Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(TEIYO MARU as a prewar tanker)

IJN TEIYO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2007-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
Revision 9

28 April 1930:
Laid down at West Nishi by Yokohama Dock Co. as a 9,849-ton tanker for Nippon Tanker K. K., Tokyo.
19 January 1931:
Launched and named TEIYO MARU.
2 May 1931:
Completed.
15 April 1940:
Chartered to Nitto Kogyo Kisen K. K.
31 March 1941:
Ownership is transferred to Nitto Kogyo Kisen K. K.
22 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN. Arrives at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Yokohama Yard for conversion to a fleet oiler.
4 December 1941:
The conversion is completed.
8 December 1941:
Departs Hashirajima. Later that day, TEIYO MARU arrives at Yoshiura (Yokosuka) and takes on 12,000-tons of fuel oil, 70-tons of avgas and 70-tons of lubricants.
10 December 1941:
Attached to the Kure Naval District as an auxiliary transport ship (oil supply). Assigned directly to HQ, Combined Fleet. Capt Tanaka Katasuke (33) is appointed Supervisor. Departs Yokosuka this same day.
12 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
15 December 1941:
Departs Kure for Takao, Formosa (Taiwan) and Saigon, Indochina.
9 January 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
12 January 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
15 January 1942:
Departs Mako.
18 January 1942:
At 1100 due to arrive at Palau.
1 February 1942:
Attached to the Java Invasion Force's Replenishment Group No. 1.
21 February 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay, Celebes, refueling several ships.
March 1942: Operation "C" - The Raids in the Indian Ocean:
Attached to the Indian Ocean Raiding Force's Replenishment Group No. 2.
3 March 1942:
At Staring Bay refuels patrol boat PB-1 and ammunition ship ONOE MARU.
22 March 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
27 March 1942:
Departs Mako.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
5 May 1942:
Attached to the West Aleutian Island's Invasion Force's Group No. 2.
21 May 1942:
At 1900 departs Tokuyama.
24 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato, northern Honshu.
26 May 1942: Operation "AL" - The Seizure of Attu and Kiska, Aleutian Islands:
Departs Ominato with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kakuta Kakuji's (39) Second Strike Force, Carrier Strike Force’s CarDiv 4's RYUJO and JUNYO, CruDiv 4/2's MAYA and TAKAO, DesDiv 3's SHIOKAZE and DesDiv 7's AKEBONO, SAZANAMI and USHIO. Arrives at Mutsu Bay.
29 May 1942:
TEIYO MARU departs Mutsu Bay in Vice Admiral Hosogaya's Boshiro’s (36) (former CO of MUTSU) Fifth Fleet with Rear Admiral Kakuta’s Second Strike Force.
7 June 1942:
The Fifth Fleet captures Attu and Kiska.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
19 June 1942:
Departs Ominato.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
4 July 1942:
At 0755 departs Ominato. Refuels at sea light cruiser ABUKUMA.
18 July 1942:
At 1715 arrives at Yokosuka escorted by destroyer WAKABA.
August 1942:
TEIYO MARU is attached to the Western Aleutians Invasion force as a fleet replenishment ship.
2 August 1942:
At 1150 departs Yokosuka probably escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE.
9 August 1942:
At 0215 arrives at Paramushiro.
12 August 1942:
At 1340 transfers from Paramushiro to Shimushu, arriving at 1915.
24 August 1942:
At 0315 departs Shimushu.
27 August 1942:
At 1215 arrives at Ominato.
11 September 1942:
At 0420 departs Ominato.
15 September 1942:
At 0440 arrives at Kakumabetsu Bay, Paramushiro, Kuriles. Later arrives at Kataoka Bay, Shimushu Island, Kuriles.
11 October 1942:
Departs Ominato.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
18 October 1942:
Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA.
24 October 1942:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
25 October 1942:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu Bay, Paramushiro. Refuels light cruiser KISO.
27 October 1942:
Departs Kakumabetsu Bay. Later that day, arrives at Kataoka Bay.
2 November 1942:
At 1045 departs Kataoka Bay.
7 November 1942:
At 1250 arrives at Maizuru.
13 November 1942:
At 1100 departs Maizuru.
18 November 1942:
At 0625 arrives at Kataoka Bay.
21 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
27 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Bay. Later that day, arrives at Kakumabetsu Bay.
29 November 1942:
Departs Kakumabetsu Bay. Later that day, arrives at Kataoka Bay.
2 December 1942:
Transfers 170 tons of L0 in drums to destroyers HATSUSHIMO and 62 tons of L0 in drums and 67 tons of L1 to USUGUMO. Refuels light cruiser TAMA with 265 tons of L0 and 50 tons of L1. [1]
4 December 1942:
Transfers 64 tons of L0 to destroyers USUGUMO and 35 tons of L1 to HATSUSHIMO.
5 December 1942:
Transfers 73 tons of L0 to light cruiser TAMA.
7 December 1942:
Transfers 957 tons of L0 to light cruisers KISO and 1,005 tons of L0 to ABUKUMA. Transfers 390 tons of L0 to destroyer WAKABA.
9 December 1942:
Transfers 910 tons of LO to shore facilities and 150 tons to destroyer NUMAKAZE. At 1120 departs Kataoka Bay.
14 December 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Maizuru for conversion to operate in northern regions.
15 December 1942:
Conversion work begins.
18 December 1942:
Embarks 5,475 tons L0 and 2,900 tons L1.
