ZATSUYOSEN!
(SHINKYO MARU prewar)
IJN SHINKYO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2020 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 4
25 February 1932:
Uraga. Laid down by Uraga Senkyo K.K. Kojo shipyard as a 2,670-ton cargo ship for Chosen Yusen K.K., Jinsen.
24 November 1932:
Launched and named SHINKYO MARU. [1]
11 April 1933:
Completed. Her registered port is Jinsen, Chosen (now Incheon, South Korea). Her gross registered tonnage and net registered tonnage respectively are 2,670-tons and 1,554-tons. Her call sign is JERG.
E 1933:
Calls at Hanshin region (Osaka – Kobe area) ~ Busan (Fusan), Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea) ~ various northern Chosen ports ~ Vladivostok, U.S.S.R.
April 1935:
Departs Niigata, Honshu and calls at northern Chosen east coast’s various ports.
E 1935:
Her gross registered tonnage and net registered tonnage are changed respectively to 2,672-tons and 1,553-tons.
E 1936:
Calls at Hanshin region ~ Busan ~ northern Chosen east coast’s various ports ~ Vladivostok.
24 September 1940:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a transport (Ippan Choyosen). [2]
15 October 1940:
Registered in the IJN under internal order No. 716 and attached to the Sasebo Naval District as an auxiliary gunboat. Her home port is Sasebo. Navy Captain Hijioka Torajiro is appointed Commanding Officer.
15 November 1940:
Rerated under internal order No. 830 as a special auxiliary gunboat and attached to First Fleet. Rated as No. 12 Gunboat under First Base Area instruction No. 47.
27 December 1940:
The conversion is completed. SHINKYO MARU is fitted with three 12cm/45Cal 3rd Year Type guns. [3]
13 January 1941:
Navy LtCdr Fukuda Koji is appointed Commanding Officer.
15 January 1941:
Assigned to minelaying operations as a auxiliary gunboat under internal order No. 56.
23 March 1941:
Departs Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
E March-April 1941:
Operates in Central China waters.
4 April 1941:
Arrives at Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
5 May 1941:
Navy (Resv) Lt. (later Cdr) Maniwa Kenshika is appointed Commanding Officer.
9 May 1941:
Navy (Resv) Lt Azuma Tsuneji is appointed Commanding Officer.
10 June 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E June-July 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
8 July 1941:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. Transfers later to Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
12 July 1941:
Departs Takao.
E July-August 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
5 September 1941:
An unknown officer assumes command.
7 September 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 October 1941:
Attached to the 3rd Naval District, Sasebo Guard Force in Rear Admiral Tashiro Sohei’s (41) (ex CO of SHOGEI) Sasebo Local Defense Squadron also consisting of auxiliary patrol boat SHINKO MARU No. 5. Lt (later Cdr) Yamazaki Kidaichi (45) (former CO of auxiliary gunboat KONGOSAN MARU) is appointed CO.
5 December 1941:
Assigned to B point route monitoring from 6 December 1941 until 8 December 1941 under Sasebo Defense Squadron Command No. 14.
6 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for a patrol outside the port.
9 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for a patrol outside the port.
11 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for a patrol outside the port. Arrives back at Sasebo later this day.
13 December 1941:
Receives Sasebo Defense Squadron Order No. 23:
After laying the fifth and sixth minefields assigned to take part in a mission of the second patrol unit under command of the Sakito unit.
13 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for a patrol outside the port.
14 December 1941:
Lays 57 type 93 mines in the fifth minefield and lays 58 type 93 mines in the sixth minefield.
17 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Receives Sasebo Defense Squadron Order No. 25:
Assigned as a mothership to the Shijiki unit under command of the Shijiki unit for a mission of the first patrol unit from 19 December 1941 until 23 December 1941.
19 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for a patrol outside the port.
22 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 December 1941:
Enters a dock.
31 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for a patrol outside the port.
6 January 1942:
Collides with the auxiliary oiler AKATSUKI MARU. The bridge is very heavily damaged.
7 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 January 1942:
Rated as Oshima Area Defense Unit’s Sea Surface Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval Distrcit orderNo. 14. Attached to Oshima Near Defense Force Sea Surface Defense Force under Sasebo Naval Defense Force Command No. 31.
31 January 1942:
Bridge repair and restoration.
