KYUSETSUMOKAN!
BOSEMMOTEI!
(SHOSEI MARU, prewar – Peter Cundall collection)
IJN SHOSEI MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2020 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
E 1914:
Osaka. Laid down by Ohara Zosen Tekkosho K.K. for Shinto Kosan K.K. as a 771-tons passenger-cargo ship.
19 August 1914:
Launched and named SHOSEI MARU.
E 1915:
Completed and registered in Fuchu, Kyoto. Her call sign is JJNC. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) is 771-tons and her Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) is 439-tons. [2]
1920:
In service on the Chosen (now Korea) route.
1940:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 773-tons and 431-tons. [2]
22 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
25 November 1941:
Osaka. Conversion to military duty begins at Amagasaki Dock K.K. shipyard.
10 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Kure Naval District under instruction No. 1625.
31 December 1941:
Attached to the Kure Guard Force, Kure Local Defense Squadron, Saeki Base Defense Unit under instruction No. 1780.
January 1942:
Navy (Resv) Lt(jg) Tagami Nobori Shichiro is appointed CO.
1 January 1942:
Departs Atata and arrives at Kure later this day.
4 January 1942:
Changes mooring.
8 January 1942:
Changes mooring.
18 January 1942:
Completes conversion at Kure Navy Yard. Departs Kure and arrives at Mutsukue Bay later that day.
19 January 1942:
Departs Mutsukue Bay and arrives at Saeki later this day.
29 January 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later that day.
5 February 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later this day.
14 February 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later in the day.
16 February 1942:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Misaki later this day.
17 February 1942:
Departs Misaki and arrives at Usuki later that day.
18 February 1942:
Departs Usuki and arrives at Saeki later this day.
21 February 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later that day.
24 February 1942:
Departs Saeki.
25 February 1942:
Arrives at Inokushi.
27 February 1942:
Departs Inokushi.
28 February 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
2 March 1942:
Departs Saeki.
3 March 1942:
Arrives at Furue.
5 March 1942:
Departs Furue.
6 March 1942:
Arrives at Nyutsu Bay.
7 March 1942:
Departs Nyutsu Bay and arrives at Saeki later this day.
8 March 1942:
Departs Saeki.
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 March 1942:
Departs Saeki.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
13 March 1942:
Departs Saeki.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Sukumo.
16 March 1942:
Departs Sukumo.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
25 March 1942:
Departs Saeki.
27 March 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
29 March 1942:
Changes mooring.
31 March 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later that day.
2 April 1942:
Departs Saeki on gunnery practice and returns there later this day.
4 April 1942:
Departs Saeki.
5 April 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
6 April 1942:
Departs Saeki for various training and returns there later that day.
8 April 1942:
Departs Saeki on an anti-submarine drill and returns there later this day.
9 April 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later that day.
10 April 1942:
Departs Saeki for net-laying and arrives at Honoura later that day.
13 April 1942:
Departs Honoura for net-laying and arrives at Kure later this day.
14 April 1942:
Departs Kure for net-laying and arrives at Honoura later this day.
16 April 1942:
Departs Honoura for net-laying and arrives at Saeki later this day.
18 April 1942:
Departs Saeki.
19 April 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
20 April 1942:
Departs Saeki.
21 April 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
22 April 1942:
Departs Saeki.
24 April 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
26 April 1942:
Departs Saeki.
27 April 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
29 April 1942:
Departs Saeki.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Saeki and departs there later that day.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
2 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
3 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
5 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
6 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
8 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
9 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
11 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
12 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
14 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
15 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
16 May 1942:
Departs Saeki on gunnery practice and returns there later this day.
17 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
18 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
20 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
21 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
22 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
23 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
25 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
26 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
28 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
29 May 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
31 May 1942:
Departs Saeki.
1 June 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
3 June 1942:
Departs Saeki.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
6 June 1942:
Departs Saeki.
7 June 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
9 June 1942:
Departs Saeki.
11 June 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
12 June 1942:
Departs Saeki.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
14 June 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later that day.
15 June 1942:
Departs Saeki and returns there later this day.
1 July 1942:
Departs Saeki on test run adjustment and returns there later that day.
6 July 1942:
Departs Saeki.
7 July 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
8 July 1942:
Departs Saeki on training mission.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 July 1942:
Departs Saeki.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
13 July 1942:
Departs Saeki.
14 July 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
17 July 1942:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Atata later this day.
18 July 1942:
Departs Atata and arrives at Kure later that day.
20 July 1942:
Enters drydock.
25 July 1942:
Undocked.
August 1942:
Navy (Resv) Lt Kito Takejiro is appointed CO.
