Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!
(IKUSHIMA MARU prewar)

IJN IKUSHIMA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2013-2018 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 6

5 June 1936:
Osaka. Laid down by Osaka Tekkosho Honsha K.K shipyard for Hamane Shoten K.K. as a 3,943-ton cargo ship.
14 November 1936:
Launched and named IKUSHIMA MARU.
26 December 1936:
Completed and registered in Kobe. Her Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) is 2,365-tons. [1]
1937:
Requisitioned by the IJA as Army transport No. 52.
1939:
Released to her owners.
1940:
Her NRT is changed to 2,353-tons. [1].
21 November 1940:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
28 November 1940:
Nagasaki. Starts conversion to military duty at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Machinery Works K.K. shipyard.
16 December 1940:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary minesweeper tender attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 980. Captain Tsukahara Taneichi (39) (former CO of ODOMARI) assumes command.
30 December 1940:
The conversion is completed.
22 March 1941:
Departs Susaki, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku.
E 23 March ~ 3 April 1941:
Operates in Chosen (now Korea) waters.
4 April 1941:
Arrives at Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
10 June 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
E 13 June ~ 19 July 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
22 July 1941:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. Departs later.
28 July 1941:
Departs Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
E 29 July ~ 2 September 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
7 September 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 November 1941:
Departs Terashima strait for Palau, Western Carolines.
6 December 1941:
Arrives at Palau. Preparation is made for the invasion of Southern Philippines at Legaspi.
8 December 1941: Operation “M” – The Attack on the Southern Philippines:
At 0800, departs Peleliu, Palaus for Legaspi, Luzon, Philippines in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji 's (38) (former CO of KAGA) Fourth Surprise Attack Force with IJA Air Defense ship/transport YASUKAWA MARU, IJA transports MATSUMOTO, HARUNA, SHINANOGAWA and MYOKO MARUs and auxiliary transport YAMAFUKU and SHINRYU MARUs. The transports carry 2,500 men of MajGen Kimura Naoki's 16th Infantry Division's 33rd Infantry Regiment, a battery of the 22d Field Artillery and engineer detachments accompanied by 575 men of the Kure No. 1 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF).
Kubo’s force is escorted by light cruiser NAGARA (F), DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE, UMIKAZE and YAMAKAZE and minelayer AOTAKA. Kubo’s force is also accompanied by fleet oiler HAYATOMO and DesDiv 16’s YUKIKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE. Seaplane tenders CHITOSE and MIZUHO provide air cover. Other escorting ships are minesweepers W-7 and W-8, auxiliary gunboat MYOKEN MARU, auxiliary subchasers KYO MARU No. 12 and KYO MARU No. 13 and auxiliary netlayer TOKO MARU No. 1 Go.
10 December 1941:
Tactically assigned to Third Fleet, 1st base Force.
11 December 1941:
Off Western Luzon, Philippines. En route to Legaspi, the convoy’s destroyers refuel from oiler HAYATOMO. Later the invasion convoy arrives off Albay Province, Luzon east coast.
12 December 1941:
At 0400, a submarine is detected near the landing force. At 0600, patrolboats PB-34 and PB-35 arrive at Legaspi. AOTAKA and PB-34 are briefly detached for a depth-charge attack. At about 1200, Kubo's Fourth Surprise Attack Force begin landing troops at Legaspi without opposition. SHINRYU, MATSUMOTO, MYOKO, HARUNA, SHINANOGAWA and YAMAFUKU MARUs land troops of the 16th Infantry Division. YASUKAWA MARU lands troops of the Kure No. 1 SNLF.
USAAF B-17 “Flying Fortess” heavy bombers raid the convoy. YASUKAWA MARU suffers some water leakage caused by a near miss of a bomb. The other transports sustain no damage.
