Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(TSURUMI prewar)

IJN TSURUMI:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2020 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 14

10 September 1920:
TSURUMI’s alloted call sign is GQUE.
10 March 1921:
Sakurajima. Laid down at the Osaka Ironworks.
17 September 1921:
Captain Kabayama Nobuyuki (28) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
29 September 1921:
Launched and named TSURUMI.
28 January 1922:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Kobe later this day.
30 January 1922:
Departs Kobe and arrives at Osaka later that day.
10 February 1922:
Departs Osaka and arrives off the coast of Awaji later this day. Departs off the coast of Awaji and arrives back at Osaka later that day.
21 February 1922:
Departs Osaka and arrives off the coast of Awaji later this day. Departs off the coast of Awaji and arrives back at Osaka later that day.
25 February 1922:
Departs Osaka and returns later that day.
14 March 1922:
Completed and registered in the Maizuru Naval District. In service as an active special service ship. Captain Kabayama is the Commanding Officer.
22 March 1922:
Departs Osaka and arrives outside port later this day. Returns later that day.
23 March 1922:
Departs Oska. Later this day returns to Osaka due to an engine failure.
24 March 1922:
Departs Osaka.
27 March 1922:
Arrives at Osaka.
11 April 1922:
Departs Sasebo.
20 April 1922:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
26 April 1922:
Departs Tarakan.
6 May 1922:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
10 May 1922:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives at Kure later that day.
22 May 1922:
Departs Kure.
1 June 1922:
Arrives at Tarakan.
11 June 1922:
Departs Tarakan.
24 June 1922:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
30 June 1922:
Departs Tokuyama.
1 July 1922:
Arrives at Hitonose, Kure.
3 July 1922:
Departs Hitonose.
5 July 1922:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 August 1922:
Departs Sasebo.
26 August 1922:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo, British Malaya, (now Malaysia).
1 September 1922:
Departs Miri.
13 September 1922:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
17 September 1922:
Departs Tokuyama.
18 September 1922:
Arrives at Kure.
4 October 1922:
Leaves the dock.
11 October 1922:
Departs Kure.
21 October 1922:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
28 October 1922:
Departs Balikpapan.
9 November 1922:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
10 November 1922-20 October 1923:
Captain Toriyama Sadayoshi (30) (former CO of TAKASAKI) is the CO.
12 November 1922:
Departs Tokuyama.
13 November 1922:
Departs Hitonose.
20 October 1923:
Cdr (later Captain) Sugimoto Yukio (31) is appointed CO.
15 November 1922:
Arrives at Kure.
30 November 1922:
Departs Kure.
10 December 1922:
Arrives at Tarakan.
16 December 1922:
Departs Tarakan.
27 December 1922:
Arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae South Korea).
28 December 1922:
Departs Chinkai for Sasebo.
10 March 1923:
Receives approval for changing [ship to ship] lashing equipment. Removes 2 coils of 4 inch Manila Hawser for horizontal [mooring] attachment and as replacement installs 2 coils of 3 inch flexible steel wire with rope length of 100 Fathoms.
4 April 1923:
At 0935 fleet oiler SATA lies alongside and supplies heavy oil.
13 July 1923:
Receives insructions for the temporary installation of offshore refueling equipment.
1924:
Completes conversion to a seaplane carrier/tender. TSURUMI can operate as a tanker while in the seaplane role. She carries eight Type 14-1 Yokosuka E1Y1 three-seat reconnaissance floatplanes, two of which are reserves and remain disassembled until needed.
13 February 1924:
Captain Kiuchi Tatsuzo (31) (former CO of KOMAHASHI) is appointed Supervisor.
1 December 1924:
Captain Fukuhara Goro (30) is appointed CO.
1 March 1925:
In service as a special service ship under ordinance instruction No. 60.
20 April 1925:
Cdr (later Captain) Tokuhiro Sakichi (32)(current CO of SHIRETOKO) is appointed CO as an additional duty.
15 October 1925:
In service as the first special service ship under ordinance instruction No. 369.
20 October 1925:
Captain Kurobane Hideo (32)(former CO of SUMA) is appointed CO. Cdr Tokuhiro resumes full-time command of SHIRETOKO.
1 December 1925:
In service as an active special ship under ordinance instruction No. 321.
20 May 1926:
Captain Maki Akira (32)(former CO of HAYATOMO) is appointed CO.
29 November 1926:
Classified as a NOTORO type transport ship special service ship under ordinance instruction No. 239.
1 December 1926:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under ordinance instruction No. 268. Attached to the Second Fleet under Combined Fleet order No. 21. Captain (later RAdm) Ban Jiro (33) (former CO of KOSHU) is appointed the CO until 1 December 1927.
15 February 1927:
At 1035 leaves the dock.
18 February 1927:
Departs Sasebo and returns later this day.
21 February 1927:
Departs Sasebo.
22 February 1927:
Arrives at Sasebo. Depart later that day.
1 July 1927:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 July 1927:
Departs Sasebo.
10 September 1927:
Receives instructions for remodeling the heavy oil suction pipe under instruction No. 2965.
1 December 1927:
Captain Ono Isao (34) (former CO of ODOMARI) is appointed CO. Captain Ban is posted CO of NAGARA.
2 December 1927:
Receives instructions for the new construction of fresh water storage under instruction No. 3831.
7 December 1927:
At Sasebo changes mooring.
23 December 1927:
At 1130 leaves the dock.
10 January 1928:
Departs Sasebo.
12 January 1928:
Receives instructions for the new construction of upper deck reinforcement under instructio No. 109.
1 November 1928:
Scheduled to take part in the Coronation Special Naval Review (14th Naval Review) under ordinance No. 307.
1 May 1929:
Captain (later RAdm) Tabata Hiroyoshi (35) (former division officer of KATORI and former instructor at Etajima Naval Academy) is appointed the CO. Detached from the Combined Fleet under order No. 134.
2 August 1929:
At 0830 at Sasebo changes mooring.
4 August 1929:
Departs Sasebo.
9 September 1929:
Departs Sasebo.
4 October 1929:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 October 1929:
Changes mooring.
10 October 1929:
Departs Sasebo.
1 November 1929:
Cdr (RAdm, posthumously) Maki Kikuta (34) (former XO of YURA) is appointed the CO.
2 November 1929:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 November 1929:
In service as the third special service ship under ordinance instruction No. 265.
30 November 1929:
Cdr Maki is promoted Captain.
1 August 1930:
In service as the second special service ship under ordinance instruction No. 167.
10 August 1930:
In service as an active special service ship under ordinance instruction No. 171.
4 October 1930:
Arrives at Ise Bay.
6 October 1930:
At 0500 changes anchorage.
0645 ~ 0900 Desdiv 18 lies alongside.
0930 ~ 1105 DesDiv 28 lies alongside.
1115 ~ 1450 light cruiser TATSUTA lies alongside.
1500 ~ 1510 light cruiser KITAKAMI lies alongside.
1510 ~ 1635 DesDiv 29 lies alongside.
1650 light cruiser ABUKUMA lies alongside.
1655 light cruiser TAMA lies alongside.
1815 light cruisers ABUKUMA and TAMA depart.
1850 ~ 2025 DesDiv 24 lies alongside.
2120 changes anchorge.
13 October 1930:
At 1420 light cruiser OI lies alongside.
At 1430 transfers to the mother ship anchorage.
1 December 1930:
Cdr (later RAdm) Suzuki Kozo (36) (former CO of KOMAHASHI) is appointed the CO.
1 February 1931:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under instruction No. 18.
1931:
TSURUMI begins and completes reconversion to an oiler.
15 May 1931:
Detached from the Combined Fleet and in service as an active special service ship under instruction No. 89.
1 December 1931:
Captain (Admiral, posthumously) Ito Seiichi (39) (former torpedo officer of SHIOKAZE and former assistant naval attaché to the United States) is appointed the CO.
1 February 1932:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under instruction No. 21.
8 March 1932:
Captain (later VAdm) Matsuura Eijiro (38) (former XO of IZUMO) is appointed the CO.
11 July 1932:
Detached from the Combined Fleet and in service as an active special service ship under instruction No. 228.
15 November 1932:
Cdr (later RAdm) Nakamura Kazuo (37) (former XO of KAKO) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1932:
Cdr Nakamura is promoted Captain.
1 February 1933:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under instruction No. 29.
12 June 1933:
Sends Assist request No 291 No. 16:
Request to install additional light shielding and wind blowers for portholes.
21 June 1933:
Receives instructions for boiler pipe maintenance under instruction No. 2946.
23 June 1933:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 July 1933:
Request for additional light shielding and wind blowers for portholes is approved and to be enforced to the minimum necessary under instruction No. 3482 No. 2.
10 August 1933:
Arrives at Ulithi, Carolines.
1 September 1933:
Detached from the Combined Fleet and in service as an active special service ship under instruction No. 269.
