Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(TAMASHIMA MARU prewar)

IJN TAMASHIMA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2012 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1

6 December 1939:
Yokohama. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Zosensho shipyard as a 3,560-ton passenger/cargo ship for Iino Kisen K.K., Kobe.
3 October 1940:
Launched and named TAMASHIMA MARU.
14 December 1940:
Completed and registered in Kobe.
13 March 1941:
Her owners are restyled to Iino Kaiun Sangyo K.K. and her registered port to Higashi-Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture.
13 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a transport (Ippan Choyosen). [1]
20 August 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for Osaka.
21 August 1941:
Arrives at Osaka.
25 August 1941:
Departs Osaka for Truk, central Carolines.
1 September 1941:
Arrives at Truk.
14 September 1941:
Departs Truk for Ponape, Carolines.
16 September 1941:
Arrives at Ponape.
27 September 1941:
Departs Ponape for Kure.
5 October 1941:
Arrives at Kure and enters Navy’s Shipyard to start her conversion to her military duty. Registered that same day in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category under internal order No. 1194 and attached to the Kure Naval District. Her home port is Kure. [2]
20 October 1941:
The conversion is completed.
25 October 1941:
Departs Kure, calls at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture. Departs later for Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
E October-November 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
28 November 1941:
Departs Takao.
E December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs later, calls at Osaka and departs for Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture.
3 December 1941:
Arrives at Miike.
6 December 1941:
Departs Miike.
From December 1941 to May 1942:
Calls at Chinnampo, Chosen (now North Korea) ~ Yokosuka ~ Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture ~ Kure ~ Yawata ~ Takao ~ Moji ~ Hososhima, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu ~ Takao ~ Kirun (now Keelung, Taiwan) ~ Shibaura, Tokyo ~ Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture ~ Tokyo ~ Yokohama ~ Kushiro, Hokkaido ~ Otaru, Hokkaido ~ Sasebo ~ Chinnampo.
25 May 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
6 June 1942:
Departs Tokuyama for Ominato, Aomori Prefecture.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
11 June 1942:
Departs Ominato for Otaru.
12 June 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
13 June 1942:
Departs Otaru for Horokishi, Karafuto (now Sakhalin).
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Horokishi.
18 June 1942:
Departs Horokishi for Tokyo.
22 June 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
27 June 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Otaru in an unnamed convoy also consisting of IJA allotted transport (A/C-AK) YOSHU MARU and civilian cargo ship TSUKUSHI MARU No.2 escorted by auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No.2 GO.
30 June 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
1 July 1942:
Departs Otaru for Horokishi.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Horokishi.
7 July 1942:
Departs Horokishi for Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
12 July 1942:
Arrives at Nagoya.
14 July 1942:
Departs Nagoya for Otaru.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
19 July 1942:
Departs Otaru for Raichishi, Karafuto (now Aynuskoye, Sakhalin).
20 July 1942:
Arrives at Raichishi.
23 July 1942:
Departs Raichishi for Tokyo.
27 July 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
31 July 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Otaru.
5 August 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
6 August 1942:
Departs Otaru for Raichishi.
7 August 1942:
Arrives at Raichishi.
9 August 1942:
Departs Raichishi for Yokohama.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
18 August 1942:
Departs Yokohama for Otaru. At 1200 departs off Futtsu in northbound convoy consisting of TAMA, MIIKESAN, TAMASHIMA and NICHIEI MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU that later detaches and arrives back at Uraga later that day.
21 August 1942:
Arrives at Otaru. Departs later that day for Shikuka, Karafuto (now Poronaisk, Sakhalin).
23 August 1942:
Arrives at Shikuka. Departs later in the day for Chirikoro, Karafuto (now Nerpichye, Sakhalin).
24 August 1942:
Arrives at Chirikoro.
29 August 1942:
Departs Chirikoro for Nagoya.
3 September 1942:
Arrives at Nagoya.
5 September 1942:
Departs Nagoya for Otaru.
9 September 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
10 September 1942:
Departs Otaru for Chirikoro.
13 September 1942:
Arrives at Chirikoro.
20 September 1942:
Departs Chirikoro for Osaka.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
28 September 1942:
Departs Osaka for Moji.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Departs that same day for Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Tsukumi.
5 October 1942:
Departs Tsukumi for Nagoya.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Nagoya.
9 October 1942:
Departs Nagoya for Tokyo.
10 October 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
14 October 1942:
Transfers to Yokohama. Enters dock shipyard for maintenance and hull inspection.
24 October 1942:
Departs Yokohama for Moji.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
29 October 1942:
Departs Moji for Tokyo.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
6 November 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Muroran.
10 November 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
15 November 1942:
Departs Muroran for Tokyo.
17 November 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
21 November 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Moji.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
24 November 1942:
Departs Moji for Sasebo.
25 November 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 November 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Chinnampo, Chosen.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
6 December 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
E December 1942:
Arrives at Inland Sea, probably at Kobe.
