KOSEKI UMPANSEN

(Japanese wartime ore carrier by Ueda Kihachiro)

BATOPAHAT MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement


© 2011 Bob Hackett

Yokohama. Laid down at Nippon Kokan K.K. (Asano DY) as a 5,954-ton ore carrier) for Nippon Kaiun K. K., Tokyo.

1943:
Launched and named BATOPAHAT MARU.

September 1943:
Completed.

9 February 1944:
BATOPAHAT MARU departs Tomie, Goto Retto for Takao in convoy MOTA-09 consisting of liner TEIRITSU MARU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) and cargo ships MATSUE, DAIZEN, TAKETOYO, HAMBURG, KYOKUZAN, MURORAN, CHUYO, BUNZAN, TAIYU, SHOEI MARUs, HINO MARU No. 1 and tankers OGURA MARU No. 2 and SAN LUIS MARU escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE and patrol boat PB-38.

E 10 February 1944:
Patrol boat PB-38 joins the escort of MOTA-09.

11 February 1944:
CHUYO MARU No. 2 develops engine trouble. At 0950, PB-38 is detached to find her, but is unsuccessful and later rejoins the convoy.

13 February 1944:
At 1844, an enemy submarine is detected at 25-58N, 121-34E. The escorts drop 50 depth charges and drive it off.

14 February 1944:
PB-38 detects another enemy submarine and drives it away by dropping three depth charges.

15 February 1944:
At 1845, arrives at Takao.

22 August 1944:
At 1410, BATOPAHAT MARU departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-24 also consisting of HIDA, KOTOKU, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), RAKUTO, GENKAI and MANSHU MARUs and tankers TACHIBANA and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and an unidentified ship, probably YUKIKAWA MARU escorted by kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-8, CD-25 and CD-32, torpedo boat HATO and minesweepers W-38 and W-39.

BATOPAHAT MARU carries 480 troops of unknown units, weapons and war supplies.

25 August 1944:
GENKAI MARU and CD-25 are detached for 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.

Off Cape Bojeador, Luzon. At 1325, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's (USNA '30) USS REDFISH (SS-395) torpedoes and sinks BATOPAHAT MARU at 18-31N, 120-32E. 17 crewmen and an unknown number of passengers are KIA.

-Bob Hackett

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