Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(HOZAN MARU sistership of SHOEI MARU, in wartime)
IJN SHOEI MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2017 Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

6 April 1942:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima Zosensho K.K. shipyard for Harada Kisen K.K. as a Standard Peacetime (C) Type 2,764 GRT cargo ship.
24 October 1942:
Completed and named SHOEI MARU. [1]
March 1943:
Completed and registered at Kobe.
10 December 1942:
The ship will be requisitioned by the IJN from 13 Dec ‘42 under the Third Secret Military Preparation instructions.
12 December 1942:
Completed and registered at Osaka.
20 December 1942:
Registered by the Department of the Navy as a general transport (Ippan Choyosen) (B-AO) (refueling ship) attached to the Kure Naval District. Conversion to an oil tanker (primary emergency oil tanker) starts at Harima Zosensho K.K. shipyard.
5 January 1943:
The conversion is completed. Departs Kure that same day.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Kanmon.
7 January 1943:
At 1530, departs Kanmon in convoy No. 113 with two unidentified merchant ships without surface escort. The convoy sails at 9.5 knots.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
15 January 1943:
Loads canteen goods. Departs later that day in convoy No. 362 also consisting of SHOYU and RONSAN MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
20 January 1943:
The convoy arrives at St. Jacques, French Indochina (now VungTau, Vietnam).
21 January 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 552 also consisting of SHOYU and RONSAN MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship without escort.
24 January 1943:
The convoy arrives at Singapore. Unloads canteen goods.
1 February 1943:
Loads heavy oil. Departs Singapore later that day in convoy No. 664 also consisting of SAN PEDRO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
7 February 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 471 also consisting of SAN PEDRO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
21 February 1943:
Embarks three passengers. Depart Takao later that same day in convoy No. 233 also consisting of ten unidentified merchant ships without escort.
28 February 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks three passengers.
10 March 1943:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Hiro that same day.
12 March 1943:
Loads 2,000t of heavy oil. Departs Hiro later that day.
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Unloads 2,000t of heavy oil.
18 March 1943:
Loads munitions and six mail bags. Departs Sasebo at 1600 and joins convoy No. 138 consisting of tanker HOKUAN MARU and five unidentified ships escorted by second-class destroyer FUYO.
23 March 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Takao in convoy No. 138. Unloads munitions.
25 March 1943:
Loads munitions and six mail bags. Departs Takao, and arrives at Mako (Pescadores) later that day. Unloads munitions and mail. Loads heavy oil.
27 March 1943:
Embarks five passengers. Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that day.
28 March 1943:
Embarks one passenger. At 1000, departs Takao in convoy No. 246 consisting of five unidentified ships escorted by second-class destroyer FUYO.
2 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Unloads heavy oil and disembarks six passengers.
4 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 144 also consisting of WAZAN (ex-British VITORLOCK), TAMIN, SHINSHU and NIKKAKU MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
5 April 1943:
At 1700, the convoy departs Tomie.
6 April 1943:
NIKKAKU MARU suffering severe mechanical problems is detached from the convoy and heads towards Tomie. At an unknown date/time off Hua Hiao Shan PB-36 is detached and replaced by destroyer KURI.
9 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
10 April 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later that day. Unloads about 80t of buoy chain.
12 April 1943:
Loads 2,000t of heavy oil. Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that day.
16 April 1943:
At 1400, departs Takao in convoy No. 252 also consisting of SHINSHU, RONSAN and JUYO MARUs and eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
21 April 1943:
Arrives at Tomie. Starts engine repairs.
24 April 1943:
Departs Tomie.
26 April 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
27 April 1943:
Departs Kobe.
29 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads 2,000t of heavy oil
6 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
9 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
10 May 1943:
Departs Osaka towing oil barge HACHINAN No. 10.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
13 May 1943:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Moji later that day. Embarks five passengers.
15 May 1943:
At 1530, departs Moji in convoy No. 157 also consisting of nine unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer HOKAZE. The convoy splits into two parts with SHOEI MARU in the second part which is without escort.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao. Disembarks five passengers.
22 May 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako later in the day. Loads 2,100t of heavy oil.
24 May 1943: BR> Embarks three passengers. Departs Mako and arrives at Takao later that same day.
26 May 1943:
Departs Takao. (May have sailed alone or in convoy No. 265?).