23 December 1942:
The conversion is completed.
24 December 1942:
At 1310 departs Maizuru.
29 December 1942:
At 0840 arrives at Kataoka Bay.
30 December 1942:
Refuels light cruiser TAMA with 270 tons of L0 and 61 tons of L1 grade oil and 100 tons of rags.
1 January 1943:
Transfers 295 tons of L0 and 75 tons of L1 to destroyer USUGUMO.
7 January 1943:
Transfers 112 tons of L0 and 28 tons of L1 to destroyer NUMAKAZE. Transfers 355 tons of L0 and 90 tons of L1 to light cruiser KISO.
13 January 1943:
Transfers 85 tons of LO and 21 tons of L1 to destroyer NUMAKAZE.
14 January 1943:
Transfers 134 tons of L0 and 35 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA. Transfers 40 tons of L1 to kaibokan KUNASHIRI.
15 January 1943:
Transfers 43 tons of L0 and 11 tons of L1 to destroyer NUMAKAZE. Transfers 27 tons of L1 to kaibokan ISHIGAKI and 494 tons of L1 to shore facilities.
16 January 1943:
Transfers 150 tons of L0 and 38 tons of L1 to light cruiser KISO.
17 January 1943:
Transfers 30 tons of L0 and 10 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA.
18 January 1943:
275 tons of L1 to shore facilities.
24 January 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Kabutoyama Bight. Transfers 147 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA. Transfers 543 tons of L0 and 140 tons of L1 to cruiser NACHI. Transfers 365 tons of L0 and 90 tons of L1 to light cruiser KISO. Transfers 115 tons of L0 and 30 tons of L1 to destroyer NUMAKAZE.
25 January 1943:
S of Kabutoyama Bay. Transfers 735 tons of L0 to light cruiser ABUKUMA. Refuels destroyer USUGUMO with 360 tons of L0 and 2,200 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil. Departs the area for Kataoka Bay, arrives on that same day. [2]
27 January 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay for Shimushiro Zaki on the NW tip of Shimushu Island, arriving that same day at 0540.
28 January 1943:
At 0850 arrives at Murakami Bay, Paramushiro, Kuriles. Transfers 111 tons of L0 and 30 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA. Transfers 148 tons of L0 and 37 tons of L1 to destroyer USUGUMO. Transfers 31 tons of L1 to kaibokan ISHIGAKI and No. 2 external lubricating oil.
30 January 1943:
Departs Murakami Bay. At 1430 arrives at Kataoka Wan.
31 January 1943:
At 0850 shifts to Shimushiro Zaki on the NW tip of Shimushu Island. Transfers 38 tons of L0 and 110 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Shimushu, departs for Kataoka Bay, arriving that same day.
2 February 1943:
Transfers 165 tons of L0 and 42 tons of L1 to light cruiser ABUKUMA and 1,600 liters of of No. 2 external lubricating oil. Transfers 120 tons of L0 and 30 tons of L1 to light cruiser KISO. Transfers 55 tons of L1 to SHUNKOTSU MARU. Transfers 35 tons of L1 to kaibokan HACHIJO.
3 February 1943:
At 1040 departs Kataoka Bay. Later that day at 2000, arrives to the area S of Kabutoyama. Transfers 49 tons of L1 and 2,000 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil to kaibokan KUNASHIRI. [3]
4 February 1943:
Transfers 169 tons of L0 and 43 tons of L1 to destroyers NUMAKAZE and 250 tons of L0 and 28 tons of L1 to HATSUSHIMO.
7 February 1943:
Transfers 90 tons of L0 and 23 tons of L1 to light cruiser KISO. Transfers 262 tons of L0 and 65 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA.
8 February 1943:
Departs Kabutoyama area. At 0705 arrives at Kataoka Bay.
9 February 1943:
Transfers 30 tons of L0 and 5 tons of L1 to destroyer HATSUSHIMO. Transfers 25 tons of L1 to kaibokan HACHIJO.
10 February 1943:
Transfers 40 tons of L0 and 6 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA.
12 February 1943:
Transfers 178 tons of L0 and 45 tons of L1 to destroyer INAZUMA. Transfers 28 tons of L1 to destroyer HATSUSHIMO. Transfers 225 tons of L0 to light cruiser ABUKUMA.
15 February 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay, arrives at Kabutoyama area on the same day at 0805. At 0850 the starboard anchor is lost.
16 February 1943:
Refuels destroyer INAZUMA with 175 tons of L0 and 44 tons of L1 and auxiliary aircraft tender KIMIKAWA MARU with 500 tons of L1.
17 February 1943:
Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 98 tons of L0 and auxiliary cruiser AWATA MARU with 300 tons of L1.
18 February 1943:
Refuels destroyer INAZUMA with 33 tons of L1
22 February 1943:
Refuels kaibokan HACHIJO with 60 tons of L1 and kaibokan KUNASHIRI with 25 tons of L1.
23 February 1943:
Refuels light cruiser KISO with 600 tons of L0 and 150 tons of L1, 100 tons of old cotton rags for use by greasers and 200 tons of silk thread rubbish for lighting boiler fires. Transfers 235 tons of L0 and 58 tons of L1 to destroyer WAKABA. Transfers 230 tons of L0 and 57 tons of L1 to destroyer HATSUSHIMO.
24 February 1943:
TEIYO MARU is returned to Nitto Kisen K. K. “on paper”.
