Japanese Auxiliary Gunboats

KOKAI HOKAN!

(PEKING MARU, prewar)

IJN PEKING MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

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

2 March 1937:
Kobe. Laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe Shipyard as a 2,265-tons passenger/cargo ship for Dairen Kisen K.K.
7 August 1937:
Launched and named PEKING MARU. [1]
28 December 1937:
Ship inspection certificate is issued.
29 December 1937:
Completed and registered at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China). Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 2,265-tons and 1,320-tons. Her call sign is JQLG. [2]
5 April 1939:
Undergoes intermediate inspection.
16 May 1940:
Undergoes intermediate inspection.
5 November 1941:
Ryojun (formerly Port-Arthur), Manchuria (now Lushun, northern China). Conversion to an auxiliary gunboat begins.
18 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
10 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Sasebo Naval District under order No. 1624. Navy (Resv) Lt Tanihara Junzo is appointed CO.
31 December 1941:
Conversion is completed. Attached to Rear Admiral Tashiro Sohei’s (41) Sasebo Guard Force.
13 January 1942:
Departs Ryojun and returns there later that day.
15 January 1942:
Attached to the Sasebo Naval District Unit in Rear Admiral Tashiro Sohei’s (41) Sasebo Local Defense Squadron. Rated as a sea surface defense unit, Sasebo vicinity defense unit under secret Sasebo Naval District Order No. 14. Rated as a Shijiki unit, first patrol unit under secret Sasebo Sea Submarine Defense Force Order No. 31.
17 January 1942:
Departs Ryojun.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
30 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
5 February 1942:
Rated as a Shijiki unit, first patrol unit under secret Sasebo Submarine Defense Force Order No. 32.
7 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
16 February 1942:
Receives Sasebo Naval District wireless order No. 32:
- Sasebo Local Defense Squadron Commander shall use auxiliary gunboats KAZAN, PEKING, TOZAN and UKISHIMA MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 5 to carry out anti-submarine sweeps in the region as instructed.
- This sweep should be conducted in close coordination with 56th Division Direct Escort Unit and Sasebo Naval Air Group.
Assigned to prepare for action for about 5 days to guard the convoy route ahead and assemble at Tomie Bay at 0800, on 17 Feb ‘42 under Sasebo Warfare wireless order No. 34. Carries out an anti-submarine sweep. Arrives at Tomie later in the day.
17 February 1942:
Departs Tomie. Escorts a convoy later this day.
18 February 1942:
At 0638, Torpedoed by Lt.Cdr. W.A. Lent’s USS Triton (SS-201) while heading towards auxiliary gunboat SHINYO MARU No. 5’s sinking location. Sustains no damage. At 0658, carries out an anti-submarine sweep and drops depth charges. At 1227, discovers a periscope at 1.6 nautical miles to starboard at position bearing 280° 70 nautical miles off Me Shima lighthouse, Nanyo-Gunto, Nagasaki Prefecture. At 1230, drops depth charges.
19 February 1942:
Calls at Tomie and departs there. Arrives at Sasebo later that day.
21 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 February ~28 February 1942:
Rated as the 2nd unit, 2nd platoon.
6 March 1942:
Assigned together with auxiliary gunboat UKISHIMA MARU and minelayer HIRASHIMA under Sasebo Naval District Wireless Order No. 41 to escort an Army convoy consisting of FUKKAI, MAYA, RYUZAN, SEIYO, TEIKAI (ex-German FULDA) and TAIKAI MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 and will sail from Mutsure at 0900 on the 12th and arrives at Mako in the evening of the 15th. The convoy carries an air group, a motorized battalion and other personnel totaling approximately 4,500 men. The convoy will sail directly from Mutsure with a speed of 9 knots. It will assemble on the evening of 11 March NNW Mutsure Island. auxiliary gunboat UKISHIMA MARU CO commands escorts ships. Sasebo Defense Squadron vessels should remain in their current positions and be used for indirect escort. Sasebo Naval Air Group CO should dispatch aircraft as necessary to assist in the escort. Departs Sasebo later that same day.
7 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure and departs there later that day on an anti-submarine sweep. Likely then escorts the above named convoy part way (see 6 March entry). KOCHI and OSUMI MARUs are shown in the same convoy.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Karatsu Bay.
15 March 1942:
Departs Karatsu Bay escorting an Army convoy.
19 March 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores and detaches. Escort mission is cancelled under Sasebo secret wireless order No. 346.
20 March 1942:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan) later this day.
23 March 1942:
Departs Takao.
29 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
31 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
6 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 April 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (36) Southwestern Area Fleet, 1st Maritime Escort Squadron. Attached to the First Detachment, Second Platoon. Rated as First Escort Unit.
