Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(KAIKO MARU, prewar)

IJN KAIKO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2013 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

21 June 1940:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima Zosensho K.K. shipyard as a 3,548-ton passenger/cargo ship for Kaiyo Kisen K.K., Kobe.
24 January 1941:
Launched and named KAIKO MARU. [1]
28 March 1941:
Completed. Her registered port is Kobe.
19 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Ippan Choyosen). [2]
1 October 1941:
Registered in the IJN under internal order No. 1168 and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.
E October 1941:
Re-attached to Vice Admiral Okuma Masakichi’s (37) (former CO of battleship YAMASHIRO) Ominato Guard District as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category. Her home port is Ominato, Aomori Prefecture. [3]
1 December 1941:
Assigned to transport the 6th Guard Unit under Government secret instruction No. 6.
8 December 1941:
Departs Ominato and arrives that same day at Otaru, Hokkaido.
9 December 1941:
Departs Otaru for Ominato.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Ominato.
15 December 1941:
Assigned to a transport mission to Tennei, Etorofu, southern Kuriles (now Burevestnik, Iturup) under Ominato Guard Force Command secret telegram No. 335. Comes alongside auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 GO and supplies her with rescue materials. That same day, embarks 25 workers scheduled for Kataoka Wan (Bay), Shimushu-To, Kuriles, refueling facilities.
16 December 1941:
Departs Ominato and arrives that same day at Hakodate, Hokkaido.
17 December 1941:
Reassigned under Ominato Guard Force Command secret telegram No. 342 to rescue auxiliary gunboat ZUIKO MARU, stranded by a storm on 14 Dec ’41 off Matsuwa-To, northern Kuriles. Loads two months rations for ZUIKO MARU’s crew. Departs Hakodate escorted by kaibokan ISHIGAKI and arrives that same day at Muroran, Hokkaido.
18 December 1941:
Departs Muroran for Matsuwa-To (now Ostrov Matua) still escorted by ISHIGAKI.
28 December 1941:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To. ISHIGAKI and KAIKO MARU rescue all but 13 of ZUIKO MARU’s crewmen.
29 December 1941:
108 gun shells and other ammunition from ZUIKO MARU are transferred to KAIKO MARU.
30 December 1941:
Empties ZUIKO MARU’s water tanks and loads her crew’s belongings. ZUIKO MARU is deemed beyond repairs and is abandoned. Departs Matsuwa-To for Otomae Wan (Bay), Paramushiro.
1 January 1942:
Arrives at Otomae Wan.
2 January 1942:
Departs Otomae Wan and arrives that same day at Kashiwabara, Paramushiro.
4 January 1942:
Departs Kashiwabara and arrives back later that day at Otomae Wan.
7 January 1942:
Departs Otomae Wan for Matsuwa-To.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
9 January 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To for Tennei, Etorofu (now Burevestnik, Iturup).
11 January 1942:
Arrives at Tennei. Departs later in the day for Hakodate.
12 January 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
15 January 1942:
Directly attached from Ominato Transport Unit to Ominato Guard District under Ominato Command’s secret instruction No. 17.
16 January 1942:
Departs Hakodate and arrives that same day at Ominato.
15 February 1942:
Departs Ominato for Muroran.
16 February 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
17 February 1942:
Departs Muroran.
E 19 February 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Departs at an unknown date.
28 February 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
2 March 1942:
Departs Ominato.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
4 April 1942:
Departs Hakodate and arrives later in the day at Ominato.
9 April 1942:
Departs Ominato with supplies and building materials to be delivered in Kuriles for maintenance and expansion of the various Kuriles airbases.
E April 1942:
Operates in Kuriles.
15 April 1942:
Attached to Ominato Guard District under Ominato Command secret instruction No. 24.
22 April 1942:
About 15 nms E of Onekotan-To (now Ostrov Onekotan), northern Kuriles. KAIKO MARU claims to have been hit by an American submarine’s torpedo at 49-25N, 155-25E, with no casualties sustained. Arrives that same day at Otomae Wan and departs later. [4]
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
4 May 1942:
Departs Paramushiro for Muroran.
