Japanese Auxiliary Seaplane Tenders

TOKUSETSU SUIJOKI-BOKAN!

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

IJN Seaplane Tender KAGU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 1998-2007 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, Allan Alsleben and Peter Cundall.
Revision 2

21 November 1935:
Aioi, near Harima. Laid down at the Harima Zosensho Ship Building and Engineering Co.
April 18 1936:
Launched and named the KAGU MARU.
30 June 1936:
Completed for the Kokusai Kisen KK Line. Later, transferred to the Osaka Shosen Line.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge ("China") Incident:
Lugouqiao, China. Japanese troops fire blank cartridges on night maneuvers at the bridge. Chinese troops fire back, but do not cause injuries. At morning roll call, the Japanese discover a soldier missing and assume the Chinese captured him. The Japanese demand entry to Beijing to look for the soldier. The Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city. An undeclared war on China begins.
25 August 1937:
As a result of the China Incident, the IJN requisitions the KAGU MARU. She is registered (commissioned) in the Yokosuka Naval District and begins conversion to a 6,807-ton single shaft seaplane tender. Six Ten Year type 120-mm (4.7-inch)/45 cal. HA guns are installed. Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kira Shunichi (40) (former CO of RYUJO) is the Commanding Officer.
10 September 1937:
Re-attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.
18 September 1937:
Reassigned to the Third Fleet, 3rd Naval Air Group (NAG). The KAGU MARU carries 12 seaplanes, probably four Type 94 Kawanishi E7K2 “Alf” and eight Type 95 Nakajima E8N1 “Dave” reconnaissance floatplanes. The tail code of her aircraft is "14-xx"
20 September 1937:
Departs Yokosuka to operate off the central and southern areas of the Chinese coast.
22 September 1937:
Sasebo’s 23rd Sea Scout Unit is embarked aboard the submarine tender TAIGEI. After establishing a base at Niujianshan, China, half of the 23rd’s Type 95 Daves (6) are transferred to the KAGU MARU.
20 October 1937.
At Mako, Pescadores. The KAGU MARU is reassigned to the Fourth Fleet, 3rd Naval Air Group .
22 October 1937.
Departs Takao, Formosa.
29 October 1937.
Arrives at Sasebo.
31 October 1937.
Departs Sasebo.
1 December 1937:
Reassigned to the Third Fleet, 3rd NAG.
13 December 1937:
The Imperial Japanese Army captures the capital city of Nanking. The Chinese are forced to move their capital to Hankow.
15 December 1937:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. Captain (later Rear Admiral) Obayashi Sueo (43) (former XO of YAKUMO) assumes command. Captain Kira is reassigned to the Navy's Air Arsenal.
17 December 1937:
Departs Takao to operate off the southern Chinese coast.
8 January 1938:
Arrives in Tonkin Bay, off French Indochina.
10 January 1938:
Departs Tonkin Bay.
19 January 1938:
Arrives at Takao.
21 January 1938:
Departs Takao to operate off the southern Chinese coast.
24 January 1938:
Arrives at Takao.
11 February 1938:
Reassigned to the Fifth Fleet, 3rd NAG.
23 February 1938:
Arrives at Takao.
26 February 1938:
Departs Takao to operate off the southern Chinese coast.
19 April 1938:
Arrives at Mako.
23 April 1938:
Departs Mako to operate off the southern Chinese coast.
17 May 1938:
Arrives at Takao.
20 May 1938:
Departs Takao to operate off the southern Chinese coast.
3 July 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo.
18 July 1938:
Departs Sasebo to support the capture of Hankow.
26 October 1938:
The Japanese capture Hankow. After the fall of Hankow, the Chinese move their capital to Chungking.
2 December 1938:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 December 1938:
Decommissioned. Captain Obayashi is reassigned as the CO of the Kanoya Air Group. The KAGU MARU returns to merchant service.
15 January 1939:
Rerated a specially installed construction warship in the Sasebo Naval District.
16 January 1939:
The CO of the TATSUTA, Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Ito Yasunoshin, is assigned additional duty as the CO of the KAGU MARU.