11 September 1933:
Arrives at Oha. At 1320 moors at the first buoy.
14 September 1933:
Sends Assist request No 291 No. 214:
Request to install a new partial flood control device on the hull.
18 October 1933:
Her signal code changes to JWED.
19 October 1933:
Request to install a new partial flood control device on the hull is approved under instruction 4611 No. 2.
9 November 1933:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 November 1933:
Captain (later VAdm) Wakabayashi Seisaku (39) (former CO of RO-58 and former staff officer of the Yokosuka Naval District) is appointed the CO.
1 February 1934:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under instruction No. 43.
1 July 1934:
Detached from the Combined Fleet and in service as an active special service ship.
22 October 1934:
Cdr (later VAdm) Tada Takeo (40) (former CO of NARA and former staff officer of the Training Fleet) is appointed the CO.
24 October 1934:
Arrangments should be made to re-allocate two ship based boats, from battleship YAMASHIRO with one each transferred to minelayer TOKIWA and specials service ship TSURUMI, for installation by the Sasebo Arsenal under instruction No. 468.
10 November 1934:
Receives instructuctions for the center of gravity assesment test under instruction No. 4817.
15 November 1934:
Cdr Tada is promoted Captain.
1 February 1935:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under ordinance No. 42.
11 March 1935:
Departs Saeki.
1 April 1935:
Departs Maan Qundao (also known as Saddle Islands, now Maan Liedao), China.
1 May 1935:
Arrives at Sukumo.
2 May 1935:
At 0852 anchors.
0920 ~ 1010 the DesDiv 10 lies alongside.
At 1030 destroyer AYANAMI lies alongside.
At 1840 anchors.
7 May 1935:
Departs Sukumo and returns later this day.
8 May 1935:
Departs Sukumo and returns later that day.
10 May 1935:
At 1900 anchors.
10 ~ 12 May 1935:
Departs Sukumo.
12 May 1935:
Arrives at Sukumo.
17 May 1935:
At 0915 departs Sukumo and returns later this day. At 2045 departs Sukumo for Yokosuka.
1 June 1935:
Detached from the Combined Fleet and in service as an active special service ship under ordinance No. 210.
9 June 1935:
Departs Yokosuka.
20 July - 2 September 1935: The Combined Fleet's Great Maneuvers:
TSURUMI is attached to the Fourth Fleet in the “Red Fleet”. Exercises are conducted in the NW Pacific between Japan and the Kuriles. TSURUMI serves with fleet oilers KAMOI and SUNOSAKI.
25 September 1935: The "Fourth Fleet Incident”:
Hokkaido. The fleet departs Hakodate and steams into the NW Pacific where it encounters a major typhoon. Light carriers HOSHO and RYUJO, several cruisers and destroyers are damaged by the storm. Over 50 men are killed.
7 October 1935:
Arrives off Shibaura.
10 October 1935:
Cdr (later RAdm) Tashiro Sohei (41) (former XO of YAKUMO) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1935:
Cdr Tashiro is promoted Captain.
1 February 1936:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under ordinance No. 34.
6 May 1936:
Receives an instruction for a new flood barrier in the rear upper deck passage under instruction No. 2108.
25 May 1936:
Captain (later VAdm) Kobayashi Kengo (42) (former naval aide to the Emperor) is appointed the CO.
18 August 1936:
Cdr Jojima Takatsugu (40) (former XO of battleship KIRISHIMA) is appointed CO. Captain Kobayashi is posted Naval Attaché to the United States.
25 October 1936:
Arrives at Osaka.
27 October 1936:
Departs Osaka for the special large excercise fleet review and returns later this day.
29 October 1936:
Departs Osaka and returns later that day.
30 October 1936:
Departs Osaka for Yokosuka.
19 November 1936:
Departs Yokosuka.
1 December 1936:
Cdr Jojima is promoted Captain. Detached from the Combined Fleet and in service as an active special service ship under ordinance No. 473.
1 February 1937:
Attached to the Combined Fleet under order No. 53.
28 July 1937:
Attached to the Third Fleet under Ordinance No. 369. Arrives at Sijiao Shan, China.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (Sino-Japanese) Incident:
Lugouqiao, China. Japanese troops on night maneuvers fire blank cartridges. Chinese troops fire back, but do not cause injuries. At morning roll call, the Japanese discover a soldier missing and assume the Chinese captured him. They demand entry to a suburb of Beijing to look for the soldier, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city and an undeclared war on China begins.
28 July 1937:
Attached to the Third Fleet under Ordinance No. 369. Arrives at Sijiao Shan, China.
10 August 1937:
TSURUMI departs Sasebo with the 22nd Sea Scout Unit embarked. Later, the 22nd establishes a seaplane base in the Ma-an Islands, off China.
7 September 1937:
0520 ~ 0825 destroyer MINAZUKI lies alongside.
8 September 1937:
At 1630 lies alongside the port side of seaplane tender KAMOI.
At 1700 begins supplying fresh water to seaplane tender KAMOI.
At 1810 begins supplying gasoline to seaplane tender KAMOI.
At 1850 completes supplying gasoline.
At 2100 completes supplying fresh water.
At 2125 casts off seaplane tender KAMOI.
8 ~ 18 September 1937:
Departs Sijiao Shan for Shidongkouchong, China.
18 September 1937:
1330 ~ 1512 destroyer ASANAGI lies alongside.
21 September 1937:
1302 ~ 1420 destroyer MUTSUKI lies alongside.
24 September 1937:
1555 ~ 1745 destroyer NAGATSUKI lies alongside.
25 September 1937:
0725 ~ 0825 destroyer MINAZUKI lies alongside.
26 September 1937:
1405 ~ 1515 torpedo boat MANAZURU lies alongside.
8 October 1937:
0815 ~ 1535 auxiliary seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU lies alongside.
9 October 1937:
Detached from the Third Fleet under Ordinance No. 688. 1415 ~ 1535 torpedo boat CHIDORI lies alongside.
10 October 1937:
Departs off the coast of Shidongkouchong.
16 October 1937:
Captain Jojima is reassigned as CO of carrier HOSHO. Cdr (later VAdm, posthumously) Ota Minoru (41) (former XO of YAMASHIRO) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1937:
Cdr Ota is promoted Captain.
29 May 1938:
Off Lu Qi Shan, China Coast. At 1630, auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU comes alongside to port of TSURUMI. From 1645 till 2000 the ship loads 100-tons of coal from TSURUMI. At 2014, DELHI MARU departs.
10 August 1938:
Captain (later RAdm) Tanaka Yasuro (42) (former XO of TENRYU and former staff officer of the Naval Technical Department) is appointed the CO until 15 December.
15 December 1938:
Captain Mori Ryozo (39)(former CO of MUROTO) is appointed CO, with additional duty as Chief Equipping Officer of AKASHI.
1 November 1939:
Captain Mori is relieved of his duty as Chief Equipping Officer of AKASHI and is appointed CO of KISO as an additional duty.
20 June 1940:
Captain (RAdm, posthumously) Azukizawa Sei (42) (former XO of KONGO and former XO of Amoy Area Special Base Force) is appointed the CO. Captain Mori assumes full-time command of KISO.
1 August 1940:
Captain (RAdm, posthumously) Sawa Masao (40) (former CO of NOJIMA) is appointed the CO until 25 September. In service as an Active Special Service Ship under Internal Ordinace No. 495.
25 September 1940:
Captain Kawahara Kinnosuke (39)(former CO of YOMOGI) is appointed CO.
10 December 1940:
Reregistered in the Maizuru Naval District.
22 April 1941:
TSURUMI is assigned directly to the Combined Fleet. Rated as a Combined Fleet oil supply ship.
11 August 1941:
Captain Fujita Shunzo (42) )(former ComDesDiv 20) assumes command.
26 November 1941:
Departs Hashirajima.
30 November 1941:
Arrives at Hahajima on a water replenishment mission.
1 December 1941:
Her signal code changes to JGFQ.
9 December 1941:
Departs Hahajima.
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Chichijima.
17 December 1941:
Departs Chichijima.
21 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
1 January 1942:
Departs Kure.
2 January 1942:
Arrives at Saiki.
4 January 1942:
Departs Saiki and arrives at Hashirajima.
19 January 1942:
Receives a weapon loan instruction for a Type 92 model A 7.7mm MG under instruction No. 753.
30 January 1942:
Departs Kure.
9 February 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
Receives Malaya Unit wireless No. 124:
1. On 11 February 1942 TSURUMI continuous replenishing transport ships according to the commander of the Second Escort Force. Then depart Camranh, French Indochina (now Vietnam). Wait in Anambas, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) and don’t replenish berthed ships. Scheduled to be temporarily under the command of the Commander of DesDiv 5 around 21 February 1942.
2. After arriving at Anamabas ERIMO transfers heavy oil to TSURUMI. Then ERIMO departs for Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) to reload with heavy oil and thereafter ERIMO will wait at St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East Indies:
TSURUMI is with Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (40) Third Fleet's Netherlands East Indies Force. Supports Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) Western Java Seizure Force.
