Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(TATSUTAGAWA MARU, prewar)

IJN TATSUTAGAWA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012-2015 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2

7 November 1940:
Koyagijima. Laid down by Kawaminami Kogyo K.K. Zosensho shipyard for Toyo Kaiun K.K. as a 1,923-ton cargo ship, part of the Peacetime Standard Ship (D) Type Program.
24 July 1941:
Launched and named TATSUTAGAWA MARU. [1]
10 September 1941:
Completed and registered in Tokyo.
16 June 1942: Departs Tokyo Bay in a convoy also consisting of IJA transports KAIFUKU and NICHINAN (2,732 GRT) MARUs and government owned MINAMI (ex Panamanian CAPELLA) MARU escorted by minesweeper W-17 bound for Hokkaido.
3 July 1942:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
7 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
9 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
11 July 1942:
Arrives at Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture.
13 July 1942:
Departs Kamaishi.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
17 July 1942:
Transfers to Yokosuka.
18 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
20 July 1942:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as homeport under internal order No. 1336. [2].
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
26 July 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at Harima, Hyogo Prefecture.
31 July 1942:
Departs Harima.
2 August 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
4 August 1942:
Departs Moji.
7 August 1942:
Arrives at Kenjiho, Chosen (now North Korea).
9 August 1942:
Departs Kenjiho.
12 August 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
18 August 1942:
Departs Kure.
21 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 August 1942:
Transfers to Tokyo.
4 September 1942:
Enters dock at Ishikawa-Jima Tokyo K.K. shipyard for maintenance and repairs.
26 September 1942:
Undocked. Departs Tokyo.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
29 September 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
2 October 1942:
Departs Kure.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture. Departs later that same day for Moji.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later in the day for Kenjiho.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Kenjiho.
10 October 1942:
Departs Kenjiho.
13 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
17 October 1942:
Departs Kure.
19 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
21 October 1942:
Arrives at Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture. Calls later in the day at Moji then departs later that same day for Tsukumi.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Tsukumi.
24 October 1942:
Departs Tsukumi.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
31 October 1942:
Transfers to Yokosuka.
2 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
6 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
7 November 1942:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
8 November 1942:
Departs Yawata.
9 November 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
12 November 1942:
Departs Nagasaki.
14 November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
20 November 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later in the day for Osaka.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
29 November 1942:
Departs Osaka.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Kagoshima, Kyushu.
7 December 1942:
Departs Kagoshima.
9 December 1942:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
14 December 1942:
Departs Naha.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Koniya, Amami-Oshima.
16 December 1942:
Departs Koniya.
18 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
20 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later in the day for Kenjiho.
22 December 1942:
Arrives at Kenjiho.
25 December 1942:
Departs Kenjiho.
27 December 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
31 December 1942:
Departs Nagasaki.
3 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
4 January 1943:
Departs Kure.
5 January 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
6 January 1943:
Departs Yawata.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later in the day for Yokosuka.
10 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
14 January 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in westbound convoy No.7114 also consisting of civilian tanker MITSU MARU, IJN shared tanker (B/C-AO) KOSHIN MARU, IJA transports KENWA, TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE) MARUs and probably NORFOLK MARU escorted by hydrographic survey ship KOMAHASHI. At an unknown point W, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI is detached.
15 January 1943:
Arrives at Mitsu, Tokushima Prefecture. Departs later that day for Kure.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later that same day for Yawata.
19 January 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
22 January 1943:
Departs Yawata.
23 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
25 January 1943:
Departs Osaka.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru.
1 February 1943:
Unloads 2,288-tons of steel. Departs later that day for Yawata.
3 February 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
5 February 1943:
Departs Yawata.
6 February 1943:
Arrives at Yura, Wakayama Prefecture.
7 February 1943:
Departs Yura.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
13 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
15 February 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi and arrives later in the day at Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
16 February 1943:
Departs Nagoya.
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
18 February 1943:
Transfers to Hirohata, Hyogo Prefecture.
19 February 1943:
Departs Hirohata.
