Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

HOKAKUMOTEI!

(Plan of SHINTO MARU No. 2 - Peter Cundall Collection)

IJN SHINTO MARU No. 2 :
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2020 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

1 July 1938:
Osaka. Laid down by Sanoyasu Dock K.K. as a 540 ton cargo ship for Sawayama Kyodai Shokai K.K.
11 October 1938:
Launched and named SHINTO MARU No. 2.
2 December 1938:
Completed with a NRT of 315 tons and registered at Busan, Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea). [1]
3 April 1939:
Navy (Resv) Lt(jg) Sunayama Hikoichi is appointed CO.
12 April 1939:
Arrives at Wuhu, China.
13 April 1939:
Departs Wuhu.
3 October 1939:
Arrives at Zhenjiang, China.
4 October 1939:
Departs Zhenjiang.
27 October 1939:
Arrives at Anking, China.
1940:
Her NRT is changed to 313 tons. [1]
5 December 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
20 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Sasebo Naval District under order No. 1701.
31 December 1941:
Attached to Rear Admiral Tashiro Sohei‘s (41) Sasebo Guard Force, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron under Order No. 1780.
1 January 1942:
Attached to Shikibaki First Patrol Unit under Sasebo Local Defense Squadron order No. 28.
14 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo and returns there later that day.
15 January 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Guard Force, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron under Order No. 14. Attached to Shikibaki First Patrol Unit under Sasebo Local Defense Squadron order No. 31.
16 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
24 January 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
26 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
3 February 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
5 February 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Guard Force, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron under Order No. 16. Attached to Shikibaki First Patrol Unit under Sasebo Local Defense Squadron order No. 32. Departs Sasebo that same day for guard duty outside port.
12 February 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
15 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
24 February 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
26 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
February 1942:
Rated as First patrol Unit, ship No. 6.
5 March 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
7 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
12 March 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
15 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
21 March 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
23 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
3 April 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
4 April 1942:
From 6 Apr’ 42, assigned to sweeping mission with Sweeping Unit No. 3, W Ishijima under telegram No. 34. Departs Sasebo that same day.
10 April 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Guard Force, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron under Order No. 22.
12 April 1942:
Assigned to sweeping mission, Ishijima area from 240° to 80° bearings under telegram No. 36.
15 April 1942:
Attached to Shikibu First Patrol Unit under Sasebo Local Defense Squadron order No. 35.
17 April 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
22 April 1942:
From 25 Apr’ 42, assigned to sweeping mission with Sweeping Unit No. 1, W Ishijima under Sasebo Guard Force instruction No. 2.
2 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
12 May 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
21 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
26 May 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
4 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
15 June 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
20 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
23 June 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
1 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
4 July 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
8 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
12 July 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
16 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
20 July 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
26 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo on gunnery practice. Returns to Sasebo later this day.
30 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
3 August 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
5 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
9 August 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
11 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
14 August 1942:
Disposes of one floating mine.
15 August 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
20 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
24 August 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
28 August 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
29 August 1942:
Disposes of three floating mines.
30 August 1942:
Disposes of two floating mines.
31 August 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
8 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
11 September 1942:
Disposes of one floating mine. Returns to Sasebo later this day.
23 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
25 September 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
29 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo on gunnery practice. Returns to Sasebo later this day.
1 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
8 October 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
15 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
19 October 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
21 October 1942:
Enters Sasebo Naval Yard drydock No. 6.
27 October 1942:
Undocked.
2 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
9 November 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
10 November 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Guard Force, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron under Order No. 33.
13 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
20 November 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
24 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port. Returns to Sasebo later this day.
5 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
6 December 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Guard Force, Sasebo Local Defense Squadron under Order No. 34.
12 December 1942:
Returns to Sasebo.
16 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
17 December 1942:
Attached to Shikibaki First Patrol Unit under Sasebo Local Defense Squadron order No. 47.
23 December 1942:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
27 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
4 January 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
11 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
15 January 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
19 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
21 January 1943:
Disposes of one floating mine.
26 January 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
29 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
5 February 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
9 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
16 February 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
20 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
27 February 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
3 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
6 March 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
10 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
17 March 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
22 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo on sanitary transport mission.
