No. 1:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010-2024 Bob Hackett, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

Revision 5

20 December 1928:
Nagasaki. Laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a 7,270-ton tanker for Ogura Sekiyu K. K. (Petroleum Corporation), Yokohama.
10 June 1929:
Launched and named OGURA MARU.[1]
31 August 1929:
Completed and registered at Yokohama, with a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 7,270-tons and a Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of 5,004 tons. Her call sign is THKS. [2]

1931-1941:
In Ogura Petroleum Corporation’s service.
September 1931:
Intermittent inspection.
October 1932:
Intermittent inspection.
November 1933:
Intermittent inspection.
December 1934:
Uraga. Regular inspection.
May 1935:
Intermittent inspection.
June 1936:
Intermittent inspection.
June 1937:
Intermittent inspection.
February 1938:
Yokohama. Regular inspection.
5 February 1938:
Renamed OGURA MARU No. 1. Her call sign is changed to JRSB.
March 1939:
Intermittent inspection.
May 1940:
Intermittent inspection.
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.
1941:
Requisitioned by the IJA with assigned number No. 953. [3]
26 September 1941:
Chartered by Kyodo Kigyo K.K.
October 1941:
Intermittent inspection.

February 1942:
Yokohama. Regular inspection.
26 June 1942:
Departs Moji in convoy No. 129 also consisting of HOFUKU, ADEN, TSUYAMA and MOJI MARUS and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by an unknown escort.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
3 July 1942:
At 1400 departs Mako in convoy No. 318 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
9 July 1942:
At 1000 arrives at St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
11 July 1942:
At 1100 departs St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam) in convoy No. 512 also consisting of IJA transports NAPLES and OYO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
15 July 1942:
At 1700 the convoy, minus OGURA MARU No. 1, arrives at Singapore. OGURA MARU No. 1 had detached en route for Palembang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
29 July 1942:
Departs Palembang. Sails to Nagasaki.
31 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
16 September 1942:
At 1000 departs off Futtsu in a west bound convoy also consisting of of IJA transports TAICHU and TAIRYU (4,994 GRT) MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat KASAGI MARU. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure. At 1700 departs for Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan) in convoy No. 170 also consisting of civilian oiler TAKASAGO (’41) MARU and IJA oiler PALEMBANG MARU and IJN transports TOA MARU No. 2 GO and HIROTA MARU and IJA transport SUGIYAMA MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
6 October 1942:
IJN transport HIROTA MARU detaches and arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) later this day.

7 October 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores (now Magong, Penghu Islands).
9 October 1942:
Departs Mako, Pescadores in convoy No. 341 also consisting of small tanker TAKASAGO MARU and cargo ship TAGA MARU without surface escort.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques.
17 October 1942:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 533 also consisting of FUKUEI MARU No. 2 and TAGA MARU and tankers TAKASAGO MARI and TERUKAWA MARU without surface escort. The ships are bound for Singapore.
20 October 1942:
OGURA MARU No. 1 and TAKASAGO MARU, having been detached, arrive at Palembang.
22 October 1942:
Departs Palembang. Sails to Shonan (Singapore), St Jacques, Mako and Moji.
21 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
February 1943:
Intermittent inspection.
8 February 1943:
Reported sailing alone off Wakamatsu Ken en route to Inland Sea.
10 February 1943:
Between 1500-1650 departs Moji in convoy No. 126 also consisting of IJN oiler EIYO MARU, IJN transport RYOTOKU MARU, IJA transport NITTAI MARU and merchant ship TAISHO MARU without escort. At 1220 IJN transport KOSEI MARU (2,205GRT)joins the convoy from Sasebo late that day.
14 February 1943:
Anchors of An Ping, Formosa (now Taiwan).
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
18 February 1943:
At 1800 departs Mako in convoy No. 371 also consisting of TAISHO MARU, tanker EIYO MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
23 February 1943:
At 0800 arrives at St Jacques.
