RIKUGUN BYOINSEN
(RYUKO MARU, prewar)
IJA Hospital/Cargo Ship RYUKO MARU:
Tabular Record of
Movement
© 2013 Bob Hackett
19 September 1935:
Uraga. Laid down Uraga Drydock Co., Ltd. as yard No. 94, as a 2,962-ton passenger-cargo ship for Osaka Shosen K. K. - OSK Line, Osaka.
21 November 1935:
Launched and named RYUKO MARU. [1]
10 February 1936:
Completed.
2 March 1936:
Departs Kobe on her maiden voyage for Chongjin and
Rajin, North Korea.
7 July 1937: The "First China Incident" and the Beginning of the Second
Sino-Japanese War:
Hun River, Lukuokiao, China. Imperial Japanese Army (IJA)
troops on night maneuvers at the Marco Polo Bridge fire blank cartridges.
Chinese troops across the river think they are under attack. They fire live
round back, but do not cause injuries. At morning roll call, the Japanese
discover a soldier missing and assume the Chinese have captured him. The
Japanese demand entry to the Peiping (Beijing) suburb of Wanping to look for the
soldier, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city. An undeclared
war on China begins.
1937:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and converted to an Army hospital ship. Assigned Army No. 202.
17 October 1937:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Ujina.
21 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
22 October 1937:
Departs Moji.
23 October 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao, China.
27 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
31 October 1937:
Departs Moji.
1 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka, departs and arrives at Ujina.
4November 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
5 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
9 November 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
10 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
14 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
15 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
17 November 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs to transport wounded .
21 November 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
22 November 1937:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
25 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs
26 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
27 November 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
28 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs,
1 December 1937:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, China.)
2 December 1937:
Departs Dairen.
5 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
6 December 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
30 December 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
3 January 1938:
Arrives at Dairen.
4 January 1938:
Departs Dairen.
7 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
8 January 1938:
Arrives at Osaka.
9 January 1938:
Departs Osaka.
10 January 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
13 January 1938:
Departs Kobe.
17 January 1938:
Arrives at Dairen.
18 January 1938:
Departs Dairen.
21 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
22 January 1938:
Arrives at Osaka.
23 January 1938:
Departs Osaka.
24 January 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
26 January 1938:
Departs Ujina.
27 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
30 January 1938:
Arrives at Tsingtao, China and departs.
31 January 1938:
Arrives at Dairen
1 February 1938:
Departs Dairen.
2 February 1938:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
4 February 1938:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
7 February 1938:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
8 February 1938:
Arrives at Osaka.
9 February 1938:
Departs Osaka.
10 February 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
March 1938:
Departs Ujina.
9 March 1938:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
10 March 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
31 August 1938:
Departs Ujina.
4 September 1938:
Arrives at Tanggu, China.
6 October 1941:
Arrives at Ujina.
9 October 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai.
10 October 1941:
Departs Shanghai.
13 October 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
16 October 1941:
Departs Moji
20 October 1941:
Arrives at Tanggu and departs.
22 October 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
7 November 1941:
Departs Moji.
10 November 1941:
Arrives at Chongjin, Korea.
13 November 1941:
Departs Chongjin.
15 November 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
19 November 1941:
Departs Moji.
23 November 1941:
Arrives at Dairen.
24 November 1941:
Departs Dairen.
25 November 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
6 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
9 December 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai.
10 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai.
11 December 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
18 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
22 December 1941:
Arrives at Tanggu.
23 December 1941:
Departs Tanggu.
25 December 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
5 January 1942:
Departs Moji.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
9 January 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
11 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
20 January 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
21 January 1942:
Departs Dairen.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1 February 1942:
Departs Moji.
5 February 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
6 February 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
10 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
13 February 1942:
Departs Moji.
15 February 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
16 February 1942:
Departs Pusan.
18 February 1942:
Arrives at Tanggu.
19 February 1942:
Departs Tanggu.
27 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
5 March 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
6 March 1942:
Departs Shanghai transporting patients.
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
12 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
18 March 1942:
Departs Shanghai transporting patients.
19 March 1942:
From 0500-2200 escorted by auxiliary gunboat MASAO MARU.
23 March 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
25 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
29 March 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
30 March 1942:
The 7th hospital group embarks patients for transport. Departs Tsingtao.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
5 April 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
10 April 1942:
The 7th hospital group embarks patients for transport. Departs Shanghai.
13 April 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
17 April 1942:
Departs Ujina.
18 April 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
19 April 1942:
The 7th hospital group embarks patients for transport. Departs Pusan.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
21 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
24 April 1942:
Departs Moji.
27 April 1942:
Arrives at Chongjin, Korea.
29 April 1942:
Departs Chongjin.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
20 May 1942:
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an official notice to all belligerent countries that RYUKO MARU is employed as a hospital
ship.