7 May 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
9 May 1942:
Departs Muroran for Yokosuka.
12 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives later in the day at Tokyo.
19 May 1942:
Departs Tokyo for Ominato in convoy also consisting of IJA transports CHOSEN MARU and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, civilian transports SHOGEN (3,362 GRT), TAIKAI (2,478 GRT), TAISHO (830 GRT), MARUs, IJN requisitioned transports TAMA (3,052 GRT) and WOOSUNG MARUs and cargo ship TETSUZAN MARU escorted by minelayer SARUSHIMA and survey vessel KOMAHASHI. [5]
21 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
1 June 1942:
Departs Ominato and arrives that same day at Hakodate.
2 June 1942:
Departs Hakodate for Kushiro, Hokkaido.
3 June 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
5 June 1942:
Departs Kushiro for Tennei.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Tennei. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJA airbase.
20 June 1942:
Departs Tennei for Matsuwa-To.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJA airbase.
23 June 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To for Paramushiro.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the different island airbases.
30 June 1942:
Departs Paramushiro for Muroran.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
5 July 1942:
Departs Muroran and arrives that same day at Ominato.
15 July 1942:
Transfers to Hakodate.
16 July 1942:
Departs Hakodate for Kushiro.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
18 July 1942:
Departs Kushiro for Tennei.
19 July 1942:
Arrives at Tennei.
21 July 1942:
Departs Tennei for Matsuwa-To.
23 July 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
25 July 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To and arrives later that day at Musashi Wan (Bay), Paramushiro. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJN airbase.
30 July 1942:
Departs Musashi Wan and arrives later in the day at Kataoka, Shimushu-To. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for Kataoka Naval Base.
31 July 1942:
Departs Kataoka for Ominato.
4 August 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
25 August 1942:
Departs Ominato and arrives later in the day at Kushiro.
27 August 1942:
Transfers to Akkeishi, Hokkaido.
28 August 1942:
Departs Akkeishi for Kataoka.
30 August 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJN naval base.
1 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka for Paramushiro.
4 September 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
5 September 1942:
Departs Paramushiro for Matsuwa-To.
6 September 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
8 September 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To for Paramushiro.
9 September 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
20 September 1942:
Departs Paramushiro for Shinshiru-To (now Shimushir).
21 September 1942:
Arrives at Shinshiru-To. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJA garrison.
22 September 1942:
Departs Shinshiru-To for Tennei.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Tennei.
26 September 1942:
Departs Tennei for Kushiro.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
29 September 1942:
Departs Kushiro for Hakodate.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
2 October 1942:
Departs Hakodate for Ominato.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
17 October 1942:
Transfers to Akkeishi.
18 October 1942:
Transfers to Kushiro.
21 October 1942:
Departs Kushiro for Ominato.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
2 November 1942:
Departs Ominato and arrives later in the day at Hakodate.
3 November 1942:
Departs Hakodate for Kushiro.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
5 November 1942:
Departs Kushiro and arrives that same day at Shikotan, southern Kuriles.
6 November 1942:
Departs Shikotan for Kashiwabara, NE of Paramushiro.
9 November 1942:
Arrives at Kashiwabara. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJA airbase.
11 November 1942:
Transfers to Suribachi, Wan (Bay), S of Paramushiro. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJA airbase.
15 November 1942:
Departs Suribachi, Wan and arrives that same day at Matsuwa-To.
16 November 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To and arrives back at Paramushiro later in the day.
18 November 1942:
Departs Paramushiro for Kataoka Wan, Shimushu-To.
20 November 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
23 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan for Matsuwa-To.
25 November 1942:
Reattached from Transport Unit directly to Ominato Guard District under Ominato Command secret instruction No. 17.
26 November 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
30 November 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To for Tennei, Etorofu.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Tennei.