11 February 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
17 February 1942:
Arrives at Anambas Islands, Netherlands East Indies.
20 February 1942:
At Anambas Oilers NICHIEI MARU and TSURUMI refuel torpedo boat HATSUKARI and destroyers from DesDiv 5 and DesDiv 22.
21 February 1942:
Departs Anambas. Refuels CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, MIKUMA, KUMANO and SUZUYA and other naval units engaged in Netherlands East Indies and Indochina military operations.
At 1800 the destroyers FUMIZUKI, HARUKAZE, MATSUKAZE and HATAKAZE join.
At 2100 the Third Escort Force joins.
22 February 1942:
At 1200 Operation Su and Ya landing are postoned by one day.
At 1400 the Third Escort Force reverses course to the southeastern sea of Anambas.
23 February 1942:
At 1400 course is reversed southward again. Thereafter begins towing refueling to light cruisers NATORI and YURA, DesDiv 11, DesDiv 12, DesDiv 6, DesDiv 22 and DesDiv 5.
24 February 1942:
Ends towing refueling.
25 February 1942:
At 0920 the destroyers FUBUKI and HARUKAZE join
26 February 1942:
At 1900 the destroyer MINAZUKI and the minesweeper W-5 detach and join the Third Leader.
27 February 1942:
At 0500 the Third Leader detaches.
At 1030 at 04-25S, 106-40E the transport convoy reverses course.
At 1048 the light cruisers NATORI and YURA, DesDiv 11 and DesDiv 12 go ahead to attack the enemy. At 1515 the landing date is advanced by one day.
28 February 1942: The Battle of the Sunda Strait:
TSURUMI arrives at Bantam Bay, Java.
At about 2215, American Captain (later KIA, MOH posthumously) Albert H. Rooks (USNA ’14) USS HOUSTON (CA-30) and Australian Captain Hector M. L. Waller’s light cruiser HMAS PERTH, attempt to retire to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), but accidentally encounter Ozawa’s Seizure Force transports screened only by DesDiv 5's HARUKAZE, HATAKAZE and DesDiv 11's FUBUKI. The Allies attack. The Japanese destroyers make smoke. FUBUKI charges and launches nine torpedoes.
At 2300, the Third Escort Force's light cruiser NATORI and her destroyers arrive on scene with CruDiv 7’s MOGAMI and MIKUMA and destroyer SHIKINAMI. At 2327, in the Sunda Strait, MOGAMI fires six “Long Lance” torpedoes at USS HOUSTON, but they all miss and pass into Bantam Bay. At 2335, five explosions erupt. IJA transports SAKURA, HORAI and TATSUNO MARUs, landing ship SHINSHU (a.k.a. RYUJO) MARU and minesweeper W-2 are hit by the torpedoes and sink in shallow water.
At 0120 the destroyer MATSUKAZE detaches.
At 0415 the licht cruisers NATORI and YURA, DesDiv 11 and DesDiv 12 join.
At 2020 The second leader detaches.
At 2100 enters the harbor.
At 2300 the destroyer HARUKAZE discovers an enemy guard boat, Netherlands GM (Gouvernementsmarine ) REIGER or GM SIRIUS). Together with the destroyer HATSUYUKI destroys the enemies guns and forces it to beach.
At 2315 stays in Bantam Bay, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
1 March 1942:
At 0025, IJN destroyers sink HMAS PERTH. Of the 681 men aboard, 353 are killed. All but four of the 328 survivors are captured as POWs. Of those captured, 106 will die in captivity and the surviving 218 will be repatriated after the war. At 0045, after being hit by torpedoes and gunfire, USS HOUSTON also sinks. Of the original crew of 1,061 men, 368 survived, including 24 of the 74-man USMC detachment.
Bantam Bay, E of Nicholas Point. That same day, Dutch Ltz/II Carel W. T. Baron van Boetzelaer's submarine Hr.Ms. K-XV attacks TSURUMI. Van Boetzelaer fires two torpedoes. At least one hits and damages TSURUMI. This causes a hole with a lenght of 12.5 meter and depth of 5 meter below the waterline from ribs [frames] 108 to 128 on the port side, a square 1.5 meter hole from ribs 109 to 111 on the starboard, other small holes below the waterline and over a dozen points of breakage and distortion of the inner partition wall rib material.
Later that day Patrol Boat PB-35 comes alongside TSURUMI and is refueled.
2 March 1942:
Refuels light cruiser NATORI and the destroyers HARUKAZE and ASAKAZE.
3 March 1942:
Refuels the destroyers FUMIZUKI, SATSUKI and HATAKAZE.
4 March 1942:
Attached to the Malaya Force. Begins emergency repair.
6 March 1942:
At 1700 completes emergency repair. Refuels destroyer MINAZUKI later this day.
7 March 1942:
Refuels the destroyers HARUKAZE, HATAKAZE and ASAKAZE.
8 March 1942:
Departs Bantam Bay escorted by destroyer HATAKAZE.
12 March 1942:
At 1430 both ships arrive at Keppel Harbour then Seletar Naval Base, Singapore. Undergoes battle damage repairs.
7 May 1942:
At 0800 departs Singapore (Commercial Port).
19 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
25 May 1942:
Transfers from Kure to Kanokawa.
26 May 1942:
Departs Kanokawa and arrives at Hashirajima later this day.
28 May 1942: Operation “MI” – The Battle of Midway:
TSURUMI departs Kure in Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's (35) (former CO of KONGO) Second Fleet, Midway Invasion Force with Captain Murao Jiro's Supply Group’s oilers TSURUMI and SATA (F) and GENYO and KENYO MARUs and repair ship AKASHI.
16 June 1942:
Escorted by Desdiv 2.
17 June 1942:
DesDiv 2 ends escort. Arrives at Hashirajima. Later this day departs Hashirajima.
18 June 1942:
Arrives at Kanokawa. Loads heavy oil.
19 June 1942:
Transfers from Kanokawa to Kure.
20 ~ 25 June 1942:
Loads coal.
26 June 1942:
Departs Kure and arrives at Hashirajima later that day.
26 ~ 27 June 1942:
Loads Seventh Squadron Air Base cargo and embarks Seventh Squadron Air Base personnel. Thereafter Departs Hashirajima.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Komatsushima.
28 June 1942:
Operates as an oiler in the Komatsushima area. At 0945 refuels Desdiv 2 destroyers MURASAME and SAMIDARE.
12 July 1942:
Rated as an advance unit under Combined Fleet wireless No. 181.
14 July 1942:
Attached to the Otsu sweeping force under Advance Unit wireless command No. 1.
10 August 1942:
Attachment on 7 August confirmed under Advance Unit wireless command No. 8.
17 September 1942:
Detached under Advance Unit wireless command No. 56.
18 September 1942:
Departs Kure.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Carolines (now Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia).
4 October 1942:
Departs Truk.
9 October 1942:
At 1250, minesweeper W-22 arrives and begins escorting.
10 October 1942:
At 0511, W-22 carries out an anti submarine sweep and drops one depth charge. At 0710, arrives at Shortland, Bougainville, Solomons ( now Papua New Guinea) and is piloted into the Buin, Bougainville, Solomons anchorage by W-22. Thereafter W-22 ends the escort.
11 October 1942:
At 1525, W-22 comes alongside to port. From 1540 til 1617 supplies W-22 with heavy oil and 25t boiler water. Later that day departs Buin in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary storeship CHOKO MARU escorted by W-22.
12 October 1942:
At 1830, CHOKO MARU detaches and heads towards Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, Australia (now Papua New Guinea).
14 October 1942:
At 1205, W-22 ends the escort. TSURUMI arrives at Kavieng. Later that day departs Kavieng and arrives at Rabaul later that day.
23 October 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul. Over the next few weeks, acts as a fleet replenishment tanker and refuels various naval vessels, mostly destroyers.
26 October 1942:
At 1136, W-22 comes alongside to port midships. From 1145 til 1230 supplies W-22 with 33t of heavy oil. At 1235, W-22 departs.
2 November 1942:
Supplies light cruiser TENRYU at Rabaul.
7 November 1942:
Rabaul. Reserve Captain Ito Giichi (42) (former CO of AKASHI) is appointed the CO.
9 November 1942:
At Rabaul. Anchors at the berthing anchorage.
10 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage.
12 November 1942:
Lies alongside auxiliary oiler NISSHIN MARU. NISSHIN MARU transfers 2,300t heavy oil to TSURUMI. Thereafter anchors at the berthing anchorage.
13 November 1942:
At 0445, Loads boiler water and refuels destroyers TACHIKAZE and SHIKINAMI. At 1145, Captain Fujita Shunzo departs.
15 November 1942:
Refuels destroyer AKIKAZE and an unknown torpedoboat. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
16 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0600, submarine I-121 comes alongside to starboard and is refueled. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
17 November 1942:
At 0430 anchors at the supply anchorage.
