Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!
(NISSHO MARU No. 18, sistership of SHINYO MARU No. 8)

IJN SHINYO MARU No. 8:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

10 February 1940:
Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. Laid down by Mukaishima Dock K.K. shipyard for Okada Kaiun K.K. as a 1,959-ton cargo ship.
17 November 1940:
Launched and named SHINYO MARU No. 8.
1 February 1941:
Completed and registered in Sakai, Tottori Prefecture.
23 June 1942:
Departs Tokyo Bay bound for Muroran, Hokkaido in a convoy also consisting of civilian cargo ships (C-AK) ASAMA MARU (4891 GRT) and SHINYO MARU No. 3, IJA transports UGA (4433 GRT) and HINKO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat KEISHIN MARU.
29 June 1942:
Scheduled to be requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned transport.
30 June 1942:
Scheduled to be requisitioned by the IJN as an auxiliary transport.
4 July 1942:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
10 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan (Bay), Shimushu-To, Kuriles (now Zaliv Kozyrevskogo, Ostrov Shumushu). That same day, scheduled to be converted to an auxiliary transport by Yokosuka Naval Yard under Navy’s secret instruction No. 8659.
20 July 1942:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as home port under Navy’s instruction No. 1336. [1]
27 July 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Musashi Wan (now Zaliv Vasil’yeva), Paramushiro, Kuriles.
10 August 1942:
Departs Musashi Wan.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
24 August 1942:
Departs Paramushiro.
27 August 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
4 September 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
6 September 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate, Hokkaido.
8 September 1942:
Departs Hakodate.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Ominato, Aomori Prefecture.
13 September 1942:
Departs Ominato.
14 September 1942:
Arrives at Maoka, Karafuto (now Kholmsk, Sakhalin).
16 September 1942:
Departs Maoka.
21 September 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo. Departs later.
2 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Shimotsu, Wakayama Prefecture.
6 October 1942:
Departs Shimotsu.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
13 October 1942:
Departs Yawata.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo, Chosen (now North Korea).
26 October 1942:
Departs Chinnnampo.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Kobe.
4 November 1942:
Departs Kobe.
8 November 1942:
Arrives at Konan, Chosen (now North Korea).
10 November 1942:
Departs Konan.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
19 November 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Otaru, Hokkaido.
24 November 1942:
Departs Otaru.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Funakawa, Akita Prefecture.
30 November 1942:
Departs Funakawa.
1 December 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
3 December 1942:
Departs Otaru.
4 December 1942:
Arrives at Funakawa.
7 December 1942:
Departs Funakawa.
8 December 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
10 December 1942:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Muroran later that day.
12 December 1942:
Departs Muroran loaded with 2,400-tons of coal in South Convoy No. 70 also consisting of IJA transports TOSEI and FUKUYAMA (ex-British FEDERLOCK) MARUs, IJN shared transport (B/C-AK) SEIAN (3721 GRT) MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ships SHOZAN (5859 GRT), SHINTO (KAMISHIMA) and SHOBU (2005 GRT) MARUs, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) TAISEI (407 GRT) MARU, and government owned cargo ship (C-AK) SHINNAN (ex-British ARGUS) MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Yamada, Iwate Prefecture.
14 December 1942:
Departs Yamada and arrives at Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture later that day.
21 December 1942:
Departs Ofunato loaded with 2,400-tons of cement.
23 December 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
27 December 1942:
Departs Tokyo, calls at Yokohama and returns to Shibaura, Tokyo later that same day.
28 December 1942:
Departs Shibaura for Yamada Bay, Iwate Prefecture in North Convoy (Hokko) No.80 also consisting of auxiliary transports SHOEI (3,083 GRT) and KAIKO MARUs, IJA transport UGO MARU, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) UGA MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) YUZAN MARU (6,380 GRT) escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU. At some point, SHINYO MARU No. 8 is detached and arrives at Yamada Wan.
30 December 1942:
Departs Yamada Wan in North Convoy (Hokko) No. 81 also consisting of auxiliary transport KIMISHIMA MARU and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SHIGANOURA MARU escorted by subchaser CH-33 for Muroran. Enroute SHINYO MARU No. 8 is detached to Shiogama.
31 December 1942:
Arrives at Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture.