25 February 1943:
Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 165 tons of L0, 540 tons of L1 and 1,600 liters of of No. 2 external lubricating oil. Refuels destroyer INAZUMA with 72 tons of L0.
26 February 1943:
Receives 160 tons of L0 from auxiliary transport ship AKASHISAN MARU.
27 February 1943:
Departs Kabutoyama. At 1250 arrives at Kataoka Bay.
1 March 1943:
Loads 2,905 tons of L1 from oiler SHOYO MARU. During the fueling operation, two fenders are damaged as a result of high waves.
4 March 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay and at 0510 arrives at Kashiwabara Bay, Paramushiro. Refuels destroyer INAZUMA with 85 tons of L1. Refuels destroyer HATSUSHIMO with 56 tons of L1. Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 13 tons of L1 and light cruiser KISO with 155 tons of L1.
5 March 1943:
Refuels cruiser NACHI with 519 tons of L1.
6 March 1943:
Departs Kashiwabara Bay; at 1050 arrives at area S of Kabutoyama. Loads 1,800 tons of L0 and 601 tons of L2 from oiler SHOYO MARU. Refuels light cruiser TAMA with 102 tons of L0.
7 March 1943:
Departs Kabutoyama. At 1230 arrives at Kataoka Bay. Transfers 15 tons of L0 to destroyers HATSUSHIMO, 17 tons of L0 to WAKABA. 19 tons of L0 to USUGUMO, 25 tons of L0 to INAZUMA and 21 tons of L0 to IKAZUCHI.
9 March 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay and at 1410 arrives at an area S of Kabutoyama.
10 March 1943:
At 1435 returns to Kataoka Bay.
13 March 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay. Later that day at 0720, arrives at Kashiwabara Bay. Transfers 349 tons of L0 to destroyer INAZUMA and 245 tons of L0 to destroyers WAKABA, 250 tons of L0 to HATSUSHIMO and 349 tons of L0 to IKAZUCHI.
Transfers 307 tons of L0 and 16 tons of L1 to destroyer USUGUMO and 1,600 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil.
14 March 1943:
Transfers 58 tons of L1 to kaibokan HACHIJO.
16 March 1943:
Departs Kashiwabara Bay. Later that day at 1110, arrives at Kataoka Bay. Loads 3,799 tons of L1 from tanker MANJU MARU. Later, refuels light cruisers ABUKUMA with 578 tons of L1 and TAMA with 650 tons of L0.
17 March 1943:
Refuels cruisers NACHI with 955 tons of L1 and MAYA with 1,058 tons of L1.
20 March 1943:
Transfers 81 tons of L2 to submarines I-31 and 100 tons and 100 liters of No. 2 external lubrication oil to I-171, and 600 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil to I-169.
21 March 1943:
Refuels destroyer USUGUMO with 59 tons of L1 and submarine I-169 with 170 tons of L2.
22 March 1943:
Refuels destroyers HATSUSHIMO with 65 tons of L1, IKAZUCHI 84 tons of L1, WAKABA with 76 tons of L1 and IKAZUCHI with 84 tons of L0. Also refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 100 tons of L1
29 March 1943:
Refuels destroyers WAKABA with 250 tons of L1, IKAZUCHI with 250 tons of L1, INAZUMA with 250 tons of L1 and HATSUSHIMO with 250 tons of L1. Also refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 200 tons of L1.
31 March 1943:
Transfers 286 tons of L1 to destroyer USUGUMO and 176 tons to destroyer INAZUMA and 1,400 liters of of No. 2 external lubricating oil.
1 April 1943:
Refuels light cruisers TAMA with 401 tons of L1 and ABUKUMA with 300 tons of L1.
2 April 1943:
Transfers 100 tons of L1 to destroyer IKAZUCHI.
3 April 1943:
At 0445 departs Kataoka Bay in a convoy also consisting of Naval transport TOEI MARU and storeship SHIRASAKI escorted by destroyer IKAZUCHI. TOEI MARU and SHIRASAKI are bound for Ominato.
6 April 1943:
At 1200 TEIYO MARU separates and proceeds alone.
9 April 1943:
At 0700 arrives at Mutsure. Later at 1800 arrives at Hiro.
11 April 1943:
Departs Hiro for Kure, arrives on that same day.
12 April 1943:
Navy Captain Takagi Banjiro (39) is appointed Supervisor. Embarks 2,000 tons of L1. At 2040 departs Kure.
14 April 1943:
At 1350 arrives at Maizuru for engine repairs.
16 April 1943:
Captain Takagi arrives aboard. Captain Tanaka leaves the ship.
3 May 1943:
Completion of repairs.
4 May 1943:
At 1005 departs Maizuru.
6 May 1943:
At 1320 arrives at Ominato.
12 May 1943:
At 0600 departs Ominato.
16 May 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Kataoka Bay. Transfers 134 tons of L0 to destroyers SHIRAKUMO, 294 tons of L0 to USUGUMO and 210 tons of L0 to WAKABA. Transfers 1,135 tons of L0 to cruiser NACHI and refuels light cruiser KISO with 514 tons of L0.
17 May 1943:
Refuels cruiser MAYA with 520 tons of L0.
19 May 1943:
Transfers 250 tons of L0 to destroyers SAMIDARE and 249 tons of L0 to NAGANAMI. Transfers 1,071 tons of L0 to cruiser MYOKO.
