Japanese Auxiliary Cruisers

TOKUSETSU JUNYOKAN!

(HOKOKU MARU by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN GOKOKU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 1998-2007 Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp
Revision 2

31 July 1939:
Tama. Laid down at the Tama ship yard as a passenger-cargo vessel for the Osaka Shosen K. K. Line. [1]
2 April 1942:
Launched and named GOKOKU MARU. It is planned to use the ship on the Japan-Africa route with her two sister ships, AIKOKU and HOKOKU MARUs, but she never enters this service.
27 July 1942:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
10 August 1942:
Tama. Begins conversion by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding to an armed merchant cruiser. Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Mizuno Kokichi (37) is posted as her Chief Equipping Officer.
25 September 1942:
Completes conversion and is registered (commissioned) in the IJN in the Kure Naval District. Captain Mizuno assumes command.
1 October 1942:
Assigned directly to the Combined Fleet.
21 October 1942:
Departs Kure.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Singapore. Assigned the dual responsibility as a resupply ship for SubRon 8 and a commerce raider.
2 December 1942:
Departs Singapore carrying the 6th Naval Air Group's engineers and communications station personnel and equipment accompanied by AMCs AIKOKU and KIYOSUMI MARUs and destroyer SHIOKAZE.

12 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
16 December 1942:
GOKOKU MARU is attached to Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's Eighth Fleet. As a part of preparations for the capture of Madang, New Guinea, she embarks the 21st and 42nd Infantry Regiments, 58th Field AA Artillery Batallion, 6th Airfield Construction Unit, road construction and communications units; a total of 3,724 men.
Departs Rabaul for Madang in an Attack Force with light cruiser TENRYU, sister-ship AIKOKU MARU and destroyers ISONAMI, INAZUMA, SUZUKAZE and ARASHIO.
18 December 1942:
LtCdr Richard C. Lakein USS ALBACORE (SS-218) receives an "Ultra" message alerting him of the Attack Force's movements based on U.S. Navy codebreakers' decryption of Japanese radio traffic.
Off Madang. At 0732, the Attack Force is bombed unsuccessfully. The Attack Force lands two battalions of men under LtCol Hanawa of the 5th Division and an airfield construction unit.
At 1744, GOKOKU MARU is hit in the bow area by a bomb from Boeing B-17E "Flying Fortresses" of the 43rd Bomb Group, Fifth Air Force that starts a small fire.
At 1800, that same day, TENRYU departs Madang Roads with ARASHIO, SUZUKAZE, ISONAMI and INAZUMA. LtCdr Lake sets up on what he takes to be a transport escorted by a "destroyer." He fires three torpedoes at each. Lake's torpedoes miss the GOKOKU MARU, but TENRYU is hit in the stern and sinks. SUKUKAZE and ISONAMI unsuccessfullycounterattack Lake's ALBACORE.
19 December 1942:
Departs Madang.
20 December 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
2 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
10 January 1943:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Pusan, Korea.
12 January 1943: Operation "C" (HINOE-GO) - The Reinforcement of New Guinea:
GOKOKU MARU departs Pusan on a mission transporting the IJA's 20th Infantry division with sister-ship auxiliary cruiser AIKOKU MARU, sub tender YASUKUNI MARU, ex-seaplane tenders SANUKI MARU and SAGARA MARU, ex-auxiliary HAKOZAKI MARU, ammunition ship ARATAMA MARU, light cruisers OI and KITAKAMI, destroyers HATSUYUKI and SHIKANAMI and ex-auxiliary gunboats SHINKYO and JUSAN MARUs.
14 January 1943:
The convoy arrives at Palau.
17 January 1943:
Off Palau. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Hiram Cassedy's USS SEARAVEN (SS-196) hits GOKOKU MARU at 07-52N, 134-02E with a Mark 14 steam torpedo, but it is a dud.
GOKOKU MARU arrives safely at Palau.
19 January 1943:
Departs Palau.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Wewak, New Guinea. Disembarks troops and departs.
28 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo
30 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
31 January 1943:Operation HINOE-GO-3 ("C-3"):
The convoy arrives at Tsingtao, China. Embarks elements of the IJA's 41st Infantry Division.
4 February 1943:
Departs Tsingtao with transport group HINOE-GO No. 3. The transport group is divided into four units. The second unit consists of transports GOKOKU, KIYOSUMI and AIKOKU MARUs escorted by destroyers ASAGUMO and SAMIDARE.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Palau. Unloads troops and supplies. GOKOKU MARU detaches from HINOE-GO No. 3
17 February 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
18 February 1943:
Departs Rabaul with aircraft transport GOSHU MARU for Gasmata, New Britain escorted by DesDiv16's YUKIKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE and DesDiv 19's SHIKINAMI.