18 April 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
19 April 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
29 April 1942:
At 1200, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 105 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
30 April 1942:
Detaches.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
7 May 1942:
At 1200, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 109 also consisting of passenger-transport ship TAIYO MARU (ex-German CAP FINISTERRE), transports DOVER and RYUSEI MARUs and MIKAGE MARU No. 3. Hospital Ship YOSHINO MARU also joins the convoy.
8 May 1942:
At 1100, while patrolling in the vicinity, destroyer MINEKAZE and auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU join the convoy as additional escorts. At 1700, MINEKAZE and TOMITSU MARU detach. At 1900, PEKING MARU signals ‘danger of enemy sub appearance, use strict caution, prepare for gun action’. At 1945, at about 92 nautical miles SW Me-Shima LtCdr William A. Lent’s (USNA ‘25) USS GRENADIER (SS-210) torpedoes TAIYO MARU. At 2040, 80 nautical miles off Me-Shima Lighthouse TAIYO MARU sinks with the loss of 660 passengers and 157 crewmen. PEKING MARU sends a distress call and rescues 15 survivors. She carries out an anti-submarine sweep and drops depth charges. After receiving PEKING MARU´s distress call, MINEKAZE and TOMITSU MARU head towards the TAIYO MARU sinking location. Both arrive around 2400 and start rescue work. They rescue 480 survivors. All rescued survivors are disembarked around midday at Nagasaki.
10 May 1942:
At about 0000, MIKAGE MARU No. 3 is detached from the convoy. Fishing ship GENSHIN MARU No. 1 rescues another 48 survivors.
12 May 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
16 May 1942:
At 1200, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 210 consisting of IJA transport KIZAN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
21 May 1942:
At 2100, arrives at Mutsure.
25 May 1942:
Departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 118 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
June 1942:
Rated as First escort unit.
2 June 1942:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 218 consisting of FUKKAI, GENMEI, HITERU, SHINGO, CHIYO, KANTO, SHUNKO and TEIRYU (ex-German AUGSBURG) MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 8. SHINGO MARU is detached at an unknown date for Dairen.
8 June 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
11 June 1942:
Departs Mutsure escorting TOEI and TOYO MARUs and with these, joins convoy No. 123 that departed Ujina earlier this day and consisting of transports CHOWA, RYUSEI, TOMIURA, KANJO and SATSUMA MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
15 June 1942:
At an unknown point, TOEI MARU is detached.
17 June 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
19 June 1942:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 224 consisting of transports KIRIHA, OKITSU, REKIZAN, SHIROGANE and TOYOOKA MARUs and nine unidentified merchant ships.
24 June 1942:
SHIROGANE MARU is detached and heads towards Sasebo. Detaches and arrives at Mutsure later that day. The rest of the convoy arrives at Moji at 1800.
28 June 1942:
At 1200, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 130 consisting of BOKO MARU (ex-British SAGRES) and two unidentified merchant ships.
3 July 1942:
At 1400, arrives at Mako.
5 July 1942:
At 1300, departs Mako with auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU escorting convoy No. 230 consisting of HAKUBASAN, SHOYO, TAIBUN, WAKATSU, SHOGEN, NAGANO, MURORAN, RYUUN, HAMBURG, TAIKA, BRAZIL, NORFOLK, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE) and GINYO MARUs and MIKAGE MARU No. 3 and one unidentified merchant ship.
5 July 1942:
At 0000, off Chikou Yang Auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO meets up with the convoy.
7 July 1942:
Off Shipu, SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO is detached.
10 July 1942:
At 2200, arrives at Mutsure.
16 July 1942:
At 1600, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 139 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
27 July 1942:
At 1400, arrives at Mako.
31 July 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 242 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships. Auxiliary oiler OMUROSAN MARU coming from Takao, joins the convoy later that day.
4 August 1942:
At 0800, arrives at Mutsure.
9 August 1942:
At 1730, departs Mutsure with destroyer KURETAKE escorting convoy No. 147 consisting of CLYDE, ERIE, SHINAI and FUSHIMI MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 8 and three unidentified merchant ships.
13 August 1942:
At 2000, destroyer KURETAKE arrives at Mako.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
18 August 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 251 consisting of KAYO and NISSHU MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
24 August 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 August 1942:
Enters drydock.
6 September 1942:
Undocked. Departs Sasebo and arrives at Mutsure later this day.
10 September 1942:
At 1650, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 161 consisting of IJA tanker HAKKO MARU, cargo ships IIDA (ex-Norwegian HAI PING) and KUNITAMA MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
17 September 1942:
At 1230, arrives at Mako.
