RIKUGUN YUSOSEN
(Type C Standard Cargo Ship)
IJA SHINKOKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012-2017 Bob Hackett
1943:
Innoshima Laid down at Urabe Zosen K.K., as Yard No. 47923, a 2,746-ton
Standard 1C Class cargo ship for Kuribayashi Shosen K.K., Tokyo.
1943:
Launched and named SHINKOKU MARU. [1][2]
September 1943:
Completed.
11 October 1943:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and alloted IJA No. 1150.
5 February 1944:
SHINKOKU MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-01 also
consisting of HOZAN, MALTA, TEIYU, TENSHIN and ZUIYO MARUs and an unidentified
merchant ship escorted by destroyer MINEKAZE and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN
MARU. MALTA MARU is carrying 800 passengers.
10 February 1944:
At 0415, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Ralph M.
Metcalf's (USNA ’35) USS POGY SS-266) running on the surface fires six bow
torpedoes at the convoy.
Two torpedoes hit and sink MINEKAZE at 23-20N, 121-30E. Her CO, LtCdr
Imaizumi Masajiro (62), and 99 of crewmen are KIA. MALTA MARU is hit by two
torpedoes portside aft. At 0430, she sinks at 23-21N, 121-35E. 33 crewmen and an
unknown number of passengers are KIA.
SHINKOKU MARU is is hit by one torpedo and damaged. Her captain runs her
aground to prevented sinking.
11 February 1944:
At 1300, after emergency repairs, SHINKOKU MARU is
refloated and later arrives at Takao where she undergoes repairs.
February 1944:
Repairs are completed.
22 February 1944:
At 0300, SHINKOKU MARU departs Takao for Moji in
onvoy TAMO-12 also consisting of CHINZEI, CLYDE, FUSO, HAKOZAKI, KAIKO,
KUROGANE, MISAKI, SEATTLE, SHINYO, SAINEI, SHONAN, TSUKUBA, YAMAHAGI and YOZAN
MARUs escorted by destroyer KURI and patrol PB-38. [1]
23 February 1944:
KAMO MARU and an unidentified ship join from
Keelung. KAIKO MARU and six unidentified ships are detached 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
11 June 1944:
At 1530, SHINKOKU MARU departs Moji in convoy MI-07 also
consisting of GYOKUYO, KAKOGAWA, KAMO, KOKKO, MATSUURA, MINO, MYOGI, NISHI
(ex-British KALGAN), OYO, SHIMPO, TAIKAI and YULIN,MARUs and tankers and tankers
KOEI, TAIEI, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO, SAKURA and SAN LUIS MARUs, landing ship KORYU (SS
1) and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyers ASAGAO and
ASAKAZE, kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-2 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
Immediately after leaving port, KOEI MARU develops engine problems and
returns to port.
15 June 1944:
At 1040, anchors at Oshima Strait, Amami-Oshima.
16 June 1944:
Departs Oshima Strait.
17 June 1944:
MATSUURA and KAMO MARUs are detached with destroyer
ASAGAO for Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan).
18 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao. Later, ASAGAO rejoins
convoy. At 1955, the convoy departs Takao.
23 June 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Manila. ASAGAO and CD-2 are
detached.
27 June 1944:
At 0600, SHINKOKU MARU departs Manila in convoy MI-07
also consisting of KAKOGAWA, KAMO, KENEI, MATSUURA, MINO, NISHI, NITTETSU, OEI,
OYO, SHIMPO, TAIKAI and MYOGI MARUs and tankers KOEI, TAIEI, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO,
SAN LUIS and SHIROGANESAN MARUs, TAKETSU (BUTSU) and YAMAKO (SANKO) MARUs and
seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE, kaibokan
YASHIRO and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
2 July 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Miri.
13 November 1944:
Aircraft of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman’s (USNA ‘10) temporarily in command
of Task Force 38’s carrier task groups TG 38.1, TG 38.3 and TG 38.4 attack Manila Harbor. The planes bomb and sink SHINKOKU MARU at 14-35N, 120-55E.
Casualities are unknown.
Authors’ Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with Navy oiler SHINKOKU MARU (10,0209 GRT).
[2] Also known as SHIGYOKU MARU.
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
- Bob Hackett
Back
to IJA Transports