29 March 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo.
30 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo and returns there later this day.
2 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo for guard duty outside port.
7 April 1943:
Arrives back at Sasebo. Assigned to escort duty as primary mission under Sasebo Guard Force order No. 54. Released from guard duty under order No. 46. Thereafter, ship is fitted with 20 depth charges.
9 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Koniya, Amami-Oshima, Ryukyus later that day.
13 April 1943:
Departs Koniya.
14 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo on trials and returns there later that day.
20 April 1942:
Departs Sasebo on patrol. Arrives at Kagoshima later this day.
26 April 1943:
Departs Yamakawa escorting convoy ROKU-5 consisting of KATSURAGISAN and KONAN MARUs.
27 April 1943:
Arrives at Naze, Amami O-Shima, Ryukyus and departs there later that day.
29 April 1943:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa. Assigned to escort mission (tugboat) from 3 May ’43 under Sasebo Guard Force order No. 54.
E 30 April 1943:
Departs Naha for Kagoshima.
8 May 1943: MBR> Arrives at Sasebo. Conversion to new military duty begins. All netlayer equipment is replaced with minesweeping equipment.
15 May 1943:
Attached to General Escort Command under Sasebo Naval District order No. 42.
18 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
20 May 1943:
At 1300, departs Yamakawa, Okinawa escorting convoy ROKU-10 consisting of KEIUN, AMOY and TAIJIN MARUs.
21 May 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Naze and departs there at 1600.
22 May 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Naha.
25 May 1943:
At 1200, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-10 consisting of KEIAN and AMOY MARUs to Naze.
26 May 1943:
Arrives at Naze. The merchant ships are detached. Departs there on rescue mission for convoy ROKU-11. Arrives back at Naze later this day.
27 May 1943:
At 0500, departs Naze escorting convoy OKI-10 consisting of EIYO, HOKUREI, KORYU and TAIJIN MARUs.
28 May 1943:
Arrives off Yamakawa.
5 June 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-606 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
9 June 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
12 June 1943:
Departs Naha.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 June 1943:
Departs Kagoshima for Naha escorting convoy SHIKA-101 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
26 June 1943:
Departs Naha for Kagoshima escorting convoy OKI-603 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
2 July 1943:
At 1200, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-204 consisting of KAIJO, SUMIDA, RYUKYU and TAICHU MARUs.
3 July 1943:
Arrives at Seso, Amami Oshima.
4 July 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Koniya, Amami Oshima later in the day.
5 July 1943:
Departs Koniya and arrives at Seso later that day.
8 July 1943:
Departs Seso escorting convoy OKI-801.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
12 July 1943:
At 1300, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-202 consisting of AMOY and SEIAN MARUs. The ships sail at 8.5 knots.
13 July 1943:
Arrives at Naze. Departs later this day.
14 July 1943:
Arrives at Naha (ETA 0700).
15 July 1943:
Departs Naha.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
19 July 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Naze later that day.
20 July 1943:
Departs Naze escorting convoy OKI-003 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 July ~ 2 August 1943:
Undergoes construction of a minesweeping platform.
3 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
4 August 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
5 August 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-503 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Naze.
7 August 1943:
Departs Naze.
8 August 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
12 August 1943:
At 1000, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-201 consisting of IKUSAI GO (ex-Chinese YU CHI) also escorted by auxiliary netlayer AGATA MARU.
13 August 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
14 August 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Kagoshima.
22 August 1943:
At 1300, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-204 consisting of TOYOHARA, SHINTO, HITORA (ex-Panamanian RAMONA) and KANO MARUs.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Nago Wan, Okinawa.
25 August 1943:
Departs Nago Wan and arrives at Naha later that day.
26 August 1943:
Departs Naha.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Nomozaki (now part of Nagasaki).
29 August 1943:
Departs Nomozaki and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
2 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo escorting convoy ROKU-402 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships (probably KAIJO and SAKISHIMA MARUs).
3 September 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
5 September 1943:
At 1200, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-402.
6 September 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
7 September 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Naha.
9 September 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-904 consisting of RYUKYU, NICHIRIN (ex-British MATA HARI), KAIJO and KANO MARUs also escorted by auxiliary minesweeper HOEI MARU.
