Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(TENNAN MARU, related sistership of TAKETSU MARU, in wartime)
IJN TAKETSU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2016-2017 Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall
Revision 4

10 December 1941:
Tsurumi near Yokosuka. Laid down by Nippon Kokan K.K. as a 5,949-tons bulk carrier for Shimatani Kisen K.K.
16 October 1942:
Launched and named TAKETSU MARU. [1]
28 December 1942:
Completed and registered at Kobe.
10 December 1942:
Scheduled to be requisitioned by the IJN from 13 December 1942 under Third Secret Military Preparation instructions.
28 December 1942:
Registered by the Department of the Navy as a general transport (Ippan Choyosen) Attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.
29 December 1942:
Yokohama. At the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries K.K shipyard starts conversion to an oil tanker (primary emergency oil tanker).
15 January 1943:
The conversion is completed. Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
20 January 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
24 January 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
25 January 1943:
Departs Miike. Joins convoy No. 121 also consisting of TAITO, TAGONOURA and TATSUWA MARUs and four unidentified ships escorted by destroyer HOKAZE.
28 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
30 January 1943:
Likely departs Takao in convoy No. 366 also consisting of TAITO and BATAVIA MARU and two unidentified ships without escort. (The passage from Takao to St Jacques 28-31 January previously quoted in this TROM appears too short).
5 February 1943:
Arrives St. Jacques and departs later that day.
6 February 1943:
Arrives at Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Indochina.
10 February 1943:
Departs Saigon.
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 February 1943:
Departs Singapore.
20 February 1943:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo.
24 February 1943:
Departs Miri.
28 February 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
3 March 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 477 also consisting of TAKETOYO, SEINAN and TSUSHIMA MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships all without escort.
9 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
13 March 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 240 also consisting of SHOKEI and TSUSHIMA MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships without escort.
17 March 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
20 March 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.
22 March 1943: [2]
Hull repairs start.
11 April 1943:
Hull repairs are completed.
12 April 1943:
Departs Osaka.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
15 April 1943:
Departs Kure.
1 April 1943:
At 1700, departs Moji in convoy No. 143 also consisting of tankers NICHINAN (5175 grt) and SHOYU MARUs and TAIKO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer MIKAZUKI.
5 April 1943:
At 1520, arrives at Takao. Sails on and meets up with convoy No. 382 also consisting of one unidentified merchant ship escorted by patrol boat PB-39.
10 April 1943:
At 1730, arrives at St Jacques.
15 April 1943:
While escorting TERUKAWA and NITTETSU MARUs from Miri to St Jacques, minesweeper W-7 meets up with incoming tanker TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARU from St Jacques to escort the tanker to Miri.
19 April 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 386 also consisting of CELEBES, NORFOLK and SEINAN MARUs and tanker ICHIYO MARU without escort and arrives at Takao later that day.
20 April 1943:
Departs Takao.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques. Departs later that day.
28 April 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
30 April 1943:
Departs Miri.
3 May 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
4 May 1943:
Departs St. Jacques.
7 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
8 May 1943:
Departs Takao.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
16 May 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
20 May 1943:
Departs Osaka.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 160 consisting of tanker SHOYO MARU and possibly HAVRE MARU escorted by destroyer FUYO.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
30 May 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 395 also consisting of one unidentified merchant ship escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
4 June 1943:
At 1630, arrives at St. Jacques.
5 June 1943:
Departs St. Jacques.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
11 June 1943:
Departs Miri.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at Manila, Philippines.
21 June 1943:
At 0800, departs Manila probably in convoy No. 854 also consisting of SHINRYU, KIYO, CHOSEN and TATEYAMA (1,990 grt) MARUs escorted by destroyer SANAE.
24 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
28 June 1943:
At 1000, departs Takao in convoy No. 276 also consisting of KYOKUYO, NEKKA and HONAN MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA. NANMAN and TAIAN (3670 gt) MARUs later join the convoy from Kirun.