10 December 1942:
Departs Inland Sea for Yokosuka in East Convoy No. 40 also consisting of IJA transports MURORAN, CHILE, and SEISHU MARUs, civilian cargo ships TAIRAI (4,273 GRT), KONEI (1922 GRT, ex-Italian FURIERE CONSOLINI) and TORYU (1,992 GRT) MARUs, civilian ore carrier KINREI (5,947 GRT) MARU escorted by survey ship escort KOMAHASHI.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
18 December 1942:
Transfers to Tokyo.
19 December 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Hakodate, Hokkaido.
22 December 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
23 December 1942:
Departs Hakodate for Otaru.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
26 December 1942:
Transfers to Muroran.
28 December 1942:
At 0910, departs Muroran in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of Government requisitioned cargo ship TEIFUKU (ex-German R. C. RICKMERS) MARU and IJA transport WAKATSU MARU with an unknown escort.
29 December 1942:
About four miles from Inubozaki Lighthouse, Chiba Prefecture. At 0910, TEIFUKU MARU carrying 7,100 tons of coal is hit in hold No. 5 by what is thought to be a torpedo, but possibly is a mine laid by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy S. Benson's (USNA ’29) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) on 20 December at 35-45N, 140-54E. Although taking water, TEIFUKU MARU's captain manages to beach her 800 meters N of Choshi Harbor flood marker. [3]
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
6 January 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Muroran in convoy No. 1106 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ships KENEI and WOOSUNG MARUs, IJA transport SHINKO (3,119 GRT) MARU and civilian cargo ship SHUNKOTSU MARU escorted by destroyer HATAKAZE.
9 January 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
17 January 1943:
Departs Muroran for Tokyo in convoy No. 2117 also consisting of IJA transport WAKATSU MARU, civilian cargo ships JINBU, HOKUSHIN (1,997 GRT) and KAMISHIMA MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-18.
20 January 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
23 January 1943:
Departs Tokyo for Rumoi, Hokkaido.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Rumoi.
30 January 1943:
Transfers to Otaru.
1 February 1943:
Departs Otaru for Tokyo.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
10 February 1943:
Departs Tokyo for Kushiro.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
20 February 1943:
Departs Kushiro for Nagoya.
25 February 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.
27 February 1943:
Departs Nagoya for Kushiro.
3 March 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
8 March 1943:
Departs Kushiro for Tokyo.
12 March 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
15 March 1943:
Departs Tokyo for Muroran.
17 March 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
18 March 1943:
Departs Muroran for Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.
21 March 1943:
Arrives at Kawasaki.
23 March 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama. Enters dock at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard for maintenance and repairs.
11 April 1943:
Repairs are completed. Undocked.
13 April 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives that same day at Yokosuka.
14 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Hakodate.
16 April 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
19 April 1943:
Transfers to Muroran.
25 April 1943:
Departs Muroran for Hakodate, towing auxiliary tanker MANJU MARU that has been torpedoed in the engine room on 21 Mar ’43 by Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Walter G. Ebert’s (USNA ’30) USS SCAMP (SS-277).
26 April 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
29 April 1943:
Departs Hakodate for Kawasaki in convoy No. 2429 also consisting of IJN requisitioned transport TAMA (3,029 GRT) MARU, government requisitioned passenger/cargo ship ATAKA (ex-Italian ADA) MARU, civilian cargo ship RYUHO MARU No. 1 and KOSHIN MARU escorted by destroyer NAMIKAZE. [4]
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Kawasaki.
5 May 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama.
6 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama for Hakodate.
8 May 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
10 May 1943:
Departs Hakodate for Kushiro.
11 May 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
15 May 1943:
Departs Kushiro for Tokyo.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
23 May 1943:
Transfers to Yokosuka.
26 May 1943:
Embarks Navy’s Air Force (IJNAF) personnel.
27 May 1943:
Embarks IJNAF personnel. Departs Yokosuka for Paramushiro, Kuriles.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
3 June 1943:
Transfers to Musashi Wan (Bay), south-western tip of Paramushiro Island. Probably disembarks IJNAF personnel at Musashi Naval base (Musashi Airfield).
4 June 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
26 June 1943:
Departs Kushiro for Tokyo.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
5 July 1943:
Transfers to Yokosuka.
7 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Ominato.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
13 July 1943:
Departs Ominato for Busan, Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea).
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Busan. Departs later that day for Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
17 July 1943:
Arrives at Wakamatsu.
18 July 1943:
Transfers to Yawata.
19 July 1943:
Departs Yawata for Osaka.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
21 July 1943:
Departs Osaka for Kure.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
24 July 1943:
Departs Kure for Busan.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Busan. Departs later that same day for Kataoka Wan (Bay), Shimushu Island, Kuriles (now Zaliv Kozyrevskogo, Ostrov Shumshu).
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
E 12 August 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan for Kure.