19 February 1943:
Arrives at Gasmata.

20 February 1943:
Departs Gasmata.

21 February 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul from Gasmata.

1 April 1943:
GOKOKU MARU is reassigned directly to the Combined Fleet.
5 May 1943:
Departs Singapore in an unnumbered convoy with KIYOSUMI MARU and several unknown escorts.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Wewak.

3 July 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
5 July 1943:
Departs Saigon.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
27 July 1943:
Departs Kure.
2 September 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
16 September 1943:
Departs Kure.

18 September 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

24 September 1943:
Departs Shanghai transporting elements of the IJA's 17th Army Division to Rabaul in an unnumbered convoy with ex-AMC KIYOSUMI MARU, sub tender HEIAN MARU, another unidentified ship and escorts.

1 October 1943:
Rerated a transport assigned to the Kure Naval District.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.

18 October 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

21 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai on a transport mission with KIYOSUMI MARU and destroyer YAMAGUMO.

28 October 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
3 November 1943:
GOKOKU MARU and destroyer URAKAZE are bombed by USAAF B-24s while en route to Rabaul. GOKOKU MARU suffers some damage.

25 November 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
26 November 1943:
Kure Navy Yard. Begins repairs and modifications of equipment to increase her carrying capability.
19 December 1943:
Completes repairs and modifications.
23 December 1943:
Departs Kure.
27 December 1943:
SE of Honshu. That evening, LtCdr Charles H. Andrews' USS GURNARD's (SS-254) SJ radar picks up a single large merchant with ten escorts. Andrews makes several attempts to pierce the escort's screen and finally succeeds. At 2350, he fires his last four torpedoes and scores two hits at 34-23N, 138-24E. GOKOKU MARU goes dead in the water, but 15 minutes later begins to limp slowly away.
28 December 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Later, transfers to Yokohama for repairs.
12 June 1944:
Repairs are completed. Departs Yokohama.
15 June 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
19 June 1944:
Departs Kure.

20 June 1944:
Departs Moji at 1930 in convoy HI-67 for Singapore. HI-67 consists of transports GOKOKU, MANJU, NANKAI, KINUGASA, ASAKA, ASAHISAN and HAKOZAKI MARUs and oilers MIRI, OTORISAN, NICHINAN No. 2, SARAWAK and SHINEI MARUs escorted by minelayer SHIRATAKA, submarine chaser CH-61, destroyers ASAGAO and KURETAKE and kaibokan HIRADO, KURAHASHI and CD-5 and 13.

E 26 June 1944:
CD-2 and destroyer ASAGAO join convoy HI-67.
29 June 1944:
Near dawn, LtCdr Anton W. Gallaher's USS BANG (SS-385) picks up convoy HI-67. Gallaher makes a long "end-around" in daylight. At about 1500, he fires all ten torpedoes in his bow and stern tubes at three ships. He damages MIRI and SARAWAK MARUs. Both oilers are hit in the bow, but each manages to proceed to Manila.

30 June 1944:
The main convoy arrives at Manila. GOKOKU, SARAWAK and MIRI MARUs are detached.

E 1 July 1944:
Departs Manila for Kure.

6 July 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
9 July 1944: At 1500, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen D. Claggett's USS DACE (SS-247) fires six Mark 14 torpedoes at GOKOKU MARU at 06-22N, 126-18E. Two hit, but are duds.
25 July 1944:
Departs Manila with escort carrier KAIYO and transport ASAMA MARU in convoy MAMO-01 escorted by destroyers AKIKAZE, HATSUSHIMA and TSUGA and minesweeper W-28.
27 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao at 1400 and departs later that day.

