Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

HOKAKUMOTEI!

(SHUKO MARU, sistership of KANKO MARU, prewar)

IJN KANKO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2021 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

1940:
Osaka. Laid down by Nakata Zosensho K.K. as a 909-tons cargo ship for Sanko Kisen K.K.
26 December 1940:
Launched and named KANKO MARU. [1]
1 May 1941:
Completed and registered at Amagasaki. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 909-tons and 571-tons. Her call sign is JBLP. [2]
4 December 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
20 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Sasebo Naval District. Wakamatsu. Conversion to military duty begins at Tochigi Shoji K.K. shipyard.
31 December 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Sakamoto Ikuta’s (36) Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea) Guard District under Ordinance No. 1780. Attached to Rear Admiral Owada Yoshinosuke’s (35) Chinkai Guard Force, Chinkai Defense Squadron, Chinkai Guard Unit. Attached to the Tsushima Strait Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District Order No. 28.
3 January 1942:
Receives 8 depth charges under Chinkai Guard District Order No. 2
12 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Chinkai later that day.
15 January 1942:
Attached to the Tsushima Strait Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District Order No. 32.
31 January 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
10 February 1942:
Attached to the Pusan, Chosen (now Busan, South Korea) Maritime Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District Order No. 41 (specified separately at the time of activation).
13 February 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
16 February 1942:
Activation time of Chinkai Guard District Order No. 41 is 17 Feb ‘42 at 1200 under Chinkai wireless order No. 29.
18 February 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
5 March 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
21 March 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
26 March 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
27 March 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
29 March 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
1 April 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
4 April 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
8 April 1942:
Departs Chinkai on training. Returns there later this day.
9 April 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
12 April 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
13 April 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
15 April 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
19 April 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
24 April 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
27 April 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
5 May 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
9 May 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
13 May 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
18 May 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
20 May 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
28 May 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
1 June 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
8 June 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
10 June 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
15 June 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
17 June 1942:
Departs Pusan.
22 June 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
25 June 1942:
Attached to the Chinkai Maritime Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District Order No. 59. Departs Chinkai later that same day.
26 June 1942:
Attached to the Fifth Corps under Defense Command No. 89.
30 June 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
3 July 1942:
Departs Pusan.
8 July 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
13 July 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
23 July 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
27 July 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
29 July 1942:
Departs Chinkai and arrives at Pusan later that day.
30 July 1942:
Departs Pusan and arrives at Chinkai later that same day.
1 August 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
4 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
10 August 1942:
Temporarily attached to the Tsushima Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District Instruction No. 43. Departs Chinkai later that day.
13 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
16 August 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
18 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
20 August 1942:
Departs Chinkai.
25 August 1942:
Attached to the Tsushima Strait Defense Force under Chinkai Guard District Order No. 66.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
28 August 1942:
Departs Chinkai for Ryojun (Port-Arthur, Lushun), Manchuria (now Lushunkou, northern China).
13 September 1942:
Enters drydock at Ryojun Naval Yard.
20 September 1942:
Undocked.
E20 ~ 29 September 1942:
Departs Ryojun.
30 September 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
1 October 1942:
Attached to Chinkai Guard Force, Chinkai Security Unit. Rated as the Tsushima Strait Defense Force, Second Unit under Chinkai Guard District Instruction No. 57.
7 October 1942:
Departs Pusan.
6 November 1942:
Departs Pusan on an anti-submarine sweep.
June 1943:
During this month escorts CHI convoys 71, 78, 79 and 84.
11 July 1943:
Departs Gunsan (Kunsan), Chosen (now South Korea) escorting convoy CHI-1.
12 July 1943:
At 0600, at North Ocean Island (now Haiyang Tao), China, detaches. Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China) later this day.
E12 ~ 21 July 1943:
Escorts convoy CHI-4.
20 July 1943:
At 1150, departs Dairen with minelayer NASAMI escorting convoy TE-03 consisting of EIKO, SAGA, HAKUUN MARUs and YUBARI MARU No. 3. HAKUUN MARU is bound for Kenjiho (Kyomipo), the others for Moji.
21 July 1943:
Escorts convoy CHI-12. Anchors temporarily.
22 July 1943:
At 1700, arrives at Seito N side, (Tsingtao, now Qingdao), China.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Ryojun. Rated as a Chinkai Sea Defense Unit, Escort Unit.
2 August 1943:
Enters drydock.
7 August 1943:
Convoy CHI-30 first part consisting of NASE, MITSUMINE MARUs, SEIRI GO, YUBARI MARU No. 2 and TOYO MARU No. 1 escorted by minelayer NASAMI, auxiliary netlayers SHOEKI and KIRI MARUs and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 departs Dairen.
