YUSOSEN!
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(San Clemente Maru, prewar- Berend van der Wal Collection)
IJN SAN CLEMENTE MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2006-2020 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 6
4 February 1937:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K Nagasaki Zosensho as a 7,385-ton oil tanker for Mitsubishi Shoji K.K (Trading Company), Tokyo.
4 September 1937:
Launched and named SAN CLEMENTE MARU.
20 November 1937:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 7,385-tons and 5,284-tons. Her call sign is JWTL. [1]
1937-1940:
In service on Mitsubishi's North American route.
1938:
GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 7,354-tons and 5,301-tons. [1]
1940:
In service on Mitsubishi's Sumatra and North Borneo route.
1 September 1941:
Receives a charter contract from the IJN.
11 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
13 September 1941:
Departs Yokohama for Kure.
20 September 1941:
Osaka, Naniwa Dockyard. Begins conversion to a naval auxiliary and to allow at sea replenishment. That same day, Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Eguchi Matsuo (40) is appointed Supervisor of SAN CLEMENTE MARU.
28 October 1941:
The conversion is completed. Tactically assigned to the Combined Fleet as an auxiliary transport, Ko category. [2]
22 November 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
27 November 1941:
Departs Kure.
29 November 1941:
Departs Saiki.
1 December 1941:
Charter party renewed.
5 December 1941:
Arrives at Palau.
14 December 1941:
Refuels light cruiser JINTSU and the destroyers NATSUSHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and HAYASHIO.
15 December 1941:
Refuels the destroyers AMATSUKAZA and HATSUKAZE.
17 December 1941:
Departs Palau.
23 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
1 January 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
2 January 1942:
Departs Palau with KOSEI MARU. Outside Palau Harbor patrol boat PB-1 joins as escort.
4 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao, Philippines. Refuels destroyers UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, KAWAKAZE and SUZUKAZE.
5 January 1942:
At 0800, refuels patrol boat PB-1. At 0820, patrol boat PB-37 comes alongside. From 0840 till 1135 refuels PB-37 and replenishes her with fresh water
5 ~ 15 January 1942:
Departs Davao.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Menado anchorage. Transfers to Banka anchorage.
17 January 1942:
At 1517 PB-1 arrives back at Banka and refuels from auxiliary fleet oiler SAN CLEMENTE MARU.
27 January 1942:
Refuels destroyers of 11 DesDiv. Refuels subchaser CH-1 and the DesDiv 16 destroyers YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE.
28 January 1942:
Refuels destroyers of 15 DesDiv (HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO).
29 January 1942:
At 1040, refuels patrol boat PB-1.
2 February 1942:
Assigned supply vessel for the second echelon of the Macassar, Celebes, Ocupation Force. Departs Banka anchorage with survey ship TSUKUSHI, minelayer AOTAKA, submarine chasers CH-3 and CH-14, PB-1, PB-2, IKUSHIMA, MATSUE, MONTEVIDEO and YAMASHIMO MARUs. IKUSHIMA MARU carries 5th and 6th construction units.
3 February 1942:
Minelayer AOTAKA carries out a depth charge attack.
4 February 1942:
At 0637, arrives at Kendari, Celebes. At Staring Bay, off Kendari, Celebes. At 1500 PB-1 refuels from SAN CLEMENTE MARU. At about 1700, LtCdr Lucius Chappell's (USNA ’27) USS SCULPIN (SS-191) torpedoes destroyer SUZUKAZE. She is beached to prevent sinking. Later, SAN CLEMENTE and ITSUKUSHIMA MARUs and destroyer YAMAKAZE assist SUZUKAZE back to Staring Bay for emergency repairs.
5 February 1942:
Destroyer SUZUKAZE lies alongside. Assists with drainage (pumping out), cooking etc.
6 February 1942: The Invasion of Macassar, Celebes:
The main invasuion convoy departs Staring Bay with the Macassar Occupation Force consisting of six troop transports carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo’s (40) Sasebo Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) escorted by light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 8’s ASASHIO, MICHISHIO, ARASHIO and OSHIO, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 21’s WAKABA, NATSUSHIN and NENOHI, 21st Minesweeper Div’s W-7 and W-8 and the 2nd Subchaser Div’s CH-13, CH-14 and CH-15.