28 January 1939:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi (former CO of ASAGIRI) assumes command from Captain Ito. Captain Ito resumes duty as CO of the TATSUTA on a full-time basis.
31 January 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo.
20 April 1939:
A new, but now unknown, captain assumes command. Captain Kimura is reassigned as CO of the oiler SHIRETOKO.
4 March 1939:
Arrives at Takao.
5 March 1939:
Departs Takao for the southern Chinese coast.
12 April 1939:
Arrives at Keelung, Formosa.
20 April 1939:
Demilitarized.
10 November 1941:
Nagasaki. Begins conversion to a specially installed transport ship at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' shipyard. Rerated as a converted transport (misc) in the Sasebo Naval District.
24 November 1941:
The conversion is completed.
20 December 1941:
Departs Kure.
7 January 1942: The Invasion of Dutch Borneo:
The 21st Air Flotilla’s tenders SANUKI and SANYO MARUs provide air cover for Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (former CO of AOBA) Tarakan Occupation Force that departs Davao that day.
The Tarakan invasion convoy carrying MajGen Sakaguchi Shizuo’s 56th Mixed Infantry Group (Sakaguchi Brigade) and the Kure No. 2 SNLF includes Navy transports KAGU, KUNIKAWA, KANO and RAKUTO MARUs and oiler KOKUYO MARU and Army transports TSURUGA, LIVERPOOL, HAVANA, KURETAKE, NICHIAI, HITERU, TEIRYU, HANKOW and EHIME MARUs. Escort is provided by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji’s DesRon 4’s light cruiser NAKA with DesDiv 2’s HARUSAME, SAMIDARE, YUDACHI and MURUSAME, DesDiv 9’s ASAGUMO and MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24’s UMIKAZE, KAWASKAZE, YAMAKAZE and the SUZUKAZE.
Rear-Admiral Hirose’s No. 2 Base Force includes patrol boats P-36, P-37 and P-38, Minesweeper Division 11’s minesweepers W-13, W-14, W-15, W-16, 30th Minesweeper Division’s W-17, W-18 and Subchaser Div 31’s Ch 10, Ch-11 and Ch-12 and other auxiliary ships.
11 January 1942:
Rear Admiral Hirose's Force invades Tarakan, Borneo.
7 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo. Arrives at Moji the same day.
15 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
27 March 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
30 June 1942:
Departs Osaka.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Tsingtao, China.
6 July 1942:
Departs Tsingtao.
8 July 1942:
Arrives at Tomita.
11 July 1942:
Departs Tomita. Arrives at Tokuyama the same day.
14 July 1942:
Departs Tokuyama. Arrives at Kure.
19 July 1942:
Departs Kure. Arrives at Osaka.
22 July 1942:
Departs Osaka.
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo
28 July 1942:
Departs Yokohama.
30 August 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
6 September 1942:
Departs Saigon.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
13 September 1942:
Departs Takao.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
26 September 1942:
Departs Osaka.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
5 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
19 November 1942:
Departs Yokohama.
20 November 1942:
Arrives at Kobe.
29 November 1942:
Departs Kobe.
1 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
6 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo in an unnumbered convoy consisting of the KAGU and NANKAI MARUs escorted by two minesweepers.
7 December 1942:
At 1700, the minesweepers depart. The KAGU and NANKAI MARUs proceed unescorted.
8 December 1942:
At 1615, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/ComSubLant) Veron L. Lowrance's USS KINGFISH (SS-234) intercepts the KAGU and NANKAI MARUs. Lowrance fires three Mark-14 torpedoes N of Okino-Tori-Shima at 22-49N, 136-07W. One strikes the NANKAI MARU, but fails to explode. The two ships continue the voyage.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
24 December 1942:
Rabaul. The KAGU MARU is damaged by USAAF B-17 “Flying Fortresses” that bomb Simpson harbor. They also damage cargo ship KOZAN MARU. Probably undergoes repairs by the repair ship YAMABIKO MARU.