11 September 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day on anti-submarine sweep.
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Naze. Departs there at 1400 escorting convoy OKI-904.
13 September 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Kagoshima.
14 September 1943:
Departs Kagoshima.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 ~ 21 September 1943:
Undergoes maintenance and repairs.
22 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
26 September 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-603 consisting of WAKA MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
27 September 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
28 September 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Naha.
30 September 1943:
At 1200 (ETD), departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-002 consisting of KEIUN and DAISHIN MARUs. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze (ETA 1000), and departs there (ETD 1300) with SANKA MARU having joined the convoy.
2 October 1943:
At 1800, arrives at Yamakawa.
3 October 1943:
Departs Yamakawa and arrives at Kagoshima later this day.
10 October 1943:
Departure is postponed due to stormy weather.
11 October 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-005 consisting of IKOMASAN MARU, SHINSEI MARU No. 17 and three unidentified merchant ships.
12 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs later that day.
13 October 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Naha.
15 October 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-501 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
17 October 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Departs there later that day.
18 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 October 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
23 October 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
25 October 1943:
Departs Kagoshima and returns there later this day.
26 October 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-508 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
28 October 1943:
Arrive at Naha.
30 October 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-002 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
1 November 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Proximity sensor, temporary simple underwater hearing aid equipment and K-type underwater listening device are removed under Navy’s instruction No. 5286. Attached to General Escort Command under Sasebo Naval District order No. 49. Assigned to Escort Main Unit, Second Escort Unit.
4 November 1943:
At 1100, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-408 consisting of KEIUN, KAIJO, YAMAHAGI, KANO, KAIJUN, LUZON and CHUKA MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
5 November 1943:
Arrives at Naze (ETA 1100), and departs there at 1700.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Nago Wan and departs there later this day.
7 November 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Naha.
9 November 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-902 consisting of KEIUN and KAIJO MARUs and arrives at Seso later that day.
10 November 1943:
Departs Seso.
11 November 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
12 November 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Kagoshima.
13 November 1943:
Departs Kagoshima and returns there later in the day.
14 November 1943:
At 0900, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-403 consisting of KAIJO, KISHUN and MINAMI MARUs also escorted by auxiliary minesweeper HAKATA MARU No. 7 as far as Yamakawa.
15 November 1943:
At 1100 (ETA), arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
16 November 1943:
Arrives at Seiri Wan, Amami Oshima and departs there. Arrives at Koniya later that day.
19 November 1943:
At 1630, departs Koniya escorting convoy ROKU-802 consisting of KAIJO and KEIUN MARUs. The ships sail at 9 knots.
20 November 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Naha. Attached to General Escort Command under Sasebo Naval District order No. 50.
22 November 1943:
At 1400, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-202 consisting of BEIJU, SUMIYOSHI, TAICHU and DAISHIN MARUs. The ships sail at 8.5 knots.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at Naze (ETA 1000), and departs there (ETD 1100).
24 November 1943:
At 1730, arrives at Kagoshima.
28 November 1943:
At 1200, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-804 consisting of AMOY, TOYO (cableship), DAISHIN and NICHIMAN MARUs.
29 November 1943:
Arrives at Naze (ETA 1400), and departs there with only DAISHIN MARU still in convoy. Arrives at Kasari, Amami Oshima later this day.
30 November 1943:
At 1300, departs Kasari.
1 December 1943:
At 0900 (ETA), arrives at Naha.
2 December 1943:
Assigned to Second Escort Unit under instruction No. 114.
5 December 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-503 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
6 December 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
7 December 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
13 December 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-301 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
14 December 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
15 December 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
19 December 1943:
At 1100, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-904 consisting of KONAN, DAISHIN, ENJU and KEIZAN MARUs.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day. Auxiliary netlayer KASHIWA MARU departs Seso and joins the convoy escort later this day.