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure. Departs later that day.
4 July 1943:
Arrives at Kobe. Departs later that day.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
6 July 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
7 July 1943:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
12 July 1943:
Departs Shimotsu.
13 July 1943:
Arives at Moji.
14 July 1943:
Departs Moji.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Miike.
17 July 1943:
Departs Miike. Joins convoy No. 177 which departed Moji earlier that day at 0800, consisting of oilers HOYO, and TACHIBANA MARUs, IJA transports ARIMASAN and DURBAN MARUs, IJN transport HAKONE MARU and two unidentified ships escorted by torpedo boat SAGI. The convoy sails at 10.5 knots.
23 July 1943:
At 1320, arrives at Takao.
24 July 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Mako, Pescadores. Departs there later that day in convoy No. 310 also consisting of TAINAN MARU and probably YAMASACHI MARU or one unidentified merchant ship without escort. If in the convoy, YAMASACHI MARU is detached en route.
31 July 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
2 August 1943:
Departs St. Jacques.
5 August 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
6 August 1943:
Departs Miri.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at St. Jacques.
11 August 1943:
Departs St. Jacques in convoy No. 417 also consisting of KOZUI, PANAMA, NITTATSU, HEIWA, BATAVIA, and RYUOSAN MARUs and nine unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU The convoy sails in two parts but arrives on the same day although 12 hours apart.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
20 August 1943:
Departs Mako in convoy No. 294 also consisting of KOSO, NITTATSU, HAKKO MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 8 and eleven unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
23 August 1943:
A message is sent advising the ship will be derequisitioned from 27 August 1943. (New charter planned from 31 August 1943).
25 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji. Departs the same day.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Marifu.
31 August 1943:
Departs Marifu. Arrives at Wakamatsu the same day.
2 September 1943:
Departs Wakamatsu. Arives at Moji the same day.
3 September 1943:
At 1800, departs Moji in convoy No. 193 consisting also of SHOKEI MARU, TAMON MARU No. 8 and two unidentified merchant ships, escorted by second class destroyer KURETAKE. Later that day off Wakamatsu auxiliary oiler YAMASACHI MARU joins the convoy.
8 September 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
11 September 1943:
At 0900, departs Mako in convoy No. 322 also consisting of auxiliary oiler YAMASACHI MARU, cargo ship TOKO MARU and ten unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
20 September 1943:
At 0800, arrives at St. Jacques.
22 September 1943:
At 1800, departs St. Jacques in convoy with auxiliary oiler YAMASACHI MARU with unknown escort.
25 September 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
27 September 1943:
Anchors at Miri together with MITSU, SAN DIEGO, HOZAN MARUs and one unidentified ship.
28 September 1943:
Departs Miri in convoy with YAMASACHI (YAMAKO) and SAN DIEGO MARUs and possibly others with unknown escort.
3 October 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
11 October 1943:
Departs Manila in convoy No. 870 also consisting of auxiliary oilers SAN DIEGO and YAMASACHI MARUs, auxiliary transport FUKUYAMA MARU escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
14 October 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Takao.
16 October 1943:
Her owner changes to Mitsui Senpaku K.K. and registry port to Tokyo.
20 October 1943:
At 1700, departs Takao in convoy No. 213 also consisting of auxiliary transport FUKUYAMA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboats HUASHAN (KAZAN) and CHOHAKUSAN MARUs. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
29 October 1943:
Departs Osaka. Arrives at Shimotsu later that day.
31 October 1943:
Derequisitioned and requisitioned again as a Navy supply ship under the Yokosuka Naval district.
12 November 1943:
At 1300, departs Takao in convoy No. 337 also consisting of IJA transport FUKUYO MARU, IJN transport OTORI MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) DAIHO MARU and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
17 November 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
8 December 1943:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 422.
E December 1943:
At Feng Pi Tou (in Takao) loads heavy oil from Oiler TONAN MARU No. 2. [3]
20 January 1944:
Due to depart Tamano.