At 0440 refuels 5 unknown destroyers and subchaser CH-22.
At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
18 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. Refuels two unknown submarine chasers.
At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
19 November 1942:
At 0440 refuels three destroyers leaving 60-tons of heavy oil for replenishment. At 1400 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
21 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0800, auxiliary oiler GENYO MARU comes alongside to port. From 1000 til about 1530 GENYO MARU transfers heavy oil. At 1600 anchors at the berthing anchorage. Thereafter TSURUMI refuels an unknown submarine chaser.
22 November 1942:
At 0445, anchors at the supply anchorage and auxiliary oiler GENYO MARU comes alongside to starboard. From 0630 til 1530 GENYO MARU transfers heavy oil.
The destroyer TACHIKAZE, light cruiser ISUZU and 4 unknown destroyers lie side by side on the port side. From 1600 refuels the 4 destroyers. From 1500 until 1530 refuels TENRYU. Thereafter anchors at the berthing anchorage
23 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. From about 0445 til 0840 refuels destroyer SUZUKAZE and PB-37 on starboard. From 1100 refuels 12 unknown 10th squadron vessels. At 1500 refuels an unknown destroyer. Therafter anchors at the berthing anchorage.
24 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. Refuels destroyer KAWAKAZE and an unknown minesweeper of the W-1 class. Thereafter anchors at the berthing anchorage.
25 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
26 November:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0700, refuels 4 unknown destroyers and at 1000, refuels a patrol boat. At 1400 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
27 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0600, refuels destroyer AKIZUKI. At 0930, comes alongside to auxiliary oiler KOKUYO MARU. From 0930-1030, KOKUYO MARU transfers 3100t heavy oil for drums. At 1600 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
28 November 1942:
At 0430 anchors at the supply anchorage. A coal ship comes alongside and transfers 500t coal. At 1600 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
29 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
30 November 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
1 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
2 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1200 anchors in the bay and carries out various training exercises. At 1600 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
3 December 1942:
At 0520 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0600, alongside auxiliary oiler KOKUYO MARU. KOKUYO MARU transfers 280t No. 1 heavy oil. At 1300, light cruiser KITAKAMI comes alongside and is supplied with 450t heavy oil. At the same time light cruiser OI lying alongside to port is supplied with 450t heavy oil. Thereafter anchors at the berthing anchorage.
4 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0530 the destroyer HAMAKAZE lies alongside and is refueled with heavy oil. Later this day the destroyer TANIKAZE, minelayer AOTAKA and an unknow W-1 class minesweeper are refueled with heavy oil. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
5 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0600 auxiliary water tanker WAYO MARU comes alongside to starboard and is replenished with 400–tons of fresh water. Refuels an unknown patrol boat lying alongside the water tanker WAYO MARU. On the portside between 1027 and 1310 transfers 570 tons bunker fuel to heavy cruiser SUZUYA. At 1445 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
6 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. Refuels the destroyers AKIZUKI and IKAZUCHI and minesweeper W-20. At 1515 anchores at the berthing anchorage.
7 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchores at the berthing anchorage.
8 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0730 air raid warning. Engages in anti aircraft combat by firing her two high angle guns. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
9 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
10 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
11 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
24 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage and loads coal and bean briquettes from auxiliary oiler TOEI MARU. At 1600 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
25 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. Auxiliary collier/tanker TONEI MARU comes alongside and transfers coal. At 1300 at the berthing anchorage anchors near the auxiliary oiler AKEBONO MARU
26 December 1942:
St. Georges Channel, Bismarcks. Destroyer TANIKAZE is towing unnavigable destroyer UZUKI that collided the previous day with transport NANKAI MARU. The transport herself had been torpedoed and damaged that day by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) William E. Ferrall's (USNA ’27) USS SEADRAGON (SS-194).
TSURUMI departs Rabaul for towing the auxiliary transport NANKAI MARU. At 1100, after seeing that the auxiliary transport NANKAI MARU is being escorted by the destroyer NAGANAMI, returns to port. Reverses course after destroyer NAGANAMI’s escort task is cancelled. Takes over tow of the auxiliary transport NANKAI MARU from the destroyer NAGANAMI.
At 1200, destroyer URAKAZE and minesweeper W-21 arrive from Rabaul as escorts. Arrives back at Rabaul later that day. Later that day supplies heavy fuel oil to AKEBONO MARU.
27 December 1942:
At 0500 anchors at the supply anchorage alongside to starboard of auxiliary oiler AKEBONO MARU. At 1200 auxiliary oiler AKEBONO MARU transfers heavy oil to TSURUMI. At 1300 loading heavy oil is completed and departs the supply anchorage.
28 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1600 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
29 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. Moves 200m from the anchor position because the auxiliary collier/tanker TONEI MARU with a mechanical failure departs nearby. At 600 refuels the destroyers TANIKAZE, URAKAZE and ARIAKE. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage. Refuels 9-tons of type No. 1 heavy oil to one unknown submarine chaser.
30 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0600 auxiliary water tanker WAYO MARU comes alongside and replenishes fresh water. At 1300 completes replenishing fresh water and anchors at the berthing anchorage.
31 December 1942:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 0600 refuels the destroyers HAMAKAZE, ISOKAZE and KAMIKAZE and auxiliary oiler KINREI MARU. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
1 January 1943:
At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
2 January 1943:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. Refuels heavy cruiser HAGURO and 3 other unknow ships. At 1430 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
3 January 1943:
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage on the portside of auxiliary oiler SAN CLEMENTE MARU and loads 3000-tons of heavy oil. Refuels the destroyers ARASHIO and MAIKAZE on the port side later this day. At 1500 anchors at the berthing anchorage.
At 0445 anchors at the supply anchorage. At 1535, TSURUMI departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of small tanker KYOEI MARU and small cargo ships HOKKAI and GIYU MARUs also escorted by subchaser CH-16.
6 January 1943:
At 1030, the convoy is attacked by two aircraft that are driven off without damage. At 1300, arrives at the Shortland Islands. Anchors near Buin Mountain.
7 January 1943:
At 0500 refuels the destroyer MOCHIZUKI an begins disembarking the First Air efense Force. In the early afternoon refuels an unknown patrol boat. At 1530 completes dismebarking the First Air Defense Force. At 1638 anchors at the T anchorage. Refuels the destroyer NAGANAMI on the port side.
Receives Outer South Seas Unit wireless order No. 6:
1. TSURUMI should tow the auxiliary seaplane tender SANYO MARU from Shortland to Truk. Regarding maritime escort; you should accept the instructions of the commander of DesDiv 15. 2. The Bismarck aviation unit should provide appropiate air cover according to the commanders regulations.
8 January 1943:
At 0400 anchors. At 0430 refuels auxilairy oiler TOA MARU, drifting at the north exit. At 0545 5 enemy planes sighted. TSURUMI casts off and departs to a safer anchorage but returns at 1600, comes alongside auxiliary oiler TOA MARU and supplies heavy oil.
9 January 1943:
At 0400 casts off auxiliary oiler TOA MARU. At 0600 takes a tow line of the auxiliary seaplane tender SANYO MARU. At 0710 departs Shortland towing the auxiliary seaplane tender SANYO MARU from Shortland to Truk.
17 January 1943:
At 2044 arrives at Truk.
18 January 1943:
At 0700 anchors.
19 January 1943:
Loads food and canteen goods. From 0700 till 1500 KOKUYO MARU comes alongside TSURUMI and transfers 5,500 tons of heavy oil.
20 January 1943:
Loads 200t of coal.
21 January 1943:
At 0500 auxiliary tanker/collier MIKAGE MARU No. 18 comes alongside to starboard and supplies charcoal briquettes.
23 January 1943:
Auxiliary tanker/collier MIKAGE MARU No. 18 comes alongside to port and supplies coal. At 1200 completes loading coal and at 1300 auxiliary tanker/collier MIKAGE MARU No. 18 casts off.
25 January 1943:
Departs Truk but returns later this day due to a steam leak.
27 January 1943:
At 0700 departs Truk on a trial run. Arrives back at 1000 and anchors. At 1200 departs Truk escorted by auxiliary gunboat HEIJO MARU.
28 January 1943:
At 2400, HEIJO MARU is detached to escort oiler KENYO MARU into Truk.
30 January 1943:
Allied codebreakers pick up a signal indicating TSURUMI is near Truk escorted by auxiliary gunboat HEIJO MARU.
At 2100 carries out gunnery shooting training.
2 February 1943:
At 0330, auxiliary submarine chaser CH-30 joins the escort. At 1330 begins off loading 4 sea reconnaissance aircraft at the Shortland Seaplane Base. At 1500 completes off loading 4 sea reconnaissance aircraft and anchors. Also at 1500, USAAF B-17’s launch an air attack and hit damaged aircraft transport KEIYO MARU near Shortland. Engages in anti aircraft combat. The high angle guns fire 19 shots.At 1630, TSURUMI arrives at the Shortland Islands and anchors at the T anchorage.
