Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!
(Fukuyama Maru prewar)

IJN FUKUYAMA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1

27 June 1936:
Kobe. Laid down by Harima Zosensho K.K. shipyard for Kaiyo Kisen K.K. as a 3,581-tons cargo ship.
6 November 1936:
Launched and named FUKUYAMA MARU. [1]
20 January 1937:
Completed and registered in Tokyo. Her Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) is 2,121-tons. [2]
29 January 1937:
Chartered to Nakamura Kisen K.K.
16 June 1937:
Chartered to Nichiro Gyogyo K.K.
30 September 1937:
Chartered to Nakamura Kisen K.K.
7 June 1938:
Chartered to Nichiro Gyogyo K.K.
19 September 1938:
Chartered to Nakamura Kisen K.K.
7 June 1939:
Chartered to Nichiro Gyogyo K.K.
4 November 1939:
Chartered to Nakamura Kisen K.K.
31 May 1940:
Chartered to Nichiro Gyogyo K.K.
19 September 1940:
Chartered to Nakamura Kisen K.K.
25 September 1940:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 October 1940:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as home port under Navy’s instruction No. 716. Navy Captain Sasaki Hinoe is appointed CO. Begins that same day conversion to military duty at Uraga Dock K.K. shipyard.
14 November 1940:
The conversion is completed. Her NRT is changed to 2,113-tons. [2]
15 November 1940:
Rated as an auxiliary gunboat under Navy’s instruction No. 830.
12 December 1940:
Navy Captain Goto Denjiro (38) is appointed CO.
20 December 1940:
Departs Futami, Chichi Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
E December 1940 ~ August 1941:
Operates in the South Seas (Japanese mandated islands).
15 January 1941:
Assigned to lay mines under Navy’s instruction No. 56.
4 August 1941:
Departs Palau. Recovers mines with IJN gunboats EDO and SAIKYO MARUs later that day.
15 August 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
December 1941:
Assigned to Vice Admiral Inoue Shigeyoshi’s (37) Fourth Fleet in Rear Admiral Nakamura Kazuo’s (37) Third Base Force, 4th Gunboat Division based at Palau, Western Carolines.
10 December 1941:
Assignment confirmed to Fourth Fleet, Third Base Force.
11 January 1942:
Departs Palau and arrives at Garasumao, Babeldaob (Babelthuap), Palaus later in the day.
12 January 1942:
Departs Garasumao and arrives back at Palau later that day.
4 February 1942:
Departs Palau.
10 February 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines.
12 February 1942:
Departs Truk.
17 February 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
1 March 1942:
Departs Palau.
7 March 1942:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes (now Sulawesi).
15 March 1942:
Departs Kendari.
20 March 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
4 April 1942:
Departs Palau.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
10 April 1942:
Assignment confirmed to Fourth Fleet, Third Base Force.
12 April 1942:
Departs Truk.
16 April 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
25 April 1942:
Navy Captain Arima Tatsuhajime is appointed CO.
6 May 1942:
Departs Palau.
14 May 1942:
Provides assistance to auxiliary transport SANSEI MARU (3266 gt) that ran aground off the coast of Peleliu, Palaus on 12 May.
20 May 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
23 May 1942:
Departs Palau.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 June 1942:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 1057 and registered again as an auxiliary transport, (Ko) category attached to Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as homeport under instruction No. 1058, still with Captain Arima Tatsuhajime as CO. [3]
1 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
4 July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
5 July 1942:
Departs Moji.
7 July 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo, Chosen (now North Korea).
11 July 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
14 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
19 July 1942:
Departs Kure.
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
26 July 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
28 July 1942:
Scheduled to be reclassified as auxiliary transport (Otsu) category under instruction No. 17-7-52. (taking effect 20 Aug ’42) [3]
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
6 August 1942:
Departs Kure.
10 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
13 August 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Kobe.
20 August 1942:
Officially reclassified as auxiliary transport (Otsu) category. Captain Arima is reassigned to Yokosuka Naval District Office. [3]
22 August 1942:
Departs Kobe.
