KYUSETSUMOKAN!
HOKAKUMOTEI!
(SHUKO MARU prewar)
IJN SHUKO MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2024 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
1940:
Osaka. Laid down by Nakata Zosensho K.K. shipyard as an 889-tons cargo ship for Sanko Kisen K.K.
4 March 1940:
Launched and named SHUKO MARU.
28 October 1940:
Completed and registered at Amagasaki, with a Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 889-tons and a Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of 588-tons. Her call sign is JJLO. [1]
29 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
12 September 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under Ordinance Instruction No. 1049. Navy Ensign Sagawa Yasuyuki is appointed CO.
15 October 1941:
Conversion for military duty is completed at Tokyo Ishikawajima Zosensho K.K. shipyard. 60th Subchaser Division is created under Instruction No. 1251. Attached to Vice Admiral Inoue Shigeyoshi’s (37) Fourth Fleet, Fifth Base Force, 60th Subchaser Division.
6 November 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for Hahajima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
20 November 1941:
Rated as a ‘GA’ (Guam) invasion unit under secret South Sea Unit Command Instruction No. 1.
21 November 1941:
Rated as the 2nd Patrol Unit under secret ‘G’ Invasion Unit Command Instruction No. 1.
30 November 1941:
Hahajima. Embarks the Guam Island Operation 5th SNLF South Sea Detachment (Hayashi Detachment).
4 December 1941:
Departs Hahajima.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Guam. Lands Hayashi Detachment. Thereafter departs there and arrives at Appra, Guam later this day.
13 December 1941:
The ‘GA’ invasion unit is dissolved under South Sea Unit Command Instruction No. 18.
25 December 1941:
Rated as auxiliary netlayer No. 601.
15 January 1942:
Departs Saipan, Marianas.
16 January 1942:
Arrives at Omiyajima (Guam), Marianas.
17 January 1942 : Operation ‘R’ - The Invasions of Rabaul and Kavieng:
Departs Truk, Central Carolines with auxiliary subchasers KYO MARU No. 8 and KYO MARU No. 10 escorting the invasion convoy consisting of IJA transports CHINA, CHERIBON, CLYDE, HIBI, MITO, MOJI, TAIFUKU YOKOHAMA and VENICE MARUs part way.
17 February 1942:
Departs Omiyajima.
18 February 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
21 February 1942:
Departs Saipan on patrol.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs later.
4 March 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
5 March 1942:
Departs Saipan.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Omiyajima.
24 March 1942:
Departs Omiyajima.
25 March 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
7 April 1942:
Departs Saipan.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Omiyajima.
22 April 1942:
Departs Omiyajima.
23 April 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
9 May 1942:
Departs Saipan.
13 May 1942:
Arrives at Truk. Departs later.
28 May 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
4 June 1942:
Departs Saipan for Omiyajima. Departs later.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
1 July 1942:
Departs Saipan.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Omiyajima.
9 July 1942:
Departs Omiyajima.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
14 July 1942:
Rated as ship No. 601 (1st ship in 60th Subchaser Division).
25 July 1942:
Departs Saipan.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Omiyajima.
17 August 1942:
Rated as a Sea Surface Defense Unit under secret Mariana Area Defense Unit Command Instruction No. 2.
4 November 1942:
Departs Saipan.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Omiyajima.
11 November 1942:
Departs Omiyajima.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
24 November 1942:
Departs Saipan on an anti-submarine sweep.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
5 December 1942:
At 0730, departs Saipan escorting convoy ‘E’ (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of IJA transports BANDOENG, CHIFUKU, SUMATRA and NICHIRYU MARUs.
10 December 1942:
At 1300, ends escort.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Saipan.
21 December 1942:
At 0200, departs Saipan with IJA transports TAIAN MARU and MIKAGE MARU No. 20.
22 December 1942:
At 1200, meets up at 15-00N, 140-50E and escorts convoy ‘I’ (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of IJA transports CHINZEI, MEXICO, SHINSOKU and UCHIDE MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 3 as well as the two ships escorted from Saipan.
24 December 1942:
At 1530, in 09-00N, 144-45E SHUKO MARU is detached from the convoy.
1 January 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
5 January 1943:
At 1215, departs Saipan to meet up with and escort convoy ‘P’ (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of IJA transports RYUZAN, HISHIKAWA and KEMBU MARUs and YAMATO MARU No. 2.
11 January 1943:
At 0600, in 00-17S, 149-07E SHUKO MARU is detached.