21 December 1943:
At 0138, in position 30-26N, 129-58E Army transport KONAN MARU with 683 passengers and 1,766-tons of general cargo is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later KIA) John A. Moore’s (USNA '29 ) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) (later lost in action). 69 crewmen, three gunners and 576 passengers are KIA. KASHIWA MARU rescue survivors. At 0600, in position 30-24N, 119-53E KASHIWA MARU herself is torpedoed by the same submarine and sunk with all hands including KONAN MARU’s survivors.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 December 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
28 December 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
29 December 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-902 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
30 December 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
31 December 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
1 January 1944:
Assigned to Second Escort Unit under instruction No. 31. Departs Kasari Wan on anti-submarine sweep.
2 January 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
5 January 1944:
Departs Naha.
6 January 1944:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day escorting convoy OKI-506 consisting of DAISHIN MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
7 January 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
8 January 1944:
Arrives at Naze and departs there at 0730.
10 January 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo. Enters drydock.
20 January 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo. Enters drydock. Attached to General Escort Command, Second Escort Unit under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 53.
2 February 1944:
Undocked.
4 February 1944:
Departs Sasebo and returns there later this day.
8 February 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
W coast of Kyushu, about 30 miles SE Goto Archipelago. Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles O. Triebel's (USNA '29) USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and damages SHIRANESAN MARU. 135 men are KIA. SHIRANESAN MARU proceeds to Sasebo escorted by torpedo boat SAGI.
9 February 1944:
Comes alongside SHIRANESAN MARU for accommodation work but because of strong waves this is difficult to accomplish. During detaching, collides with SHIRANESAN MARU and sustains light damage on wooden bridge part, port side.
10 February 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 February 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
12 February 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
16 February 1944:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-608 consisting of SHINNO, DAISHIN and KURAMASAN MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
17 February 1944:
Assigned to emergency transport mission to South Islands under telegram No. 171935.
18 February 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
22 February 1944:
Assigned to transport mission to Yokosuka after having loading cement at Moji under telegram No. 222049.
23 February 1944:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-302 consisting of DAISHIN MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
25 February 1944:
Arrives at Kikai Island.
26 February 1944:
Departs Kikai Island.
27 February 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 February 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
29 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji. Loads cement. Departs later for Yokosuka.
1 March 1944:
Attached to General Escort Command under Sasebo Naval District instruction No. 57.
5 March 1944:
Attached to Yokosuka Naval District for transport missions under Navy’s instruction No. 4.
10 April 1944:
Attached to Sasebo Naval District, Sasebo Guard Force under Navy’s instruction No. 13.
April 1944:
Current Captain is Navy (Resv) Lt (jg) Oguchi Yasumasa.
27 April 1944:
Captain Oguchi is relieved by Navy (Resv) Lt (jg) Kawanaka Takehiro as CO.
29 April 1944:
At 0400, departs Yokohama with auxiliary netlayers KISHIN MARU and NISSHO MARU No. 3 escorting convoy No. 3428 consisting of auxiliary storeship TAKUNAN MARU, IJN auxiliary transport KYUSHU MARU and IJA transports YAGI MARU and BANEI MARU No. 6, and arrives at Niijima, Izu Shoto (Islands) later in the day.
1 May 1944:
Departs Niijima with convoy No. 3428.
4 May 1944:
At 0930, arrives with convoy No. 3428 at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
10 May 1944:
At 0430, departs Chichi-Jima with auxiliary netlayer NISSHO MARU No. 3 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-4 escorting convoy No. 4510 consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KUMANOSAN MARU, IJN auxiliary transport KYUSHU MARU and IJA transports SEIRYU and YAGI MARUs, BANEI MARU No. 6 and ASAHI MARU No. 2.
At about 1130, LtCdr Charleton L. Murphy's (USNA ’32) USS STURGEON (SS-187) torpedoes and sinks SEIRYU MARU at 29-50N, 141-50E. The ship was carrying an important party of Construction Troops of whom 131 together with seven gunners and nine of the crew are killed. At 1930, subchaser CH-52 departs Chichi-Jima to reinforce the convoy.
13 May 1944:
At 0820, arrives with convoy No. 4510 at Yokosuka. CH-52 has been detached presumably on patrol.
15 June 1944:
Assigned to General Escort Command, Fourth Escort Unit.
