Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(OKUYO MARU, prewar)

IJN OKUYO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2024 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

17 September 1937:
Yokohama. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. shipyard as a 2,904-tons cargo ship for Toyo Kisen K.K.
15 January 1938:
Launched and named OKUYO MARU.
25 February 1938:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 2,904-tons and 1,677-tons. Her call sign is JDIM. [1]
28 May 1938:
Requisitioned by the IJA. Allotted transport number: IJA transport No. 514.
19 August 1941:
Released to her owners. Requisitioned again that same day by the IJN.
29 August 1941:
Osaka. Conversion for military duty begins at Osaka Iron Works, Sakurajima shipyard.
5 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Maizuru Naval District under ordinance No. 1025. Rated as an auxiliary gunboat engaged in minelaying under ordinance No. 1026. Navy LtCdr. Ishikawa Mutsuo (60) is appointed CO.
8 September 1941:
Undocked.
8 October 1941:
Conversion for military duty is completed.
15 October 1941:
Attached to the Second Gunboat Division under instruction No. 1250. Assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake’s (35), Second Fleet, Second Base Force, Second Gunboat Division.
4 December 1941:
At 1600, departs Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa with auxiliary gunboats MANYO and TAIKO MARUs escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary netlayers SEIAN and SUMANOURA MARUs, auxiliary minelayer SHINKO MARU and auxiliary transport IMIZU MARU.
5 December 1941:
At 25-31N, 124-16E due to stormy weather, lashing of an unidentified auxiliary transport is cut and falls into the sea.
6 December 1941:
Auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU searches for unidentified auxiliary transports but is unable to find them.
7 December 1941:
At 1030, arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
8 December 1941:
Departs Kirun on port entrance patrol.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Kirun.
15 December 1941:
Departs Kirun on port entrance patrol.
16 December 1941:
Arrives at Kirun.
16 ~ 17 December 1941:
Rated as 3rd escort unit under Kojima escort unit order No. 1.
17 December 1941: Operation "M" (M Sakusen) -The Invasion of the Northern Philippines:
Japanese main invasion at Lingayen Gulf consists of three transport echelons. The first is composed of 27 transports from Takao under Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hara Kenzaburo (37), the second of 28 transports under Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura (39) and the third under Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto (39). This force of 76 transports carries main part of LtGen Homma Masaharu's 80,000-man 14th Army.
At 0900 departs Kirun escorting the third transport echelon.
20 December 1941:
At 0540, joins the first and second escort units.
22 December 1941:
Arrives at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. Lays mines in the second mine field.
23 December 1941:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat.
25 December 1941:
Lays mines in Santo Thomas Bay, Philippines.
26 December 1941:
Departs Lingayen with auxiliary gunboats TAIKO, KAMITSU and MANYO MARUs escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary water tanker KOAN MARU, auxiliary stores ship SENDAI MARU, auxiliary collier/oiler YODOGAWA MARU and 10 unidentified merchant ships.
28 December 1941:
At 1810, arrives outside of Takao port, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
29 December 1941:
Arrives in the harbor. Loads mines.
30 December 1941:
Loads mines.
31 December 1941:
Loads grain and fresh food.
1 January 1942:
At 0800, departs Takao with auxiliary gunboats MANYO, TAIKO and KAMITSU MARUs escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary water tankers ASAYAMA and KOAN MARUs, auxiliary stores ships SENDAI and KOSEI MARUs, auxiliary netlayer KIKU MARU, auxiliary collier/oiler YODOGAWA MARU and auxiliary transport KUREHA MARU No. 6.
3 January 1942:
At 2039, arrives with the convoy at Camiguin Island, Philippines.
4 January 1942:
At 0000, departs Camiguin Island with the convoy.
8 January 1941:
Arrives with the convoy at Davao, Mindanao, Philippines.
9 January 1942:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat. Later this day, lies alongside auxiliary collier/oiler KOSEI MARU and loads coal.
10 January 1942:
Departs Davao on a patrol in area No. 3.
11 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Embarks 91 members of the Third Munitions Department. Departs Davao later this day.