24 January 1943:
Departs Saipan on a search for auxiliary gunboat EIFUKU MARU. Returns there later and departs later that same day escorting auxiliary transport SHOAN MARU .
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs there later this day escorting auxiliary transport SHOAN MARU.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at Saipan. The ship has met up with ‘X’ Convoy No. 8 Military Movement consisting of IJA transports FUKKO MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 2, MIKAGE MARU No. 2 and ATSU MARU also escorted by destroyer OITE (that had joined the previous day).
6 February 1943:
Departs Saipan on an anti-submarine patrol.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
15 February 1943:
Departs Saipan on escorting refloated auxiliary transport NAGISAN MARU at Tinian, Marianas. After ending escort, returns to Saipan. Arrives there later that day.
16 February 1943:
Departs Saipan.
19 February 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
26 February 1943:
Departs Saipan in search of auxiliary transport SHINKOKU MARU which is missing after departing Kwajalein, Marshalls on 18 February.
7 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
11 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary minelayer KOEI MARU on an anti-submarine patrol. They both return there later this day.
13 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary minelayer KOEI MARU on an anti-submarine patrol. They both return there later that day.
14 March 1943:
Destroyer AKIZUKI departs Saipan for the homeland. 40 nautical miles outside of the harbor, the bow sagged forward of frame 75. Engines are stopped to prevent the bow breaking off. Departs Saipan with auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU (3,588 GRT) to assist destroyer AKIZUKI.
15 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan escorting auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU (3,588 GRT) towing destroyer AKIZUKI. AKIZUKI is subsequently beached.
16 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU on an anti-submarine patrol. They both return later this day.
17 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU on an anti-submarine patrol. They both return later that day.
18 March 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU on an anti-submarine patrol.
19 March 1943:
Arrives with auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU at Saipan.
22 March 1943:
Departs Saipan on escorting auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU (3,588 GRT) from Omiyajima to Rota, Marianas. About 120 nautical miles NNW of Saipan, auxiliary transport KENYO MARU sinks after being torpedoed by LtCdr (later Captain) Albert C. Burrows' (USNA ‘28) USS WHALE (SS-239). 4 crewmen, 130 engineer passengers and 30 comfort women (IJA prostitutes) are KIA.
23 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs there later this day on a rescue mission for auxiliary transport KENYO MARU.
26 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs there later that day on an anti-submarine sweep.
29 March 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
2 April 1943:
At 0440, SHUKO MARU and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 depart Saipan. Later that day both ships meets up with auxiliary transport AKIBASAN MARU and escort her to Saipan. At 1730, they both arrive at Saipan.
3 April 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 escorting auxiliary transport AKIBASAN MARU. They call at Tinian and depart there, arriving at Saipan later this same day.
4 April 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 escorting auxiliary transport AKIBASAN MARU. They call at Tinian and depart there, arriving at Saipan later that same day.
5 April 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 escorting auxiliary transport AKIBASAN MARU. They call at Tinian and depart there, arriving at Saipan later this same day.
10 April 1943:
Departs Saipan escorting auxiliary transport KAIHEI MARU. Returns there later that day.
13 April 1943:
Departs Saipan on an anti-submarine sweeping.
23 April 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
27 April 1943:
Departs Saipan on an anti-submarine sweep.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
3 May 1943:
Departs Saipan escorting auxiliary transport TOKYO MARU and thereafter carries out an anti-submarine patrol.
4 May 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
20 May 1943:
Departs Saipan escorting auxiliary hospital ship ASAHI MARU . Returns there later this day. Departs Saipan again escorting inbound auxiliary aircraft transport MOGAMIGAWA MARU and BUYO MARU. They arrive at Saipan later that day. Auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU (3,588 GRT) is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Captain) Albert C. Burrows’s (USNA ‘28) USS WHALE (SS-239) about 19 nautical miles WNW Rota Island. One crewman is KIA
26 May 1943:
Departs Saipan on a search for auxiliary gunboat SHOEI MARU (3,588 GRT).
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs there later this day on anti-submarine sweeping.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
1 June 1943:
At 0600, departs Saipan with destroyer OITE and subchaser CH-31 escorting auxiliary transport OKITSU MARU towing fleet oiler IRO.
2 June 1943:
Detaches and returns to Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10. Arrives there at 1730.
7 June 1943:
At 1715, departs Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 escorting convoy No. 3601B consisting of MYOKO, TAIAN, KAISHO and SHIBAZONO MARUs escorted by destroyer YAMAGUMO.
