KYURYOSEN!
(TENYO MARU, prewar – Peter Cundall Collection)
IJN TENYO MARU No. 2 GO:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2020-2023 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
22 May 1934:
Hikoshima. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. shipyard as a 657-tons deep-sea trawler for K.K. Hayashikane Shoten.
2 October 1935:
Launched and named TENYO MARU. [1]
12 April 1935:
K.K. Hayashikane Shoten receives a steamer trawl fishing permit (No. 132) available for 10 years. Operation area include: South China Seas, S of 20N Latitude.
Harvesting ports are: Tokyo, Osaka, Shimonoseki and Nagasaki.
25 April 1935:
Completed and registered at Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
19 August 1937:
Requisitioned and registered as an auxiliary stores ship attached to the Kure Naval District under instruction No. 492. That same day, Navy LtCdr Okazumi Seiji (51) is appointed CO.
20 August 1937:
Attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 504.
7 September 1937:
LtCdr Okazumi is relieved by Navy (Resv) Takanashi Kiyosaku as Supervisor.
12 September 1937:
Off Shidongkou, China. At 1215, alongside portside of seaplane carrier KAMOI.
1245 ~ 1334: provisions her with fresh foods.
At 1337, departs from KAMOI.
E 12 ~ 18 September 1937:
Departs Off Shidongkou for Sasebo.
18 September 1937:
At Sasebo Kono, tethers to buoy No. 8.
0730 ~ 1000: alongside a water tanker and replenishes her with water.
1030 ~ 1125: alongside a heavy oil tanker, supplied with heavy oil.
1845 ~ 2300: alongside a heavy oil tanker, supplied with heavy oil.
19 September 1937:
1000 ~ 1110: comes alongside a munitions freighter and rejects a consignment clothing. Departs Sasebo later that day.
20 September 1937:
Arrives at Takezaki quay, Shimonoseki.
1525 ~ 1615: replenished with fresh food.
At 1620, leaves the quay and anchors at 1628.
21 September 1937:
1140 ~ 1700: replenished with fresh food.
22 September 1937:
1015 ~ 1600: replenished with fresh food.
At 1020, weighs anchor and at 1050, arrives alongside Takezaki quay. Departs Sasebo later that day.
26 September 1937:
Tethers to buoy D12, Mako, Pescadores.
27 September 1937:
0855 ~ 0930: unloads fresh food for Mako Guard District, Mako Naval Base Defense Unit.
1446 ~ 1457: supplied with consignment goods (liquor and beer).
Departs Mako later that day.
29 September 1937:
Arrives at 2.5 nautical miles W Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks, now Dokdo, South Korea), Sea of Japan.
0807 ~ 0840: provisions auxiliary seaplane carrier KAGU MARU with fresh food.
0927 ~ 1000: at N Takeshima (Liancourt Rocks), provisions second class destroyer KURETAKE.
1112 ~ 1308: provisions heavy cruiser MYOKO with fresh food.
Departs Takeshima and arrives at N Lao Man Shan Island (Dawanshan), China.
1755 ~ 1825: provisions light cruiser ISUZU.
30 September 1937:
Departs Lao Man Shan Island and arrives at one nautical mile and 600 meters downstream of Dai San To.
1045 ~1115: provisions destroyer OITE with fresh food.
Departs Dai San To later that day.
1 October 1937:
Arrives at 70° and 6.4 nautical miles off Taise Rock, China.
0655 ~ 0710: provisions second class destroyer KARUKAYA with fresh food.
Departs Taise Rock and arrives at Swatow (now Shantou) harbor entrance, China.
2102 ~ 2300: provisions second class destroyer SANAE with fresh food.
Departs Swatow later that day.
2 October 1937:
Arrives at Amoi, (now Xiamen) China.
1436 ~1440: provisions destroyer MATSUKAZE with fresh food.
Departs Amoi later that day.
3 October 1937:
Arrives at 2900m W Matsu Island, China (Now Taiwan).
1540 ~ 1710: provisions light cruiser TATSUTA with food.
Departs Matsu Island and arrives at Taiseiyo Santo, China.