10 August 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
13 August 1944:
Departs Kure.
18 August 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
21 August 1944:
Departs Kure.
25 August 1944:
At 0630, departs Moji after arriving earlier that day from the Mutsure anchorage. GOKOKU MARU is part of fast convoy HI-73 consisting of IJA landing ship KIBITSU MARU, ex-seaplane tenders SANUKI and KAGU MARUs, tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN, HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and KUROSHIO MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO escorted by escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII, kaibokan CHIBURI CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27. Later that day, the convoy is joined briefly by transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs and tanker MANEI MARU that all depart the following day.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered to detach because of excessive smoke. MANEI MARU remains at Kyushu because of engine problems.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. Departs that same day and arrives at Tsoying (near Takao).
30 August 1944:
Off Saei. The convoy splits. GOKOKU, KIBITSU and KAGU MARUs (and probably IRAKO) head for Manila. The remaining ships head for Singapore.
10 September 1944:
Departs Manila in fleet convoy MAMO-03 for Moji with KAGU and KIBITSU MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-21 and kaibokan CD-10 and CD-20.
11 September 1944:
S China Sea. 100 miles NE of the Paracel Islands. Convoy MAMO-03 joins fleet convoy HI-72 that departed Singapore on 6 September for Moji. HI-72 includes the ASAKA, NANKAI, KIMIKAWA , RAKUYO, ZUIHO , KIBITSU and KACHIDOKI MARUs (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON). HI-72 carries oil, drummed aviation gasoline, bauxite, mercury and rubber. RAKUYO MARU also carries 1,317 Allied POWs and KACHIDOKI MARU carries another 950 POWs. Destroyer SHIKANAMI and kaibokan MIKURA and KURAHASHI are in the escort.
12 September 1944:
At 0200, HIRADO is torpedoed by Cdr Thomas B. Oakey’s GROWLER (SS-215). The frigate blows up and sinks. Rear Admiral Kajioka, victor of Wake Island, now CO of the 6th Escort Convoy Command is killed. He is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously.
At 0500, the RAKUYO MARU is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich's USS SEALION and hit in the No. 1 hold and engine room. RAKUYO MARU takes down 1,159 POWs. About the same time, SEALION also torpedoes NANKAI MARU. She is hit in Hold Nos. 3 and 6 and sinks about 0800. [2]
240 miles south of Hong Kong. Just before 0700, SHIKANAMI is torpedoed by GROWLER and sinks at 18-16 N, 114-40 E. Eight officers and 120 men rescued by MIKURA. At 2300, KACHIDOKI MARU is hit by USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) and sinks. More than 400 POWs perish. [2]
15 September 1944:
The remainder of the convoy arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island.
16 September 1944:
Departs Yulin.

20 September 1944:
Formosa Strait. The convoy is attacked by USAAF Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" bombers. GOKOKU MARU is hit in the stern. The bomb damages her hull and port propeller shaft. KAGU, ASAKA and SHINSHO MARUs are also damaged in the bombing attack. GOKOKU MARU is towed to Mako, Pescadores.
25 September 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Undergoes temporary repairs.
29 September 1944:
Departs Kure for Kirun Naval Base, near Keelung, Formosa for repairs to her hull.
7 November 1944:
At 0700, departs Kirun for Sasebo with the destroyer HIBIKI. GOKOKU MARU carries 400 Formosan volunteers for the Navy, 600 tons of sugar and 300 tons of aluminum ingots.
9 November 1944:
At 1400, GOKOKU MARU is joined by an unidentified kaibokan and at 1800 by another unidentified kaibokan.
Off Goto Retto. At 2200, heavy seas so slow the kaibokans that GOKOKU MARU is forced to abandon them. Captain Mizuno increases speed to 15 knots on his starboard propeller and heads for the Sasebo Channel.
10 November 1944:
At 0245, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B. Fluckey's USS BARB (SS-220) picks up GOKOKU MARU on her SJ radar.
At 0334, Fluckey fires three MK-18 electric torpedoes at GOKOKU MARU. The first hits aft of the funnel and the second hits forward of the bridge. GOKOKU MARU's port engine room is destroyed. The ship floods, her engines stop, she loses all power and takes on a 30 degree list to port.
Fluckey notices that GOKOKU MARU is not sinking, but heading very slowly towards shore. Captain Mizuno is attemping to beach his ship. Fluckey fires another electric torpedo, but it circles and misses.
Seven miles off Koshiki Jima, E Kyushu. BARB submerges. LtCdr Fluckey closes to 1,400 yards. At 0410, he fires a final torpedo and scores another hit. This time, GOKOKU MARU sinks by the stern at 33-31N, 129-19E.
The number of survivors is unknown , but 326 crew and passengers are KIA including Captain Mizuno. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors’ Note:
[1] The Tama yard is later renamed Mitsui Engineering Tama yard.
[2] The Japanese rescue some of the POWs from these two ships. All are transferred to KIBITSU MARU and taken to Japan. The American submarines later return to rescue a number of British and Australian POWs.

Special thanks for assistance go to Mssrs. Peter Cundall of Australia and Jean-Francois Masson of Canada.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

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