Japanese Army Auxiliary Transports

RIKUGUN YUSOSEN

(SAN FRANCISCO MARU in peacetime)

Transport SAN FRANCISCO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2016 Bob Hackett
Revision 1

5 January 1919:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki Kisen, K. K. as Yard No. 438, a 5,864-ton passenger-cargo ship for for Kawaski Dockyard Co., Ltd.
1 March 1919:
Launched and named SAN FRANCISCO MARU.
14 March 1919:
Completed and placed in service.
1 August 1919:
Sold to Kokusai Kisen K.K., Yokohama (later Kobe).
30 November 1920:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU arrives at Fremantle, Australia.
January 1923:
Converted to fuel oil propulsion.
13 June 1923:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU arrives at Ellis Island, New York.
12 September 1934:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU arrives at Fremantle, Australia.
E 1930s:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA). Alloted Army No. 284.
6 December 1937:
Sold to Yamashita Kisen, K.K., Kobe.
20 January 1942:
Released by the IJA back to her owners. That same day she is requisitioned by the Imperial Navy (IJN) as an Ippan Choyosen (B-AK) and operated with civilian crew.
25 January 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
31 January 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Tsukumi. Departs later that day.
3 February 1942:
Arrives at Saitozaki.
8 February 1942:
Departs Saitozaki.
9 February 1942:
Arrives at Tsukumi.
11 February 1942:
Departs Tsukumi.
27 February 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
6 March 1942:
Departs Ponape.
8 March 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
5 April 1942:
Departs Truk.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
17 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka. Arrives at Tokyo later that day.
25 April 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
4 May 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
17 May 1942:
departs Truk.
22 May 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
27 May 1942:
Departs Palau. Arrives at Peleliu later that day.
30 May 1942:
Departs Peleliu. Arrives at Palau later that day. Departs Palau later that day.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Kitadaitojima.
13 June 1942:
Departs Kitadaitojima.
17 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
25 June 1942:
Departs Yokohama.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
30 June 1942:
Departs Muroran.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo. Arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
8 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
16 July 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Roi.
2 August 1942:
Departs Roi.
4 August 1942:
Arrives at Taroa.
7 August 1942:
Departs Taroa.
8 August 1942:
Arrives at Imiedj.
9 August 1942:
Departs Imiedj. Arrives at Jaluit later that day.
19 August 1942:
Departs Jaluit.
20 august 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
10 September 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
28 September 1942:
Departs Osaka.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
8 October 1942:
Departs Kure.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
28 October 1942:
Departs Truk.
2 November 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
15 November 1942:
Departs Rabaul. Arrives at Shortland later that day.
16~30 November 1942:
Departs Shortland for Buka Island, Bougainville.
1 December 1942:
Departs Buka.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
13 December 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
14 December 1942:
Arrives at Buka.
2 January 1943:
Departs Buka.
3 January 1943:
At 0920, arrives at Rabaul.
6 January 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
28 January 1943:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Palau and off Garasumao Babelthuap (Babeldaob) Island is joined by CHOKO MARU heading north.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
12 February 1943:
Departs Miike.
16 February 1943:
Arrives at Amagasaki.
19 February 1943:
Departs Amagasaki.
20 February 1943:
Arrives at Innoshima.
21 February 1943:
Enters Innoshima dock
14 March 1943:
Undocked.
16 March 1943:
Departs Innoshima and arrives at Kure that day.
22 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
4 April 1943:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Yokohama in convoy No. 3404 also consisting of transports KIMISHIMA and TAIAN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat CHIDORI and arrives the same day at Tateyama.
5 April 1943:
Departs Tateyama for Palau.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
30 April 1943:
Departs Palau and arrives the same day at Garasumao, Babelthuap (Babeldaob) Island, Palau.
26 April 1943:
At 0830, SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Palau for Wewak in convoy "Wewak No. 3" consisting of BUNZAN, KANKOW and HOFUKU MARUs and HAKUTETSU MARU No. 13 and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by destroyers AMATSUKAZE and URAKAZE and subchasers CH-26 and CH-34. The ships are carrying 6,000 soldiers of the 41st Infantry Division and ammunition, provisions, crated aircraft and supplies.
30 April 1943:
At 2205, SAN FRANCISCO MARU and CH-34 are detached for nearby Kairiru Island.
1 May 1943:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU and CH-34 depart Kairiru Island and rejoin the convoy returning from Wewak.
4 May 1943:
Wewak, New Guinea. SAN FRANCISCO MARU suffers minor damage from attacking aircraft.
6 May 1943:
At 0630, arrives at Palau.
