Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

HOKAKUMOTEI!

(CHOKI MARU plan – Peter Cundall Collection)

IJN CHOKI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2020 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

September 1938:
Osaka. Laid down by Nakata Zosensho K.K. for Daicho Kisen K.K. as a 926-tons cargo ship.
March 1939:
Launched and named CHOKI MARU.
1 June 1939:
Completed and registered at Tokyo. Her Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively are 926-tons and 607-tons. [1]
21 January 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
18 November 1941:
Her owners are notified of the forthcoming requisition.
31 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Sukigara Tamazo’s (37) Rashin (Rajin, now Najin, also known as Rason, North Korea) Base Force under Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea) Guard District order No. 28.
15 January 1942:
Attached to Rashin Base Force under Chinkai Guard District order No. 32.
21 January 1942:
Transfers to Sasebo.
23 January 1942:
Nagasaki. Conversion for military duty begins at Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. shipyard.
1 February 1942:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 199. Attached to Rashin Base Force under Ordinance No. 207. Attached to Rear Admiral Owada Yoshinosuke’s (35) Chinkai Guard Force.
10 February 1942:
Conversion for military duty is completed. Attached to Rashin Base Force under Chinkai Guard District order No. 41.
24 February 1942:
Operates as a Rashin Base Force Unit under Chinkai Guard District order No. 43.
28 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Chinkai.
11 March 1942:
Arrives at Yujin, Chosen (now North Korea).
13 March 1942:
Departs Yujin on patrol and returns there later this day.
18 March 1942:
Departs Yujin on various training and patrol. Arrives at Rashin later that day.
19 March 1942:
Departs Rashin on patrol and arrives at Yujin later this day.
23 March 1942:
Departs Yujin on various training and patrol. Arrives at Shirotsu, Chosen (Songjin, now Kimchaek, North Korea) later that day.
24 March 1942:
Departs Shirotsu on minesweeping and listening training, and patrol. Arrives at Sinpo, Chosen (now North Korea) later this day.
25 March 1942:
Departs Sinpo on various training and patrol. Arrives at Gensan, Chosen (now Wonsan, North Korea) later that day.
27 March 1942:
Departs Gensan on various training and patrol. Arrives at Konan (Hungnam), Chosen (now North Korea) later this day.
28 March 1942:
Departs Konan on various training and patrol. Arrives at Shirotsu later that day.
29 March 1942:
Departs Shirotsu and arrives at Seishin, Chosen (now Chongjin, North Korea) later this day.
30 March 1942:
Departs Seishin on listening and DC throwing practice, and patrol. Arrives at Yujin later that day.
7 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
8 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns there later that day.
9 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
10 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening and DC throwing practice, and patrol. Returns there later that day.
15 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
16 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns there later that day.
17 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
19 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on patrol.
20 April 1942:
Arrives at Yujin.
24 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on navigation and gunnery practice, and maritime vigilance. Returns there later that day.
25 April 1942:
Departs Yujin on monitoring enemy and Soviet aircraft.
28 April 1942:
Arrives at Yujin.
5 May 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
14 May 1942:
Departs Yujin on navigation and gunnery practice. Returns there later that day.
15 May 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
18 May 1942:
Departs Yujin on training and patrol. Returns there later this day.
19 May 1942:
Departs Yujin on listening training and patrol. Returns to port later this day.
20 May 1942:
Attached to Rashin Base Force, Base Defense Unit under Cabinet order No. 884. Rated as Chinkai Guard District, Rashin Base Force, Base Defense Unit.
25 June 1942:
Attached to Tsushima Strait Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District order No. 59.
26 June 1942:
Rated as ship No. 4 under Rashin Base Defense Unit command No. 89.
E 27 ~ 30 June 1942 Departs Yujin.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai from Rashin.
1 October 1942:
Rated as Tsushima Strait Defense Force, Second Unit under Chinkai Guard District instruction No. 57.
27 October 1942:
Departs Chinkai for Ryojun (Port-Arthur, Lushun), Manchuria (now Lushunkou, northern China).
2 November 1942:
Enters Ryojun shipyard drydock.
10 November 1942:
Undocked.
1943:
Her owners are changed to Taiyo Kogyo K.K. Later changed to Seikai Kisen K.K., Fukuoka.
7 May 1943:
Receives conversion instructions for minesweeper equipment. All netlaying nets and netlaying equipment are landed and replaced by minesweeping equipment. Netlaying equipment stand is replaced by a minesweeping equipment stand. A new towing eye ring is also fitted under Cabinet Secretary Instruction No. 2167.
