Japanese Army Auxiliary Transports

RIKUGUN YUSOSEN

(Similar size Japanese ship, prewar)

TOUN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2017 Bob Hackett

1942:
Laid down by Kawaminami Kogyo K. K., Koyagishima as a 1,915-ton cargo ship for Okada Shosen K. K., Tokyo.
26 February 1921:
Launched and named TOUN MARU.
March 1922:
Completed.
9 December 1942:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA). Allotted Army No. 943.
17 May 1942:
At 1040, TOUN MARU departsMinato, Tokyo Bay in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of NANMAN (ex-FUJI), SHORYU and TOYO MARUs escorted by destroyer SAWAKAZE.
18 December 1942:
TOUN MARU departs Saeki in Transportation Movement No. 8’s convoy “L” also consisting of tankers KUROSHIO and KYODO MARUs escorted by auxiliary minesweeper OI MARU.
E 19 December 1942:
At 29N, OI MARU is detached.
10 January 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
10 February-1943:
Destroyer KAWAKAZE collides with TOUN MARU. Heavily damaged, KAWAKAZE returns to Shortlands.
25 April 1943:
At 1440, TOUN MARU departs Rabaul for Palau in a convoy also consisting of cargo ships HOKO, MIYAURA, RISSHUN and ROKKOSAN MARUs and tanker SAN CLEMENTE MARU escorted by subchasers CH-16 and CH-18. Later, the escort is joined by CH-37 and CH-16 is detached.
26 April 1943:
Cargo RAKUTO MARU departs Kavieng and joins the convoy for Palau.
4 May 1943:
50 miles SE of Palau. At about 1725, LtCdr Harry B. Dodge’s (USNA ’30) USS SEAL (SS-183) attacks the slow convoy. In a submerged attack, SEAL fires three torpedoes and hits SAN CLEMENTE MARU in her No. 4, No. 6 and No. 8 oil tanks. One crewmen is KIA. She lists to port and at about 2000, sinks at 06-50N, 134-28E. HOKO MARU rescues the survivors. Later, the convoy arrives at Palau.
9 May 1943:
TOUN MARU departs Palau in convoy P-509 consisting of BUNZAN, CHIHAYA, EHIME, KIMISHIMA, MEITEN, SHUNSHO, TAIYU and TOKO, MARUs escorted by minelayer YURIJIMA.
E 16 May 1943:
Minesweeper W-18 joins the convoy at 26-56N, 133-26E.
18 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
23 May 1943:
TOUN MARU departs St Jacques, Vichy French Indochina in convoy No. 497 also consisting of cargo ship SAINEI MARU, tanker SAN PEDRO MARU and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by subchaser CH-9.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
9 July 1943:
At 0900, TOUN MARU departs Takao in convoy No.759 also consisting of TEIRYU (ex-German AUGSBURG) MARU and an unknown Naval special service vessel without escort.
12 July 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
18 August 1943:
TOUN MARU departs Palau for Ujina in convoy FU-806 also consisting of DAIFUKU (TAIFUKU), HOZUGAWA, KAYO, MEXICO and TOYOKAWA MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-17.
22 August 1943:
In the late afternoon, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's (USNA ’30) old USS PIKE (SS-173) torpedoes and damages TOUN MARU with a dud Mark 14-3 torpedo at 21-50N, 137-52E.
23 August 1943:
At 1805, McGregor attacks TOUN MARU again, but she avoids PIKE's torpedoes.
26 August 1943:
At 0530, LtCdr (later Cdr) Albert C. Burrows' (USNA ’28) USS WHALE (SS-239) attacks the convoy. Burrows torpedoes, but misses MEXICO MARU.
27 August 1943:
At 31-50N, 133-58E, minelayer YURIJIMA joins convoy FU-806 then escorted by minesweeper W-17, auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No. 7 and TAMA MARU No. 6 (the latter two from 30-30N, 134-05E).
At 0258, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Bafford E. Lewellen's (USNA ’31) old USS POLLACK (SS-180) makes a visual surface attack on convoy FU-806. Lewellen torpedoes DAIFUKU (TAIFUKU) MARU carrying passengers and ashes of 137 dead. W-17 opens fire on POLLACK, but Lewellen evades and escapes. In the morning, DAIFUKU MARU sinks at 32-28N, 132-23E. 14 passengers and 14 crewmen are KIA.
At 0730, USN code breakers intercept and decrypt a message from W-17 that reads: "Discovered surfaced enemy submarine, 1 kilometer from scene of the sinking of TAIFUKU MARU fired on same (1 hit in vicinity of conning tower) depth charged, etc. 192 men of the 205 on board the stricken ship were picked up by this vessel.”
28 August 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Ujina.
16 September 1943:
TOUN MARU departs Saeki via Palau for Rabaul in convoy O-608 also consisting of KASHU, MEXICO, MITAKESAN, OSAKA, RYUOSAN, TAMAHOKO and TOYOOKA MARUs escorted by torpedo boat SAGI, minelayer YURIJIMA, auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU and auxiliary patrol boat SHINKO MARU.