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Fujita Ruitaro's (38) (former CO of FUSO) CarDiv 11's CHITOSE, MIZUHO and SANUKI MARU provide distant support for the Occupation Force.
SAN CLEMENTE MARU refuels ands stores KATSURAGI MARU and destroyers HATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE.
7 February 1942:
At 2100 SAN CLEMENTE MARU departs Staring Bay escorted by destroyers SUZUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE for Kendari.
8 February 1942:
Refuels light cruiser JINTSU and destroyer SAZANAMI with heavy oil.
9 February 1942:
Macassar Strait. During the landing of the Sasebo Combined SNLF invasion force, DesDiv 15's NATSUSHIO is torpedoed and sunk by Lt (later Rear Admiral) James C. Dempsey's (USNA ’31) old submarine USS S-37. NATSUSHIO is the only loss suffered by the IJN in the action. That same day SAN CLEMENTE MARU arrives at Kendari.
11 February 1942:
Anchors at Macassar. Later proceeds towards Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
15 February 1942:
At 0700 departs Staring Bay for Menado, Celebes then heads towards Macassar, therafter heads towards Surabaya and finally heads to Takao.
1 March 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan). Departs later this day for Mako, Pesacadores (now Magong, Penghu Islands, Taiwan).
6 March 1942:
Departs Mako.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Davao.
12 March 1942:
Departs Davao.
15 March 1942:
Arrives at Macassar.
19 March 1942:
In the morning provisions destroyer tender KAMIKAZE MARU with fresh food. At 1000 refuels destroyer ASAGUMO with heavy oil.
25 March 1942:
At 0700 departs Macassar escorted by patrol boat PB-34.
28 March 1942:
At 1030 arrives at Bantam Bay (also known as Banten Bay), Java. At 1130 refuels destroyers NATSUGUMO and MINEGUMO.
29 March- April 1942: Operation "X" - The Invasion of Christmas Island:
SAN CLEMENTE MARU prepares to departs Bantam Bay, Java for Christmas Island (S of Java) with transports KIMISHIMA and KUMAGAWA MARUs escorted by CruDiv 16's light cruisers NAGARA and NATORI and destroyer AMATSUKAZE. Later, the escort is joined by light cruiser NAKA and destroyers NATSUGUMO and MINEGUMO, patrol boats PB-34 and PB-36.
30 March 1942:
Departs Bantam and later that day arrives at Batavia (now Jakarta), Java.
3 April 1942:
Departs Batavia.
6 April 1942:
Arrives at Macassar.
11 April 1942:
Departs Macassar.
12 April 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
13 April 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
19 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
24 April 1942:
Enters Innoshima Dockyard for repairs.
21 May 1942:
Attached to Main Force. Reattached to the Second Supply Force under Main Force instruction No. 3.
27 May 1942:
Departs Hiroshima Bay for Kure.
29 May 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle of Midway:
Captain (Rear Admiral posthumously) Eguchi Matsuro’s (40) 2nd Supply Unit's oilers SAN CLEMENTE MARU and TOA MARU sortie with Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro's (35) (former CO of ISUZU) Aleutian Screening Force: BatDiv 2's HYUGA, ISE, FUSO and YAMASHIRO, CruDiv 9's KITAKAMI and OI, DesDiv 20's AMAGIRI, ASAGIRI, YUGIRI and SHIRAKUMO, DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, YAMAKAZE, SUZUKAZE and UMIKAZE and DesDiv 27's ARIAKE, YUGURE, SHIGURE and SHIRATSUYU.
30 May 1942:
Departs Kure.
3 June 1942:
At 0700, SAN CLEMENTE and TOA MARUs and the 1st Supply Unit's TOEI MARU refuel five destroyers.
4 June 1942:
SAN CLEMENTE and TOA MARUs, BatDiv 2, CruDiv 9, DesDivs 20, 24 and 27 are detached from the Main Body to support the Northern Force. Enroute north, the oilers refuel the warships.
8 June 1942:
Refuels the light cruisers KITAKAMI and OI.
14 June 1942:
Refuels the light cruisers KITAKAMI and OI.
17 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 June 1942:
Departs Kure.
20 July 1942:
Departs Kure.
