Japanese Water Tankers

KYUSUISEN!

(TAIHOZAN MARU, prewar)

IJN TAIHOZAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2016 Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall

12 June 1937:
Tama, Tokyo Prefecture. Laid down by Tama Zosensho K.K. shipyard for Mitsui Bussan K.K. as a 1,804-tons cargo ship.
18 December 1937:
Launched and named TAIHOZAN MARU. [1]
29 March 1938:
Completed and registered at Kobe.
6 November 1938:
Chartered by the IJA.
16 November 1938:
Departs Ainoura, Nagasaki Prefecture and arrives later at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
22 November 1938:
Departs Yawata.
23 November 1938:
Arrives at Kobe.
25 November 1938:
Departs Kobe and arrives at Osaka later that day. Requisitioned that same day by the IJA as Army transport No. 515.
18 December 1938:
At Tama. Enters Tama Zosensho K.K. shipyard drydock.
17 January 1939:
Undocked.
E January 1939:
Departs Tama.
15 March 1939:
Arrives at Nanjing, China.
27 May 1939:
Arrives at Nanjing.
E May 1939:
Arrives at Tama.
5 July 1939:
Enters Tama Zosensho K.K. shipyard drydock for scheduled intermediate maintenance.
19 July 1939:
Undocked.
17 April 1941:
At Ujina. Released to her owners but requisitioned again that same day by the IJN as a general requisitioned transport (Ippan Choyosen).
3 June 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for Eniwetok, Marshalls.
4 July 1941:
At Eniwetok. Auxiliary gunboat IKUTA MARU comes alongside to port and is replenished with fresh water.
E 4 July 1941:
Departs Eniwetok.
13 July 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 July 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for Kwajalein, Marshalls.
12 August 1941:
At Kwajalein. Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIDO MARU with fresh water.
20 August 1941:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIDO MARU with fresh water.
30 August 1941:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIDO MARU with fresh water.
E Early September 1941:
Departs Kwajalein.
11 September 1941:
Arrives at Chichi Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
6 October 1941:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
E 10 October 1941:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
15 October 1941:
Registered by the IJN as an auxiliary water tanker (kyusuisen) attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under Navy’s instruction No. 1256.
31 October 1941:
At 0705, auxiliary gunboat IKUTA MARU comes alongside and is replenished with fresh water. At 1115, replenishment is completed.
1 December 1941:
Assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Inoue Shigeyoshi’s (37) Fourth Fleet in Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral posthumously) Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi’s (40) 6th Base Force, Marshall defense troops, water supply unit as an auxiliary water tanker, (Otsu) category. [2]
2 December 1941:
Departs Kwajalein and arrives at Roi. Marshalls later that day.
6 December 1941:
Departs Roi.
7 December 1941:
Arrives at Eniwetok.
9 December 1941:
Departs Eniwetok.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Ponape, Eastern Carolines.
17 December 1941:
Departs Ponape.
20 December 1941:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
27 December 1941:
Departs Kwajalein and arrives at Roi later that day.
3 January 1942:
Departs Roi and arrives at Kwajalein later that same day.
7 January 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
10 January 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
14 January 1942:
Departs Ponape.
18 January 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
30 January 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
7 February 1942:
Departs Ponape.
10 February 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
15 February 1942:
Departs Kwajalein and arrives at Roi later in the day.
16 February 1942:
Departs Roi and arrives at Kwajalein later that day.
19 February 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
22 February 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
26 February 1942:
Departs Ponape.
3 March 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
8 March 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
21 March 1942:
Departs Ponape.
25 March 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
28 March 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
31 March 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
4 April 1942:
Departs Ponape.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein. Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft TASEI MARU and SEIJU MARU No. 2, and small freighters FUDO MARU No. 2 and OHARA MARU with water.
10 April 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft FUKUGAMI MARU No. 1 with water.
11 April 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft RYUJIN MARU No. 3 with water.
19 April 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
26 April 1942:
Departs Ponape escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 3.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein. Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft KAIKATA MARU, RYUJIN MARU No. 3, KISHU MARU No. 2, TASEI MARU, SEIJU MARU No. 2, small freighters FUDO MARU No. 2 and OHARA MARU and destroyer tender KAMIKAZE MARU with water.
1 May 1942:
Departs Kwajalein and arrives at Roi later that day.
3 May 1942:
Departs Roi and arrives at Kwajalein later that same day.
6 May 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
9 May 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
16 May 1942:
Departs Ponape.
20 May 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein. Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft RYUJIN MARU No. 3 and SHINSHU MARU, and small freighters FUDO MARU No. 2 and OHARA MARU with fresh water.
