Japanese Hospital Ships

BYOINSEN

(TAKASAGO MARU prewar in OSK service)

IJN Hospital Ship TAKASAGO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2019 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 6

9 June 1936:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard as a 9,315-ton passenger-cargo ship for Osaka Shosen (OSK Line) K.K., Osaka.
1 December 1936:
Launched and named TAKASAGO MARU.
28 April 1937:
Completed with GRT and NRT respectively of 9,315-tons and 4,993-tons. [1]
20 May 1937:
Departs Kobe for Keelung, Formosa on her maiden voyage on OSK’s Kobe-Keelung route. Makes 3 round trips per month.
18 August 1937:
Arrives at Woosung (Wusung), China.
1938:
Her GRT and NRT is changed respectively to 9,347-tons and 4,989-tons. [1]
3 January 1939:
Departs Kobe for Keelung.
6 January 1939:
Arrives at Keelung.
16 January 1939:
Departs Kobe for Kirun.
29 January 1939:
Arrives at Kobe.
28 June 1940:
Departs Kobe.
29 June 1940:
Arrives at Moji and departs later this day.
1 July 1940:
Arrives at Kirun.
7 July 1940:
Arrives at Moji.
11 July 1940:
Departs Keelung for Kobe.
13 July 1940:
Arrives at Kobe.
12 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
1 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary hospital ship in the Kure Naval District. Captain/ Surgeon (later Rear Admiral/S) Shintaro Kanazawa is posted Medical Director of TAKASAGO MARU. Attached to the Combined Fleet.
20 December 1941:
Kobe. Completes conversion at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard.
1941:
Assigned directly to the Combined Fleet.
23 December 1941:
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as required by the Geneva Convention, notifies the warring countries that TAKASAGO MARU is a designated hospital ship.
25 December 1941:
Departs Kure.
11 January 1942:
Departs Takao for Mako.
17 January 1942:
Departs Mako.
22 January 1942:
Departs Mutsure.
23 January 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
29 January 1942:
Departs Kure.
25 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 April 1942:
At about 1600, LtCdr John R. McKnight’s USS PORPOISE (SS-172) torpedoes and lightly damages TAKASAGO MARU at 03-19S, 127-27E. [2]
16 April 1942:
Departs Kure.
25 April 1942:
Departs Ambon escorted by auxiliary netlayer FUKUIEI MARU No. 15.
26 April 1942:
Ambon. Manipa Strait. At night, LtCdr Barton E. Bacon‘s USS PICKEREL (SS-177) mistakenly torpedoes and lightly damages TAKASAGO MARU. At 0500 meets up with auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU that escorts ship until arriving at Ambon at 0800.
27 April 1942:
Receives equipment manual with instructions for repairing the incurred damage.
28 April 1942:
Departs Ambon escoreted by auxiliary netlayer FUKUEI MARU No. 15.
19 May 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
22 May 1942:
Departs Takao.
26 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure, then moves to the fleet anchorage at Hashirajima. At 1900, the Combined Fleet’s Midway Striking Force arrives. Light cruiser NAGARA arrives and disembarks over 500 wounded sailors to hospital ships TAKASAGO and HIKAWA MARUs.
15 June 1942:
Hashirajima. At 1600, Chief of Staff, Combined Fleet, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral ) Ugaki Matome (former CO of HYUGA), departs battleship YAMATO and pays a visit to 338 wounded aboard TAKASAGO MARU and another 280 wounded aboard HIKAWA MARU.
16 June 1942:
Departs Hashirajima. Arrives at Kure. Disembarks some wounded sailors.
17 June 1942:
Departs Kure. Later that day arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks the remaining wounded sailors.
19 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
26 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
29 June 1942:
Departs Kure for Truk.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Wotje, Marshalls.
18 July 1942:
Departs Wotje.
19 July 1942:
Arrives and departs Taroa.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
1 August 1942:
Arrives at Saipan
6 August 1942:
Arrives Yokosuka.
12 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
11 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
16 September 1942:
Departs Kure.
26 September 1942:
Arrives off Rabaul. Anchors in Simpson Harbour. Embarks sick and wounded.
29 September 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 October 1942:
Captain/ Surgeon (later Rear Admiral/S) Hideshi Kawashima is posted Medical Director.
14 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
27 October 1942:
Arrives off Rabaul. Anchors in Simpson Harbour. Embarks sick and wounded.
31 October 1942:
Anchors off Kavieng.
1 November 1942:
While anchored off Shortland, attacked and near-missed by a bomb.