19 December 1941:
Departs Legaspi and joins the Lamon Bay Operation Invasion Forces that departed Koniya, Amami Oshima on 17 Dec ‘41. The Army force consists of Gen (later Field Marshal) Count Terauchi Hisachi’s Southern Expeditionary Army. Its 14th Army, under LtGen Homma Masaharu, fields MajGen Morioka Susumu's Invasion Unit of about 7,000 troops consisting of elements of the 16th Infantry division: 20th Infantry, 22nd Field Artillery, HQ and II Battalion, 16 HQ Company, 16th Eng Battalion, 16th Recon Battalion, 3/45 AA Company, 16th Transport Company, 16th Signal Company, 16th Medical Unit and 16th Veterinary Unit. Two AA and one Signals Regiment are carried on IJA transports (Yusosen).
The invasion units are embarked on 20 IJA transports: BENGAL, DAINICHI, DURBAN, KAIMEI, KAYO, KITANO, KOFUKU, LISBON, NAGATO, NICHIREN, RYOKA, RYUYO, SHINSEI, SHINSHU (4182 GRT), TAIAN, TATSUNO, TOFUKU, TOYAMA and TOYOHASHI MARUs and TAMON MARU No.5.
The naval force consists of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's (35) (former CO of KONGO) Southern Force, Philippines Invasion Group that includes Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (35) (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Third Fleet. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji’s (38) (former CO of KAGA) Invasion Unit consists of his 1st Base Force HQ, in light cruiser NAGARA, 1st Quartermaster Ports and Docks Unit and 1st Naval Signal Unit, aboard HAKUSAN MARU, 1st Naval Guard Unit, aboard KIMISHIMA MARU, 1st Naval Survey Unit in SENKO MARU and Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo's (40)(former CO of SATA) Sasebo No. 1 and 2 Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) aboard MYOKO MARU.
The convoy’s escort consists of light cruiser NAGARA (F), heavy cruiser ASHIGARA, destroyers TOKITSUKAZE, YUKIKAZE, KAWAKAZE, SUSUKAZE, UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, minelayer AOTAKA, minesweepers W-7 and W-8, auxiliary gunboats BUSHO, KEIKO, KANKO and MYOKEN MARUs, auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 17 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 5 and auxiliary netlayer FUKUEI MARU No. 15.
24 December 1941:
The Invasion Force arrives at Lamon Bay. The landings proceed without strong opposition.
27 December 1941:
Departs Lamon Bay escorted by minelayer AOTAKA.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Palau.
3 January 1942:
Departs Palau.
5 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao, Mindanao, Philippines.
7 January 1942:
Departs Davao and arrives that same day at Magnaga Bay, NE Davao Gulf.
9 January 1942:
Departs Magnaga Bay.
14 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
18 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
25 January 1942:
Arrives at Bangka Island, Celebes (now Pulau Bangka, Sulawesi).
2 February 1942:
At 0800 patrol boat PB-1 departs Banka with survey ship TSUKUSHI, minelayer AOTAKA, submarine chasers CH-3 and CH-14, PB-2, IKUSHIMA, MATSUE, MONTEVIDEO, SAN CLEMENTE and YAMASHIMO MARUs. IKUSHIMA MARU carries 5th and 6th construction units.
4 February 1942:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes and disembarks 5th and 6th Construction units bound for the Invasion of Macassar.
6 February 1942:
IKUSHIMA MARU departs Kendari in the Macassar invasion force consisting of transports HOKUROKU, NANKAI, KINAI, MONTEVIDEO, MATSUE and YAMASHIMO MARUs carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo's (former CO of SATA) (40) Sasebo No. 1 Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) escorted by Rear Admiral Kubo’s 1st Base Force’s patrol boats PB-1, PB-2 and PB-34, light cruiser NAGARA, MineSweepDiv 21, SubchasDiv 2 and SubChasDiv 1’s CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3.
9 February 1942: The Invasion of Macassar:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes and proceeds to landings.
E 16 February 1942:
Departs Macassar.
10 March 1942:
Tactically assigned to Vice Admiral Takasu Sanjiro’s (37) 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 21st Special Base Force.
2 April 1942:
At Surabaya, Java.
10 April 1942:
Still assigned to 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, 21st Special Base Force.