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Disembarks four passengers.
4 June 1943:
Departs Tokuyama towing oil barge HACHINAN No. 10.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
7 June 1943:
Departs Kobe.
9 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads 2,100t of heavy oil.
16 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Loads 2,100t of heavy oil.
19 June 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi towing oil barge NANYU No. 19.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads 2,100t of heavy oil.
24 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
26 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Loads 2,100t of heavy oil.
27 June 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads 2,100t of heavy oil.
2 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 7702 with one unidentified ship escorted by auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No. 10. For reasons unknown, apparently turns back.
4 July 1943:
Arrives back at Yokosuka.
8 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka again.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Uraga. Hull bottom repairs start.
16 July 1943:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
18 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka towing oil barge NANYU No. 19.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
23 July 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Loads 2,100t of heavy oil.
26 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
31 July 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu. Unloads 2,100t of heavy oil.
5 August 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Loads 2,100t of heavy oil.
8 August 1943:
Departs Tokuyama towing oil barge NANYU No. 19.
10 August 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
11 August 1943:
Departs Kobe.
13 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day. Unloads 2,100t of heavy oil and loads 2,000t of heavy oil.
16 August 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day. Unloads 2,000t of heavy oil.
20 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka towing oil barge NANYU No. 23.
21 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Loads 2,000t of heavy oil.
23 August 1943:
The ship will be derequisitioned from 27 Aug ‘43 under the Third Secret Military Preparation instructions.
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Unloads 2,000t of heavy oil.
27 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Loads 2,000t of heavy oil.
29 August 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi towing oil barge NANYU No. 23.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu. Departs and arrives at Osaka later that day.
31 August 1943:
Derequisitioned.
1 September 1943:
Registered again as a Navy supply ship attached to the Kure Naval District.
25 September 1943:
Designated the 19th special Naval ship.
19 October 1943: 16 November 1943:
Ship ownership changes to Osaka Shosen K. K. (OSK).
8 December 1943:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 422.
E January 1944:
Loads 2,300t of heavy oil.
14 January 1944:
At 1100, due to arrive at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China) from Sasebo.
15 January 1944:
Departs Dairen.
17 January 1944:
Sailing through Inland Sea with one unidentified escort en route to Yokosuka.
23 January 1944:
At 0235, at 34-55N, 139-10E, engaged in antisubmarine combat. Drops Type 95 depth charges. Arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
20 February 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 216.
11 March 1944:
At 1728, departs Yokohama in convoy No. 7311 consisting of TAIRYU and INARI MARUs, escorted by patrol boat PB-101.
12 March 1944:
At 0500, the convoy arrives at Shimoda. It departs at 1210.
13 March 1944:
At 2250, the convoy arrives off Wada Misaki (Kobe).
14 March 1944:
At 0710, the convoy departs Wada Misaki and at 0930, arrives at Kobe.
3 June 1944:
At 0415, departs Imari Bay in convoy MI-05 consisting of fleet KENEI, HINAGA, NIPPO, FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU, and TOKUWA MARUs, and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, TOA, CERAM, SANKO (YAMAKO), AYAKIRI, AYANAMI, OEI, MARIFU, TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARIFU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler NOTORO plus thirteen other unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38, minesweeper W-17, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 and two unidentified escorts.
8 June 1944:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) in convoy MI-05. TOYO MARU No. 3 is detached.
9 June 1944:
Departs Kirun in convoy MI-05. At 1940, the convoy stops because of mine danger. Minesweeper W-17 sweeps the route. At 1943, PB-38 joins the escort.
10 June 1944:
At 1200, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38 and kaibokan CD-18 are detached. At 1830, arrives at Takao in convoy MI-05.
11 June 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy MI-05 consisting of KENEI, KENZUI, IKOMASAN, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Swedish NINGPO), TOA, FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU MARUs, tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, CERAM, YAMASACHI, AYAKIRI, AYANAMI, OEI, TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARIFU, and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler NOTORO plus nine unidentified ships escorted by minesweepers W-17, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 and two unidentified escorts.