31 December 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
6 January 1943:
Rabaul. Six B-17's and six B-24 “Liberators” attack the harbor and airfields. Two B-17's of the 43rd Bomb Group, including one carrying Brig Gen Kenneth N. Walker, Commanding General, V Bomber Command, are shot down by IJN fighters. Walker and his entire crew are KIA. Walker is awarded the MOH, posthumously. The KAGU MARU and SEIA MARUs are lightly damaged as is the destroyer TACHIKAZE. The Army cargo vessel KEIFUKU MARU is sunk at nearby Takubar.
9 January 1943:
Arrives at Kolombangara and discharges cargo.
January 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
31 January 1943:
At 1545, departs Rabaul in an unnumbered convoy consisting of the KAGU, TATSUTAKE and SHINRYU MARUs that steam unescorted.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at Truk at 1600.
6 February 1943:
At 0630, departs Truk.
12 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo at 1500.
19 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo. Arrives at Nagasaki the same day. Undergoes battle-damage repairs.
19 March 1943:
Departs Nagasaki.
22 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
8 April 1943:
At 0750, departs Yokohama in convoy 3408 consisting of the KAGU, HIDE and TATSUMIYA MARUs escorted by the destroyer YUZUKI.
18 April 1943:
Arrives at Truk at 1020.
13 June 1943:
At Yokosuka.
18 June 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
19 June 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
23 June 1943:
Departs Kobe.
24 June 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
29 June 1943:
Departs Kure.
2 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo in fleet convoy "G"consisting of the KAGU MARU, armed merchant cruiser KIYOSUMI MARU and oiler KENYO MARU escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Singapore at 1500.
12 August 1943 At 0700 departs Balikpapan.
16 August 1943:
At 1400 arrives Singapore.
24 August 1943:
At 1400 departs Singapore in convoy HI-06 consisting of KAGA MARU oilers TATEKAWA MARU, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, RYUEI MARU and ASHIZURI escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA.
3 September 1943:
At 0930 arrives Moji.
4 September 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
8 September 1943:
Departs Osaka.
10 September 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
12 September 1943:
Departs Tokuyama for Yokohama.
15 September 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
16 September 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
22 September 1943:
Departs Kobe. Arrives at Osaka that same day.
24 September 1943:
Departs Osaka.
25 September 1943:
At 1200, departs Moji in high speed convoy HI-11 consisting of the KAGU MARU, oilers ITSUKUSHIMA and KYUEI MARUs and two other ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU.
29 September 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Takao and departs that day at 1835.
4 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore at 1835.
9 October 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Makassar.
17 October 1943:
At 1300 arrives Balikpapan.
28 October 1943:
At 1300 departs Balikpapan.
31 October 1943:
At 1900 arrives Eastern Anchorage, Singapore.
1 November 1943:
At 1200 arrives Bintan Islland.
2 November 1943:
At 1700 arrives Singapore.
3 November 1943:
At 1210, departs Singapore in fast convoy HI-14 consisting of transports KAGU, AWA, HOKUROKU and AKI MARUs and oilers AMATSU and KYOKUEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan TSUSHIMA.
8 November 1943:
Near Dangerous Ground, Palawan, Philippines. At 0505, LtCdr George E. Porter's USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) attacks the convoy on the surface. Porter fires all ten tubes; one torpedo prematures just after leaving the tube. The BLUEFISH reloads and Porter makes three more attacks sinking the KYOKUEI MARU with two torpedoes. The TSUSHIMA detaches to rescue survivors, but is unable to relocate the convoy. HI-14 is forced to proceed unescorted.
9 November 1943:
At 0540, LtCdr Royce L. Gross' USS SEAWOLF (SS-197) makes three separate attacks on convoy HI-14. Gross fires a total of eight torpedoes. In his second and third attacks, he hits oiler AMATSU MARU with two Mark-14 torpedoes and one Mark-14 torpedo respectively, but all three are duds. Gross' other five torpedoes all miss the AMATSU, HOKUROKU and AKI MARUs, probably as a result of running deep.
10 November 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Takao. The TSUSHIMA arrives the following day, but is detached from the convoy.
11 November 1943:
At 0740, the convoy departs Takao escorted by the kaibokan WAKAMIYA.
14 November 1943:
At 0930, departs Daicho anchorage, Chusan Islands, China. [1]
16 November 1943:
Arrives at Moji at 1030.
