Japanese Army Auxiliary Transports

RIKUGUN BYOINSEN

(Sister-ship TACOMA MARU, prewar)

SEATTLE MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012-2013 Bob Hackett
Revision 1

14 May 1908:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki shipyard as a 6,178 ton passenger-cargo ship for the Osaka Shosen Kaiska (OSK) Line.
3 May 1909:
Launched and named SEATTLE MARU.
26 July 1909:
Completed. She can accomodate nine 1st class, 46 2nd class and 395 3rd class passengers and carries a crew of 107.
August 1909:
SEATTLE MARU is placed in service on OSK’s Hong Kong ~ Kobe ~ Tacoma route. Departs Hong Kong on her maiden voyage to Tacoma, Washington carrying many immigrants to North America..
6 June 1917:
SEATTLE MARU is transferred to OSK’s South American route. She carries many Japanese immigrants to Brazil and Peru.
1917:
Departs Kobe on No. 3 Emigrant Voyage.
27 August 1931:
Arrives at Santos, Brazil.
1918:
Departs Kobe on No. 6 Emigrant Voyage.
1 February 1918:
Arrives at Santos.
1918:
Departs Kobe on No. 8 Emigrant Voyage.
6 August 1918:
Arrives at Santos.
8 July 1919:
Arrives at Ellis Island, New York from Fowey, England. Disembarks 87 Japanese passengers.
12 September 1920:
Arrives at Galveston, Texas.
1922:
Departs Kobe on No. 21 Emigrant Voyage.
7 February 1922:
Arrives at Santos.
1923:
Departs Kobe on No. 28 Emigrant Voyage.
6 September 1923:
Arrives at Santos.
1924:
Departs Kobe on No. 33 Emigrant Voyage.
4 April 1923:
Arrives at Santos.
1924:
Departs Kobe on No. 41 Emigrant Voyage.
6 November 1924:
Arrives at Santos.
c 1928:
Transferred to OSK’s Japan ~ Calcutta route.
November 1929:
Transferred to OSK’s Japan ~ Southwest Pacific route.
May 1933:
Placed on OSK’s Kobe ~ Dalian (Darien), Manchuria route.
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:
Chartered by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as a troop transport.
28 August 1937:
SEATTLE MARU departs Ujina and arrives at Moji.
29 August 1937:
Departs Moji in a convoy also consisting of HAKUBASHAN, KAIHE, KIKUKAWA, SOYO and TAITO MARUs. SEATTLE MARU carries 692 men and 195 horses of the IJA 3rd Division’s 34th Infantry Regiment including 34th Infantry HQ, 1st Battalion HQ, Machinegun Unit, 1st Battalion, Infantry Gun Platoon, 1st Battalion and the 16th Division’s 6th Field Anti-aircraft Artillery Unit,
5 September 1937:
Arrives at Wusung, China.
5 December 1937:
SEATTLE MARU and 32 other transports participate in a landing at Hangzhou Bay, China.
7 March 1938:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
13 October 1938:
Returned to her owners and placed on OSK’s Osaka ~ Tsingtao route.
19 December 1939:
Arives at Nanking (Nanjing), China on the Yangtze River.
2 February 1941:
Requisitioned by the (IJA) as a troop transport. Probably painted overall grey and armed with AA guns.
1941:
Carries troops to Saigon, South Indochina and Haiphong, North French Indochina.
16 September 1941:
Departs Takao.
1 October 1941:
Arrives at Saigon.
3 October 1941:
Enters dock. Undergoes hull cleaning.
13 October 1941:
Arrives at Whampoa (Huang Po) River, near Shanghai and departs that day.
14 October 1941:
Arrives at Takao, Taiwan.
16 October 1941:
Departs Takao.
18 October 1941:
Arrives at Whampoa River.
21 October 1941:
Departs Whampoa River.
23 October 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
26 October 1941:
Departs Takao.
30 October 1941:
Arrives at Saigon.
1 November 1941:
Enters dock. Undergoes hull cleaning. Probably converted to a hospital ship and repainted overall white with green horizontal stripe around thehull and red crosses on the sides and funnel.
11 November 1941:
Departs Saigon.
12 November 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
13 November 1941:
Departs Takao.
14 November 1941:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung), Formosa (Taiwan).
17 November 1941:
Departs Kirun.
20 November 1941:
Arrives at Kobe.
23 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
26 December 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai.
30 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai.
2 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina, Hiroshima Prefecture.
5 January 1942:
Departs Moji.
9 January 1942:
Arrives at Dalian.
10 January 1942:
The 6th medical group embarks patients for transport. Departs Dalian.
13 January 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
14 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
21 January 1942:
Departs Ujina.
23 January 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
25 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
26 January 1942:
Departs Ujina and arrives at Pusan.
30 January 1942:
Departs Pusan and arrives at Ujina.
31 January 1942:
Departs Moji.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
3 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
7 February 1942:
Departs Moji.
8 February 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
9 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji
10 February 1942:
Departs Moji and arrives at Pusan
12 February 1942:
Departs Pusan.
13 February 1942:
Departs Moji.
14 February 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
15 February 1942:
SEATTLE MARU runs aground, but is refloated and arrives at Moji later that day.
16 February 1942:
Departs Moji .
17 February 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
20 February 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
25 February 1942:
Departs Kirun.
28 February 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
1 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