21 September 1942:
At 1400, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 265 consisting of MINRYO and NICHIRAN MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
25 September 1942:
At 1200, arrives at Mutsure.
30 September 1942:
At 1700, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 169 consisting of PACIFIC MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
5 October 1942:
At 0800, arrives at Mako.
7 October 1942:
Rated as Third escort unit.
8 October 1942:
At 1700, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 720 consisting of transport TOYAMA MARU only.
11 October 1942:
At 1000, arrives at Manila, Philippines.
14 October 1942:
At 1200, departs Manila escorting convoy No. 818 consisting of SHOUN and TAMAHOKO MARUs. SHOUN MARU is carrying 50 POWs.
17 October 1942:
At 1200, arrives at Mako.
20 October 1942:
Rated as First escort unit.
25 October 1942:
At 1400, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 281 consisting of KYOKUSEI and SHUNTEN MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
5 November 1942:
At 1530, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 183 consisting of auxiliary transport KAISHO MARU and IJA transports OREGON and TAMON MARUs. The ships sail at 9 knots.
10 November 1942:
At 0958, arrives at Mako.
14 November 1942:
At 1400, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 291 consisting of TAKETOYO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships.
20 November 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
23 November 1942:
At 1520, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 192 consisting of small water tanker SHINSUI MARU and four unidentified merchant ships. Later that day, auxiliary transport TATSUWA MARU coming from Miike, probably joins the convoy. The ships sail at 8 knots.
27 November 1942:
Rated as Second escort unit. At 1700, TATSUWA MARU arrives at Takao.
28 November 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
30 November 1942:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 351.
1 December 1942:
Assigned to the Western Detachment.
6 December 1942:
Arrives at St. Jacques, French Indochina. (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
8 December 1942:
At 2000, departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 542 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
11 December 1942:
At 1525, arrives at Singapore.
16 December 1942:
Departs Singapore.
19 December 1942:
Calls at St. Jacques. Departs there and arrives at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) later that day.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
25 December 1942:
At 0800, departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 460 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
2 January 1943:
At 0535, arrives at Takao.
5 January 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later this day. Engine repairs begin.
18 January 1943:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that day.
21 January 1943:
At 1500, departs Takao escorting convoy No. 364 consisting of auxiliary oiler TAKETOYO MARU, Navy shared tanker (B/C-AO) HAKKO MARU, IJA transport RAKUYO MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
26 January 1943:
At 1255, arrives at St. Jacques.
3 February 1943:
At 1400, departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 470 consisting of auxiliary oilers MANJU, SHOYU, SHUNTEN MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 and DURBAN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
10 February 1943:
At 1130, arrives at Mako.
18 February 1943:
At 1300, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 371 consisting of merchant transport TAISHO MARU, IJA oiler OGURA MARU No. 1, auxiliary oiler EIYO MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
23 February 1943:
At 0800, arrives at St. Jacques.
E 24 ~ 27 February 1943:
Departs St. Jacques and arrives at Saigon later that day.
28 February 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
1 March 1943:
At 1900, departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 562 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
4 March 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Singapore.
9 March 1943:
At 1000, departs Singapore escorting combined convoys ‘Rinji’ and No. 673 consisting of auxiliary transports ENJU and NORFOLK MARUs and auxiliary oilers EIYO and TACHIBANA MARUs. 13 March 1943:
Calls at St. Jacques. Departs there and arrives at Saigon later this day.
15 March 1943:
Departs Saigon and calls at St. Jacques. Later this day departs there, escorting convoy No. 480 consisting of IJA tanker HAKUBASAN MARU, auxiliary transports ENJU and MOJI MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
21 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
24 March 1943:
At 1000, departs Takao with torpedo boat HAYABUSA escorting convoy No. 379 consisting of TERUKAWA, HOKKO, HIBI, ROKKO, USSURI, KAYO, MATSUE, NISSHO and ARIMASAN MARUs.
29 March 1943:
At 1100, arrives at St. Jacques. Departs there and arrives at Saigon later that day.
31 March 1943:
Departs Saigon.
1 April 1943:
Assigned to the Western Detachment. Departs St. Jacques escorting convoy D consisting of HOKKO, HIBI, ROKKO, USSURI, KAYO, MATSUE, NISSHO, PEKING (3,011 GRT) MARUs and tanker NANSEI MARU (ex-British PLEIODON).
3 April 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
5 April 1943:
Departs Singapore.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Djakarta, Java, Netherlands East Indies (Batavia, now Jakarta, Java, Indonesia).
12 April 1943:
Departs Djakarta.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies, (now Kalimantan, Indonesia). Attached to the Eastern Detachment.
