Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 underway)

YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010-2018 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 3

7 April 1943:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ shipyard as a 5,155-ton Type 1TM Standard Tanker for Yamashita Kisen, K. K., Kobe.
7 July 1943:
Launched and named YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2.
22 August 1943:
Completed. Placed under the Senpaku Uneikai (Civilian Control) and allotted to the IJA with Army’s number 5075.
2 September 1943:
YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Moji in convoy SA-12 also consisting of tankers RYUEI MARU and SUNOSAKI and ASHIZURI.
4 September 1943:
East China Sea. LtCdr Ian C. Eddy’s (USNA ’30) USS PARGO (264) torpedoes and damages RYUEI MARU at 30-06N, 128-02E, but she is able to continue.
9 September 1943:
At Takao.
11 September 1943:
At 0900 departs Takao in convoy No. 322 also consisting of YAMAKO (SANKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), TOKO, HITORA (ex Panamanian RAMONA), TOFUKU MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
20 September 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
21 September 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No.511 also consisting of YAGUMO, TOKO and IMAHARU (ex-Dutch DE KLERK) MARUs without escort. The convoy sails at 7.5 knots.
24 September 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Singapore.
7 October 1943:
Departs Moji in convoy No. 104 also consisting of KOSEI MARU and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by the destroyer KARUKAYA.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Taichow Liehtao and shelters overnight.
11 October 1943:
Departs Taichow Liehtao.
12 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
28 October 1943:
At 1000 departs Palembang for Singapore.
2 November 1943:
At Singapore.
8 November 1943:
In the early afternoon arrives at Palembang from Singapore.
13 November 1943:
At Singapore taking on provisions.
30 November 1943:
At 1630 departs Belawan for Singapore.
13 December 1943:
At 1730 arrives at Belawan from Singapore.
14 December 1943:
At 1600 scheduled to depart Belawan for Singapore.
5 February 1944:
Arrives Takao from Saigon.
23 March 1944:
YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Moji for Takao in convoy MOTA-13 also containing tankers SHINEI, MATSUMOTO, and YOKO MARUs and cargo ships HIGANE, BIZEN, SHOKA, PACIFIC, CHIHAYA, HENG SHAN (KOZAN), YOKO and YULIN MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 2 and escorted by kaibokan KURAHASHI and subchaser CH-26.
30 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
15 April 1944:
At 1100 departs Takao in convoy TAMA-16 also consisting of MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, BIZEN, HAKUBASAN, YAMAKO (SANKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), OMINE, NITTETSU, TOSHO, SORACHI, SHIRAHAMA, SHONAN MARUs, OGURA MARU No.1 and YOSHIDA MARU No.3, fleet tanker ASHIZURI and possibly JOGU MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-38, old destroyer HASU, torpedo boats SAGI and auxiliary sub-chaser TAKUNAN MARU No.3. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
16 April 1944:
At 0930, HASU ends the escort along with TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.
17 April 1944:
At 0725 torpedo boat HAYABUSA joins as an additional escort. At 1550, auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU and special sub-chaser CHa-39 join as additional escorts.
18 April 1944:
HASU and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 having detached arrive back at Takao.
19 April 1944:
At 1312 arrives at Manila.
22 April 1944:
At 0615, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Manila in convoy MI-02 (outward) also containing fleet oiler ASHIZURI and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, SANKO (YAMAKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), MATSUMOTO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 escorted by torpedo boat SAGI and patrol boat PB-38.
23 April 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Pagdanan Bay, Palawan.
25 April 1944:
At 1925, arrives at Marudu Bay, North Borneo.
26 April 1944:
At 0800, departs Marudu Bay. At 1755, arrives at Jesselton, Borneo.
27 April 1944:
At 0915, departs Jesselton.
28 April 1944:
At 0045, arrives Brunei Bay, Borneo. Later that day, arrives at Miri at 1325.
4 May 1944:
At 1030, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-02 (return journey) also containing tankers MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, SANKO (YAMAKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), NISSHIN, TENSHIN and SHINCHO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and cargo ships KENSEI, TAIHEI, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU escorted by kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI and patrol boat PB-38. At 2100, anchors in Imuruan Bay, NW Borneo.
5 May 1944:
At 0530, departs Imuruan Bay.
6 May 1944:
At 0801, LtCdr (later Captain) Francis D. Walker's (USNA ’35) USS CREVALLE (SS-291) fires torpedoes at the largest ship in the convoy, NISSHIN MARU. Three hit aft and heavy flooding begins. At 0810, she sinks at 07-19N, 116-52E. 15 crewmen are KIA but the fate of her 291 passengers is unknown. The escorts counter-attack and drop 13 DCs, but without success.
7 May 1944:
At 2000, anchors Ulugan Bay, Palawan.
8 May 1944:
At 1130, departs Ulugan Bay.
10 May 1944:
At 1330, arrives at Manila. TENSHIN, KENSEI, TAIHEI, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU are detached.