4 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
5 February 1942:
Oshima Area Defense Unit’s Sea Surface Defense Unit rating confirmed under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 16. Oshima Near Defense Force Sea Surface Defense Force attachment confirmed under Sasebo Naval Defense Force Command No. 32.
Arrives at Seso, Kakeroma Island, S Amami-Oshima.
16 February 1942:
Departs Seso.
20 February 1942:
Arrives at Naha.
25 February 1942:
Departs Naha.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Rated as the third unit in the first platoon.
18 March 1942:
Departs Seso and return later this day.
21 March 1942:
Departs Seso and return later this day.
22 March 1942:
Departs Seso.
23 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
29 March 1942:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
31 March 1942:
Departs Kagoshima.
1 April 1942:
Arrives at Naze.
2 April 1942:
Departs Naze.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
4 April 1942:
Departs Seso and return later this day.
6 April 1942:
Departs Seso and return later this day.
8 April 1942:
Departs Seso. At 1900 meets up with an Army convoy at 36 degrees and 7 nautical miles of Yokoatejima and begins escorting it.
10 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
12 April 1942:
Departs Seso.
18 April 1942:
Arrives at Seso, Kakeroma Island, S Amami-Oshima.
15 May 1942:
Departs Seso and return later this day.
16 May 1942:
Departs Seso and return later this day.
21 May 1942:
Departs Seso. Returns back later that same day.
25 May 1942:
Departs Seso.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
30 May 1942:
Departs Seso with auxiliary netlayer AGATA MARU, auxiliary subchaser RYOSUI MARU, auxiliary subchaser HOKOKO MARU No.3 GO and auxiliary gunboat SHINKYO MARU to rescue survivors, assist ATSUTA MARU and carry out anti-submarine sweeps under Oshima Base Force instruction No. 6. They assist with the fire-fighting of ATSUTA MARU.
Assigned to depart as soon as ready to rescue the Army transport ATSUTA MARU crew and anti submarine sweeping under Oshima Defense Force wireless order No. 7.
31 May 1942:
Assigned to extinguish the fire on ATSUTA MARU as much as possible under Oshima Defense Force wireless order No. 12.
Departs Seso. At 2300 arrives on site. Unable to approach because the fire on ATSUTA MARU fire is to heavy.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Departs later that day.
3 June 1942:
Around midnight ATSUTA MARU sinks about 50 nautical miles east of Chinenzaki, Okinawa with the loss of 37 passengers.
At 1430, Arrives at Yonabaru, Okinawa. At 1730 completes replenishment and transfer of sailors.
6 June 1942:
Searches for ATSUTA MARU.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
10 June 1942:
Departs Seso.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
17 June 1942:
Departs Seso.
18 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
17 July 1942:
Departs Oshima Island arriving later that same day at Sasebo.
18 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Seso.
20 July 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Unloads 829 gun ammunition and 300 rifle bullets.
24 July 1942:
Departs Seso for Ishigaki-Jima, Yaeyama Retto, NE Formosa.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Ishigaki-Jima. Departs later that same day for Iriomote, Yaeyama Retto.
27 July 1942:
Arrives at Iriomote. Calls at Ishigaki and transfers back at Iriomote, arriving at Funauki Port later that same day.
29 July 1942:
Departs Funauki arriving that day at Yonakuni Island, Yaeyama Retto. Departs later for Miyako, Miyako Retto.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Miyako. Departs later that day for Naha, Okinawa.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Naha.
3 August 1942:
Departs Naha for Seso.
4 August 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
6 August 1942:
Undergoes repairs and cleaning to her No. 2 tank nozzle.
14 August 1942:
Departs Seso.
15-16 August 1942:
Conducts random antisubmarine patrol.
17 August 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
22-23 August 1942:
Loads fresh food.
25 August 1942:
Departs Seso, conducts practices anti aircraft shooting and arrives back at Seso. Loads again fresh food. Undergoes repairs to her water pumps fans axle (‘til 26 Aug).
28 August 1942:
Loads fresh food.
6 September 1942:
Departs Seso. Calls at Sasebo and arrives back at Seso later that day.
7 September 1942:
Suddenly assigned on anti submarine sweeping under Oshima Defense Force wireless No. 15.
Departs Seso on anti submarine sweeping.
E 8-9 September 1942:
Conducts random antisubmarine patrol.