18 April 1943:
At 1800, departs Balikpapan escorting ‘Tokubetsu’ convoy consisting of auxiliary oiler AKATSUKI MARU.
19 April 1943:
Off Mangkalihat peninsula, Borneo, detaches due to an engine failure. Arrives at unidentified location later that day.
20 April 1943:
Departs unidentified location .
24 April 1943:
At 1215, arrives at Manila.
26 April 1943:
At 0800, departs Manila with destroyer WAKATAKE escorting convoy No. 844 consisting of auxiliary transport KOSEI MARU (3,551 GRT) and two unidentified merchant ships.
28 April 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Takao.
1 May 1943:
At 1100, departs Takao escorting convoy K consisting of auxiliary transport KOSEI MARU, auxiliary oiler SAN DIEGO MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
6 May 1943:
Detaches with KOSEI MARU and arrives at Sasebo later this day. The rest of the convoy heads towards Moji.
9 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Moji later that day.
11 May 1943:
At 1620, departs Moji escorting convoy No. 156 consisting of IJA transport KOHO MARU, auxiliary transports LONDON and NANMAN MARUs, Fleet oiler TSURUMI and four unidentified merchant ships.
15 May 1943:
Detaches with KOHO MARU. Auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU takes over escort of convoy No. 156.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
27 May 1943:
Departs Kirun.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
29 May 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 395 consisting of civilian oiler TAKETSU MARU and one unidentified merchant ship. Attached to the Western Detachment.
4 June 1943:
At 1630, arrives at St. Jacques.
8 June 1943:
At 1900 departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 402 consisting of HIMALAYA, NIKKYU and ATLANTIC MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
14 June 1943:
At 1900, arrives at Takao.
17 June 1943:
At 0900, departs Takao escorting convoy No. 273 consisting of IJN requisitioned transports (B-AK) HIROTA and ATLANTIC MARUs, IJA transports NIKKYU and COLUMBIA MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships. Attached to the Northern Detachment.
21 June 1943:
At 0530, arrives at Moji. ATLANTIC MARU had detached before for Busan, Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea).
28 June 1943:
At 1000, departs Moji escorting convoy No. 171 consisting of KOSO, PANAMA, HEIWA, KOKUEI, USSURI, BATAVIA MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
1 July 1943:
Navy (Resv) Lt Tanihara Junzo is confirmed as CO.
3 July 1943:
At 1730, arrives at Takao.
10 July 1943:
At 1200, departs Takao escorting convoy No. 280 consisting of IJN requisitioned transports (B-AK) HOKUSHO and SHIGANOURA MARUs, Fleet oiler SATA and four unidentified merchant ships. Later that day, IJA transport TAIAN MARU (3,670 GRT) joins the convoy from Kirun.
15 July 1943:
At 1330, arrives at Moji.
18 July 1943:
Receives First Maritime Escort Squadron wireless order No. 198:
1. From 179 (22nd) to 182 (31st): Group 2: Patrol Boat No. 2, Patrol Boat No. 36, Kaibokan MATSUWA, Group 7.
2. Destroyer ASAKAZE on the 19th as a temporary high-speed convoy.
3. (28th) Destroyer SANAE: 285.
(23rd) Group 10: 286.
(26th) Destroyer ASAGAO and Group 6 as a temporary high-speed convoy.
(23rd) Destroyer KURETAKE.
(28th) PEKING MARU and Group 8.
19 July 1943:
Receives secret wireless No. 191618 from the Director of the Sixth Assembly Point:
1. 9 vessels of the 178th convoy, escort ship PEKING MARU, 1600 rounds and 8 speed boats .
2. IJA transport SHINRYU MARU carrying 61 vehicles, 1300 tons of ammunition and other supplies, IJA transport TENCHO MARU carrying 2400-tons of coal and 500-tons of munitions for Manila, IJA transport NIKKI MARU carrying 1 car and 4,000 tons of ammunition for Manila, IJA transport TENSHIN MARU carrying an airship, IJA shared transport (AC-AK) KONEI MARU carrying 2,800 tons of materials for construction teams and 2 landing craft for Singapore, IJA transport TAIJIN MARU carrying 9,000 tons of munitions for Singapore, IJA transport SHOTO MARU bound for Takao carrying 800 troops, 60 cars, 1,000 tons of munitions for Saigon, IJA transport NICHINAN MARU bound for Kirun carrying 2,500 kg miscellaneous goods, 500 kg iron materials and Formosa Governor’s Office NIITAKA MARU [a dredger] bound for Takao carrying 90 kg miscellaneous goods.
3. Iki Island East Channel, Aizaki Seto
31-38N, 129-00E
28-58N, 128-02E
26-00N, 125-38E
25-17N, 124-05E
24-43N, 122-30E
Approach south.