11 September 1942:
Departs Kure on a trial run.
12 September 1942:
Arrives at Hiro. Later that day, changes mooring.
14 September 1942:
Departs Hiro and arrives at Saeki later this day.
19 September 1942:
Departs Saeki.
20 September 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
21 September 1942:
Anchors due to stormy weather.
22 September 1942:
Departs Saeki.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
25 September 1942:
Departs Saeki.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
28 September 1942:
Departs Saeki.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
October 1942:
Navy (Resv) Lt Suetake Keisuke is appointed CO.
1 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
4 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
5 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
7 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
8 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
11 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
13 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
16 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
19 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
21 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
24 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
27 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
28 October 1942:
Departs Saeki.
29 October 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
2 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
3 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
4 November 1942:
Departs Saeki on gunnery practice and returns there later that day.
5 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
8 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
9 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
11 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
14 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
17 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
18 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
20 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
23 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
26 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
27 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
29 November 1942:
Departs Saeki.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
2 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
5 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
6 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
8 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
9 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
11 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
14 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
16 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
18 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
20 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
21 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
22 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
23 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
24 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
26 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
28 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
30 December 1942:
Departs Saeki.
31 December 1942:
Arrives at Saeki.
2 January 1943:
Departs Saeki.
3 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
5 January 1943:
Departs Saeki.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
7 January 1943:
Departs Saeki.
9 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 January 1943:
Scheduled to take over escort of auxiliary oiler KIYO MARU from minelayer TAKASHIMA and to escort her to Fukushima under Kure Naval District telegram No. 95.
11 January 1943:
Receives Kure Defense Division Wireless Command No. 97:
1: Estimated position of KIYO MARU at 1800 on 11 Jan ’43 will be 29-40N, 132-27E and heading to Fukushima. Her speed is 7.5 knots.
2: After completing the current mission NATSUSHIMA is to meet KIYO MARU and escort her to Fukushima before returning to Saeki.
Departs Saeki escorting KIYO MARU. Fellow escort DAIKOKUTEN MARU is delayed because of engine failure and searches for her.
13 January 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
14 January 1943:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Saeki later this day.
18 January 1943:
Departs Saeki.
20 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
22 January 1943:
Departs Saeki.
23 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
25 January 1943:
Departs Saeki.
26 January 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
28 January 1943:
Assigned to guide and escort Otsu (B) Kihan (Motor Sailboat) convoy under Kure Defense telegram No. 21. Departs Saeki and arrives at Miura later that day.
29 January 1943:
Departs Miura and arrives at Kure later this day.
30 January 1943:
Departs Kure and arrives at Kosaka (Hon Jima) later that day.
31 January 1943:
Departs Kosaka and arrives at Osaka later this day.
Assigned to end command and escort duties of Otsu (B) Kihan (Motor Sailboat) convoy under Kure Defense instruction No. 9. Assigned to escort the sailing convoy between Yokosuka and Saipan, Marianas under instruction of Yokosuka Secretary and under Kure Defense Telegram No. 28.
1 February 1943:
Departs Osaka escorting the convoy.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at Taura.
17 February 1943:
Departs Taura and returns there later that day.
20 February 1943:
Departs Taura and arrives at Shimoda later this day.
21 February 1943:
Departs Shimoda and arrives at Shimizu later that day.
25 February 1943:
Departs Shimizu and arrives at Hachijo Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
28 February 1943:
Departs Hachijo Jima.
3 March 1943:
Arives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto.
6 March 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima and returns there later this day.
10 March 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima with auxiliary netlayer HIRO MARU escorting a convoy consisting of IJA transport SHINKO MARU (3,119 GRT).
15 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
16 March 1943:
Changes mooring.
26 March 1943:
Order: As soon as SHOSEI MARU and auxiliary netlayer HIRO MARU are ready they will return to Saeki from Saipan. On the way home in accordance with the local commander, shall be assigned as escort of the N coast. Plan and report actions under Kure Defense instruction no. 122.
30 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary netlayer HIRO MARU, cable-layers HASHIMA and TATEISHI and for part of the way auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 escorting damaged auxiliary aircraft transport KEIYO MARU. [3]
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Shimizu.
13 April 1943:
Departs Shimizu.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
16 April 1943:
Changes mooring.
28 April 1948:
Changes mooring.
1 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
4 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
7 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
8 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
11 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
13 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
14 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
15 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
18 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
19 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
20 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
23 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
24 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
26 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
29 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.
30 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
1 June 1943:
Departs Saeki.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
4 June 1943:
Departs Saeki.
5 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
7 June 1943:
Departs Saeki.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
9 June 1943:
Departs Saeki.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
12 June 1943:
Departs Saeki.