17 November 1943:
At 0630, arrives at Osaka.
20 November 1943:
Departs Osaka.
21 November 1943:
Arrives at Shimizu.
24 November 1943:
Departs Shimizu.
25 November 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
2 December 1943:
Departs Kobe.
3 December 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
8 December 1943:
Departs Kure.
11 December 1943:
At 1400, departs Moji in fast convoy HI-25 consisting of transports KAGU, NISHI (ex-KALGAN en route to Manila), SHOZUI and JUYO MARUs and oilers ZUIHO and AMATSU MARUs escorted by kaibokan TSUSHIMA.
15 December 1943:
At 0830, the convoy is unsuccessfully attacked by LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's USS ASPRO (SS-309). Stevenson fires four torpedoes, but all miss or are evaded. At 1500, the convoy arrives at Takao.
16 December 1943:
At 1530, departs Takao. The NISHI MARU detaches from the convoy for Manila soon thereafter.
21 December 1943:
Arrives at Singapore at 1320.
7 January 1944 At 1300 departs Macassar in convoy consisting of Kagu Maru and Kunishima Maru escorted by submarine chaser CH 112 to Balikpapan.
23 January 1944 At 1600 arrived Bintan loaded with 7100 tons bauxite.
24 January 1944 At 1000, departs Bintan and arrives at the western anchorage of Singapore at 1700.
2 February 1944:
At 1300, departs Singapore in fast convoy HI-38 consisting of transports KAGU, KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON), oilers AMATSU, OTOWASAN and OKIKAWA MARUs and two other ships. The convoy is escorted by fleet oiler ASHIZURI and kaibokan KANJU.
8 February 1944:
Arrives at Takao at 1700.
9 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
13 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji at 1430.
14 February 1944:
At 0930, departs Moji and arrives later that day at Osaka.
16 February 1944:
Departs Osaka.
16 February 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
19 February 1944:
Departs Kobe.
20 February 1944:
Arrives at Shimizu.
23 February 1944:
Departs Shimizu.
24 February 1944:
Arrives at Kobe.
9 March 1944:
Departs Kobe.
10 March 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
14 March 1944:
Departs Kure.
15 March 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
19 March 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
26 March 1944:
Departs Takao.
25 August 1944:
At 0630, departs Moji after arriving earlier that day from Mutsure anchorage. The KAGU MARU is part of fast convoy HI-73 consisting of the transport/cargo liners KIBITSU, ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU, ex-seaplane tender SANUKI MARU, tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN, HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and KUROSHIO MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO escorted by escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII, frigate CHIBURI and kaibokan CD Nos. 13, 19, 21 and 27.
Later that day, the convoy is joined briefly by transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs and oiler MANEI MARU that all depart the following day.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, the MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered away because of excessive smoke. The 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. The KAGU, KIBITSU and GOKOKU MARUs (and probably IRAKO) head for Manila. The remaining ships head for Singapore.
10 September 1944:
KAGU MARU departs Manila for Moji with armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU and the IJA landing ship KIBITSU MARU in unescorted fleet convoy MAMO-03.
11 September 1944:
S China Sea. 100 miles NE of the Paracel Islands. The KAGU MARU and convoy MA-MO-03 join fleet convoy HI-72 that departed Singapore on 6 September for Moji. HI-72 consists of ASAMA, NANKAI, RAKUYO, ZUIHO, SHINCHO and KACHIDOKI MARUs (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON).
HI-72's escort is provided by Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi's (victor of Wake Island and former CO of KISO) 6th Escort Convoy Command’s destroyer SHIKANAMI, kaibokan HIRADO (F), KURAHASHI MIKURA, CD-11 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-19.
12 September 1944:
S China Sea. E of Hainan, China. The HIRADO is torpedoed by Cdr Thomas B. Oakey’s USS GROWLER (SS-215) and sinks at 17-54N, 114-59E. Rear Admiral Kajioka goes down with the ship. He is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously.
At 0500, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich in the USS SEALION (SS-315) torpedoes the RAKUYO MARU, but she stays afloat for another 13 hours, sinking at 1820 that evening. She is carrying 1,318 Allied POWs, of whom 1,051 are lost. Reich also sinks the NANKAI MARU.
