KOSEKI UMPANSEN
(HIKACHI MARU)
HIKACHI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011 Bob Hackett
February 1943:
Innoshima. Laid down at Hitachi Zosen K. K. as a 6,008-ton
Type 1K Standard Merchant ore carrier for Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) K.K., Tokyo.
1943:
Launched and named HIKACHI MARU.
October 1943:
Completed.
18 October 1944:
At 0700, HIKACHI (NISSHO) MARU departs Imari Bay,
near Sasebo, for Cap St. Jacques, Indochina and Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-23
consisting of ENRYAKU, MUNAKATA, MATSUMOTO, KOSHIN, EININ, RITSUEI, YAMASONO,
EBARA, ENREKI, SHOEI, HIROTA, UNZEN, YOKAI and SHIROTAE MARUs and YUZAN MARU No.
2 and survey ship HAKUSA escorted by kaibokan CD-14, CD-20, CD-34, CD-38, CD-39,
CD-46 and patrol boats PB-38 and P-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224).
20 October 1944:
Anchors in Raro Bay, Chosen (Korea).
22 October 1944:
At the Shushan anchorage, E of Shanghai.
24 October 1944:
75 miles ENE of Foochow, China. At 1000, HIROTA,
UNZEN and YOKAI MARUs are detached for Takao escorted by PB-38 and PB-102.
25 October 1944:
Formosa Strait. At 0208, Cdr (later Rear
Admiral-Ret) Richard H. O’Kane’s USS TANG (SS-306), running on the surface,
torpedoes and sinks EBARA and MATSUMOTO MARUs at 25-04N, 119-35E. TANG commences
another attack, but one of her remaining torpedoes commences a circular run.
CD-34’s lookouts spot the torpedo and witness an explosion which sinks
the submarine. Nine American submariners are found drifting on the surface
including Captain O’Kane. CD-34 rescues the survivors and later claims to have
sunk TANG, but, in fact, the submarine was sunk by TANG's last torpedo-a
defective Mark-18 electric. CD-34 is detached for Takao, Formosa with the POWs.
26 October 1944:
At 0600, the convoy anchors outside Amoy harbor,
China. At 1800, the convoy departs.
27 October 1944:
At 0800, the convoy arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
29 October 1944:
At 0800, the convoy departs Amoy for Cap St.
Jacques.
30-31 October 1944:
Aircraft attack the convoy, but no damage is
received.
4 November 1944:
At 1803, the convoy arrives at Cap St. Jacques.
9 November 1944:
At 0235, the convoy departs Cap St. Jacques.
12 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
27 November 1944:
At 0205, HIKACHI MARU departs Singapore in convoy
SHISA-30 consisting of EININ, TOHO, FUJISAN, ENRYAKU, TATSUMIYA, YAMAKUNI and
DAISHU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-27, minesweeper W-34, subchasers CH-34 and
CH-35 and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
30 November 1944:
Arrives at Saei (Tsoying).
15 August 1945: Hostilities End:
Emperor Hirohito accepts the terms of
the Potsdam Declaration (of unconditional surrender).
1956:
HIKACHI MARU is acquired by Hokusei Kaiun K.K., Tokyo. Renamed
KAMUI MARU.
1964:
Sold to New Taiwan Marine Transportation Co., Ltd., Keelung,
Taiwan. Renamed YUNG TAI.
April 1968:
Begins scrapping at Kaohsiung (formerly Takao), Taiwan.
Author's Note:
Also known as NISSHO MARU.
- Bob Hackett
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