17 February 1944:
Scheduled for an emergency transport mission to the South Seas under Military instruction No. 171935.
22 February 1944:
At Moji loads cement and thereafter departs for Yokosuka under Transportation instruction No. 222049.
14 March 1944:
Receives ? Corps wireless decree No. 207:
2. Auxiliary minelayer No. 1, IJA transport UNKAI MARU No. 7, auxiliary minesweeper OI MARU, and auxiliary netlayers KIRI MARU No. 1 GO and CHOKI MARU will form convoy No. 3316.
17 March 1944:
Departs Yokosuka as member of convoy No. 3316 also consisting of IJA transport UNKAI MARU No. 7 and KIRI MARU No. 1 GO escorted by auxiliary minesweeper OI MARU and auxiliary minesweepers Wa-13 and Wa-14.
20 March 1944:
At 0600, arrives at Chichijima.
22 March 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima. Auxiliary minesweepers Wa-13 and Wa-14 detach.
23 March 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima, Ogasawara Archipelago.
31 March 1944:
At 2100, departs Saipan, Marianas for Yokosuka with destroyer HATAKAZE, torpedo boat OTORI, auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU, auxiliary minesweeper OI MARU and auxiliary netlayers KIRI MARU No.1 GO and KISHIN MARU escorting convoy No. 4 consisting of TOYOKAWA MARU, JUICHISEI (HOSHI MARU No. 11) MARU and SHINSEI MARU No. 1.
8 April 1944:
Arrives with the convoy at Yokosuka.
1 June 1944:
Completes MG and other armament work.
20 June 1944:
Attached to Vice Admiral Takagi Takeo’s (39) Sixth Fleet under Ordinance No. 777. Departs Pusan, Chosen (now Busan, South Korea).
6 July 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
10 July 1944:
Attached to the Kure Naval District under Ordinance No. 853. Attached to Kure Guard Force, Kure Local Defense Squadron, Kure Base Defense Unit under Cabinet Order No. 854.
12 August 1944:
Departs Kure.
18 August 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
22 August 1944:
Receives Maritime Escort Fleet CO’s instruction No. 207:
- Organize a target (Hyoteki- code for midget submarines) convoy between Yokosuka and Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands:
1 - Convoy No. 3823 (A) target A consisting of three tugboats (sic): ASAGI (sic- CHOKI), FUJI and KIRI MARU’s escorted by destroyer HATAKAZE and an auxiliary minesweeper.
2 - Convoy No. 3823 (B) target B consisting of three tugboats (sic): NAGATA, FUYO and SHOROGANE MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-51, an auxiliary minesweeper and an auxiliary subchaser.
3 - Convoy A CO is destroyer HATAKAZE CO and convoy B CO is subchaser CH-51 CO.
4 - Tokyo Bay Troops CO will provide one minesweeper for convoy A and two for convoy B.
23 August 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Chichi-Jima in convoy No. 3823 A also consisting of FUJI MARU and KIRI MARU No. 1 GO escorted by destroyer HATAKAZE and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-6. Each ship tows a midget submarine. CHOKI MARU tows HA-62, FUJI MARU tows HA-65 and KIRI MARU No. 1 GO tows HA 73. HA 65 and HA-73 are lost in a typhoon
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Chichi Jima where CHOKI MARU delivers HA-62.
E 30 ~ 31 August 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
2 September 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
5 September 1944:
Departs Yokosuka with FUJI MARU and KIRI MARU No. 1 GO.
9 September 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
25 September 1944:
Departs Kure.
3 October 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
4 October 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
11 October 1944:
Departs Kagoshima escorting a convoy and arrives at Chiringa-Jima, Kagoshima Bay later in the day.
12 October 1944:
Departs Chiringa-Jima.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Oshima .
26 October 1944:
Departs Oshima.
27 October 1944:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
28 October 1944:
At 1246, convoy KATA-916 consisting of TENSHO, AMAKUSA, SHINTON, SANKA, SANJIN, HAYAMA, TORAI, TAIKYU, SAKISHIMA, BANSEI, CHOKI, KISHIN and KANKYO MARUs departs Naha escorted by kaibokan CD-30, torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, minesweeper W-15, auxiliary minesweepers HIMESHIMA MARU, SHONAN MARU No. 16 and TOSHI MARU No.7, auxiliary subchasers SHOWA MARU, CHa-216, CHa-228, CHa-235, auxiliaries KIYO, KOCHI, AIKAWA MARUs and auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 GO.