13 May 1944:
At 0552, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Manila for Moji in convoy MI-02 now also containing tankers MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, SANKO (YAMAKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), TENSHIN and SHINCHO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and cargo ship SEISHO MARU escorted by kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38 and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and CHOJUSAN MARUs.
15 May 1944:
At 1515, an unidentified auxiliary subchaser joins the escort.
16 May 1944:
At 1705, arrives at Takao. MATSUMOTO and HAKUBASAN MARUs, cargo ship SEISHO MARU, auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU and the unidentified auxiliary subchaser are detached.
17 May 1944:
At 1527, departs Takao.
18 May 1944:
At 1520, arrives at Keelung. KAMO, CHIKUZEN and CHOSAN MARUs and old destroyer HASU join the convoy.
23 May 1944:
At 1625, arrives at Shushan Islands E of Shanghai and departs at 2357.
25 May 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
3 June 1944:
At 0415 departs Imari Bay in convoy MI-05 consisting of tankers TACHIBANA, SAN DIEGO, NITTETSU, TOA, CERAM, SANKO (YAMAKO), AYAGIRI, BAIEI, KENZUI, AYANAMI, OEI, TOKUWA, TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARIFU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler NOTORO and cargo/transports KENEI, HINAGA, NIPPO, FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU and SHOEI (2764 gt) MARUs and thirteen other unidentified merchant ships escorted by patrol boat PB- 38, torpedo boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17, kaibokan CD-14, CD-18, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 and two unidentified warships.
8 June 1944 :
Arrives at Keelung.
9 June 1944:
Departs Keelung.
11 June 1944:
Cargo ships/transports ARIMASAN, MANILA, MIIKESAN and USSURI MARU and tankers SAN DIEGO and KYOEI MARU No. 8 and JINEI Maru join the convoy from Takao together with minelayer MAESHIMA and auxiliary subchaser CHa-95. TOA and SHOEI (2764 gt) MARUs are detached.
13 June 1944:
LtCdr John D. Crowley's (USNA ’34) USS FLIER (SS-250) torpedoes and damages MARIFU MARU at 15-57N 119-42E. MARIFU MARU is taken in tow by MIIKESAN MARU and later arrives at Manila. MARIFU MARU is detached from the convoy and later towed to Cavite.
15 June 1944:
The convoy arrives at Manila.
18 June 1944:
YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Manila in convoy MI-05 also containing fleet oiler NOTORO, tankers TACHIBANA, SAN DIEGO, BAIEI, KENZUI, ATAGO, JINEI, AYANAMI, CERAM, OEI and TOKUWA MARUs, and KYOEI MARU No. 8 and cargo/transports ARIMASAN, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Chinese NINGPO), TATSUJU, SURAKARUTA, TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), ROKKO, DAIZEN, MIIKESAN, NICHIYO, HIDA and SEIWA MARUs with the same escorts.
23 June 1944:
At 1847, arrives at Miri.
27 June 1944:
At 1650, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-06 also containing OGURA MARU No. 2, MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA, ZUIHO, NICHINAN (43 1945), KOTOKU MARU, NANSEI, ATAGO, NICHINAN (1946 gt) and BAIEI MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 escorted by kaibokan CD-14, patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18. At an unknown point, tanker CERAM MARU joins the convoy.
E 1 July 1944:
W-18 is detached from the convoy.
2 July 1944:
At 0845, arrives at Manila.
4 July 1944:
At 1145, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Manila for Moji in convoy MI-06 now also containing OGURA MARU No. 2, AKAGISAN, TACHIBANA, ZUIHO, TOKUWA, YAGI, ATAGO, TSUYAMA and KANKYO MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 plus two unidentified ships (likely PACIFIC and MURORAN MARUs) escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-14 and patrol boat PB-38.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao. The two unidentified ships leave the convoy.
12 July 1944:
Kaibokan CD-8 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 join the escort. At 0330, MI-06 departs Takao.
17 July 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Moji.
4 August 1944:
YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, departs Moji for Takao in convoy MOTA-22 also containing KENJO, GASSAN, HAKUSAN, TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA), TERAKUNI, TACHIBANA, NANREI, GENKAI, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), HIOKI, MANSHU, SHIRANESAN, SHONAN and KOSHIN MARUs and DAIBOSHI MARU No. 6 and six unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, HIBURI, CD 8, CD 10, CD-25 and CD-32, and gunboat UJI and minelayer TAKASHIMA for parts of the journey. Among other cargo, the convoy carries the IJA's 25th Tank Regiment redeploying from Baotau, North China to Formosa.
6 August 1944:
Off SW Kyushu. At 0411, LtCdr (later Admiral/CINCPACFLT) Bernard A. Clarey’s (USNA ’34) USS PINTADO (SS-387) torpedoes and sinks SHONAN MARU at 30-55N, 129-45E. Five crewmen are KIA.
9 August 1944:
At 1310, KOSHIN MARU's cargo suddenly explodes and the ship sinks at 26-10N, 124-15E. 28 crewmen are KIA.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung).