8 August 1943:
KANKO MARU departs Ryojun and arrives at Dairen later in the day.
9 August 1943:
Convoy CHI-30 second part consisting of SUMIDA, SHOKA, AOKI (Ex Italian AMBA ALAGI), YURI, CHIKUZEN, SHORYU MARUs and TAIRI GO and WAJUN GO meets up with the convoy at 38-20N, 124-38E. It seems likely that KANKO MARU joins this second part, possibly with some of the escorts listed in Part 1 (see 7 August).
11 August 1943:
Arrives at Gunsan.
15 August 1943:
Departs Gunsan.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
19 August 1943:
Departs Dairen escorting convoy CHI-37.
21 August 1943:
Arrives at Gunsan. Departs there later that day.
23 August 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
25 August 1943:
Departs Dairen on an escort mission.
27 August 1943:
Arrives at Gunsan.
29 August 1943:
Departs Gunsan.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Gunsan port.
1 September 1943:
Departs Gunsan.
3 September 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
10 September 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
11 September 1943:
Arrives at Old Gunsan, Chosen (now Kogunsan-gundo (Sinsido Ri), South Korea).
12 September 1943:
Departs Old Gunsan on an escort mission.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
16 September 1943:
Departs Dairen.
18 September 1943:
Arrives at Old Gunsan.
21 September 1943:
Departs Old Gunsan on an escort mission.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
24 September 1943:
Departs Dairen.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Gunsan port. Departs there on an escort mission later this day.
28 September 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
29 September 1943:
Departs Seito on an anti-submarine sweep.
21 October 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
22 October 1943:
Arrives at Clifford Islands, Chosen (now Tschok Dschom, South Korea). Departs later.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Ooshima (Funatsuura) Chosen (now Socheongdo South Korea). Arrives at 37-50N, 124-44E, the location of ran aground YOSHIURA MARU.
28 October 1943:
Departs Clifford Islands and arrives at Daito Bay, Chosen (now Taedong Bay, North Korea) later that day.
5 November 1943:
Scheduled for removal of netlaying and minesweeping equipment and conversion to suit transport duties and adding a Type 93 13mm MG under Secretariat order No. 051742.
10 November 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet under Ordinance No. 2381.
11 November 1943:
Arrives at Old Gunsan.
12 November 1943:
Departs Old Gunsan.
13 November 1943:
Arrives at Chinkai.
14 ~ 28 November 1943:
Undergoes conversion to suit transport duties. Netlaying and minesweeping equipment is removed. Fitted with a band stand for a Type 93 13mm MG and related MG.
29 November 1943:
Departs Chinkai.
30 November 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 ~ 14 December 1943:
Anchors at buoy No. 5. Maintenance of hull, engine and weapons.
15 ~ 26 December 1943:
Maintenance of hull, engine and weapons. Unloads 2 sets of machines and 4 derricks.
27 December 1943:
Repairs are completed. Maintenance of hull, engine and weapons are resumed.
31 December 1943:
Hull, engine and weapons maintenance are completed.
1 ~ 6 January 1944:
Cargo handling.
6 January 1944:
Embarks two passengers bound for Manila, Philippines.
7 January 1944:
Depart Sasebo with auxiliary netlayers SHUNSEN (also called HARUKAWA MARU in some records, an alternate reading of the same kanji) and SHOEKI MARUs and arrives at Aba Bay later this day.
9 January 1944:
Departs Aba Bay and arrives at Ushibuka Bay later that day.
11 January 1944:
Departs Ushibuka Bay.
15 January 1944:
Arrives at Fangliao, Formosa (now Taiwan).
16 January 1944:
Departs Fangliao and at 1200, arrives at Takao (now Kaoshiung), Formosa.
17 ~ 19 January 1944:
Cargo handling.
20 January 1944:
Embarks 124 passengers bound for Manila. At 1000, departs Takao with auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU escorting convoy No. 787 consisting of SAN LUIS, SEISHO, CHIHAYA, SHOEKI MARUs (NB latter ship may have been an escort), KOTO MARU No. 2 GO and survey ship KYODO MARU No. 36.
23 January 1944:
Drops depth charges. At 0600, arrives at Manila.
24 January 1944:
Lies alongside Pier No. 3.
25 ~ 27 January 1944:
Cargo handling.
27 January 1944:
Embarks 36 passengers bound for Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
28 ~ 31 January 1944:
Resupplies and trains.