10 November 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
17 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for unknown destination.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
11 December 1942:
TAKASAGO MARU rescues 26 survivors in a lifeboat of transport HINO MARU No. 3 torpedoed and sunk on 7 December by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Vernon L. Lowrance’s (USNA ’30) USS KINGFISH (SS-234) about 135 nms WSW Minami-Iwojima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Kavieng. Embarks sick and wounded.
2 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
15 January 1943:
Departs Kure.
21 January 1943:
At 0830, enters Truk lagoon via the North Pass.
11 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
22 March 1943:
Departs Singapore.
8 April 1943:
Arrives Sasebo.
11 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
12 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
21 April 1943:
Departs Kure.
30 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
3 June 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
22 June 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Truk.
7 July 1943:
Departs Kure.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
28 August 1943:
Departs Kure.
5 September 1943:
During the morning arrives at Truk, apparently escorted by destroyer AKEBONO. [3]
4 October 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
6 October 1943:
Departs Truk.
20 October 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Kure.
25 October 1943:
An unknown Surgeon is posted Medical Director.
29 October 1943:
Departs Kure.
3 November 1943:
Departs Truk for Rabaul.
20 November 1943:
At 0530, arrives Truk via the South Channel.
25 November 1943:
At 0530, arrives at Truk via the South Pass.
26 November 1943:
At 0600, departs Truk via North Channel.
1 December 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Beppu. 202 Patients and 18 passengers are disembarked.
2 December 1943:
At 1200 departs Beppu. At 1840 anchors off Ninoshima near Kure.
3 December 1943:
At 0700 departs Ninoshima and at 0900 arrives at Kure. 595 Patients and 22 passengers are disembarked.
4 December 1943:
Unloads liquor store and medical supplies.
5 December 1943:
Loads 200-tons of coal.
6 December 1943:
Loads liquor products and 300-tons of coal.
7 December 1943:
Loads 300-tons of coal, 165-tons of fresh water, 10-tons of medical ice and fuel.
8 December 1943:
Loads stored goods and 280-tons of boiler water.
9 December 1943:
Loads 300-tons of coal, medical supplies and 10-tons of ice.
10 December 1943:
Loads 200-tons of coal, 150-tons of fresh water and embarks 680 passengers.
12 December 1943:
At 0800 departs Kure.
18 December 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Harujima anchorage (Spring Island, Moen), Truk. 680 Passengers disembark and supplies to light cruiser KATORI 5 medical kits.
19 December 1943:
Supplies to cable layer TAITEISHI 4 medical kits.
20 December 1943:
Supplies to light cruiser KATORI 3 medical kits.
22 December 1943:
Supplies to oiler TSURUMI 2 medical kits and loads 540-tons of boiler water.
24 December 1943:
Supplies to repair ship YAMASHIMO MARU 12 medical kits and embarks 4 patients.
24 ~ 25 December 1943:
Oiler TSURUMI loads coal to a barge from TAKASAGO MARU.
25 December 1943:
Supplies to battleship FUSO 5 medical kits, unloads goods and embarks 160 patients.
26 December 1943:
Embarks 516 patients. Later lies alongside TSURUMI. Loads 450-tons of coal, supplies medical supplies and loads 300-tons boiler water.
27 December 1943:
Embarks 2 passengers. Casts off TSURUMI.
28 December 1943:
Embarks 55 passengers. At 1500, departs Truk.
30 December 1943:
At 0710, arrives at Saipan. Embarks 44 patients and disembarks 4 passengers. At 1700 departs Saipan.
3 January 1944:
At 1030, arrives at Yokosuka. Disembarks 531 patients and 53 passengers.
5 January 1944:
Loads 200-tons of coal.
6 January 1944:
Loads 200-tons of coal, 250-tons of boiler water, stored goods and a conveyor.
7 January 1944:
Loads 200-tons of coal, 250-tons of boiler water and liquor goods.
8 January 1944:
Loads 200-tons of coal, 100-tons of fresh water and 10-tons medical ice.
9 January 1944:
Loads medical supplies.
10 January 1944:
Loads 200-tons of coal, 100-tons of fresh water and embarks 79 patients.
11 January 1944:
At 0800 departs Yokosuka.
12 January 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Beppu.
13 January 1944:
Disembarks 130 patients. At 1100 departs Beppu. At 1900 temporarily anchors off Ninoshima.
14 January 1944:
At 0700 departs Ninoshima and at 0900 arrives at Kure. Disembarks 138 Patients.
15 January 1944:
Unloads liquor products and medical supplies. Loads 300-tons of coal and 180-tons of fresh water.

16 January 1944:
Loads fuel.

17 January 1944:
Loads 256-tons of coal and liquor products.
18 January 1944:
Loads 300-tons of coal, 195-tons of fresh water and 4-tons of storage ice.
