Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

HOKAKUMOTEI!

PICTURE WANTED

IJN WAKAMIYA MARU :
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2020 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

11 November 1936:
Osaka. Laid down by Endo Tekkosho K.K. as a 500-tons cargo ship for Miyawaki Mantaro.
24 February 1937:
Launched and named WAKAMIYA MARU.
April 1937:
Completed and registered at Osaka with a GRT (registered gross tonnage) of 500-tons. [1]
16 January 1938:
Departs Ryojun (Port-Arthur), Manchuria (now Lushun and part of Dalian, northern China).
1940:
Her owners are changed to Yasuda Kazuo. Her GRT is changed to 548-tons. [1]
17 December 1941:
At 1545, departs Samah (now Sana, Hainan Island, China).
31 December 1941:
Attached to the Maritime Defense Force.
15 January 1942:
Attached to the Maritime Defense Force under Mako Guard District Order No. 7.
17 January 1942:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
20 January 1942:
Exchange location is Mako, Pescadores.
21 January 1942:
Her owners are notified of the forthcoming requisition.
1 February 1942:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Sasebo Naval District under Cabinet Order No. 199. Attached to Mako Base Defense Unit under Cabinet Order No. 207. Operates as a Mako Guard District, Mako Base Defense Unit.
18 March 1942:
Under Mako Guard District Order No. 20 and pursuant to Mako Guard District Order No. 5: auxiliary netlayers WAKAMIYA MARU and IWATO MARU, auxiliary subchasers HAKUBI, KENKAI and TOSEKI MARUs, NITTO MARU No. 21 and NITTO MARU No. 22 are scheduled for a gunnery training W Pescadores (now Penghu) in late March. To be conducted at sea level. These units will be dispatched ftom Base Defense Unit. Mako Base Defense Unit CO determines date and time of gunnery training.
29 March 1942:
Performs her first gunnery drill W Pescadores.
14 ~ 16 April 1942:
Undergoes training.
14 July 1942:
Attached to the Mako Base Defense Unit under Mako Guard District order No. 43.
25 July 1942:
Performs her third surface gunnery training W Pescadores.
7 ~ 9 September 1942:
Performs her first combined exercise.
28 September ~ 1 October 1942:
Performs her second combined exercise.
20 October 1942:
N Formosa at 2359, LtCdr Jesse L. Hull‘s (USNA ’26) USS FINBACK (SS-230) fires two torpedoes; one hits IJA transport AFRICA MARU portside and explodes near her No. 4 and No. 5 holds. She responds with three wild shots from an IJA field gun through an embrasure, but is hit by a second torpedo portside in No. 2 hold.
21 October 1942:
AFRICA MARU takes on a list to port and, about 0011, sinks at 24-26N, 120-26E. Three crewmen are KIA.
Receives Mako Guard District telegraph No. 74 partially corrected by Mako Guard District confidential order No. 211620:
At around 0120, on 21 Oct ‘42 around 120-26E, 24-26N AFRICA MARU sank after being attacked by an enemy submarine. Mako Base Defense Unit CO is to destroy all enemy submarines as well as rescue the distressed ships with all ships as much as possible and designate this mission’s CO.
23 October 1942:
At 0800, ordered to stop sweep of Mako Guard District orders No, 72 and 74. Ships are to return to Mako while continuing to hunt enemy submarines under Mako Guard District wireless No. 76.
28 ~ 30 October 1942:
Performs her fourth combined exercise.
23 December 1942:
Mako Base Defense Unit CO departs at 1750. Enters patrol area No. 2 at 0900.
28 ~ 30 December 1942:
Performs her second combined training.
25 ~ 26 January 1943:
Performs her fourth combined training.
25 ~ 26 February 1943:
Performs her sixth combined training.
11 March 1943:
“On 11 March at 0735, detect enemy submarines at a convex angle of 155° and about eight nautical miles. Mako Base Defense Unit CO should use his full strength to sweep and attack” under Mako Guard District wireless No. 16.
15 March 1943:
Stop sweeping as ordered in Mako Guard District wireless No. 16 under Mako Guard District wireless No. 17.
17 March 1943:
Formosa Strait, off Taichu (now Taichung) at about 2300, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Vernon L. Lowrance’s (USNA ’30) USS KINGFISH (SS-234) torpedoes and heavily damages IJN general requisitioned transport TENRYUGAWA MARU with the loss of two crewmen.
18 March 1943:
On 17 Mar ‘43, at 2335, TENRYUGAWA MARU was torpedoed and heavily damaged at 24-30N, 120-09E. Base Defense Unit CO is to carry out an anti-submarine sweep under Mako Guard District wireless No. 19.
Depart Mako as soon as possible assisted by tugs No. 5 and No. 6 to rescue survivors of TENRYUGAWA MARU according to Mako Guard District wireless No. 19.
WAKAMIYA MARU CO leads this rescue mission under Mako Guard District wireless No. 20.
19 March 1943:
Ordered to stop rescue mission as ordered in Mako Guard District wireless No. 19 and No. 20. Return with minelayer HOKO to Mako. During the return keep conducting anti-submarine sweeps W coast of the main island.
Aborts TENRYUGAWA MARU rescue mission and arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) later this day.
1 April 1943:
Attached to Mako Area Base Unit under Cabinet Order No. 588. Operates as Mako Area Base Unit. Assigned to Mako Defense Unit under Mako Guard District order No. 6.
12 ~ 15 April 1943:
Performs her ninth combined training.
22 April 1943:
Departs Mako.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