25 April 1942:
At Surabaya.
May 1942:
At Surabaya.
5 May 1942:
Captain Nishikawa Hayami (34) (former CO of 1st Patrol Boat Division) assumes command.
7 May 1942:
Captain Inutsuka Koreshige (39) (former CO of KANO MARU) assumes command. Captain Nishikawa is later posted CO of KAIJO MARU.
11 May 1942:
Submarine chaser CH-1 departs Surabaya escorting IKUSHIMA MARU.
14 May 1942:
At 0815, arrives at Terang Bay (NE Labuhanbadjo, Flores Island). Transfers 150-tons of coal to minelayer WAKATAKA.
19 May 1942:
At 0630 departs Terang Bay. At 1400 arrives at Rinca Bay.
20 May 1942:
At 1830 departs Rinca Bay.
23 May 1942:
At 1300 arrives at Surabaya still with CH-1 as escort.
31 May 1942:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 986 and registered again that same day as an auxiliary transport (Ko) category attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as home port under instruction No. 987. An unknown officer assumes command. [2]
10 June 1942:
At 1200, departs Surabaya.
12 June 1942:
At 1800, arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
15 June 1942:
At 1200, departs Balikpapan.
26 June 1942:
Ship’s reclassification is confirmed.
27 June 1942:
At 1000, arrives at Kure.
30 June 1942:
At 0700, departs Kure.
1 July 1942:
At 0900, arrives at Sasebo. Unloads and loads equipment and starts conversion for new military duty at Sasebo Navy Yard.
13 July 1942:
The conversion is completed.
20 July 1942:
At 1200, departs Sasebo.
22 July 1942:
At 1400, arrives at Chinnampo, Chosen.
24 July 1942:
Loads 4,000-tons of briquettes.
26 July 1942:
At 1600, departs Chinnampo.
28 July 1942:
Scheduled to be reclassified from 20 Aug ’42 as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category under instruction 52-7 No. 17. [2]
29 July 1942:
At 1745, arrives at Sasebo.
30 July-4 August 1942:
Unloads briquettes.
4 August 1942:
At 1400, departs Sasebo.
7 August 1942:
At 1300, arrives at Chinnampo.
7-9 August 1942:
Loads about 2,800-tons of briquettes.
10 August 1942:
At 1400, departs Chinnampo.
13 August 1942:
At 1840, arrives at Sasebo and unloads briquettes.
14-22 August 1942:
Loads ammunition, building materials, tools equipment, etc.
20 August 1942:
Reclassified as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category. [2]
22 August 1942:
Embarks 26 passengers and at 1000, departs Sasebo. That same day detonates a drifting mine by machine gun fire five nautical miles SE Ainoshima.
23 August 1942:
At 1145, arrives at Chinkai (now Jinhae), Chosen and disembarks 26 passengers.
26 August 1942:
At 1100, departs Chinkai.
28 August 1942:
At 2255, arrives at Chinnampo.
29-30 August 1942:
Loads about 3,000-tons of briquettes.
31 August 1942:
At 1100, departs Chinnampo.
3 September 1942:
At 1500, arrives at Sasebo.
4-8 September 1942:
Unloads briquettes.
8 September 1942:
At 1000, departs Sasebo.
12 September 1942:
At 0925, arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China) and tethers to pier No. 3.
12-14 September 1942:
Loads pig iron.
13-14 September 1942:
Loads refractory bricks.
15 September 1942:
At 0720, departs Dairen.
19 September 1942:
At 0730, arrives at Yoshiura near Kure and unloads refractory bricks.
20-24 September 1942:
Unloads pig iron.
24 September 1942:
At 0615, departs Kure and at 1720, arrives at Ujina, Hiroshima.
25 September 1942:
Fitted with accommodation for Army troops transport.
26 September 1942:
At 0100, departs Ujina.
27 September 1942:
At 0915, arrives at Busan (Fuzan), Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea). Embarks Army troops and replenishes fresh water. Departs at 2100.