13 January 1942:
Arrives at Jolo, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines. The 91 members of the Third Munitions Department disembark.
14 January 1942:
Embarks workers of the Third Quartermaster Department and takes on board 42 urns containing human ashes. Departs Jolo later that day.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Unloads the 42 urns with human ashes.
17 January 1942:
Departs Davao on an anti-submarine sweep near Samar Island, Philippines.
21 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Supplied with fresh food by auxiliary stores ship KOSEI MARU.
22 January 1942:
Lies alongside auxiliary minelayer TATSUHARU MARU and resupplies coal.
25 January 1942:
Supplied with food by the Third Munitions Department.
30 January 1942:
Auxiliary collier/oiler KOSEI MARU comes alongside and supplies coal.
31 January 1942:
Lies alongside auxiliary water tanker ASAYAMA MARU and replenishes fresh water.
1 February 1942:
Supplied with fresh food by auxiliary stores ship KOSEI MARU.
2 February 1942:
Begins unloading mines.
3 February 1942:
Completes unloading mines. Departs Davao escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary transports NANIWA and TENRYU MARUs later this day.
4 February 1942:
Assigned to the Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia.) Guard Force.
5 February 1942:
Arrives at Banka harbor, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies.
12 February 1942:
At 1320, departs Banka harbor escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary transports TENRYU and NANIWA MARUs.
13 February 1942:
Joins destroyer AMATSUKAZE, auxiliary collier/oiler KOSEI MARU, auxiliary water tanker ASAYAMA MARU and auxiliary transports TENRYU and NANIWA MARUs.
14 February 1942:
At 1200, arrives at Ambon, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
22 February 1942:
Departs Ambon escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary water tanker ASAYAMA MARU and auxiliary transports TENRYU MARU.
25 February 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Resupplies food.
26 February 1942:
Auxiliary collier/oiler SOYO MARU comes alongside and supplies coal and fresh water. At 1230, departs Davao escorting auxiliary oiler OGURA MARU No. 2.
3 March 1942:
At 0322, an enemy submarine is detected and attacked by OKUYO MARU with gunfire (main guns’ fire 2 shots) and drops 4 depth charges without causing apparent damage. At 1330, arrives at Macassar, Celebes.
4 March 1942:
Alongside the shore. Resupplies fresh water.
6 March 1942:
Departs Macassar for her patrol area.
7 March 1942:
Arrives at Macassar.
8 March 1942:
Alongside general requisitioned transport (B-AK) CHOKO MARU (40’, 842 GRT) and supplied with weapons. Auxiliary seaplane/carrier tender NOTORO supplies weapons equipment. Embarks 11 members of the Third Fleet seaplane reconnaissance aircraft.
9 March 1942:
Embarks one passenger. Departs Macassar later that day.
10 March 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia). Attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (36) Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet, Second Gunboat Division.
11 March 1942:
Auxiliary stores ship SENDAI MARU supplies fresh food. One passenger disembarks and unloads cargo later in the day.
12 March 1942:
Anchors. Unloads cargo and resupplies food.
13 March 1942:
Embarks one passenger and loads various cargo. Departs Balikpapan later this day.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Disembarks one passenger and unloads various cargo.
15 March 1942:
Assigned to the New Guinea invasion force under Dutch East Indies Campaign Instruction No. 132.
16 March 1942:
Auxiliary stores ship BANSHU MARU No. 2 supplies fresh food.
17 March 1942:
Alongside the shore. Begins loading coal and fresh water.
18 March 1942:
Completes loading coal and fresh water. Assigned to the auxiliary task force by auxiliary gunboat TAIKO MARU.
21 March 1942:
Auxiliary transport SENKO MARU supplies 4 depth charges.
22 March 1942:
Departs Macassar with auxiliary gunboats MANYO and TAIKO MARUs.
24 March 1942:
Arrives at Ambon.
25 March 1942:
Ship suffers light damage during an air raid on Ambon.
27 March 1942:
Alongside stores ship HAKUREI MARU and resupplies fresh food.
28 March 1942:
Loads weapons and ammunition. Embarks 75 SNLF marines.