20 May 1943:
Refuels cruiser HAGURO with 950 tons of L0 and light cruiser ABUKUMA with 800 tons of L0.
21 May 1943:
Transfers 340 tons of L0 to destroyer HIBIKI.
22 May 1943:
Transfers 115 tons of L0 to destroyer NUMAKAZE.
23 May 1943:
Refuels light cruiser TAMA with 730 tons of L0, destroyer SHIRAKUMO with 231 tons of L0 and 255 tons of L1.
25 May 1943:
Refuels destroyers KAMIKAZE with 17 tons of L0, HATSUSHIMO with 23 tons of L0, ASAGUMO with 236 tons of L0, USUGUMO with 28 tons of L0 and WAKABA with 24 tons of L0. Also refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 113 tons of L0.
Receives 2,900 tons of L0 and 2,000 tons of L2 from tanker TERUKAWA MARU.
27 May 1943:
Receives 3,280 tons of L1 from auxiliary oiler SAN RAMON MARU.
29 May 1943:
Transfers 155 tons of L0 to destroyers NUMAKAZE and 158 tons of L0 to KAMIKAZE.
31 May 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay. Later that day at 1700, arrives at an area E of Kabutoyama.
1 June 1943:
Transfers 159 tons of L0 and 86 tons of L1 to destroyer HIBIKI.
2 June 1943:
Transfers 95 tons of L1 to submarines I-156, 204 tons of L2 to I-7, 70 tons of L1 to I-157, 70 tons of L2 to I-21 and 75 tons of L1 to I-155.
4 June 1943:
Receives 961 tons of L1 from auxiliary oiler SAN RAMON MARU.
10 June 1943:
Transfers 204 tons of L2 to submarine I-2 and 360 tons of L0 to an unspecified ship.
11 June 1943:
Transfers 176 tons of L2 to submarine I-175.
13 June 1943:
Transfers 180 tons of L2 to submarine I-34 and 10 tons of L2 to HINODE MARU.
14 June 1943:
Transfers 278 tons of L0 to destroyer AKIGUMO. Transfers 150 tons of L2 to submarine I-169. Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 485 tons of L0. Refuels destroyer KAZAGUMO with 263 tons of L0 and destroyer YUGUMO with 229 tons of L0.
Transfers 1,200 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil to SHINYO MARU; 600 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil to KOSHIN MARU; 500 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil to NANSHIN MARU; 1,100 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil to UNYO MARU.
15 June 1943:
Refuels destroyer HIBIKI with 169 tons of L0. Transfers 24 tons of L1 to submarine RO-104.
16 June 1943:
Transfers 124 tons of L2 to submarine I-171. Refuels cruiser MAYA with 256 tons of L0.
17 June 1943:
Departs Kabutoyama area and arrives at Kataoka Bay at 1000 that same day. Transfers 250 tons of LO to the local fuel depot.
19 June 1943:
Transfers 797 tons L0 and 700 tons L1 to TAIKO MARU (2958 gt).
20 June 1943:
Transfers 250 tons of L2 to submarine I-157.
21 June 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay for Kabutoyama Bight. Arrives at 1920. Refuels destroyer KAZAGUMO with 148 tons of L0 and destroyer AKIGUMO with 118 tons of L0.
22 June 1943:
Refuels destroyer SAMIDARE with 100 tons of L0 and 95 tons of L1 and 20,600 liters of No. 2 external lubrication oil. Embarks 166 tons of L0.
23 June 1943:
Refuels destroyer AKIGUMO with 51 tons of L1.
24 June 1943:
Transfers 180 tons of L2 to submarine I-2.
27 June 1943:
Transfers 208 tons of L2 to submarine I-36 and 169 tons of L2 to submarine I-169.
28 June 1943:
Transfers 200 tons of L2 to submarine I-34.
30 June 1943:
Departs Kabutoyama Bight for Kataoka Bay, arriving at 1300. Later, departs Kataoka Bay for Kabutoyama, arriving at 2150.
1 July 1943:
Attempts to refuel from TERUKAWA MARU, but the operation is foiled by bad weather.
4 July 1943:
Receives 1,000 tons of L2 and 3,215 tons of L3 from TERUKAWA MARU.
5 July 1943:
Refuels destroyer KAZAGUMO with 192 tons of L1, destroyer WAKABA with 92 tons of L1 and destroyer NAGANAMI with 36 tons of L1.
7 July 1943:
Refuels destroyer SAMIDARE with 94 tons of L1.
11 July 1943:
Departs Kabutoyama, arrives at Kataoka Bay at 0735. Transfers 170 tons of L1 to Kataoka fuel depot. Departs for Kabutoyama.
15 July 1943:
Refuels destroyers NAMIKAZE with 45 tons of L1 and 155 tons of L3, and YAKAZE with 50 tons of L1 and 150 tons of L3.
17 July 1943:
Refuels seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU with 775 tons of L1.
18 July 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay. Later that day at 1805, arrives at Shimushiro Zaki, North Kuriles.
19 July 1943:
Refuels destroyers USUGUMO with 370 tons of L1, HATSUSHIMO with 240 tons of L1 and 50 tons of L3, NAGANAMI with 275 tons of L1 and HIBIKI with 385 tons of L1 and 50 tons of L3. Refuels light cruiser KISO with 513 tons of L1, destroyers WAKABA with 225 tons of L1 and 50 tons of L3 and ASAGUMO with 200 tons of L3 and 290 tons of L1.