28 September 1942:
At 1800, arrives at Saeki, Kyushu.
29 September 1942:
At 0640, departs Saeki in convoy “Oki” No. 4 also consisting of auxiliary transport CHOKO MARU and IJA transport HAMBURG MARU escorted by destroyers HATAKAZE and MINEKAZE, torpedo boat HATO and patrol boat PB-31. The convoy most probably carries units of the IJA 17th Army’s 38th "Sendai" Infantry Division.
5 October 1942:
At 0820, arrives at Saipan, Marianas. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
6 October 1942:
At 0430, departs Saipan still in convoy “Oki” No. 4.
12 October 1942:
At 0600, arrives at Rabaul, New Britain. Disembarks troops and is replenished with charcoal and boiler water. Sustains an airstrike and fires against attacking aircraft with her guns.
13 October 1942:
Sustains another airstrike and fires against attacking aircraft with her guns.
16 October 1942:
Sustains another airstrike and fires against attacking aircraft with her guns.
17 October 1942:
Sustains another airstrike and fires against attacking aircraft with her guns.
18 October 1942:
Sustains another airstrike and fires against attacking aircraft with her guns.
20 October 1942:
Sustains another airstrike and fires against attacking aircraft with her guns. At 1130, departs Rabaul for Palau in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of auxiliary transports CHOKO, YAMAGIRI and TOEI MARUs with unknown escort.
26 October 1942:
At 0900, arrives at Palau. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
31 October 1942:
Replenished with charcoal and boiler water. At 1350, departs Palau.
4 November 1942:
At 1340, arrives at Rota, Marianas. Loads 2,686-tons of phosphate rock and embarks one passenger.
9 November 1942:
At 1455, departs Rota.
10 November 1942:
At 0630, arrives at Saipan. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water and embarks 31 passengers.
12 November 1942:
At 1430, departs Saipan.
20 November 1942:
At 0830, arrives at Osaka. Disembarks 32 passengers, unloads phosphate rock and is replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
22 November 1942:
At 1520, departs Osaka.
23 November 1942:
At 1330, arrives at Ujina. Unloads Army troops accommodation.
25 November 1942:
At 0615, departs Ujina and at 0715, arrives at Kure. Unloads ammunition and depth charges (DCs) and departs at 1620.
26 November 1942:
At 1000, arrives at Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture and enters Mukojima Dock.
26 November ~ 11 December 1942:
Undergoes hull and engine repairs.
12 December 1942:
Undocked. At 0920, departs Onomichi.
13 December 1942:
At 0800, arrives at Kure. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water. Loads ammunition and DCs.
14 December 1942:
At 1600, departs Kure.
16 December 1942:
At 1600, arrives at Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water. Loads 2,875-tons of coal.
18 December 1942:
At 0200, departs Miike.
21 December 1942:
At 1100, arrives at Yokohama. Loads timber, oil, miscellaneous goods, etc. Embarks two passengers.
23 December 1942:
At 1000, departs Yokohama.
30 December 1942:
At 1000, arrives at Palau. Disembarks two passengers.
31 December 1942:
Replenished with fresh water.
1-6 January 1943:
Unloads timber, oil, miscellaneous goods, etc.
7 January 1943:
At 0640, departs Palau for Angaur, Palaus but aborts mission due to stormy weather. Returns back to Palau and arrives there at 1245.
8 January 1943:
At 1230, departs a second time Palau for Angaur but again aborts mission due to stormy weather and steams back to Palau.
9 January 1943:
At 0730, arrives back at Palau.
10 January ~ 1 February 1943:
At Palau waiting for weather improvement.
2 February 1943:
At 1455, departs Palau.
4 February 1943:
At 0950, arrives at Fais, Eastern Carolines. Unloads coal totaling 1,000-tons.
9 February 1943:
At 1630 departs Fais.
9-13 February 1943:
Remains in Fais waters due to bad weather conditions.
13 February 1943:
At 0830 arrives back at Fais. Loads phosphate rock totaling 3,556-tons.
18 February 1943:
At 1000, departs Fais.