3 February 1943:
At 0500 anchors near the Buin airfield. At 1800 anchors east of the Buin airfield.
4 February 1943:
At 0500 departs anchorage. While driftings off the coast of the watch station refuels minesweeper W-15. Off loads consignment goods and ammunition near Buin later this day. Then refuels an unknown minesweeper. Finally anchors at the N anchorage.
5 February 1943:
At 0430 anchors. At 0630 refuels the minelayer HATSUTAKA. From 1030 until 1740 refuels the destroyers KAWAKAZE, KUROSHIO, ASAGUMO, OSHIO, SAMIDARE, ARASHIO, TOKITSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE. At 1840 anchors at the T anchorage.
6 February 1943:
At 0430 anchors. Refuels submarine chaser CH-26 and the destroyer MAKINAMI off the coast of Buin. At 530 anchors at the T anchorage. At 1800 comes alongside to starboard of the auxiliary oiler NICHIEI MARU and loads 3,500-tons of heavy oil.
7 February 1943:
At 0400 the auxiliary oiler NICHIEI MARU departs. At 0515 refuels the destroyers SATSUKI, FUMIZUKI and SHIRAYUKI at the harbor.
8 February 1943:
At 0430 anchors. At 0700 off the coast of Buin refuels the destroyers KAZAGUMO, NAGATSUKI, KAWAKAZE, AKIGUMO, YUGIRI, TANIKAZE, URAKAZE, HAMAKAZE, YUKIKAZE, YUGUMO and SHIRAKUMO. At 1645 anchors at the T anchorage.
9 February 1943:
At 0430 anchors near the Buin seaplane reconaissance base. At 1645 at the T anchorage comes alongside to the auxiliary oiler SHINKOKU MARU and loads 3,500-tons of heavy oil.
10 February 1943:
At 0430 casts off SHINKOKU MARU and transfers to Buin harbor. At 1000 minesweeper W-15 comes alongside and is replenished with heavy oil, fresh water, fresh food, etc. Departs Shortland later this day.
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
17 ~ 18 February 1943:
Off loads heavy oil.
19 ~22 February 1943:
Loads 600-tons of coal.
23 February 1943:
Loads fresh food.
25 February 1943:
Departs Truk on a trial run and returns later this day.
26 February 1943:
Departs Truk in a convoy with small tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 escorted by subchaser CH-10.
27 February 1943:
At 1100 submarine chaser CH-10 detaches and auxiliary oiler HISHI MARU No. 2 attaches to the rear.
5 March 1943:
At 1500 auxiliary oiler HISHI MARU No. 2 detaches. Departs Davao, Mindanao, Philippines for Jolo, Jolo Island, Sulu Islands, Philippines escorted by auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
15 March 1943:
Loads crude oil. At 1600 departs towed by a tugboat at the right bowside. At 2000 anchors 20 nautical miles upstream from the estuary.
16 March 1943:
TSURUMI departs Balikpapan in a convoy with small tanker BEIJU MARU and probably KYOEI MARU No. 3.
17 March 1943:
Arrives at Pulau Sambu (Poeloe Samboe), Riau Archipelago, Netherlands East Indies, now Indonesia), near Singapore.
18 March 1943:
At 0900 temporarily anchors. At 1005 anchors at the East anchorage of the commecial port. At 1200 raises anchor. At 1230 lies alongside the munitions department pier.
22 March 1943:
At 1245 anchors side by side at the east port.
23 March 1943:
Departs Singapore.
3 April 1943:
Anchors temporarily off Hosojima.
4 April 1943:
Anchors temporarily off Tokuyama.
6 April 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama, central quay.
8 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure, buoy 4. Undergoes repairs.
9 April 1943:
Moors at the shore.
9 ~ 21 April:
In dock for repairs and maintenance.
21 April 1943:
Arrives at the Arsenal quay.
22 April 1943:
Loads coal.
23 April 1943:
a fire accident causes a small explosion in a heavy oil tank.
1 May 1943:
Performs a water injection test.
2 May 1943:
Tethers to buoy No. 10.
3 May 1943:
Departs boy No. 10 on a test run and returns to buoy 10 later this day.
7 May 1943:
Tethers to buoy No. 10. Loads food.
8 May 1943:
Departs buoy No. 10 on a speed test. Test fires the type 3 anti aircraft gun. Return to Juban (No. 10) buoy later that day.
9 May 1943:
Departs Kure on a gunnery shooting training of the 14 cm gun, the 8 cm high angle gun, the 13 mm machine gun and the 7.7 mm machine gun. Arrives off the coast of Hesaki later this day.
10 May 1943:
Departs off the coast of Hesaki and arrives at Mutsure Jima later that day.
11 May 1943:
TSURUMI departs Mutsure Jima in convoy No. 156 consisting of IJA auxiliary transport KOHO MARU, auxiliary transports LONDON and NANMAN MARUs, and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
15 May 1943:
KOHO MARU is detached for Kirun with PEKING MARU as escort. Auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU joins the convoy.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
17 May 1943:
At 1540 TSURUMI departs Mako in convoy No. 392 consisting of IJA transports LIVERPOOL, TAMAHOKO, KOGANE MARUs, IJN oilers HOKUAN, NITTATSU and SAN LUIS MARUs, fleet oiler TSURUMI, and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
22 May 1943:
At 0300 auxiliary oilers NITTATSU and HOKUAN MARUs detach and head towards Miri. At 1500 TSURUMI and SAN LUIS MARU are detached from convoy.
25 May 1943:
At 1100 auxiliary oiler SAN LUIS MARU detaches and heads towards Palembang, Sumatra.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) at 68° and 2,500m of the clock tower.
30 May 1943:
Lies alongside the Central South Port (Nankonaka Pier) Jetty .
31 May 1943:
Loads crude oil.
1 June 1943:
At 1430 requted due to mechanical dissembly and adjustment [of steering] needs two tugboats from the Port Affairs Department to depart the shore.
4 June 1943:
At 0900, departs Surabaya escorted by subchaser CH-2. At 1700 subchaser CH-21 escorts at the rear.
8 June 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Balikpapan pier No. 4.
10 ~ 11 June 1943:
Loads 8,000-tons of type No. 3 heavy oil.
11 June 1943:
At 1530 departs pier No 4 and anchors at 288° and 2,300m off the watch station.
21 June 1943:
Receives instruction for heating equipment in heavy oil tanks and heavy oil pipes under instruction No. 3086.
22 June 1943:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy No. 2602 consisting of TSURUMI escorted by subchaser CH-4. At 1100 subchaser CH-4 escorts at the rear.
28 June 1943:
At 1220 escort by subchaser CH-4 ends. Arrives at Palau later that day. Anchors at 245° and 2,250m off Malakal Island.
29 June 1943:
Loads 100-tons of coal and 300-tons of fresh water.
1 July 1943:
At 0600 departs Palau in convoy FU-105 also consisting of ARIMASAN, SHINYUBARI, and TAITO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO and submarine chaser CH-3. At about 0900, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles H. Andrews (USNA ’30) USS GURNARD (SS-254) attacks the convoy at 07-37N, 134-26 E. In several attacks, Andrews fires 11 torpedoes, but they all miss or premature.
TSURUMI and hospital ship MURO MARU, that is sailing nearby, report seeing torpedo tracks. Later, Japan protests the attack on MURO MARU. [1]
8 July 1943:
At 2200 minelayer NUWAJIMA escorts on the convoy's port side.
9 July 1943:
At 1100 auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU joins the escort. At 1800 the convoy formation dissolves.
10 July 1943:
At 1000 arrives at the Shinghu Pier at Kure.
11 July 1943:
Changes mooring. Tethers to buoy No. 17.
18 July 1943:
Performs a speed test between pillars at Kure and Kurokami. Departs Kure. Arrives at Hesaki later this day.
19 July 1943:
At 0600, departs Moji in N convoy consisting of TSURUMI, auxiliary oilers SAN LUIS, RONSAN and TAINAN MARUs, IJA transport HAVRE (5652 GRT) MARU and IJN transport HOKUYO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer ASANAGI. At 1430 arives off the coast of Mutsure Jima. At 1800 the auxiliary oiler SAN LUIS MARU returns to Mutsure.
24 July 1943:
At 1030 the convoy dissolves. Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan) later this day.
26 July 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 762 consisting of TSURUMI, NANMAN, TAIKOKU, RONSAN and SHOYU MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat SAGI and meteorological vessels KAIYO No. 1 and KAIYO No. 2.
29 July 1943:
At 0355 in 15-25N 119-22E north of Palauig Point KAIYO No. 1 ran aground. At 0400 at 15-20N, 119-52E runs aground. One and a half hour later manages to refloat herself. Meteorological vessel KAIYO No. 1 is refloated at 1115 and is towed to Cavite for repairs.
30 July 1943:
Arrives at No. 7 Pier, Manila.