5 January 1943:
Departs Shiogama.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
10 January 1943:
Departs Muroran in convoy No. 2110 also consisting of IJA transports KIFUNE and HOKUSEI MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) TSUNESHIMA MARU, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) TAIKAI (2478 GRT) MARU and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by auxiliary gunboat KASAGI MARU.
11 January 1943:
Arrives at Ofunato.
18 January 1943:
Departs Ofunato.
20 January 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
23 January 1943:
Departs Tokyo for Muroran in convoy No. 1123 also consisting of IJA transport SHOZAN (2937 GRT) MARU, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) FUKUURA MARU, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) MASAJIMA and JINBU MARUs and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SHINTO (KAMISHIMA) MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO.
28 January 1943:
Departs Muroran in convoy No. 2128 also consisting of IJA shared transports A/C-AK) FUKUYAMA (ex-British FEDERLOCK) MARU and DAIBOSHI MARU No. 6, IJA transports IKOMASAN MARU and UNKAI MARU No. 7, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SAPPORO MARU No. 11 escorted by auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO.
29 January 1943:
Arrives at Ofunato.
5 February 1943:
Departs Ofunato.
7 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
11 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
15 February 1943:
Departs Muroran.
16 February 1943:
Arrives at Ofunato.
23 February 1943:
Departs Ofunato.
25 February 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
28 February 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
2 March 1943:
Arrives at Ofunato.
6 March 1943:
Departs Ofunato.
8 March 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
11 March 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
15 March 1943:
Departs Muroran.
17 March 1943:
Arrives at Kawasaki.
23 March 1943:
Departs Kawasaki and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
24 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
27 March 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
30 March 1943:
Departs Yawata.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
3 April 1943:
Departs Nagasaki.
4 April 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
6 April 1943:
Departs Osaka.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture.
10 April 1943:
Departs Miike.
12 April 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
23 April 1943:
Departs Osaka.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Mukojima, Hiroshima Prefecture.
25 April 1943:
Enters Mukojima Dock K.K. shipyard drydock for maintenance and repairs.
8 May 1943:
Undocked. Departs Mukojima
9 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
10 May 1943:
Departs Moji.
13 May 1943:
Arrives at Aomori.
14 May 1943:
Departs Aomori and arrives at Ominato later in the day.
15 May 1943:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Yanai, Yamaguchi Prefecture later that same day.
16 May 1943:
Departs Yanai and arrives at Ominato later in the day.
20 May 1943:
Departs Ominato.
24 May 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
26 May 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Kashiwabara (now Severo-Kurilsk), Paramushiro.
27 May 1943:
Departs Kashiwabara and arrives at Suribachi Wan later that day.
28 May 1943:
Departs Suribachi Wan and arrives at Musashi Wan later that same day.
10 June 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later in the day.
16 June 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
19 June 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro, Hokkaido.
26 June 1943:
Departs Kushiro.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To (now Ostrov Matua), Kuriles.
4 July 1943:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
19 July 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.
23 July 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
25 July 1943:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Aomori later that day.
30 July 1943:
Departs Aomori and arrives at Hakodate later in the day.
31 July 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Tennei, Etorofu, Kuriles (now Burevestnik, Iturup).
5 August 1943:
Departs Tennei.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
15 August 1943:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
19 August 1943:
Departs Otaru.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Aomori.
21 August 1943:
Departs Aomori and arrives at Ominato later that day.
24 August 1943:
Departs Ominato.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
1 September 1943:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
2 September 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
6 September 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
11 September 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
13 September 1943:
Departs Otaru.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Aomori.
15 September 1943:
Departs Aomori and arrives at Ominato later in the day.
23 September 1943:
Departs Aomori and arrives at Hakodate later that day.
25 September 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
30 September 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
6 October 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KAMISHIMA MARU and civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) SHINANO MARU escorted by kaibokan KUNASHIRI.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
15 October 1943:
Departs Otaru.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
20 October 1943:
Departs Ominato.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
22 October 1943:
Departs Otaru not in convoy escorted by destroyer NOKAZE.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
19 November 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later in the day.
22 November 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
25 November 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
27 November 1943:
Departs Kushiro.
28 November 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
29 November 1943:
Departs Hakodate and arrives at Ominato later that same day.
5 December 1943:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Muroran later that day.
7 December 1943:
Departs Muroran.
9 December 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
11 December 1943:
Departs Hakodate and arrives at Yokohama later in the day.