29 March 1942:
Loads marines’ equipment, cargo and food. Embarks 200 marines.
31 March 1942:
Departs Ambon and arrives at Boela, Ceram, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Released from the New Guinea invasion force and put under command of 24th Special Base Force’s CO. Disembarks the marines. Departs Boela later this day.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Kupang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Disembarks land squadrons, unloads weapons and cargo.
6 April 1942:
Takes on board urns containing human ashes. Departs Kupang later that day.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Unloads the urns containing human ashes. Auxiliary stores ship KOSEI MARU resupplies fresh food.
8 April 1942:
Auxiliary collier/oiler YODOGAWA MARU comes alongside and supplies coal.
9 April 1942:
Supply ship IRAKO supplies canteen goods and food. Thereafter, tethers to a quay and resupplies fresh water.
10 April 1942:
Loads supplementary goods and war supplies.
11 April 1942:
Departs Macassar.
12 April 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
13 April 1942:
Embarks passengers and loads gun turret equipment.
14 April 1942:
Loads main gun ammunition. Departs Balikpapan later that day.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Lingayen Gulf near San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines. Disembarks 50 passengers.
21 April 1942:
Supplies fresh water to auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU. Departs Lingayen Gulf later this day.
23 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao. Begins loading coal and returns clothes .
24 April 1942:
Loads supplementary goods, fresh food, canteen goods and consignment goods.
25 April 1942:
Loads mail. Completes loading coal and fresh water.
25 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
27 April 1942:
Arrives at Lingayen Gulf near Santo Tomas, Luzon, Philippines. Loads base equipment and embarks 122 people.
28 April 1942:
Departs Lingayen Gulf.
3 May 1942:
Disposes of two floating mines near Banka Harbor.
5 May 1942:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia). Disembarks passengers and unloads base equipment.
7 May 1942:
Departs Kendari.
9 May 1942:
Arrives at Kupang. Auxiliary stores ship BANSHU MARU No. 2 supplies fresh food. Begins unloading AA gun equipment and disembarks AA gun personnel.
10 May 1942:
Completes unloading AA gun equipment. Departs Kupang later this day.
11 May 1942:
Arrives at Dili, Portuguese Timor. Loads First Corps base equipment and embarks 224 First Corps base members.
13 May 1942:
Departs Dili.
15 May 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Unloads First Corps base equipment and disembarks 224 first Corps Base members
16 May 1942:
Resupplies food.
17 May 1942:
Begins resupplying coal and resupplies food.
19 May 1942:
Completes loading coal.
20 May 1942:
Loads 6th Construction Team equipment, food and embarks 149 6th Construction Team members. Departs Macassar escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2. Later that same day auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 detaches and returns to Macassar.
25 May 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Attached to the East Indies Forces 24th Special Base Force. Lies alongside fuel pier. Disembarks 6th Construction Team members and unloads their equipment.
26 ~ 28 May 1942:
Loads aircraft weapons, fuel and cargo.
29 May 1942:
Loads consignment goods. Departs Davao later this day.
1 June 1942:
Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 arrives and begins escorting.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Moors alongside a quay. Begins unloading her cargo.
3 June 1942:
Completes unloading cargo.
4 June 1942:
Begins loading coal and fresh water.
5 June 1942:
Completes loading coal and fresh water. Loads food and embarks one passenger.
6 June 1942:
Departs Macassar with fleet oiler HAYATOMO escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2.
8 June 1942:
Off Kendari coast, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 ends escort and detaches. At 0500, arrives with fleet oiler HAYATOMO at Kendari.
9 June 1942:
Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 arrives at Kendari.
10 June 1942:
Arrives at Menado, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia). Disembarks 24 passengers and unloads consignment goods, canteen goods, etc.
11 June 1942:
Loads 6th Construction Team equipment, food and embarks a 6th Construction Team member.
12 June 1942:
Departs Menado.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Disembarks the 6th Construction Team member and begins unloading 6th Construction Team equipment.
14 June 1942:
Completes unloading 6th Construction Team equipment.
15 June 1942:
Departs Davao.
16 June 1942:
Arrives at Menado.