2005 ~ 2035: provisions destroyer HARUKAZE.
Departs Taiseiyo Santo later that day.
4 October 1937:
Arrives at Nankan Island, Matsu Islands.
0740 ~ 0822: provisions destroyer AKATSUKI.
Departs Nankan Island and arrives at Hutou Island, China.
1630 ~ 1708: provisions destroyer SAGIRI.
Departs Hutou Island later that day.
5 October 1937:
Arrives at Shochi Bay, Mako, Pescadores.
6 October 1937:
Departs Shochi Bay and tethers to D11 buoy, Mako.
0955 ~ 1005: provisions destroyers FUMIZUKI and MINAZUKI with fresh food.
1325 ~ 1730: alongside a water ship.
7 October 1937:
0854 ~ 0935: provisions destroyers FUMIZUKI and MINAZUKI with fresh food.
1155 ~ 1247: loads fresh food.
1723 ~ 1925: loads fresh food.
8 October 1937:
Departs Mako.
9 October 1937:
Arrives at Pratas Island (Dongsha Island), South China Sea, China (now Taiwan). At 1050, unloads fresh food.
1300 ~ 1312: unloads fresh food.
Departs Pratas Island later that day. [2]
10 October 1937:
Arrives at 220° and 14 nautical miles of Lao Man Shan.
1025 ~ 1205: provisions light cruiser TAMA with fresh food.
1512 ~ 1645: alongside heavy cruiser MYOKO, provisions her.
1800 ~ 1815: provisions destroyers NAGATSUKI and SATSUKI.
1835 ~ 1932: alongside auxiliary seaplane carrier KAGU MARU, provisions her with fresh food.
Departs Lao Man Shan and arrives N of Niujiaoshan Island, China.
2055 ~ 2117: provisions second class destroyer ASAGAO.
Departs there and arrives at W Niujiaoshan Island later that same day.
11 October 1937:
Departs W Niujiaoshan and arrives at Ching Chou Island (eastern approach to Hong Kong), China.
1055 ~ 1118: provisions MINATO MARU No. 2 and destroyers OITE and HAYATE.
Departs Ching Chou and arrives at Atama Wan, 286° and 5500m of Sitosa Island, China later that same day.
12 October 1937:
Departs Atama Wan and arrives at Shenzhen Port, China.
1828 ~1850: provisions second class destroyer FUYO.
Departs Shenzhen Port later that same day.
13 October 1937:
Arrives at Swatow, China.
0920 ~ 1100: at W Nanao Island, China alongside second class destroyer WAKATAKE. Provisions her with water and fresh food.
1114 ~ 1325: alongside second class destroyer SANAE. Provisions her with water and fresh food.
Departs Swatow later that day.
14 October 1937:
Arrives at Amoy and departs there later that day.
15 October 1937:
Arrives at Fuchow, China.
16 October 1937:
0830 ~ 1055: provisions destroyers HATSUYUKI and SHIRAYUKI.
Departs Fuchow later that day.
17 October 1937:
Arrives at Wenchow, China.
1330 ~1545: provisions destroyers AKATSUKI and SAGIRI.
1630 ~ 1835: alongside auxiliary minesweeper TAMAZONO MARU No. 2 and supplies her with boiler water.
Departs Wenchow later that day.
18 October 1937:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan), tethers to quay No. 14.
1335 ~ 1800: unloads food.
19 October 1937:
0745 ~ 1015: unloads food.
Departs Kirun later that day.
20 October 1937:
Arrives at Mako.
At 1100, alongside a water boat.
1440 ~ 1750: Unloads food.
Departs there later that day.
25 October 1937:
Released to her owners.
26 October 1937:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 748.
14 March 1939:
Arrives at Nankin, China.
26 October 1940 ~ 28 March 1941:
Chartered to Taiyo Hogei K.K.
2 September 1941:
Requisitioned again by the IJN.
5 September 1941:
Attached as an auxiliary stores ship to the Kure Naval District under instruction No. 1025.
20 September 1941:
Renamed TENYO MARU No. 2 GO under confidential instruction No. 8630. Conversion for military duty starts at Urabe Zosen Kaishi.