25 February 1943:
At 1620, arrives at Yokohama.
E 25 February ~ 2 March 1943:
Loads gasoline, crude oil and is replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
E March 1943:
Her owners are restyled to Hamane Kisen K.K.
2 March 1943:
At 1230, departs Kure and arrives at Tokyo at 1425. Loads gasoline and crude oil.
4 March 1943:
At 0910, departs Tokyo, calls at Yokohama at 1110 and departs later that day, at 1500.
5 March 1943:
At 1410, arrives at Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Loads gasoline and oil.
8 March 1943:
At 1000, departs Yokkaichi.
15 March 1943:
At 1350, arrives at Truk. Unloads gasoline and other sundries. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
2 April 1943:
At 0700, departs Truk possibly with other ships escorted by subchaser CH-21.
6 April 1943:
At 1800, arrives at Palau. Unloads gasoline and miscellaneous goods. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water. Embarks two passengers.
22 April 1943:
At 1200, departs Palau and arrives at Angaur at 1540. Loads 4,200-tons of phosphate rock.
24 April 1943:
At 1030, departs Angaur and arrives at Palau at 1645. Supplied with 100-tons of fresh water in cans.
25 April 1943:
At 0800, departs Palau in convoy P-425 also consisting of IJA transports ATLAS, FUKUYO, TACOMA MARUs and NISSEN MARU No. 6 escorted by torpedo boat HATO.
26 April 1943:
Assigned to the Aleutians Archipelago area and scheduled to be fitted with four single 13mm Type 93 MGs. Also scheduled to be temporarily fitted with improved weapons sensors and lighting equipment to be removed at the end of the current fiscal year under Navy’s secret instruction No. 1989.
3 May 1943:
Auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 and TAMA MARU no. 3 meet up with the convoy in position 29-33N 133-30E.
5 May 1943:
At 0930, arrives at Moji.
5-8 May 1943:
Unloads phosphate rock.
8 May 1943:
Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
9 May 1943:
At 0810, departs Moji.
10 May 1943:
At 1500, arrives at Maizuru. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
11 ~ 20 May 1943:
Loads military material and undergoes engine repair and equipment renovation.
12 May 1943:
Fitted with sonar and four single 13mm Type 93 MGs. Construction of bandstand for 13mm MGs begins.
19 May 1943:
Scheduled to transport three landing craft to Ominato under Navy’s telegram No. 917. That same day scheduled to load landing craft No. 4113, 4134 and 4595 under Navy’s telegram No. 192007. The bandstand is completed.
21 May 1943:
At 1605 departs Maizuru on official trials and returns back later that same day, at 1725. Loads military material.
23 May 1943:
Embarks 186 passengers and at 0800, departs Maizuru.
25 May 1943:
At 1045, arrives at Ominato. Unloads the three landing craft. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water. Embarks 164 passengers.
26 May 1943:
Ominato Navy’s personnel install the four single 13mm Type 93 MGs on the temporary bandstand.
27 May 1943:
At 1050, departs Ominato.
31 May 1943:
At 0850, arrives at Kataoka Wan (Bay), Shimushu-To, Kuriles. Unloads two trucks.
1 June 1943:
At 1200, departs Kataoka Wan. Later in the day, fires with the MGs at a submarine. At 1805, arrives at Musashi Wan (now Zaliv Vasil’yeva), Paramushiro-To, Kuriles.
2 ~ 5 June 1943:
Unloads building materials, food and other sundries.
6 June 1943:
At 1310; departs Musashi Wan and at 1430, arrives at Noda Ura, Paramushiro-To.
7 ~ 10 June 1943:
Unloads building materials, food and other sundries.
9 June 1943:
Scheduled to be fitted with a rangefinder under Navy’s secret instruction No. 2892-1.
11 June 1943:
At 1320, departs Noda Ura and at 1450, arrives at Musashi Wan.
14 June 1943:
At 0445 departs Musashi Wan for Noda Ura but aborts mission due to stormy weather and returns back to Musashi Wan later in the day, at 1150.