1 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Manila with auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU and auxiliary subchaser CHa-41 escorting convoy No. 3105 consisting of auxiliary oilers SAN LUIS and HOKUAN MARUs, IJA oilers CHIHAYA and KOKUEI MARUs and IJA transport BENGAL MARU and one unidentified ship (possibly KYODO MARU No. 36?).
3 February 1944:
Arrives with the convoy at S Palawan, Philippines. The convoy subsequently is dissolved. KANKO MARU and SHUNSEN MARU sail together S.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi, Philippines.
6 February 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi.
9 February 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan outer port. Depart there and arrives at Pier No. 2 later this day.
10 ~ 12 February 1944:
Cargo handling.
13 February 1944:
At 0400, departs Balikpapan with auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU escorting IJA tanker JAMBI MARU.
16 February 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Surabaya, Java, Netherlands Indies (now Indonesia).
17 ~ 20 February 1944:
Cargo handling.
20 February 1944:
Embarks 527 passengers bound for Sumbawa Island, Netherlands Indies (now Indonesia).
21 February 1944:
Departs Surabaya.
23 February 1944:
Arrives at Sumbawa, Sumbawa Island. Unloads base cargo.
24 February 1944:
Departs Sumbawa and arrives at Bima, Sumbawa Island later that day. Begins unloading base cargo and loading backlogged cargo.
27 February 1944:
Completes unloading base cargo and loading backlogged cargo. Departs Bima later this day.
28 February 1944:
Arrives at Sumbawa.
29 February 1944:
Cargo handling.
1 March 1944:
Departs Sumbawa.
3 March 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
4 March 1944:
Unloads ammunition.
5 March 1944:
Enters Harima drydock No. 2.
6 ~ 15 March 1944:
Undergoes hull, weapons and engine repairs and maintenance. Repairs of ship bottom’s damaged part are undertaken as well.
16 March 1944:
Undocked. Loads ammunition.
17 ~ 18 March 1944:
Cargo handling.
19 March 1944:
Departs Surabaya.
23 March 1944:
Arrives at Pomala (Pomalaa), Celebes, Netherlands Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).
24 March 1944:
Unloads base cargo.
25 March 1944:
Departs Pomala.
29 March 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
30 March 1944:
Lies alongside Harima drydock.
31 March 1944:
Undergoes heavy oil tank repairs.
1 ~ 7 April 1944:
Cargo handling.
7 April 1944:
Embarks five passengers bound for Bima.
7 April 1944:
Departs Surabaya.
9 April 1944:
Arrives at Bima. Unloads base cargo.
10 April 1944:
Departs Bima.
11 April 1944:
Arrives at Sisa (river, airfield), Flores, Netherlands Indies (now Indonesia).
11 April 1944:
Unloads base cargo.
13 April 1944:
Departs Sisa.
14 April 1944:
Arrives at Bima.
15 April 1944:
Embarks four passengers bound for Surabaya. Departs Bima later that day.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Sumbawa. Departs there later this day.
18 April 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
19 ~ 23 April 1944:
Cargo handling.
23 April 1944:
Embarks nine passengers for Christmas Island and departs Surabaya later in the day.
25 April 1944:
Arrives at Djakarta (heretofore Batavia), Java (now Jakarta, Indonesia). Embarks 25 passengers for Christmas Island, Australia.
26 April 1944:
Cargo handling.
27 April 1944:
Departs Djakarta.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at Christmas Island.
30 April ~ 1 May 1944:
Cargo handling.
2 May 1944:
Embarks 34 passengers bound for Surabaya. Departs Christmas Island later that day.
3 May 1944:
Arrives at Crater Island anchorage [likely referring to Krakatoa].
4 May 1944:
Departs Crater Island anchorage and arrives at Djakarta later this day.
5 May 1944:
Departs Djakarta.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
8 ~ 11 May 1944:
Cargo handling.
11 May 1944:
Embarks 86 passengers for Menado, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia). Departs Surabaya later that day.
13 May 1944:
Arrives at Macassar Strait’s entrance, S Laut Island, Borneo.
16 May 1944:
Arrives at Menado. Begins unloading base cargo.
19 May 1944:
Completes unloading base cargo. Departs Menado later this day.
20 May 1944:
Temporarily anchoring.
21 May 1944:
Departs temporarily anchorage.
22 May 1944:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia.
23 May 1944:
Anchors at Kendari outer harbor.
25 May 1944:
Departs Kendari.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).
27 ~ 30 May 1944:
At anchor. Cargo handling.
30 May 1944:
Departs Macassar. Temporarily anchoring later that day.