10 September 1942:
Oshima Defense Force wireless No. 15 is cancelled under Oshima Defense Force wireless No. 17. Arrives at Seso.
17 September 1942:
Undergoes repairs to her ballast lifts sliding valve lid and sliding valve frame.
21 September 1942:
Undergoes repairs to her oil pipe cooling generator.
23 September 1942:
Departs Seso.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Nagasuku Bay, Okinawa.
25 September 1942:
Departs Nagasuku Bay.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Ishigaki. Departs later that day for Funauki.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Funauki.
28 September 1942:
Departs Funauki and arrives at Yonaguni later this day. Departs later that day.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Miyako and departs later that day.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Naha.
3 October 1942:
Departs Naha on anti submarine sweeping.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
7 October 1942:
Departs Seso, proceeds to gunfire trials and arrives back at Seso later that same day.
9 October 1942:
Departs Seso, proceeds to gunfire trials.
10 October 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
22 October 1942:
Departs Seso with auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 2 and arrives at Naze, Amami Oshima, later that same day.
23 October 1942:
Departs Naze and arrives at Seso later that day.
27 October 1942:
Departs Seso for some training exercises in various whereabouts. Arrives at Naze later that day.
28 October 1942:
Departs Naze and arrives at Satsukawa, Oshima later this day.
29 October 1942:
Departs Satsukawa and arrives at Seso later that day.
31 October 1942:
Replenishes 10-tons of fresh water.
5 November 1942:
Undergoes repairs to broken seals in the main mechanical pressure cylinder packing boxes.
18 November 1942:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze later this day.
19 November 1942:
Departs Naze and arrives at Seso later that day.
20 November 1942:
Departs Seso for Sasebo.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
E 23-27 November 1942:
Loads 110-tons of cargo and embarks 55 troops.
28 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Seso.
29 November 1942:
Arrives at Seso.
30 November 1942:
Proceeds to unloading operations.
1 December 1942:
Departs Seso for Sasebo.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 December 1942:
Enters a dock at Sasebo Naval Arsenal.
11 December 1942:
Leaves the dock.
18 December 1942: Operation C (HEI-GO) - The Reinforcement of New Guinea:
Assigned to a transport mission under Combined Fleet secret instruction No. 178. The objective of this transport operation is to rush the 20th and 41st Army Division to Wewak, New Guinea (now Papua New Guinea). The operation consists of three separate operations, two of them divided into sub echelons sailing at different dates: The first operation HEI-ICHI GO (HEI-GO 1) is to land the main strength of the 20th Army Division consisting of 9,443 men, 82 vehicles, arms and 12,267 bundles of provisions at Wewak. The third operation is to land the main strength of the 41st Army Division consisting of 13,657 men, 123 vehicles and 95, 617 bundles of supplies and provisions at Wewak. [5]
19 December 1942:
Rated as a Combined Fleet Main Force Hei Go tranport unit under Combined Fleet wireless order No. 422. Departs Sasebo for Seso.
20 December 1942:
Arrives at Seso. Proceeds to unloading operations.
21 December 1942:
Under command of the Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 11: Oumi instruction No. 178.
23 December 1942:
Departs Seso.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 December 1942:
Arrives at Kawasaki in East Convoy No. 59 also consisting of MISHIMA, ISSEI, WOOSUNG and DAISHIN MARUs escorted in the latter stages by hydrographic survey ship KOMAHASHI.
30 December 1942:
Temporarily equipped with one set of medium type 1 modified anti submarine protection equipment at an appopiate position, one set of type TM electric wireless telegraph modification and one 13 mm machine gun under instruction No 301341: Oumi Instruction No. 178.
4 January 1943:
Rated as the Third Transport Corps No. 1 Transport Unit under No. 1 Transport Unit Command instruction No. 1.
Departs Sasebo.
5 January 1943:
Arrives at Busan. Loads 399 troops of the 20th Army division assigned to the first operation HEI-ICHI GO (HEI-1) and 300 bundles of supplies.
7 January 1943:
Departs Busan for Wewak, New Guinea with transport group “HINOE-GO No. 1” in the 3rd transport echelon also consisting of JUSAN MARU escorted by destroyer YUGURE.
11 Janaury 1943:
Under command of the command of the Southeast Area Fleet under Combined Fleet wireless command No. 446.