15 ~17 June 1943:
Unloads building materials, food and other sundries.
17 June 1943:
Fitting of rangefinder begins.
18 June 1943:
At 0955, departs Musashi Wan and arrives at Noda Ura at 1105. Unloads building materials.
19 June 1943:
At 0455, departs Noda Ura and at 0555, arrives at Musashi Wan.
19-20 June 1943:
Unloads building materials. Loads about 20-tons of quartermaster weapons.
21 June 1943:
At 0620, departs Musashi Wan and at 1250, arrives at Kataoka Wan. Replenished with fresh water.
22 June 1943:
Unloads quartermaster weapons and building materials. Embarks four passengers.
23 June 1943:
Embarks four passengers and at 0300, departs Kataoka Wan.
24 June 1943:
Assigned to a northern transport mission under Ominato Naval District command by specific military order.
26 June 1943:
At 0620, arrives at Otaru, Hokkaido. Loads 1,343-stone of timber and is replenished with charcoal.
27 June 1943:
At 1100, departs Otaru.
29 June 1943:
At 1250, arrives at Maizuru. Unloads timber.
30 June 1943 ~ 6 July 1943:
Loads building materials.
7 July 1943:
At 0900, departs Maizuru.
9 July 1943:
At 1130, arrives at Otaru. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
10 July 1943:
At 1600, departs Otaru.
13 July 1943:
At 1530, arrives at Kataoka Wan.
14 ~ 20 July 1943:
Unloads building materials.
21 July 1943:
At 0630, departs Kataoka Wan and at 1030, arrives at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro-To.
22 July 1943:
Unloads building materials.
23 July 1943:
At 0825, departs Suribachi Wan and at 1315, arrives at Kataoka Wan.
24 July 1943:
Unloads building materials.
25 July 1943:
At 0320, departs Kataoka Wan.
28 July 1943:
At 0925, arrives at Otaru. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
29 July 1943:
At 1600, departs Otaru.
30 July 1943:
At 1415, arrives at Aomori, Honshu.
31 July ~ 6 August 1943:
Loads gasoline and wood.
7 August 1943:
At 0530 departs Aomori and arrives at Ominato later that day, at 0915. Replenished with fresh water.
7 ~ 10 August 1943:
Loads bombs and other equipment.
10 August 1943:
Compass is calibrated. Embarks 19 passengers.
11 August 1943:
At 0800 departs Ominato with SHOZUI MARU at 11 knots.
12 August 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Kushiro, Hokkaido. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
13-14 August 1943:
Loads wood, food and miscellaneous goods.
14 August 1943:
Embarks three passengers.
15 August 1943:
At 1200 departs Kushiro.
18 August 1943:
At 1050 arrives at Kataoka Wan. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
19 August 1943:
Disembarks 22 passengers.
19 ~ 24 August 1943:
Unloads bombs, wood, gasoline and other sundries.
25 August 1943:
At 0600 departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Suribachi Wan that same day, at 1010.
26 ~ 28 August 1943:
Unloads bombs, wood and gasoline. Loads iron material.
27 August 1943:
Shifts to B anchorage due to stormy weather.
28 August 1943:
Embarks seven passengers.
29 August 1943:
At 1310 departs Suribachi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later that day, at 1720. Unloads iron, disembarks seven passengers and replenished with boiler water.
30 August 1943:
At 1700 departs Kataoka Wan.
31 August 1943:
Main water pump crankshaft is heavily damaged and there are fears it might break.
4 September 1943:
At 1010, arrives at Otaru.
5 ~ 7 September 1943:
Undergoes temporary repairs, and charcoal and boiler water replenishment.
8 September 1943:
At 0900 departs Otaru.
9 September 1943:
At 1050 arrives at Ominato. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
10 September 1943:
Loads gasoline, timber and a lorry.
23 September 1943:
At 0900 departs Ominato.
24 September 1943:
At 1020 arrives at Otaru. Loads gasoline, timber, a lorry and a Russell car.