2 June 1942:
Departs Moji.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
6 June 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
10 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
18 June 1942:
Departs Moji.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Tanggu, China.
25 June 1942:
Departs Tanggu.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
8 July 1942:
Departs Moji.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at at Chongjin.
12 July 1942:
Departs Chongjin.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Konan, Korea.
16 July 1942:
Departs Konan.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at Tanggu.
2 August 1942:
Departs Tanggu.
11 August 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
14 August 1942:
Departs Moji.
18 August 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
21 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
24 August 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
1 September 1942:
Departs Ujina.
15 September 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
19 September 1942:
Departs Singapore.
22 September 1942:
Arrives at Batavia, Java (now Jakarta, Indonesia).
24 September 1942:
The 60th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Batavia.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 October 1942:
The 60th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Singapore.
14 October 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
16 October 1942:
The 60th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Manila.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
19 October 1942:
Departs Takao.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan).
26 October 1942:
The 60th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Kirun.
27 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
28 October 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
3 November 1942:
Departs Moji.
7 November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
9 November 1942:
The 60th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Shanghai.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
19 November 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
21 November 1942:
The 60th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Dairen.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
25 November 1942:
Departs Moji.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Pusan, Korea.
27 November 1942:
The 7th hospital group embarks patients for
transport. Departs Pusan.
28 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
7 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
13 December 1942:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
16 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
22 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
25 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
28 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1943:
At an unknown date, RYUKO MARU is reconverted from an IJA hospital ship to a military cargo ship.
2 January 1943:
Departs Moji.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
9 January 1943:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
18 January 1943:
Departs Moji.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
23 January 1943:
Departs Tsingtao.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
3 February 1943:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
7 February 1943:
Departs Moji.
12 February 1943:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
14 February 1943:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
28 February 1943:
Departs Moji.
5 March 1943:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
6 March 1943:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
17 March 1943:
Departs Moji.
25 March 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
27 March 1943:
Departs Manila.
29 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao and departs.
30 March 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
2 April 1943:
Departs Kirun.
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
8 April 1943:
Departs Moji.
12 April 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
16 April 1943:
Departs Hong Kong.
20 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
23 April 1943:
Departs Takao.
28 April 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
30 April 1943:
Departs Palau.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao and departs.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
7 May 1943:
Departs Kirun.
13 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
15 May 1943:
Departs Moji.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Pusan and departs.
18 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
22 May 1943:
Departs Tsingtao.
25 May 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
16 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
21 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore, Malaya (now Republic of Singaore).
12 July 1943:
Departs Singapore.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Djakarta, Java (now Jakarta, Indonesia).
17 July 1943:
Departs Djakarta.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
21 July 1943:
Departs Singapore.
28 July 1943:
Arrives at Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar).
29 July 1943:
Departs Rangoon.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
4 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
12 August 1943:
Arrives at Rangoon.
13 August 1943:
Departs Rangoon.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
25 August 1943:
Departs Singapore.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Djakarta.
29 August 1943:
Departs Djakarta.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra and departs.
3 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
6 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
8 September 1943:
Arrives at Belawan, Sumatra.
10 September 1943:
Departs Belawan.
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
26 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Rangoon
2 October 1943:
Departs Rangoon.
7 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
22 October 1943:
RYUKO MARU departs Singapore in convoy No. 630 also consisting of HIBI and ROKKO MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan WAKIMIYA.
25 October 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques, Vichy French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.)
30 October 1943:
Departs Saigon.
3 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 November 1943:
Departs Singapore.
14 November 1943:
Arrives at Belawan.
21 November 1943:
Departs Belawan.
22 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
27 November 1943:
Departs Singapore.
1 December 1943:
Arrives at Bangkok, Siam (Thailand).
6 December 1943:
Departs Bangkok.
10 December 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
23 December 1943:
Departs Singapore.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at Belawan.
28 December 1943:
Departs Belawan.
30 December 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 January 1944:
Departs Singapore for Car Nicobar and Port Blair,
Andaman Islands loaded with war supplies escorted by torpedo boat SAGI.
January 1944:
At an unknown point, minesweeper W-7 joins the escort
and torpedo boat SAGI is detached.
15 January 1944:
Car Nicobar. LtCdr L. W. A. Bennington's submarine
HMS TALLY HO torpedoes and hits RYUKO MARU portside in the No. 4 hold. She
floods and quickly sinks by the stern at 10-50N, 093-05E. Eleven passengers
(comfort women) are killed. A gunner and nine crewmen are also KIA.
Author's Note:
Not to be confused with the 2,764-ton Peacetime Standard (C) Class cargo ship RYUKO MARU.
Bob Hackett
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IJA Transports