27 June 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan). with minelayer NIIZAKI, auxiliary minesweeper SHONAN MARU No. 16, auxiliary patrol boats RYUSEI and CHIKUTO MARUs escorting convoy KATA-412 consisting of SHOKEI, BOKO, AMOY, KAKO, SHOSHIN, KAIJO, HITORA (ex-Panamanian RAMONA), TOYAMA MARUs, SHINKO MARU No. 2 GO, NANSHIN MARU No. 21 and one unidentified merchant ship.
29 June 1944:
Departs Seso escorting convoy KATA-412 and arrives at Naha later this day. Temporarily detaches from convoy and carries out an anti-submarine sweep.
1 July 1944:
Arrives at Seso. Departs later this day escorting convoy KATA 412.
4 July 1944:
Departs Naha.
7 July 1944:
Arrive at Kirun.
10 July 1944:
At 0300, departs Kirun via Naha for Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, auxiliary minesweepers TOSHI MARU No. 7, TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, HAKATA MARU No. 6 and auxiliary patrol boat CHOUN MARU No. 13 escorting convoy TAKA-005 consisting of TAIKAI, SANYO, AMOY, KEIUN, SEISHO and SHOSHIN MARUs, YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 and three unidentified merchant ships.
16 July 1944:
Arrives with convoy TAKA-005 at Kagoshima.
19 July 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Kirun with torpedo boat MANAZURU, minelayer NIIZAKI, auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU, auxiliary minesweepers HAKATA MARU No. 6, HOEI MARU, auxiliary patrol boats RYUSEI MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 13, TAISEI MARU No. 5 and auxiliary YUKO MARU escorting convoy KATA-917 consisting of TOAN, BRAZIL, KOSHU, NISSHIN, HOEI, NANSEI, UJINA, DAISHO, HAKUSHIN, MARUs, NANSHIN MARU No. 24, ASAHI MARU No. 2, Army landing ship SS-8, and six unidentified merchant ships, some enroute to Kirun, some direct, others via Naha.
22 July 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
25 July 1944:
Departs Naha.
27 July 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
31 July 1944:
At 0900, departs Kirun escorting convoy TAKA-903 consisting of HIKACHI, FUKUYO and KANKYO MARUs. The ships sail at 7 knots.
3 August 1944:
Departs Karimata, Okinawa.
8 August 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
11 August 1944:
Departs Naha for Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, and auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU escorting convoy NAKA-105 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
14 August 1944:
Arrives with convoy NAKA-105 at Kagoshima.
28 August 1944:
At 0400, departs Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, subchasers CH-49, CH-17 and CH-18, torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary subchaser CHIKUTO MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HOEI MARU and auxiliary HOKOKU MARU No. 3, escorting convoy KATA-827 consisting of TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3, DOSHI, ISSHIN, KINZAN, NANYO, TATSUWA, KEIZAN, DAISHIN, KEIUN, KOTSU, KORYU, AMOY, HAKUYO and JOGU MARUs, HORAI MARU No. 6, HORAI MARU No. 7, NANKO MARU No. 1 and 15 other unidentified ships.
30 August 1944:
Arrives with convoy KATA-827 at Naha.
2 September 1944:
Departs Seso escorting convoy NAKA-203.
4 September 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
8 September 1944:
Departs Kirun with subchaser CH-49, auxiliary minesweepers HIMESHIMA, HOEI and SEKI MARUs, auxiliary NITTO MARU escorting convoy TAKA-808 consisting of transports BUSHU, NICHIAN and NICHIMAN MARUs and DAIBOSHI MARU No. 6 and TOYO MARU No. 1, store ship KINEZAKI and IJA oiler KENJO MARU.
At 2205, LtCdr (later Cdr) Gordon W. Underwood's (USNA ‘32) USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) torpedoes and sinks NICHIAN MARU at 24-45N, 123-20E. 51 crewmen are KIA. Thereafter, Underwood also torpedoes and sinks NICHIMAN MARU at 24-45N, 123-20E. 53 crewmen are KIA.
At 2320, Underwood torpedoes and hits SHOKEI MARU’s port side aft. She sinks at 24-45N, 123-20E. Two crewmen are KIA. Thereafter, Underwood torpedoes and sinks SHINTEN MARU too at 24-45N, 123-20E. Eight crewmen and two gunners are KIA.
9 September 1944:
At 1918 at 24-26N, 124-04 E attacks a submarine. Drops 20 depth charges.