Arrives with the convoy at Kerama Retto (Islands) later that same day.
29 October 1944:
Departs Kerama Retto and arrives at Miyako later that day.
31 October 1944:
Departs Miyako and arrives at Iromote-Jima, Yaeyama Islands later this day.
1 November 1944:
Departs Iromote-Jima and arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) at 2305.
5 November 1944:
At 0550, departs Kirun in convoy KITA-9 also consisting of KANKYO, TORAI, TAIKEN and KISHIN MARUs, YAEI MARU No. 10 and BANSHU MARU No. 31 escorted by auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 GO, auxiliary subchasers SHOWA MARU, CHa-216 and CHa-228 and auxiliaries KOCHI, KYO and AYUGAWA MARUs.
6 November 1944:
At 1345, arrives at Takao, (now Kaoshiung), Formosa.
7 November 1944:
Departs Takao and arrives at Saei (now Tsoying) near Takao later this day.
20 November 1944:
Departs Saei in convoy TAMA-32B also consisting of IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) SHOHO (1,356 GRT) MARU, auxiliary transport NISSHO MARU No. 18 and auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU escorted by subchasers CH-18 and CH-38, auxiliary subchasers CHa-176 and CHa-177, minesweeper W-39 and auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 GO. Calls at Fangliao, Formosa. Departs there later this day. Because of threat of air attack heads to W.
21 November 1944:
Arrives back at Fangliao.
22 November 1944:
Departs Fangliao again and at 1630, arrives at Oluanpi.
24 November 1944:
Departs Oluanpi.
25 November 1944:
At 0518, LtCdr John B. Hess's (USNA ’37) USS POMFRET (SS-391) torpedoes and sinks SHOHO MARU (1,356 GRT) at 20-20N, 121-40E. 16 passengers, 8 gunners and 39 crewmen are killed. Arrives at Sabutan (Sabtang) anchorage, Philippines.
26 November 1944:
Departs Sabutan anchorage and arrives at 2335 at Musa Bay, Fuga Island, Philippines.
27 November 1944:
At 0930, departs Musa Bay but reverses course because of fears of impending attacks and arrives back there at 1555.
28 November 1944:
At 0550, departs again Musa Bay and at 2155, arrives at Lapoc Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
29 November 1944:
At 0630, departs Lapoc Bay and arrives at San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines later that day.
30 November 1944:
Departs San Fernando and at 1635, arrives at Santa Cruz, Luzon, Philippines.
1 December 1944:
At 0600, departs Santa Cruz.
2 December 1944:
At 0125, arrives at Manila, Luzon, Philippines.
4 December 1944:
At 1350 departs Manila with auxiliary netlayers KISHIN MARU and KIRI MARU No. 1 GO escorting MATA-36 only consisting of auxiliary transport NISSHO MARU No. 18.
5 December 1944:
Arrives at San Fernando.
6 December 1944:
Departs San Fernando and arrives at Currimao, Luzon, Philippines later that day.
7 December 1944:
Departs Currimao but reverses course and arrives back there later that same day.
12 December 1944:
Departs again Currimao and arrives at San Pio Quinto, Camiguin Island, Bayan Islands, Philippines later this day.
13 December 1944:
Departs San Pio Quinto.
15 December 1944:
Arrives at Saei.
24 December 1944:
At 0355, departs Saei with minesweeper W-39 and auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 GO escorting convoy TAHO-04 consisting of AKISHIMA and OKINOYAMA MARUs and tankers KINYU MARU No. 4 and NANSHIN MARU No. 19. At 1530, turns back to Saei.
25 December 1944:
Departs off Anping, China and arrives at Saei later that same day.
26 December 1944:
At 0030, TAHO-04 convoy arrives at Hong Kong.
5 January 1945:
At 1530, arrives at the location of beached minesweeper W-41. At 1725, begins towing W-41. At 1750, halts towing.
6 January 1945:
Resumes towing. At 0445, halts towing. At 1030, resumes towing, at 1105 halts towing, at 1512, resumes towing and at 1805 halts towing.
7 January 1945:
At 1445, resumes towing, at 1510 halts towing, at 1530, resumes towing and at 1740, halts towing.
8 January 1945:
Towing resumes, later that day towing halts. At 1500, auxiliary subchaser AYUKAWA MARU begins towing the bow from the stern. At 1505, W-41 is refloated.