26 ~ 30 April 1943:
Performs her tenth combined training.
20 ~ 22 May 1943:
Performs her twelfth combined training.
1 June 1943:
Attached to Kirun Defense Force from 8 Jun ‘43 under Mako Guard District confidential order No. 15.
3 ~ 5 June 1943:
Performs her thirteenth combined training.
23 ~ 25 June 1943:
Performs her fourteenth combined training.
3 July 1943:
Performs KOTO MARU’s rescue mission and carries out an anti-submarine sweep.
8 ~ 10 July 1943:
Performs her fifteenth combined training.
12 July 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweeping under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 163.
15 July 1943:
Ends anti-submarine sweeping under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 168.
28 ~ 30 July 1943:
Performs her sixteenth combined training.
9 August 1943:
Departs Kirun on seventeenth combined training.
10 August 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
25 ~ 27 August 1943:
Performs her eighteenth combined training.
21 September 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweep and rescue of survivors of fleet oiler SHIRIYA, civilian (ex-IJA) transport ARGUN MARU and auxiliary oiler SHOYO MARU (7,499 GRT) under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 283. Departs Kirun that same day.
[2] 22 September 1943:
Attached to Kirun Defense Force from 1 Oct ‘43 under Mako Guard District confidential order No. 21. Takes on board rescued survivors by second class destroyer ASAGAO and returns to Kirun under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 286.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
2 October 1943:
Departs Kirun. Performs anti-submarine sweep at 25-15N, 121-46E under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 312.
5 October 1943:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by 1600 under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 317.
7 ~ 9 October 1943:
Performs her twenty-first combined training operation.
9 October 1943:
At 0300, departs Kirun escorting IJN requisitioned (B-AK) cargo ship RAIZAN MARU to join convoy No. 210. After meeting the convoy WAKAMIYA MARU is detached and returns to the Formosan coast.
10 October 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweep under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 336.
12 October 1943:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by 1600 under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 340.
15 October 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweep at 24-30N, 120-30E under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 344.
16 October 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweep at 25-13N, 121-57E under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 352.
19 October 1943:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by 1200 under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 362.
26 October 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweep under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 375.
29 October 1943:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by 1000 under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 383. Arrives at Kirun later that day.
2 November 1943:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
3 November 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 November 1943:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
7 November 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
9 November 1943:
Departs Kirun on combined training.
10 November 1943:
Performs anti-submarine sweep at 25-02N, 122-23E under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 412.
13 November 1943:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by 1200 under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 417. Escorts a convoy later this day.
16 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
18 November 1943:
Departs Takao and arrives at Anping, Formosa later that day.
19 November 1943:
Departs Anping.
20 November 1943:
Arrives at Anping.
21 November 1943:
Departs Anping.
22 November 1943:
Arrives at Anping.
23 November 1943:
Departs Anping.
25 November 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
2 ~ 6 December 1943:
In drydock.
7 December 1943:
Undocked. Departs Kirun on combined training.
9 December 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
12 December 1943:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
13 December 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
15 December 1943:
Departs Kirun. Performs anti-submarine sweep at 25-25N, 122-35E under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 465.
18 December 1943:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by dawn under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 474:12.19.
Receives Takao Guard Office wireless No. 475: Escort auxiliary transport HIROTA MARU and civilian ore carrier (C-AC) NICHIREI MARU, which are temporarily staying at 24-20N, 123-44E, to Kirun.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
21 December 1943:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
22 December 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 December 1943:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area and returns to port later that same day.
28 December 1943:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy.
