YUSOSEN!
(SHUNTEN MARU, prewar)
SHUNTEN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2024 Bob Hackett, Peter Cundall and Gilbert Casse
Revision 1
18 January 1928:
Nagasaki. Laid.down at Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. Nagasaki Zosensho as a 5,623-ton passenger-cargo ship for Yamamoto Shoji, K. K., Osaka.
20 June 1928:
Launched and named SHUNTEN MARU. [1]
6 August 1928:
Completed and registered at Osaka with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of respectively 5,623-tons and 4,136-tons. Her Call sign is JCAC. [2]
1928-1934:
In Yamamoto Shoji’s service on their routes from Japan to the W coast of the U.S. and Canada. Mainly carries general cargo from Japan and lumber on the return voyages.
21 September 1934:
Osaka. SHUNTEN MARU suffers damage from “Typhoon Muroto”. The storm kills over 2,700 people.
31 March 1936:
A fires breakes out after it spread from a ship in the port of Osaka.
15 May 1937:
Arrives at the Panama Canal from Manila, PI carrying 8256 tons of sugar and general cargo. Transits the canal and departs later that day for Boston, Mass.
20 June 1937:
Arrives at the Panama Canal from Baltimore, MD carrying 8189 tons of pig iron. Transits the canal and departs later that day for Yokohama.
1938:
Name is re-rendered in English as SYUNTEN MARU. At some point in 1943 reverts to SHUNTEN MARU.
22 May 1940:
SHUNTEN MARU is sold to Yamato Maritime Co., Kobe. Reregistered at Kobe. Her NRT changes to 4,136-tons. [2]
June 1940:
Yamato Maritime Co., merges with Daido Kaiun, K. K., Kobe.
1 ~ 15 October 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 October 1941:
Registered in the Kure Naval District as a miscellaneous auxiliary transport under Ordinance No. 1256. Assigned to the Kure Naval District as an Otsu category special transport. [3]
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Osaka and departs that day.
14 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
20 December 1941:
Departs Kure. Thereafter, makes calls at Osaka, Yokosuka, Komatsushima, Tokuyama, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Yawata, Moji, Miike, Takao, Tokyo, Kushiro, Muroran and Nagoya.
10 April 1942:
Removed from the Navy List under instruction No. 662.
17 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
19 April 1942:
Departs Kure.
29 April 1942:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes, Netherlands Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).
7 May 1942:
Departs Macassar.
17 May 1942:
Arrives at Kamfa (now Campha, Vietnam) and departs that day.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Nagoya.
30 May 1942:
Released to her owners.
4 December 1942:
Receives requisistion notice under Armed Forces instruction No. 17-11-28.
12 December 1942:
Kobe. Begins conversion to an to a secondary emergency oiler at Kawasaki Jukogyo, K. K. That same day, SHUNTEN MARU is requisitioned by the IJN and registered in the Kure Naval District as an auxiliary oil supply transport (charter) assigned to the Naval Department.
9 January 1943:
Completes conversion. Departs Kobe.
10 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
12 January 1943:
Departs Kure.
13 January 1943:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
17 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
18 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo, British Malaya, (now Malaysia).
29 January 1943:
Departs Miri.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
3 February 1943:
At 1400 SHUNTEN MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 470 consisting of tankers MANJU MARU, SHOYU MARU, OGURA MARU No.2 and DURBAN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
11 February 1943:
SHUNTEN MARU departs Takao in convoy No. 230 consisting of tankers MANJU MARU, NICHIRIN, SHOYU and SHUNTEN MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2, cargo ships KAYO, HOFUKU, DURBAN and SHINWA MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship. Auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN ) MARU escorts the convoy briefly before being detached.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
18 February 1943:
Departs Kobe.
20 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
February 1943:
Undergoes repairs and unknown construction, possibly an armament upgrade.
16 March 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
19 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
21 March 1943:
SHUNTEN MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 139 also consisting of auxiliary oiler SHUNTEN MARU and HOKUTAI, MIE and KAISHO MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-39. Later that day cargo ship KOSEI MARU joins convoy from Sasebo.
26 March 1943:
Arrives at Mako and departs.
1 April 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
3 April 1943:
Departs Miri with IJN tanker HOKUAN MARU.
6 April 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
8 April 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 486 also consisting of IJA tankers NICHIRIN MARU and IJA transport HAWAII MARU and three unidentified merchant ships without surface escort.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
18 April 1943:
At 1800 SHUNTEN MARU departs Takao in convoy No. 253 also consisting of IJN oiler HOKUAN MARU, general requisitioned transport NICHIRYO MARU and four unidentified MARUs escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
22 April 1943:
At 1530 arrives at Moji.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
25 April 1943:
Departs Kobe.