19 January 1944:
Loads medical supplies and fresh food.
20 January 1944:
Loads 200-tons of coal and 190-tons of boiler water.
21 January 1944:
Loads 180-tons of coal, 175-tons of fresh water and liquor goods.
22 January 1944:
Loads 380-tons of coal and 160-tons of boiler water.
23 January 1944:
Loads a conveyor.
24 January 1944:
Loads 130-tons of fresh water, stored goods and embarks 524 passengers.
25 January 1944:
At 0800, departs Kure.
29 January 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Manila. Disembarks 473 passengers.
1 February 1944:
Embarks 1 patient and 96 passengers disembark. At 1600, departs Manila.
4 February 1944:
At 0800, arrives at Davao. Embarks 15 patients and 5 passengers. Disembarks 182 passengers. Unloads medical supplies and liquor products.
5 February 1944:
At 0900 departs Davao.
7 February 1944:
At 0900 arrives at Ambon. Embarks 8 patients and disembarks 17 passengers and unloads medical supplies. Loads 170-tons of boiler water and takes human remains on board.
8 February 1944:
At 1830 departs Ambon.
10 February 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Kupang. Embarks 116 patients and disembarks 4 passengers. Unloads medical supplies. Departs there at 1400.
12 February 1944:
At 1030 arrives at Macassar. Unloads medical supplies.
13 February 1944:
Embarks 39 patients and disembarks 41 passengers. Loads 150-tons of coal, 135-tons of boiler water and liquor products.
14 February 1944:
Embarks 17 passengers. At 1600 departs Macassar.
15 February 1944:
At 1615 arrives at Balikpapan. Embarks 24 patients and disembarks 4 passengers and unloads medical supplies.
16 February 1944:
Embarks 139 patients and 4 passengers. Loads 100-tons of coal.
17 February 1944:
Embarks 2 patients and 2 passengers. Loads 100-tons of coal.
18 February 1944:
At 0700 departs Balikpapan.
19 February 1944:
At 1730 arrives at Surabaya. Disembarks 113 patients and 13 passengers.
20 February 1944:
Unloads medical suppplies and stored goods. Loads 150-tons of coal and 200-tons of boiler water.
21 February 1944:
Loads liquor goods and takes on board human remains. Loads 150-tons of coal and 250-tons of fresh water.
22 February 1944:
Embarks 168 patients. Embarks 1 passenger and takes on board human remaains. Loads 300-tons of boiler water.
23 February 1944:
At 1000 departs Surabaya.
25 February 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Singapore. Disembarks 21 passengers. Loads 200-tons of coal and 250-tons of fresh water.
26 February 1944:
Embarks 229 patients and disembarks 39 patients. Loads 200-tons of coal and 250-tons of fresh water.
27 February 1944:
Embarks 2 patients. Loads 100-tons of coal, 100-tons of fresh water, 10-tons of medical ice and liquor products. Unloads medical supplies.
28 February 1944:
At 1500 departs Singapore.
1 March 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Saigon. Embarks 17 patients and unloads medical supplies.
2 March 1944:
Embarks 2 passengers. At 1230 departs Saigon.
4 March 1944:
At 0930 arrives at Sana. Embarks 147 patients, unloads medical supplies and takes on board human remains.
5 March 1944:
Embarks 7 passengers. At 0800 departs Sana.
7 March 1944:
At 0900 arrives at Takao. Disembarks 46 patients and 2 passengers. Embarks 1 patient.
8 March 1944:
Embarks 115 patients and 6 passengers, unloads medical supplies, loads 560-tons of boiler water and takes on board human remains and delivers human remains.
10 March 1944:
At 0800 departs Takao.
11 March 1944:
Arrives off the coast of Nomazaki.
12 March 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Sasebo. Transfers 189 patients to hospital ship TENNO MARU (later renamed HIKAWA MARU No. 2), embarks 256 passengers, disembarks 415 patients and 71 passengers, unloads stored goods and delivers human remains.
13 March 1944:
Embarks 122 patients and loads 100-tons of boiler water.
14 March 1944:
At 1500 departs Sasebo.
15 March 1944:
Arrives at Hiroshima Wan.
16 March 1944:
Departs Hiroshima Wan and at 0830 arrives at Kure. Disembarks 755 patients and 17 passengers and delivers human remains.
17 March 1944:
Unloads liquor goods, commodities, embarks 1 passenger and disembarks 1 passenger.
18 March 1944:
Unloads commodities, loads 220-tons of coal, 200-tons of fresh waterand embarks 1 passenger.
19 March 1944:
Loads 270-tons of coal, 200-tons of boiler water, fuel an ddiesel oil, unloads commodities.