20 July 1943:
Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 682 tons of L1 and 150 tons of L3. From 22 July on, TEIYO MARU is authorized to carry the warship flag.
21 July 1943:
Refuels tanker NIPPON MARU with 3,873 tons of L1 and 1,600 tons of L2 and destroyer NAMIKAZE with 137 tons of L1. At 1600 departs Shimushiro Zaki escorted by NAMIKAZE.
27 July 1943:
At 1515 arrives at Yokosuka.
30 July 1943:
Loads 10,012 tons of L0 for replenishing diverse warships and 300 tons of L0 and 1,000 tons of L1 for itself.
1 August 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka.
4 August 1943:
At 1800 arrives at Ominato.
5 August 1943:
TEIYO MARU’s engine clutch breaks down. According to Fifth Fleet order No. 77 she is to proceed to Ominato to debark all fuel and proceed to Yokohama for docking and engine repairs.
7 August 1943:
Debarks 10,012 tons of L0 for replenishing warships and 110 tons of L0 and 500 tons of L1 of her own oil.
13 August 1943:
Debarks 4,800 liters of No. 1 internal lubricating oil and 10,000 liters of No. 2 external lubricating oil.
21 August 1943:
Departs Ominato on a trial run, then returns to Ominato.
23 August 1943:
At 0720 departs Ominato. At 1255 arrives at Hakodate.
24 August 1943:
At 0840 departs Hakodate. At 1410 arrives at Aomori.
25 August 1943:
At 0950 departs Aomori. At 1645 arrives at Ominato.
27 August 1943:
At 0500 departs Ominato escorted by destroyer HATSUSHIMO.
29 August 1943:
At 2400 arrives at Tateyama
30 August 1943:
At 0500 departs Tateyama and at 0750 arrives at Yokosuka.
31 August 1943:
Debarks 194 tons of L2 and 600 tons of L1, 100 tons of L3 at Yokosuka.
3 September 1943:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka. At 1140 arrives at Yokohama. Start of repairs.
4 October 1943:
At 1900 drydocked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
11 October 1943:
At 1220 undocked.
12 November 1943:
At 1240 moored at Takashima Pier.
26 November 1943:
At 1040 moored at Shio No.83 Wharf.
10 December 1943:
Completion of repairs.
12 December 1943:
Loads 1,000 tons of L1. At 1210 departs Yokohama for Yokosuka, arrives that same day at 1355.
15 December 1943:
At 1405 departs Yokosuka.
16 December 1943:
At 0950 arrives at Yokkaichi. Loads 4,623 tons of L0 and 4,958 tons of L3.
18 December 1943:
At 1010 departs Yokkaichi.
23 December 1943:
At 1220 arives at Ominato. Unloads 2,000 tons of L0
24 December 1943:
At 0910 departs Ominato and at 1430 arrives at Aomori.
25 December 1943:
At 0800 departs Aomori and later that day at 0900, arrives at Nonai. Unloads 2,500 tons of L3.
26 December 1943:
At 1425 departs Nonai and later that day arrives at Ominato at 1720.
27 December 1943:
Refuels light cruiser TAMA with approximately 700 tons of L3
28 December 1943:
At 2345 departs Ominato for Paramushiro, Kuriles escorted by destroyer SHIRAKUMO.
1 January 1944:
At 1740 arives at Kataoka Bay, Paramushiro.
2 January 1944:
Refuels destroyer SHIRAKUMO with 170 tons of L3 and light cruiser ABUKUMA with 535 tons of L3.
7 January 1944:
Unloaded 36 tons L0 and 500 tons L1 ashore. At 1020 departs Kataoka for Yokosuka escorted by destroyer SHIRAKUMO.
9 January 1944:
Sea of Okhotsk. At 0730, TEIYO MARU becomes trapped in an icefield at 45-23N, 143-30E, until she is rescued by naval icebreaker ODOMARI the following day. At 2100 loses power.
10 January 1944:
At 1000, TEIYO MARU is able to navigate, but with difficulty. By 1430, she makes it to 45-30N, 142-37E.
12 January 1944:
At 0240 arrives at Muroran still escorted by SHIRAKUMO.
18 January 1944:
Refuels light cruiser TAMA with 390 tons of L0 and 250 tons of L3 and light cruiser ABUKUMA with 543 tons of L0 and 242 tons of L3. Refuels the mother ship with 100 tons of L0.
19 January 1944:
At 0800 departs Muroran, Hokkaido. At 1705 arrives at Ominato.
20 January 1944:
Transfers 1,240 tons of L0 and 600 tons of L1 to a shore depot.
22 January 1944:
At 0600 departs Ominato initially escorted by the minelayer SHIRAKAMI to off Shiokubi Misaki.
24 January 1944:
At 0045 arrives at Tateyama and departs at 0600. At 0815 arrives at Yokosuka.
25 January 1944:
At 1310 departs Yokosuka and shortly after at 1415, arrives at Yokohama.
26 January 1944:
Begins repairs at Yokohama. One 25-mm machine gun is fitted.
1 February 1944:
Departs Yokohama. Arrives at Yokosuka.
4 February 1944:
Receives Fifth Fleet's order No. 5 to load fuel and proceed to Ominato.
10 February 1944:
Completes repairs.
12 February 1944:
At 0935 departs Yokohama and at 1135 arrives at Yokosuka.
14 February 1944:
At 1015 departs Yokosuka. Arrives to Aki Nada Sea, S of Kamagari Island, then proceeds to Tokuyama.