13 October 1941:
Conversion is completed.
E14 October ~ 9 December 1941:
Assigned directly to the Combined Fleet as an auxiliary stores ship (Otsu) category. Scheduled for food transport towards Kwajalein, Marshalls under instruction No. 823. [3]
10 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for Kwajalein.
E January 1942:
Attached to the Combined Fleet’s chief commander vanguard supply units. Calls at Kwajalein, Kusai (Eastern Carolines) and Jaluit (Marshalls).
9 February 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.
19 February 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 February 1942:
Navy (Resv.) LtCdr Arai Masafumi is appointed Supervisor.
March 1942:
Scheduled for a supply mission towards South Seas Islands.
7 March 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for South Seas Islands alone.
16 March 1942:
At Truk, Central Carolines.
1615 ~ 1715: provisions minelayer OKINOSHIMA with fresh food.
E 18 March 1942:
Departs Truk.
28 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
31 March ~ 10 May 1942:
Assigned to transport cooperation with Yokosuka Naval district under Vice Admiral Komatsu Teruhisa’s (37) 6th Fleet instruction No. 17.
1 ~ 5 April 1942:
Food transport in cooperation with Yokosuka Naval District under confidential instruction No. 131.
6 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for South Seas Islands alone.
E14 April 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
18 April 1942:
Supplies food to CruDiv 6 AOBA, KAKO, KINUGASA and FURUTAKA.
E May 1942:
Departs Truk.
3 May 1942:
At 27-15N, 138-38E discovers an enemy surfaced submarine, but escapes damage.
6 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
7 ~ 18 May 1942:
Scheduled for a food supply mission under confidential instruction No. 695.
18 May 1942:
At 1430 departs Futtsu near Yokosuka escorted initially by auxiliary netlayer KOKAI MARU.
30 May 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.
29 June 1942:
At 0400 departs Kwajalein.
8 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 July 1942:
Passes through Bungo Suido area headed S.
30 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy with stores ship HOKKAI MARU for the South Seas.
8 August 1942:
Arrives at Woleai (Mereyon).
11 August 1942:
At 0530 departs Woleai (Mereyon).
13 August 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Truk.
30 August 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Yokosuka.
1 ~ 19 September 1942:
Loads fresh food.
20 September 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
7 October 1942:
Departs Truk.
17 October 1942:
At 1600 arrives at Yokosuka.
25 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
12 November 1942:
At 1000 departs Truk.
15 November 1942:
At 1855 arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
17 October 1942:
Departs Saipan.
24 November 1942:
At 1000, arrives at Shimonoseki.
November ~ December 1942:
Under maintenance and repairs.
5 January 1943:
Departs Shimonoseki.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
8 January 1943:
Minelayer NASAMI joins TENYO MARU No. 2 GO off Fukajima and escorts her S.
E 9 January 1943:
NASAMI is detached 90° off Toi Misaki.
9 January 1943:
Departs Kure.
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk in combined convoy 3211A and 3211B. 3211A consists of SHINYUBARI, KAIKO, HYUGA MARUs, TENYO MARU No. 2 GO and fleet supply ship KINEZAKI. Convoy 3211B consists of EBON and YOWA MARUs and EIKO MARU No. 2 GO. Both convoys are escorted by destroyer SAWAKAZE.
25 February 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
2 March 1943:
Departs Truk in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary transports KIMISHIMA and TATSUHARU MARUs, auxiliary stores ships HOKO MARU (1,504 GRT), auxiliary water tanker ASAYAMA MARU, auxiliary transport YAMAGIRI MARU and IJA transport MIKAGE MARU No. 20, escorted by destroyer YUNAGI, and subchasers CH-11 and CH-12. Soon after departure, CH-11 is detached.
3 March 1943:
YUNAGI is detached.
5 March 1943:
ASAYAMA MARU is detached. Departs Saipan.
11 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
22 March 1943:
At 1200, departs Yokosuka.
31 March 1943:
Ownership is changed to Nishi Taiyo K.K. At 1030, due to arrive at Truk.