4. 20th 32-36N, 129-02E
21st 30-08N, 128-27E
22nd 27-57N, 127-08E
23rd 26-03N, 125-18E
24th 24-49N, 122-48E
25th 22-47N, 122-48E
5. Arrives Takao at 0500 on the 25th, bound for Kirun, separates at noon on the 24th, passes via Bitou Kok and arrives at 2000 on the 24th.
At 1600 departs Moji escorting convoy No. 178 consisting of above listed ships.
21 July 1943:
At 30-28N-128.20E hit by a torpedo but sustains no damage. Carries out an anti-submarine sweep. Drops 6 depth charges.
26 July 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
31 July 1943:
At 2130, departs Mako escorting convoy R consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
8 August 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
11 August 1943:
Departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 417 also consisting of KOZUI, PANAMA, NITTATSU, TAKETSU, HEIWA, BATAVIA, HOFUKU, SAMARANG, TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE), RYUOSAN MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sails in two parts.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako (though the convoy sails in two parts it arrives on the same day but 12 hours apart).
20 August 1943:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 294 consisting of KOSO, NITTATSU, KASHU, NICHIRAN, TAKETSU and HAKKO MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 8 and nine unidentified merchant ships.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
30 August 1943:
Departs Moji with kaibokan WAKAMIYA escorting convoy No. 192 consisting of TOKO, SYDNEY, TOFUKU MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships. The convoy splits in two parts shortly after departure. PEKING MARU escorts the second, slower part at 8.5 knots while WAKAMIYA escorts the first, faster part at 10 knots.
4 September 1943:
At 0700, the fast part of convoy No. 192 arrives at Mako.
5 September 1943:
Arrives at Mako with the slow part of convoy No. 192.
11 September 1943:
At 0900, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 322 consisting of oilers TAKETSU and YAMASACHI MARUs, tanker YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) HITORA (ex-Panamanian RAMONA), IJA transports TOKO and TOFUKU MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships.
20 September 1943:
At 2000, arrives at St. Jacques.
23 September 1943:
At 1900, departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 428 consisting of auxiliary transport RYUKO MARU, IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) TONAN MARU, cargo ship AWA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
30 September 1943:
At 20-59N, 119-45E IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) TONAN MARU reports an unsuccessful torpedo attack. Later that day arrives at Takao.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
6 October 1943:
At 0900, departs Mako with destroyer FUYO escorting convoy No. 328 consisting of ICHIYO, NAMPO, BOKUYO, (MUTSUYO), HAVRE, REIYO, FUKUYAMA, KYOKUZAN, SUGIYAMA, DURBAN, TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), BELGIUM, YASUJIMA, HAWAII, SHINRYU, HAKONE, MISAKI, ZUIHO, NICHIRAN, IKOMA, ZUIYO, TACHIBANA, ZUISHO and CHIYODA MARUs, probably SAINEI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques. Destroyer FUYO detaches and heads to Saigon. Nineteen merchant ships including FUKUYAMA, KYOKUZAN, SUGIYAMA, DURBAN, CHIYODA and REIYO MARUs are detached either at St. Jacques or later at Saigon.
14 October 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques and departs there. Arrives at Saigon later this day.
19 October 1943:
Departs Saigon and arrives at St. Jacques later that day.
20 October 1943:
At 1400, departs St. Jacques with destroyer FUYO escorting convoy No. 435 consisting of auxiliary transports TATSUWA, TEIREN (Ex-French GOUVENEUR GENERAL ALBERT VARENNE), REIYO, BATAVIA and KOSHIN MARUs and eleven unidentified merchant ships. The convoy splits in two parts and each steams separately.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
31 October 1943:
At 1000, departs Mako escorting convoy No. 334 consisting of KENAN, JINSAN, FUKUJU, MARUs and tanker KYOEI MARU No. 7, IJA transport SEATTLE MARU also joins.
6 November 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Saigon.
15 November 1943:
Attached to the General Headquarters for Maritime Escort’s, First Maritime Escort Squadron.
16 November 1943:
At 1400, departs St. Jacques escorting convoy No. 442 consisting of BOKUYO (MUTSUYO), LIMA, ATLAS, MISAKI MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
26 November 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
29 November 1943:
At 1000, departs Takao with kaibokan ETOROFU escorting convoy No. 223 consisting of TOYO MARU No. 3, YOSHU and RAKUYO MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships. They call at Mako and depart there later that day.
30 November 1943:
At 0920, auxiliary transport SHOKEI MARU departs Takao and joins convoy No. 223.
3 December 1943:
Under engine repairs.