5 August 1943:
Departs Manila in an unnamed convoy also consisting of auxiliary oiler RONSAN MARU and meteorological ship KAIYO No. 2 escorted by auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU and meteorological ship KAIYO No. 2.
7 August 1943:
At 1100, auxiliary oiler RONSAN MARU detaches for Miri.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan.
10 August 1943:
Off loads.
11 August 1943:
Departs Tarakan escorted by subchaser CH-5 and meteorological ship KAIYO No. 2.
13 August 1943:
Arrives at Third Pier, Balikpapan.
14 August 1943:
Engages in anti aircraft combat. The high angle guns fire 45 shots and the 13 mm machine guns fire 2000 shots.
15 August 1943:
Loads 100t of coal.
16 August 1943:
At 0800 anchors alongside Pier No. 6. At 1900 departs and arrives at 1,800m off the watch station later that day.
17 August 1943:
At 0730 anchors alongside Pier No. 6. At 1900 departs.
18 August 1943:
Engages in anti aircraft comabat. The high angle guns fire 15 shots and the 13 mm machine guns fire 320 shots. At 0730 anchors alongside Pier No. 6. At 1800 departs.
19 August 1943:
At 0730 anchors alongside Pier No. 4.
20 August 1943:
At 0900, TSURUMI departs Balikpapan in convoy No. 2606 also consisting of AMAGISAN, NICHIAI and YAMAYURI MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-4 and CH-5.
21 August 1943:
At 0925 IJA transport NICHIAI MARU falls behind due to an engine failure. Subchaser CH-4 escorts her.
22 August 1943:
At 0300 subchaser CH-5 ends escort and reverses her course.
23 August 1943:
At 0200 YAMAYURI MARU and CH-5 are detached for Menado and then NICHIAI MARU is detached.
24 August 1943:
Arrives with the convoy at Menado.
E 25 August 1943:
Departs Menado in the convoy still consisting of IJN transports AMAGISAN and IJA transport NICHIAI MARU escorted by subchaser CH-4.
26 August 1943:
Off Palau. LtCdr (later Cdr) John A. Scott's (USNA ’28) USS TUNNY (SS-282) unsuccessfully attacks a convoy consisting of TSURUMI and transport AMAGISAN MARU escorted by subchaser CH-4 at 07-30N, 134-20E. CH-4 damages USS TUNNY and forces Scott to terminate his patrol.
27 August 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy No. 8283 also consisting of tankers FUJISAN and TOA MARUs with destroyer TAMANAMI as escort.
31 August 1943:
Target ship YAKAZE departs Saipan to join convoy 8283 stil consisting of fast oilers FUJISAN and TOA MARUs and TSURUMI escorted by destroyer TAMANAMI.
1 September 1943:
At 1100 target ship YAKAZE meets up with convoy No. 8283 and starts escorting it.
2 September 1943:
Arrives at the B1 anchorage, Harushima, Truk (Moen Island, now Weno Island, Chuuk). Anchors and six unidentified destroyers come alongside.
3 September 1943:
0100 ~ 0530 refuels the destroyers WAKATSUKI and NIIZUKI. 0530 ~ 1500 refuels battleship FUSO At 1530 casts off and comes alongside to auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 2. Transfers 1,690-tons of oil to auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 2. At 2300 completes transfering 1,690-tons of oil to auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 2.
4 September 1943:
At 0430 casts off auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No. 2. At 0600 anchors at the Natsushima (Dublon) anchorage for main engine repair. At 0630 auxiliary collier SHIN YUBARI MARU comes alongside to starboard and suppplies 300t of coal.
7 September 1943:
Departs the Natsushima anchorage on a trial run and arrives at the H2 anchorage later this day.
9 September 1943:
At 0630, departs Truk in a convoy consisting of oilers TSURUMI and KYOEI MARU No. 2, and cargo ship TAIKOKU MARU escorted by subchaser CH-29 and auxiliary patrol boat SHOWA MARU. Steams to Palau, then Balikpapan via Tarakan.
11 September 1943:
The convoy meets up with EIKO MARU No. 2 GO of Mereyon (Woleai), Yap, Eastern Carolines (Federated States of Micronesia).
12 September 1943:
At 0600, EIKO MARU No. 2 GO and SHOWA MARU detach and head towards Fais, Yap, Eastern Carolines (now Federated States of Micronesia) . 14 September 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
17 September 1943:
Receives instructions for maintenance of optical weapons under instruction No. 4742. Departs Palau in convoy No. 2610 also consisting of auxiliary oilers TOA MARU and KYOEI MARU No.2 escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE and subchaser CH-13.
18 September 1943:
At 0900 auxiliary oiler TOA MARU detaches and heads towards Surabaya.
20 September 1943:
Arrives at Davao and departs later that day.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan. At 1500 loads some cargo.
24 September 1943:
At 0800 completes loading crude oil. Departs Tarakan later this day.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
27 September 1943:
Lies alongside Wharf No. 3.
29 September 1943:
At 1220 anchors offshore.
5 October 1943:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy No. 2608 also consisting of fleet oiler ONDO and IJA transports ASUKA, RYOYO and TAJIMA MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SANAE and subchaser CH-5. Soon after leaving, TSURUMI develops machinery problems and is forced to turn back and anchor in the bay nearby.
10 October 1943:
Departs Balikpapan on a trial run. Again machinery problems occur. Returns to Balikpapan and anchors in front of the port affairs department.
11 October 1943:
Departs Balikpapan on a trial run. No failures occur. Returns to Balikpapan later this day.
18 October 1943:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy No. 2609 consisting of TSURUMI and KENZAN, DAI (ex-dutch DUYMAER VAN TWIST), EIKO, HIMALAYA, MACASSAR, SENKO MARUs, DAIGEN MARU No. 3 and OGURA MARU No. 3 escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE, submarine chaser CH-4 and auxiliary patrol boat HAKUHO MARU, and auxiliary subchaser CHa-41.
20 October 1943:
DAI MARU breaks down and is assisted by auxiliary subchaser CHa-41.
21 October 1943:
At 1000, DAI and KENZAN MARUs and CHa-41 are detached for Menado. At 1100 EIKO MARU suffers a breakdown and destroyer WAKATAKE stands by ship. At 1230 the ships rejoin the convoy.
22 October 1943:
At 0830 SENKO MARU is detached. During the evening MACASSAR MARU suffers a breakdown and stops for 10 minutes. CH-4 stands by.
25 October 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
31 October 1943:
Outbreak of diarrhoea among the crew.
4 November 1943:
An ill patient turns out to be a dysentery patient.
5 November 1943:
The ships is disinfected. Anchors at the outer port.
6 November 1943:
Anchors.
11 November 1943:
Anchors.
17 November 1943:
At 0950, departs Palau in convoy 8175 also consisting of oilers fleet oiler SATA, auxiliary oilers KYOEI, SEIAN and SHOYU MARUs escorted by destroyer AMATSUKAZE, subchaser CH-33 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-27.
20 November 1943:
At 2000, auxiliary subchaser CHa-27 detaches and returns to Palau.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk. At 0830 lies alongside auxiliary oiler SHINKOKU MARU and transfers 8000 tons No 3 type heavy oil
25 November 1943:
Casts off SHINKOKU MARU and arrives at the fleet anchorage later that day.
26 November 1943:
At 0800 the hospital ship HIKAWA MARU lies alongside to port. Refuels her with 700-tons No. 1 type heavy oil and 80-tons No. 3 type heavy oil. At 2100 completes refueling hospital ship HIKAWA MARU and transfering Type No. 1 heavy oil to the Port Affairs Department heavy oil ship. Casts off hospital ship HIKAWA MARU and anchors near the repair ship AKASHI.
5 December 1943:
Carries out maintenance and painting of the outer hull.
15 December 1943:
Borrows a boat from the repair ship AKASHI and replaces the port anchor by the one sent from Yokosuka.
16 December 1943:
Completes main engine repair. Performs a trial run with a good result.
17 December 1943:
Receives transport ship camouflage painting instruction to paint the hull in two colors under instruction No. 6258. Departs Truk on a trial run, 14 cm gun training shooting and compass. adjustment. Trial run result is good. Returns to Truk later this day.
18 December 1943:
Carries out port main anchor replacement work.
22 December 1943:
Hospital ship TAKASAGO MARU supplies to TSURUMI two medical kits. Supplies hospital ship TAKASAGO MARU with 540-tons of boiler water.
24 ~ 25 December 1943:
Loads coal to a barge from hospital ship TAKASAGO MARU.
26 December 1943:
Hospital ship TAKASAGO MARU comes alongside TSURUMI and loads 450-tons of coal, supplies medical supplies and loads 300-tons boiler water.
27 December 1943:
TAKASAGO MARU casts off from TSURUMI after embarking two patients. Between 0720 and 2000 loads 5000 tons No.1 grade fuel oil and 2000 tons No. 2 grade fuel oil from NISSHO MARU.