23 April 1943:
At 0950, departs Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary transports AMAGISAN and KIKUKAWA MARUs with destroyer ONAMI and subchaser CH-10 as escort.
27 April 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Truk.
2 May 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 4502 also consisting of AMAGISAN and KIKUKAWA MARUs escorted by kaibokan OKI. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
10 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
14 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
28 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay, Shimushu Island, Kuriles (now Zaliv Kozyrevskogo, Ostrov Shumushu, Russia).
10 June 1943:
At 0500, auxiliary gunboat HINO MARU No. 2 comes alongside and loads 2 tons of fresh food.
12 June 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
16 June 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
24 June 1943:
Departs Ominato.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
13 July 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
17 July 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
26 July 1943:
Departs Ominato.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Kashiwabara Bay, Paramushiro, Kuriles (now Severo-Kurilsk Bay, Paramushir, Kuriles, Russia).
4 August 1943:
Alongside auxiliary gunboat UNYO MARU No. 1 and provisions her with fresh food.
6 August 1943:
Departs Kashiwabara Bay.
11 August 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
20 August 1943:
Departs Ominato.
25 August 1943:
At 0600, due to arrive at Kakumabetsu.
27 August 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Musashi Bay, ParamushiroWan.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
6 September 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
9 September 1943:
At 1700, arrives at Ominato.
16 September 1943:
Departs Ominato.
21 September 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
24 September 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay and arrives at Musashi Bay, Paramushiro later that day.
27 September 1943:
Departs Musashi Bay.
2 October 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
1 November 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral Totsuka Michitaro’s (38) Northeastern Area Fleet under instruction No. 25.
8 November 1943:
Departs Ominato and arrives at Hakodate later that day.
13 November 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
14 November 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
15 November 1943:
Departs Ominato.
20 November 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Bay.
22 November 1943:
Departs Musashi Bay.
23 November 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Kataoka Bay.
25 November 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay escorting IJA transport TAKASHIMA MARU.
28 November 1943:
Besides being responsible for fresh food transport, also made responsible for fish transport under Northeastern Area Fleet instruction No. 123.
26 ~ 30 November 1943:
Escorts IJA transport TAKASHIMA MARU.
1 December 1943.
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
2 December 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay for Kamchatka West Bank operation.
5 December 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
7 December 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay on anti-submarine patrol in Kataoka Bay until light cruiser ABUKUMA has passed. Returns back to Kataoka Bay afterwards.
9 December 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay for Kamchatka West Bank operation.
12 December 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
21 December 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay on anti-submarine sweeping mission.
22 December 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay and departs there later that day for Northern Murakumi Bay, Paramushiro operations.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
27 December 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay for Northern Murakumi Bay operations.
28 December 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
30 December 1943:
Departs Kataoka Bay for Northern Murakumi Bay operations.
31 December 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
2 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka on unspecified operation and returns there later that day.
4 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka on unspecified operation and returns there later that day.
6 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka for Kamchatka West Bank operation
9 January 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay. Departs there and arrives at Kashiwabara later in the day.
10 January 1944:
Departs Kashiwabara.
13 January 1944:
Assigned to Kuriles Defense Unit under Northeastern Area Fleet instruction No. 3 and Kuriles Defense Unit instructions No. 6 and No. 7.
14 January 1944:
Under Kuriles Defense Unit instructions No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9, at 0350, departs Kataoka on anti-submarine patrol allowing light cruisers TAMA and ABUKUMA safe passage at 0630.
At 0715, advised by Kuriles Defense Unit instructions No. 10, that Vice Admiral Kawase Shiro’s (38) 5th Fleet departure will be postponed at 1200.
Arrives at Kashiwabara later that day.
15 January 1944:
Departs Kashiwabara on anti-submarine patrol and arrives at Kataoka later that day.
16 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka on anti-submarine sweep and returns there later that day.
20 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka on unspecified operation.
21 January 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka.
23 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka for Kamchatka West Bank operation.