24 February 1943:
At anchor at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
25 February 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 561 also consisting of IJN oiler EIYO MARU, IJA oiler RIKKO MARU, shared IJA transport (A/C-AK) ENJU MARU, IJA transports GYOKO, NITTAI MARUs, civilian transport (C-AK) NORFOLK MARU and merchant transport TAISHO MARU without escort.
28 February 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 April 1943:
Rated as 1st Naval designated ship.
1 May 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No.576 also consisting of IJA oiler ICHIYO MARU and IJA transport NICHIRAN and TAIJIN MARUs without escort.
4 May 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 May 1943:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 689 also consisting of cargo ship SUGIYAMA MARU and two unidentified merchant ships without surface escort.
15 May 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
18 May 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 496 also consisting of tanker HAKUBASAN MARU and cargo ship SUGIYAMA MARU and four unidentified merchant ships without surface escort.
24 May 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
27 May 1943:
At 1000 OGURA MARU No.1 departs Mako in convoy No. 266 also consisting of IJN oilers HAKUBASAN and KIYO MARUs, IJA transports GINYO and SUGIYAMA MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-2.
28 May 1943:
IJN transport SHOKO MARU departs Kirun for Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture and joins convoy No. 266.
29 May 1943:
At 2245 in position 29-50N 129-35E LtCdr Anthony H Dropp's USS SAURY (SS-189) torpedoes and sinks IJN transport SHOKO MARU loaded with 7250 tons of iron ore, with two torpedoes. All 57 crewmen and four watchmen are killed.
1 June 1943:
At 2030 the convoy arrives at Moji. OGURA MARU No. 1 continues on to arrive at Tokuyama. Departs later this day probably with IJN oilers HAKUBASAN and KIYO MARUs and arrives at Tokuyama later that same day.
5 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
17 June 1943:
Departs Moji in convoy No. 167 also consisting of IJN oiler ONDO, ore carrier YASUKUNI MARU (5794 gt), passenger-cargo ship NEKKA MARU and seven unidentified ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
21 June 1943:
At 24-15N 120-15E during an anti submarine sweep KAZAN MARU drops depth charges.
22 June 1943:
At 1400 the convoy arrives at Takao. Some ships probably sail direct to Mako.
23 June 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 302 also cconsisting of IJN oilers CHIYODA, GOYO and KIYO MARUS, civilian transports (C-AK) NORFOLK and SHOGEN MARUs, IJN transports KOSEI (2,170 GRT. ’23) and SANKISAN MARUs and transports RYUKO and YASUKINI MARUs without surface escort. Later YASUKUNI and KOSEI MARUs are detached off Hainan Island.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
4 July 1943:
At 1100 departs St Jacques for Miri, Sarawak, British Borneo (now Malaysia in a convoy also consisting of IJN tankers CHIYODA, GOYO and SEINAN MARUs with unknown escort.
7 July 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
4 August 1943:
Departs Mutsure in convoy No. 183 also consisting of tankers SHOYO MARU and OGURA MARU No. 2, auxiliary ammunition ship KOGYO MARU, IJN transports NIKKO and SAIHO MARUs, transport MANSHU MARU 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 IJN oilers SHOYO MARU and OGURA MARU No. 2 and three 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 IJN oilers SHOYO and TAKETOYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 and two unidentified merchant ships without escort. En route IJN oilers SHOYO MARU and OGURA MARU No. 2 are detached for Palembang.
23 August 1943:
Arrives Singapore.
25 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Palembang.
Late August/Early September 1943:
Loads 11,834-tons of crude oil.
5 September 1943:
Departs Singapore for Mako. 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.
9 September 1943:
An Allied radio intercept advises OGURA MARU No.1 and two other ships are due to arrive at Mako at 1700. This is in error.
