Japanese Army Auxiliary Transports

RIKUGUN YUSOSEN

(SORACHI MARU in ballast, postwar)

SORACHI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2018 Bob Hackett

14 December 1929:
Tamano. Laid down at Mitsui Bussan Kaisha as a 4,107-ton cargo ship for Kyoritsu Kisen, K. K., of Kobe.
31 May 1930:
Launched and named SORACHI MARU.
15 July 1930:
Completed.
16 January 1932:
Arrives at Auckland, New Zealand.
20 May 1938:
Following a merger, SORACHI MARU is transferred to Hokkaido Charco Rapid Transit Co., Ltd., Tokyo.
1 September 1938:
SORACHI MARU departs Osaka for Muroran in ballast. A typhoon drives SORACHI MARU ashore at Jogashima, Misaki and she breaks in two.
1938 - ?:
SORACHI MARU is salvaged, repaired and rebuilt with a single diesel engine.
13 October 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) for service as a troop transport. Assigned Army No. 43.
25 November 1942:
SORACHI MARU departs Saeki for Saipan, Marianas in No. 8 Military Movement's convoy “C” also consisting of HIBURI and MINRYO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO and minelayer NASAMI.
16 December 1942:
At 1655, SORACHI MARU departs Rabaul for Shortland Island, Bougainville, Solomon Islands in a troop reinforcement convoy also consisting of BANDOENG MARU escorted by subchaser CH-29.
17 December 1942:
15 miles NW of Cape Henpan, Buka Island, Bougainville. At 1156, LtCdr (later Cdr) Rob R. McGregor's (USNA ’29) USS GROUPER (SS-214) fires two torpedoes at SORACHI MARU and four torpedoes at BANDOENG MARU. He claims two hits on BANDOENG MARU including one in the engine room. BANDOENG MARU catches fire, takes on a list and at about 1600, sinks by the bow at 04-55S, 154-25E. CH-29 carries out an unsuccessful counter-attack, then rescues survivors. 13 crewmen are KIA.
26 February 1943:
SORACHI MARU departs Saiki for Palau, Carolines in No. 8 Military Movement's convoy "D-2" also consisting of KANJU, KENKOKU and MILAN MARUs escorted by minelayers NASAMI and NUWAJIMA.
E 27 February 1943:
At 29 N, the escorts are detached.
March 1943:
Convoy "D-2"arrives at Palau.
E 13 March 1943:
SORACHI MARU departs Palau for Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of ADEN, HAKUSAN, KANJO, KENKOKU, MILAN, SMIYAURA, ROKKOSAN and TATEISHI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-20 and subchaser CH-16.
20 March 1943:
At 1500, arrives at Rabaul.
March 1943:
SORACHI MARU departs Palau for Saeki in an unidentified convoy also consisting of HAMBURG and HIMALAYA MARUs with an unknown escort.
31 March 1943:
The convoy is joined at 29-23N 134-55E by minelayer YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and escorted north.
1 April 1943:
Off Fukajima, the escorts are detached.
13 April 1943:
SORACHI MARU departs Saeki for Palau in convoy K-413 also consisting of DAIFUKU, HAMBURG, HIMALAYA, IKOMA and YOSHINO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO and patrol boat PB-46.
E 14 April 1943:
PB-46 is detached at 29N.
21 April 1943:
The convoy arrives at Palau. DAIFUKU MARU and torpedo boat HATO are detached. IKOMA MARU departs for Wake Island. HIMALAYA MARU and the others depart for Rabaul with an unknown escort.
E 28 April 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
16 August 1943:
SORACHI MARU depart Palau in convoy So-604 also consisting of TACOMA, TAISHO and UME MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-38 and CH-39.
29 September 1943:
SORACHI MARU departs Manila in convoy No. 864 also consisting of GYOKO, KISO, TACOMA and USSURI MARUs escorted by destroyer FUYO.
E 7 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
6 November 1943:
depart Saiki escorting convoy O-607 consisting of HOKKO, RYUKO, KANKYO, HOZAN, KANTO, SORACHI and TASMANIA MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 . RYUKO MARU is towing non propelled submergible barge transport No. 6. Soon after departure the convoy is reinforced by auxiliary minesweepers YACHIYO MARU, TOKUHO MARU No. 10 and AOI MARU who remain until latitude 27N.
17 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
22 November 1943:
Following a merger, transferred to Mitsui Senpaku, K. K., Tokyo.
18 December 1943:
At 0100, SORACHI MARU departs Saeki in convoy O-806 for Palau also consisting of BICCHU, RYUTO, SHICHISEI, TEMPOSAN and YAMAYURI MARUs escorted by destroyer HARUKAZE, minelayer YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 and TAMA MARU No. 7.
9 January 1944:
SORACHI MARU departs Palau for Saeki, Japan in convoy FU-905 also consisting of HIDAKA, KURAMASAN, SHIRANESAN and TOYOKAWA MARUs escorted by torpedo-boat SAGI and subchaser CH-26.
20 January 1944:
260 km SE of Cape Muroto. At 0103, LtCdr Wayne R. Merrill's (USNA ’34) USS BATFISH (SS-310) attacks the convoy on the surface. Merrill fires eight torpedoes and gets two hits in HIDAKA MARU’s No. 4 hold that cause her to lose power, steering and communications. She drifts helplessly for many hours. At 1456, HIDAKA MARU, carrying about 1000 troops and 2230-tons of bauxite ore, sinks by the stern south of Shiono Misaki at 31-32N, 135-58E. 14 passengers, one guard and one crewman are KIA.
19 January 1944:
Arrives at Ujina.
31 January 1944:
At 0920, SORACHI MARU departs Moji for Takao, Formosa in convoy No. 133 also consisting of transports AGATA, ASAHISAN, CLYDE, FUKKO, MATSUE, MATSUEI , OSAKA, SHINYU and TOYO (2704 GRT), YAMSORACHI and YOZAN MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 3 and tankers NITTETSU, SHINCHO, TAKETSU (BUTSU) and YAMAKO (SANKO) MARUs escorted by patrol boat No. 31 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
6 February 1944:
At 1500, the convoy arrives at Takao.
7 March 1944:
SORACHI MARU departs Manila in MATA-10 convoy also consisting of KENWA, KOHO, TACHIBANA, TARUYASU (ex-British TALTHYBIUS) MARUs and tankers NITTETSU, SAN DIEGO and TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and two unidentified merchants escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA and minesweeper W-17.
12 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
15 March 1944:
At 1200, SORACHI MARU departs Takao, Formosa in convoy TAMO-11 also consisting of ASAHI, BELGIUM BRAZIL, HINODE, KENWA, KENZUI, KENNICHI, KOAN, KOHO, MANILA, MANKO, MUTSU, SHINNO TAITO and TARUYASU (ex-British TALTHYBIUS) MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 12 and tankers NITTETSU, SAN DIEGO, SANKO (YAMAKO), TACHIBANA, and TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 escorted by destroyers NOKAZE and SHIGURE, minesweeper W-17 and subchasers CH- 37 and CH-38
16 March 1944:
At 1600, TOYO and TEIKA (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA) MARUs join the convoy from Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan)..
21 March 1944:
At 0430, ASAHI, MANKO and TOYO MARUs are detached. At 1200, the convoy arrives at Nagasaki.
22 March 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
5 April 1944:
At 0530, ore convoy TE-03 departs Moji consisting of DAIBU, DAIYOKU, KINREI, SHORYU, TOYOHI and YULIN MARUs and non-ore ships SORACHI, ASO, BRAZIL, JINJU, NARUO (ex Panamanian ESTERO) MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-1, torpedo boat HATSUKARI, minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
14 April 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Takao. Most of the non-ore vessels are detached.
15 April 1944:
At 1244, SORACHI MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-16 also consisting of cargo ships BIZEN, OMINE, SHIROHAMA, SHONAN and TOSHO MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3, fleet tanker ASHIZURI and tankers HAKUBASAN, MATSUMOTO, NITTETSU, TACHIBANA, TAKETSU (BUTSU), YAMAKO (SANKO) MARUs, OGURA MARU No. 1 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and two unidentified merchants escorted by light cruiser KISO, destroyer HASU, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-9 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
17 April 1944:
At 0725, torpedo boat HAYABUSA joins as an additional escort. At 1550, auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU and auxiliary subchaser CHa-39 also join as additional escorts.