20 February 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
23 February 1943:
Departs Kure.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji. Depart later that day for Sasebo.
25 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 February 1943:
Transfers to Nagasaki.
1 March 1943:
Transfers to Sasebo.
3 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
5 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
9 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
10 March 1943:
Arrives at Kobe. Transfers to Osaka later that same day.
11 March 1943:
Departs Osaka.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
19 March 1943:
Arrives at Harima.
20 March 1943:
Transfers to Kobe.
21 March 1943:
Departs Kobe.
23 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
26 March 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
28 March 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
29 March 1943:
Departs Kobe.
30 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
31 March 1943:
Departs Kure.
2 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
9 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
11 April 1943:
Departs Kure.
12 April 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
15 April 1943:
Transfers to Kobe.
17 April 1943:
Departs Kobe.
19 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
20 April 1943:
Transfers to Yokosuka.
23 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 7423 also consisting of auxiliary transports KIZUGAWA and RYUKO MARUs and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) KIYOTADA (SEICHU) MARU escorted by minesweeper W-4.
25 April 1943:
Arrives at Aioi. Transfers to Osaka later in the day.
29 April 1943:
Transfers to Kobe. Departs later that day for Nagoya.
30 April 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.
1 May 1943:
Transfers to Yokkaichi.
3 May 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
8 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
10 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
11 May 1943:
Departs Osaka.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
15 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
17 May 1943:
Departs Moji.
18 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 May 1943:
Transfers to Nagasaki.
22 May 1943:
Transfers to Sasebo.
25 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
30 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
1 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
3 June 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama.
5 June 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
7 June 1943:
Arrives at Hirohata.
8 June 1943:
Departs Hirohata.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
15 June 1943:
Departs Kure.
16 June 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
17 June 1943:
Departs Kobe.
19 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
21 June 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama.
24 June 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
27 June 1943:
Transfers to Kure.
29 June 1943:
Departs Kure.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Tano, Kochi Prefecture.
3 July 1943:
Departs Tano.
4 July 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
6 July 1943:
Departs Osaka.
7 July 1943:
Arrives at Tano.
13 July 1943:
Departs Tano.
14 July 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
15 July 1943:
Departs Osaka.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
18 July 1943:
Departs Kure.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
23 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
26 July 1943:
Arrives at Ominato, Aomori Prefecture.
28 July 1943:
Transfers to Muroran, Hokkaido.
30 July 1943:
Departs Muroran.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture.
4 August 1943:
Transfers to Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture.
6 August 1943:
Departs Kamaishi.
8 August 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
11 August 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Otaru, Hokkaido.
17 August 1943:
Departs Otaru.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at Funukawa, Akita Prefecture.
23 August 1943:
Departs Funukawa.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, China).
31 August 1943:
Departs Dairen.
3 September 1943:
Arrives off the coast of Satojima.
4 September 1943:
Departs Satojima area.
6 September 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
9 September 1943:
Departs Osaka.
10 September 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
11 September 1943:
Departs Moji.
15 September 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
17 September 1943:
Departs Dairen.
25 September 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
29 September 1943:
Departs Muroran.
30 September 1943:
Arrives at Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.
1 October 1943:
Departs Hachinohe.
2 October 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
3 October 1943:
Departs Muroran.
7 October 1943:
Arrives at Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture.
8 October 1943:
Departs Fushiki.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
13 October 1943:
Departs Yawata.
15 October 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
16 October 1943:
Enters shipyard dock for repairs.
28 October 1943:
Repairs are completed. Undocked.
1 November 1943:
Departs Osaka.
2 November 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later in the day for Yawata.
3 November 1943:
Arrives at Yawata.
5 November 1943:
Departs Yawata.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
10 November 1943:
Departs Osaka.
13 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
21 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
23 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk, Central Carolines in convoy No. 3123 also consisting of auxiliary transports YAMAFUKU and SHOKO MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SHIGANOURA MARU and IJA transport MANJU MARU escorted by destroyer OITE and auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO.