11 June 1943:
Arrives at Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3.
14 June 1943:
Departs Saipan. Arrives at Rota later this day.
19 June 1943:
Departs Rota.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
21 June 1943:
Departs Saipan to meet up with and escort inbound convoy No. 3613B consisting of auxiliary transport SANSEI MARU and auxiliary stores ship SHINSEI MARU, escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8.
E 21 ~ 22 June 1943:
Meets up with and begins escorting convoy No. 3613B.
22 June 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
28 June 1943:
LtCdr (later Cdr) John A. Scott’s (USNA '28) USS TUNNY (SS-282) torpedoes and sinks auxiliary gunboat SHOTOKU MARU about one nautical mile SW Point Harnom (Cape Senhanom), Rota. Casualties are unknown. Departs Saipan with auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 on a rescue mission for auxiliary gunboat SHOTOKU MARU.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
3 July 1943:
At 1735, departs Saipan with subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 escorting IJA transport TAIAN MARU and auxiliary transport CHOKO MARU.
3 ~ 5 July 1943:
At some point, auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 detach from the convoy and return to Saipan.
5 July 1943:
At 1000, auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 arrive at Saipan.
E 3 ~ 8 July 1943:
At some point detaches from the convoy and returns to Saipan.
8 July 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
11 July 1943:
At 0405, departs Saipan with auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 escorting auxiliary aircraft transport MOGAMIGAWA MARU. At some point, the escorts detach and return to Saipan. Arrives there later that day.
15 July 1943:
Departs Saipan on escorting convoy No. 3702.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
22 July 1943:
Departs Saipan on torpedo launch training. Arrives at Saipan later this day.
27 July 1943:
Departs Saipan with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 escorting auxiliary transport KENSHO MARU. After KENSHO MARU joins convoy No. 4724 consisting of auxiliary transports CHIHAYA (ex-Dutch TJISAROEA) and OKITSU MARUs escorted by destroyer YUGIRI and kaibokan OKI, returns with auxiliary KYO MARU No. 8 to Saipan. They arrive there later that day.
30 July 1943:
At 0800, departs Saipan escorting convoy No. 4727 (Part 2) with destroyer INAZUMA and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 consisting of auxiliary transports HIYOSHI and AKIBASAN MARUs, auxiliary stores ship SHINSEI MARU and IJA transport YAMASHIRO MARU. ‘En route’ to Yokosuka, auxiliary collier KAMOI MARU apparently joins the convoy. Detaches later this day.
31 July 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
5 August 1943:
Departs Saipan on a rescue mission for the crew of a crash landed aircraft.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
12 August 1943:
Departs Saipan escorting auxiliary transports ASAHISAN and SHOEI (3,083 GRT) MARUs.
16 August 1943:
At 1930, arrives at Saipan.
18 August 1943:
At 0815, departs Saipan escorting auxiliary aircraft transport GOSHU MARU. At 1800, arrives back at Saipan.
22 August 1943:
At 0815, departs Saipan with auxiliary subchasers CHa-14, CHa-19, CHa-33 and KYO MARU No. 8 escorting convoy No. 3812 second leg consisting of auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU, auxiliary stores ship HOKO MARU and IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) CHIYO MARU.
E 22 ~ 26 August 1943:
Detaches with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 and returns to Saipan.
26 August 1943:
Arrives with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 at Saipan.
27 August 1943:
Departs Saipan on anti-submarine sweeping.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
15 September 1943:
Departs Saipan on a rescue mission for a water landed reconnaissance aircraft. Arrives at Saipan later this day.
16 September 1943:
Departs Saipan on anti-submarine sweeping.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
4 November 1943:
Departs Saipan.
10 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 November 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Uraga.
10 December 1943:
Repairs begin at Uraga Senkyo K.K. shipyard.
15 January 1944:
Repairs are completed.
22 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka escorting a convoy.
26 January 1944:
Arrives at Chichijima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
27 January 1944:
Departs Chichijima for Saipan.
29 January 1944:
At 0200, in 23-07N, 142-27E about 97 nautical miles SE Iwo Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins) in a radar guided attack, torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Robert I. Olsen’s (USNA ’33) USS ANGLER (SS-240). Casualties are unknown.
31 March 1943:
Removed from the 60th Subchaser Division under order No. 503. Removed from the Navy’s list under order No. 508.
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.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.
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