4 December 1943:
Receives Official Ship secret wireless No. 6052:
Order regarding installation of radio detection equipment on the auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
The Sasebo Naval Yard should carry out the above mentioned matter in accordance with the following:
1. Construction Details:
The wireless room will be equipped with one set of newly supplied pseudo radio detectors and will be equipped with an antenna, power supply etc.
2. Required supplied weapons:
One set of pseudo radio detectors and accessories x eight quantity Seven by line
Other small weapons x Required quantity (Report item name and quantity to Chief of Naval Shipbuilding once supplied)
3. Completion date:
As soon as possible.
6 December 1943:
At 1320, ETOROFU detaches and at 1845, arrives at Sasebo. SHOKEI MARU detaches and arrives at Ebisu Wan later that day. TOYO MARU No. 3 and PEKING MARU detach too and arrive at Sasebo later this day. PEKING MARU docks at the Sasebo Naval Yard for permanent engine repairs.
10 December 1943:
Auxiliary gunboats CHOJUSAN, KAZAN and PEKING MARUs receive instructions for installation of two Type 93 13mm single MGs, two Type 93 13mm MGs side ammo boxes, 2,000 normal ammunition cartridges, 2,000 ammunition packages and 1,000 armor piercing ammunition cartridges, at appropriate positions by the Sasebo Naval Yard as soon as possible under Secretary Cabinet Instruction No. 6162. After installation, each MG has to be tested by firing 10 shots.
10 December 1943 ~ 11 January 1944:
Installation of radio detector, 2 type 93 13mm single barreled machine guns and underwater hydrophone.
11 January 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
12 January 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
15 January 1944:
At 0730, departs Moji escorting convoy No. 129 consisting of auxiliary emergency converted tanker HOKUAN MARU, transports FUSO, SEATTLE, MIZUHO and WALES MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
21 January 1944:
At 0926, arrives at Takao.
26 January 1944:
At 1700, departs Takao escorting convoy No. 788 consisting of auxiliary storeship IKUTAGAWA MARU (ex-Italian RAMB II), transports FUSO, SEATTLE, MIZUHO and WALES MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships. Later auxiliary emergency converted tanker HOKUAN MARU departs Takao and joins convoy No. 788. At an unknown point and date, HOKUAN MARU is detached and steams independently for Manila.
27 January 1944:
Carries out an anti-submarine sweep.
28 January 1944:
HOKUAN MARU arrives at Manila.
30 January 1944:
At 1730, arrives at Manila.
2 February 1944:
Departs Manila escorting convoy MATA-02 likely consisting of tankers ATAGO, NITTATSU, RONSAN, CHOYODA, RIKKO, TAKETOYO MARUs and possibly DURBAN and NISSHU MARUs out of fifteen unidentified ships also escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU.
6 February 1944:
Arrives at Mako.
7 February 1944:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that day.
10 February 1944:
At 1200, departs Takao with auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and auxiliary netlayer AGATA MARU escorting convoy TAMA-03 consisting of IJN requisitioned (B-AO) oiler YAMASACHI MARU, IJA transport SHOGEN MARU and thirteen unidentified merchant ships. Soon after departure, destroyer KURETAKE joins the convoy’s escort.
14 February 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Manila. Departs there, escorting convoy MATA-05 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships and probably auxiliary oiler SAN LUIS MARU. Detaches at latitude 17 N.
18 February 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
25 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Manila escorting MATA-07 consisting of MIZUHO, TONEGAWA, MITSUKI and IKOMASAN MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship. In addition, convoy MAYU-01 consisting of WALES, FUKKO and SAIHO MARUs sails partway with the ships, before detaching, unescorted.
29 February 1944:
At 1053, arrives at Takao.
6 March 1944:
At 1500, departs Takao escorting convoy TASA-08 consisting of CHEFOO, LONDON, ISHIKARI, SAINAN, SHINGU, TOYOKUNI and NICHIREI MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship. That same day, SATA-06/SATA-07 arrives at Yulin escorted by subchasers CH-21, CH-41 and CH-43.
7 March 1944:
Convoy SATA-06/07 consisting of MANKO, KENZUI, SAINEI, KOAN MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 12, and seven unidentified merchant ships depart Yulin. At an unspecified time and place the convoy meets up with southbound convoy TASA-08 and the three subchasers take over escort of this convoy. SHINGU MARU is detached for Hong Kong at about this time.
8 March 1944:
SE of Hong Kong. At 1455, at 19-21N, 116-09E LtCdr Lowell T. Stone’s (USNA ‘29) USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes and damages TOYOKUNI MARU. She loses power and goes dead in the water. Immediately PEKING MARU begins an anti-submarine sweep and drops depth charges without success. Meanwhile NICHIREI MARU takes TOYOKUNI MARU in tow. At 1800, NICHIREI MARU towing TOYOKUNI MARU loses contact with the convoy.