16 February 1944:
At 1020 arrives at Tokuyama.
17 February 1944:
Loads 1,588 tons of L0 and 3,010 tons of L1 for replenishing warships. At 1430 departs Tokuyama and later that day at 2120 arrives at Kure.
18 February 1944:
Loads 2,160 tons of L0 and 3,840 tons of L1.
19 February 1944:
At 1530 departs Kure and anchors west of Himejima at 2400.
20 February 1944:
At 1310 departs from west of Himejima and then the main engine breaks down. The engine is repaired and the ship anchors off Hesaki.
21 February 1944:
At 0715 departs Hesaki area.
23 February 1944:
At 2050 arrives at Aomori.
24 February 1944:
At 0400 departs Aomori. At 0730 arrives at Ominato.
29 February 1944:
At 0645 departs Ominato. Arrives at Mutsu Bay for towing refueling training. Refuels cruiser NACHI with 9 tons of L0 and light cruiser ABUKUMA with 60 tons of L0. At 1800 returns to Ominato.
2 March 1944:
At 0645 departs Ominato to Mutsu Bay, arriving at 1150 for an anti-submarine exercise. At 1800 returns to Ominato.
4 March 1944:
At 1200 departs Ominato to Mutsu Bay for towing replenishment training and a speed test. Refuels cruiser NACHI with 16 tons of L0 and light cruiser TAMA with 10 tons of L0.
5 March 1944:
At 0220 arrives at Ominato.
10 March 1944:
Refuels cruiser NACHI with 460 tons of L0 and light cruisers ABUKUMA with 227 tons of L0 and TAMA with 391 tons of L0.
11 March 1944:
Refuels light cruiser KISO with 371 tons of L0 and destroyer KASUMI with 300 tons of L0.
12 March 1944:
Refuels destroyer SHIRAKUMO with 287 tons of L0.
14 March 1944:
At 0710 departs Ominato to Mutsu Bay for towing refueling training. At 1440 arrives at Ominato.
15 March 1944:
TEIYO MARU's crew receives Fifth Fleet order No. 118 to apply a camouflage paint scheme to the ship per Combined Fleet special order No. 10.
16 March 1944:
Unloads 1,726 tons of L0 and 7,700 tons of L1.
17 March 1944:
Departs Ominato for Mutsu Bay for towing refueling training. Returns to Ominato.
18 March 1944:
Departs Ominato for Mutsu Bay for towing refueling training.
19 March 1944:
Returns to Ominato.
20 March 1944:
TEIYO MARU's crew receives Fifth Fleet order No. 14 to proceed to Tokuyama and Kure to load heavy oil for replenishing warships. At 1300 departs Ominato and later at 1546, arrives at Mutsu Bay.
21 March 1944:
At 0525 departs Mutsu Bay escorted by the kaibokan HACHIJO.
23 March 1944:
At 1935 arrives at Tokuyama.
24 March 1944:
Comes alongside Tokuyama's east breakwater. Loads 1,000 tons of L0, 7,350 tons of L3 and 1,000 tons of L1.
25 March 1944:
At 1045 departs Tokuyama. Later that day at 2000, arrives at Kure.
26 March 1944:
Loads 2000 tons L0 and 1000 tons L2.
27 March 1944:
At 1000 departs Kure escorted by kaibokan HACHIJO.
30 March 1944:
At 2000 arrives at Ominato, northern Honshu.
31 March 1944:
At 0905 departs Ominato and later that day at 1210, arrives at Aomori.
1 April 1944:
Arrives at Nonai.
2 April 1944:
Unloads 2,050 tons of L3 and 1,000 tons of L2. At 0800 departs Nonai and later that day at 1150, arrives at Ominato.
3 April 1944:
Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 700 tons of L3 and 2,000 liters of No. 2 external lubrication oil.
4 April 1944:
Refuels destroyer WAKABA with 336 tons of L3.
5 April 1944:
Refuels destroyer HATSUHARU with 340 tons of L3.
6 April 1944:
Departs Ominato for magnetic compass adjustment corrections and deviation and speed test. Returns to Ominato. Refuels destroyer SHIRANUI with 278 tons of L0 and 276 tons of L3.
7 April 1944:
Departs Ominato for range practice. Returns to Ominato.
8 April 1944:
Refuels destroyer AKEBONO with 214 tons of L3 and destroyer USHIO with 190 tons of L3 and 1,600 liters of No. 2 external lubrication oil. Receives Fifth Fleet's order No. 31 to return to Ominato and then to Kure.
9 April 1944:
Ominato. Unloads 3,446 tons of L3, 2,722 tons of L0 and 800 tons of L1.
10 April 1944:
At 0455 departs Ominato escorted by destroyer HATSUHARU.
12 April 1944:
At 1845 arrives at Tokuyama.
13 April 1944:
Comes alongside Tokuyama's east embankment. Loads 550 tons of L3.
14 April 1944:
At 0820 departs Tokuyama. Later that day at 1620, arrives at Kure.
15 April 1944:
Embarks 1,500 tons of L0, 5,000 tons of L1 and 200 tons of L3. Develops main condenser damage that same day.
20 April 1944:
Captain Sakuma Takao (former CO of ASAKA MARU) is appointed Supervisor.
22 April 1944:
At 1030 departs Kure with the 18th Subchaser Division. At 1910 arrives to the area W of Himejima Island for joint training.
