Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(TAKETOYO MARU, prewar)

TAKETOYO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2017 Bob Hackett
Revision 2

E 1919:
Yokohama. Laid down at Yokohama Dock Co. Ltd. as a 7,028-ton cargo-passenger vessel for Nippon Yusen Kaisha, K. K. (NYK Line).
1920:
Launched and named TAKETOYO MARU.
25 October 1920:
Completed.
1920-1941:
In NYK's cargo-passenger service. TAKETOYO MARU can accomodate six first-class passengers.
23 February 1922:
Departs the Port of New York for Hong Kong via the Panama Canal.
February 1934:
Passes through the Panama Canal and discharges 340-tons of cargo at Cristobal, Panama.
June 1936:
Passes through the Panama Canal.
October 1937:
TAKETOYO MARU passes through the Panama Canal and discharges 322-tons of cargo at Cristobal, Panama.
5 January 1940:
Arrives at the Port of New York.
4 March 1941:
Arrives at the Port of New York.
21 January 1942:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Mutsure with transports TATSUNO, FUSHIMI, SOMEDOMO, TOFUKU, BRAZIL, COLUMBIA, MAEBASHI, GENOA, HOEISAN, ATSUTA, DAINICHI, TOKIWA, SYDNEY, MOMOYAMA, PACIFIC, KIZAN, REIYO and TSUYAMA MARUs escorted by CruDiv 9's light cruiser OI, DesDiv 32's FUYO, ASAGAO and KARUKAYA. The transports are carrying the IJA’s 2nd Infantry Division.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. Later, the convoy departs for Camranh Bay, Indochina to mobilize for the Invasion of Java.
18 February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East Indies:
TAKETOYO MARU is attached to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hiraoki, Kumeichi’s (39) 9th Base Force in Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s Western Java Seizure Force. At 1000, TAKETOYO MARU departs Camranh Bay in a convoy also comprised of 55 troop transports..
28 February 1942:
Merak, Java. At 2320, TAKETOYO MARU and other transports carrying MajGen Nasu Yumio’s and Colonel Fukushima Kyusaku’s detachments of LtGen Maruyama Masao’s 2nd Infantry Division commence landing their troops.
8 March 1942: The Surrender of Java:
At 0900, the C-in-C of the Allied forces. Dutch LtGen Ter Poorten announces the surrender of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in Java. That afternoon, Governor Jonkheer Dr. A.W.L. Tjarda Van Starkenborgh Stachouwer and Ter Poorten, meet the C-in-C of the Japanese forces, LtGen Hitoshi Imamura at Kalidjati and agree to capitulate.
4 December 1942:
Yokohama. Begins conversion to an emergency tanker (Ohkyu Yusosen) at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K. K.
5 January 1943:
Completes conversion.
24 August 1943:
TAKETOYO MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 421 also consisting of RONSAN MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
13 September 1943:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Moji for Kirun (Keelung) in convoy No. 192 also consisting of FUTTSU, KYOKUYO, TOMITSU, KOSO, HONAN and TANGO MARUs and three unidentified ships escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU and auxiliary gunship CHOJUSAN MARU.
14 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
15 September 1943:
The convoy retires to Sakura-Jima, Kagoshima Bay because of the threat of a submarine attack.
17 September 1943:
While the convoy is making preparations to leave Kagoshima, a typhoon warning is isssued at 0600: "typhoon, approx. 17N x 128E, atmospheric pressure 980 millibar, proceeding West-North-West with 25 to 30 km per hour, take strict caution".
Despite the approaching typhoon, at 1730 the convoy departs. That night, the seas become very high.
18 September 1943:
At 1430, the transport commander orders the convoy to take shelter at Naze Harbor, Amami-O-Shima. About 1900, the convoy arrives at Naze.
19 September 1943:
At midnight, the typhoon passes 55 km eastward of Naze. Atmospheric pressure at Naze Harbor falls to 961 millibars, wind velocity reaches its maximum at 53 meters. At this time, the typhoon is reported ranking next only to the devastating Muroto Typhoon of 1934.
Off Amami-O-Shima. KYOKUYO MARU, carrying about half her standard weight, is riding a little high. She runs aground and is wrecked at 28-20N, 129-30E, but only one crewman is lost.
TAKETOYO, KOSO and TANGO MARUs are also driven ashore by the storm.