25 January 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka.
26 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka for Kamchatka West Bank operation.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
30 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
E 31 January ~ 10 February 1944:
Alongside auxiliary transport AKASHISHAN MARU. Loads 30t fresh food, 220m3 canteen goods and 11t fishing goods.
11 February 1944:
Departs Kataoka and arrives at Mushashi Bay later that day.
E 12 ~ 15 February 1944:
At Mushashi, unloads 30t fresh food, 220m3 canteen goods and 11t fishing goods. Loads 12cm AA shells.
16 February 1944:
Departs Musashi Bay and arrives at Kataoka later that day. Unloads 12cm AA shells. Scheduled to retreat after 1500 to Okhost Sea if not otherwise specified return on 17 February under Kuriles Defense Unit instruction No. 19. Departs Kataoka after 1500 for Okhotsk Sea.
17 February 1944:
Arrives back at Kataoka.
24 February 1944:
Depart Kataoka on anti-submarine patrol until IJA transport TAKASHIMA MARU has passed.
25 February 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Bay.
27 February 1944:
Scheduled to depart on patrol mission with IJA transport TAKASHIMA MARU at 1100 on 28 Feb ‘44 off Suribachi, Paramushiro, under Kuril Defense Unit instruction No. 23.
28 February 1944:
At 0500, departs Kataoka. At 1100, is off Suribachi. At 1200, patrols between Suribachi and Musashi in search of IJA transport TAKASHIMA MARU which has not arrived.
On his first war patrol, LtCdr (later Captain) Malcolm E. Garrison's (USNA '32) USS SAND LANCE (SS-381) sights a transport at anchor. At 1533, Garrison torpedoes and hits auxiliary transport KAIKO MARU (3,548 GRT) in holds No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 at 50-02E, 155-26E, E Musashi Bay. At 1545, mortally wounded, KAIKO MARU sinks taking down her captain and two crewmen.
At 1637, under No. 52 Naval Guard Command, conducts anti-submarine sweeps under under Kuriles Defense Unit instruction No. 73 and conducts at 1730 rescue works for KAIKO MARU under KAIKO MARU rescue instruction.
At 1850, after receiving a distress call from KAIKO MARU, disembarks survivors on land. Off Suribachi conducts anti-submarine sweeps and fires depth charges about 3.2 nautical miles off Kasumachi in Kataoka Bay direction.
At 1905, receives Kuriles Defense Unit instruction No 74 to proceed immediately to Kataoka after ending rescue mission.
29 February 1944:
At 0410, receives instruction from Kuriles Defense Unit commander to return to KAIKO MARU disaster scene and rescue a cutter.
At 0850, departs and heads there. At 1102, receives instruction to return to Kataoka from Kuriles Defense Unit commander.
1 March 1944:
Under Kuriles Defense Unit instruction No. 25, assigned to escort the Ro convoy consisting of IJA transport TAKASHIMA MARU and IJA landing craft depot ship MAYASAN MARU.
2 March 1944:
Departs Kataoka Bay.
3 March 1944:
At 0005, in stormy weather, runs aground near Namikawai off E Paramushiro Island at 50-17N, 155-55E.
4 March 1944:
At 1500, main engine room floods and hull cracks increase without prospect to repair them. At 2050, there is a risk the hull will break in two halves.
7 March 1944:
Auxiliary salvage ship KATSURAGAWA MARU receives Kuriles Defense Unit instruction No. 39 to remove important crew properties on 8 Mar ‘44.
14 March 1944:
No. 52 Naval Guard dispatches a large sculling boat and rescues 24 crewmen.
16 Mach 1944:
At 1405, rescue of all crew members is completed.
7 April 1944:
As of 1 Apr ‘44 removed from Kuriles Defense Unit under Kuriles Defense Unit instruction No. 78.
10 August 1944:
Removed from the Navy’ list under instruction No. 949.
20 August 1944:
Ordered to unload the 8cm/40cal cannon and use it to enhance Suribachi defense.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with auxiliary minelayer (6,843 GRT, ’34).
[2] Japanese Navy weather station and listening outpost.
[3] There were two categories of Kyuryosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan, generally and "Kiipu" for additional information in Revision 1.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
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