At 0645, transports ARIMASAN, MANILA, MIIKESAN and USSURI MARUs and tankers JINEI, BAIEI and SAN DIEGO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 8 join the convoy from Takao escorted by minelayer MAESHIMA and auxiliary subchaser CHa-95. TOA and SHOEI MARUs are detached.
14 June 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
21 June 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 558.
8 August 1944:
At Manila, joins the Miri, Sarawak, British Borneo (now Malaysia) bound leg of convoy MI-13 also consisting of HIGANE, HIYORI, KOKUSEI and URAL MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and tankers ATAGO, KYOEI, SHINCHO, SHIMPO, TEIKON, TOKUWA, and ZUIYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 and naval transport T-3 escorted by patrol boat PB-38, kaibokan CD-14 and subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
11 August 1944:
At 2100, the convoy departs Manila for Miri.
12 August 1944:
At 0730, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s (USNA 33) USS PUFFER (SS-268) torpedoes and damages SHINPO MARU. 20 crewmen are KIA.
SHINPO MARU is taken under tow by SHOEI and KYOEI MARUs, beached, then abandoned. Selby also torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU (ex-German WINNETOU) at 13-18N, 120-11E, but there are no casualties. CD-14 and patrol boat PB-38 drop 37 depth charges, but USS PUFFER slips away unscathed. The convoy shelters in Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro, Philippines. PB-38 is detached and returns to Manila.
14 August 1944:
At 0700, the convoy departs Paluan Bay.
18 August 1944:
At 1700, the convoy arrives at Miri.
19 August 1944:
At 1830, departs Miri in convoy MISHI-07 also consisting of HIGANE, HIYORI, SHINCHO, KOKUSEI, KYOEI and URAL MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by patrol boat PB-38 and kaibokan CD-14.
21 August 1944:
At 0832, after the escorts attack an enemy submarine without loss, arrives at Kuching, Sarawak, British Borneo (now Malaysia) in convoy MISHI-07.
E 24 August 1944:
Departs Kuching. [3]
E 25 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo. [3]
E 26 August 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. [3]
5 September 1944:
At 1300, SHOEI MARU departs Singapore for Miri, Borneo in convoy SHIMI-10 consisting of URAL, HOKKI, TENSHIN, KYOEI, OMINE, TATSUHARU and IMAJI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, KYOEI MARU No. 6 and NANSHIN MARU No. 18 escorted by auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 6 and CHOUN MARU No. 7, and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 2.
8 September 1944:
At 0530, arrives at Kuching, Borneo.
9 September 1944:
Departs at midnight.
11 September 1944:
At 1230, arrives at Miri.
15 September 1944:
At 1500, SHOEI MARU departs Miri for Manila, Philippines in convoy MIMA-11 consisting of fleet oiler KAMOI and TACHIBANA, URAL, KYOKUHO, SHIKISAN, HOKKI, ZUIYO, TATSUHARU, TENSHIN, KYOEI, OMINE and IMAHARU MARUs (ex-Dutch De KLERK) and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25, CD-28 and CD-32. The convoy hugs the coast calling at various small anchorages. That same day, arrives at Guimaras Bay, Philippines.
17 September 1944:
Departs Guimaras Bay. That same day, arrives at White Rocks Bay.
18 September 1944:
Departs White Rocks Bay. That same day, arrives off Tarahican Island.
19 September 1944:
Departs Tarahican Island. That same day, arrives at Eran Bay, Palawan Island.
20 September 1944:
Departs Eran Bay. That same day, arrives at St Paul’s Bay.
21 September 1944:
Departs St Paul’s Bay. That same day, arrives at Bacuit Bay, Palawan Island.
24 September 1944:
Departs Bacuit Bay, but later returns.
25 September 1944:
Departs Bacuit Bay. Soon after a portion of the convoy likely consisting of SHIKISAN, KYOEI, TATSUHARU, TENSHIN, IMAHARU MARUs, KYOEI MARU No. 6 and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 is detached and returns to Bacuit Bay. The rest of the convoy is diverted to Takao.
27 September 1944:
At 0807, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks URAL MARU at 15-32N, 117-16E. 144 passengers, 40 crewmen and five gunners are KIA. Survivors are picked up by ZUIYO MARU. Two hours later, LtCdr Donald G. Baer's (USNA ’37) USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes HOKKI MARU at 15-50N, 117-41E She catches fire and is abandoned. OMINE MARU takes her in tow, but she sinks at 15-50N, 117-41E. Two crewmen are KIA.
