YUSOSEN!
(Standard 2AT Tanker KENJO MARU by Ueda Kihachiro)
YAMAZAWA MARU
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011 Bob Hackett
E 1943:
Koyagishima. Laid down at the Kawaminami Kogyo K. K shipyard as a
6,889-ton Type 2A Standard Cargo Ship for Yamashita Kisen K.K., Kobe.
1944:
Converted to a Standard 2AT Tanker while on the ways.
1944:
Launched and named YAMAZAWA MARU
6 December 1944:
Completed.
14 December 1944:
YAMAZAWA MARU departs Miike in convoy MOTA-28 also
consisting of tankers DAINAN, SHINGI and OEI MARUs and transports MURORAN and TEIKAI MARUs (ex-German FULDA) escorted by kaibokan CD-20 and CD-138.
22 December 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
27 December 1944:
YAMAZAWA MARU departs Takao for Singapore in convoy
HI-85 also consisting of TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), DAINAN, ENKEI, ENGEN,
ENCHO, DAIGYO, OESAN, FUEI, OEI, SHINGI, SERIA MARUs and cargo ship SHINYU MARU
escorted by light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan DAITO, UKURU, TSUSHIMA, CD-23,
CD-51 and CD-27.
28 December 1944:
TSUSHIMA and TEIHOKU are detached from the convoy
and make for Yulin, Hainan Island. At some point, OTSUSAN and ENGEN MARU are probably detached and head directly for Singapore.
29 December 1944:
South China Sea. At 1725, minesweeper W-101 joins
HI-85’s escort.
30-31 December 1944:
On both days, sporadic attacks by B-24s are
beaten off without loss.
1 January 1945:
At 1720, convoy arrives Qui Nhon Bay.
2 January 1945:
Departs Qui Nhon Bay. That evening, the convoy
anchors at Nha Trang Bay, Indochina.
3 January 1945:
At 0730, the convoy departs Nha Trang. While
proceeding south, near the east entrance of Hainan Straits, the convoy is
attacked by one PB4Y (B-24). One bomb hits TEIHOKU MARU. She and escort TSUSHIMA
are detached to Yulin for repairs.
4 January 1945:
At 1030, convoy HI-85 arrives at Cape St. Jacques
where it is ordered dissolved.
21 January 1945:
Takao harbor. Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) John S. McCain’s (USNA ‘06) Task
Force 38 attacks shipping on Formosa. TF 38’s planes sink YAMAZAWA MARU at
22-37N-120-15E.
E 1946:
Refloated and repaired as a dry cargo vessel. Renamed YEN
PING. Operated by Taiwan Navigation Co., Ltd., Keelung.
1962:
Broken up at Kaohsiung.
-Bob Hackett
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