Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(SANSEI MARU prewar)

IJN SANSEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012-2015 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2

6 December 1930:
Tama. Laid down by Mitsui Bussan Zosenbu K.K. shipyard for Dairen Kisen K.K., as a 3,234-ton cargo ship.
14 May 1931:
Launched and named SANSEI MARU. [1]
30 June 1931:
Completed and registered in Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, China). Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) is 3,234-tons and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) is 1,820-tons. [2]
1934:
GRT and NRT are changed to 3,266-tons and 1,872-tons respectively. [2]
24 April 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN and that same day starts conversion to military duty.
3 June 1941:
The conversion is completed.
15 October 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category and attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as homeport under internal order No. 1256. [3]
2 December 1941:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), China. Departs later that day.
3 December 1941:
Arrives at Chefoo (now Yantai), northern China. Departs later that day.
5 December 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun (now Lushun, ex-Port-Arthur), northern China. Departs later that day.
8 December 1941:
Departs Ryojun.
9 December 1941:
Arrives at Weihai, Manchuria. Departs later that day.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Seito. Departs for Japan later that day.
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
21 December 1941:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa. Departs later that day.
25 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
27 December 1941:
Departs Takao.
30 December 1941:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island.
1 January 1942:
At 1740 departs Samah.
3 January 1942:
At 1520 arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
4 January 1942:
At 1400 departs Camranh Bay.
6 January 1942:
At 0650 arrives at Saigon, Indochina (now Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam).
12 January 1942:
At 0910 departs Saigon.
14 January 1942:
At 0830 arrives at Camranh Bay.
17 January 1942:
At 1710 departs Camranh Bay.
21 January 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Haikow, Hainan Island.
24 January 1942:
At 1140 departs Haikow.
27 January 1942:
At 1840 arrives at Takao.
28 January 1942:
At 1730 departs Takao.
2 February 1942:
At 0930 arrives at Sasebo.
3 February 1942:
At 1110 departs Sasebo.
4 February 1942:
At 0940 arrives at Moji. That same day, assigned to transport small gunboats (Naikatei Hotei Gata) No. 1295 and No. 1327 to the China Theater under Sasebo Naval District secret order No. 65.
5 February 1942:
At 1550 departs Moji.
6 February 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Sasebo.
9 February 1942:
Assigned to transport mission to Shanghai under secret order 400/25.
10 February 1942:
Assigned to transport personnel and supplies under Sasebo Naval District secret order No. 84.
16 February 1942:
At 1300 departs Sasebo.
18 February 1942:
At 1020 arrives at Seso, Kakeroma Island, S of Amami-Oshima.
19 February 1942:
At 1245 departs Seso.
20 February 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Minami Daito-Jima, Daito Shoto.
9 March 1942:
At 1615 departs Minami Daito-Jima.
11 March 1942:
At 1850 arrives at Ishigaki-Jima, Yaeyama Retto.
15 March 1942:
At 1450 departs Ishigaki-Jima.
16 March 1942:
At 1250 arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
19 March 1942:
At 1515 departs Kirun.
21 March 1942:
At 1300 arrives at Naha.
26 March 1942:
At 1010 departs Naha.
27 March 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Kuji, Iwate Prefecture.
31 March 1942:
At 0630 departs Kuji and at 0740 arrives at Seso.
2 April 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Nagasaki.
5 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Nagasaki and arrives at Sasebo at 1050.
6 April 1942:
Assigned to tow one vessel (unspecified) to Yokosuka and to transport personnel and supplies mission under Sasebo Naval District secret order No. 177.
9 April 1942:
At 1040 departs Sasebo.
10 April 1942:
SANSEI MARU’s attachment is changed to Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as homeport under decree No. 660.
13 April 1942:
Departs Osaka.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka, initially with auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 3.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
7 May 1942:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 3.
12 May 1942:
Arrives at Palau, Western Carolines. Departs that same day and runs aground off the coast of Peleliu, Palaus.
14 May 1942:
Auxiliary gunboat FUKUYAMA MARU provides assistance.
13 August 1942:
Refloated.
14 August 1942:
Departs Peleliu and arrives at Palau later that same day.
21 August 1942:
Departs Palau and arrives at Garasumao, Babeldaob, Palaus later that day.
24 August 1942:
Departs Garasumao.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 September 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later in the day.
16 September 1942:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Tokyo that same day.
18 September 1942:
Undergoes extensive repairs at Ishikawajima shipyard.
5 November 1942:
Repairs are completed.
8 November 1942:
Departs Tokyo and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day.
13 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
5 December 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
16 December 1942:
Arrives at Kavieng, New Ireland.
18 December 1942:
Supplies fresh water to auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2.
19 December 1942:
Departs Kavieng.
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
1 January 1943:
Departs Palau.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Departs later in the day and arrives at Yokohama.
16 January 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives later that day at Yokosuka.
23 January 1943:
At 1000, departs Yokosuka in convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport (ex-auxiliary gunboat) KAHOKU MARU escorted by minesweeper W-18. Later at 33 degrees north W-18 detaches.
E 24 January 1943:
W-18 arrives back at Yokosuka.
30 January 1943:
At 14-30N, 144-40E SANSEI and KAHOKU MARU’s sailing together are met by auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU.
2 February 1943:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