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, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Takao for Moji in convoy RINJI-B (Special-B) also consisting of IJN oilers KIYO and SHOYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 and IJA transports ARGUN and GYOKU MARUs, IJN transports HOKUYO and MANTAI MARUs escorted by fleet oiler SHIRIYA and old destryer ASAGAO.
21 September 1943:
East China Sea. NE of Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan). LtCdr (later Captain) Robert E. Dornin's (USNA ’35) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) is patrolling submerged 30 miles N of the Hoka Sho light, Pengjia (Agincourt) Island, Formosa (now Taiwan). At 2058, Dornin makes a visual surface attack. At 1500 yards, he fires three torpedoes at the lead oiler and three at the second oiler. One hits the lead ship, SHIRIYA carrying aviation gasoline. She explodes and sinks at 26-27N, 122-40E. The second ship, freighter ARGUN MARU is hit by a torpedo amidships, breaks in half and sinks immediately with the loss of two crewmen and 8,295-tons of rice. [3]
LtCdr Dornin brings USS TRIGGER about and fires three stern tubes at OGURA MARU No. 1, but misses. She fires 5 times at USS TRIGGER. Dornin crash-dives to escape gun fire. Then OGURA MARU No. 1 drops 2 depth charges. Dornin crash-dives to escape gun fire from a third oiler. He comes to periscope depth and fires two bow torpedoes at SHOYO MARU that hit her to starboard and sends her down by the bow. SHOYO MARU sinks at 26-33N,123-10E taking down five crewmen.
Dornin makes two more attacks on a freighter, but all of his Mark 14 torpedoes either miss or are duds. Still, GYOKU MARU is damaged in the attacks. The remainder of the convoy arrives at Moji. USS TRIGGER returns safely to Midway Island for refit. OGURA MARU No. 1 heads with remainder of the convoy to Moji.
25 September 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Moji. Departs later this day for Yokohama.
4 October 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
11 November 1943:
Apparently in Omaezaki area, Honshu coast.
19 November 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Moji in convoy No. 115 also consisting of ore carrier GYOKUREI MARU, IJA transport LONDON MARU and three unidentified ships. IJN transports NIPPONKAI MARU and KOTO MARU No. 2 GO escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU depart Sasebo and join convoy No. 115. Several of these vessels departed from Sasebo and joined convoy. Soon after departure, CHOHAKUSAN MARU's engine breaks down and the ship returns to port.
24 November 1943:
At 0400, at 26-0N,120-10E, IJN transport KOTO MARU No. 2 GO is detached for Hong Kong and ore carrier GYOKUREI MARU is detached for Kirun (Keelung).
26 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
28 November 1943:
At 1700, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Takao in convoy No. 780 of IJN oiler SAN DIEGO MARU, IJN transport NIPPONKAI MARU, IJA transports NICHIWA, NORWAY, RYUYO and YAMAHAGI MARUs, civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) KINSHU MARU, transports BIZEN, KIYO, RYUUN and TOSEI MARUs and four unidentified ships escorted by destroyer FUYO and kaibokan KANJU.
3 December 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Manila, Philippines.
4 December 1943:
Departs Manila with convoy No. 3302 also consisting of IJA transports DAKAR, JUNYO and LONDON MARUs, transports MANYO and TENSHO MARUs and IJA oiler ICHIYO MARU escorted by destroyers FUYO and URANAMI. En route FUYO is detached and returns to Manila.
8 December 1943:
After detaching from convoy No. 3302 at unknown date and location together with IJA oiler ICHIYO MARU arrives at Miri.
10 December 1943:
A radio intercept states IJA oilers OGURA MARU No.1 and SAN DIEGO MARU and IJA transport MIYAURA MARU are all awaiting loading at Miri.