E 17 September 1943:
At 29N all escorts except SAGI are detached.
18 September 1943:
At 1200, TOUN MARU departs Palau for Rabaul in convoy SO-805 also consisting of KINKASAN, MAEBASH, NISSHU and TONEI MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-16 and CH-38.
27 September 1943:
At 1300, arrives at Palau.
30 September 1943:
373 miles ESE of Palau. At 0640, LtCdr George H. Wales' (USNA ’29) USS POGY (SS-266) torpedoes and sinks MAEBASHI MARU at 01-00N, 139-28E. She was carrying 2,367 IJA troops and other passengers, ammunition, 10 heavy vehicles, 40 oil drums, hemp rope, pontoons, etc. 1,389 troops and 13 gunners and 48 crewmen are KIA.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
18 December 1943:
TOUN MARU departs Manila in convoy H-10 also consisting of HEIWA, OAKITA and TSUSHIMA MARUs escorted by minelayer YAEYAMA.
19 December 1943:
Arrives in the Visayas Sea.
6 January 1944:
TOUN MARU departs Wasile, Halmahera for Manila and Cebu in a convoy also consisting of BENGAL, KENWA, MITSUKI, RYUSEI, TONEGAWA and TOUN MARUs and one unidentified merchant escorted by patrol boat P-103 and subchasers CH-36 and CH-45.
9 January 1944:
Part of the convoy arrives at Davao. The main part of the convoy proceeds escorted by CH-36 and arrives at Zamboanga.
10 January 1944:
Departs Zamboanga.
12 January 1944:
The convoy arrives at Cebu.
1 May 1944:
TOUN MARU departs Moji in convoy MI-03 also consisting of cargo ships DAIJUN, ETAJIMA, HIYORI, HIOKI, NIKKO, KANKYO, RYUKA, SHOHEI, SHINNO, TOUN and TAISEI MARUs, tankers CHIYODA, KOTOKU, SHUNTEN MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 and UNKAI MARU No. 5 and seven unidentified ships escorted by destroyers SHIOKAZE and KARUKAYA, kaibokan KURAHASHI, CD-1, CD-13 and CH 37, torpedo boat HATO, auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU and other unidentified warships.
7 May 1944:
At 1900, TOUN MARU departs Takao in convoy MI-03 also consisting of cargo ships RYUKA, HIYORI, DAITEN, HIOKI, DAIRIN, SHOHEI, NIKKO, ETAJIMA, DAIJUN, SHINNO, TOUN, KENWA and DAISEI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, tankers ATAGO, CHIYODA, KOTOKU, SHUNTEN and ZUIYO MARUs, EIYO MARU No. 2 and OGURA MARU No. 2 and UNKAI MARU No. 5 escorted by destroyers ASAGAO, KARUKAYA and SHIOKAZE and kaibokan CD-1 (part way), CD-13, torpedo boat HATO, auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU and other unidentified warships.
9 May 1944:
Kaibokan KURAHASHI joins the escort from Takao and CD-1 is detached.
10 May 1944:
Off the entrance to Manila Bay, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) James C. Dempsey’s (USNA ’31) USS COD (SS-224). In a series of attacks, destroyer KARUKAYA and transport SHOHEI MARU are sunk in 15-38N, 119-32E. SHOHEI MARU was carrying 850 passengers, depth charges, mines, guns and ammunition. Eight crewmen and 12 passengers are KIA.
11 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
15 May 1944:
TOUN MARU departs Manila for Halmahera Island, Molucas in convoy H-26 also consisting of AKAGISAN, DAIJUN, ETAJIMA, KENWA, SHIRAHAMA, TAIYU and TEMPEI MARUs escorted by minelayer YAEYAMA and subchasers CH-47 and CH-45 and minesweeper W-48. The convoy carries the 110th Airfield Battalion, 117th Airfield Battalion, 119th Airfield Battalion aboard Kenwa Maru, 120th Airfield Battalion, 122nd Airfield Battalion, 123rd Field Airfield Construction and 124th Field Airfield Construction Unit.
22 May 1944:
Off Davao. At about 0100, LtCdr Brooks J. Harral's USS RAY (SS-271) makes a radar-assisted night attack on the surface on the convoy. In a series of attacks, Harral torpedoes and sinks TEMPEI MARU at 05-16S, 127-42E. 11 passengers, five gunners and 19 crewmen are KIA.
23 May 1944:
At about 0500, USS RAY makes a radar-assisted surface attack and torpedoes DAIJUN MARU. carrying 16 passengers, 4,022m3 of war supplies and two Daihatsu barges. She sinks at 02-42N, 128-08E. Three crewmen and two gunners are KIA and the two Daihatsu Barges are lost. TOUN MARU rescues the survivors. The remainder of convoy H-26 arrives at Kau Bay, Halmahera late that day.
31 May 1944:
At 1810, TOUN MARU departs Wasile, Halmahera for Zamboanga, Mindanao in a convoy also consisting of DAIYU, ETAJIMA and KURAMASAN MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by minelayer AOTAKA and minesweeper W-4.
2 June 1944:
At 1810, arrives at Zamboanga.
7 June 1944:
At 0200, departs Zamboanga and arrives at Davao at 2000.
24 June 1944:
At 0630, TOUN MARU departs Manila in convoy MATA-23 also consisting of cargo ships DAITEN, KAMO, KAZAN, NICHIZUI, TASMANIA and USSURI MARUs, tankers KONSAN, MEDAN, RIKKO and SAN PEDRO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, CD-8 and CD-17.
25 June 1944:
At 0430, SAN PEDRO MARU loaded with 12,000 tons of fuel oil, is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Captain) Arthur E. Krapf's (USNA '34) USS JACK (SS-259) at 16-09N, 119-41E. 25 passengers, two guards and eight crewmen are KIA. NICHIZUI MARU rescues survivors. Convoy leader ETOROFU orders evasive manoeuvers.
27 June 1944:
Bashi Channel. At 0517, MEDAN MARU MARU loaded with aviation gasoline, is torpedoed and sunk with no survivors by LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) at 21-10N, 120-31E. 56 crewmen are KIA. Later that day, at 1518, USS SEAHORSE again attacks. USSURI MARU is hit on the port bow and damaged. At 2245, a B-24 "Liberator" bombs USSURI MARU, but misses.
28 June 1944:
At 0315, straggler USSURI MARU is bombed and sunk at 23-45N, 119-57E. Two of her crewmen are KIA. Shortly thereafter, at 0335, RIKKO MARU is slightly damaged in air attack.
29 June 1944:
At 0900, the convoy arrives at Keelung.
30 June 1944:
At 0600, TOUN MARU departs Keelung in convoy TAMO-20B also consisting of KAMO, KONZAN, MANSHU, SHIROTAE, TASMANIA and YAMAHAGI MARUs escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, CD-17 and minesweeper NUWAJIMA.
3 July 1944:
East China Sea. At 2300, LtCdr Donald F. Weiss' (USNA '29) USS TINOSA (SS-283) torpedoes and sinks KAMO and KONSAN MARUs at 32-25N, 128-50E. KAMO MARU is carrying 525 passengers and 7,570 tons of general cargo. 415 passengers, seven guards, three gunners and 74 crewmen are KIA, a total of 499. KONSAN MARU's casualties are 23 crewmen KIA.
4 July 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Moji.
12 July 1944:
At 1500, TOUN MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-11 also consisting of cargo/transports AYAYUKI, BAIKAL, DAKAR, EIKYU, FUKUJU, FUSO, YOSHINO (ex-Dutch KLIEST), MIHO, ENOSHIMA, MANKO, HACHIJIN, TEIRITSU (ex-Vichy French LECONTE DE LISLE), and BANSHU MARU No. 16 and tankers AYAGUMO, AYAYUKI, HARIMA, KOEI, TAKETOYO, SHICHIYO, and SHICHIYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan SHIMUSHU, minesweepers W-28 and W-39, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUA SHAN) MARU.
18 July 1944:
At 1800, the convoy arrives at Takao and refuels. Destroyer SHIOKAZE is detached. The convoy is carrying reinforcements and ammunition for the defense of the Philippines. The escort is reorganized and strengthened and now consists of kaibokan SHIMUSHU and CD-28, minesweepers W-28, W-38 and W-39, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.
20 July 1944:
BAIKAL MARU is detached from the convoy and arrives at Kirun.
21 July 1944:
At 1800, the convoy arrives at Takao. TOUN MARU is detached.
30 July 1944:
At 1800, TOUN MARU departs Takao in convoy MI-08 consisting of ARABIA, BOKO (ex-British SAGRES), CHIHAYA, MANILA, TATSUBATO, TSUYAMA and ZUIHO MARUs and tankers EIHO, NITTETSU, MIRI, RYUSHO and SANKO (YAMAKO) SAN DIEGO and SAN LUIS MARUs and cargo ship YAGI MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-1 and CD-18, torpedo-boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU.
1 August 1944 :
At 1400, the convoy arrives at Keelung after it is thought that enemy submarines had gained contact.
14 October 1944:
At 0649, TOUN MARU departs Ssu Chiao Shan in an unidentified convoy also consisting of AKAGISAN MARU escorted by minesweeper W-21. At 1350, arrives at Shanghai.
22 October 1944:
At 1700, TOUN MARU departs Foochow, China for Takao, Formosa in convoy U-03 also consisting of KORI GO, TATSUJU and WAKATAKE MARUs escorted by destroyers HASU and TSUGA.
23 October 1944:
Formosa Strait. NNW of Mako, Pescadores. At 0336, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret/MOH) Richard H. O’Kane’s (USNA ’34) USS TANG (SS-306) attacks the convoy. At 0337, O’Kane torpedoes and damages TOUN MARU that catches fire. 131 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops, five passengers, 12 gunners and 16 crewmen are KIA. Later, TOUN MARU is towed to Mako, Pescadores and then to Takao, but repair is deemed impossible. [1]
14 February 1945:
Officially declared a constructive total loss.
1945:
Takao. TOUN MARU is broken up and scrapped. [1]

Author's Note:
[1] Per Alden's Fourth Edition, TOUN MARU is broken up and scrapped on 13 December 1944.
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

Bob Hackett

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