16 January 1945:
Departs Saei with minesweepers W-39 and W-41 and auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 GO escorting convoy TAKI-07 consisting of auxiliary transports HIROTA MARU and (ex-water tanker) WAYO MARU, KANSHU MARU (ex-British KANCHOW) and 3 or 6 unidentified ships.
18 January 1945:
At 1402, minesweeper W-39 arrives at Kirun.
19 January 1945:
Arrives at Kirun. At 1547, departs there with minesweepers W-39 and W-41, auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 GO and possibly others escorting convoy TAMO-37A consisting of IJA transport CHILE MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
20 January 1945:
At 1830 off the coast of Qixing Island (Seven Stars), China minesweeper W-41 detaches and returns to Kirun.
21 January 1945:
At 1637, arrives with the convoy at the Chiu Shan Liehtao Island Group, China and anchors.
22 January 1945:
At 0255, departs anchorage with the convoy.
24 January 1945:
At 1940, arrives with the convoy off Hikin To (Pikin Do), Chosen (now SW Korea).
25 January 1945:
At 0632, departs Hikin To.
26 January 1945:
At 1447, arrives with the convoy at Chinkai and detaches.
29 January 1945:
Departs Chinkai and arrives at Takeshiki, Tushima Island later this day.
30 January 1945:
Departs Takeshiki and arrives at Hakata later that day.
31 January 1945:
Departs Hakata.
1 February 1945:
Arrives at Ourasaki.
March 1945:
Navy Lt Yoshida Nikura is appointed CO.
1 March 1945:
Under Second Special Attack Squadron command.
17 March 1945:
Departs Kure and arrives at Ourasaki later this day.
23 March 1945:
Departs Ourasaki and arrives at Kure later that day.
24 March 1945:
Departs Kure and arrives at Ourasaki later this day.
25 March 1945:
Departs Ourasaki and arrives at Mitsukue later that day.
26 March 1945:
Departs Mitsukue and arrives at Saeki later this day.
27 March 1945:
Departs Saeki and arrives at Tsuruura later that day.
28 March 1945:
Departs Tsuruura and arrives at Mitsukue later this day.
29 March 1945:
Departs Mitsukue and calls at Ourasaki. Departs there and arrives at Kure later this day.
6 April 1945:
Departs Kure.
7 April 1945:
Arrives at Ourasaki.
9 April 1945:
Departs Ourasaki and arrives at Misaki Koki later that day.
10 April 1945:
Departs Misaki Koki and arrives at Iwamatsu later this day.
11 April 1945:
Departs Iwamatsu.
12 April 1945:
Arrives at Sukumo.
17 April 1945:
At 1151, 55° and 4.3 nautical miles of Urajima disposes of one floating mine.
27 April 1945:
Departs Sukumo and arrives at Kure later this day.
3 May 1945:
Departs Kure and arrives at Ourasaki later that day.
4 May 1945:
Departs Ourasaki and arrives at Sukumo later this day.
6 May 1945:
Departs Sukumo and arrives at Mitsukue later that day.
7 May 1945:
Departs Mitsukue and arrives at Ourasaki later this day.
10 May 1945:
Departs Ourasaki and arrives at Nakajima later that day.
11 May 1945:
Departs Nakajima and arrives at Sukumo later this day.
30 May 1945:
Departs Sukumo and arrives at Kure later that day.
7 June 1945:
Performs attack training with the 111st Assault Corps in Sukomo.
15 August 1945:
End of hostilities. Remains in service. Her allotted SCAJAP No. is C-009.
10 August 1946:
Decommissioned.
3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 327.
1949:
Sold to Hoei Kisen K.K., Tokyo.
1953:
Sold to Fuji Kisen K.K., Tokyo.
1960:
Sold to Kambara Kisen K.K., Tokyo.
1966:
Sold to Ikuta Kaiun K.K., Tokyo.
1967:
Sold to unknown owners and renamed HAI YONG. Reflagged under Panamanian flag.
26 August 1967:
Wrecked at Pangulasian Island, Palawan, Philippines. The wreck is then stripped of machinery and fittings and the hull converted to a barge. It is believed this barge is the same as ASIAN LOGGER (39’, 898 GRT) owned locally by unknown owners.
4 February 1972:
While on a voyage from Subok to Manila, carrying logs, ASIAN LOGGER strikes a submerged object 14-40N, 122-22E and is beached at Jomalig Island, where the wreck is apparently abandoned.

Authors' Notes:
[1] NRT is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). It is calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's gross register tonnage (GRT). Net register tonnage (NRT) is not a measure of the weight of the ship or its cargo, and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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