9 March 1944:
At 0150, at 19-44N, 115-52E, 350 nautical miles W of Cape Bojeador, Luzon while NICHIREI MARU is still towing TOYOKUNI MARU, USS LAPON torpedoes NICHIREI MARU. LtCdr Stone also torpedoes and hits TOYOKUNI MARU again, which sets her on fire. Immediately PEKING MARU begins an anti-submarine sweep and drops depth charges without success. The other escorts, including an aircraft, also fail to damage USS LAPON. At 0500, NICHIREI MARU sinks at 19-44N, 115-52E. 46 crewmen and six gunners are KIA. At 0700, PEKING MARU loses sight of TOYOKUNI MARU. At 1200, at 19-27N, 115-30E PEKING MARU discovers drifting TOYOKUNI MARU and begins rescuing victims. At 1600, PEKING MARU departs and heads towards YULIN, Hainan Island, China. At 19-21N, 116-09E TOYOKUNI MARU sinks, 15 crewmen are KIA. At 2150, after receiving a distress call from TOYOKUNI MARU PEKING MARU reverses her course and heads back towards TOYOKUNI MARU. The rest of the convoy arrives at Takao later this day.
10 March 1944:
At 0730, arrives at TOYOKUNI MARU’s last known position but she is nowhere to be seen. At 1910, at 19-00N, 114-48E gunboat HASHIDATE arrives and joins the search for TOYOKUNI MARU. At 1930, PEKING MARU stops searching for TOYOKUNI MARU and heads towards Yulin.
11 March 1944:
Arrives at Yulin.
15 March 1944:
At 1800, departs Yulin escorting convoy YUTA-02 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
19 March 1944:
At 1735, arrives at Takao.
24 March 1944:
At 0800, departs Takao with kaibokan AWAJI escorting convoy TASA-13 consisting of NICHIAN, SHOEI (1,986 GRT), FUKUJU, CHINA, DURBAN, TASMANIA, SETSUZAN, TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE), HIDA, KYOKUZAN, SHONAN MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships. At an unknown point, PEKING MARU detaches.
29 March 1944:
Arrives at Yulin.
31 March 1944:
At 1100, departs Yulin escorting convoy YUTA-03 consisting of HIOKI, FUKUEI, OYO and YASUKUNI MARUs.
5 April 1944:
At 1130, arrives at Takao.
13 April 1944:
At 1200, departs Takao with destroyer KARUKAYA escorting convoy TAMO-16 consisting of TOYO MARU No. 3 (that joins from Kirun), HAKUSHIKA, HIOKI, NORFOLK, HAWAII, OYO, KONSAN and YASUKUNI MARUs, KOTO MARU No.2 GO and six unidentified merchant ships. At an unknown point, PEKING MARU detaches.
20 April 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo. (Re)construction works begin.
27 April 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
28 April 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
1 May 1944:
At 0500, departs with destroyer SHIOKAZE and kaibokan KURAHASHI (part way only), CD-13 and CH-37, torpedo boat HATO and other unidentified warships escorting convoy MI-03 consisting of cargo ships RYUKA, DAITEN, DAIRIN, SHOHEI, NIKKO, ETAJIMA, DAIJUN, SHINNO, TOUN, KENWA and DAISEI MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No. 1, tankers ZUIYO, ATAGO, CHIYODA, KOTOKU, SHUNTEN MARUs, EIYO MARU No. 2, OGURA MARU No. 2 and UNKAI MARU No. 5. The convoy sails with convoy TE-05 consisting of YAMADORI, HIYORI, HIOKI, KOKUSEI, HIKACHI, NICHIWA, SHONAN MARUs and KYOEI MARU No.2 escorted by kaibokan CD-1, CD-8, CD-20, and auxiliary netlayer KAINAN MARU. The convoy will detach to Kirun.
2 May 1944:
Destroyer KARUKAYA departs Sasebo and joins the convoy.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Saei near Takao. Kaibokan CD-1 and destroyer ASAGAO join the convoy escort. Detaches with HIYORI and HIOKI MARUs. Arrives at Takao later that day. Departs later that day and rejoins escort of convoy MI-03.
10 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
13 May 1944:
At 0552, departs Manila with kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat No. 38 and auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU escorting convoy MI-02 (return) consisting of auxiliary tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, YAMACHI, TAKETSU (BUTSU), SHINCHO and MATSUMOTO MARUs, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, OGURA MARU No. 1 and auxiliary transport SEISHO MARU.