27 April 1943:
Probably runs aground off Kyoto Beach. Refloated, then arrives at the Keihin industrial region of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama.
April 1943:
Yokohama. Enters dock at Mitsubishi Zosensho, K. K. (Heavy Industries, Ltd.) shipyard. Undergoes repairs.
26 May 1943:
Repairs are completed. Departs Keihin. Later that day, arrives at Yokosuka.
27 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo. Later that day, arrives at Imari.
6 June 1943:
Departs Imari.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
14 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Manila, Philippines.
19 June 1943:
Departs Manila.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
25 June 1943:
Departs Miri.
28 June 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
3 July 1943:
At 1100 SHUNTEN MARU departs Manila in convoy No. 856 also consisting of converted tanker NITTETSU MARU and fleet oiler SATA and five unidentified ships escorted by destroyer FUYO and Patrol Boat PB-103. Soon after departure, the convoy splits into two sections.
6 July 1943:
Escorted by patrol boat PB-103 due to main water pump failure as far as 16N.
9 July 1943:
The second section, including SHUNTEN MARU, arrives at Takao.
14 July 1943:
Departs Takao.
19 July 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
21 July 1943:
Departs Osaka Later that day, arrives at Shimotsu.
26 July 1943:
Departs Shimotsu. Later that day, arrives at Kobe.
July 1943:
Kobe. Undergoes repairs to her oil system pumps at the Kawasaki Jyuko, K. K. shipyard.
3 August 1943:
Repairs are completed. Departs Kobe.
4 August 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure.
6 August 1943:
Departs Mutsure.
8 August 1943:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
11 August 1943:
Departs Nagasaki.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
18 August 1943:
Departs Mako.
23 August 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
26 August 1943:
At 1130 departs Manila in convoy No. 917 also consisting of TAIAN (5410), TAIRYU, CHIYODA, KYOEI, MATSUMOTO, SHUNTEN MARUs and FUSHIMI MARU No. 3, escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE. The convoy is bound for Balikpapan and at an unidentified point MATSUMOTO, SHUNTEN and CHIYODA MARUs and FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 are detached.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
1 September 1943:
Requisitioned by the Civilian Shipping Administration (Sempaku-Uneikai) and allotted to the IJN as a haitosen controlled by the Kure Naval District. [4]
26 ~ 29 September 1943:
At Hitachi Zosen K.K. for hull repair.
12 November 1943:
Designated the 19th Navy ship.
3 January 1944:
At 1300 SHUNTEN MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 454 also consisting of Army shared transport (A/C-APK) TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE) MARU, civilian cargo ships SUZAN (SUNGSHAN) and BISAN MARUs, Army shared tanker SHOEI MARU and one escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
8 January 1944:
BISAN and SUZAN MARUs are detached from the convoy for Hong Kong.
11 January 1944:
SHUNTEN and TEIFU MARUs both run aground at Taisha Shoal on the west side of Pratas Island, South China Sea. Destroyer KURETAKE arrives and is vigilant. CHIHAYA MARU (4700gt) is dispatched to transfer the heavy oil on board. Salvage vessel TOEI MARU and other rescue vessels arrive. Both ships are later refloated.
20 January 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU is refloated.
21 January 1944:
KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU arrives from Takao and carries out rescue work.
24 January 1944:
Departs the west side of Pratas island escorted by KAZAN MARU.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
23 February 1944:
At 0600, departs Takao in convoy TAMO-05 consisting of CHIHAYA, CEYLON, NIPPO, SAN LUIS, FRANCE, PACIFIC, SHUNTEN, MUTSUYO (BOKUYO) and ASO MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-38, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU, auxiliary subchaser TAMA MARU No. 7 and an unidentified warship.
27 February 1944:
At 2058, LtCdr John A. Moore's (USNA '32) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) torpedoes and sinks CEYLON MARU at 31-35N, 127-47E. 46 crewmen and 95 troops are KIA.
29 February 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure and departs later that same day, and arrives at Imari.
2 March 1944:
Arrives at Osaka.
7 March 1944:
Departs Osaka.
15 March 1944:
Arrives at Tama , near Tamano.
16 March 1944:
Tamano. Enters Mitsui Zosen K.K. Tamano Zosensho dock for repairs. Undergoes repairs.
20 April 1944:
Repairs are completed. Undocked.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure.