19 January 1944:
At 0730, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Moji for Takao in convoy No. 130 azlso consisting of IJA oiler SAN DIEGO MARU, passenger/cargo ship TERUKUNI MARU, IJA transports ATSUTA (2,705 GRT, ’43) MAYA and PANAMA MARUs, ore carrier YASUKUNI MARU and hospital ship ASAHI MARU escorted by auxiliary guard boat MYOJIN MARU No. 2, small auxiliary patrol boat SHINEI MARU and salvage and repair tug KASASHIMA.
23 January 1944:
China coast. 14th Air Force North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers attack the convoy at 1638, 18km of Dayu Bay, China at 27-15N, 120-45E. IJA transport PANAMA MARU receives a direct hit in the rear of the chimney. One crewman and two gunners are lost. Ore carrier YASUKUNI MARU and IJA transport ATSUTA MARUs are damaged.
At 2000 IJA transport MAYA MARU towes IJA transport PANAMA MARU to a point with a water depth of 11m.
At 2340 the rear part of the 4th hold sinks into the sea.
OGURA MARU No. 1 Arrives at Fu Yan Island (now Dayu Shan), China later that day.

24 January 1944:
IJA transport PANAMA MARU sinks. The convoy anchors of Incog Island, China. B-25's bomb and sink escort MYOJIN MARU No. 2. Patrol boat SHINEI MARU is hit and damaged. Lighthouse tender RYUSEI (ex-Chinese LIU HSING), nearby, but not part of the convoy, is also sunk.
25 January 1944:
Departs Fu Yan Island, Formosa Straits. At 0620 east of Dongyin, China at 26-10N, 121-05E, OGURA MARU No. 1 and IJA transport MAYA MARU oiler collide. MAYA MARU is moderately damaged. IJN salvage and repair tug KASASHIMA and auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1, that happens to be in the area, steam to render assistance, but are attacked by five B-25's. At 1347, KASASHIMA sinks. The rest of the convoy is diverted from Takao and arrives at Kirun (Keelung) later that day.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama implying the ship has sailed independently directly to Japan.
30 January 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
16 February 1944:
Departs Manila in convoy MAMI-02 also consisting of IJA transport TEIKO (ex French D'ARTAGNAN) MARU, IJA oilers KIKUSUI (ex Netherlands IRIS) and TACHIBANA MARUs and IJN oilers SAN DIEGO and YAMASACHI (YAMAKO or SANKO) MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by the old destroyer KURETAKE.
21 February 1944:
IJA transport TEIKO MARU (ex French D'ARTAGNAN) and IJA oiler KIKUSUI MARU detach and head towards Singapore. The rest of the convoy arrives at Miri.
7 March 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Manila in MATA-10 convoy also consisting of IJN oilers Nittetsu, SAN DIEGO, TEKATESU (BUTSU) and YAMASACHI MARUs, IJA oiler TACHIBANA MARU, passenger/cargo IJA transports KENWA, KOHO, SORACHI and TAITO MARUs and IJN transport TARUYASU (ex British THALTHYBIUS) escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA and minesweeper W-17.
14 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
Receives Takao assembly area commander secret instruction No. 142045: (Departure 7th fleet operational commander):
1 Convoy TAMO-11 consisting of 24 ships, of which 2 join from Kirun and 5 escorts consisting of destroyers SHIGURE and NOKAZE, minesweeper W-17 and subchasers CH-37 and CH-38. They are scheduled to depart at 1200 on 15 March and to arrive at 0600 on 22 March.