28 December 1943:
At 0445 casts off auxiliary oiler NISSHO MARU and arrives at the 16th anchorage at Natsushima later this day. Loads 150-tons of coal.
29 December 1943:
Departs Truk escorted by cable layer escort TATEISHI.
2 January 1944:
Arrives at new pier, Saipan.
6 January 1944:
At 1315, departs Saipan for Palau, Balikpapan and Surabaya on a fuel transport mission in convoy NE-602 consisting of TSURUMI escorted by destroyer SHIMAKAZE and cable layer TATEISHI.
9 January 1944:
Cablelayer TATEISHI and destroyer SHIMAKAZE detach, then sails unescorted.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Palau. TATEISHI and destroyer SHIMAKAZE are detached.
24 January 1944:
Departs Palau on anti aircraft shooting training and returns later that day.
26 January 1944:
Departs Palau in same convoy NE-602, but now also with NAGISAN MARU and escorted by patrol boat PB-2. At 0900 auxiliary subchaser CHa-26 joins and starts escorting. At 0937, patrol boat PB-2 drops 1 type ninety-five depth charge and at 1050, patrol boat PB-2 drops 3 type ninety-five depth charges.
27 January 1944:
At 2000 auxiliary subchaser CHa-26 returns to Palau due to a mechanical failure.
At 0605, patrol boat PB-2 drops one type ninety-five depth charge and at 1753, PB-2 drops one type ninety-five depth charge. At 1822 subchaser CH-5 detaches. At 1830, patrol boat PB-2 drops 1 type ninety-five depth charge and at 1923, patrol boat PB-2 drops one type ninety-five depth charge.
1 February 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Balikpapan.
2 February 1944:
Loads 220-tons of charcoal.
3 February 1944:
Lies alongside pier No. 3. Loads 200-tons of heavy oil and 300 drums. At 1630 casts off.
5 February 1944:
At 1030, departs Balikpapan in a convoy also consisting of tankers YAMAMIZU and KYOEI MARUs and cargo ship NAGISAN MARU escorted by auxiliary subchasers CHa-36, CHa-37 and CHa-41. Auxiliary subchaser CHa-37 detaches later this day.
6 February 1944:
The auxiliary subchasers Cha-36 and CHa-41 detach. At 0930, YAMAMIZU MARU is detached for Singapore. At 1300, the convoy anchors off the Straits Lights.
7 February 1944:
At 0930 minesweeper W-11 arrives from the Straits Lights and begins escorting.
9 February 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
10 February 1944:
Lies next to a wharf in the commercial port and loads crude oil.
11 February 1944:
At 0900 completes loading crude oil. Embarks 9 passengers later this day. At 1830 anchors offshore at 320° and 980m of the clock tower.
12 February 1944:
Embarks 19 passengers. At 1200, TSURUMI departs Surabaya escorted by minesweeper W-11.
14 February 1944 :
At 0800, W-11 detaches and TSURUMI proceeds unescorted. At 1930 anchors at "K Bay".
15 February 1944:
At 0400 departs "K Bay" and later arrives at a battleship anchorage near Aru Bank. Departs and later that day arrives at Balikpapan.
17 February 1944:
Lies alongside pier No. 3.
18 February 1944:
At 1600 casts off and anchors at 1200m in front of the Port Affairs Department.
19 February 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.
21 February 1944:
At 0930 auxiliary minesweeper WA-103 (ex Netherlands auxiliary minesweeper HMS GAROET) arrives and starts escorting.
22 February 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya. Moors alongside a wharf in the commercial port.
24 February 1944:
At 1230 anchors offshore.
1 March 1944:
At 1200 departs Surabaya in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary transport KITA MARU (ex Netherlands HMS GEMMA) escorted by minesweeper W-12 and auxiliary minesweeper WA-103.
2 March 1944:
At 1600 due to insufficient signal reception auxiliary transport KITA MARU will sail solely. A message is received that indicates Balikpapan has been mined. Later this day temporarily stays at 30 nautical miles of the Netherlands East Indies, Borneo Pegatan corner (now Indonesia, Kalimantan).
3 March 1944:
At 0400 Departs Pegatan.
At 0800 minesweeper W-12 and auxiliary minesweeper WA-103 detach at the southern tip of Laut Island,Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
At 0930, KITA MARU detaches.
At 1615 anchors at Kota Baru, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia) at 2500m of the north exit of the Laut Strait.
4 March 1944:
At 1530 departs the Kotabaru area. At 2000, arrives at Pamukan Bay and temporarily anchors.
5 March 1944:
At 0500, departs Pamukan Bay. At 1730, arrives at Balikpapan.
6 March 1944:
Lies alongside pier No. 2 and off loads crude oil.
7 March 1944:
At 1000 completes off loading crude oil. At 2200 completes loading type no. 1 and type No. 3 heavy oil.
8 March 1944:
At 0800 casts off and anchors offshore.
15 March 1944:
At 0730, TSURUMI departs Balikpapan for Palau in convoy O-507 consisting of three echelons of seven ships escorted by destroyers HARUSAME and SHIRATSUYU, patrol boat PB-36, subchaser CH-6 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-52. The first echelon consists of fleet oiler IRO, tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 and cargo ship NAGISAN MARU. The second echelon consists of TSURUMI, tanker KYOEI MARU and cargo ship RAIZAN MARU and the third echelon consists only of cargo ship HOKUTAI MARU.
16 March 1944:
At 1530, destroyer MICHISHIO joins the convoy and the other escorts, except PB-36 escorting IRO, depart.
17 March 1944:
At 0200 destroyer MICHISHIO stops escorting and returns.
20 March 1944:
At 0910, auxiliary subchasers CHa-51 and CHa-53 join the escort.
21 March 1944:
At 0930 The auxiliary subchaser Cha-21 joins the convoy escort.
22 March 1944:
LtCdr (later Cdr) John A. Scott's (USNA ’28) USS TUNNY (SS-282) SJ radar picks up a large convoy. At daybreak, Scott is maneuvering to gain an attack position when his radar picks up a destroyer at 14,000 yards. The destroyer sights the submarine and challenges USS TUNNY with a blinker. Scott ducks into a nearby rain squall and continues to close on the surface in conditions of poor visibility. Through the haze, he makes out a group of oilers and cargo ships.
Scott sets up and fires a full bow spread of six-torpedoes at two cargo ships at 07-22N, 132-08E. He and his crew see and hear hits on both, but suddenly, a small oiler, probably KYOEI MARU, appears out of the gloom and almost collides with USS TUNNY.
Scott sets up on destroyer MICHISHIO moving at high speed across USS TUNNY’s stern. He fires four Mark-18 electric torpedoes, then crash dives as depth charges from a trawler explode on his port quarter. During the next four hours, IRO is hit in the bow, forward of the bulkheads. MICHISHIO and newly arrived dstroyers HARUSAME and SHIGURE hunt the submarine. The Japanese drop 87 depth charges on USS TUNNY, but without effect. Until 0900 TSURUMI remains in close support of IRO, together with PB-36.
23 March 1944:
At 1810 the convoy arrives at Palau. IRO also limps in. At 1500 lies alongside battleship MUSASHI and supplies 1,600-tons of heavy oil.
24 March 1944:
At 0730 casts off and anchors in the south near the outer port.
26 March 1944:
At 0700, TSURUMI departs Palau escorted by destroyer AKIKAZE, subchaser CH-16 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 15.
31 March 1944:
At 1100, arrives at Saipan. At 1100 refuels the destroyer AKIKAZE. Thereafter refuels light cruiser YUBARI, destroyers UZUKI, YUKAZE, IKAZUCHI, etc.
1 ~ 2 April 1944:
Supplies coal and fresh water to destroyer HATSUSHIMO.
3 April 1944:
At 0700 the destroyers OKINAMI and KISHINAMI lie alongside. Later that day departs Saipan in a convoy consisting of fleet oilers TSURUMI and TAKASAKI escorted by Patrol Boat No. 31.
6 April 1944:
An enemy submarine attacks but is driven off by depth charges.
14 April 1944:
At 0620, arrives at Tarakan. At 0930 lies alongside a pier and begins loading heavy oil.
15 April 1944:
Completes loading heavy oil. The destroyer KISHINAMI lies alongside to starboard.
16 April 1944:
At 0900 the destroyer KISHINAMI lies alongside. At 0930 casts off and anchors at 265° and 21,150m of the signal station.
17 April 1944:
At 0630, departs Tarakan.
19 April 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. At 1900 lies alongside pier No. 5.
20 April 1944:
Begins loading coal.
22 ~ April 1944:
Carries out outer starboard hull paint maintenance.
24 April 1944:
Loads heavy oil.
1 May 1944:
At 0820, departs Balikpapan in the "TSURUMI convoy" consisting of TSURUMI and NASUSAN MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-2 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-41. At Tawi Tawi, Philippines, TSURUMI refuels the First Mobile Fleet.