21 January 1944:
Due to arrive at Wakamatsu.
31 January 1944:
At 0920, departs Moji in convoy No. 133 also consisting of tankers NITTETSU, YAMASACHI and SHINCHO MARUs and YOZAN, SHOHO, CLYDE, OSAKA, MATSUEI (SHOEI), ASAHISAN, YAMAGATA, SORACHI, FUKKO, SHINYU, and TOYO MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 3 escorted by patrol boat PB-31 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
6 February 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Takao.
8 February 1944:
Designated the 19th. Naval supply ship.
20 February 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 216.
21 February 1944:
Scheduled to be registered as a Navy supply ship under Third Secret Military Preparation instruction No. 558.
28 February 1944:
At 1600, departs Miri in convoy MIMA-03 also consisting of tankers NITTETSU, NICHINAN (5,175 GRT), SAN DIEGO and YAMASACHI MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by second class destroyers KARUKAYA and KURETAKE. At some mid way point partway KURETAKE detaches and W-17 joins.
4 March 1944:
At 1445, arrives at Manila.
7 March 1944:
At 1200, departs Manila in MATA-10 convoy also consisting of tankers SAN DIEGO, TACHIBANA, YAMASACHI, NITTETSU MARUs, and OGURA MARU NO. 1, auxiliary transport TAITO MARU and IJA transports TARUYASU, KENWA, KOHO and SORACHI MARUs escorted by second class destroyer KARUKAYA and minesweeper W-17.
12 March 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Takao.
15 March 1944:
At 1200, departs Takao in convoy TAMO-11 also consisting of TAITO, MUTSU, HINODE, MANILA, MANKO, ASAHISAN, BELGIUM, SORACHI, KOHO, TARUYASU, KENWA, KANO, KOAN, KENZUI, BRAZIL, KENNICHI MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 12 and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, SAN DIEGO, SANKO MARUs and OGURA MARU NO. 1 escorted by destroyers SHIGURE, SHIRANUI and NOKAZE, minesweeper W-17 and subchasers CH-37 and CH-38.
16 March 1944:
At 1600, TOYO and TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA) MARUs join the convoy from Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan). CH-38 is probably detached.
21 March 1944:
At 0430, MANKO, and TOYO MARUs are detached. At 1200, the convoy arrives at Nagasaki.
22 March 1944:
ASAHISAN, KOAN MARUs and UNKAI MARU No.12 are detached to Karatsu Wan (Bay), arriving at Moji the following day. The rest of the convoy arrives at Moji.
5 April 1944:
At 0240, departs Imari Wan in convoy MOTA-16 also consisting of TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HIROTA, TENSHIN, YAMASACHI, TOSHO, SHONAN and SHIRAHAMA MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-18 and patrol boat PB-38. At 1845, anchors off Raro Retto, Chosen (South Korea).
6 April 1944:
At 0530, departs Raro Retto.
8 April 1944:
At 0637, arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan (now Sijao Island). At 1054, departs there with auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU as an additional escort.
11 April 1944:
At 1027, arrives at Takao.
15 April 1944:
At 1100, departs Takao in convoy TAMA-16 also consisting of TACHIBANA, MATSUMOTO, BIZEN, HAKUBASAN, YAMASACHI, OMINE, NITTETSU, TOSHO, SORACHI, SHIRAHAMA, SHONAN MARUs, OGURA MARU No. 1 and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, fleet tanker ASHIZURI and possibly JOGU MARU escorted by second class destroyer HASU, patrol boat PB-38, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
16 April 1944:
At 0930, destroyer HASU and auxiliary mine-sweeper TAKUNAN MARU No.3 finish escort duty and are detached.
17 April 1944:
At 0725, torpedo boat HAYABUSA joins as an additional escort. At 1550, auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU and special sub-chaser CHa-39 join as additional escorts.
19 April 1944:
At 1312, arrives at Manila.