17 June 1942:
Loads Third Corps equipment and embarks 259 Third Corps members. Departs Menado later that day.
19 June 1942:
Arrives at Davao. Unloads Third Corps equipment and disembarks 259 Third Corps members. Loads coal.
21 June 1942:
Loads stored products, fresh food, canteen goods, consignment goods and war supplies. Embarks 160 members of the 3rd Construction Team and 10 passengers. Departs Davao later this day.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Menado. Disembarks 160 3rd Construction Team members and unloads Third Construction Team equipment. Departs Menado later that day.
24 June 1942:
Subchaser CH-21 arrives and begins escorting.
25 June 1942:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia). Unloads weapons and canteen goods.
26 June 1942:
Departs Kendari.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Ambon. Disembarks 10 passengers.
28 June 1942:
Loads coal and fresh water.
30 June 1942:
Loads coal and fresh water.
1 July 1942:
Loads food.
2 July 1942:
Departs Ambon.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Ternate, Ternate Island, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
4 July 1942:
Departs Ternate. Arrives at Halmahera (also known as Gilolo. Jailolo or Jilolo), Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) later this day.
5 July 1942:
Departs Halmahera. Arrives at Wayaboela (Wayabula), Morotai, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) later that day.
6 July 1942:
Departs Wayaboela. Arrives at Tobelo, Halmahera, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) later this day.
7 July 1942:
Departs Tobelo. Arrives at Kau, Halmahera later that day.
8 July 1942:
Departs Kau.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Weda, Halmahera. Departs later this day.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Labuha, Bacan, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Departs there later that day.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Ternate. Loads food.
12 July 1942:
Departs Ternate.
13 July 1942:
Arrives at Ambon.
14 July 1942:
Lies alongside the coal pier. Begins loading coal and fresh water.
15 July 1942:
Completes loading coal and fresh water. Loads food, consignment goods and food for various possessions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Embarks 19 staff members of Sera’s Ministry of Civil Affairs.
16 July 1942:
Departs Ambon.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Fakfak, New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
18 July 1942:
Departs Fakfak.
19 July 1942:
Arrives at Babo, New Guinea. Departs there later this day.
20 July 1942:
Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 arrives and begins escorting.
21 July 1942:
Arrives at Ambon. Moors alongside the customs pier. Loads fresh water. Disembarks the Civil Affairs Staff. Unloads consignment goods and various cargo.
Assigned to Operation “T” (the capture of the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) Tanimbar Islands , Aru Islands, and Kei Islands also known as Banda Sea Operation) as a transport unit.
22 July 1942:
Lies alongside the coal pier. Begins loading coal.
23 July 1942:
Completes loading coal. Loads food.
24 July 1942:
Embarks part of the Second Attack Force assault troops consisting of 115 marines of the No. 3 Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) and 50 marines of 24th Special Base Force. Loads weapons and ammunition and two landing craft. Departs Ambon later that day in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hatakeyama Kouichiro’s (39) (former CO of KINUGASA) Second Attack Force.
25 July 1942:
Arrives at Waigama, Misool Island, Raja Ampat Islands, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
27 July 1942:
Supplies coal and fresh water to minesweepers W-8 and W-16.
28 July 1942:
At 0630, Land Squadron transfers weapons and ammunition to minesweepers W-8 and W-16. At 0800, departs to start operations.
29 July 1942:
At 2130, at NW Noehoe Tjoet (Great Kei/Kai, Kei/Kai Besar) Island , Kai Islands, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) hands over two landing craft to minesweepers W-8 and W-16. At 2200, turns around.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Waigama.
1 August 1942:
Assigned to the Eastern Security Unit.
2 August 1942:
Departs Waigama.
4 August 1942:
Arrives at Babo. Loads drums and embarks 39 Babo dispatch workers. Departs there later that day.
5 August 1942:
Arrives at Kokas, New Guinea (now Kokas Kota, New Gunea, Indonesia). Begins cleaning boiler No. 1 inner side.
6 August 1942:
Begins loading wood. Disembarks the 39 Babo dispatch workers.
10 August 1942:
Completes cleaning boiler No. 1 inner side.