29 July 1942:
LtCdr Bruce L. Carr’s (USNA ’31) USS GRENADIER (SS-210) fires three torpedoes at SAN CLEMENTE MARU at 07-02N 151-15E. USS GRENADIER’s crew hears two hits, but BuOrd's defective Mark-14 torpedoes do not detonate.
2 August 1942:
At Mowe Passage anchorage near Kavieng, New Ireland, Bismarcks refuels Cruiser Squadron 6 (CruDiv6) consisting of Heavy Cruisers AOBA, KAKO, KINUGASA and FURUTAKA.
24 August 1942:
Receives Second Escort Corps Command No. 8:
1 SAN CLEMENTE MARU is scheduled to depart for Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarcks after taking on fuel from fleet oiler IRO on 25 August 1942.
2 Minesweeper W-22 escorts SAN CLEMENTE MARU to Rabaul.
25 August 1942:
Takes on fuel from oiler IRO.
26 August 1942:
At 0400 departs Truk for Rabaul escorted by minesweeper W-22.
29 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
30 August 1942:
At 0611, W-22 is alongside to port. At 0613, Starts supplying her with 27-tons of heavy oil. At 0705, the transfer is completed. At 0717, W-22 departs.
E 1 September 1942:
Attached to the Eighth Fleet.
2 September 1942:
At Rabaul bunkers light cruiser TATSUTA.
12 September 1942:
Captain Kawahara Kinnosuke is appointed Supervisor. Captain Eguchi is reassigned as CO of repair ship AKASHI.
25 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure for repairs.
30 October 1942:
Departs Kure for Rabaul then Shortland, Bougainville, Solomons, back to Rabaul then Saipan, Marianas and Balikpapan (the exact dates of arrival and departure are unknown).
21 November 1942:
At 1400, refuels the destroyers NAGANAMI and MAKINAMI with heavy oil.
24 November 1942:
At 1530, refuels the destroyer NAGANAMI.
29 November 1942:
Refuels the destroyer KUROSHIO.
30 November 1942:
At 1100, SAN CLEMENTE MARU arrives at Shortland anchorage, Bougainville, Solomons escorted by patrol boat PB-38 (ex-DD YOMOGI).
22 December 1942:
At 1600, SAN CLEMENTE MARU and an unidentified ship depart Balikpapan escorted by subchaser CH-5 to longitude 121.
1 January 1943:
Charter party renewed.
2 January 1943:
At Rabaul.
3 January 1943:
At 0445 TSURUMI comes alongside to port and supplies 3000t heavy oil. At 1500 the transfer is completed.
20 January 1943:
At 0630, heavy cruiser KUMANO, Unit 3, begins anti submarine defense. Arrives at Kavieng later this day.
27 January 1943:
0640 ~ 0840 Refuels heavy cruiser KUMANO with 300-tons of heavy oil.
0940 ~ 1125 Refuels heavy cruiser CHOKAI with heavy oil.
1250 ~ 1400 Refuels light cruiser SENDAI with heavy oil.
28 January 1943:
Departs Kavieng for Rabaul.
30 January 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Shortland with patrol boat PB-38 as escort.
26 March 1943:
At Rabaul bunkers from auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU.
25 April 1943:
At 1440 CH-16 and CH-18 depart Rabaul to Palau escorting a convoy consisting of the tanker SAN CLEMENTE MARU (sailing in ballast) and cargo ships MIYAURA, ROKKOSAN, RISSHUN, RAKUTO, TOUN and HOKO MARUs. Later the convoy is joined by CH-37 and CH-16 is detached.
30 April 1943:
At 0555 CH-16 arrives back at Rabaul.
4 May 1943:
50 miles SE of Palau. At about 1725, LtCdr Harry B. Dodge’s (USNA ’30) USS SEAL (SS-183) attacks the slow 7-knot convoy. In a submerged attack, Dodge fires three torpedoes and hits SAN CLEMENTE MARU in her No. 4, No. 6 and No. 8 oil tanks. One crewmen is KIA. She lists to port and at about 2000, sinks at 06-50N, 134-28E. HOKO MARU rescues the survivors.
15 July 1943:
Removed from the Navy List.
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.
[2] There were two categories of Yusosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France and Berend van der Wal of Netherlands. Thanks also to Gengoro Toda of Japan.
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