23 August 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
27 August 1942:
Departs Kure.
28 August 1942:
Arrives at Moji and departs for Chosen (Korea) later in the day.
30 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
2 September 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
5 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
12 September 1942:
Departs Kure.
13 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
14 September 1942:
Departs Moji.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China).
21 September 1942:
Departs Dairen.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
28 September 1942:
Departs Nagasaki.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
2 October 1942:
Departs Osaka.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
4 October 1942:
Departs Yawata.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Kenjiho, Chosen (now North Korea).
8 October 1942:
Departs Kenjiho.
9 October 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
13 October 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 October 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
21 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
22 October 1942:
Departs Moji.
25 October 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
29 October 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
6 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
7 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
8 November 1942:
Departs Moji.
E 11 November 1942:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
14 November 1942:
Departs Chinnampo.
17 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
30 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
E 1 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
4 December 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
6 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
7 December 1942:
Departs Moji in convoy No. 198 as only merchant ship escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
11 December 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
16 December 1942:
Departs Takao.
17 December 1942:
At 1050 in the north entrance to the Taiwan Strait the ship is missed by an enemy submarine's torpedoes. Later arrives at Kirun (now Keelung), Formosa.
21 December 1942:
Departs Keelung.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 December 1942:
Assigned to load the following landing craft: No. 5091, No. 5140, No. 5141, No. 5142, No. 5143, No. 5160, No. 5161 and No. 5162, under Sasebo Naval District instruction No 479.
29 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Departs later that same day for Osaka.
31 December 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
7 January 1943:
Departs Osaka.
8 January 1943:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
11 January 1943:
Departs Yokkaichi.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
20 January 1943:
Departs Kirun.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
24 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
30 January 1943:
Departs Kirun.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
8 February 1943:
Departs Osaka.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
10 February 1943:
Departs Moji.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
17 February 1943:
Departs Dairen.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.
25 February 1943:
Departs Nagoya.
26 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
1 March 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
5 March 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate, Hokkaido.
6 March 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
8 March 1943:
Arrives at Muroran, Hokkaido. Departs later that day.
10 March 1943:
Arrives at Ominato, Aomori Prefecture. Departs later in the day.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
14 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tokyo later that same day.
19 March 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
23 March 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
26 March 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
27 March 1943:
Arrives at Otaru, Hokkaido.
30 March 1943:
Departs Otaru.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
2 April 1943:
Departs Hakodate.
4 April 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
12 April 1943:
Departs Tokyo and arrives at Ishikawajima, Tokyo later in the day.
12 ~ 25 April 1943:
Undergoes repairs at Ishikawajima Zosensho K.K. Tokyo shipyard.
26 April 1943:
Repairs are completed. Departs Ishikawajima and arrives at Tokyo that same day.
28 April 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
1 May 1943:
Arrives at Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. Departs later that day.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
3 May 1943:
Departs Muroran.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
13 May 1943:
Departs Tokyo and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day.
19 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
22 May 1943:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
23 May 1943:
Departs Saipan in convoy No. 3515 also consisting of auxiliary collier/oiler SOYO MARU and IJA transport YAMASHIRO MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat SEIKAI MARU and destroyer ASANAGI (from 9N). The convoy sails at 10 knots.
26 May 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Truk.
28 May 1943:
At 1200, departs Truk for Jaluit and then Kwajalein, Marshalls.
29 May 1943:
In position 09-47N 160-58E meets up with convoy No. 5283 consisting of auxiliary collier/oiler SOYO MARU and auxiliary transport KENSHO MARU escorted by subchaser CH-32 and destroyer IKAZUCHI. Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 11 joins the convoy at some point,
2 June 1943:
At 1315 arrives at Kwajalein.
20 June 1943:
Departs Kwajalein in convoy No. 6202 also consisting of auxiliary storeship KITAKAMI MARU escorted by destroyer YUZUKI. The convoy sails at 10 knots.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
1 July 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 4701 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships with unknown escort.