12 January 1943:
Under the command of the Southeast Area Fleet confirmed under Southeast Area Fleet instruction No. 13.
15 January 1943:
At 1000, the 3rd transport echelon arrives at Palau, Carolines.
19 January 1943:
At 0800, SHINKYO MARU departs Palau for Wewak in the 3rd transport echelon also consisting of ARATAMA and JUZAN MARUs escorted by destroyer YUGURE.
23 January 1943:
At 0200, the convoy arrives at Wewak and unloading operations are proceeded. Offloads 399 members of the 20th divison and 300 objects.At 1100, the convoy departs Wewak for Palau.
25 January 1943:
Under command of Southeast Area fleet revoked under Combined Fleet wireless command No. 461. Rated as Fourth Transport Corps Hein No. 3 Tranport Unit under Hei Transport Command instruction No. 3.
26 January 1943:
The convoy arrives at Palau.
30 January 1943:
Departs for Seito (Tsingtao), China in the same convoy.
E February 1943:
Loading operations of 41st Army Division troops, vehicles, supplies and provisions are proceeded.
5 February 1943:
At 0722, destroyer YUGURE arrives and begins escorting the convoy.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
10 February 1943:
Destroyer YUGURE departs Seito.
12 February 1943:
At 1200, departs Seito in convoy consisting of JUZAN MARU, SHINKYO MARU, and ARATAMA MARU carrying elements of the 41st Division. Destroyer YUGURE joins to escort the convoy.
13 February 1943:
Under command of the command of the Southeast Area Fleet under Combined Fleet wireless command No. 483. Under the command of the Southeast Area Fleet confirmed under Southeast Area Fleet instruction No. 2.
21 February 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
22 February 1943:
At 1300, departs Palau in the 4th transport echelon convoy also consisting of JUSAN and ARATAMA MARUs escorted by destroyers YUGURE, SATSUKI and FUMIZUKI.
26 February 1943:
At 1200, after a submarine alert, in which a Nakajima B5-N Kate drops bombs on a shadow in the water, the convoy arrives at Wewak, discharges troops and cargo. At 2330 the same day, departs Wewak back to Palau.
27 February 1943:
2 March 1943:
Arrives at Palau. Departs later for Sasebo.
5 March 1943:
Departs Palau for Sasebo.
11 March 1943:
Departs Oshima.
15 March 1943:
SHINKYO MARU is attached to the 5th Fleet, 22nd Picket Boat Squadron also consisting of AKAGI, AWATA, ASAKA, SHOKO and KAMITSU MARUs.
17 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Probably undergoes maintenance and repairs.
E April 1943:
Assigned to patrol E of Japan’s mainland.
21 April 1943:
At 0900 departs Sasebo for Yokosuka.
24 April 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Yokosuka.
3 May 1943:
Reserve LtCdr Hiroe Shinichiro is appointed CO. Lt Yamazaki is later posted CO of auxiliary gunboat MAGANE MARU.
15 May 1943:
At 1425 departs Yokosuka.
17 May 1943:
Patrols the Ku patrol line.
18 May 1943:
Ordered to immediately depart to Kushiro under Patrol Unit wireless No. 102.
21 May 1943:
At 0852 arrives at Kushiro.
24 May 1943:
At 1415 departs Kushiro for Paramushiro (now Paramushir, Russia) in convoy with auxiliary gunboat HINO MARU No. 1 and 13 picket boats.
26 May 1943:
At 1500, meets up with auxiliary gunboat HINO MARU No. 2.
29 May 1943:
At 0720 arrives at Paramushiro.
12 June 1943:
Receives Patrol Unit Instruction No. 3:
Scheduled to depart Paramushiro Strait at 0800 on 18 June 1943 for Yokousuka. After arriving assigned to command a local patrol boat and engage in patrols on the eastern ocean of the main land.
18 June 1943:
At 0800 departs Paramushiro.
24 June 1943:
At 0800 arrives at Yokosuka.
2 July 1943:
At 1640 departs Yokosuka.
4 July 1943:
At 1200 commences the patrol.
4-13 July 1943:
Operates in patrol area.
14 July 1943:
At 1200 departs patrol area.
18 July 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Yokosuka. Allegedly departs later and arrives at Ominato, Aomori Prefecture at an unknown date.
