RIKUGUN YUSOSEN
(AIZAN MARU, postwar)
AIZAN MARU MARU:
Tabular Record of
Movement
© 2017 Bob Hackett
10 April 1944:
Kudamatsu. Laid down by Kasado Senkyo K.K., Kasadoshima as a 2,221-ton Wartime Standard Cargo Type 2D for Miyachi Kisen K.K of Kobe.
10 August 1944:
Launched and named AIZAN MARU.
18 July 1924:
Completed.
25 October 1944:
Requisitioned by the IJA and allotted Army No. 1300.
14 January 1945:
At 0700, AIZAN MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-32 also consisting of DAIKYO, DAISHUN, MASASHIMA, SAMARANG, SHUNSHO and TENSHO MARUs, TAMON MARU No. 16 and four unidentified merchants
escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan MANJU, CD-31, CD-132 and CD-144 and subchasers CH-19 and CH-57. The convoy hugs the continental coast as it heads south.
20 January 1945:
Arrives at Heiniu Wan.
21 January 1945:
At 0700 departs Heiniu Wan and later that day arrives at Sanmen Bay.
22 January 1945:
Early in the morning, convoy MOTA-32 departs Sanmen Bay, China. At 1600, arrives at Namkwan (now Namquan) Bay and joins convoy TAMO-38 sheltering there consisting of BINGO, DAINAN, RASHIN, SHINNO, TATSUWA and TOYOKAWA MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 7. MOTA-32 anchors in five columns nearest the bay entrance.
23 January 1945:
At 0402, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene B. Fluckey's (USNA '35) USS BARB (SS-220) discovers the anchored ships and skillfully enters the bay. At 0402, Fluckey fires a full salvo of torpedoes. DAIKYO MARU carrying ammunition spectacularly explodes and sinks. - 360 of 558 troops, 58 crewmen and 27 gunners are KIA. Minor damage, probably from falling debris, is also inflicted on AIZAN, DAISHUN, SAMARANG and SHUNSHO MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 16. At 0600, the remainder of the convoy departs the anchorage. At 0600, the remainder of the convoy departs the anchorage. Later that day arrives at Niu Shan Tao.
24 January 1944:
At 0400 departs Niu Shan Tao.
25 January 1945:
At 1200 arrives at Keelung.
31 January 1945:
At 0600, AIZAN MARU departs Keelung for Moji in convoy TAMO-39 also consisting of DAISHUN, SAMARANG, SHUNSHO, TETSUYO and TATSUHARU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-14, CD-16, CD-46 and subchaser CH-19.
6 February 1945:
At 1820 the convoy anchors off Kyokin To, Mara Sea, Chosen.
7 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Kyokin To.
8 February 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
1 March 1945:
At 0800, AIZAN MARU departs Mutsure for Keelung in convoy MOTA-40 also consisting of ANKO, DAIKI, DOSHI, IKOMASAN, KITAKATA and TOYOGAWA MARUs escorted by kaibokan IKUNA CD-26, CD-41, minesweepers W-15 and W-17 and subchaser CH-19.
5 March 1945:
Off Akuseki Jima, Ryukyu Islands. At 1042, LtCdr Walter F. Schlech's USS TILEFISH (SS-307) torpedoes and damages W-15's stern at 29-36N, 129-45E. W-15 is beached on Suwasi Island and later abandoned, a constructive total loss.
9 March 1945:
At 2010, the convoy arrives at Kirun (Keelung).
11 March 1945:
At 1809, kaibokan IKUNA arrives at Kirun.
16 March 1945:
At 0102, AIZAN MARU departs Keelung for Moji in convoy TAMO-49 also consisting of IKOMASAN, KITAKATA and NANKING MARUs escorted by kaibokan IKUNA, CD-41 and minesweeper W-17. A USN PB4Y (B-24) attacks TAMO-49 and damages KITAKATA MARU at 29-09N, 122-07E.
17 March 1945:
Off Fuchow, China. At about 0100, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) William S. Post’s USS SPOT (SS-413) torpedoes and damages IKOMASAN MARU at 25-58N, 119-58E. She is beached off Matsu Island. At 0335, Cdr Post torpedoes and sinks NANKING MARU at 25-33N, 120-10E. USS SPOT is damaged by gunfire from one or more of the escorts. Later that day, USAAF B-25 “Mitchells” further damage IKOMASAN MARU. At 1308 IKUNA arrives at Matsu Island.
19 March 1945:
Departs Matsu Island.
20 March 1945:
At 1810 arrives at Chiu Shan Liehtao.
21 March 1945:
Departs Chiu Shan Liehtao.
22 March 1945:
Arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
23 March 1945:
At 1000 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
26 March 1945:
IKOMASAN MARU is attacked and again damaged by USAAF aircraft.
29 March 1945:
At 0920 the convoy arrives and shelters at Yuya Wan.
31 March 1945:
At 1400, arrives at Moji.
12 June 1945:
Off Nagasaki. Hakata Bay. A mine laid by USAAF B-29s sinks AIZAN MARU at 33-38N, 130-22E.
Postwar:
Salved and repaired. Assigned SCAJAP A083.
Author's Note:
Photo credit and thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
Bob Hackett
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