1 May 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU departs Moji in convoy MI-03 also consisting of tankers CHIYODA, KOTOKU, and ZUIYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2, EIYO MARU No. 2 and UNKAI MARU No. 5 and cargo/transports SHOHEI, NIKKO, ETAJIMA, DAIJUN, DAITEN, KANKYO, KENWA, RYUKA (YANAGAWA), SHINNO, TOUN and TAISEI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA, torpedo boat HATO, auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU and other unidentified warships.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao and later departs port for Manila.
10 May 1944:
150 miles NW of Manila, Luzon. Cdr (later Rear Admiral) James C. Dempsey's (USNA '31) USS COD (SS-224) attacks convoy MI-03. At 0647, Dempsey torpedoes and sinks destroyer KARUKAYA at 15-47N, 119-32E. Dempsey then torpedoes and sinks transport SHOHEI MARU at 15-38N, 119-32E. Eight crewmen and 12 passengers are KIA.
11 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
14 May 1944:
Departs Manila.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
23 May 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-04 also consisting of PACIFIC and CHOHAKUSAN MARUs and tankers CHIYODA and TAKETOYO MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, torpedo boat HATO and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
29 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
31 May 1944:
Departs Manila.
3 June 1944:
Arrives at Takao and departs later that day.
4 June 1944:
TEIKA MARU (ex-French CAP VARELLA) departs Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) and joins the convoy.
8 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
9 June 1944:
Departs Moji and arrives at Shimotsu.
15 June 1944:
Departs Shimotsu.
17 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
23 June 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-09/MOMA-09 also consisting of SAIHO, SAINEI, CHILE, SHIMOTSU, CHIYODA, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA), NORFOLK, KINRYO, KENSEI, UGA and KYOKUZAN MARUs and 14 other merchants escorted by kaibokan CD-9, torpedo boats HATO and TOMOZURU, minelayer NUWAJIMA and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs.
E 28 June 1944:
NUWAJIMA is detached for Kirun (Keelung), Formosa.
29 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao, Formosa. YOKO MARU and HIROTA MARU are detached.
30 June 1944:
At 1800, departs Takao.
3 July 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Manila. SSAIHO, SAINEI, CHILE, TATSUHARU, NATSUKAWA, BINGO, EIYO, NIKKO, MISAKI MARUs, KYOEI MARU No. 3, KYOEI MARU No. 10 and two unidentified ships, kaibokan CD-9 and torpedo boats HATO and TOMOZURU are detached and remain at Manila. SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) MARU is also detached for Leyte Island, Philippines.
6 July 1944:
At 0600, SHUNTEN MARU departs Manila for Miri with SHIMOTSU, CHIYODA, SHUNTEN, NORFOLK, KINRYO, KENSEI, UGA and KYOKUZAN MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
12 July 1944:
At 1900, arrives at Miri.
19 July 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-10 also consisting of tankers HAKUBASAN, TAKETSU (BUTSU), CHIYODA and SHIMOTSU MARUs and DAIZEN, HIDA, HINAGA and FUYUKAWA MARUs plus 19 unidentified ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE, minelayer MAEJIMA, kaibokan YASHIRO and CD-3 and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
24 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila. Convoy MI-10 is joined by tankers OEI MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and KAKOGAWA, TSUKUBASAN, ROKKO, RASHIN, KUROGANE, FRANCE, MYOGI MARUs and UNYO MARU No.7.
26 July 1944:
At 1100, reconstituted convoy MI-10 departs Manila.
28 July 1944:
At 1040, LtCdr Francis D. Walker's (USNA '35) USS CREVALLE (SS-291) torpedoes and sinks HAKUBASAN MARU at 1305 at 16-28N, 119-38E. She was carrying 7,351 tons of oil and 710 tons of rubber. Three crewmen are KIA.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao. ASAKAZE and YASHIRO are detached.
4 August 1944:
Departs Takao.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
11 August 1944:
Departs Moji and arrives at Shimotsu.
16 August 1944:
Departs Shimotsu and later that day arrives at Osaka. Departs and arrives at Tama, near Tamano later this same day.
19 August 1944:
Arrives at Tamano. Enters Mitsui Zosen K.K. Tamano Zosensho dock for repairs.
31 August 1944:
Repairs are completed. Undocked.
9 September 1944:
Departs Tama.