22 August 1944:
At 1410, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-24 also containing HIDA, KOTOKU, TEIHOKU( ex-French PERSEE),RAKUTO, BATOPAHAT, GENKAI and MANSHU MARUs and tankers TACHIBANA and KOTOKU MARUs and an unidentified ship, probably YUKIKAWA MARU escorted by torpedo boat HATO, kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-8, CD-25 CD-32 and minesweepers W-38 and W-39.
25 August 1944:
GENKAI MARU and CD-25 are detached from the convoy and go to Pasaleng Bay to offload five MTB's from the deck of damaged HAKKO MARU No. 2 sheltering in the bay with destroyer YUNAGI. YUNAGI is detached and joins TAMA-24. At 1024, Cdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho's (USNA ’27) USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoes and sinks KOTOKU MARU at 18-42N, 120-49E. 16 men are KIA. At 1026, in the same position, Donaho torpedoes and sinks YUNAGI as the destroyer attempts a counter-attack. 32 men are KIA, 19 wounded; LtCdr Iwabuchi Goro (61) (later CO of destroyer KAYA) is among the 202 survivors rescued by CD-35. At 1325, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's USS REDFISH (SS-395) torpedoes and sinks BATOPAHAT MARU at 18-31N, 120-32E. 17 crewmen and an unknown number of passengers are KIA.
28 August 1944:
At 2100, arrives at Manila.
15 September 1944:
At 1500, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, departs Miri for Manila in convoy MIMA-11 also containing TACHIBANA, URAL, KYOKUHO, SHIKISAN, HOKKI, ZUIYO, TATSUHARU, TENSHIN, SHOEI (2764 gt), OMINE, KYOEI and IMAHARU MARUs (ex-Dutch De KLERK) and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25 and CD-32 and subchaser CH-28. The convoy hugs the coast calling at various small anchorages.
17 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Kimanis Bay. That same day at 1830, arrives at White Rocks Bay, NW Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia).
18 September 1944:
At 0100 departs White Rocks Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives off Tarahican Island (Darahikan/Dalahican) between Palawan Island and Balabac Island.
19 September 1944:
At 0100 departs Tarahican Island. That same day at 0850, arrives at Eran Bay, Palawan island.
20 September 1944:
At 0400 departs Eran Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives at Saint Paul’s Bay, Palawan Island, Philippines.
21 September 1944:
At 0700 departs St Paul’s Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives at Bacuit Bay, Palawan Island.
24 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Bacuit Bay, but later returns at 1830.
25 September 1944:
The convoy at 0845 departs Bacuit Bay. Due to fears of air attacks on Manila KYOEI, SHIKISAN, TATSUHARU and TENSHIN MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and KYOEI MARU No. 6 all detach, escorted by kaibokan CD-32. After escorting these MARUs to a safe zone CD-32 departs and joins the escort of convoy SHIMA-11.
26 September 1944:
At 0400 the detachment arrives back at Bacuit Bay. TATSUHARU MARU supplies coal for cooking to KYOEI MARU. Meanwhile the main convoy steams on.
27 September 1944:
At 0807, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks URAL MARU at 15-32N, 117-16E. 144 passengers, 40 crewmen and five gunners are KIA. Survivors are picked up by ZUIYO MARU. Two hours later, LtCdr Donald G. Baer's (USNA ’37) USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes HOKKI MARU at 15-50N, 117-41E She catches fire and is abandoned. OMINE MARU takes her in tow, but she sinks at 15-50N, 117-41E. Two crewmen are KIA
28 September 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Santa Cruz.
1 October 1944:
At 0700, departs Santa Cruz. At 1100, LtCdr William C. Thompson's (USNA ’35) USS CABRILLA (SS-288) torpedoes and sinks ZUIYO MARU at 16-07N, 119-43E. 45 survivors of URAL MARU and 21 crewmen are KIA. At 1155, CABRILLA also torpedoes and sinks KYOKUHO MARU at 16-11N, 119-44E. 66 crewmen, nine gunners and 43 soldiers are KIA.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at North San Feranando, Philippines.
6 October 1944:
At 0618, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 departs N San Fernando with KAMOI and TACHIBANA MARU as part of the combined MATA-28 and MIMA-11 convoys also containing KOHOKU, HOKUREI, BUNZAN, SHOEI (2764 gt), HOKUSEN, TERUKUNI, HISHIGATA and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25, CD-32, minesweeper W-20 and W-28 and subchasers CH-28, CH-30, CH-33, CH-41 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-95.
At about 0800, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) attacks the convoy. Stevenson fires three torpedoes by periscope at a tanker and claims one hit, but actually achieves no results.
At 1530, LtCdr William C. Thompson's (USNA ’35) USS CABRILLA (SS-288) torpedoes HOKUREI MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2. HOKUREI MARU is badly damaged and beached off Vigan. Four crewmen, and five passengers are KIA. YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 sinks. 56 crewmen and passengers out of 58 are KIA. [1]

Authors’ Note:
[1] YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 was under civilian control when sunk, but had previously performed voyages under charter to the Imperial Army as Army Number 5075.
Thanks to Gilbert Casse of France.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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