21 May 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft SEIJU MARU No. 2 with fresh water.
23 May 1942:
Replenishes small freighter OHARA MARU with fresh water.
24 May 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary patrol craft KISHU MARU No. 2 with fresh water.
27 May 1942:
At 1600, departs Kwajalein.
30 May 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
5 June 1942:
Departs Ponape.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Emiedj, Marshalls.
10 June 1942:
Departs Emiedj.
11 June 1942:
Arrives at Taroa, Marshalls.
12 June 1942:
Departs Taroa and arrives at Wotje, Marshalls later that same day. Small auxiliary patrol boatt KOMPIRA MARU comes alongside and is replenished with 2.5t drinking water.
13 June 1942:
Replenishes small auxiliary patrol boat HIGASHINIHON MARU and NICHIEI MARU (later NICHIEI MARU I GO) respectively with 10t and 5t of water. Departs Wotje later in the day.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Roi.
15 June 1942:
Departs Roi.
16 June 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
24 June 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
25 June 1942:
Arrives at Wotje. Replenishes small auxiliary gunboats KAZU MARU No. 3 and KAZU MARU No. 5 with fresh water.
26 June 1942:
Departs Wotje and arrives at Taroa later that day.
28 June 1942:
Departs Taroa.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
1 July 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
4 July 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
11 July 1942:
Departs Ponape.
14 July 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
15 July 1942:
Auxiliary patrol craft I GO NICHIEI MARU comes alongside and is replenished with fresh water.
16 July 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Wotje. Small auxiliary gunboats ASHITAKA MARU No. 5 and KAZU MARU No. 5 come alongside and are replenished with fresh water.
18 July 1942:
Auxiliary gunboat HIGASHI NIHON MARU comes alongside and is replenished with 10t water. Thereafter, departs Wotje and arrives at Taroa later that day.
19 July 1942:
Departs Taroa.
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
26 July 1942:
Departs Ponape.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
2 August 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tokyo later that same day. Repairs start at the Ishikawajima K.K. Shipyard.
17 September 1942:
Departs Tokyo and arrives at Yokohama later in the day.
21 September 1942:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
25 September 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
13 October 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
14 October 1942:
Arrives at Jaluit, Marshalls.
25 October 1942:
Departs Jaluit.
28 October 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
2 November 1942:
Departs Ponape.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
6 November 1942:
Departs Truk.
11 November 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
17 November 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
20 November 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
25 November 1942:
Departs Ponape.
28 November 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
8 December 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
9 December 1942:
Arrives at Jaluit.
10 December 1942:
Departs Jaluit.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Ocean Island (now Banaba), W of the Gilberts. Departs later that day.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Nauru. Departs later that day.
17 December 1942:
Arrives at Ponape.
23 December 1942:
Departs Ponape.
27 December 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
28 December 1942:
Departs Kwajalein. Her owners are restyled to Mitsui Senpaku K.K. and her port of registry is changed to Tokyo.
29 December 1942:
Arrives at Wotje.
4 January 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Ponape.
12 January 1943:
Departs Ponape.
16 January 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Kwajalein.
21 January 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.
22 January 1943:
Arrives at Taroa.
24 January 1943:
Departs Taroa and arrives at Wotje later that day.
26 January 1943:
Departs Wotje.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
29 January 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Ponape.
7 February 1943:
Departs Ponape.
11 February 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
15 February 1943:
Assigned to Marshall defense troops, water supply unit under secret instruction No. 1.
21 February 1943:
At 1400, departs Kwajalein escorted by auxiliary subchaser FUMI MARU No. 3.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at Ponape.
4 March 1943:
At 1400, due to depart Ponape escorted by auxilary subchasers SHOWA MARU No. 5 and KYO MARU No. 6.
8 March 1943:
Departs Nauru for Ponape escorted by auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8.
12 March 1943:
About 108 nautical miles S of Ponape. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Raymond H. Bass’ (USNA ’31) USS PLUNGER (SS-179) running on the surface, detects the convoy on radar. At about 0405, Bass fires a spread of two Mark XIV torpedoes which both hit TAIHOZAN MARU portside in the engine room. The auxiliary water carrier settles by the stern and finally sinks at 07-15N, 158-45E with the loss of five of her crew.
20 April 1943:
Removed from the Naval list under internal order No. 765.

Authors notes :
[1] Also known as TAIHOSAN MARU. Not to be confused with OMINESAN MARU which was also known as TAIHOSAN MARU but with a different kanji middle symbol.
[2] There were two categories of Kyusuisen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

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