2 B TAITO MARU carrying 417 passengers bound for Kure, B SAN DIEGO MARU, transporting crude oil bound for Tokuyama, A OGURA MARU No. 1 transporting crude oil bound for Iwakuni, B NITTETSU MARU carrying 150 passengers and transporting crude oil bound for Shimotsu, B YAMASACHI MARU transporting crude oil bound for Kudamatsu, B TAKETSU MARU carrying 23 passengers and transporting crude oil bound for Anagasaki, A HINODE MARU transporting miscellaneaous goods bound for Niihama, A MANILA MARU carrying 83 passengers bound for Moji, B MANKO MARU carrying 290 passengers bound for Sasebo, C BELGIUM MARU transporting rice bound for Kobe, A KOAN MARU transporting ore bound for Moji, A SORACHI MARU transporting sugar bound for Kobe, A TACHIBANA MARU transporting crude oil bound for Shimotsu, A KOHO MARU transporting sugar bound for Moji, cable layer TOYO MARU joining from Kirun bound for Nagasaki, A TARUYASU MARU transporting bauxite bound for Osaka, A KENWA MARU carrying 578 passengers bound for Moji, KENZUI MARU transporting rice bound for Osaka, A BRAZIL MARU carrying 600 passengers bound for Moji, C SINNO MARU (ex SHINNO MARU, ex BIRMA) transporting sugar bound for Osaka, B ASAHISAN MARU carrying 50 passengers and transporting bauxite bound for Miike, A KENNICHI MARU transporting bauxite bound for Moji, B UNKAI MARU No. 12 transporting bauxite bound for Wakamatsu, C TEIKA MARU ( ex French CAP VARELLA) carrying 400 passengers joyning from Kirun bound for Moji.
3 Sancho Point, Formosa (now Taiwan), Ishigaki, Miyako, north Okinawa, Amami Oshima, south Yakushima, Kyushu west coast, Aizakino Seto, Ito Suido.
4 16th 25°18'N, 121°22'E 24°50'N, 124°20'E 25°30'N, 127°18'E 27°40'N, 129°16'E 30°15'N, 130°05'E 32°50'N, 129°06'E.
5 TEIKO MARU and TOYO MARU join on the 16th at 270° and 5 nautical miles. MANKO, ASAHISAN and TOYO MARUs detach on the 21th at 0430 south of Amakusa Island. Scheduled to arrive at 1000 at Sasebo, 1200 at Miike and 1200 at Nagasaki.

15 March 1944:
At 1200, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Takao for Moji in convoy TAMO-11 also consisting of IJA oiler TACHIBANA MARU, IJN oilers NITTETSU, SAN DIEGO, TAKETSU (BUTSU) and YAMASACHI MARUs, IJN transports TAITO, and MANKO MARUs, IJA transports ASAHI , BELGIUM, BRAZIL, HINODE, KENWA, KENNICHI, KOAN (4305 GRT), KOHO, MANILA and SORACHI MARUs, IJN transports ASAHISAN, TARUYASU (ex-British TALTHYBIUS) and SHINNO MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 12 and civilian cargo ships KENZUI and MUTSU (520 GRT) MARU escorted by destroyers SHIGURE, SHIRANUI and NOKAZE, minesweeper W-17 and subchasers CH-37 and CH-38.
16 March 1944:
At 1600, IJA transport TOYO (2704 GRT) MARU and civilian transport TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA) MARU join the convoy from Keelung (Kirun).
21 March 1944:
At 0430, IJN transports MANKO, ASAHI and TOYO MARUs are detached from the convoy. At 1200, that part of the convoy arrives at Nagasaki.
22 March 1944:
IJN transports ASAHISAN and UNKAI MARU No. 12 and IJA transport KOAN MARU are detached for Karatsu Wan (Bay). Later that day the rest of the convoy arrives at Moji.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Iwakuni.
27 March 1944:
Departs Iwakuni.
28 March 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
4 April 1944:
Departs Moji. Arrives at Mutsure later this day. Departs Mutsure later that day in convoy MOTA-16. Arrives at Imari Bay later this same day.
Patrol boat PB-38, IJN oilers NITTETSU, TAKETSU and YAMASACHI MARUs join the convoy.