19 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
26 August 1943:
Departs Kure.
E 27 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
31 August 1943:
Departs Saeki in convoy O-106 also consisting of IJA transports SHINSEI MARU No. 1, KAYO, KURAMASAN and YURI MARUs, and Navy requisitioned SHOBU MARU (2,005 GRT) escorted by torpedo boat HATO, minelayer YURIJIMA, auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU, auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No.6 and TAMA MARU No. 7, auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU and auxiliary patrol boat TAITON MARU.
E 1 September 1943:
Auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU, auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU and auxiliary patrol boat TAITON MARU are detached at 30N.
E 2 September 1943:
Auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No. 6 and TAMA MARU No.7 are detached at 28N.
E 4 September 1943:
YURIJIMA is detached at 25N.
9 September 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
18 September 1943:
Departs Palau in a convoy also consisting of IJA transports YURI, YAMAYURI, PACIFIC and TAKAOKA MARUs with unknown escort.
25 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
15 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Buka Island, N of Bougainville, Solomons.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Buka.
21 October 1943:
Departs Buka.
22 October 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
3 November 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Kavieng, New Ireland.
4 November 1943:
Arrives at Kavieng.
16 November 1943:
Departs Kavieng and joins at some point convoy No. 2152 that departed Rabaul the previous day consisting of auxiliary aircraft transport (ex auxiliary submarine depot ship) NAGOYA MARU, auxiliary submarine depot ship HIE MARU escorted by subchasers CH-29 and CH-30.
17 November 1943:
385 miles SW of Truk. At 1245, HIE MARU is torpedoed in hold No. 3 in a submerged attack by LtCdr Delbert F. Williamson’s (USNA ’27) USS DRUM (SS-228) at 01-45N, 148-45E. HIE MARU takes on a list to port. The escorts mount a heavy counter-attack that almost sinks DRUM. Depth-charges knock paint off her bulkheads, but DRUM slips away.
At 1250, USN codebreakers intercept a message from HIE MARU that reads: “At 1245, November 17, in position 01-45N, 148- [blurred print] E. received 1 torpedo hit in No. 3 hold; No. 2 and No. 3 holds flooded. At present no danger of sinking. -----.”
At 1730, HIE MARU sinks at 01-45N, 148-45E. Captain Harada is KIA. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously. The other ships in the convoy are unscathed.
19 November 1943:
Convoy No. 2152 arrives at Truk.
25 November 1943:
At 1400, departs Truk for Yokosuka with kaibokan OKI as solitary escort.
3 December 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
6 December 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama.
8 December 1943:
Asano, Yokohama. Enters dock at Nihon Kokan K.K. shipyard for maintenance and repairs.
18 January 1944:
Repairs are completed. Undocked. Transfers later that same day to Yokosuka.
E 19-24 January 1944:
Embarks 910 soldiers of the 46th, 47th and a portion of the 49th Air Defense Units (AA) and of the 81st Guards Unit. Loads quartermaster weapons and general cargo totaling 1,310-tons and 136 postal parcels. The ultimate destination is Rabaul.
25 January 1944:
At 0700, departs Yokosuka for Truk in convoy No. 3125 Ko (A) also consisting of Navy requisitioned cargo ship REIYO MARU and civilian cargo ship HANAGAWA MARU escorted by kaibokan HIRADO and ISHIGAKI and subchaser CH-52.
30 January 1944:
About 300 nms E of Uracas (Farallon de Pajaros), Marianas. At 1000, LtCdr (later Cdr) Joseph W. Williams' (USNA ’33) USS SPEARFISH (SS-190) torpedoes and hits TAMASHIMA MARU amidships on starboard, causing severe flooding. However, the transport resumes her course to Truk. At 2205, Williams again torpedoes TAMASHIMA MARU. In this second attack, her ammunition cargo explodes and she sinks instantly at 21-12N, 149-28E taking down four men. Although all passengers survived, the 46th Air Defense Unit's six 120mm antiaircraft guns and two searchlights go down. The 47th and 49th Air Defense Units alsp lose all their guns. The 49th, although prudently divided between TAMASHIMA and YASAKUNI MARUs has the misfortune of seeing both ships sunk.
HIRADO drops 46 depth-charges, but USS SPEARFISH escapes undamaged.
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 427.

Authors Notes:
[1] See Zatsuyosen home page for full explanation.
[2] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[3] There is a discrepancy between Japanese and American sources. Japanese sources claim TEIFUKU MARU was lost on 29 December not 26 December 1942.
[4] Many ships were named KOSHIN MARU. The one listed in this convoy is probably Kinkai Yusosen’s tanker (975 GRT, ’41) or Kuribayashi Shosen’s cargo ship (1868 GRT, ’17) as both ships were equally engaged in Empire coastal trade.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.Thanks also go to the late John Whitman for information on intercepted Japanese messages.
Photo credit goes to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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