13 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
15 June 1943:
Departs Saeki.
16 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
18 June 1943:
Departs Saeki and returns there later that day.
19 June 1943:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Takuma later this day.
July 1943:
Navy Lt(jg) Okuyama Shiro (also serving as KUDAMATSU MARU’s CO) is appointed CO.
11 July 1943:
On mooring operation.
12 July 1943:
Departs Takuma resuming mooring operation and returns there later that day.
14 July 1943:
Departs Takuma resuming mooring operation and returns there later this day.
15 July 1943:
Departs Takuma and arrives at Gunchu later that day.
16 July 1943:
Departs Gunchu and arrives at Saeki later this day.
20 July 1943:
Departs Saeki.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
23 July 1943:
Departs Saeki.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
26 July 1943:
Departs Saeki.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
29 July 1943:
Departs Saeki.
30 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
August 1943:
Navy (Resv) Lt Minogawa Tadashi is appointed CO.
1 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
4 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.
5 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
6 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
8 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.
12 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
13 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
19 August 1943:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Agenosho, Yamaguchi Prefecture later that day.
20 August 1943:
Departs Agenosho and arrives at Kure later this day.
September 1943:
Navy Lt(jg) Okuyama Shiro is appointed CO.
13 September 1943:
Departs Kure on a trial run and returns to port later that day.
21 September 1943:
Departs Kure on various exercises and returns there later this day.
22 September 1943:
Departs Kure escorting a convoy.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
26 September 1943:
Departs Kobe.
27 September 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
30 September 1943:
Departs Kure escorting a convoy.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
4 October 1943:
Departs Moji.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Motoyama.
11 October 1943:
Departs Motoyama.
15 October 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai, China.
23 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
30 October 1943:
Departs Mako and arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
Revision of escort guidance of the group of sailing vessels from the 101th fuel depot to Takao under instruction No. 301600.
31 October 1943:
Departs Takao and returns there later that day.
5 November 1943:
Assigned to remove netlaying equipment and minesweeping equipment and to support transport missions under instruction No. 051742.
That same day, armament is increased with one Type 93 13mm MG.
10 November 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral Kusaka Jinichi’s (37) Southeastern Area Fleet under instruction No. 2381. Rated as a Southeastern Unit and as an RC area defense unit under NTB decree No. 140.
4 December 1943:
Rated as a Western Escort Force, Escort Unit under New Guinea Corps wireless declaration No. 3.
E on or after 18 December 1943:
Transferred to the Tosa Merchant Marine.
5 January 1944:
Departs Kure.
6 January 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
13 January 1944:
Departs Kobe.
14 January 1944:
With KUDAMATSU MARU escorts cable layer HARUSHIMA MARU, bound for Osaka part way SW towards Osaka.
15 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
23 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3123 consisting of Naval tug FUTAGAMI towing special transport No. 36 and EIRYU MARU towing MTB Gyoraitei No. 10 also escorted by subchaser No. 52 and auxiliary minesweeper BANSHU MARU No. 18.
27 January 1944:
Arrives at Chichi Jima.
28 January 1944:
At 1200, departs Chichi Jima.
2 February 1944:
At 1230, due to arrive at Saipan.
30 March 1944: American Operation “Desecrate One” :
Palau, Carolines. The anchorage is attacked by F6F "Hellcats", SBD "Dauntless", TBF "Avenger" and SB2C "Helldiver" carrier aircraft from Task Group 58. 1's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) and USS COWPENS (CVL-25), TG 58. 2's USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17), USS HORNET (CV-12), USS MONTEREY (CVL-26) and USS CABOT (CVL-28) and TG 58. 3's USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), USS PRINCETON (CVL-23) and USS LANGLEY (CVL-27).
At 0915, strafed by four F6F "Hellcats" aircraft from USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) during strike ‘3B’ E Urukthapel Island. She is left dead in the water and smoking. Later this day beaches S Korak Island.
(SHOSEI MARU beached 30 Mar ’44 – Berend van der Wal collection)
31 March 1944:
Burning after being bombed by aircraft from USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) during strike ‘3B’. During the next strike, strike ‘3C’, a near miss causes a 10° list.
5 May 1944:
Finally sunk with unknown casualties.
3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy list under instruction No. 327.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with IJA tanker No. 2051 (5,593 GRT, ’22) or auxiliary transport (998 GRT, ‘28).
[2] 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.
[3] KEIYO MARU was torpedoed and lightly damaged off New Britain by LtCdr John R. Craig's (USNA ’30) USS GRAMPUS (SS-207) on 18 Feb ’43.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.
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