23-24 November 1943:
About 20nm NW of Hachijo-Jima, Izu Shoto. Night. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Merrill K. Clementson’s (USNA ’33) USS SNAPPER (SS-185) intercepts the convoy. At 0207, Clementson attacks but all torpedoes are avoided and the convoy resumes its course.
28 November 1943:
About 500nm NW of Guam. The convoy steaming in very rough weather, is intercepted by LtCdr Ian C. Eddy’s (USNA ’30) USS PARGO (SS-264) and by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles O. Triebel (USNA ’29) USS SNOOK. At 2200, Eddy attacks, but scores no hits. At 2206, Triebel fires a spread of torpedoes but again, no hits are scored. At 2208, Triebel attacks again but fail to score any hit. Both submarines continue to track the convoy.
At 2350, Triebel's USS SNOOK makes another attack and scores four hits on the lead ship of the convoy. Hit in the engine room and aft, at 2355, YAMAFUKU MARU sinks by the stern at 18-21N, 140-08E taking down 60 of her crew.
29 November 1943:
At about 0100, Triebel attacks the convoy again and scores a hit on a transport at 18-22N, 139-45E. SHIGANOURA MARU is hit port in her No. 2 hold but is able to resume her course. At 0150, Triebel finishes off the damaged transport. Hit in her No. 1 hold, SHIGANOURA MARU loaded with 1,355-tons of rice, vehicles and disassembled “Zeke” aircraft, is abandoned and at 0218, sinks at 18-24N, 139-41E with no casualties.
At 0255, Eddy's USS PARGO torpedoes and hits MANJU MARU carrying 5,695-tons of coal, ammunition, machinery and food, in her No. 2 hold. She sinks at 18-34N, 139-58E with three crewmen, two gunners and one passenger KIA.
30 November-1 December 1943:
Still tracking the convoy, USS PARGO makes several attacks between 2049 and 0048. SHOKO MARU is repeatedly hit and sinks with all hands (42 crewmen) at 18-02N, 138-55E.
1 December 1943:
Later in the day, minesweepers W-17, W-22 and W-21 bolster the escort.
6 December 1943:
At 1652, arrives at Truk.
15 December 1943:
At 0800, departs Truk for Yokosuka in convoy No. 4215 also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) TAIKOKU MARU, IJA transports GOSEI and SUMIYOSHI MARUs, IJN shared cargo ship (B/C-AK) TETSUYO MARU escorted by kaibokan AMAKUSA, auxiliary minelayer KINJO MARU and auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO.
16 December 1943:
Auxiliary minelayer KINJO MARU is detached from the convoy.
28 December 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
31 December 1943:
At 1000, departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 1231 also consisting of IJA transports HOKURYU and SHINFUKU MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship with unknown escort. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
3 January 1944:
Arrives at Muroran.
5 January 1944:
Departs Muroran.
8 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
13 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3113 also consisting of auxiliary transport KOKAI MARU escorted by destroyer UMIKAZE and auxiliary minelayer KINJO MARU.
16 January 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
17 January 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
21 January 1944:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
28 January 1944:
Departs Saipan.
1 February 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
14 February 1944:
Departs Truk.
18 February 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
20 February 1944:
Departs Saipan.
29 February 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Transfers that same day to Yokohama.
3 March 1944:
Transfers back to Yokosuka.
11 March 1944:
Transfers to Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture.
12 March 1944:
Departs Tateyama.
16 March 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
17 March 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
22 March 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
29 March 1944:
At 1543 departs Saipan escorted by auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU and auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2.
30 March 1944:
A At 0831 arrives at Guam, Marianas (renamed Omiya-Jima after its capture).
1 April 1944:
Departs Saipan.
2 April 1944:
Arrives at Rota, Marianas. Departs later in the day for Saipan.
3 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan. Joins later that day the “Higashi Matsu” convoy No. 3 bound for Yokosuka also consisting of IJN requisitioned ship (B-AK) MEIRYU MARU, IJA transport SEIRYU MARUs and an unidentified ship.