23 April 1944:
At 0800 departs Himejima area escorted by destroyer HATSUHARU.
26 April 1944:
At 0230 arrives at Mutsu Bay, north of Oshima Island. Undergoes battle training in Kawauchi Bay from 0520, and departs at 1045. Later that day at 2234, arrives at Ominato with destroyer HATSUHARU.
27 April 1944:
Capt Sakuma assumes command from Capt Takagi.
28 April 1944:
Departs Ominato. Later that day, arrives at Kawauchi Bay.
29 April 1944:
Refuels destroyer USHIO with 265 tons of L3.
29 April 1944:
Departs Ominato. Later that day, arrives at Kawauchi Bay, northern Honshu.
30 April 1944:
At 0900 departs Ominato for magnetic compass adjustment corrections and deviation. Refuels cruiser ASHIGARA with 340 tons of L0. Later at 1650, arrives at Kawauchi Bay.
April 1944:
An unkown Navy Commander is apppointed Supervisor.
1 May 1944:
Undergoes towing replenishment training with light cruiser ABUKUMA. Refuels ABUKUMA with 225 tons of L3.
2 May 1944:
Departs Kawauchi Bay. Refuels cruiser NACHI and light cruiser TAMA. Undergoes towing replenishment training with cruiser ASHIGARA.
3 May 1944:
Arrives at Kawauchi Bay.
4 May 1944:
Refuels light cruiser KISO with 280 tons of L3. Undergoes towing replenishment training with destroyers AKEBONO and USHIO. Refuels USHIO with 16 tons of L0 and AKEBONO with 31 tons of L0.
5 May 1944:
At Kawauchi Bay.
8 May 1944:
Refuels cruiser NACHI with 130 tons of L3 and light cruiser ABUKUMA with 170 tons of L3.
9 May 1944:
Refuels cruiser ASHIGARA with 219 tons of L3 and light cruiser KISO with 97 tons of L3.
10 May 1944:
Receives Fifth Fleet's order No. 54 to return to Otaru and discharge the heavy oil.
12 May 1944:
At 1300 departs Kawauchi Bay escorted by destroyer NAMIKAZE.
13 May 1944:
At 0725 arrives at Otaru. Refuels destroyer NOKAZE with 140 tons of L3.
15 May 1944:
Unloads 4,000 tons of L1.
16 May 1944:
At 0800 departs Otaru escorted by destroyer NAMIKAZE.
17 May 1944:
At 0200 arrives at Ominato.
18 May 1944:
At 1210 TEIYO MARU departs Ominato and later that day at 1605, arrives at Nonai and takes on 1,950 tons of L3 and 590 tons of L1.
19 May 1944:
Takes on 3,400-tons of L3 and departs Nonai at 1525. Later that day at 1745, arrives at Kawauchi Bay.
21 May 1944:
At 1835 departs Kawauchi Bay. Later that day at 2035, arrives at Moura Bay.
26 May 1944:
At 0900 departs Moura Bay and later that day at 1300, arrives at Ominato.
28 May 1944:
At 0800 departs Ominato. At 1000 arrives at Kawauchi Bay. Refuels light cruisers TAMA with 198 tons of L3 and KISO with 108 tons of L3.
29 May 1944:
Refuels cruisers ASHIGARA with 194 tons of L3 and NACHI with 165 tons of L3. Refuels light cruiser ABUKUMA with 30 tons of L1.
31 May 1944:
Loads 1,595 tons of L3 from KANATSU (KANAZU) MARU.
5 June 1944:
At 1845 undergoes towing replenishment training with cruiser ASHIGARA in Kawauchi Bay.
15 June 1944:
At 1450 departs Kawauchi Bay. Later that day at 1510, arrives at Ominato.
19 June 1944:
At 0925 departs Ominato escorted by destroyers AKEBONO and USHIO.
21 June 1944:
At 2025 arrives at Yokosuka.
28 June 1944:
At 0830 departs Yokosuka escorted by destroyers AKEBONO, USHIO and USUGUMO.
30 June 1944:
At 2130 arrives at Ominato.
1 July 1944:
Undergoes conversion at Ominato to carry a gun armament.
22 July 1944:
At 0800 departs Ominato. Arrives at Kawauchi Bay.
26 July 1944:
Departs Kawauchi Bay. At 1315 arrives at Ominato.
30 July 1944:
Attached to HQ, Combined Fleet.
31 July 1944:
At 0000 departs Ominato.
2 August 1944:
At 1945 arrives at Yokosuka.
6 August 1944:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka for Moji.
10 August 1944:
TEIYO MARU departs Imari Bay (near Moji) for Singapore in convoy HI-71 comprised of oilers AZUSA, EIYO, ZUIHO, AMATSU, KYOKUTO and NIYO MARUs and HAKKO MARU No. 2, fleet oiler HAYASUI, food-supply ship IRAKO, transports TEIA MARU (ex-French Liner ARAMIS), AWA, NOTO and HOKKAI MARUs, IJA landing craft deport ships TAMATSU and MAYASAN MARUs, armed merchant cruiser NOSHIRO MARU and cargo ships KASHII, NISSHO and ORYOKU MARUs. Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka Sadamichi (39) (former CO of KISO) of the 6th Escort Convoy is the convoy commander. The convoy's escorts are escort carrier TAIYO, destroyers FUJINAMI and YUNAGI, kaibokan HIRATO, KURAHASHI, MIKURA, SHONAN and CD-11. TAIYO's 631st Naval Air Group provides air cover with 12 Nakajima B5N Kates.