11 August 1942:
Completes loading wood. Departs Kokas later this day. Later turns around and heads back to Kokas.
12 August 1942:
Arrives at Kokas.
13 August 1942:
Departs Kokas. Arrives at Patipi Bay, New Guinea later that day.
14 August 1942:
Departs Patipi Bay.
15 August 1942:
Arrives at Waigama.
16 August 1942:
Departs Waigama.
17 August 1942:
Engages in anti-submarine warfare. Drops 7 depth charges. Arrives at Ambon later this day. Moors alongside the coal pier. Begins loading fresh water, unloading wood and cleaning boiler No. 2 inner side.
18 August 1942:
Completes loading fresh water. Begins loading coal. Receives instruction No. 10375 for an additional 12cm binoculars.
19 August 1942:
Completes loading coal.
20 August 1942:
Loads food.
21 August 1942:
Completes unloading wood.
23 August 1942:
Completes cleaning boiler No. 2 inner side. Loads Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kakuta Kakuji’s (39) 2nd Carrier Squadron Bombs, weapons, building materials and food.
24 August 1942:
Loads food and embarks 16 passengers.
25 August 1942:
Departs Ambon escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Kendari.
27 August 1942:
Begins unloading 2nd Carrier Squadron Bombs, weapons, building materials and food. Disembarks one passenger.
28 August 1942:
Completes unloading 2nd Carrier Squadron Bombs, weapons, building materials and food and disembarks 15 passengers. Departs Kendari escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2.
4 September 1942:
Arrives at Keppel (Singapore commercial port).
5 September 1942:
Moors alongside a quay.
8 September 1942:
Enters shipyard No. 4 drydock and later this day, transfers to 101th work department shipyard No. 2 drydock.
14 September 1942:
Loads fresh and stored food.
15 September 1942:
Loads canteen goods. Undocked and moors alongside a quay. Loads fresh water.
16 September 1942:
Anchors. Begins loading coal.
17 September 1942:
Completes loading coal. Loads canteen goods and war supplies.
19 September 1942:
Embarks 10 passengers. Departs Singapore later this day.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
24 September 1942:
Begins loading fuel and munitions.
25 September 1942:
Loads fresh water.
26 September 1942:
Completes loading fuel and munitions. Embarks 44 passengers. Departs Surabaya later that day.
27 September 1942:
Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 arrives from Macassar and begins escorting.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Unloads consignment goods, and begins loading of coal and fresh water.
29 September 1942:
Completes loading coal and fresh water. Loads consignment goods and fresh food.
30 September 1942:
Loads cargo and embarks 49 passengers. Departs Macassar escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 later this day.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Kendari. Disembarks 56 passengers and begins unloading of consignment goods.
3 October 1942:
Completes unloading of consignment goods.
4 October 1942:
Transfers 37 passengers to torpedo boat TOMOZURU. Departs Kendari later this day.
6 October 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Loads consignment goods and a landing craft with a four people capacity. Embarks 35 dispatch workers of the Twenty-third Special Base Force and two marines of the First Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF).
7 October 1942:
At 0900, departs Macassar escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 and SHONAN MARU No. 2.
8 October 1942:
At 1420, arrives at Ampenan, Mataram, Lombok, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Unloads consignment good and disembarks 35 Twenty-third Special Base Force dispatch workers. Embarks 49 marines of the First Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF).
9 October 1942:
Departs Ampenan still escorted by auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 1 and SHONAN MARU No. 2 and arrives at Den Pasar, Bali, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 ends escort. Begins loading First Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) equipment.
10 October 1942:
Completes loading First Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) equipment. Embarks 278 marines of the First Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF). At 2300, departs Den Pasar escorted by minelayer AOTAKA and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1.
12 October 1942:
At 0900, arrives at Macassar. Disembarks Twenty-third Special Base Force dispatch workers and unloads landing craft with a four people capacity. Loads coal and fresh water.
13 October 1942:
Loads coal.
14 October 1942:
Loads fresh food, stored food and consignment goods.
15 October 1942:
Embarks 5 meteorological crew members. Departs Macassar later this day with auxiliary transport SENKO MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1.