10 April 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Calls at Yokohama later in the day and transfers back to Yokosuka.
17 April 1944:
Transfers to Yokohama.
3 May 1944:
Transfers to Tateyama.
4 May 1944:
At 1400, departs Tateyama for the Marianas in convoy No. 3503 also consisting of auxiliary transports KEIYO and HAKOZAKI MARUs, auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU, IJA transports NICHIWA, ENOSHIMA, MINO, OSAKA, FUKKO, SHINFUKU, FUKOKU and KOHO MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) TAIKOKU and KOJUN MARUs escorted by destroyers ASANAGI and MINATSUKI, torpedo boat OTORI, subchasers CH-31, CH-32 and CH-52, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 and kaibokan OKI and CD-24.
10 May 1944:
420 miles NW of Saipan. At 1743, LtCdr Russell Kefauver’s (USNA ’33) USS TAMBOR (SS-198) torpedoes and damages KEIYO MARU at 19-27N 140-00E. No. 2 and No. 3 holds flood. 97 crewmen are KIA.
14 May 1944:
At 14-57N, 144-58E, KOHO and SHUNSEN MARUs and OTORI, SHONAN MARU No. 8 are detached for Guam. At 1200, the rest of the convoy arrives at Saipan.
27 May 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
3 June 1944:
At 1600, departs Truk in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport IMIZU MARU, IJA transport MOJI MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) KOJUN and NITCHO MARUs, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) NANKO MARU, auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU and 13 other unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan CD-6, subchasers CH-20, CH-31, CH-32 and CH-51 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-66.
7 June 1944:
At 1140, arrives at Saipan.
11 June 1944:
Fear of an imminent Allied landing causes all navigable ships in Saipan to flee. At 0400, TATSUTAGAWA MARU departs Saipan in makeshift convoy No. 4611 also consisting of auxiliary transport IMIZU MARU, IJA transports MOJI, FUKOKU and BATAVIA MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) TENRYUGAWA, SHINTO, HINKO, BOKUYO, NITCHO and REIKAI MARUs, auxiliary netlayer KOKKO MARU, civilian cargo ship INARI MARU and 16 other unidentified ships escorted by torpedo boat OTORI, kaibokan CD-4, subchasers CH-33, CH-55, auxiliary subchasers CHa-20, CHa-50 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-6.
12 June 1944:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s (USNA ’10) Task Force 58’s carriers USS ESSEX (CV-9), USS LANGLEY (CVL-27) and USS COWPENS (CVL-25) attack the convoy. They sink BATAVIA (59 crewmen and 18 passengers KIA), HINKO (actually sank after air attack 25 June and submarine attack 19 July nine crewmen and 12 passengers KIA), SHINTO (53 crewmen and 54 passengers KIA), IMIZU (67 crewmen KIA), NITCHO (14 crewmen KIA), REIKAI (40 crewmen and 42 passengers KIA), TENRYUGAWA (seven crewmen KIA), BOKUYO (45 crewmen KIA), FUKOKU (51 crewmen and 31 passengers KIA) and MOJI (53 crewmen and five gunners KIA) MARUs, torpedo boat OTORI (casualties unknown) and auxiliary netlayer KOKKO MARU (two crewmen KIA). The planes also damage kaibokan CD-4 (eight sailors KIA), subchasers CH-33, CH-50 and CH-51, auxiliary subchaser CHa-20 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-6.
E of Ogasawara-shoto (Bonins). Grumman TBFs/TBM "Avengers" and F6Fs "Hellcat" fighter-bombers from light carrier USS BATAAN (CVL- 29) damage TATSUTAGAWA MARU. 15 crewmen and two passengers are KIA. TATSUTAGAWA MARU is left drifting.
15 June 1944:
TATSUTAGAWA MARU is finished off by gunfire from destroyers BOYD (DD-544) and CHARRETTE (DD-581) at 25-02N, 144-37E.
10 September 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 1067.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Also known as TATSUTAKAWA MARU.
[2] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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