16 September 1944:
Arrives at Seso.
20 September 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
24 September 1944:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy KATA-411 consisting of IJN auxiliary transport TOYOSAKA MARU, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) HORAI (3,138 GRT), DAIKO, SHOKA and MALAY MARUs and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) TETSUZAN MARU.
26 September 1944:
Attacks a submarine. Drops 9 depth charges.
1 October 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 October 1944:
Departs Kirun with CD-30, torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, minesweeper W-15, minelayer NUWAJIMA, auxiliary minesweepers KAIYO MARU No. 1 GO, CHOUN MARU No. 8 and auxiliary patrol boats SOBUN, HOKUYO MARUs and CHOUN MARU No. 13 escorting convoy TAKA-410 consisting of TAKUSAN, TAIKAI, KOTSU and DAIYA MARUs and ten unidentified merchant ships.
14 October 1944: < BR> Arrives with convoy TAKA-410 at Kagoshima.
16 October 1944:
Departs Kagoshima still escorting convoy TAKA-410.
19 October 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
23 October 1944:
Departs Kagoshima on patrol.
24 October 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
29 October 1944:
Departs Sasebo on patrol.
30 October 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
November 1944:
Assigned to General Escort Command, Fourth Escort Unit.
3 November 1944:
Departs Kagoshima with torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU, minesweepers W-15 and W-16, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI and CHITOSE MARUs, TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, BANSHU MARU No. 51, TOSHI MARU No. 7 and SHONAN MARU No. 16, auxiliary patrol craft TAIAN MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 8 and auxiliary subchaser RYUSEI MARU escorting convoy KATA-322 consisting of IJN transport NICHIREN MARU (ex-British MATA HARI), IJA transports KAIRYU, KEIJO, DAISEI, GINZAN, DAISHIN (1,306 GRT) MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 12, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) KINZAN, KENJO, SEIZAN, MALAY and HIKOSAN MARUs, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KEIUN, SOSHU and KEIZAN MARUs and IJN shared tanker (B/C-AO) HOEI MARU No. 5.
5 November 1944:
Arrives at Nago, Okinawa.
6 November 1944:
Departs Nago and arrives with convoy KATA-322 at Naha later that day.
7 November 1944:
Departs Naha, catches up with and begins escorting convoy No. 3 consisting of CHOJUSAN, RYUKYU, KEIUN and SEIZAN MARUs, tanker HOEI MARU No. 5 and four unidentified merchant ships also escorted by auxiliary minesweepers HIMESHIMA MARU, BANSHU MARU No. 51 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
9 November 1944:
Carries out an anti-submarine sweep. At 0305, CHOJUSAN MARU is torpedoed at 31-15N, 129-10E by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's (USNA '33) USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) with the loss of one crewman. Assists torpedoed ship and rescues survivors.
11 November 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
14 November 1944:
Departs Kagoshima on escort mission duty.
15 November 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 November 1944:
Departs Sasebo on anti-submarine sweep. Takes part in rescue mission of landing craft depot ship AKITSU MARU. [2]
18 November 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
29 November 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
1 December 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Departs there later in the day, meets up and escorts convoy KATA-608 consisting of FUKUYAMA, DOKAN, UJINA, HIKOSAN, DAIJO and SHOTO MARUs and tanker NANRYU MARU No. 3 also escorted by subchaser CH-49, auxiliary patrol boat HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO and auxiliary minesweeper TAIAN MARU and probably other escorts.
9 December 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
11 December 1944:
Departs Naha.
12 December 1944:
Arrives at Kerama (W Naha) and departs there later that day.
16 December 1944:
Arrives at Funauke, Yaeyama Islands.
18 December 1944:
Departs Funauke and arrives at Ishigaki, Yaeyama Islands later this day.
21 December 1944:
Departs Ishigaki.
22 December 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
24 December 1944:
Departs Kirun with torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, KAIBOKAN CD-42, auxiliary minesweepers CHITOSE, HIMESHIMA MARUs and CHOUN MARU No. 8 escorting convoy TAKA-406 consisting of TATSUMIYA, SAKISHIMA, KEIUN MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships.