22 April 1944:
At 0615, departs Manila in convoy MI-02 (outward) also containing fleet oiler ASHIZURI and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, YAMASACHI, MATSUMOTO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 escorted by torpedo boat SAGI. At 1040, patrol boat PB-38 joins as an additional escort.
23 April 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Pagdanan Bay, Palawan.
24 April 1944:
At 0720, departs Pagdanan Bay.
25 April 1944:
At 1200, ASHIZURI is detached from convoy MI-02 and proceeds independently toward Tarakan. At 1925, the convoy arrives at Marudu Bay, North Borneo.
26 April 1944:
At 0800, departs Marudu Bay. At 1755, arrives at Jesselton, Borneo.
27 April 1944:
At 0915, departs Jesselton.
28 April 1944:
At 0045, arrives at Brunei Bay, Borneo. Departs there and at 1325, arrives at Miri.
4 May 1944:
At 1030, departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-02 (return) also consisting of tankers MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, YAMASACHI, NISSHIN, TENSHIN and SHINCHO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and cargo ships KENSEI, TAIHEI, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU escorted by kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI and patrol boat PB-38. At 2100, anchors in Imuruan Bay, NW Borneo.
5 May 1944:
At 0530, departs Imuruan Bay.
6 May 1944:
At 0801, LtCdr (later Captain) Francis D. Walker's (USNA ’35) USS CREVALLE (SS-291) fires torpedoes at the largest ship in the convoy, NISSHIN MARU. Three hit aft and heavy flooding begins. At 0810, she sinks at 07-19N, 116-52E. 15 crewmen are KIA but the fate of her 291 passengers is unknown. The escorts counter-attack and drop 13 DCs, but without success.
7 May 1944:
At 2000, anchors Ulugan Bay, Palawan.
8 May 1944:
At 1130, departs Ulugan Bay.
10 May 1944:
At 1330, arrives at Manila. TENSHIN, KENSEI, TAIHEI, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU are detached. SEIYO MARU joins the convoy. Auxiliary gunboats PEKING and CHOJUSAN MARUs join the escort.
13 May 1944:
At 0552, departs Manila in convoy MI-02 now also containing tankers MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, YAMASACHI, TENSHIN and SHINCHO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and cargo ship SEISHO MARU escorted by kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38 and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and CHOJUSAN MARUs.
15 May 1944:
At 1515, an unidentified auxiliary subchaser joins the escort.
16 May 1944:
At 1705, arrives at Takao. MATSUMOTO and HAKUBASAN MARUs, cargo ship SEISHO MARU, auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU and the unidentified auxiliary subchaser are detached.
17 May 1944:
At 1527, shown as departs Takao still in convoy MI-02.
18 May 1944:
At 1520, arrives at Kirun. KAMO, CHIKUZEN and CHOSAN MARUs and second class destroyer HASU join the convoy.
23 May 1944:
At 1625, arrives at Shushan Islands E of Shanghai. Departs there at 2357.
25 May 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
3 June 1944:
At 0415, departs Imari Bay in convoy MI-05 also consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO and tankers AYAGIRI, AYANAMI, FUYUKAWA, KENZUI, MARIFU, NITTETSU, OEI, SAN DIEGO, TACHIBANA, YAMASACHI, TOA, TOKUWA and CERAM MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and cargo/transports HINAGA, IKOMASAN, KENEI, NIPPO (ex-Swedish NINGPO), SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU and SHOEI MARUs, TOYO MARU No. 3 and thirteen unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38, minesweeper W-17, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 and two unidentified warships.
8 June 1944:
Arrives at Kirun. TOYO MARU No. 3 is detached.
9 June 1944:
Departs Kirun.
10 June 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Takao.
11 June 1944:
Transports ARIMASAN, MANILA, MIIKESAN and USSURI MARUs and tankers JINEI, BAIEI and SAN DIEGO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 8 join the convoy from Takao escorted by minelayer MAESHIMA and auxiliary subchaser CHa-95. TOA and SHOEI MARUs are detached.