13 September 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 September 1944:
At 1600, SHUNTEN MARU departs Sasebo and joins convoy MI-21 from Moji also consisting of tankers SAN LUIS MARU and EIKYO MARUs and transports TEIKA (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA), TSUYAMA, EJIRI, FUSHIMI, KEISHIN, KEIZAN, CHOSAN, TATSUBATO, KIZAN and YOSHU MARUs and an unidentified ship escorted by kaibokan DAITO, patrol boat PB-104 auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU, subchaser CH-21, auxiliary subchasers CHa-87 and CHa-92.
29 September 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Takao and the convoy is dissolved.
30 September 1944:
Departs Takao.
7 October 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
8 October 1944:
At 0700, SHUNTEN MARU departs departs Manila for Miri, Borneo im reorganized convoy MI-19 also consisting of NITTETSU, SAN LUIS, DAIZEN, HIDA, SAN DIEGO, EIKYO, TOKUWA, ATSUBATO, DAISHU and YOSHU MARUs escorted by kaikoban CD-18 and CD-26, patrol PB-105, subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-56.
9 October 1944:
About 1700, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s USS BECUNA (SS-319) torpedoes and damages SAN LUIS MARU, but she is able to continue. LtCdr Francis W. Scanland’s USS HAWKBILL (SS-366) also torpedoes SAN LUIS MARU about the same time. At 1804, Sturr’s USS BECUNA torpedoes TOKUWA MARU. At 1815, she is hit a second time by Scandland’s USS HAWKBILL and sinks at 1816 at 12-43N 118-05E. Ten crewmen are KIA.
10 October 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU and two of the escorts are detached with damaged SAN LUIS MARU and head for Sandakan, Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia). Later that day, arrives Pagdanan Bay, Palawan, Philippines.
11 October 1944:
Departs Pagdanan Bay.
12 October 1944:
Arrives at Dalawan Bay, Balabac Island, Philippines.
13 October 1944:
Departs Dalawan Bay.
14 October 1944:
Arrives at Kimanis, Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia) and departs. Later that day, arrives at Brunei, British NW Borneo, (now Brunei).
15 October 1944:
Departs Brunei. Later that day, arrives at Labuan Island, NW Borneo, British Malaya (now Malaysia).
16 October 1944:
Departs Labuan Island. Later that day, arrives at Victoria Patches, N Borneo.
17 October 1944:
Departs Victoria Patches. Later that day, arrives at Miri, Borneo.
19 October 1944:
Arrives at Banggi Island, NW Borneo, British Malaya (Now Sabah, Malaysia) and departs. Later that day, arrives at Kudat, Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia).
1 November 1944:
At 1200, SHUNTEN MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-20 also consisting of tankers DAIMEI, DAISHU, MITSU and SAN DIEGO MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, torpedo boat HIYODORI and subchaser CH-21.
3 November 1944:
At 0100, LtCdr Norman D. Gage's (USNA '35) USS GURNARD (SS-254) torpedoes and sinks DAIMEI MARU at 05-53N, 111-12E. She was carrying 8,000-tons of fuel oil. 31 passengers and three crewmen are KIA.
5 November 1944:
At 1430, arrives at Cap St Jacques, Indochina. MITSU MARU detaches from the convoy.
6 November 1944:
Arrives at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
8 November 1944:
Arrives at Cap St Jacques. Auxiliary transport TEIRITSU MARU (ex LECONTE DE LISLE) joins the convoy.
10 November 1944:
Arrives at Nha Trang, French Indochina (now Vietnam) and departs for Port Dayot Bay (Qui Sande Bay), French Indochina (now Vinh Vân Phong, Vietnam) later that day.
15 November 1944:
At 0730, departs Port Dayot Bay for Moji carrying 8,010-tons of heavy oil and 190 passengers heading NE towards the China coast.
17 November 1944:
South China Sea. 130 miles E of Tourane, French Indochina (now Da Nang, Vietnam). At 0300, LtCdr Guy E. O’Neil's (USNA '37) USS GUNNEL (SS-253) torpedoes and sinks torpedo boat HIYODORI. Then at about 0500, GUNNEL torpedoes and sinks SHUNTEN MARU at 16-45N, 110-15E.
Destroyer SHIOKAZE and subchaser CH-21´s counter attacks are ineffective.
Author’s Note:
[1] Also known as SYUNTEN MARU in English language sources. The ship was never renamed but the Ennglish name below the kanji characters were re-rendered as SYUNTEN MARU from 1938-43.
[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] There were two categories of Yusosen. The Ko category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and the Otsu category without.
[4] See the YUSOSEN! home page for an explanation of Sempaku-Uneikai, Haitosen, etc.
Thanks go to Berend van der Wal of Netherlands and Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Bob Hackett and Gilbert Casse.
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