16 February 1943:
Departs Truk.
18 February 1943:
Arrives at Ponape, Eastern Carolines.
28 February 1943:
Departs Ponape.
3 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
8 March 1943:
Departs Saipan and steams with auxiliary transport SHINSEI MARU No. 18 escorted by auxiliary subchasers SEKI MARU No. 2 and FUMI MARU.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
17 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives later that day at Yokohama.
23 March 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives that same day at Yokosuka.
28 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
9 April 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Truk.
20 April 1943:
At 1200, departs Truk for Palau in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport MEITEN MARU and auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU escorted by subchaser CH-33.
26 April 1943:
At 0800, the convoy arrives at Palau.
8 May 1943:
Departs Palau.
9 May 1943:
Arrives at Angaur, Palaus.
10 May 1943:
Departs Angaur.
11 May 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
16 May 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy P-516 also consisting of auxiliary transports RAKUTO, KEISHO MARUs and HINO MARU No. 5 and IJA transport TAIFUKU MARU escorted by minesweeper W 17.
25 May 1943:
At 30-30N, 133-10E two small auxiliaries join the convoy as additional escorts.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
28 May 1943:
Departs Kobe.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
30 May 1943:
Departs Shimizu.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives later in the day at Yokohama.
5 June 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives later that day at Yokosuka.
13 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3613B also consisting of auxiliary storeship SHINSEI MARU escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI.
20 June 1943:
Auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 departs Saipan to meet up with and escort the convoy.
20 ~21 June 1943:
Auxiiary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 arrives and begins escorting the convoy.
21 June 1943:
Auxiliary netlayer SHUKO MARU departs Saipan to meet up with and escort the convoy.
21 ~ 22 June 1943:
Auxiiary netlayer SHUKO MARU arrives and begins escorting the convoy.
22 June 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
17 July 1943:
Departs Saipan in convoy No. 3702B also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) MANJU MARU and auxiliary storeships TAKUNAN and CHIYO MARUs escorted by auxiliary subchasers CHa-5 and CHa-12.
20 July 1943:
An unidentified merchant ship joins the convoy.
21 July 1943:
At 1230, arrives at Truk.
1 August 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 5013 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) TATEBE and BOKUYO (MUTSUYO) MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Ponape.
12 August 1943:
Departs Ponape.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
20 August 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 7202 with auxiliary transport KEMBU (TATEBU) MARU escorted by Auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
28 August 1943:
Departs Palau and arrives later in the day at Garasumao.
1 September 1943:
Departs Garasumao and arrives later that same day at Palau.
2 September 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy FU-206 also consisting of IJA transports YASUJIMA, EHIME, YUBAE, SHINRYU MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 escorted by minesweeper W-18.
11 September 1943:
Minelayer YURIJIMA, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 and TAMA MARU No. 7 conduct an anti-submarine sweep ahead of the convoy.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
14 September 1943:
At 0845 departs Kobe in convoy No. 8914 also consisting of YOZAN MARU and an unidentified ship "SHINJI" MARU escorted by minesweeper W-27.
16 September 1943:
At 1730 arrives at Yokosuka. Departs later that day and arrives at Yokohama.
19 September 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives later in the day at Yokosuka.
28 September 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3928 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer UMIKAZE, patrol boat PB-46 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-25 and CHa-27.
4 October 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
8 October 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
12 October 1943:
Arrives at Marcus (renamed Minami Torishima after its capture), Ogasawara Gunto.
17 October 1943:
Departs Marcus.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
25 October 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima with auxiliary transport (ex-auxiliary gunboat) UNKAI MARU No. 10 with unknown escort.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture.
29 October 1943:
Departs Tateyama and arrives later in the day at Yokosuka.
5 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives later that day at Yokohama.
21 November 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives later in the day at Yokosuka.
25 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka with IJA transport OSAKA MARU escorted by unknown auxiliary submarine chaser CHa. Later the escort is joined by auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5.
29 November 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
7 December 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima for Iwo-Jima with military personnel and ammunition in convoy escorted by auxiliary gunboat MAGANE MARU.
8 December 1943:
About 27 nautical miles ESE of Iwo-Jima, LtCdr Eugene T. Sands’ (USNA ’30) USS SAWFISH (SS-276) intercepts the convoy. At 0200, Sands torpedoes and damages SANSEI MARU at 25-20N, 141-46E. There are no casualties. She is taken in tow by MAGANE MARU.
13 December 1943:
Arrives at Iwo-Jima. Unloads cargo and passengers.
25 December 1943:
Departs Iwo-Jima.
27 December 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
28 December 1943:
Undergoes emergency repairs.
5 February 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 305.
12 March 1944:
About 1850, breaks in two and sinks while still under repairs.

Authors Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with auxiliary collier (2,386 GRT ’36)
[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.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Back to IJN Transports Page