At 0700, the SHIKANAMI is torpedoed by the GROWLER and sinks at 18-16 N, 114-40 E.
At 2300, LtCdr Paul E. Summers' USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) torpedoes and sinks the KACHIDOKI MARU with 950 Allied POWs aboard of whom 431 are lost. The PAMPANITO also sinks the ZUIHO MARU.
The Japanese rescue a few POWs from the two prison ships. The survivors are transferred to the KIBITSU MARU and taken to Japan.
15 September 1944:
Arrives at Yulin, Hainan.
16 September 1944:
Departs Yulin.
20 September 1944:
Off Formosa. USAAF B-24 bombers attack the convoy. The KAGU MARU suffers hull damage by near-misses. The bombers also damage the cargo vessels ASAKA MARU, GOKOKU MARU and SHINCHO MARU. The convoy makes port at Takao.
25 September 1944:
Departs Takao.
28 September 1944:
Arrives at Moji. Later, proceeds to Kure for repairs.
24 October 1944:
Departs Kure.
26 October 1944:
At 1730, departs Mutsure in fast convoy HI-79 consisting of transports KAGU, MELBOURNE and ARIMASAN MARUs, fleet supply ship MAMIYA and oilers TENEI and MATSUSHIMA MARUs. Initially, the escorts are light cruiser KASHI, kaibokans NOMI and UKURU and minelayer NIIZAKI.
27 October 1944:
Kaibokan CD No. 17 joins the escort.
28 October 1944:
Minesweeper No. 21 joins the escort.
29 October 1944:
The MELBOURNE MARU, escorted by the UKURU and CD No. 17, detaches and heads for Kirun.
30 October 1944:
HI-79 arrives at Takao. The KAGU MARU, MAMIYA and Minesweeper No. 21 detach from the convoy that later proceeds to Singapore.
2 November 1944:
At 1130, departs Takao for Manila in fleet convoy TAMA-31A consisting of the KAGU MARU and navy LST's T111, T139, T140 and T160 escorted by Subchaser No. 21 and Minesweeper No. 20. The ships are part of an emergency transport run to Manila following the Battle for Leyte Island and are carrying 1,820 men including a naval construction unit from Kure, an anti-aircraft unit and a Special Naval Landing Force.
3 November 1944:
Near Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines. A temporary wolf pack is formed consisting of consisting of Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Wreford G. Chapple’s BREAM (SS-243), LtCdr William T. Kinsella’s RAY (SS-271), LtCdr Maurice W. Shea’s RATON (SS-270) and LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins’ GUITARRO (SS-363).
Meanwhile, the convoy proceeds into the danger zone. While in the Bashi Channel, the convoy evades torpedoes probably fired by LtCdr Robert E. Ward's USS SAILFISH (SS-192), then shelters in Lapoc Bay, N of Vigan, arriving there at 1800.
4 November 1944:
At 0700, the convoy TAMA-31A leaves Lapoc Bay and heads south for Manila. At 1627, LtCdr Shea's RATON attacks the convoy and fires six torpedoes at the KAGU MARU, but they all miss. The convoy’s escorts and air cover counterattack, but without effect.
Later that day, Cdr Chapple’s BREAM puts one of four torpedoes he fires into the KAGU MARU.
10.5 miles NW of Cape Bolinao, Lingayen Gulf. That evening, the GUITARRO attacks the KAGU MARU. At 1748 (JST), the KAGU MARU’s lookouts spot six torpedoes approaching from astern. She attempts to evade, but more incoming torpedoes are sighted off her starboard bow. One of a spread of eight torpedoes hits her amidships. A fire starts in the engine room.
After the GUITARRO's attack, the RAY fires two torpedoes and blows off the KAGU MARU’s bow. At 2010, the KAGU MARU sinks at 15-54N, 119-45E. 22 passengers and 24 sailors are killed. Credit for the sinking is divided among the wolfpack’s submarines.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Author's Note:
[1] It is possible that the "Daicho anchorage" in question is the one in SW Korea.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, Allan Alsleben and Peter Cundall.

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