20 March 1944:
Loads 270-tons of coal and liquor goods.
21 March 1944:
Unloads commodities.
22 March 1944:
Loads 290-tons of coal, 200-tons of fresh water, 8-tons of medical ice and 8-tons of consumption ice.
23 March 1944:
Lods 290-tons of coal, 200-tons of boiler water and fresh food.
24 March 1944:
Loads stored goods and embarks 1 passenger.
26 March 1944:
Loads 250-tons of boiler water.
27 March 1944:
Loads 250-tons of boiler water and embarks 593 passengers.
28 March 1944:
At 0920 departs Kure for Palau via Truk.
4 April 1944:
At 0830 arrives at Truk. Disembarks 501 passengers, embarks 166 passengers and 344 patients, unloads medical supplies and takes on board human remains and departs from there at 1600.
6 April 1944:
At 0618 arrives at Mereyon. Embarks 32 patients and un loads medical supplies.
7 April 1944:
At 1600 departs Mereyon.
9 April 1944:
At 0810 in Yoo (Western) Channel off Palau. TAKASAGO MARU strikes a mine in the SW Channel. At 0811, at 20m ans 30 degrees of the starboard bridge another mine explodes. At 0830, beginns the evacuation of patients and passengers to nearby Kojima. At 1000 starts unloading various products and 374 patients are disembarked. [4]
10 April 1944:
Salvage and repairs begin.
13 April 1944:
Human remains are delivered.
14 April 1944:
Unloads liquor products.
15 April 1944:
Loads fresh water.
16 April 1944:
Unloads medical supplies and commodities.
17 April 1944:
Loads stored goods and fresh food from supply ship MAMIYA.
21 April 1944:
Unloads commodities.
23 April 1944:
Loads 50-tons of fresh water.
25 April 1944:
Drainage of the machine room is completed.
27 April 1944:
Transfers 1 patient to hospital ship TENNO MARU (later renamed HIKAWA MARU No. 2).
28 April 1944:
Disembarks 1 patient.
30 April 1944:
Drainage is completed.
1 May 1944:
Loads fresh food, two hand pushed cylinders and receives generator accessories from hospital ship HIKAWA MARU.
2 May 1944:
Loads 40 cans of diesel fuel.
3 May 1944:
Loads 50-tons of coal.
4 May 1944:
Loads 1 electric generator and 9 cannisters of heavy oil from hospital ship HIKAWA MARU.
5 May 1944:
Salvage and repairs completed.
7 May 1944:
Loads 50-tons of boiler water.
9 May 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water, 2 tons of volatile oil and 4 cannisters of light oil.
10 May 1944:
Loads 50-tons of water.
11 May 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water and unloads medical supplies.
12 May 1944:
Loads lubricating oil.
14 May 1944:
Loads 50-tons of boiler water.
15 May 1944:
Loads fresh food and supplies.
16 May 1944:
Loads 50-tons of water, fresh food and 1.5-tons of medical ice.
17 May 1944:
Loads 50-tons of boiler water.
18 May 1944:
Loads 90-tons of boiler water.
21 May 1944:
At 1310 transferred to Gadarak, Palau.
23 May 1944:
Loads 198-tons of boiler water, fresh food and 1-tons of stored rice.
24 May 1944:
Loads 157-tons of boiler water and fuel.
25 May 1944:
Embarks 44 patients and 511 passengers, loads 135-tons of boiler water and takes on board human remains.
26 May 1944:
At 0800 departs Gadarak for Kure.
2 June 1944:
At 1700 arrives off Miyajima.
3 June 1944:
At 0700 departs Miyajima and at 0745 arrives at Kure. Disembarks 43 patients and 511 passengers. delivers human remains and loads 100-tons of boiler water.
4 June 1944:
Unloads various goods.
5 June 1944:
Loads fuel.
6 June 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water and stored goods.
7 June 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water and liquor products.
8 June 1944:
Euipped with treatment equipment.
11 June 1944:
Loads 200-tons of fresh water, fuel and 1-tons of storage ice.
12 June 1944:
At 0500 departs Kure.
13 June 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Kobe.
14 June 1944:
Repairs begin at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe shipyard.
20 June 1944:
Loads 70-tons of boiler water.
21 June 1944:
Loads 80-tons of boiler water and liquor products.
22 June 1944:
Loads 55-tons of boiler water.
24 June 1944:
Loads 70-tons of boiler water.
25 June 1944:
An unknown officer is appointed hospital director.
1 July 1944:
Loads liquor products.
7 July 1944:
Loads liquor products.
10 July 1944:
Loads 128-tons of boiler water then transfers to D buoy.