11 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
17 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
24 July 1943:
Departs Saeki in convoy O-406 also consisting of IJA transports UCHIDE, KINE, KAZUURA, NISHIYAMA (SEIZAN) and TENKAI MARUs escorted by kaibokan IKI, minelayer YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 8.
E 25 July 1943:
At 29N TAKUNAN M ARU No. 8 and YURIJIMA are detached.
2 August 1943:
Torpedo boat HATO joins the convoy at 11N. Later that day arrives at Palau.
6 August 1943:
At 1200, departs Palau in convoy MU-601 as only merchant ship escorted by minelayer WAKATAKA.
11 August 1943:
At 0650, arrives at Ambon, Moluccas.
16 August 1943:
Departs Ambon escorted by auxiliary netlayer HINOKI MARU.
21 August 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
28 August 1943:
Departs Balikpapan.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes.
2 September 1943:
Departs Macassar.
4 September 1943:
Arrives at Pomalaa, Celebes.
15 September 1943:
Departs Pomalaa.
16 September 1943:
Arrives at Macassar.
19 September 1943:
Departs Macassar.
21 September 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
28 September 1943:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy 012 also consisting of SHOBU MARU escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
5 October 1943:
Arrives at Manila, Luzon.
11 October 1943:
Departs Manila in convoy No. 870 also consisting of auxiliary collier/oiler YAMAKO (SANKO), civilian (C-AO) emergency tanker TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARU and tanker SAN DIEGO MARU escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
14 October 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Takao.
20 October 1943:
At 1700, departs Takaoin convoy No. 213 also consisting of civilian (C-AO) emergency tanker TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboats HUASHAN (KAZAN) and CHOHAKUSAN MARUs. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji and later that day, at Niihama, Shikoku.
1 November 1943:
Departs Niihama and arrives at Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture later that day.
2 November 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
3 November 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
5 November 1943:
Departs Kure.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
7 November 1943:
Departs Moji.
8 November 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
9 November 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
10 November 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
11 November 1943:
Departs Kobe.
13 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
29 November 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Truk escorted by minelayer MA-3 and auxiliary minelayer KINJO MARU.
7 January 1944:
Departs Truk in convoy No. 4107 also consisting of IJA transports KAIKO (1514 grt) and SUMIYOSHI MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) CHIYO MARU and possibly others escorted by subchaser CH-28, auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 3 and SHONAN MARU No. 11 and auxiliary patrol boat KENKAI MARU.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
17 January 1944:
Departs Saipan in a convoy also consisting of IJA transport KAIKO MARU (1514 grt) and possibly others with an unknown escort.
26 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 January 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day.
31 January 1944:
Navy Captain Murakami Tamasaburo is appointed supervisor.
10 February 1944:
Departs Yokohama in a convoy also consisting of IJA transport ECHIZEN MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship (B-AK) KENAN MARU and possibly others with an unknown escort.
19 February 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
22 February 1944:
Departs Saipan for Yokosuka in unnumbered convoy also consisting of auxiliary repair ship YAMASHIMO MARU, another freighter and two or more unknown escorts. At about 1500, LtCdr Robert J. Foley’s (USNA ’27) USS GATO (SS-212) attacks the convoy, but Foley’s torpedoes hit a reef instead of his targets. Later that evening, LtCdr (later MOH/Rear Admiral-Ret) Richard H. O’Kane’s (USNA ’34) USS TANG (SS-306) running on the surface also finds the convoy. O’Kane tracks the Japanese ships through rain squalls which makes radar almost useless. At about 2200, he attains a firing position about 1,500 yards off the port bow of a freighter. He fires a spread of four torpedoes that all hit FUKUYAMA MARU from bow to stern. The transport disintegrates and sinks at 14-47N, 144-50E about 46 nautical miles SW Tinian, Marianas with the loss of 47 crewmen.
31 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 508.

Authors' Notes :
[1] Not to be confused with IJA shared transport No. 5516 (6,607 GRT ’18) (ex-British FEDERLOCK).
[2] 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.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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