5 April 1944:
At 0240, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Imari Bay for Takao in convoy MOTA-16 also consisting of TIJA oilers TACHIBANA and THENSHIN MARUS, IJN oilers NITTETSU, TAKETSU and YAMASACHI MARUs, civilian oiler MITSU MARU, IJA transport SHIROHAMA (SHIRAHAMA), transports HIROTA, SHONAN (ex Singapore) and TOSHO MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18. Arrives at Raro Retto, Chosen (now Raro Island, South Korea) later this day. 6 April 1944:
Departs Raro Island.
8 April 1944:
Arrives at Raffles Island (Sijiao Island or Ssu-chiao Shan), China. IJA transport CHOZAN MARU (3,938 GRT,’40) joins the convoy.
10 April 1944:
At 0700 IJA transport CHOZAN MARU detaches of Hakusako point (Pakusa point or Cape Baisha Jia), Formosa (now Taiwan) and heads towards Kirun.
11 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao.

15 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao. Later that same day at 1244, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs in convoy TAMA-16 also consisting of IJA oilers TACHIBANA MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, IJN oilers HAKUBASAN, MATSUMOTO, NITTETSU, TAKETSU and YAMASACHI MARUs, fleet oiler ASHIZURI, IJA transports SHIROHAMA and SORACHI MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3, civilian transport OMINE MARU, transports BIZEN, SHONAN (ex SINGAPORE) and TOSHO MARUs and possibly civilian transport JOGU MARU escorted by destroyers HASU patrol boat PB-38, torpedo boat SAGI, and auxiliary mine sweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
16 April 1944:
At 0930, destroyer HASU and auxiliary mine-sweeper TAKUNAN MARU No.3 finish escort duty and are detached.
17 April 1944:
At 0725, torpedo boat HAYABUSA joins as an additional escort. At 1550, auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU and special sub-chaser CHa-39 join as additional escorts.
18 April 1944:
HASU and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 having detached arrive back at Takao.
19 April 1944:
At 1312 arrives at Manila.
22 April 1944:
At 0615, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Manila in convoy MI-02 (outward) also consisting of of IJA oilers TACHIBANA MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, IJN oilers HAKUBASAN, MATSUMOTO, NITTETSU, TAKETSU and YAMASACHI MARUs and fleet oiler ASHIZURI escorted by torpedo boat SAGI. At 1040, patrol boat PB-38 joins as an additional escort.
23 April 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Pagdanan Bay, Palawan.
24 April 1944:
At 0720, departs Pagdanan Bay.
25 April 1944:
At 1200, ASHIZURI is detached from convoy MI-02 and proceeds independently toward Tarakan. After departure of fleet oiler ASHIZURI OGURA MARU No. 1 is leading the convoy. At 1925, the convoy arrives at Marudu Bay, North Borneo.
26 April 1944:
At 0800, departs Marudu Bay. At 0900 patrol boat PB-38 ends her patrol at the mouth of the Bay and joins the convoy. At 1600 PB-38 detaches from the convoy. At 1755, the convoy arrives at Jesselton, Borneo.
27 April 1944:
At 0915, departs Jesselton. At 0930 PB-38 rejoins the convoy.
28 April 1944:
At 0045, arrives Brunei Bay, Borneo. Later that day, arrives at Miri at 1325.
4 May 1944:
At 1030, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Miri, Borneo for Moji in convoy MI-02 (return) also consisting of of IJA oilers SHINCHO, TACHIBANA and TENSHIN MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, IJN oilers HAKUBASAN, MATSUMOTO, NISSHIN, NITTETSU, TAKETSU and YAMASACHI MARUs, IJA transports AKAGISAN, KENSEI, TAIHEI and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU escorted by kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI and patrol boat PB-38. At 2100 the convoy arrives and anchors at Imuruan Bay. PB-38 patrols the mouth of the bay.
5 May 1944:
At 0530, departs Imuruan Bay, Palawan, Philippines. PB-38 rejoins the convoy.