18 April 1944:
HASU and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 are detached escorts and arrive back at Takao.
19 April 1944:
At 1312, arrives at Manila.
11 June 1944:
SORACHI MARU departs Kau Bay in convoy H-27 (return) also consisting of AKAGISAN, KOAN, SHIROGANESAN, TAIYU and YOZAN MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 escorted by destroyer TSUGA, patrol boat PB-104, subchasers CH-21 and CH-38, auxiliary netlayer KOREI MARU and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
12 June 1944:
TSUGA and CH-38 are detached for Davao.
14 June 1944:
At 1003, LtCdr (later Captain) Willard R. Laughon's (USNA ’33) USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks KOAN MARU at 04-33N, 122-23E. One gunner and 13 crewmen are KIA.
20 June 1944:
At 0925, arrives Manila.
27 August 1944:
At 0800, SORACHI MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in 15-ship convoy MI-17 also consisting of cargo ships AMAHI, ARAOSAN, BAIKAL, DAITEN, HOKUREI, NICHIZUI, NORWAY and SHUYO MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 and two unidentified cargo ships and tankers SHIMOTSU and NITTETSU MARUs escorted by destroyers KURETAKE and SHIOKAZE, kaibokan CD-18, minelayer YURISHIMA and minesweeper W-17.
1 September 1944:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. SORACHI and NITTETSU MARUs and one unidentified ship are detached.
7 October 1944:
At 1800, SORACHI MARU departs Hong Kong in convoy HO-509 also consisting of KAIKO, KATSUURA and TOKO MARUs and KAYU GO escorted by minesweeper W-102 and auxiliary patrol boat KAINAN MARU to 24-31N.
26 October 1944:
At 0247, SORACHI MARU departs Hong Kong in convoy TA-509 (also called TA-507) also consisting of BINGO, BISAN (ex-MING SANG), CHOKA, KINE, KISHU, TOSAN (ex-SOOCHOW) and YULIN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATSUKARI and minesweeper W-102.
28 October 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Takao.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, SORACHI MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-32A also consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 and Kidotei SS No. 6 escorted by destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-8, CD-28, CD-54 and subchasers CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and CH-38. Soon after departure, the convoy anchors along the coast.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Formosan coast.
25 November 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Musa Bay, Fuga Island.
27 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Musa Bay. At 1645, arrives at Lapoc Bay.
28 November 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc Bay. At 1800, arrives at N San Fernando.
29 November 1944:
At 0600, departs N San Fernando.
30 November 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Manila.
9 December 1944: Operation "TA No. 9" – The Reinforcement of Leyte, Philippines:
SORACHI MARU departs Manila for Ormoc in an unnamed convoy also consisting of MINO and TASMANIA MARUs carrying 4,000 soldiers of the Takahashi Detachment (5th Infantry Regiment) plus food and ammunition. The convoy is accompanied by landing ships tank (LST) T. 140 and T. 159 with 400 amphibious tank-equipped marines of the Ito Special Naval Landing Force. DesDiv 30’s KIRI, UZUKI and YUZUKI, and SubChasDiv 21’s CH-17 and CH-37 provide escort.
SORACHI MARU carries 108 men from the 1st and 2nd Shipping Artillery Regiments including a headquarters, an observation section, an antiaircraft machine cannon platoon, two mortar squads, a machine gun squad, two watch sections, a depth charge squad, and SONAR personnel.
11 December 1944:
30 miles off Leyte. The convoy is attacked twice by about 40 USMC F4U "Corsair" fighter-bombers of VMFs 211, 218 and 313. In the second low level attack, TASMANIA and MINO MARUs are hit and later sink at 11-20N, 124-10E.
TASMANIA MARU was carrying 2,204 soldiers of the 8th Division, 68th Brigade and 5th Infantry Regiment, plus supplies and ammunition. 1,053 soldiers, 96 shipboard gunners and 48 of her crew are KIA. MINO MARU was carrying ammunition, foodstuffs, stores and troops. 43 crewmen and one soldier are KIA.
When aircraft attack SORACHI MARU, her captain purposefully creates a list by flooding part of the ship. He also sets a controlled fire in hold No. 3 and produces enough oily smoke that the fighter-bombers assume she is finished and ignore her.
Captain Sawamura orders SORACHI MARU to head to Palompon, while the escorts rescue survivors. UZUKI is detached to pick up another group of survivors. Shortly before midnight, YUZUKI, KIRI, T. 140, T. 159 and the Naval Landing Force are sent ashore at Ormoc in their amphibious tanks. They are engaged by the U. S. Army and USS COGHLAN (DD-606). T. 159 is hit and abandoned, but T. 140 escapes with heavy damage.
12 December 1944:
Palompon. SORACHI MARU, CH-17 and CH-37 complete their landings and depart for Manila.
13 December 1944:
SORACHI MARU, CH-17 and CH-37 arrive at Manila followed by KIRI and T.140 several hours later..
15 July 1945:
Rashin harbor, Korea. Twenty-seven USAAF B-29s mine the waters off several ports. SORACHI MARU is damaged by a mine.
24 August 1945:
Removed from IJA service.
7 April 1956:
Transferred to Fujikawa Maru of Toyo Shipping Co., Ltd., Tokyo, then transferred to Tokyo Kaiun (Shipping Co., Ltd.) and renamed EDOGAWA MARU.
12 May 1965:
Scrapped.

Authors' Note:
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

Bob Hackett

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