25 September 1943:
Replenished with fresh water.
26 September 1943:
At 1300 departs Otaru.
30 September 1943:
At 0715 arrives at Kataoka Wan.
1 ~ 4 October 1943:
Unloads lorry, timber and other cargo. Replenished with fresh water.
5 October 1943:
Embarks 39 passengers, at 0410 departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Kakumabetsu Wan (now Bukhta Shelikhova), NW Paramushiro later in the day, at 0815. Disembarks three passengers.
6 October 1943:
Unloads coal, rations and timber.
7 October 1943:
Embarks 202 passengers, at 0100 departs Kakumabetsu Wan and arrives at Musashi Wan later that day, at 0630. Unloads ammunition and disembarks 36 passengers.
8 October 1943:
Embarks 13 passengers, at 1120 departs Musashi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later that day, at 1630.
9 ~ 12 October 1943:
Loads salt fish.
13 October 1943:
Tows damaged (by LtCdr Harley K. Nauman’s (USNA ‘34) USS S-42 (SS-153) on 18 Sep ’42) auxiliary transport CHOWA MARU. At 0540 both ships depart Kataoka Wan, Kuriles.
19 October 1943:
At 0915 both ships arrive at Hakodate, Hokkaido. IKUSHIMA MARU disembarks 200 passengers and CHOWA MARU enters drydock for extensive repairs.
20-21 October 1943:
Unloads salt fish.
22 October 1943:
At 0815, departs Hakodate and arrives at Muroran, Hokkaido later in the day, at 1635.
23 October 1943:
Loads coal and is replenished with charcoal.
24 October 1943:
At 0215 departs Muroran and arrives at Ominato later that same day, at 1415. Replenished with fresh water.
25 October ~ 2 November 1943:
Loads gasoline, timber and food.
3 November 1943:
At 0600 departs Ominato.
4 November 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Kushiro.
4-5 November 1943:
Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
6 November 1943:
At 0900, departs Kushiro.
8 November 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Tennei, Hokkaido. Stormy weather at first makes discharge of cargo impossible.
9 ~ 16 November 1943:
Unloads asphalt. Loads trucks, quartermaster weapons and plow tools.
17 November 1943:
At 0600 departs Tennei.
19 November 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Suribachi Wan.
19 ~ 25 November 1943:
Unloads gasoline, food, ammunition and coal.
26 November 1943:
At 0410 departs Suribachi Wan and arrives at Kataoka Wan later in the day, at 0840. Disembarks six passengers.
30 November 1943:
Embarks six passengers, at 0545 departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Suribachi Wan later in the day, at 1030. Disembarks six passengers.
1-2 December 1943:
Unloads coal and timber. Loads salt fish and other sundries.
3 December 1943:
Embarks 843 passengers and at 2130, departs Suribachi Wan.
6 December 1943:
La Perouse Strait East exit. Detonates two drifting mines with machine-gun fire at 45-34N, 142-03E. That same day, scheduled to be fitted with a hydrophone Type 3 under Navy’s secret instruction No. 6083.
7 December 1943:
At 0120 arrives at Otaru.
8 ~ 10 December 1943:
Unloads salt fish and miscellaneous goods. Replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
11 December 1943:
At 1300 departs Otaru.
12 December 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Aomori. Unloads empty drums and a damaged car.
13 December 1943:
At 1240 departs Aomori and arrives at Ominato later in the day, at 1630.
14 ~ 17 December 1943:
Unloads coal and undergoes engine repairs.
18 December 1943:
At 0230 departs Ominato and arrives at Muroran later in the day, at 1430.
19 December 1943:
Loads coal.
20 December 1943:
At 0630 departs Muroran.
24 December 1943:
At 0730 arrives at Kure. Unloads ammunition and departs Kure later that day, at 1430.
25 December 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Osaka and unloads coal.
27 December 1943:
At 1400 departs Osaka.
28 December 1943:
At 0700 arrives at Onomichi and enters Mukojima drydock.