12 July 1944:
Loads 324-tons of boiler water.
13 July 1944:
Loads various goods.
14 July 1944:
Loads 180-tons of unknown cargo.
15 July 1944:
Loads treatment equipment.
17 July 1944:
Loads liquor products.
21 July 1944:
Loads 140-tons of boiler water.
23 July 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water.
25 July 1944:
Loads 45-tons of coal and liquor products.
26 July 1944:
Loads 80-tons of coal and apples.
3 August 1944:
Loads 138.75 tons of peaches.
4 August 1944:
Loads fuel.
5 August 1944:
Loads 120-tons of boiler water and liquor products.
8 August 1944:
Loads 60-tons of boiler water.
10 August 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water.
11 August 1944:
Enters a drydock.
12 August 1944:
Loads liquor products.
14 August 1944:
Loads 60-tons of boiler water.
15 August 1944:
An unknown officer is appointed hospital director. Loads 100-tons of boiler water.
16 August 1944:
Loads 75-tons of boiler water.
17 August 1944:
Loads 210-tons of boiler water.
18 August 1944:
Leaves the drydock. Loads 120-tons of boiler water.
19 August 1944:
Loads liquor products and empty cans are returned.
20 August 1944:
Loads 140-tons of boiler water.
21 August 1944:
Loads 105-tons of boiler water and liquor products.
24 August 1944:
Loads 75-tons of pears.
25 August 1944:
Loads 144-tons of boiler water.
26 August 1944:
Loads 140-tons of boiler water.
28 August 1944:
Completes repairs. Loads 115-tons of boiler water.
29 August 1944:
Departs Kobe on a trial run. Problems occur with the main engine and generator and returns to Kobe.
30 August 1944:
Loads 100-tons of boiler water.
16 September 1944:
Departs Kure.
21 September 1944:
The hull is damaged during an enemy aircraft machine gun attack.
22 September 1944:
Arrives at the west side of Tangat Island.
24 September 1944:
Departs west side of Tangat Island via the Western Channel and arrives at the west side of Busuanga island later this day. Later arrives at Corregidor from Coron Bay.
26 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
3 October 1944:
At 1330 arrives at Beppu. Disembarks 600 patients.
4 October 1944:
Loads 120-tons of fresh water.
5 October 1944:
Loads 70-tons of fresh water.
6 October 1944:
Loads medical equipment
7 October 1944:
At 0400 departs Beppu and at 1335 arrives at Kure.
8 October 1944:
Disembarks 440 patients and 11 passengers. Delivers human remains.
10 October 1944:
Liquor tax is refunded. Loads 150-tons of coal and medical supplies.
11 October 1944:
Loads 15-tons of fresh water.
13 October 1944
Loads 300-tons of fresh water and liquor products.
14 October 1944:
Loads coal. At 1000 departs Kure.
15 October 1944:
Stops briefly Off Cape Wada Misaki and at 0715 arrives at Kobe.
16 October 1944:
Repairs and maintenance at No. 2 dock of the Mitsubishi Heavy Indsustries Kobe Shipyard.
22 October 1944:
Loads 48-tons of fresh water.
23 October 1944:
Enter the drydock.
29 October 1944:
Loads 190-tons of fresh water.
30 October 1944:
Transfers to C buoy. Loads liquor products.
31 October 1944:
Leaves the drydock.
15 November 1944:
Departs Beppu.
16 November 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
20 November 1944:
Departs Takao.
17 December 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
19 December 1944:
Departs Takao.
26 December 1944:
Arrives at Beppu.
4 January 1945:
Departs Moji.
8 January 1945:
Arrives at Keelung.
11 January 1945:
Departs Keelung.
22 January 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
31 January 1945:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Moji.
1 February 1945:
Loads 1,165-tons of coal.
2 February 1945:
Loads 165-tons of coal, 50-tons of fresh water and embarks 1 passenger. At 1557 departs Moji and arrives at Mutsure at 1720. At 2058 departs Mutsure.
5 February 1945:
At 1705 arrives at Takao. Embarks 648 patients, disembarks 663 passengers and 1 passenger. Loads 400-tons of fresh water, takes on board human remains, unloads commodities and various other goods.
6 February 1945:
At 1005 departs Takao.
7 February 1945:
At 1100 arrives at Keelung. Embarks 417 patients and unloads medical supplies.
8 February 1945:
Delivers human remains and embarks 1 patient. At 1315 departs Keelung.
9 February 1945:
East China Sea. LtCdr Allan G. Schnable’s USS PILOTFISH (SS-386) encounters TAKASAGO MARU. She is well lit, steering a steady course and apparently complying with all requirements of hospital ships. TAKASAGO MARU is allowed to pass safely.