3 March 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
4 March 1942:
Departs Pusan.
6 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
10 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
12 March 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
25 March 1942:
Departs Ujina.
27 March 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
28 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
31 March 1942:
Departs Ujina.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
4 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
5 April 1942:
Departs Ujina.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina. Unloads and departs.
10 April 1942:
Departs Sakaide, Japan.
12 April 1942:
Arrives at Pusan and departs that day.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Sakaide, Japan.
15 April 1942:
Departs Ujina.
25 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
28 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
14 May 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
17 May 1942:
Departs Saigon.
20 May 1942:
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an official notice to all belligerent countries that SEATTLE MARU is employed as a hospital ship.
22 May 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
26 May 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
1 June 1942:
Departs Saigon.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong. Departs that same day and arrives at Kirun.
18 June 1942:
Departs Kirun.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
2 July 1942:
Departs Kirun.
June 1942:
Departs Ujina.
5 July 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
8 July 1942:
Departs Kure. Calls at Chejudo (now Jeju-do) Island, Korea, Moji and Osaka.
31 July 1942:
Departs Ujina.
7 August 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
9 August 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
17 August 1942:
Departs Moji.
20 August 1942:
Arrives at Chongjin, northern Chosen (Korea) and departs.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
25 August 1942:
Departs Pusan.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
28 August 1942:
Departs Moji.
8 September 1942:
Arrives at Saigon, French Indo-China and departs.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong. Departs that same day and arrives at Kirun.
24 September 1942:
Departs Kirun.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
5 October 1942:
Arrives at Dalian (Dairen), Manchuria.
7 October 1942:
Departs Dalian.
10 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
12 October 1942:
Departs Moji.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
17 October 1942:
The 7th medical group embarks patients for transport. Departs Kirun.
21 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji, disembarks patients and departs. Arrives at Ujina and departs that same day.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Manila and departs that same day.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, departs and arrives at Kokopo, S Rabaul, New Britain.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
25 December 1942:
Departs Manila.
29 December 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
13 January 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, departs and arrives at Kokopo. Departs that same day for Palau.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
26 January 1943:
Departs Manila.
28 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
29 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 February 1943:
Departs Kirun.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
10 February 1943:
Departs Ujina.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Pusan.
21 February 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
24 February 1943:
Departs Manila.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
1 April 1943:
Departs Moji.
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Dalian.
5 April 1943:
Departs Dalian.
6 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
13 April 1943:
Departs Ujina.
9 May 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs.
10 May 1943:
Arrives at Ereventa, Bougainville Island, Solomons and departs.
23 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Kokopo.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that day.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
27 June 1943:
Departs Manila.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Cebu.
30 June 1943:
Departs Cebu.
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
7 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Kokopo, departs that day and arrives back at Rabaul.
28 July 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
31 July 1943:
Departs Manila.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Cebu.
3 August 1943:
Departs Cebu.
5 August 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
10 August 1943:
Departs Manila.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
16 August 1943:
Departs Palau.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
26 August 1943:
Departs Manila.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Kokopo.
5 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and departs that day.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
15 September 1943:
Departs Manila.
20 September 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
19 October 1943:
Departs Ujina.
11 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
19 November 1943:
Departs Singapore.
20 November 1943:
Arrives at Belawan, Sumatra.
21 November 1943:
Departs Belawan.
15 December 1943:
At 1500, SEATTLE MARU departs Takao for Moji in convoy No. 227 also consisting of HORAIZAN, GYOKUREI, KENREI, NIGITSU, NIKKO and HOREI MARUs, and KOTO MARU No. 2 escorted by minelayer NUMAKAZE.
16 December 1943:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung). ORYOKU and TEIYO MARUs join the convoy. NIGITSU MARU probably is detached and steams to Palau.
17 December 1943:
At 1800, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a signal from the CO of DesDiv 11 that reads: "The entire bow of NUMAKAZE has broken off from three meters above vicinity -----. There is a hole above and below the waterline on both sides of the ship forward of #1 main bulkhead. Another hole along the #7 beam starboard side above waterline 1 meter and about 30 centimeters. Have completed one patch and able to do eighteen knots.”
18 December 1943:
50 miles ENE of Naha, Okinawa. LtCdr (later KIA) John A. Moore’s (USNA '29 ) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) (later lost in action) torpedoes and sinks NUMAKAZE with all hands at 26-29 N, 128-26 E.
At 2130, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt another signal that reads: : “NUMAKAZE under tactical command commander DesDiv 1 left Takao escorting convoy No. 227. Route Moji. On 18 December at 2130 in position 26-30N, 128-13E reported sighting enemy submarine and depth charging same. Since then, nothing has been heard from said vessel. ----. A large quantity of material washed ashore at Betozaki in Okinawa.
22 December 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
5 January 1944:
Arrives at Ujina.
11 January 1944:
Departs Ujina.
8 February 1944:
Arrives at Kanagawa.
13 February 1944:
Departs Kanagawa and arrives at Galera.
22 February 1944:
At 0300, SEATTLE MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMO-12 also consisting of HAKOZAKI, FUSO, KUROGANE, YOZAN, CLYDE, CHINZEI, SHINYO, MISAKI, SHINKOKU (cargo), KAIKO, TSUKUBA, SAINEI, SHONAN and YAMAHAGI MARUs escorted by destroyer KURI and patrol boat PB-38.
23 February 1944:
KAMO MARU and an unidentified ship joins from Keelung and KAIKO MARU and six other unidentified ships split away from the convoy and depart escorted by KURI.
26 February 1944:
Arrives at Kanagawa.
27 February 1944:
Departs Kanagawa.
28 February 1944:
At 0845, arrives Reisui Bay, Korea and anchors.
29 February 1944:
At 0140, departs Reisui Bay and later that day arrives at Tomie, Goto Retto
2 April 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
16 June 1944:
Arrives at Ujina.
24 June 1944:
Arrives at Fusan, Korea.
25 June 1944:
Embarks personnel including replacements for Southern Army, 3rd Air Army HQ personnel, 6th and 7th Independent Maintenance Units (repair specialists for the IJA Type 3 “Hien” ("Tony") fighter of the Manila Air Depot, 63rd Anchorage HQ and 75th and 85th airfield battalions. Departs Fusan.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Ujina. Probably loads additional troops.
30 June 1944:
Departs Ujina.
6 July 1944:
At 1245, SEATTLE MARU departs Miike, Kyushu for Takao, Formosa convoy MOMA-02 also consisting of SHOZAN, JINZAN, TOKUSHIMA, HIZAN (HIYAMA), KOKKA, YASUKUNI and RYOFU MARUs escorted by destroyer HATSUSHIMO, kaibokan CD-1, CD-22 and minesweeper W-34.
12 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
14 July 1944:
At 1900, SEATTLE MARU departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-21C also consisting of MANTAI, MITSUKI, JINSAN, YASUKUNI, TENSHIN, YAMATAMA, SAINEI, HIZAN (HIYAMA), KOKKA, SHOZAN and SHOEI MARUs and tankers SHONAN, MITSU, AYAGIRI and AYAZONO MARUs escorted by kaibokan KUSAGAKI, CD-1, CD-22 and minelayers MAESHIMA, ENTO and minesweeper W-34.
16 July 1944:
At 0946, LtCdr Harold E. Ruble's (USNA ’33) USS PIRANHA (SS-389) torpedoes and sinks SEATTLE MARU at 19-17N, 120-15E. The ship was carrying 4, 285 IJNAF personnel. Among the units carried by SEATTLE MARU was the 6th and 7th Independent Maintenance Units, Manila Air Depot. HIYAMA and SHOZAN MARUs rescue 3,489 men or all but 296 of the embarked officers and men, 25 gunners and 45 crewmen.
Over the next six hours, Captain (later Rear Admiral-Ret) William V. O'Regan’s (USNA ’23) wolf pack, nicknamed the "Mickey Finns", consisting of LtCdr Duncan C. MacMillian's (USNA ’26) USS THRESHER (SS-200), LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Novell G. Ward's (USNA ’35) USS GUARDFISH (SS-217) and Ruble's USS PIRANHA closes in and decimates the convoy.
At 2300, MacMillian's USS THRESHER torpedoes and sinks SAINEI MARU at 18-53N, 119-32E. 21 troops and passengers on board, and three crewmen are KIA. At 2350, Ward's USS GUARDFISH torpedoes and sinks JINZAN MARU. 38 troops, one passenger, seven gunners, two watchmen and three crewmen are killed – a total of 51 dead. Two minutes later, Ward torpedoes and sinks MANTAI MARU. 72 military passengers and 43 crewmen are KIA.
17 July 1944:
The attacks continue. At 0034,Ward's USS GUARDFISH torpedoes and sinks HIYAMA MARU her decks full of Type 95 light tanks, motor vehicles, equipment, and ammunition. The ship was loaded with 101 troops of the 12th Independent Tank Regiment of whom four along with four of the crew are KIA. W-34 and CD-1 rescue survivors.
At 0345, MacMillian's USS THRESHER torpedoes and sinks SHOZAN MARU at 18-50N, 119-43E. 125 soldiers, 64 crewmen 24 gunners and about 500 of SEATTLE MARU survivors are KIA. CD-1 and W-34 rescue the survivors.

Author's Note:
Thanks go to John Whitman of Virginia and Fontessa-san of Japan for info on 1937 in Rev 1.

Bob Hackett

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