KAMOTSUSEN!
(BORNEO shortly after completion, later TEISHUN MARU)
Freighter TEISHUN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2009-2017 Bob Hackett, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1
E 1901:
Lubeck, Germany. Laid down at Schiffswerft von Henry Koch AG as building number 141, a 2,251-ton cargo ship for Nordeutcher Lloyd.
20 September 1902:
Launched and named BORNEO.
6 December 1902:
Completed and officially delivered under German registry.
August 1914:
At the start of the Great War, BORNEO is trapped by the Alllied blockade and laid up in Zamboanga, Philippines, then neutral United States territory.
6 April 1917:
Upon America's entry into the war, BORNEO is seized in Zamboanga. The ship is assigned to the United States Shipping Board, Manila and renamed NIPSIC. Probably operated for the United States Shipping Board by Madrigal & Co., Manila.
1920:
Surplus to United States Government requirements, NIPSIC is bought by Madrigal & Co.
1924:
Sold to Shun Tai Steamship Co., Hong Kong and renamed BORNEO.
1930:
Registered at Hong Kong.
1935:
Sold to Yau Ye Hin, Canton, China.
1936:
Sold to Tai Seun Hong of Fort Bayard, renamed TAI SEUN HONG.
1937:
Transferred to Kwong Lee Steamship Co, of Fort Bayard (Kwangchow territory). TAI SEUN HONG is part of France’s Indochina merchant fleet. [1]
3 September 1939-World War II Begins:
After the German invasion of Poland, Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany.
25 June 1940: Franco-German Armistice:
After the Armistice, TAI SEUN HONG is integrated into Vichy’s fleet.
September 1940:
Vichy France grants Japan limited military occupation of Indochina.
10 April 1942:
Requisitioned by the Japanese Government under the Right of Angary. Chartered by Teikoku Senpaku (Imperial Steamship Co.) wholly owned by the Japanese government.
22 April 1942:
Saigon. Delivered to her new operators, Toa Kaiun K.K. (East Asia Navigation) of Tokyo. Renamed TEISHUN MARU. Assigned signal letters JKKR.
15 June 1942:
Charter rates are agreed upon between the Japanese and the Vichy French-Indochina Navy. TEISHUN MARU’s rate is 26,766.50 Japanese Yen per month.
9 July 1942:
At 1600 departs Mako in convoy No. 232 also consisting of TATSUWA (dubious as also shown in convoy No. 231), TEIYO, GYOYO and SHONAN MARUs, HINO MARU No. 5 and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE.
13 July 1942:
At 2300 arrives at Mutsure.
26 August 1942:
East China Sea, about 100 nms NNW of Keelung, Formosa. LtCdr A. H. Taylor’s USS HADDOCK (SS-231) picks up a contact on her SJ radar. USS HADDOCK makes an “end around” and lies in wait. When the target comes in range, Taylor fires four torpedoes, but they all miss. At 0813, Taylor fires two more torpedoes and sinks TEISHUN MARU at 26-53N, 121-23E.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Fort Bayard was located about 270 miles SW of Hong Kong on a bay off the China Sea. It was the port for the Kwangchow enclave, an area leased by China to France in 1898 for ninety nine years. Kwangchow’s excellent natural harbor and neighboring coal fields were of importance to a coal-burning navy. The entire administration was controlled by France until the Japanese moved in at the beginning of the Pacific war.
Thanks go to Mr. Toda Gengoro of Japan.
Photo credit goes to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
- Bob Hackett, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
Back to
Ex-French Merchants in Japanese Service
