RIKUGUN YUSOSEN
(KASHU MARU, 1924)
IJA Transport KASHU MARU:
Tabular Record of
Movement
© 2013-2018 Bob Hackett
3 July 1919:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Asano Zosensho K. K. as Yard No. 14, a
5,460-ton cargo ship for Kokusai Kisen (International Steamship Co. Ltd.), K.
K., Kobe.
29 November 1919:
Launched and named KASHU MARU.
26 December 1919:
Completed.
19 August 1921:
KASHU MARU arrives at Portland, Oregon from Yokohama
to load wheat for transport to Europe.
1924:
Port of Grays Harbor, Washington. KASHU MARU loads the one
billionth foot of timber 2. The timber was 80 feet long by 30 inches wide and 30
inches square. More than 300 spectators endure freezing weather to witness the
historic loading.
1927:
Sold to Fukuyo Kisen K. K., Kobe.
12 March 1932:
At 1030, KASHU MARU departs Sydney, Australia for
Yokohama.
7 October 1933:
At 1700, KASHU MARU departs Vancouver, B. C., Canada
for Yokohama.
21 January 1935:
Off N Pacific coast of N America. KASHU MARU aids an unidentified Japanese freighter in distress.
26 October 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and converted
to a troop transport. Allotted Army No. 352.
17 December 1941: Operation "M" (M Sakusen) -The Invasion of the Northern
Philippines:
At 0900, KASHU MARU departs Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan) for
Lingayen Gulf, Philippines in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Rear Admiral
Hirose Sueto (39)(former CO of HARUNA) 3rd Lingayen Invasion Unit with 21 other
IJA transports escorted by DesDiv 9's YAMAGUMO, minelayer WAKATAKA and four
smaller warships. The Japanese main invasion at Lingayen Gulf consists of three
transport echelons. The first is composed of 27 transports from Takao under Rear
Admiral Hara Kensaburo, the second of 28 transports under Rear Admiral Nishimura
and the third under Rear Admiral Hirose. This force of 76 transports carries the
main part of LtGen Homma Masaharu's 80,000-man 14th Army.
24 December 1941: Between 0110 and 0430, the transports land their troops
at Lingayen.
13 December 1942:
KASHU MARU departs Saeki in Military Movement No.
8’s convoy “H” also consisting of KIZAN, MIYADONO, NANKING, TOMIURA and YAGUMO
MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO and subchaser CH-36.
E 14 December 1942:
Both escorts are detached at 29N.
20 May 1943:
KASHU MARU departs Palau in convoy No. 3208 also
consisting of NANKO, SATSUMA and TEIKAI (ex German FULDA) MARUs and two
unidentified merchants escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE
25 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
10 July 1943:
At 1500, KASHU MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 175
also consisting of DAINICHI, FUSEI, MACASSAR, RAKUYO, TEIRITSU (ex-Vichy French
LECONTE DE LISLE) and WAKATSU MARUs and tankers KOZUI, NITTASU and TATSUNO MARUs
escorted by destroyer ASAGAO.
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao. ASAGAO is detached and probably replaced by an unknown escort.
19 July 1943:
Departs Takao for Mako.
E 24 July 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
16 September 1943:
KASHU MARU departs Saeki for Rabaul via Palau in
convoy O-608 also consisting of MEXICO , OSAKA, RYUOSAN, TAMAHOKO, TOYOOKA, and
TOUN, MARUs escorted by torpedo boat SAGI, minelayer YURIJIMA, auxiliary
minesweeper TAMA MARU and auxiliary patrol boat SHINKO MARU.
E 17 September 1943:
All escorts except SAGI are detached at 29N.
27 September 1943:
At 1300, arrives at Palau, Carolines.
3 October 1943:
At 1500, KASHU MARU departs Palau in a convoy also
consisting of MEXICO, MITAKESAN and TOYOOKA MARUs with unknown escort.
8 October 1943:
About 85 nms N of Manus Island, Admiralties, Papua
New Guinea. At 0123, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Norvell G. Ward’s (USNA ’35) USS
GUARDFISH (SS-217) sights the convoy and torpedoes KASHU MARU. One torpedo
misses, but two others hit No. 1 and No. 4 holds. At 0140, KASHU MARU sinks at
00-26S, 146-17E. One crewman is KIA.
Bob Hackett
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