6 May 1944:
SW of Balabac Island. At 0801, LtCdr (later Captain) Francis D. Walker Jr's (USNA’35) USS CREVALLE (SS-291) fires torpedoes at IJN oiler NISSHIN MARU. Three hit aft and heavy flooding begins. At 0810, she sinks at 07-19N, 116-52. At 16,801-tons, she was the largest ship in the convoy. 15 crewmen are KIA but the fate of her 291 passengers is unknown. The escorts counter-attack and drop 13 DCs, but without success.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Saint Paul Bay, Palawan.
8 May 1944:
Departs Saint Paul Bay.
10 May 1944:
At 1330, the convoy arrives at Manila. IJA oiler TENSHIN MARU, IJA transports AKAGISAN, KENSEI, TAIHEI and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU are detached. Civilian transport SEIYO MARU joins the convoy. Auxiliary gunboats PEKING and CHOJUSAN MARUs join the escort.
13 May 1944:
At 0552, the convoy departs Manila for Takao.
15 May 1944:
At 1515, an unidentified auxiliary subchaser joins the escort.
16 May 1944:
At 1530, patrol boat PB-38 detaches. At 1705, the convoy arrives at Takao. IJN oilers HAKUBASAN and MATSUMOTO MARUs, civilian transport SEIYO MARU and auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU are detached.
17 May 1944:
At 1527, convoy MI-02 departs Takao.
18 May 1944:
At 1520, the convoy arrives at Kirun (Keelung). Passenger/cargo ship KAMO MARU, auxiliary water tanker CHOSAN (ASAYAMA) MARU and patrol boat CHIKUZEN MARU join along with second class destroyer HASU.
20 May 1944:
Arrives at Raffles Island. Departs later that day.
23 May 1944:
At 1700, convoy MI-02 arrives at Moji.
25 May 1944:
Arrives at Iwakuni. Departs later this day.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Yokohama.
13 June 1944:
Owner Ogura Sekiyu K. K. merges with Nippon Oil of Tokyo.
26 June 1944:
Departs Yokohama.
30 June 1944:
Arrives at Iwakuni.
6 July 1944:
Departs Iwakuni.
7 Jully 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
12 July 1944:
At 1500, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-11 also consisting of IJA transports DAKAR, EIKYU, ENOSHIMA, FUKUJU, FUSO (formerly hospital ship), TEIRITSU (ex French LECONTE DE LISLE) and YOSHINO (formerly hospital ship) MARUs, IJN transports HACHIJIN, MANKO, and MIHO MARUs, IJN stores ship BANSHU MARU No. 16, IJN oilers AYAYUKI, and TAKETOYO MARUs, IJA oiler AYAGKUMO MARU, civilian oilers KOEI, SHICHIYO, and ZUIYO MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan SHIMUSHU, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
14 July 1944:
Minesweepers W-38 and W-39 join the convoy escort.
21 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao, Formosa.
29 July 1944:
At 0500, reorganized convoy MI-11 departs Takao for Miri now also consisting of IJA transports DAKAR, EIKYU, ENOSHIMA, FUKUJO, FUSO, TEIRITSU and YOSHINO MARUs, IJN transports HACHIJIN, MANKO and MIHO MARUs, IJA oiler AYAKUMO MARU, IJN oilers AYAYUKI and TAKETOYO MARUs, civilian oiler KOEI, and SHICHIYO MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan SHIMUSHU, minesweepers W-28 and W-39, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
31 July 1944: :
Luzon Strait. A wolfpack patrols the Strait under Captain (later Rear Admiral) Lewis S. Parks (USNA’25) consisting of LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH/COMSUBLANT) Lawson P. Ramage's (USNA’31) USS PARCHE (SS-384)(F), LtCdr (later Captain) David L. Whelchel's (USNA’30) USS STEELHEAD (SS-280) and LtCdr John C. Martin's (USNA’34) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364).