11 February 1945:
At 1225 arrives at Moji. Loads 310-tons of fresh water, disembarks 706 patients and delivers human remains.
12 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Moji and at 1300 arrives at Beppu. Disembarks 364 patients and 14 passengers.
13 February 1945:
At 0800 departs Beppu and at 1800 arrives at Kure. Disembarks 6 patients and 3 passengers.
14 February 1945:
Delivers human remains.
16 February 1945:
Unloads empty liquor bottles.
17 February 1945:
Loads 4-tons of medical ice and liquor products.
18 February 1945:
Loads fresh food, stored goods, 300-tons of fresh water and commodities.
19 February 1945:
Loads 100-tons fresh water, medical equipment and embarks 5 passengers.
20 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Kure. Arrives at Moji later that day at 1620. Loads 200-tons of coal.
21 February 1945:
Loads 100-tons of fresh water and 1,015-tons of coal, embarks 41 patients and 2 passengers.
22 February 1945:
Loads 100-tons fresh water. At 1557 departs Moji and at 1700 arrives at Mutsure. At 2030 departs Mutsure.
24 February 1945:
Arrives at Whenzou (Wenchow), China and depaqrts there later that day.
25 February 1945:
At 1848 arrives at Takao. Embarks 1,242 patients and 19 passengers, disembarks 41 patients and 2 passengers, loads 270-tons of fresh water and commodities.
26 February 1945:
At 0715 departs Takao.
27 February 1945:
At 1326 arrives at Hong Kong. Unloads medical equipment and various goods, embarks 107 patients and 85 passengers, disembarks 9 passengers and loads medical equipment and departs there at 2211.
28 February 1945:
Lightly damaged after an attack with machine guns by an enemy aircraft. Arrives at Kirun.
1 March 1945:
Stops briefly at the mouth of Kirun Bay and arrives at Kirun later this day. Embarks 401 patients and 267 passengers, unloads commodities, loads 80-tons of boiler water. At 1705 departs Kirun.
4 March 1945:
At 1355 arrives at Beppu. Embarks 33 patients and embarks 3 passengers.
5 March 1945:
Disembarks 721 patients and embarks 40 passengers thereafter departs Beppu.
6 March 1945:
Arrives at Kure later that day at 0900. Disembarks 214 patients and 407 passengers and unloads commodities.
7 March 1945:
Unloads empty liquor bottles and delivers human remains.
8 March 1945:
Unloads commodities.
9 March 1945:
Loads 50-tons of boiler water.
10 March 1945:
Departs the anchorage for repairs at the Kure Naval Arsenal. Loads goods and unloads blankets
12 March 1945:
Loads medical equipment.
14 March 1945:
Unloads clothes, loads working clothes and other clothes.
16 March 1945:
Loads 280-tons of fresh water and liquor products.
17 March 1944:
Loads 200-tons of fresh water, 4-tons of medical ice, commodities and other goods.
18 March 1945:
Embarks 2 passengers.
19 March 1945:
Kure. Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58 carriers USS ESSEX (CV-9), USS INTREPID (CV-11), USS HORNET (CV-12), USS WASP (CV-18), USS HANCOCK (CV-19), USS BENNINGTON (CV-20) and USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) make the first carrier attack on the Kure Naval Arsenal. More than 240 aircraft (SB2C "Helldivers", F4U "Corsairs" and F6F "Hellcats") attack battleships HYUGA, ISE, YAMATO, HARUNA, carriers AMAGI, KATSURAGI, RYUHO, KAIYO and other ships.
TAKASAGO MARU is anchored in the inner harbor astern of ISE near HARUNA. ISE is hit by two bombs, one of which hits near the aircraft elevator abaft the mainmast. HARUNA, standing at the roadstead in Etajima Bight is attacked by 15 aircraft, but hit only once on the starboard side aft of the bridge and suffers light damage. 3 near misses damage TAKASAGO MARU and one of her engines. Departs Kure and arrives at Hatsukushi Bay later this day. Embarks 5 pasengers.

21 March 1945:
Undergoes emergengy repairs.
22 March 1945:
Loads fresh food.
23 March 1945:
Loads 250-tons of fresh water.
24 March 1945:
Unloads empty liquor bottles. Departs Kure
25 March 1945:
At 0740 arrives at Moji. Loads fresh food, 789-tons of coal , 250-tons of fresh water and embarks 1 passenger.
26 March 1945:
Loads 755-tons of coal and 100-tons of fresh water.
27 March 1945:
At 1800 departs Moji.
1 April 1945:
Embarks 1 kaibokan CD-130 victim.
