ZATSUYOSEN!
(SHOEI MARU prewar)
IJN SHOEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2017 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 4
June 1936:
Hakodate, Hokkaido. Laid down by Hakodate Dock K.K. shipyard for Shimatani Kisen K.K. as a 1,986-ton cargo ship.
6 December 1936:
Launched and named SHOEI MARU. [1]
March 1937:
6 May ~ 4 July 1937:
Chartered to Nichiro Gyogyo K.K.
7 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned ship (Ippan Choyosen).
10 September 1941:
Yokohama. Starts conversion to military duty in Asano Dock K.K. shipyard.
20 September 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as homeport under Navy’s instruction No. 1093. Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force, Coastal Guard Squadron. That same day IJN Reserve LtCdr Ishii Jiro is appointed CO.
15 October 1941:
IJN Reserve LtCdr Ishii Jiro is confirmed as CO.
6 December 1941:
Assignment to Yokosuka Guard Force, Coastal Guard Squadron is confirmed under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 14. Departs Yokosuka.
8 December 1941:
Departs Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture.
9 December 1941:
Assigned to patrol duties at position O14 14-0500 under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 21.
11 December 1941:
Assigned to patrol at position “Eight Nine” after arrival off Komahashi under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 21.
12 December 1941:
Assigned to continue to patrol in the vicinity until 14 Dec 1800, under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 31.
13 December 1941:
Assigned to patrol at new position under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 32.
15 December 1941:
Departs patrol zone.
19 December 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
31 December 1941:
Detached from Coastal Guard Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 31. Assigned that same day to Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro’s (36) Fifth Fleet.
12 January 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
19 January 1942:
Scheduled to be equipped with nine motor boats at Yokosuka Naval Yard under Navy’s secret instruction No. 597.
1 February 1942:
Assigned to Fifth Fleet, 10th Gunboat Division under instruction No. 195. Assigned to manage the 1st Picket Boat Group as its flagship.
3 February 1942:
At 1230 arrives at Yokosuka.
14 February 1942:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka.
19 February 1942:
At 0000 arrives at patrol zone.
23 February 1942:
At 1800 departs patrol zone with picket boats.
27 February 1942:
At 1450 arrives at Kushiro, Hokkaido.
6 March 1942:
At 1300 departs Kushiro for patrol zone.
9 March 1942:
At 1400 arrives in the patrol area.
9 March ~ 17 March 1942:
On patrol.
17 March 1942:
At 1200 departs patrol area.
21 March 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Kushiro.
23 March 1942:
Kushiro. Provisioned with fresh food by auxiliary gunboat TOKO MARU No. 2 GO.
26 March 1942:
At 0800 departs Kushiro.
30 March 1942:
Arrives in the patrol area.
8 April 1942:
At 1200 departs patrol zone.
10 April 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Akkeshi, Hokkaido.
11 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Akkeshi.
12 April 1942:
At 0545 arrives at Kushiro. Provisioned with fresh food by auxiliary gunboat TOKO MARU No. 2 GO.
18 April 1942:
At 1430 departs Kushiro for patrol zone.
20 April 1942:
At 1200 commences patrol.
20 April ~ 2 May 1942:
On patrol.
24 April 1942:
At 1620, meets up with auxiliary gunboat (later auxiliary transport) FUKUEI MARU No. 10.
30 April 1942:
At 1230 armed merchant cruiser AKAGI MARU meets up with the ship.
5 May 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Yokosuka with 17 picket boats.
15 May 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
19 ~ 28 May 1942:
On patrol.
25 May 1942:
Meets up with auxiliary gunboat (later auxiliary transport) FUKUEI MARU No. 10.
26 May 1942:
Again meets up with auxiliary gunboat (later auxiliary transport) FUKUEI MARU No. 10.
31 May 1942:
At 1909 arrives at Tateyama.
1 June 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Yokosuka.
6 June 1942:
IJN Reserve Lt. Yokota Shimoki is appointed CO.
7 June 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
13 June 1942:
At 1200 commences patrol.
13 ~ 22 June 1942:
On patrol.
22 June 1942:
At 1200 concludes patrol.
25 June 1942:
At 1900 arrives at Yokosuka.
5 July 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
9 ~ 21 July 1942:
On patrol.
21 July 1942:
At 1200 concludes patrol.
26 July 1942:
At 1140 arrives at Yokosuka.
28 July 1942:
At 1200 transfers from Yokosuka to Uraga.
20 August 1942:
At 1205 departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka.
23 August 1942:
Meets auxiliary gunboat ANSHU MARU.
31 August 1942:
At 1130 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
3 September 1942:
At 1400 commences patrol.
3 ~ 16 September 1942:
On patrol.
16 September 1942:
At 1700 concludes the patrol.