20 May 1943:
Departs Palau
23 May 1943:
Arrives at Manokwari, New Guinea.
24 May 1943:
Departs Manokwari
25 May 1943:
Arrives at Solon.
3 June 1943:
Departs Solon.
4 June 1943:
Arrives at Manokwari.
7 June 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
19 June 1943:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Palau for Moji in convoy To-906 also consisting of DELAGOA, DAINICHI, KAZAN and MACASSAR MARUs and EIKO MARU No. 2 GO escorted by patrol boat PB-46 and minesweeper W-17. SAN FRANCISCO MARU probably carries a cargo of bauxite ore.
E 20 June 1943:
At 10N, minesweeper W-17 is detached and returns to Palau.
E 27 June 1943:
Minelayers YURIJIMA and NUWAJIMA join as additional escorts at 30-40N, 134-50E.
E 27 June 1943:
YURIJIMA and NUWAJIMA join convoy TO-906 at 30-40N, 134-50E as additional escorts. The convoy consists of DELAGOA, DAINICHI, KAZAN, MACASSAR and SAN FRANCISCO MARUs and EIKO MARU No. 2 GO escorted by patrol boat PB-46.
28 June 1943:
At 1920, arrives at Saeki.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji then Kure.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Innoshima.
1 July 1943:
Enters Innoshima dock
20 July 1943:
Undocked.
21 July 1943:
Departs Innoshima.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Tsukumi.
2 August 1943:
Departs Tsukumi and arrives at Moji.
4-8 August 1943:
In Tokyo.
13 August 1943:
At Yokosuka.
15 August 1943:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Yokosuka for Truk in convoy No. 3815 also consisting of CHIYO, KYOWA, MUKO and SHOUN MARUs and possibly others escorted by destroyer IKAZUCHI.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
5 September 1943:
At 1300, SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Truk for Rabaul in convoy No. 1055 also consisting of CHIYO, KYOWA, SHOUN and YAMAFUKU MARUs escorted by destroyer IKAZUCHI and subchasers CH-30 and CH-32.
10 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
25 October 1943:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU departs Rabaul for Palau in convoy O-505 also consisting of KOSEI and TAITO MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by subchasers CH-17 and CH-18
2 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
6 November 1943:
Departs Palau.
13 November 1943:
Arrives at Ngardmau and then departs for Palau arriving that day.
20 November 1943:
Departs Palau for Moji.
4 December 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
5 December 1943:
Arrives at Niihama.
10 December 1943:
Arrives at Innoshima
11 December 1943:
Enters Innoshima dock for repair.
19 December 1943:
Undocked and departs Innoshima.
21 December 1943:
Arrives at Sakito.
25 December 1943:
Departs Sakito.
26 December 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
28 December 1943:
Departs Moji.
3 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
10 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tokyo.
17 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
20 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk in convoy No. 3120 also consisting of HOKI and KOWA MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 6 escorted by kaibokan OKI. SAN FRANCISCO MARU's cargo includes a number of Isuzu Type 94 trucks, Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks, ammunition, bombs, mines, AA and artillery shells, torpedoes, aircraft engines and parts..
21 January 1944:
Kaibokan MANJU departs Yokosuka, arrives the same day at Tateyama and joins the escort of convoy No. 3120. The convoy departs the same day for Truk.
22 January 1944:
MANJU discovers enemy submarine and drops 20 depth charges, results unknown.
23 January 1944:
MANJU performs several anti-sub attacks.
27 January 1944:
The convoy is still tracked by persistent enemy sub. Therefore, it shelters at Saipan.
29 January 1944:
Convoy arrives and shelters at Saipan. MANJU guards anchorage.
31 January 1944:
Departs Saipan for Truk.
1 February 1944:
MANJU discovers and attacks enemy sub with gunfire and depth charges, results unknown.
3 February 1944:
MANJU drops depth charges.
4 February 1944:
The convoy arrives at Truk.
17 February 1944: American Operation "Hailstone" - The Attack on Truk:
Beginning at dawn, Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s (USNA ’10) Task Force 58's five fleet carriers and four light carriers, supported by six battleships, ten cruisers and 28 destroyers, launch air attacks on airfields, shore installations and ships in the lagoon. Mitscher launches 30 strikes of at least 150 aircraft each. The strikes are launched about every hour.

SE of Dublon Island, Truk. SAN FRANCISCO MARU is anchored at the 4th Fleet anchorage when she is attacked and damaged by aircraft of ESSEX (CV-9), USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) and USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17).
18 February 1944:
SAN FRANCISCO MARU is dive-bombed by Grumman TBF “Avengers” of ESSEX and hit by up to six 500-lb. bombs. The explosions set her afire and she sinks by the stern. Five crewmen are KIA.
In two days of raids, Task Force 58 sinks 31 transports and 10 naval vessels (two cruisers, four destroyers and four auxiliary vessels, destroys nearly 200 aircraft and damages severely about 100 more. Truk is eliminated as a major fleet anchorage for the IJN.
30 April 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Author's Note:
[1] Thanks go to Berend van der Wal of the Netherlands, Gilbert Casse of France and Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

Bob Hackett

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