26 December 1944:
Convoy TAKA-406 arrives at Naha. CD-30, CD-42 and MANAZURU are detached.
27 December 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
28 December 1944:
Departs Naha.
31 December 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
5 January 1945:
Departs Kagoshima in unknown convoy with escort also consisting of kaibokan CD-30, CD-40, subchaser CH-49, minesweeper W-15, auxiliary minesweepers CHITOSE MARU and TAIHEI MARU No. 3 GO and auxiliary patrol boat CHOUN MARU No. 13. The ships sail at 10 knots.
8 January 1945:
In a night radar attack submarine USS PIRANHA torpedoes and damages SHINTO MARU No. 2 off the Ryukyu Islands in position 29°55'N, 130°05'E. The nature and extent of the damage is unknown.
12 January 1945:
Arrives at Kirun.
24 January 1945:
Departs Kirun with kaibokan CD-30, subchaser CH-49 and auxiliary minesweepers CHITOSE MARU and TOSHI MARU No. 7 escorting an unidentified convoy consisting of SEIZAN and KISHUN MARUs and others.
31 January 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
1 March 1945:
Arrives at Kuji Wan, Amami Oshima.
3 March 1945:
Departs Kuji Wan escorting convoy NAKA-301 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship (likely AMOY MARU).
5 March 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
6 March 1945:
On rescue mission.
8 March 1945:
Departs Kagoshima for Naha with CD-44, CD-118 and auxiliary minesweeper TAIHEI MARU No. 3 escorting convoy KANA-803 consisting of DOKAN, KEIZAN and SANKA MARUs.
9 March 1945:
At about 2345, CD-44 initiates a series of depth charge attacks on an unknown contact.
10 March 1945:
N of Amami O-Shima. At 0445, LtCdr Edward Ackerman's (USNA '39) USS KETE (SS-369) torpedoes and sinks SANKA MARU at 29-25N, 128-15E. 51 crewmen and 605 troops are KIA.
At 0705, USS KETE torpedoes and sinks DOKAN MARU at 29-48N, 128-02E. 27 crewmen, 23 gunners and 4 passengers are KIA.
At 0710, USS KETE torpedoes and sinks KEIZAN MARU at 29-25, 127-30E. 43 crewmen and 64 troops are KIA. She was carrying a cargo of 30 “Shinyo” explosive motor boats, 12 aerial torpedoes, 1000-tons of equipment and 500 barrels of gasoline.
Departs Kitakami on rescue mission for SANKA, DOKAN and KEIZAN MARUs.
After the loss of their charges, SHINTO MARU No. 2 and the other escorts return to Kagoshima. USS KETE fails to return from this patrol.
11 March 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
15 March 1945:
Assigned to Nansei Shoto (Ryukyus) Escort Unit.
17 March 1945:
Departs Kagoshima for Naha with CD-44, CD-118 and auxiliary minesweeper TAIAN MARU escorting convoy KATA-504 consisting of EDOGAWA and CHOKAI MARUs, OKINOYAMA MARU No. 5 and an unidentified ship. The convoy arrives at Chiringa Shima later that day.
18 March 1945:
Departs Chiringa Shima with convoy KATA-504.
21 March 1945:
Arrives at Naha with convoy KATA-504.
23 March 1945:
Sustains an air attack.
24 March 1945:
Sustains an air attack.
25 March 1945:
Sustains an air attack that causes heavy damage to hull. Ship is beached and under repairs outside port.
26 March 1945:
Logbook and all other secret documents are destroyed.
1 April 1945:
Her owners are changed to Sawayama Kisen K.K. Crew is assigned to Okinawa garrison under Navy’s instruction No. 120. Okinawa Invasion (Operation Iceberg) on Main Island begins that same day.
5 April 1945:
At 1600, sinks after being hit by US Army land-based battery gunfire. Three crewmen are KIA.
10 July 1945:
Removed from the Navy list under instruction No. 624.

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] AKITSU MARU was torpedoed and sunk 15 Nov ’44 by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's (USNA '33) USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) with the loss of 67 crewmen, 140 gunners and 2,093 men of the IJA's 64th Infantry Regiment, including the commander, and other units aboard. Over the next twenty-four hours, the escorts rescued 310 survivors.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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