17 October 1942:
Detaches from auxiliary transport SENKO MARU and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2, the latter having recently joined. Later this day minelayer HATSUTAKA arrives and begins escorting.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Ambon. Moors next to the customs pier. Begins unloading consignment goods.
19 October 1942:
Completes unloading consignment goods.
20 October 1942:
At 0720, the marines carry out an exercise landing. At 1100, the marines return aboard.
21 October 1942:
At 0720, the marines carry out an exercise landing. At 1100, the marines return aboard.
22 October 1942:
Loads food. Embarks a land squadron and 92 workers. Departs Ambon later this day.
23 October 1942:
Arrives at Bula, Seram, Netherlands East Indies. (now Indonesia). Unloads consignment goods and disembarks 65 marines. Departs Bula later that day.
24 October 1942:
Arrives at Babo. Unloads consignment goods and disembarks 25 passengers.
25 October 1942:
Loads empty drums and embarks four passengers. Departs Babo later this day.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Fakfak. Two passengers disembark, two others come aboard. Loads empty drums.
27 October 1942:
Departs Fakfak and calls at Bula . Disembarks two passengers and embarks 54 soldiers. Departs Bula later that day.
28 October 1942:
Arrives at Ambon. Disembarks 56 passengers.
29 October 1942:
Loads food and canteen goods.
29 ~ 30 October 1942:
Loads equipment for 4 7.7mm MGs (captured items) from the 24th Special Base Force Headquarters.
30 October 1942:
Departs Ambon with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA.
1 November 1942:
At 0700, arrives with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA at Kupang. Embarks 6 members of Twenty-fourth communication corps and begins embarking 241 Army soldiers.
2 November 1942:
Completes embarking 241 Army soldiers. Departs Kupang with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA later that day.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Ambon with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA. Disembarks 6 members of the Twenty-fourth communication corps and 241 Army soldiers. Begins unloading their related equipment.
5 November 1942:
Completes unloading Army soldiers’ equipment.
6 November 1942:
Loads food and consignment goods.
7 November 1942:
At 1000, departs Ambon with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA.
9 November 1942:
At 0800, arrives with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA at Kupang. Embarks 39 Army soldiers. Loads Army soldiers’ equipment. At 1850, departs Kupang with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA.
11 November 1942:
At 1700, arrives at Ambon with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA. Disembarks 38 Army soldiers. Begins disembarking their equipment.
12 November 1942:
Completes disembarking Army soldiers’ equipment. Loads coal and fresh water.
14 November 1942:
Loads cargo and food. Embarks 19 passengers.
15 November 1942:
Embarks 56 passengers. At 1000, departs Ambon with minelayer ISTUKUSHIMA. ITSUKUSHIMA detaches later this day and heads towards Ternate.
16 November 1942:
Arrives at Bula. Disembarks 14 Army soldiers and passengers and unloads transportation equipment.
17 November 1942:
Departs Bula and calls at Fakfak. Disembarks 10 passengers. Embarks 21 passengers and unloads transport equipment. Departs Fakfak later that day.
18 November 1942:
Arrives at Bula. Embarks 59 passengers. Departs there later this day.
19 November 1942:
Arrives at Ambon. Disembarks 80 passengers.
20 November 1942:
Loads food.
22 November 1942:
Departs Ambon.
25 November 1942:
Arrives at Macassar. Loads coal, fresh water, food and transportation equipment.
26 November 1942:
Departs Macassar.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
1 December 1942:
Loads food and canteen goods. Begins loading coal and Army equipment.
2 December 1942:
Completes loading coal and Army equipment.
3 December 1942:
At 1000, departs Singapore escorting a convoy consisting of Army transports TACOMA and DELAGOA MARUs.
6 December 1942:
At 1600, arrives at Surabaya.
7 December 1942:
Loads coal, fresh water and food.
8 December 1942:
Departs Surabaya with minesweeper W-11 and subchaser CH-2 escorting the ‘Oki’ convoy consisting of KOYU, TACOMA, DELAGOA and HEIMEI MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
13 December 1942:
Minesweeper W-11 detaches.
14 December 1942:
Subchaser CH-2 detaches.
