Japanese Army Auxiliary Transports

RIKUGUN YUSOSEN

(Peacetime Type D Standard Cargo Ship, prewar)

CHINZEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2013-2017 Bob Hackett

1941:
Laid down at Ishikawajima Zosensho, Tokyo as yard number 472, a 1,999-ton peacetime type D standard cargo ship for Onishi Shoten, K. K., Tokyo.
25 April 1941:
Launched and named CHINZEI MARU.
12 August 1941:
Completed and registered in the port of Tokyo.
7 December 1942:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and converted to a troop transport. Assigned Army No. 939.
14 December 1942:
CHINZEI MARU departs Saeki via Palau for Rabaul in Military Movement No. 8’s convoy “I” also consisting of MEXICO, SHINSOKU, TSUKIKAWA and UCHIDE MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 3 escorted by subchaser CH-37 and cable layer TSURUSHIMA.
E 15 December 1942:
The escorts are detached at 29N.
E 3 January 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
26 February 1943:
CHINZEI MARU departs Palau for Ujuna in convoy No. 95 also consisting of CLYDE MARU without escort.
6 March 1943:
SE of Toizaki, Japan. At about 1530, LtCdr Eugene T. Sands' (USNA '30) USS SAWFISH (SS-276) fires three torpedoes and gets one hit on CLYDE MARU. The torpedo is a dud, but the impact damages her riveted hull plates and probably causes some flooding. The convoy retires to Ariake Bay (Shibushi Wan).
7 March 1943:
Ariake Bay. CHINZEI and SHICHISEI MARUs join a northbound convoy escorted by minelayer NUWAJIMA while cable-minelayer TSURUSHIMA, subchaser CH-36 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7 accompany damaged CLYDE MARU.
E 8 March 1943:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
23 May 1943:
At 0800, CHINZEI MARU departs Palau in convoy P523 also consisting of ARATAMA, FUKKO, KACHOSAN, TEIRYU (ex-German AUGSBURG) and TOYO MARUs escorted by minelayer NUWAJIMA.
E 29 May 1943:
Minesweeper W-18, patrol boat PB-46 and an unknown minesweeper of the 31st Minesweeping Unit join at 29-50N, 132-02E and accompany the convoy to the Tera-Shima Channel.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
9 June 1943:
At 0900, CHINZEI MARU departs Saeki for Palau escorting convoy O-905 consisting of BUNZAN, DAKAR, KINSEN and TOHO MARUs escorted by minesweepers W-17 and W-18.
E 11 June 1943:
W-18 is detached at latitude 29N.
17 June 1943:
At 1500, the convoy arrives at Palau.
19 June 1943: At 0545, CHINZEI MARU departs Palau for Saeki in convoy To-906 also consisting of DELAGOA, DAINICHI, KAZAN, MAKASSAR and SAN FRANCISCO MARUs and EIKO MARU No. 2 escorted by patrol boat No. 46 and minesweeper W-17.
E 20 June 1943:
W-17 is detached at latitude 10N and returns to Palau.
E 1 July 1943:
Minelayers NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 and TAMA MARU No. 6 join convoy FU-405 at 29N as additional escorts.
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
15 July 1943:
At 0930, CHINZEI MARU departs Saeki for Palau with escorting convoy O-505 consisting of BRAZIL KOZAN, SAIPAN and RYUKO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO, minesweeper W-18, subchaser CH-10 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7.
21 July 1943:
At about 1230, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Roy M. Davenport's (USNA ’33) USS HADDOCK (SS-231) torpedoes and sinks SAIPAN MARU at 16-29N, 123-57E. The ship loaded with 422 passengers, 3270 tons of military cargo, coal, and fuel oil, sinks with the loss of 33 passengers and two crewmen KIA.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
23 December 1943:
CHINZEI MARU departs Palau for Wewak convoy "Wewak No. 16" also consisting of ASO,KURAMASAN and SHOHO MARUs escorted by minelayer SHIRATAKA, subchaser CH-35 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-61. Enroute, KURAMASAN MARU is detached escorted by SHIRATAKA towards Hollandia.
27 December 1943:
Arrives at Wewak.
15 January 1944:
At 0630, CHINZEI MARU departs Palau for Wewak convoy "Wewak No. 17" also ASO, KIBI and TAIEI MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-32, CH-34, CH-35 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-10.
19 January 1944:
Arrives at Wewak.
20 January 1944:
Departs Wewak.
25 January 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
22 February 1944:
At 0300, CHINZEI departs Takao with patrol PB-38 escorting convoy TAMO-12 also consisting of CLYDE, FUSO, HAKOZAKI, KAIKO, KUROGANE, MISAKI, SAINEI, SEATTLE, SHINYO, SHINKOKU (cargo), SHONAN, TSUKUBA, YAMAHAGI and YOZAN MARUs escorted by kaibokan KURI.
23 February 1944:
CHINZEI and KAIKO MARUs and five other unidentified ships are detached for Kirun (Keelung) and depart escorted by KURI.
6 March 1944:
At 0800, CHINZEI MARU departs Palau for Takao in convoy PATA-04 also consisting of IJA transports ASAHISAN, BRAZIL, CLYDE, HINODE, HIYAMA, KENZAN, KENNICHI, TASMANIA and YOZAN MARUs escorted by destroyers SHIGURE and SHIRANUI, patrol boat PB-31, subchasers CH-37 and CH-38 and auxiliary gunboat KENZAN MARU.