21 November 1943:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Takao for Moji in convoy No. 221 also consisting of CHILE, SHOYU, HIROTA, SAN RAMON and SEIWA MARUs and two unidentified ships escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
27 November 1943:
East China Sea, off Uki Jima, Goto Retto. At 0005, in a surface attack, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter’s USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) fires three bow torpedoes and gets one hit on SAN RAMON MARU carrying a full load of 10,600 tons of crude oil from Miri, Borneo. At 0128, Cutter again attacks and hits SAN RAMON MARU with two of four stern torpedoes. At about 0200, or earlier, she sinks by the stern at 33-34N, 128-35E. 31 crewmen and gunners are KIA.
Later that day, the remainder of convoy No. 221 arrives at Moji.
5 December 1943:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 119 also consisting of GINREI, HORAI MARUs and other unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer NUMAKAZE and subchaser CH-10.
10 December 1943:
GINREI and HORAI MARUs are detached.
11 December 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
13 January 1944:
At 1500, TAKETOYO MARU departs Manila escorting convoy 3102 consisting of tankers KOSHIN, SEINAN, NITTATSU and RONSAN MARUs and cargo ships TEIRYU and NITTAI MARUs escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE.
20 January 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Miri, Borneo where the convoy is dissolved.
26 January 1944:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Miri in convoy 3103 also consisting of tanker SAN PEDRO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat MANAZURU.
Off Labuan, Philippines. The convoy joins convoy 3202 that sailed from Miri, Borneo on 21 January and, after attacks by USS TINOSA (SS-283), now consists of tankers RONSAN and NITTATSU MARUs escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE.
31 January 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Manila.
8 March 1944:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-09 also consisting of liner TEIRITSU MARU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) and cargo ships BATOPAHAT, TAKETOYO, HAMBURG, KYOKUZAN, MATSUE, MURORAN, CHUYO, BUNZAN, TAIYU, SHOEI MARUs, HINO MARU No. 1, tankers OGURA MARU No. 2 and SAN LUIS MARU and ore carrier DAIZEN MARU escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE and patrol boat PB-38. Later that day, arrives at Tomie Bay, Goto Retto, Fukue-Jima.
9 March 1944:
Convoy MOTA-09 departs Tomie Bay for Takao.
E 10 March 1944:
Patrol boat PB-38 joins the escort of MOTA-09.
11 March 1944:
CHUYO MARU develops engine trouble. At 0950, PB-38 is detached to find her, but is unsuccessful and later rejoins the convoy.
12 March 1944:
Minelayer MAESHIMA joins the escort of the convoy.
13 March 1944:
At 1844, an enemy submarine is detected at 25-58N, 121-34E. The escorts drop 50 depth charges and drive it off.
14 March1944:
PB-38 detects another enemy submarine and drives it away by dropping three depth charges. Convoy MOTA-09 arrives at Mako.
15 February 1944:
Departs Mako. At 1845, arrives at Takao.
21 March 1944:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-12 also consisting of SAN LUIS MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
5 May 1944:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Manila in a convoy also consisting of OMINE and TEIHOKU MARUs (ex-French PERSEE) and tankers SAN LUIS and SEISHIN MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE and possibly others enroute to Singapore via Miri.
9 May 1944:
Arrives Miri.
24 May 1944:
TAKETOYO MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-04 also consisting of PACIFIC and CHOHAKUSAN MARUs and tankers CHIYODA and SHUNTEN MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE and torpedo boat HATO.
29 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
31 May 1944:
Departs Manila.
3 June 1944:
Arrives at Takao and probably departs later that day.
E 8 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
12 July 1944:
At 1500, TAKETOYO MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-11 also consisting of tankers KOEI, AYAYUKI, SHICHIYO, AYAGUMO and HARIMA MARUs and OGURA Maru No. 1 and EIKYU, YOSHINO, MIHO, ENOSHIMA, MANKO, HACHIJIN, DAKAR, FUSO, TEIRITSU (ex-Vichy French LECONTE DE LISLE) and FUKUJU MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 16 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan SHIMUSHU, minesweepers W-28 and W-39, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
21 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao, Formosa.
29 July 1944:
At 0500, reorganized convoy MI-11 departs Takao for Miri now consisting of TAKETOYO, EIKYU, YOSHINO, KOEI, MIHO, MANKO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, DAKAR, FUSO, SHICHIYO, HARIMA, AYAYUKI, AYAKUMO, TEIRITSU (ex-Vichy French LECONTE DE LISLE) and FUKUJU MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan SHIMUSHU, minesweepers W-28 and W-39, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
31 July 1944:
Luzon Strait. A wolfpack patrols the Strait under Captain (later Rear Admiral) Lewis S. Parks consisting of LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH/COMSUBLANT) Lawson P. Ramage's USS PARCHE (SS-384)(F), LtCdr (later Captain) David L. Whelchel's STEELHEAD (SS-280) and LtCdr John C. Martin's HAMMERHEAD (SS-364).
280 miles NNW of Cape Mayraira, Luzon. At 0332, LtCdr Ramage's PARCHE torpedoes and sinks KOEI MARU. carrying 1,050 IJA troops. Nine crewmen and 150 troops are KIA.
About the same time, oiler OGURA MARU No. 1 is hit by a torpedo, but does not sink. At 0340, Ramage torpedoes and sinks transport (ex-hospital ship) YOSHINO MARU. She was carrying 5012 soldiers of Kwantung Army and 400 cubic meters of ammunition. 2,442 soldiers, 18 naval gunners and 35 sailors are KIA.
At 0420, Whelchel's STEELHEAD torpedoes DAKAR MARU, but she does not sink. At 0455, Whelchel torpedoes and sinks transport (ex-hospital ship) FUSO MARU. She takes down 1,384 troops and crewmen and a cargo of 36 railway carriages and 1,120-tons of other military supplies.
At 0514, Ramage's PARCHE torpedoes and sinks MANKO MARU. She was carrying 517 sailors and naval civilians and 5,500-tons of ammunition and equipment. 17 crewmen, 20 gunners and about 260 military and other passengers are KIA.
3 August 1944:
At 1730, the remainder of MI-11 arrives at Manila where it is reorganized.
7 August 1944:
At 1900, reconstituted convoy MI-11 departs Manila for Miri, Borneo now consisting of TAKETOYO, TEIHOKU MARUs (ex-Vichy French Liner PERSEE), MIHO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, SHICHIYO, AYAYUKI, AYAKUMO and TEIRITSU MARUs (ex-Vichy French Liner LECONTE DE LISLE) joined by MISAKI MARU escorted by kaibokan SHIMUSHU and CD-26, minesweeper W-28 and subchasers CH-41 and CH-55
12 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri. TAKETOYO MARU loads 6,000-tons of crude oil and a cargo of drummed gasoline.
16 August 1944:
At 0700, convoy MI-12 departs Miri consisting of tankers TAKETOYO, TAIEI, SEISHIN and NANSEI MARUs (ex-British PLEIODON) and cargo vessels NORFOLK, UGA, KINRYU, GYOKUYO (OYO), JUNGEN GO and GYOSAN MARUs and possibly KEITO MARU escorted by kaibokan SHIMUSHU, CD-16, CD-28 and CH-41 and subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
18 August 1944:
At 1352, LtCdr William T. Kinsella's USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks NANSEI MARU at 08-39N, 116-39E. 26 crewmen are KIA. The convoy is ordered to seek shelter.
20 August 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro, Philippines.
21 August 1944:
At 0556, departs Paluan Bay. Soon after kaibokan CD-28 attacks an enemy submarine contact. At 0720, a wolfpack consisting of USS RAY, GUITARRO, HADDO, HARDER and MUSKALLUNGE begin the first of a series of successful attacks.
W of Mindoro. At 0720, Kinsella's RAY fires her last four torpedoes at a passenger-cargo ship. Three miss, but the fourth torpedo hits TAKETOYO MARU amidships. The escorts force Kinsella to dive, but he hears his target break up. TAKETOYO MARU sinks at 13-23N, 120-19E. 13 crewmen are KIA.
USS RAY undergoes a sustained depth charge attack, but escapes serious damage.

Author's Notes:
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany and Berend Van Der Wal of the Netherlands for additional info on convoy MOTA-09.
Photo credit goes to Gilbert Casse of France.

- Bob Hackett

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