15 December 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
17 December 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
19 December 1943:
Departs Kobe.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
23 December 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
26 December 1943:
Departs Yawata.
27 December 1943:
At 1300, arrives at Sasebo.
29 December 1943:
Departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 125 that departed Moji at 1500 that same day consisting of IJN auxiliary emergency tanker KOSHIN MARU, civilian tankers (C-AO) SEINAN, HOREI MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 5, IJA transports YAMAMIYA, KENZUI and KAZUURA MARUs, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), KANAN and MISAKI MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
31 December 1943:
Her Owners are changed to Daiko Shosen K.K.
4 January 1944:
At 0932, arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
11 January 1944:
At 1100, departs Takao in convoy No. 234 also consisting of three unidentified ships escorted by destroyer HASU. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
14 January 1944:
The convoy arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan, China and later departs.
20 January 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
21 January 1944:
Departs Moji.
24 January 1944:
Arrives at Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
28 January 1944:
Departs Nagoya.
29 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka.
31 January 1944:
Arrives at Nagoya.
2 February 1944:
Departs Nagoya.
5 February 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
6 February 1944:
Departs Osaka.
7 February 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
8 February 1944:
Departs Kure.
9 February 1944:
Arrives at Yawata.
12 February 1943:
Departs Yawata and arrives at Tokuyama later that day.
24 February 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
25 February 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 March 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
2 March 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
6 March 1944:
Departs Kagoshima in convoy ROKU-608 also consisting of IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) SAKISHIMA and DAISHIN MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary minesweeper BANSHU MARU No. 51.
8 March 1944:
Arrives at Koniya, Amami-Oshima.
9 March 1944:
Departs Koniya.
10 March 1944:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
12 March 1944:
Departs Naha.
13 March 1944:
Arrives at Miyakojima anchorage, Miyako Retto.
14 March 1944:
Departs Miyakojima and arrives at Iriomote, Yaeyama Shoto later in the day.
15 March 1944:
Departs Iriomote and arrives at Suao, Formosa later that day.
16 March 1944:
Departs Suao and arrives at Kirun (now Keelung), Formosa later that same day.
19 March 1944:
Departs Kirun.
20 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
27 March 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy TAMO-14 also consisting of IJA transports OSAKA and KINE MARUs, government owned (C-AK) BOKO (ex British SAGRES) MARU and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer HARUKAZE and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7.
3 April 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
4 April 1944:
Departs Moji.
5 April 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
7 April 1944:
Departs Osaka.
8 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
18 April 1944:
Departs Tokuyama.
19 April 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 April 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
23 April 1944:
Arrives at Masan, Chosen (now South Korea).
27 April 1944:
Departs Masan.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
2 May 1944:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Moji later that day.
4 May 1944:
Departs Moji.
5 May 1944:
Arrives at Masan.
7 May 1944:
Departs Masan.
9 May 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
12 May 1944:
Departs Kure and arrives at Mukojima later in the day.
13 May 1944:
Enters Mukojima Dock K.K. shipyard drydock for maintenance and repairs.
23 May 1944:
Undocked.
24 May 1944:
Departs Mukojima.
25 May 1944:
Arrives at Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
26 May 1944:
Departs Wakamatsu.
27 May 1944:
Arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea. Departs there and arrives at Masan later that same day.
30 May 1944:
Departs Masan.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
3 June 1944:
Departs Osaka.
4 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later that day.
5 June 1944:
Arrives at Chinkai. Departs later and arrives that same day at Masan.
7 June 1944:
Departs Masan.
9 June 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
11 June 1944:
Departs Osaka.
12 June 1944:
Arrives at Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
13 June 1944:
Departs Karatsu.
14 June 1944:
Arrives at Chinkai.
16 June 1944:
Departs Chinkai and arrives at Masan later that day.
17 June 1944:
Departs Masan.
19 June 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
21 June 1944:
Departs Osaka.
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Karatsu.
25 June 1944:
Departs Karatsu.
26 June 1944:
Arrives at Chinkai.
29 June 1944:
Departs Chinkai and arrives at Masan later in the day.
2 July 1944:
Departs Masan.
4 July 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
6 July 1944:
Departs Osaka.
7 July 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
8 July 1944:
Departs Moji.
9 July 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 July 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
22 July 1944:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), middle China.
23 July 1944:
Departs Seito.