2 April 1945:
At 1930 arrives at Saigon. Disembarks 5 passengers, unloads commodities and loads 100-tons of fresh water.
4 April 1945:
Embarks 1 passenger. At 0802 departs Saigon.
7 April 1945:
At 1830 arrives at Hong Kong. Loads 200-tons of fresh water, unloads medical supplies, takes on board human remains.
8 April 1945:
At 0800 departs Hong Kong.
9 April 1945:
At 1000 arrives at Amoy. Embarks 41 patients and 2 passengers, disembarks 4 passengers, receives 18 mail bags, takes on board human remains and unloads medical supplies. At 1900, departs Amoy.
10 April 1945:
At 1522 arrives at Kirun. Disembarks 2 patients and 41 passengers, embarks 336 patients and 132 passengers. Unloads 117 mail bags and medical supplies and loads 64 mail bags. At 1840, departs Kirun.
11 April 1945:
Arrives at Rugged Island (now Qiqu Lidao), China.
12 April 1945:
Departs Rugged Island and arrives at 1055 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan and departs there at 1505. Later arrives at Shanghai.
16 April 1945:
At 0630 departs Shanghai. At 1114 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
17 April 1945:
Embarks 1 patent from MANSHU MARU. At 1159 departs Ssu Chiao Shan. At 1707 arrives at Shanghai.
18 April 1945:
At 1206 departs Shanghai. Later returns.
19 April 1945:
At 1100 departs Shanghai but returns at 1717.
20 April 1945:
Unloads medical supplies and formalin, disembarks 14 patients and embarks 226 passengers, loads 639-tons of fresh water, 100-tons of coal, fresh food, 2-tons of medical ice and prevention chemicals.
21 April 1945:
Disembarks 2 patients, embarks 10 passengers, takes on board human remains and loads 450-tons of fresh water. At 1000 departs Shanghai.
22 April 1945:
At 1857 arrives at Karatsu.
23 April 1945:
At 0100 departs Karatsu and at 0840 arrives at Moji. Disembarks 195 passengers, loads 170-tons of fresh water and 620-tons of coal.
24 April 1945:
Loads 100-tons of coal. At 1012 departs Moji and at 1405 arrives at Beppu. Disembarks 96 patients.
25 April 1945:
Disembarks 643 patients and 2 passengers and loads medical supplies.
26 April 1945:
At 0703 departs Beppu. At 330 degrees and 5,550 nautical miles of West Yokodan Lighthouse hits a magnetic mine which damages the steering engine. At 1905 arrives at Kure. Undergoes maintenance and repairs.
27 April 1945:
Unloads commodities and disembarks 206 patients.
28 April 1945:
Delivers human remains.
29 April 1945:
Loads 200-tons of fresh water.
30 April 1945:
Unloads commodities.
E 1 May 1945:
Repairs begin.
11 May 1945:
An unknown officer is appointed hospital director.
12 June 1945:
Departs Kure.
13 June 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
23 June 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
24 June 1945:
Lt. Cdr. Woodrow W. McCrory 's USS PARCHE (SS-384) prepares to attack a transport in dense fog between Cape Erimo and Cape Shiriya. After coming closer sees the ship is a hospital ship identified as likely being the TAKASAGO MARU. The attack is aborted.
25 June 1945:
Arrives at Muroran, Hokkaido.
27 June 1945:
Departs Muroran for Wake Island.
1 July 1945:
Task Force 38’s carriers are set to strike the Japanese northern home islands again.
2 July 1945:
While returning to the forward areas by way of Eniwetok, USS MURRAY (DD-576) is ordered to locate, board and search TAKASAGO MARU bound for Wake and suspected of carrying contraband arms or war supplies.
3 July 1945:
USS MURRAY intercepts TAKASAGO MARU that is evacuating sick and wounded members of Wake Island garrison, but a search finds nothing in violation of international law. TAKASAGO MARU is allowed to proceed to Wake.
7 July 1945:
USS MCDERMUT-II (DD-677) is sent to intercept TAKASAGO MARU and divert her from a course which would take her into Task Force 38's fueling area.
8 July 1945:
TAKASAGO MARU is located and a boarding party is dispatched with a message guaranteeing safe conduct if Captain/S Kakisaka and his crew comply with instructions and courses given. TAKASAGO MARU is carrying 974 patients.
10 July 1945:
TF 38’s ships complete refueling and depart to conduct air strikes against Tokyo. USS MCDERMUT-II releases TAKASAGO MARU to continue on her way.
25 July 1945:
Maizuru. Aircraft from AG-88 of USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) attack shipping in the harbor, but TAKASAGO MARU is not damaged.