31 May 1944:
Departs temporarily anchorage.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan outer port.
2 June 1944:
Departs Balikpapan outer port and arrives at Balikpapan later this day.
3 ~ 4 June 1944:
Cargo handling.
5 June 1944:
Embarks 26 passengers bound for Surabaya. Departs Balikpapan and anchors temporarily later that same day
6 May 1944:
Departs temporarily anchorage.
8 June 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
9 ~ 13 June 1944:
Undergoes hull, weapons and engine maintenance.
13 ~ 16 June 1944:
Cargo handling.
16 June 1944:
Embarks 517 passengers for Kendari.
17 June 1944:
Departs Surabaya.
20 June 1944:
Arrives at Polewali anchorage, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).
21 June 1944:
Departs Polewali anchorage. Arrives at Macassar later this day.
22 ~ 23 June 1944:
Cargo handling.
23 June 1944:
At 1200, departs Macassar in convoy with ANAN MARU escorted by auxiliary minesweeper Wa-104 (Because KANKO MARU is carrying cargo and passengers she is considered a merchant ship, though she is still equipped as an escort). Arrives at Malasoro, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia) later that day. [3]
24 June 1944:
Departs Malasoro Bay. Carries out emergency anchoring later that day.
25 June 1944:
Weighs anchor. Carries out emergency anchoring later that day.
26 June 1944:
Weighs anchor. At 1430, arrives at Kendari.
27 ~ 28 June 1944:
Cargo handling.
29 June 1944:
Departs Kendari. Carries out emergency anchoring later that day.
30 June 1944:
Weighs anchor. Carries out emergency anchoring later that day.
1 July 1944:
Weighs anchor. Arrives at Malasoro Bay later this day.
2 July 1944:
Departs Malasoro Bay. Reverses course and returns to Malasoro Bay later that day.
3 July 1944:
Departs Malasoro Bay and arrives at Macassar later that same day.
3 ~ 5 July 1944:
Cargo handling.
5 July 1944:
At 1300, departs Macassar with minesweeper W-4 escorting auxiliary transport DAICHO MARU. Arrives at Macassar outer port later this day.
6 July 1944:
Departs Macassar outer port.
7 July 1944:
W-4 is detached N Laut Island. Later that day arrives at Balikpapan.
8 ~ 11 July 1944:
Cargo handling.
12 July 1944:
Departs Balikpapan. Carries out emergency anchoring later that day.
13 July 1944:
Weighs anchor.
15 July 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
16 ~ 17 July 1944:
Cargo handling.
18 ~ 19 July 1944:
Undergoes MGs maintenance.
20 ~ 21 July 1944:
Cargo handling.
22 ~ 23 July 1944:
Carries out storage training and maintenance.
24 July 1944:
At 1200, departs Surabaya with auxiliary subchaser Cha-114 escorting a convoy consisting of TOBI and ENOSHIMA (ex-British EBONOL) MARUs. At 1850, anchors at 187° and 1,800 meters of buoy A in W Channel.
25 July 1944:
At 0700, weighs anchor.
27 July 1944:
At 0930, detaches at Macassar Strait’s entrance S Laut Island.
28 July 1944:
Arrives at Polewari Bay.
29 July 1944:
At 0930, departs Polewari Bay having joined a convoy escorted by auxiliary patrol boat KYOKUO MARU and consisting of small tankers HOSEI MARU (ex-Dutch POSEIDON) and YAEI MARU No. 2 and cargo ship (ex-Survey vessel) HEIYO MARU. At 2000, arrives at Macassar.
30 July 1944:
Cargo handling.
1 August 1944:
At 0630, departs Macassar, carrying cargo, escorted by auxiliary patrol boat OTAKA MARU.
11 August 1944:
At 2250, arrives at Menado.
26 August 1944:
At 0600, departs Balikpapan with auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU. Both ships are carrying cargo and are escorted by auxiliary patrol boat OTAKA MARU. Later that evening the ships arrive at the Kutai River mouth.
27 August 1944:
Departs Kutai River mouth and that evening arrives at Sangkulirang.
28 August 1944:
Departs Sangkulirang.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Tolitoli.
30 August 1944:
Departs Tolitoli.
31 August 1944:
Arrives at Domisol (Domisil).
1 September 1944:
Departs Domisol and later that day arrives at Menado.
14 September 1944:
At 0200, departs Tolitoli in a convoy also consisting of SHUNSEN and SEINAN MARUs escorted by auxiliary patrol boats OTAKA MARU and NITTO MARU No. 17.