15 December 1942:
Subchaser CH-20 joins the convoy and begins escorting.
18 December 1942:
Subchaser CH-18 joins the convoy and begins escorting. Subchaser CH-20 detaches later this day.
22 December 1942:
An unknown submarine attacks the convoy. Drops three type 95 depth charges. Later that day, the convoy arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
24 December 1942:
Auxiliary stores ship MANKO MARU supplies fresh food.
25 December 1942:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat. Moors alongside the Army pier later that day. Unloads equipment and loads canteen goods.
26 December 1942:
Unloads cargo. Engages in anti-aircraft combat later this day.
27 December 1942:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat. Unloads Army unit equipment later that day.
28 December 1942:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat. The Type 93 13mm MG fires 275 rounds, the 7.7mm MG fires 440 rounds and the Type 38 Arisaka rifles fire 300 bullets (these totals include the rounds fired on 25 Dec ‘42). At 1500, departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of KENZAN, HOEISAN, MOMOYAMA, SHIRAHA, KOSO and TACOMA MARUs.
2 January 1943:
At 01-02N, 137-28E detaches from the convoy.
5 January 1943:
Arrives at Ambon. Moors alongside the coal pier.
6 January 1943:
Loads boiler water and coal. Thereafter anchors.
8 January 1943:
Anchors.
11 January 1943:
Lies alongside the coal pier. Loads fresh water and empty drums.
12 January 1943:
Anchors.
13 January 1943:
Becomes a Command gunboat. Auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU transfers command of the gunboat division and gunboat division equipment.
14 January 1943:
At 0700, departs Ambon escorting IJA miscellaneous transport KUNITAMA MARU. At 0755, torpedo boat HATSUKARI and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 join the convoy and begin escorting. At 1600, torpedo boat HATSUKARI detaches.
17 January 1943:
At 0620, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 detaches. Arrives at Macassar at 1400. Moors alongside the coal pier. Begins loading coal.
18 January 1943:
Completes loading coal. Loads fresh water and fresh food.
19 January 1943:
Departs Macassar.
20 January 1943:
Auxiliary KEINAN MARU No. 7 arrives and begins escorting. Arrives at Balikpapan later this day.
21 January 1943:
Lies alongside the first pier. Unloads empty drums. While docking at No. 2 wharf auxiliary oiler ENOSHIMA MARU catches fire. Dispatches a fire fighting party. Together with her crew the fire is quickly extinguished.
22 January 1943:
Begins loading transport equipment.
23 January 1943:
Completes loading transport equipment. Thereafter anchors.
24 January 1943:
Departs Balikpapan. Minesweeper W-16 arrives and begins escorting.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya. Moors alongside the commercial pier. Loads boiler water.
28 January 1943:
Begins loading boiler water, food and transport equipment.
31 January 1943:
Completes loading boiler water, food and transport equipment. Loads food for Army soldiers.
1 February 1943:
At 1000, departs Surabaya with minesweeper W-11 escorting a convoy consisting of TAKAOKA and RASHIN MARUs.
5 February 1943:
At 1605, arrives at Kupang. Disembarks three passengers. Begins unloading cargo.
6 February 1943:
Disembarks 98 passengers. Begins unloading drums.
7 February 1943:
Carries out cargo handling work.
8 February 1943:
Completes unloading cargo and drums.
9 February 1943:
Loads empty drums. Departs Kupang later that day.
12 February 1943:
Arrives at Macassar. Moors alongside the coal pier. Begins loading fresh water.
13 February 1943:
Completes loading fresh water. Thereafter loads coal.
14 February 1943:
Departs Macassar.
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Moors alongside pier No. 1. Begins unloading empty drums.
16 February 1943:
Begins loading coal.
17 February 1943:
Completes unloading empty drums and loading coal.
18 February 1943:
Begins loading 3,000 drums with aviation fuel.
19 February 1943:
Completes loading 3,000 drums with aviation fuel. Thereafter anchors.
20 February 1943:
Departs Balikpapan. At 1400, escort SHONAN MARU No. 2 detaches.
21 February 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
22 February 1943:
Begins loading 1,000 bags containing food and consignment goods.