16 May 1944:
At 1705, arrives at Takao. SEISHO, HAKUBASAN and MATSUMOTO MARUs are detached just as CHOJUSAN MARU.
17 May 1944:
At 1527, departs Takao still escorting convoy MI-02.
18 May 1944:
At 1520, arrives at Kirun. IJA Passenger/cargo ship KAMO MARU, auxiliary water tanker CHOSAN (ASAYAMA) MARU and auxiliary patrol boat CHIKUZEN MARU join along with destroyer HASU.
20 May 1944:
At an unknown point, destroyer HASU detaches. At 1625, arrives at Shushan Islands and departs there at 2357.
23 May 1944:
At 1500, PB-38 is at the rear of the convoy and detaches. She arrives at Moji at 1700.
24 May 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
25 May 1944:
Departs Moji.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 May ~ 21 June 1944:
In Sasebo Naval Yard drydock for installation of sounder equipment, installation of motorboat and ferry boat loading construction work.
21 June 1944:
Undocked and later that day, departs Sasebo.
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
23 June 1944:
At 1700, departs Moji with torpedo boats TOMOZURU and HATO, kaibokan CD-9, minelayer NUWAJIMA and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs escorting convoy MOMA-09/MI-09 consisting of SAIHO, SAINEI, CHILE, SHIOMOTSU, CHIYODA, SHUNTEN, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA), NORFOLK, KINRYO, KENSEI, UGA, TATSUHARU, BINGO, TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA), AMAHI, NATSUKAWA, EIYO, MISAKI, NIKKO, HIROTA, YOKO and KYOKUZAN MARUs, KYOEI MARU No. 3, KYOEI MARU No. 10 and two other unidentified merchant ships.
28 June 1944:
AMAHI and TEIKA (Ex-French CAP VARELLA) MARUs are detached and later that day arrive at Kirun. Soon thereafter MISAKI MARU and minelayer NUWAJIMA are detached and head for Kirun.
29 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao.
30 June 1944:
At 1800, departs Takao.
3 July 1944:
Detaches and at 2000, arrives at Manila.
7 July 1944:
At 0900, departs Manila with auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) escorting convoy MAYU-05 consisting of auxiliary transport TATSUWA MARU and IJA transports MACASSAR and JUNPO MARUs.
11 July 1944:
At 2100, arrives at Yulin.
15 July 1944:
At 1210, departs Yulin with destroyer KURETAKE and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU escorting convoy YUTA-09 consisting of JUNPO, MACASSAR, MURORAN, PACIFIC, TATSUWA and TEIRYU (ex-German AUGSBURG) MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
19 July 1944:
At 0532 (I), LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Norvell G. Ward's (USNA ’35) USS GUARDFISH (SS-217) SJ radar makes contact on an escorted convoy heading NNW at 22,500 yards. At 0610 (I), USS GUARDFISH submerges and tracks the convoy. At 0743 (I), Ward fires his last four forward torpedoes from 1,000 yards and gets two hits. At about 0745 (JST), TEIRYU MARU is torpedoed port side in the lower part of the boiler room that completely floods. At 0746 (I), USS GUARDFISH’s crew hears a hit on the second ship in the convoy, but they also hear a torpedo pass over their submarine. Ward judges one of his torpedoes made a circular run. At about 0753, TEIRYU MARU splits in two amidships and sinks at 19-08N, 116-13E about 216 nautical miles SSE Hong Kong. 108 passengers, three auxiliary gunners and 38 crew are killed. From 0749 to 0800 (I), USS GUARDFISH suffers many depth charges from two of the escorts, but survives. At 1808, the convoy arrives at North San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines.
21 July 1944:
Departs N San Fernando. Near N San Fernando, kaibokan CD-10 joins the convoy escort. At 2255, after leaving port, PEKING MARU runs aground at 17-31N, 120-22E, around 4 nautical miles SSW Vigan, Luzon and is left behind. Kaibokan CD-10 stays to assist and guard PEKING MARU.
22 July 1944:
Destroyer HARUKAZE arrives to assist with salvage works.
23 July 1944:
Auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU, kaibokan CD-26 and auxiliary tug KEISHU MARU arrive to assist with salvage works.
27 July 1944:
Kaibokan CD-10 and auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU end their assistance and depart. Later destroyer HARUKAZE and kaibokan CD-26 depart on an anti-submarine sweep.
28 July 1944:
At 1630, torpedoed by LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's Stevenson’s (USNA '30) USS ASPRO (SS-309). Hit amidships. A fire breaks out and floods. The crew abandon PEKING MARU. Casualties are unknown.
10 September 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport (3,182 GRT, ’14).
[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.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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

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