22 September 1942:
At 1010 arrives at Yokosuka.
29 September 1942:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
1 October 1942:
At 1600 commences patrol.
1 October ~ 10 October 1942:
On patrol.
10 October 1942:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
13 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
22 October 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
25 October 1942:
At 1600 commences patrol.
25 October ~ 4 November 1942:
On patrol.
4 November 1942:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
7 November 1942:
At 1600 arrives at Yokosuka.
19 November 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone.
21 November 1942:
At 1600 commences the patrol.
21 November ~ 1 December 1942:
On patrol.
25 November 1942:
Rated as 2nd gunboat in Fifth Fleet, 10th Gunboat Division.
1 December 1942:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
5 December 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Yokosuka.
27 December 1942:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone with auxiliary gunboat FUKUEI MARU No. 10 and 12 picket boats.
30 December 1942:
At 1200 commences the patrol.
30 December 1942 ~ 11 January 1943:
On patrol.
11 January 1943:
At 1600 concludes the patrol.
17 January 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Yokosuka.
8 February 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone with auxiliary gunboat KAMITSU MARU and FUKUEI MARU No. 10 and 19 picket boats.
11 February 1943:
At 1200 commences the patrol.
11 ~ 21 February 1943:
On patrol.
19 February 1943:
At 1405, meets up with auxiliary gunboat ANSHU MARU.
21 February 1943:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
25 February 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Yokosuka with auxiliary gunboat KAMITSU MARU.
9 March 1943:
At 1300 departs Yokosuka for patrol zone with FUKUEI MARU No. 10 and 18 picket boats.
12 March 1943:
At 1200 commences the patrol.
12 ~ 26 March 1943:
On patrol.
15 March 1943:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 453. Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as homeport under Navy’s instruction No. 443. [2].
26 March 1943:
At 1200 concludes the patrol.
28 March 1943:
At 1310 arrives at Yokosuka.
14 April 1943:
Tsurumi. Starts conversion to military duty at Nihonkokan Zosensho K.K. shipyard.
10 May 1943:
The conversion is completed.
16 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3516 also consisting of auxiliary transport TAITO MARU and auxiliary storeship HARUNA (1549 GRT) MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU.
22 May 1943:
In 17-24N, 142-22E auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU and auxiliary patrol boat KYO MARU No. 8 meet up with the convoy.
24 May 1943:
Auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU is detached.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
2 June 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 1023 also consisting of auxiliary collier/oiler TONEI MARU and auxiliary storeship HARUNA (1549 GRT) MARU escorted by destroyer ASANAGI and auxiliary gunboat SEIKAI MARU. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
19 June 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Buka, Bougainville Island, Solomons.
23 June 1943:
Departs Buka.
24 June 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
25 June 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
26 June 1943:
Arrives at Buka.
27 June 1943:
Departs Buka.
28 June 1943:
Arrives at Buin, Bougainville. Departs there later in the day in convoy with IJA transport RYOYU MARU No. 21 and possibly others.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
9 July 1943:
At 1200, departs Rabaul in convoy No. 2092 also consisting of auxiliary transport CHIHAYA MARU (ex-Dutch TJISAROEA) escorted by subchaser CH-33 and kaibokan OKI.
13 July 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Truk.
31 July 1943:
At 1200, departs Truk in convoy No. 1312 also consisting of auxiliary storeship TAKUNAN MARU escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI.
4 August 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Rabaul.
7 August 1943:
Departs Rabaul and joins convoy No. 2072 with one unidentified merchant ship escorted by minesweeper W-15 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 15.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at Greenwich Atoll, Central Carolines.
10 August 1943:
Departs Greenwich Atoll.
13 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
22 August 1943:
Departs Truk and catches up with convoy No. 4821 also consisting of auxiliary transports KAISHO, MITAKESAN, SOYO, MANJU (ex-SANTOS), IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KENAN MARU and auxiliary collier/oiler MIKAGE MARU No. 18 escorted by destroyers IKAZUCHI and YUZUKI.
About 300 nms NW of Truk. LtCdr (later KIA) Charles F. Brindupke' (USNA ‘32) USS TULLIBEE (SS-284) intercepts the convoy. Brindupke, on his first patrol as CO of USS TULLIBEE, closes to 2,000 yards. He fires three Mark-14 steam torpedoes at the nearest freighter. Two minutes later, he fires three more at another ship. One of the destroyers heads towards USS TULLIBEE's position. Brindupke takes TULLIBEE deep. At 1659, he hears a torpedo explosion, soon followed by two more, then breaking up noises. At 1706, listing to port, KAISHO MARU sinks rapidly by the stern at 10-13N, 147-20E. Three crewmen are KIA. Her survivors are rescued and the convoy proceeds. When Brindupke surfaces, he sees over 1,000 empty 50-gallon oil drums, but no ships.