28 September 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Santa Cruz.
1 October 1944:
At 0700, departs Santa Cruz. At 1100, LtCdr William C. Thompson's (USNA ’35) USS CABRILLA (SS-288) torpedoes and sinks ZUIYO MARU at 16-07N, 119-43E. 45 survivors of URAL MARU and 21 crewmen are KIA. At 1155, USS CABRILLA also torpedoes and sinks KYOKUHO MARU at 16-11N, 119-44E. 66 crewmen, nine gunners and 43 soldiers are KIA.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at N San Fernando, Philippines.
6 October 1944:
At 0618, CH-41, CH-28, CH-30 and CH-33 depart N San Fernando with kaibokan CD-8, CD-32 and CD-25, and minesweeper W-20 escorting combined MATA-28 and MIMA-11 convoys now consisting of KOHOKU, HOKUREI, BUNZAN, SHOEI, HOKUSEN, TERUKUNI, HISHIGATA (ex-Panamanian BISAYAS) and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 with oilers KAMOI and TACHIBANA MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2.
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 crewmen. HOKUREI MARU is badly damaged and beached off Vigan. Five passengers and four crewmen are killed in the torpedo attack. At 1830, the convoy retires to Lapoc Bay, Philippines.
7 October 1944:
At 0030, the rest of convoy departs for Yulin, Hainan Island, except for TERUKUNI and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8. At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI accompanied by kaibokan CD-8 are detached.
8 October 1944:
At 2325, LtCdr (later Cdr) Victor B. McCrea's (USNA ’32) USS HOE (SS-258) torpedoes and sinks KOHOKU MARU at 18-31N, 116-00E. At the time the ship was carrying 518 Japanese being repatriated as well as 610 m3 of war supplies. 361 passengers, 10 armed guards, 5 watchmen and 41 crewmen are killed – a total of 417 men KIA. CH-41 and CD-25 launch an immediate depth charge attack while CD-32 and W-20 shepherd the convoy away from the area.
9 October 1944:
Air raids on Takao are imminent, so at 1600, the convoy is ordered to Hong Kong.
11 October 1944:
At 1013, the convoy without stopping arrives at Hong Kong.
21 October 1944:
At 1850, departs Hong Kong in convoy HOTA-01 also consisting of HOKUSEN, HOKUYU, SHONAN (1,081 GRT), ASOKAWA, HISHIGATA, KONEI and MIYAJOIMA MARUs escorted by destroyers HASU and KURI and auxiliary subchasers CHa-176 and CHa-177.
25 October 1944:
At 1305, the convoy arrives at Takao.
3 November 1944:
At 1000, departs Moji in convoy MI-25 consisting of KACHOSAN, ATAGO, NIKKO, DAIRETSU, DAIA, DAITO, RYUSHO, GYOSHIN, AKAGISAN, OTSUSAN, NICHIYO, KENSEI, HINAGA, YAMAMURA, TATSUTAMA, DAISHU, DAIEI, OJIKASAN and KINSEN MARUs and YUZAN MARU No. 2 and one unidentified merchant ship, escorted by kaibokan CD-23, CD-33, CD-51, CD-52 and CD-130.
8 November 1944:
AKAGISAN, DAIA, KACHOSAN, KINSEN, NICHIYO and NIKKO MARUs are detached for Kirun, as are two unidentified ships. OJIKASAN MARU develops engine trouble and is detached for Mako. The convoy’s 13 remaining ships are diverted from Miri and head for Cape St. Jacques.
13 November 1944:
In the evening, the convoy anchors in Xuan Dai Bay on the coast of French Indochina (now Vietnam) at 13-22N, 109-17E.
14 November 1944:
At 0800, the convoy departs Xuan Dai Bay.
15 November 1944:
10 miles SW of Cape Padaran, French Indochina (now Vietnam). At about 0100, LtCdr Albert S. Fuhrman's (USNA ’37) USS JACK (SS-259) torpedoes and sinks HINAGA MARU at 1-16N, 108-54E. 34 troops on board and one crewman are killed. Fuhrman also torpedoes and damages YUZAN MARU No. 2. YUZAN MARU No. 2 is run aground and later becomes a total loss. 7 men are KIA.