24 July 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.
27 July 1944:
Departs Shanghai.
29 July 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
31 July 1944:
Departs Seito.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China).
6 August 1944:
Departs Dairen.
12 August 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
15 August 1944:
Departs Osaka.
17 August 1944:
Arrives at Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu.
19 August 1944:
Departs Tsukumi.
20 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
22 August 1944:
Departs Moji.
23 August 1944:
Arrives at Miike.
25 August 1944:
Departs Miike and arrives at Moji later that day.
27 August 1944:
At 0800, departs Moji in convoy MI-17 also consisting of civilian tanker (C-AO) NITTETSU MARU, IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) SHIMOTSU MARU, IJA transports BAIKAL, SORACHI and NORWAY MARUs, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) AMAHI, ARAOSAN, SHUYO and HOKUREI MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) DAITEN and NICHIZUI MARUs and likely civilian cargo ship (C-AK) YOZAN MARU and two unidentified ships escorted by destroyers SHIOKAZE and KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-18, minelayer YURISHIMA and minesweeper W-17.
1 September 1944:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. SORACHI and NITTETSU MARUs and one unidentified ship are detached. An unidentified ship joins the convoy. Minesweepers W-20 and W-41 and minelayer AOTAKA join the escort.
4 September 1944:
Departs Mako.
6 September 1944:
Arrives at Aparri, Luzon. Minesweepers W-17, W-20 and W-41 are detached as well as NORWAY, AMAHI, HOKUREI, BAIKAL, DAITEN, ARAOSAN and likely YOZAN and SHUYO MARUs. Departs later that day.
7 September 1944:
Arrives at Laoag, Luzon.
8 September 1944:
Departs Laoag and arrives at San Fernando, Luzon later in the day.
9 September 1944:
Departs San Fernando and arrives at Masinloc, Luzon later that day.
10 September 1944:
Departs Masinloc and arrives at Manila, Luzon later that same day.
3 October 1944:
At 1830, departs Manila in convoy MATA-28 also consisting of fleet oiler KAMOI, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) TACHIBANA and SHOEI MARUs, IJA transports KOHOKU and BUNZAN MARUs, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) HOKUREI, HOKUSEN and TERUKUNI MARUs and civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) HISHIGATA (ex-American (P.I.) BISAYAS) MARU escorted by minesweepers W-20 and W-41, kaibokan CD-8 and subchaser CH-41.
4 October 1944:
At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI accompanied by kaibokan CD-8 are detached. At 1908, the convoy arrives at Santa Cruz, Luzon.
5 October 1944:
At 0630, departs Santa Cruz and at 1800, arrives at North San Fernando. Minesweeper W-41 is detached.
6 October 1944:
While at San Fernando, convoy MATA-28 absorbs convoy MIMA-11 consisting of fleet oiler KAMOI, IJA shared tankers (A/C-AO) TACHIBANA MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) OMINE MARU. At 0618, the reformed convoy departs San Fernando for Takao escorted by minesweepers W-20, W-28 and W-39, kaibokan CD-8, CD-32 and CD-25, subchasers CH-28, CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-95.
At about 0800, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) attacks the convoy. Stevenson fires three torpedoes by periscope at a tanker and claims one hit, but actually achieves no results. At 1530, LtCdr William C. Thompson's (USNA ’35) USS CABRILLA (SS-288) torpedoes HOKUREI MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2. YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 sinks with the loss of 56 of her crew. HOKUREI MARU is badly damaged and beached off Vigan.
At 1830, the convoy retires to Lapoc Bay, Philippines.
7 October 1944:
At 0030, after receiving a radio message warning of an American task force off the E coast of Formosa, the convoy splits in two with KAMOI, KOHOKU, BUNZAN, TACHIBANA, HOKUSEN, SHOEI and HISHIGATA MARUs heading for Yulin, China. SHINYO MARU No. 8, TERUKUNI and OMINE MARUs and two unidentified escorts (probably subchasers CH-30 and CH-33) remain behind.
NW Tip of Luzon. About 0700, Thompson's CABRILLA attacks a cargo ship steaming without escort. He torpedoes and gets two hits on SHINYO MARU No. 8. The transport breaks in two parts and sinks rapidly with all hands (44 crewmen KIA) at 17-50N, 119-37E, about 43 nautical miles WNW of Vigan, Luzon.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 35.

Authors Notes:
[1] 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

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