17 September 1944:
At 1710, arrives at Balikpapan.
25 September 1944:
At 0650, departs Balikpapan in a convoy also consisting of SHUNSEN MARU and tanker ENOSHIMA MARU (ex-British EBONOL) with unknown escort.
1 October 1944:
At 1330, arrives at Surabaya.
2 October 1944:
Cargo handling.
3 October 1944:
Undergoes maintenance.
4 October 1944:
Unloads ammunition. Prepares for docking.
5 October 1944:
Enters drydock.
5 ~ 15 October 1944:
Undergoes hull and engine repairs. Fitted with a Type 96 25mm triple gun and an additional Type 93 13mm single MG according to instruction. Replaces suspended hydrophone with experimental Type 3 hydrophone.
16 October 1944:
Undocked. Moors at Wharf No. 1.
17 ~ 22 October 1944:
Undergoes hull and engine repairs.
22 October 1944:
Departs Wharf No. 1.
23 ~ 24 October 1944:
Cargo handling. Loads ammunition.
25 ~ 31 October 1944:
Carries out storage training and maintenance.
1 November 1944:
Departs Surabaya. Temporarily stays at Surabaya outer port.
2 November 1944:
Departs Surabaya outer port in a convoy also consisting of SHUNSEN, ENOSHIMA (ex-British EBONOL), KANTO, HAKUREI MARUs and NANSHIN MARU No. 13 escorted by subchaser CH-2 and auxiliary minesweepers Wa-103 and Wa-106.
4 November 1944:
Detached from convoy.
5 November 1944:
At 1615, arrives at Balikpapan.
6 ~ 10 November 1944:
Cargo handling.
11 November 1944:
Departs Balikpapan. Arrives N Aru Bank lighthouse later that day.
12 November 1944:
Departs N Aru Bank lighthouse. Temporarily anchoring later this day.
Receives First Guard Troop Instruction No. 421:
1 - First Port Operator conducts minesweeper W-11, auxiliary subchaser CHa-3, auxiliary netlayers KANKO and SHUNSEN (also known as HARUKAWA MARU) MARUs to tow auxiliary transport HOKKAI MARU. Salvage and escort should be implemented.
2 - Minesweeper W-11 has to rush quickly to HOKKAI MARU’s location and inform First Port Operator about HOKKAI MARU and crew current status. HOKKAI MARU is waiting for a temporary anchorage at Laut Strait S exit. Escorts are waiting at N Dato Island, NW Selatan, Celebes (now Sulawesi, Indonesia). Scheduled arrival is 15 Nov ‘44 at 1200. Thereafter return to Surabaya.
3 - Dismiss First Guard Troop Instruction No. 418 for minesweeper W-12.
13 November 1944:
Departs temporarily anchorage. Arrives at SE Sebuku Island.
14 ~ 15 November 1944:
Prepares for mid towing. Frontal towing: general requisitioned charter tug AKITSU MARU I GO, side towing: auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU).
16 November 1944:
Towing of HOKKAI MARU begins.
18 November 1944:
Arrives at buoy No. 7 in the swept E channel to Surabaya Port.
19 November 1944:
Departs buoy No. 7 in the swept E channel to Surabaya Port. Arrives at Surabaya later that day. Towing ends.
20 ~25 November 1944:
Cargo handling.
26 November 1944:
Embarks 300 passengers. Depart Surabaya and arrives at buoy No. 7 in swept E channel later in the day.
27 November 1944:
Departs buoy No. 7 in swept E channel.
29 November 1944:
Arrives at Barito river estuary, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (now Kalimantan, Indonesia).
30 November 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
5 January 1945:
At 0430, departs in a convoy sailing from Surabaya to Balikpapan with auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU, HAKUREI MARU and TORA MARU No. 1 escorted by minesweeper W-103.
At 1822, LtCdr (Later Rear Admiral) Herman J. Kossler's (USNA '34) USS CAVALLA (SS-244) sights a convoy consisting of five ships. At 2113, Kossler fires a spread of three torpedoes at the convoy. At 2115, one hits KANKO MARU on starboard. Another torpedo hits SHUNSEN MARU. Both ships sink immediately at 05-00N, 112-20E about 44 nautical miles NNW Bawean Island, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) with unknown casualties.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with civilian cargo ship (2,911 GRT, ’03), IJA transport No. 457 (1,283 GRT, ’18) and auxiliary gunboat (2,929 GRT, ’38).
[2] 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 subtracting 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.
[3] From at least this point on the shortage of tonnage in the region means KANKO MARU is used interchangeably as a cargo ship and escort.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall.

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