29 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 September 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tokyo later in the day.
2 September 1943:
Undergoes maintenance and repairs at Ishikawajima Zosensho K.K. shipyard.
22 September 1943:
Repairs are completed. Departs Ishikawajima.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Shibaura, Tokyo.
25 September 1943:
Departs Shibaura and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
27 September 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day.
30 September 1943:
At 0500, departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 7930 also consisting of TATEYAMA MARU escorted by minesweeper W-27.
2 October 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
5 October 1943:
Arrives at Saeki, Kyushu.
7 October 1943:
Departs Saeki in convoy O-503 also consisting of IJA transports FUKKAI and NISSHIN (1,179 GRT) MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO and auxiliary minesweepers AOI, YACHIYO MARUs and TOKUHO MARU No. 10. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
E 8 October 1943:
At 29N, all three auxiliary minesweepers are detached.
18 October 1943:
Arrives at Palau, Western Carolines.
20 October 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy No. 2511 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) NICHIRYO MARU escorted by destroyer SANAE and subchaser CH-5.
26 October 1943:
Her owners are changed to Mitsui Senpaku K.K.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
2 November 1943:
Departs Balikpapan.
4 November 1943:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes (now Sulawesi).
12 November 1943:
Departs Macassar.
19 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore, Malaya.
26 November 1943:
Departs Singapore in convoy No. 639 also consisting of IJA transport MANILA MARU and one unidentified merchant ship without escort.
29 November 1943:
Arrives at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam).
30 December 1943:
At Saigon pier due to mechanical failure.
1 January 1944:
Still at Saigon pier. Tactically assigned to the Southwest Fleet Area.
15 February 1944:
Assigned to transports troops to Southwest Area under Navy’s instruction No. 253.
16 February 1944:
Departs Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
17 February 1944:
Arrives at Kobe. Departs later.
19 February 1944:
Arrives off Osaka Wan (Bay).
20 February 1944:
Departs Osaka Wan and arrives at Owase Wan later that day.
21 February 1944:
Departs Owase Wan and arrives at Ise Wan later in the day.
22 February 1944:
Departs Ise Wan and arrives at Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture later that same day.
23 February 1944:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokohama later in the day.
29 February 1944:
Departs Yokohama.
1 March 1944:
Arrives at Ise Wan.
2 March 1944:
Departs Ise Wan and arrives at Owase Wan later in the day.
3 March 1944:
Departs Owase Wan.
4 March 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
9 March 1944:
Departs Moji in convoy MOTA-09 also consisting of auxiliary oilers SAN LUIS MARU, and OGURA MARU No. 2, IJN shared tanker (B/C-AO) TAKETOYO MARU, IJA shared liner (A/C-AP) TEIRITSU MARU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) and IJA transports ships MATSUE, HAMBURG, KYOKUZAN, MURORAN, CHUYO, BUNZAN, TAIYU MARUs and HINO MARU No. 1, civilian ore carriers (C-AC) DAIZEN and BATOPAHAT MARUs escorted by second-class destroyer WAKATAKE.
E 10 March 1944:
Patrol boat PB-38 joins the escort of MOTA-09.
11 March 1944:
CHUYO MARU develops engine trouble. At 0950, PB-38 is detached to find her, but is unsuccessful and later rejoins the convoy.
13 March 1944:
At 1844, an enemy submarine is detected at 25-58N, 121-34E. The escorts drop 50 depth charges and drive it off.
14 March 1944:
PB-38 detects another submarine and drives it off by dropping three depth charges. Later arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
15 March 1944:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan) later that day.
24 March 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy TASA-13 also consisting of IJA transports NICHIAN, FUKUJU, CHINA, DURBAN, TASMANIA, KYOKUZAN and SHONAN MARUs, IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) SETSUZAN (ex-Norwegian HELIOS) MARU, IJA shared liner (A/C-AP) TEIRITSU (ex French LECONTE DE LISLE) MARU, civilian ore carrier (C-AC) HIDA and five other unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan AWAJI and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
29 March 1944:
HIDA MARU and KYOKUZAN MARU are both detached and HIDA MARU arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island, southern China while KYOKUZAN MARU arrives at Sana Hainan Island, southern China the following day. During the day subchaser CH-19 that has departed Qui Nhon, French Indochina, joins the convoy as an additional escort. Later that day, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Chester W. Nimitz, Jr’s (USNA ’36) USS HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes and lightly damages NICHIAN MARU at 17-42N 109-57E. The convoy seeks shelter in Baie de Kiquik, French Indochina.
30 March 1944:
Departs Baie de Kiquik.
1 April 1944:
Arrives at St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam). Departs there and arrives at Saigon later that day.