3 December 1942:
Departs Tennei and arrives that same day at Shikotan.
4 December 1942:
Departs Shikotan and arrives later in the day at Kushiro.
6 December 1942:
Transfers to Hakodate.
8 December 1942:
Transfers to Ominato.
16 December 1942:
Departs Ominato for Muroran.
17 December 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
22 December 1942:
Departs Muroran for Shibaura, Tokyo in South Convoy No.82 also consisting of civilian tanker EIYO MARU, IJA transport UGO MARU, IJN requisitioned transport SHINFUKU MARU, civilian ore carrier MIYAZAKI MARU and civilian cargo ships YUZAN (6,380 GRT) and HANASAKI MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU.
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Shibaura.
28 December 1942:
Departs Shibaura for Yamada Bay, Iwate Prefecture in North Convoy No.80 also consisting of auxiliary transports SHOEI (3,083 GRT) MARU and SHINYO MARU No. 8, IJA transport UGO MARU, IJA requisitioned transport UGA MARU and civilian cargo ship YUZAN MARU (6,380 GRT) escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU.
1 January 1943:
Arrives in Yamada Bay.
2 January 1943:
Departs Yamada Bay for Muroran.
3 January 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
9 January 1943:
Departs Muroran in convoy No. 2109 also consisting of IJA transport CHOSEN MARU, IJA requisitioned transport NIKKIN (ex-American CANADIAN) MARU, IJN requisitioned transport SHOBU MARU, civilian cargo ships TAIKAI (2,478 GRT), FUKI, ESUTORU and TONAN MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat KEISHIN MARU.
11 January 1943:
SW Inubosaki, Chiba Prefecture. KAIKO MARU is mined at 03-24N, 154-13E that partially floods the engine room.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Shibaura, Tokyo.
E 13-14 January 1943:
Undergoes emergency repairs.
15 January 1943:
Departs Shibaura for Rumoi, Hokkaido.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Rumoi.
20 January 1943:
Transfers to Otaru.
22 January 1943:
Departs Otaru for Shibaura.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Shibaura.
E March 1943:
Yokohama. Undergoes extensive repairs at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Senkyo K.K. Shipyard.
7 June 1943:
Reattached from Transport Unit directly to Ominato Guard District under Ominato Command secret instruction No. 44.
27 July 1943:
Yokohama. Repairs are completed.
28 July 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives that same day at Tokyo. Departs later.
E July 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
4 August 1943:
Departs Yokohama for Hakodate.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.
8 August 1943:
Transfers to Otaru.
10 August 1943:
Departs Otaru for Kataoka Wan (Bay), Shimushu-To.
12 August 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka escorted by destroyer KAMIKAZE.
14 August 1943:
Departs Kataoka for Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro.
15 August 1943:
Arrives in Suribachi Wan.
17 August 1943:
Transfers to Musashi Wan.
19 August 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan for Kakumabetsu, SW of Paramushiro. Probably unloads supplies and building materials for the IJA airbase.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu.
23 August 1943:
Departs Kakumabetsu for Otaru.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
5 September 1943:
Departs Otaru for Maoka, Karafuto (now Kholmsk, Sakhalin) in convoy KI-502 also consisting of IJA transport SHINWA MARU. The convoy steams at 11 knots.
6 September 1943:
About 0600 (expected ETA), arrives at Maoka.
8 September 1943:
Departs Maoka for Odomari, Mie Prefecture.
9 September 1943:
Arrives at Odomari.
11 September 1943:
Departs Odomari for Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro in convoy with auxiliary transport NISSHO MARU No. 18.
14 September 1943:
Destroyer KAMIKAZE meets up with the ships at sea.
15 September 1943:
Both ships arrive at Suribachi Wan.
24 September 1943:
Departs Suribachi Wan for Otaru in convoy with IJA transport KOAN MARU (4305 grt) escorted by destroyer KAMIKAZE.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
30 September 1943:
Transfers to Hakodate.