3 May 1944:
At 1904, arrives at Tarakan. At 1930 anchors. [2]
4 May 1944:
At 1036, the same convoy departs Tarakan.
5 May 1944:
At 1207, arrives at Balikpapan.
8 May 1944:
At 0745 anchors alongside a pier and loads 150 drums of gasoline. At 0900 minesweeper W-101 lies alongside. W-101 resupplies fuel and fresh water from land. At 1300 minesweeper W-101 casts off and goes offshore.
Departs Balikpapan escorted by destroyer HAMAKAZE.
10 May 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan and departs later that day at 1500, still escorted by HAMAKAZE. At 1700 moves the 7.7 mm machinegun to the rear and test fires it.
11 May 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Tawi Tawi.
13 May 1944:
Capt Yamamoto Rokuro (40) (former CO of Gunboat Division 3) is appointed the CO.
14 May 1944:
Refuels 100-tons of heavy oil to the destroyers HAYANAMI and NAGANAMI.
15 May 1944:
At 1600 anchors with her stern directed at the stern of the aircraft carrier TAIHO.
1800 ~ 2000 Replenishes aircraft carrier TAIHO. Then casts off and anchors nearby.
16 May 1944:
At 0740 anchors. Anchors 420m of the bow of the aircraft carrier ZUIKAKU. Steams in reverse and approaches the aircraft carrier ZUIKAKU. Begins replenishment according to the vertical towing procedure.
At 1300 the auxiliary oiler SEIYO MARU comes alongside to starboard and transfers 3,450-tons of heavy oil to the TSURUMI.
At 1620 SEIYO MARU ends transfer of heavy oil to the TSURUMI.
At 1700 completes replenishment of 1,300-tons to aircraft carrier ZUIKAKU.
17 May 1944:
At 0430 auxiliary oiler SEIYO MARU casts off.
At 0715 anchors. Anchors in front of the aircraft carrier SHOKAKU.
0850 ~ 1430 Resupplies aircraft carrier SHOKAKU.
At 1530 anchors with her stern directed at the stern of the aircraft carrier JUNYO and begins resupplying aircraft carrier JUNYO.
18 May 1944:
At 0400 completes resupplying the aircraft carrier JUNYO and casts off.
At 0800 anchors at 650m of the battleship KONGO.
19 May 1944:
At 0600 anchors with her stern directed at the stern of the aircraft carrier JUNYO.
0715 ~ 820 replenishes 230-tons to aircraft carrier JUNYO. Thereafter anchors with her stern directed at the stern of the aircraft carrier HIYO.
At 1200 replenishment ends.
At 1300 anchors with her stern directed at the stern of the aircraft carrier RYUHO for replenishment. Then begins resupplying the destroyer URANAMI.
At 1600 ends resupplying the URANAMI. Thereafter TSURUMI comes alongside auxiliary oiler KOKUYO MARU and transfers her residual 3,400 tons of heavy oil.
20 May 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi in a convoy consisting of tankers YUHO, MANEI and EIHO MARUs escorted by destroyers AKIZUKI and URANAMI and kaibokan MANJU.
21 May 1944:
AKIZUKI is detached and returns to Tawi Tawi. Arrives at Tarakan. At 2150 anchors at Tarakan harbor.
22 May 1944:
At 1400 lies alongside the fuel pier.
23 May 1944:
At 1000 light cruiser TAMA lies alongside. Supplies fresh water and lubricating oil to the light cruiser TAMA.
At 1630 casts off and temporarily anchors at 268° and 6,5 nautical miles of the light vessel.
24 May 1944:
Departs Tarakan escorted by kaibokan MANJU.
25 May 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi. At 1730 anchors.
26 May 1944:
At 0800 the heavy cruisers KUMANO and SUZUYA lie alongside and refuels 90-tons to each cruiser. At 1800 auxiliary oiler GENYO MARU comes alongside to starboard and transfers 3,000-tons of heavy oil and 100-tons of fresh water to the TSURUMI.
27 May 1944:
At 0800 the auxiliary oiler GENYO MARY casts off.
28 May 1944:
At 2100 auxiliary oiler AZUSA MARU comes alongside to starboard and transfers 4,300-tons of heavy oil.
29 May 1944:
At 0930 auxiliary oiler AZUSA MARU casts off.
30 May 1944:
At 0800 light cruiser TAMA comes alongside. Supplies fresh water to light cruiser TAMA.
31 May 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi with destroyer AKIZUKI and kaibokan MANJU.
1 June 1944:
At 1800 the destroyer AKIZUKI detaches and returns to Tawi Tawi.
2 June 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
3 June 1944:
At 0745 anchors alongside pier No. 3 and loads No. 3 type of heavy oil. At 1800 completes loading heavy oil and anchors offshore.
4 June 1944:
At 0750 anchors alongside pier No. 3 and loads No. 3 type heavy oil and coal. At 1830 completes loading heavy oil and coal. Anchors offshore.
5 June 1944:
Loads charcoal.
7 June 1944:
Departs Balikpapan with kaibokan MANJU and auxiliary subchaser CHa-37.
10 June 1944:
At 1530 in the center of the Shibushi Strait detaches from auxiliary oiler ASANAGI MARU and a submarine chaser. Arrives at Tawi Tawi later this day. Lies alongside battleship KONGO. Resupplies cruisers and destroyers. At 2230 casts off and comes alongside to batleship HARUNA. Resupplies cruisers and destroyers.
11 June 1944:
At 0118 refuels heavy cruiser TONE with 318 tons fuel oil. Later that day refuels heavy cruiser ATAGO. At 0500 lies alongside battleship NAGATO and replenishes her. At 1130 casts off. At 1230 lies alongside the aircraft carrier ZUIHO
Capt. Yamamoto is appointed Commanding Officer.
12 June 1944:
At 0830 Capt. Ito departs.

1 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi in convoy with tankers YUHO, MANEI and EIHO MARUs escorted by destroyer TSUGA, kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-38, CH-49 and CH-58. Later that day, anchors in Ligitan Channel, Sabah, British Borneo. (now Malaysia).
2 July 1944:
Departs Ligitan Channel. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan. TSUGA is detached. TETSUYO MARU joins.
3 July 1944:
Arrives at Berouw River mouth, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Berau River mouth, Kalimantan, Indonesia). TETSUYO MARU runs aground and is detached. The ship later refloats herself and returns to Tarakan.
4 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth.
5 July 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
10 July 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy with tankers YUHO MARU, MANEI MARU and EIHO MARU escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-38, CH-49 and CH-58.
11 July 1944:
Arrives at the Berouw River mouth. ANKO and TATSUMATSU MARUs and tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 join the convoy.
12 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan.
13 July 1944:
Departs Tarakan. Arrives at the Ligitan Channel. [2]
14 July 1944:
Departs the Ligitan Channel. Later that day, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
15 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi. Later that day, arrives at Jolo, Philippines. TSURUMI, TATSUMATSU and ANKO MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 2 are detached.
18 July 1944:
At 0541 departs Zamboanga in convoy also consisting of tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 escorted by minesweeper W-30 and submarine chasers CH-49 and CH-58 and auxiliary netlayer TOKO MARU No 1 GO. At 1925 arrives at Malusu Bay, Basilan Island, Philippines.
19 July 1944:
At 0600 departs Malusu Bay and at 1832 arrives at Lebak Bay, Mindanao, Philippines.
20 July 1944:
At 0552 departs Lebak Bay and at 1653 and via Sarangani Bay, Mindanao arrives at Glan, Mindanao.
21 July 1944:
At 0457 departs Glan and at 1905 arrives at Malalag, Mindanao.
22 July 1944:
At 0624 departs Malalag and at 1048 arrives at Davao.
5 August 1944:
At 0148, departs Davao for Balikpapan in the "TSURUMI convoy" now consisting of TSURUMI and cargo ships BINGO and OSEI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-30, auxiliary subchaser CHa-11 and KYO MARU No. 12.
S of Mindanao. At 1113, TSURUMI is attacked by LtCdr (later Captain) Edward F. Dissette’s (USNA ’34) USS CERO (SS-225) at 05-53N, 125-41E. In an underwater attack, Dissette fires six torpedoes and claims four hits. At 1130, TSURUMI capsizes and sinks in Davao Gulf. Captain Yamamoto survives the sinking of his ship.
10 October 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:
[1] It is unclear whether TSURUMI was the unidentified ship in convoy FU-105. Almost certainly MURO MARU was not in the convoy as hospital ships travelled alone and unescorted.
[2] It is unclear why TSURUMI steamed to Tarakan. Probably she was carrying refined fuel oil for the fast oilers to convey to Tawi Tawi.
Thanks go to Mr. Yutaka Iwasaki of Japan, Mr. Gengoro Toda of Japan, Mr. Matthew Jones of Mississippi, USA, Mr. Berend van der Wal of Netherlands (particularly for a large update in revision 14) and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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