31 December 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
E 1944:
Her ownership is changed to Enzan Kisen K.K.
3 January 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area and returns there later that day.
7 January 1944:
Departs Kirun on combined training. Thereafter escorts a convoy.
10 January 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
11 January 1944:
Departs Kirun on an anti-submarine sweep at 40° and 18.5 nautical miles of Fugui Jiao, Formosa under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 14.
12 January 1944:
Ordered to end anti-submarine sweep if the enemy isn’t destroyed by dawn on 13 January 1944 under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 19.
15 January 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
20 January 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area and returns there later that day.
23 January 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
24 January 1944:
Arrives at Kirun. Departs there later this day on an anti-submarine sweep and combined training.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
30 January 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area and returns to port later that day.
1 February 1944:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy and returns there later this day.
3 February 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
8 February 1944:
Escorts a convoy.
9 February 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
10 February 1944:
Assigned to perform anti-submarine sweep at 24-28N, 121-30E under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 64. Departs Kirun on an anti-submarine sweep.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
21 February 1944:
Departs Kirun.
23 February 1944:
Performs combined training.
24 February 1944:
Ordered to hunt enemy submarines as much as possible and search for IJN oiler NAMPO MARU survivors under Takao Guard Office wireless No. 83.
[3] 26 February 1944:
Performs anti-submarine sweep.
27 February 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
28 February 1944:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy.
2 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
3 March 1944:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy.
7 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
10 March 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
11 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
12 March 1944:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy.
17 March 1944:
Performs a guard patrol. At 1800, arrives at Kirun with auxiliary patrol boat NITTO MARU No. 21.
18 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
21 March 1944:
Departs Kirun on an anti-submarine sweep.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
25 March 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
26 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
1 April 1944:
Her owners and registered port are respectively changed to Tsurumaru Kisen K.K. and Kokura.
15 April 1944:
Attached to Kirun Defense Force under Mako Guard District Order No. 16.
17 April 1944:
Departs Kirun to sweep route ahead.
22 April 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
24 April 1944:
Departs Kirun on an anti-submarine sweep.
25 April 1944: 26 April 1944:
Performs a guard patrol.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
5 May 1944:
Departs Kirun to sweep route ahead.
6 May 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
9 May 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol in her patrol area.
11 May 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
17 May 1944:
Departs Kirun to sweep route ahead.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
23 May 1944:
Departs Kirun on an anti-submarine sweep.
25 May 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
30 May 1944:
Attached to the Northwest Maritime Force, Kirun Defense Force under Mako Guard District Order No. 26.
25 October 1944:
Meets with minesweeper W-3 while heading NE from Yokosuka towards Hokkaido.
3 January 1945:
Departs Mako.
9 January 1945:
Engages in AA fighting. Sustains a small breach to the hull.
21 January 1945:
Arrives at Mako.
15 March 1945:
Strands off Kirun coast near Qian Lu lighthouse.
10 July 1945:
Sinks after an airstrike off Kirun coast near Qian Lu lighthouse with the loss of two crewmen. Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 624.

Authors' Notes:
[1] NRT is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). It is calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's gross register tonnage (GRT). Net register tonnage (NRT) is not a measure of the weight of the ship or its cargo, and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement.
[2] All three ships were torpedoed and sunk that same day by LtCdr (later Captain) Robert E. Dornin's (USNA ’35) USS TRIGGER (SS-237). ARGUN MARU with two crewmen KIA and the loss of 8,295-tons of rice, SHIRIYA carrying aviation gasoline with unknown casualties, and SHOYO MARU with five crewmen are KIA.
[3] NAMPO MARU loaded with crude oil, was torpedoed and sunk that same day by Cdr John A. Moore’s (USNA ’32) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208). 37 crewmen, 12 gunners and two passengers were KIA.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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