3 October 1943:
Transfers to Nonai, Aomori Prefecture.
5 October 1943:
Transfers to Ominato.
10 October 1943:
Departs Ominato for Otaru.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
13 October 1943:
Departs Otaru for Suribachi Wan in convoy with IJA transports TAIHEI MARU escorted by kaibokan KUNASHIRI.
17 October 1943:
Arrives at Suribachi Wan.
18 October 1943:
Transfers to Kataoka Wan, Shumushu-To.
22 October 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan and arrives later that day back at Suribachi Wan.
26 October 1943:
Transfers again to Kataoka Wan.
4 November 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan, calls at Kakumabetsu and arrives back later in the day at Kataoka.
5 November 1943:
Departs Kataoka for Otaru in convoy with auxiliary transport TOEI MARU, IJA transports TAKASHIMA and MELBOURNE MARUs escorted by destroyer KAMIKAZE.
9 November 1943:
At 2300, arrives at Otaru.
14 November 1943:
Departs Otaru for Osaka.
20 November 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
23 November 1943:
Departs Osaka for Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Probably loads aviation gasoline drums for Kuriles airbases.
28 November 1943:
Departs Tokuyama for Muroran.
1 December 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
5 December 1943:
Transfers to Ominato.
10 December 1943:
Departs Ominato for Otaru.
11 December 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
12 December 1943:
Departs Otaru for Suribachi Wan.
16 December 1943:
Arrives at Suribachi Wan.
12 December 1943:
Departs Otaru for Suribachi Wan.
16 December 1943:
Arrives at Suribachi Wan.
20 December 1943:
Transfers to Musashi Wan.
22 December 1943:
Transfers to Noda Wan, Paramushiro.
24 December 1943:
Transfers to Kataoka Wan.
30 December 1943:
Transfers to Kashiwabara.
E January 1944:
Departs Kashiwabara.
E January 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka. Departs later.
23 January 1944:
At 1205 arrives at Musashi Wan.
24 January 1944:
Departs Musashi Wan for Kushiro.
27 January 1944:
At 1430, arrives at Kushiro.
30 January 1944:
Departs Kushiro for Ominato.
31 January 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
7 February 1944:
Ominato. Under Ominato Naval District secret instruction No. 3., temporarily fitted with two single Type 93 13.2mm MGs on her bridge’s sides.
9 February 1944:
Departs Ominato.
E February 1944:
Arrives at Aomori. Departs later.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
17 February 1944:
Additionally fitted with one twin Type 96 25mm AA gun, under Navy’s secret instruction No. 969.
18 February 1944:
Departs Ominato for Kushiro in convoy with civilian icebreaker (C-AGB) HAKUYO MARU (5742 grt) escorted by kaibokan HACHIJO.
19 February 1944:
At 0930 arrives at Kushiro.
21 February 1944:
At 0900 departs Kushiro for Kataoka.
25 February 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka.
28 February 1944:
Transfers to Noda anchorage, southern tip of Paramushiro. Starts to unload cargo into Daihatsu landing craft. In the afternoon, on his first war patrol, LtCdr (later Captain) Malcolm E. Garrison's (USNA '32) USS SAND LANCE (SS-381) sights a transport at anchor. At 1533, Garrison torpedoes and hits KAIKO MARU in holds No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 at 50-02E, 155-26E. At 1545, mortally wounded, KAIKO MARU sinks taking down her captain and two crewmen.
31 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 508.

Authors Notes :
[1] Not to be confused with other ships bearing the same name like ex-British MARY MOLLER freighter (2,667 GRT ’02) seized in 1941 and renamed KAIKO MARU, or Horai Tanker Kisen (956 GRT ’43).
[2] See Zatsuyosen home page for full explanation.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[4] No mention of such an attack in Allied records.
[5] It is unclear if the TETSUZAN MARU in this convoy is the IJA transport (1,923 GRT) or the civilian cargo ship (2,030 GRT) of the same name.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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