16 November 1944:
Arrives with the remaining 10 ships at Cape St. Jacques. CD-52, CD-33, ATAGO and GYOSHIN MARUs are detached.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-32A also consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI, JINYO, NICHIYO, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 and SS No. 6 (Kidotei) escorted by second-class destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-8, CD-28 and CD-54 and subchasers CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and CH-38. The convoy anchors along the coast off Fangliao soon after leaving.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Fangliao, southern Formosan (now Taiwan) coast.
25 November 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Musa Bay, Fuga Island, Philippines.
27 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Musa Bay. At 1645, arrives at Lapoc Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
28 November 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc Bay. At 1800, arrives at N San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines.
29 November 1944:
At 0600, departs N San Fernando.
30 November 1944:
At 0500, the convoy arrives at Manila.
4 December 1944:
At 1100, departs Manila in convoy MASHI-04 also consisting of AYANAMI MARU and BANSHU MARU No. 63 escorted by subchaser CH-56, auxiliary subchaser KYOEI MARU No. 13 and auxiliary netlayer TOKACHI MARU.
5 December 1944:
At 0030, patrol boat PB-104 joins the escort. Later AYANAMI MARU has engine problems and returns to Manila.
11 December 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 1263.
13 December 1944:
At 1625, arrives with convoy MASHI-04 at Singapore.
30 December 1944:
Departs Singapore, carrying crude oil and natural rubber, in convoy HI-86 consisting also of fleet tanker SAN LUIS MARU (carrying crude oil) and KYOKUUN (carrying crude oil), OTSUSAN (carrying heavy oil, aircraft gasoline and natural rubber), EIMAN (carrying natural rubber and bauxite), TATEBE ( carrying aircraft gasoline, natural rubber, manganese, copra, castor-oil seeds, cowskin, etc.), YOSHU (carrying natural rubber and bauxite) and YUSEI MARUs (carrying crude oil) and BANSHU MARU No. 63 (carrying crude oil), escorted by ore carrier TATSUBATO MARU (carrying natural rubber, tin, bauxite and dye) and the 101st Escort Group's training cruiser KASHII and kaibokan DAITO.,.
4 January 1945:
Arrives at St. Jacques with convoy HI-86.
9 January 1945:
At 1200, departs St. Jacques in convoy HI-86. Kaibokan UKURU, CD-23, CD-27 and CD-51 have joined as additional escorts.
10 January 1945:
Arrives at Van Fong Bay, French Indochina (now Vietnam) with convoy HI-86.
11 January 1945:
Departs Van Fong Bay in convoy HI-86. Arrives at Qui Nhon Bay, French Indochina (now Vietnam).with convoy HI-86.
12 January 1945 - Operation “Gratitude”: Task Force 38 strikes on Indochina:
Departs Qui Nhon in convoy HI-86. [2]
At 1100, undergoes air attacks by US 38th task force carrier based aircraft. Bullets hit the port cabin side twice causing flooding.
At 1500, Receives a near bullet hit on the starboard fan cabin. At the same time a near miss to port cracks the hull at tank No.2 and the ship begins to flood.
At 1530, air attacks stop. The ship is beached to avoid sinking.
At 1630, undergoes more air attacks. Receives several near bomb hits and is strafed. A fire breaks out.
At 1740, about 10 km North of Qui Nhon (14-14N, 109-10E) beached. All hands abandon the ship. Seven crewmen and three gunners are KIA.
20 January 1945:
Considered a total loss.

Author’s notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport No. 273 (298 GRT, ‘35), IJA shared tanker No. 5201 (2,854 GRT, ‘44), IJN auxiliary gunboat (3,580 GRT, ‘36), IJN auxiliary transport SHOEI MARU (1,986 GRT, ‘36) and IJN repair ship (renamed MATSUE MARU in ’41), (5, 644 GRT, ‘38).
[2] At that time, SHOEI MARU was placed under the Civilian Shipping Administration (Senpaku Uneikai) control as a Navy shared tanker (B/C-AO). [3] SHOEI MARU may have travelled alone or with some of the ships mentioned above. She may have been part of convoy SHIMI 09 ( 24 ~ 25 Aug ‘44).

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

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