5 August 1943:
At Ominato. Rated as Northeastern Unit Second Base Aviation Unit Patrol Unit.
23 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
9 August 1943:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka.
14 August 1943:
At 1200 commences a patrol.
18 August 1943:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 September 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka.
19 September 1943:
At 1200 commences a patrol.
2 October 1943:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
7 October 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 October 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Yokosuka.
23 October 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka.
27 October 1943:
At 1200 commences a patrol.
3 November 1943:
At 0600 concludes the patrol.
11 November 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Yokohama.
19 November 1943:
Yokohama. Docks at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries K.K. shipyard for a refit and military conversion.
1 December 1943:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 2562. That same day SHINKYO MARU is re-registered under internal order No. 2763 and attached to the Sasebo Naval District.
4 December 1943:
Attached to the Sasebo Naval District as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category. Her home port is Sasebo. [4]
25 January 1944:
Navy (Resv) LtCdr. Hiroe Shinichiro is confirmed as Commanding Officer
31 January 1944:
The conversion is completed. Transfers to Tokyo.
3 February 1944:
Departs Tokyo.
9 February 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
13 February 1944:
Departs Kure for Moji.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
16 February 1944:
Departs Moji in convoy MOTA-03 also consisting of six unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer NAMIKAZE and auxiliary minesweeper TAIAN MARU.
21 February 1944:
Convoy MOTA-05 is attacked by US Submarines and later aircraft. As a result MOTA-03 is ordered to remain at Naha and await MOTA-05.
27 February 1944:
The two convoys merge and depart from Naha. MOTA-05 at this point consists of SHONAN, NICHIREI MARUs and tanker TEIKON MARU and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan IKI.
29 February 1944:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
5 March 1944:
In the early morning departs Kirun and later that day arrives at Takao.
11 March 1944:
Departs Takao for Manila, Luzon, Philippines in convoy TAMA-10 also consisting of tanker SAN PEDRO MARU and passenger/cargo ANSHU, MITO, KURAMASAN, ATLAS MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 32 escorted by auxiliary subchasers CHa-45, CHa-55, CHa-70, HINODE MARU No. 15 and MISAGO MARU No. 2.
14 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
20 March 1944:
At 0630, departs Manila for Kau Bay, Halmahera, Moluccas, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) in convoy H-22 also consisting of KUNIKAWA, ANSHU, ATLAS, TOYOOKA, BENGAL, KURAMASAN and MITO MARUs, escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA and minesweeper W-30.
22 March 1944:
At 1116, minesweeper W-30 drops depth charges.
23 March 1944:
Zamboanga Sea. At about 1530, in the Basilan Strait, Philippines, auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 12 joins the escort and W-30 is detached.
24 March 1944:
At 1430, as planned KUNIKAWA MARU is detached from the convoy and proceeds independently to Balikpapan Bay, Borneo arriving later that day.
About 28 nms E of Cape Chinaka, SE Mindanao, Philippines. LtCdr (later Cdr) Walter T. Griffith’s (USNA’34) USS BOWFIN (SS-287) makes radar contact with the convoy. At 2348, Griffith’s first salvo scores two hits on BENGAL MARU at 05-38N, 125-58E. In addition to her 54 crewmen, the transport is carrying 262 soldiers, 150 Formosans attached to a military labor unit and 54 other passengers. BENGAL MARU sinks rapidly taking down with her 41 crewmen, four
gunners and 161 passengers.
At 2353, Griffith torpedoes and hits SHINKYO MARU at 05-37N, 125-58E. Awash from stern to bridge, SHINKYO MARU sinks in three minutes taking down with her 12 crewmen and 49 passengers.
15 May 1944:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 654.
Authors Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport (5204 GRT, ’18)
[2] See Zatsuyosen home page for full explanation.
[3] Additionally, SHINKYO MARU was fitted with two single 13mm Type 93 MGs, one 7.7mm single MG, 13
rifles, six pistols and two depth-Charge stern racks with storage for 32 Type 95 DCs.
[4] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[5] The second of the three planned movements, Operation HEI-NI-GO (Hei-2), the transport of the 208th Air Group was cancelled.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan and Berend van der Wal of Netherlands. Thanks also go to Matthew Jones of Mississippi for IJN COs' info.
Photo credit and special thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany for his assistance concerning Operation C (HEI-GO).
-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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