15 August 1945:
Hostilities cease. Remains in service.
27 August 1945:
At Shibaura, Tokyo.
2 September 1945:
Departs Shibaura for Woleai Island, Woleai Island, Carolines. TAKASAGO MARU is the first Japanese ship to undertake repatriation duty. Her call sign is SCAJAP No. T-014.
19 September 1945:
Arrives at Mereyon. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
25 September 1945:
Arrives at Beppu. Disembarks troops and passengers.
24 October 1945:
Departs Tokuyama.
29 October 1945:
Arrives at Davao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 November 1945:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
16 November 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
22 November 1945:
Arrives at Davao.
25 November 1945:
Departs Davao.
27 November 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
1 December 1945:
Formally assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service at Kure. [5]
5 December 1945:
Departs Manila.
10 December 1945:
Arrives at Otaka. Disembarks troops and passengers.
27 December 1945:
Departs Otaka.
1 January 1946:
Arrives at Tacloban. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
5 January 1946:
Departs Tacloban.
7 January 1946:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 January 1946:
Departs Manila.
19 January 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 January 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Sasebo.
30 January 1946:
Repairs are completed. Departs the same day.
1 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
3 February 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
5 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
9 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
10 February 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
13 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
24 February 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
26 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 February 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
2 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
7 March 1946:
Arrives at Tanku, China. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
11 March 1946:
Departs Tanku.
14 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
19 March 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
22 March 1946:
Arrives at Tanku. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
25 March 1946:
Departs Tanku.
29 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
31 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
1 April 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
3 April 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
7 April 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
14 April 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
16 April 1946:
Arrives at Takao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
20 April 1946:
Departs Takao.
23 April 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
8 May 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
11 May 1946:
Arrives at Tanku. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 May 1946:
Departs Tanku.
18 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
5 June 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Kobe.
24 June 1946:
Repairs are completed.
26 June 1946:
Departs Kobe.
30 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
5 July 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
7 July 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
18 July 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
21 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima near Tsientsin, China. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
1 August 1946:
Departs Korojima.
4 August 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 August 1946:
Removed from the Navy List.
E 1947-1956:
TAKASAGO MARU makes many repatriation shuttle runs between Nakhodka, Siberia and Maizuru evacuating Japanese POWs from Soviet concentration camps in Siberia. [6]
23 March 1956:
Sold to Namura Shipbuilding, K. K., Osaka for scrapping.
1956:
Osaka. Scrapped.

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.
[2] LtCdr McKnight’s patrol report indicates all four of his torpedoes missed. One did hit TAKASAGO MARU, but was a dud.
[3] This was unusual as hospital ships usually steamed alone and unescorted.
[4] During the 30 Mar ‘44 Operation “Desecrate One”, TBF "Avengers" of Task Group 58. 1's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), TG 58. 2's USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17) and USS HORNET (CV-12) laid over 75 aerial mines, mostly Mark 25s, in Palau’s channels.
[5] Allied occupation forces were responsible for the return of six million Japanese military personnel and civilians from Japan's defunct far-flung Empire. In addition, there were over a million Korean and about 40,000 Chinese prisoners and conscript laborers and approximately 7,000 Formosans and 15,000 Ryukyu Islanders to be repatriated.
Some Allied and many former IJN warships, from aircraft carriers to kaibokan, were used to facilitate the enormous repatriation effort. Japanese vessels and crews were used to the fullest extent possible to conserve Allied manpower and accelerate demobilization. Each ex-IJN ship first had to be demilitarized; guns removed or, in the case of large warships, barrels severed, ammunition landed, and radar and catapults removed, if fitted. Repatriation of the Chinese on Japanese ships began early in October from Hakata, but U.S. guard detachments had to be placed on many ships to prevent disorder because the Japanese crews could not control the returnees.
Japanese-run repatriation centers were established at Kagoshima, Hario near Sasebo, and Hakata near Fukuoka. Other reception centers were established and operated at Maizuru, Shimonoseki, Sasebo, Senzaki, Kure, Uraga, Yokohama, Moji and Hakodate. Allied line and medical personnel supervised the centers. Incoming Japanese were sprayed with DDT, examined and inoculated for typhus and smallpox, provided with food, and transported to his final destination in Japan.
[6] The Russians, like the Japanese had, viewed POWs as a valuable slave labor force. For this reason, the Russians stalled on repatriation of Japanese POWs. When they finally began repatriations in December 1946, initially the Russians released only the sick and weak.
Photo credit goes to Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks to Tony Tully for info about TAKASAGO MARU's whereabouts during the big raid on Kure in Rev 3. Thanks also to Berend van der Wal of Netherlands.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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