23 February 1943:
Completes Begins loading 1,000 bags containing food and consignment goods. Loads 3 landing craft.
24 February 1943:
Embarks 162 passengers. Departs Macassar with auxiliary transport YAMABATO MARU and TORA MARU No. 1 escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 later this day. At 1920, test fires the asa shiki MG. At 1945, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 occupies the rear guard position.
25 February 1943:
At 1740, temporarily stays offshore Kendari harbor.
26 February 1943:
Auxiliary transports SENKO MARU and TORA MARU No. 1 depart Kendari. Off Kendari’s coast with auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 2 joins auxiliary transports SENKO MARU and TORA MARU No. 1 and begins escorting them.
27 February 1943:
Arrives at Ambon. Moors alongside the coal pier. Disembarks the passengers and unloads the three landing craft.
28 February 1943:
Begins unloading consignment goods and aviation fuel.
1 March 1943:
Completes unloading consignment goods and aviation fuel. Begins loading coal.
2 March 1943:
Completes loading coal and disembarks six passengers. Thereafter, anchors.
5 March 1943:
Lies alongside the pier and unloads consignment goods.
6 March 1943:
Loads consignment goods. Thereafter, anchors.
7 March 1943:
Loads one landing craft and embarks 50 passengers.
7 March 1943:
Departs Ambon.
8 March 1943:
Arrives at Bula. Unloads consignment goods. Departs there later that day.
9 March 1943:
Arrives at Kayumerah, New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Disembarks one passenger.
10 March 1943:
Unloads consignment goods. Departs Kayumerah escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 17 later this day. At 1200, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 17 detaches.
11 March 1943:
Arrives at Bula. Departs there later that day.
12 March 1943:
Arrives at Ambon. Engages in anti-aircraft combat.
14 March 1943:
Departs Ambon.
15 March 1943:
Arrives at Labuha. Departs there later this day. Arrives at Sambaki Strait. Detached from the Second Gunboat division under ordinance No. 451. Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (39) Southwest Area Fleet in Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet under instruction No. 590-21.
16 March 1943:
Departs Sambaki Strait and arrives at Halmahera later that day. Departs there later.
8 April 1943:
Departs Ambon in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU and auxiliary salvage ship YUSHO MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 5.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya with auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU and auxiliary salvage ship YUSHO MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 5.
1 July 1943:
Lt. Ishikawa Mutsuo (60) is appointed CO.
13 July 1943:
At 0755, departs Balikpapan with minesweeper W-16 escorting a convoy consisting of auxiliary collier/oiler KORYU MARU and auxiliary transports SHOHEI and TARUSHIMA MARUs.
14 July 1943:
At 1830 at 04-01S, 113-23E detaches from convoy with auxiliary transport SHOHEI MARU. Later that day, arrives at Surabaya.
30 August 1943:
Departs Ambon escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 17.
3 September 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 17.
1 November 1943:
Navy LtCdr. Ishikawa Mutsuo (60) is confirmed as CO.
15 November 1943:
Navy LtCdr. Ishikawa Mutsuo (60) is confirmed as CO.
E1 ~ 19 December 1943:
Departs Macassar.
19 December 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
27 December 1943:
Departs Balikpapan for Ambon escorted by auxiliary minesweeper Wa-102, and auxiliary subchaser CHa-112.
29 December 1943:
Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 takes over from CHa-112.
1 January 1944:
Lt.Cdr. B.J. Harral’s (USNA'32) USS RAY (SS-271) patrols Ambon Bay’s mouth. At 0823, two ships are discovered, followed by a third, at 0833. This third ship is thought to be AMBON CHARLIE a Q ship they had been warned for. Its appearance is similar to a merchant but different. It is small and seems to be dressed up to look larger. Harral targets one of the other ships. It tows a landing craft painted red. At 0856, fires his torpedoes. Three of them are hits. OKUYO MARU sinks at 03-51S, 128-04E about 5,4 nautical miles S of Ambon Bay’s mouth with the loss of 131 passengers and four crewmen.
31 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 508.

Authors' Notes:
[1] 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.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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