13 June 1944:
LtCdr John D. Crowley's (USNA '31) USS FLIER (SS-250) torpedoes and damages MARIFU MARU at 15-57N, 119-42E. MARIFU MARU is taken in tow by MIIKESAN MARU escorted by SAGI.
15 June 1944:
Arrives at Manila. Damaged MARIFU MARU and MIIKESAN MARU arrives later that same day. MARIFU MARU is towed to Cavite. TAKETSU, USSURI, AYAKUMO, OEI, YAMASACHI, KENEI and NITTETSU MARUs are detached from the convoy.
27 June 1944:
At 0600, departs Manila in convoy MI-07 also consisting of SHIROGANESAN, NITTETSU, YAMASACHI, OEI, KENEI, TAIKAI, KAKOGAWA, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO, OYO, TAIEI and SAN LUIS MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokan YASHIRO.
2 July 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Miri.
10 July 1944:
At 1550, departs Miri in convoy MI-08 also consisting of MEXICO, SAN DIEGO, ASAKA, OEI, NITTETSU, YAMASACHI, SAN LUIS, OLYMPIA, TATSUBATO, RYUSHO, CHIHAYA, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), RASHIN, KUROGANE MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6 also escorted by torpedo boat SAGI and minesweeper W 17.
11 July 1944:
At 1840, anchors at Kimanis Bay.
12 July 1944:
At 1015, TAKETSU MARU is detached and returns to Miri.
19 July 1944:
At 1000, departs Miri in convoy MI-10 consisting of HAKUBASAN, SHUNTEN, TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), CHIYODA, SHIMOTSU, DAIZEN, HIDA, FUYUKAWA, MATSUMOTO, KENZUI, KOTOKU, NICHINAN (1,945 GRT) MARUs, WAKO GO and eleven unidentified ships believed to include KYOKUZAN, OEI, KAKOGAWA, TSUKUBASAN, ROKKO, RASHIN MARUs, KYOEI MARU No. 6 and UNYO MARU No. 7. escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE, kaibokan YASHIRO and CD-3 and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARUs.
24 July 1944:
At 2030, arrives at Manila. TAKETSU MARU is detached from convoy MI-10.
9 August 1944:
At 0200, departs Manila for Takao in convoy MATA-26 also consisting of ASAKA, (4981 gt) KACHOSAN, KENEI, HINAGA, SHINEI, AKISHIMA, RASHIN and IKOMASAN MARUs and twelve other unidentified merchant ships, escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA, YASHIRO, CD-5, CD-6, CD-9, CD-16 and subchaser CH-58.
10 August 1944:
At 1029, SHINEI MARU with a cargo of Nagi tree seed oil (cooking oils) is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins’ (USNA ’33) USS GUITARRO (SS-363) in 16-15N, 119-45E. One crewman is KIA. Soon after Minesweepers W-38 and W-39 arrived to bolster the escort.
12 August 1944:
KACHOSAN MARU is detached from the convoy, escorted by kaibokan YASHIRO.
13 August 1944:
In the eye of a major typhoon, breaks up (although as a result of weather or a drifting mine is unclear) at Luzon Strait, Sabutan island (N20.10-E121.40), 23 km southwest of Ahau Misakinishi. Eight crewmen are KIA and the cargo of crude oil is lost. IKOMASAN and ASAKA MARUs are both stranded on islands in the Bashi Islands Group, North of Luzon. Both are later refloated.

1] [1] Also known as BUTSU MARU.
[2] Movements for the period 22 March 1943 ~ 19 April 1943 remain unclear. Readers with access to data that can confirm movements during this period are asked to please post the information on the Discussion and Questions board or j-aircraft.org's IJN Ship Message Board.
[3] On 24 December 1943 TONAN MARU No. 2 runs aground at Feng Pi Tou, a fishing village in Takao.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.

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