TEIYO MARU is tasked to carry 2,500 empty drums to Singapore in HI-71 and transport 12,000 tons of heavy oil back to Japan.

15 August 1944:
At 1730 HI-71 arrives at Mako, Pescadores. NIYO, HAKKO and ORYOKU MARUs and IRAKO are detached.
17 August 1944: Operation "SHO-1-GO" (Victory) - The Defense of the Philippines:
At 1000 in near-Typhoon weather conditions, convoy HI-71 sorties from Mako for Manila, part of the SHO Operation, transporting troops and supplies for the defense of the Philippines. Kajioka's escort forces are augmented by old destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokan SADO, ETOROFU, MATSUWA and HIBURI that are sent from Takao, Formosa on orders of the 1st Surface Escort Division.
18 August 1944:
Alerted by "Ultra", LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's (USNA ’30) USS REDFISH (SS-395) intercepts and at 0524 torpedoes and damages EIYO MARU. Destroyers ASAKAZE and YUNAGI are detached to escort her back to Takao.
At 1850, HI-71’s convoy commander Rear Admiral Kajioka tries a dash to Manila protected by the typhoon and his escorts. He orders speed increased from 12 to 15 knots and cancels the zigzag method of navigation.
Off Cape Bolinao, Luzon. At 2222, TAIYO, at the rear of the convoy, is hit by torpedoes fired by LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's (USNA ’32) USS RASHER (SS-269) and sinks. Because of the fire and speed of sinking, most of her crew are lost. If common practice obtained, including passengers about 1,200 were probably aboard. Of these reportedly 747 perish; but by some miracle, her CO, Captain Sugino Shuichi (46) is among the just over 400 surviving crew and passengers. At 2312, USS RASHER also torpedoes and hits TEIA MARU. The ex-French liner is set afire and explodes at 2340 at 10-09N, 119-56E. 2,665 passengers and crew are lost [3]
19 August 1944:
The convoy splits into at least two distinct groups. Just past midnight, Munson's USS RASHER closes on an eastbound group of three large ships with one escort. At 0030 and 0033, Munson torpedoes and hits armed merchant cruiser NOSHIRO MARU and transport AWA MARU. NOSHIRO MARU is beached near Port Curimao. AWA MARU is able to continue on to Manila.
80 miles NW of Cape Bolinao. At 0325, LtCdr (later Cdr) Charles M. Henderson's (USNA ’24) USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) hits fleet oiler HAYASUI with two or three of four torpedoes in a night surface radar attack. HAYASUI goes dead in the water. TEIYO MARU, following astern of HAYASUI, breaks away.
NW of Cape Bolinao, Luzon. At 0433, LtCdr (later Captain) Gordon W. Underwood's (USNA ’32) USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) sinks Landing Craft Tender TAMATSU MARU taking down 4,755 troops and 135 crewmen. [4]
50 miles W of Vigan, Philippines. At 0510, Munson's USS RASHER (SS-269) hits TEIYO MARU with two torpedoes and she bursts into flames. At 0603, TEIYO MARU, awash to midships and abandoned, sinks at 17-30 N, 119-30E taking down 41 crewmen and 58 passengers. [5]
10 October 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Author's Notes:
[1] Fuel oil was of four grades:
L0: Heavy oil for boilers.
L1: No. 1 heavy oil for diesel. 90% light oil ingredient.
L2: No. 2 heavy oil for diesel. 50% light oil ingredient.
L3: No. 3 heavy oil for boilers. Less than 10% light oil ingredient.

[2] Lubricating oil was of two grades:
No. 1 for internal lubrication of machinery (cylinders, etc.).
No. 2 for external lubrication of machinery.

Conversion: 1000 liters = 264.172 US gallons.

[3] Sources vary as to the number of passengers and crew aboard TEIA MARU. One Japanese source gives 5,478 passengers while another lists 4,795 Army (many air force) and 427 civilians. Of these, 2,316 troops, 275 passengers, 6 armed guards, 4 shipboard gunners, 10 special lookouts, and 54 crewmen, for a total of 2,665 were KIA. USN radio intercepts put passenger strength at 5,300.
[4] TAMATSU MARU was carrying the IJA’s 2nd Battalion and regimental headquarters of the 13th Independent Infantry Regiment (26th Division) and division and regiment communications troops. She also carried four of the twelve 100-mm guns of the 22nd Field Heavy Artillery Regiment and one of the four 300-mm howitzers of the 4th Independent Heavy Artillery Battalion. The 19th Independent Rapid Fire Artillery Battalion was aboard with about 480 men and twelve 47-mm antitank guns. Included were various headquarters and airfield units. One 179-man airfield management section was bound for the Philippines. The IJA’s 6th Aviation Signal Regiment was heading for Cebu.
The sinking of TAMATSU MARU was the worst merchant disaster of the Pacific War and the fourth worst loss of life on any Japanese vessel during the war.

[5] According to some sources TEIYO MARU was sunk by LtCdr Henderson's USS BLUEFISH.
Special thanks go to Yutaka Iwasaki of Japan for his generous help in decoding IJN fuel grades in JACAR. Thanks also go to John Whitman of the USA and Fontessa-san of Japan for JACAR data on the troops carried by TAMATSU and TEIYO MARUs and general thanks to Gilbert Casse of France.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

Back to the Oilers Page