280 miles NNW of Cape Mayraira, Luzon. At 0332, LtCdr Ramage's USS PARCHE torpedoes and sinks civilian tanker KOEI MARU carrying 1,050 Army troops. Nine crewmen and about 150 soldiers are KIA. About the same time, OGURA MARU No. 1 is hit forward by one or possibly two torpedoes. She slows, but does not sink.
At 0340, Ramage torpedoes and sinks IJA transport (ex-hospital ship) YOSHINO MARU. She carries down 2,442 soldiers, 18 naval gunners and 35 sailors and a cargo of ammunition. At 0420, Whelchel's USS STEELHEAD torpedoes IJA transport DAKAR MARU, but she does not sink. At 0455, Whelchel torpedoes and sinks IJA transport (ex-hospital ship) FUSO MARU. She takes down 1,384 troops and crewmen and a cargo of 36 railway carriages and 1,120-tons of other military supplies. At 0514, Ramage's USS PARCHE torpedoes and sinks IJN transport MANKO MARU. She carries down several hundred naval personnel and crewmen and a cargo of ammunition.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Lapog (San Juan) Bay, Philippines.
3 August 1944:
Departs Lapog Bay. At 1730, the remainder of MI-11, less OGURA MARU No. 1, arrives at Manila.
4 August 1944:
Off Luzon. At 0711, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's (USNA’37) submerged USS RATON (SS-270) sights a ship at 15,000 yards hugging the coast on a southerly course from Cape Bolinao. The ship is identified as a large tanker, probably a cripple, making less than 5 knots escorted by a small maru, probably one of the auxiliary gunboats. At 0738, USS RATON's crew also sights a Japanese plane circling overhead. Shea continues to tracks the tanker. At 1002, he fires a spread of four torpedoes and gets one hit on OGURA MARU No. 1 at 16-01N, 119-43E and then goes deep. The plane drops four bombs and a marker flare. At 1048, USS RATON comes to periscope depth and Shea sees OGURA MARU No. 1 down by the stern and listing to starboard about 15 degrees.The escorting maru drops one depth charge, but USS RATON evades. Arrives at Santa Cruz, Philippines. OGURA MARU No. 1 takes refuge at Santa Cruz.
5 August 1944:
Departs Santa Cruz.
6 August 1944:
Arrives at Corregidor, Philippines.
7 August 1944:
Departs Corregidor. Arrives at Manila later this day.
10 September 1944:
Departs Manila.
12 September 1944:
Arrives at Mariveles, Philippines.
13 September 1944:
Departs Mariveles. Arrives at Subic Bay, Philippines later that day.
18 September 1944:
Departs Subic Bay. Arrives at Manila later this day.
August - September 1944:
Undergoes torpedo damage repairs at an unknown location, possibly Cavite.
19 September 1944:
At 0800, OGURA MARU No. 1 departs Manila for Cebu, Philippines in convoy MATA-27 also consisting of IJA transports HOFUKU, SURAKARUTA and YUKI MARU, civilian oiler SHICHIYO MARU and civilian transport NANSEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan SADO, CD-1, CD-3, CD-5, CD-7, minelayer ENOSHIMA and auxiliary cable layer OSEI MARU. That evening the convoy arrives and anchors at Subic Bay.
21 September 1944:
Departs Subic Bay. At 1028, N of Masinloc Sea, about 40 carrier-based aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s (USNA’10) Task Force 38 attack the convoy and sink HOFUKU MARU taking down 11 crewmen and 150 passengers.
At 1056, a second raid begins. About 1130, OGURA MARU No. 1 is bombed and later abandoned. Five crewmen are KIA. The wreck drifts ashore off the coast of San Marcellino.
March-April 1945:
The wreck is used as a skip bombing practice target for B 25's of the 345th BG. During these attacks the wreck catches fire and is burnt out.

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] 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] Returned to her owners at an unknown date.
[4]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.
Thanks go to Gilbert Casse of France and Ralph Lotito of USA. Thanks also go to Mr. Gengoro Toda of Japan.
- Bob Hackett, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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