2 April 1944:
Departs Saigon and arrives at St. Jacques later that day.
4 April 1944:
At 0338, departs St. Jacques in convoy SASHI-16 also consisting of IJA transports CHINA, FUKUJU and DURBAN MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-7.
7 April 1944:
At 1537, arrives at Seletar, Singapore.
12 April 1944:
Departs Seletar.
13 April 1944:
Arrives at Bangka Island, D.E.I.
15 April 1944:
Departs Bangka.
17 April 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java.
26 April 1944:
Departs Surabaya.
30 April 1944:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes.
8 May 1944:
Departs Kendari.
10 May 1944:
Arrives at Ambon, Moluccas.
18 May 1944:
Departs Ambon.
20 May 1944:
Arrives at Babo, New Guinea.
22 May 1944:
Departs Babo and arrives at Kokas, New Guinea later in the day.
23 May 1944:
Departs Kokas.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Ambon.
6 June 1944:
Departs Ambon.
10 June 1944:
Arrives at Malifut, Moluccas. Assigned that same day to transport troops to Northern Area under secret instruction No. 8.
13 June 1944:
Departs Malifutand arrives at Hate Tabako, Halmahera Island, Moluccas.
15 June 1944:
Departs Hate Tabako and arrives at Kau, Halmahera later that day.
17 June 1944:
Departs Kau and arrives at Malifut later that same day.
19 June 1944:
Departs Malifut and arrives at Lolobata, Halmahera later in the day.
28 June 1944:
Departs Lolobata and arrives at Samar Reef, Moluccas later that day.
29 June 1944:
Departs Samar Reef and arrives at Kau Bay later in the day.
30 June 1944:
At 0300, departs Kau Bay escorted by subchaser CH-53.
4 July 1944:
At 1630, arrives at Ambon.
25 July 1944:
Assigned to transport troops to Northern Area under secret instruction No. 14.
27 July 1944:
Departs Ambon in convoy escorted by minesweeper W-5 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-104.
1 August 1944:
Arrives at Malifut.
2 August 1944:
Departs Malifut and arrives at Kau later that day.
4 August 1944:
Departs Kau, calls at Ambon; departs there and arrives at Lolobata later that same day.
5 August 1944:
Departs Lolobata and arrives at Malifut later in the day.
6 August 1944:
Departs Malifut and meets up with convoy consisting of auxiliary transport TOSHO MARU escorted by minesweeper W-5, auxiliary minesweepers Wa-3, Wa-104 and auxiliary NITTO MARU No. 18.
11 August 1944:
Arrives at Ambon.
14 August 1944:
At 1500, departs Ambon escorted by subchasers CH-34 and CH-35.
18 August 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Macassar.
29 August 1944:
Departs Macassar.
1 September 1944:
Arrives at Staring Bay, Celebes.
3 September 1944:
Departs Staring Bay and arrives at Kendari later that day.
8 September 1944:
T-149 arrives at Kendari. Transfers passengers to SHOEI MARU.
9 September 1944:
Departs Kendari.
13 September 1944:
Arrives at Macassar.
27 September 1944:
Departs Macassar.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
7 October 1944:
Enters drydock and undergoes repairs from the 102nd Naval Construction Unit.
11 October 1944:
Repairs are completed. Undocked.
8 December 1944:
Departs Surabaya.
10 December 1944:
Arrives at Jakarta (ex-Batavia), Java.
15 December 1944:
Departs Jakarta and arrives at Latai Bay, Java later in the day.
16 December 1944:
Departs Latai Bay for Sumatra escorted by an unidentified subchaser. About 5.4 nautical miles E of Cape Christina, W of Sunda Strait, at 1004, A/LtCdr (later Captain) Peter B. Marriot’s (DSO) HMS STOIC (P-231) on his 7th war patrol, sights smoke to the northwards and closes to investigate. At 1010, Marriot notices that the smoke comes from a medium seized merchant vessel and he prepares to attack. At 1030, Marriot sights a subchaser weaving on the port quarter of the target. At 1059, HMS STOIC (P-231) fires a salvo of four torpedoes from 3000 yards and one hit is obtained. Between 1109 and 1140, the escort drops 16 DCs but none are really close to the submarine. At 1229, SHOEI MARU sinks at 05-57S, 104-44E with the loss of 12 of her crew.
5 February 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 101.
Authors' Notes :
[1] Not to be confused with IJA transport No. 273 (298 GRT, ’35), IJN shared tanker (2,764 GRT, ’42), auxiliary transport (3,083 GRT, ’19), IJA shared tanker No. 5201 (2,854 GRT, ’44) and auxiliary gunboat (3,580 GRT,
’36). [2] 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
Back to
IJN Transports Page