E March 1944:
Torpedo boat SAGI joins the escort at an unknown point en route.
13 March 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Takao.
13 May 1944:
CHINZEI MARU departs Moji in convoy MOTA-19 also consisting of ATSUTA, GENKAI, JUZAN, IKUTA, KANKYO, KENZUI, KOAN, KONSAN, MEDAN, MIIKE, NISSHU, RIKKO, SHIRAMINE, TAMAHOKO and YUKI MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU CD-2 and CD-17.
19 May 1944:
KENZUI MARU is detached to Kirun.
20 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
13 May 1944:
CHINZEI MARU departs departs Moji in convoy MOTA-19 also consisting of ATSUTA, GENKAI, IKUTA, JUZAN, KANKYO, KENZUI, KOAN, KONSAN, MEDAN, MIIKESAN, NISSHU, RIKKO, SHIRAMINE, TAMAHOKO and YUKI MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, CD-2 and CD-17.
19 May 1944:
KENZUI MARU is detached to Kirun.
20 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
22 May 1944:
CHINZEI MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMA-19 also consisting of cargo ships ATSUTA, DAIRIN, GENKAI, IKUTA, KANKYO, KOAN, MEDAN, MIIKESAN, NISSHU, SHIRAMINE, TAMAHOKO, TATSUYASU and YUKI MARUs ,tankers KONSAN, MATSUMOTO, RIKKO, and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, CD-2 and CD-17.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
23 July 1944:
At 0700, CHINZEI MARU departs Manila in convoy MASA-09 also consisting of RAKUYO MARU and tanker NICHINAN MARU escorted by minesweeper W-34 and subchaser CH-21.
28 July 1944:
At 1800, arrives at St Jacques (near Saigon), Vichy French, Indochina.
2 August 1944:
CHINZEI MARU departs Saigon in convoy SAMA-16 also consisting of SHIROGANESAN MARU and an unidentified merchant escorted by subchasers CH-19 and CH-41.
6 August 1944:
At 0312, LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's (USNA ’32) USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks SHIROGANESAN MARU at 14-10N, 117-02E. 22 crewmen, 14 gunners and 15 passengers are KIA.
7 August 1944:
CH-41 arrives at Manila.
15 August 1944:
At 0550, CHINZEI MARU departs Manila for Cebu, Philippines in convoy H-33 also consisting of HACHIJIN, HAVRE, IGA, KOKUZAN, MEXICO, MISAKI, OLYMPIA and TOYO MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-28 and subchaser CH-46
17 August 1944:
Arrives at Cebu. CHINZEI, IGA, MISAKI, OLYMPIA and TOYO MARUs are detached.
21 September 1944:
At about 0900, about 200 aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 38 begin strikes on Manila that continue throughout the day. OKIKAWA MARU stops refueling SATSUKI. Thereafter, planes from TG 38.1, TG 38.2 and TG 38.3 sink SATSUKI. OKIKAWA MARU is strafed and suffers minor damage, but at 1545, OKIKAWA MARU is hit by a bomb port side amidships. Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi, (former CO of KIRISHIMA), CINC, Southwest Area Fleet, advises the Supreme Commander of Japanese Forces in the Southern Area, Field Marshal, Count, Terauchi Hisaichi, CINC, Southern Army, to transfer all supply ships from Manila to the relative security of Coron Bay off Palawan Island, Philippines. At 1715, Terauchi issues the order.
At 2200, CHINZEI MARU departs Manila for Coron Bay, Calamian Islands in the Taihi (refugee) convoy with BAIKAL, EKKAI (ex-Panamanian MORAZAN), KOGYO, OKIKAWA, OLYMPIA, TAITEN and TENHI MARUs and stores ship IRAKO escorted by minelayer AOTAKA and auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 11, HAKKO MARU, CHa-60 and CHa-61.
23 September 1944:
At 1730, the Taihi convoy arrives at Coron Bay and anchors near the town of Concepcion.
24 September 1944:
At 0550, 96 Grumman F6F “Hellcat” fighters and 24 Curtiss SB2C “Helldiver” dive-bombers of Marc A. Mitscher's (former CO of HORNET, CV-8) Task Group 38.3’s Air Group 18 from INTREPID (CV-11), AG-31 from CABOT (CVL-28) and AG-19 based on Mitscher's flagship LEXINGTON (CV-16) take off to attack the anchorage at Coron Bay, Busuanga Island, Palawan, 340 miles away.
Busuanga Island. A convoy of at least 12 IJN auxiliary ships is dispersed in the coastal waters around the island. At 0855, Air Group 31’s fighter-bombers start their attack. Flying boat tender AKITSUSHIMA, fleet food ship IRAKO and EKKAI, KYOKUZAN KOGYO, OLYMPIA and TAIEI MARUs and smaller ships are also sunk during the raid.
17 October 1944:
CHINZEI MARU departs Manila for for Cebu, Philippines in a convoy also consisting of merchant cargo ship HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU) MARU.
18 October 1944:
South China Sea. At 1104, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's (USNA '34) USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) fires four torpedoes and gets two hits that sink CHINZEI MARU at 14-04N, 119-52E. 21 passengers, 5 gunners and 28 crewmen are KIA. Barr also torpedoes and sinks already damaged HAKUSHIKA MARU.

Author's Note:
Thanks go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

Bob Hackett

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