28 December 1943 ~ 25 January 1944:
Undergoes engine and hull repairs.
26 January 1944:
Undocked. At 2200 departs Onomichi.
27 January 1944:
At 0740 arrives at Kure. Loads ammunition, fresh water and rations. Departs later that same day, at 1750.
29 January 1944:
At 1715 arrives at Miike. Loads 3,739-tons of coal and replenished with charcoal.
31 January ~ 5 February 1944:
At 1700 departs Miike, calls at Wadamisaki ~ Gobo Wan, Wakayama Prefecture and Owase Wan, Mie Prefecture in convoy.
6 February 1944:
At 0220 arrives at Yokohama. Unloads 1,739-tons of coal and replenished with fresh water.
8 February 1944:
At 1230 departs Yokohama and arrives at Tokyo later that day, at 1440.
9 February 1944:
Loads building materials and replenished with fresh water.
10 February 1944:
At 0710 departs Tokyo and arrives at Yokosuka later in the day, at 1030.
11 February 1944:
Loads ammunition, quartermaster weapons, a Type-0 fighter and an equipped craft.
12 February 1944:
Replenished with charcoal and boiler water. At 1400 departs Yokosuka and arrives at Yokohama later that day, at 1530.
13 February 1944:
Replenished with fresh water.
14 February 1944:
At 1600 departs Yokohama in convoy No. 3214 also consisting of IJN requisitioned (B-APK) AMERICA MARU and auxiliary transport (ex-submarine tender) MANJU (ex SANTOS) MARU escorted by destroyer ASANAGI.
17 February 1944:
At 1730 arrives at Futami Harbor, Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
20 February 1944:
At 1215 departs Futami Harbor.
28 February 1944:
At 0950 arrives at Saipan.
E 28 February ~ 9 March 1944:
Unloads ammunition, craft, the Type-0 fighter and building materials. Loads ammunition and is replenished with charcoal and boiler water.
10 March 1944:
At 0530, departs Saipan in convoy No. 3310 also consisting of IJA transport TOYOKAWA MARU escorted by subchasers CH-28 and CH-31, and auxiliary minesweepers SEKI MARU No. 3 and FUMI MARU No. 2.
14 March 1944:
At 1845, arrives at Truk.
E 14-15 March 1944:
Unloads ammunition, building materials and coal. Replenished with fresh water.
16 March 1944:
At 0045 engaged in antiaircraft combat.
17 March 1944:
At 2345, departs Truk with auxiliary transport (ex-minelayer) TATSUHARU MARU, civilian (C-AK) BINGO MARU and possibly others escorted by subchasers CH-28, CH-31 and CH-32.
22 March 1944:
At 0630, arrives at Saipan.
23 March 1944:
At 0500 departs Saipan and arrives at Guam (renamed Omiya Island after its capture), Marianas later that day, at 1710.
E 24-25 March 1944:
Unloads coal and is replenished with fresh water.
26 March 1944:
At 0445 departs Guam and arrives at Saipan later that day, at 1630.
E 26-27 March 1944:
Unloads building materials and is replenished with charcoal.
28 March 1944:
At 0500 departs Saipan for Yokosuka in convoy No. 4328 also consisting of auxiliary transport (ex-aircraft transport) KEIYO MARU escorted by minesweeper W-20.
30 March 1944:
About 350 miles NNW Saipan. At 0233, LtCdr (later Cdr) Sam C. Loomis Jr’s (USNA ’35) USS STINGRAY (SS-186) detects the convoy. Slipping past the escort to gain attack position on two cargo ships, Loomis fires four torpedoes at the lead ship. IKUSHIMA MARU is hit by one torpedo amidships port side, flooding the engine room and holds No. 2 and No. 4. The transport goes dead in the water. At 0313, Loomis fires four more torpedoes that quickly send IKUSHIMA MARU to the bottom at 20-43N, 143-04E with the loss of 11 of her crew and 15 soldiers. W-20 rescues survivors.
10 May 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 654.

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 reducing 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.
[2] 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 and Matthew Jones of USA.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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