KOKAI HOKAN!

(YOSHINOGAWA MARU sistership of KEISHIN MARU, prewar)

IJN KEISHIN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement


© 2020 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall


10 May 1939:
Osaka. Laid down by Sanoyasu Dock K.K. shipyard for Awanokuni Kyodo Kisen K.K. as a 1,434-tons cargo ship.

27 November 1939:
Launched and named KEISHIN MARU. [1]

20 April 1940:
Completed and registered at Tokushima with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) respectively of 1434-tons and 792-tons. [2]

9 December 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.

20 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval district under instruction No. 1700. Conversion to military duty begins at Yokohama shipyard. That same day, Navy (Resv.) Captain Okamura Yutaka is appointed Supervisor.

25 December 1941:
Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 29.

31 December 1941:
Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force, Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 31.

19 January 1942:
Conversion is completed.

E 20 ~ 22 January 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

23 January 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

24 January 1942:
Departs Uraga for Tokyo Bay waters likely on trials, and returns to Uraga later this day.

25 January 1942:
Departs Uraga escorting IJN auxiliary transports NASUSAN and TOKAI MARUs.

26 January 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

28 January 1942:
Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force, Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 45.

1 February 1942:
Provides indirect escort for submarines I-7, I-20 and I-21.

2 February 1942:
Departs Minato waters. That same day, Captain Okamura is relieved by Navy (Resv.) Kawamoto Kazuo as Supervisor.

3 February 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

4 February 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Nagaura later that day.

10 February 1942:
Departs Nagaura and arrives at Uraga later this day.

14 February 1942:
Departs Uraga on a sweep in Oshima Eastern Sea, Nojima and Katsuura waters.

15 February 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

17 February 1942:
Departs Uraga on patrol alert in M area.

18 February 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

19 February 1942:
Departs Uraga for Nojima waters.

21 February 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

24 February 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives in Minato vicinity later this day.

25 February 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

27 February 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.

1 March 1942:
Departs Uraga on an anti-submarine sweep in K area.

3 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

E 3 ~ 4 March 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

4 March 1942:
Arrives at Nagaura.

6 March 1942:
Departs Nagaura on patrol in Nojima waters.

8 March 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

9 March 1942:
Departs Uraga on patrol in Shiogama vicinity.

10 March 1942:
Departs Shiogama waters on patrol between Shiogama and Inubozaki. Returns at Shiogama later this day.

12 March 1942:
Departs Shiogama.

14 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

E 15 ~ 25 March 1942:
Under repairs.

25 March 1942:
Advised by Maritime Defense Command telegram No. 35 of a current anti-submarine warning in Ishinomaki Bay area.

26 March 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga that day.

27 March 1942:
Departs Uraga for Tokyo Bay vicinity.

28 March 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

31 March 1942:
Departs Uraga and arrives at Minami Yoko later this day. Departs there later that day escorting auxiliary stores ship SENKAI MARU. Assigned to patrol M-gu area after completing current mission, under Yokosuka naval District instruction No. 792.

1 April 1942:
Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force, Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 72.

2 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Loads fuel and other supplies.

3 April 1942:
At 0900, raises the flag. Departs Nagaura on gunnery practice and thereafter returns to Nagaura. At 1900, removes the flag.

E 3 ~ 4 April 1942:
Departs Nagaura.

4 April 1942:
Patrols N Inubozaki waters.

5 April 1942:
Arrives at Ishinomaki Bay.

E 5 ~ 6 April 1942:
Departs Ishinomaki.

6 April 1942:
Assigned to search for a Yokosuka Naval Air Group missing H4H Type 91 Flying Boat under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 838 in Inubozaki area.

7 April 1942:
Searches for a missing Aichi D3A Type 99 ‘Val’ bomber in the same area.

8 April 1942:
Arrives at Kinkasan and departs there. At 1430, searches for a life raft of a crashed aircraft.

9 April 1942:
Continues searching for the missing aircraft. At 1805, at 36-30N, 141-58E ends searching under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 854.

10 April 1942:
Arrives at Ishinomaki. Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force, Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 74. That same day, instruction No. 838 searching mission is officially cancelled by Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 843.

11 April 1942:
Departs Ishinomaki.

16 April 1942:
Arrives at Tateyama.

17 April 1942:
Departs Uraga to sweep M guarding area.

18 April 1942:
Sweeps K and M guarding areas under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 924/K1. Thereafter, on patrol and aircraft surveillance SE Inubosaki under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 930.

19 April 1942:
Assigned to sweep No. 5, K, M and T guarding areas under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 935.

23 April 1942:
Assigned to rescue mission for auxiliary patrol boat MANJU MARU which stranded on a reef under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 975.

25 April 1942:
Patrols N Inubozaki. Thereafter, heads towards location of auxiliary patrol boat MANJU MARU and auxiliary netlayer KOKAI MARU for joint rescue work of MANJU MARU with KOKAI MARU.

26 April 1942:
Carries out an anti-submarine patrol while KOKAI MARU is engaged in rescue work for MANJU MARU. Instructed to hand over to KOKAI MARU necessary equipment and to return to Yokosuka under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 20.

27 April 1942:
At 0230, attempt to unload MANJU MARU at high tide fails.

28 April 1942:
Transfers the necessary salvage tools to KOKAI MARU and departs area.

29 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

1 May 1942:
Tactically assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force, Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 72. Departs Yokosuka that same day.

2 May 1942:
Conducts anti-submarine sweep in X2 area under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 63.

3 May 1942:
Relieved by auxiliary netlayer KOKAI MARU and starts patrolling N Inubozaki towards Kinkasan under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 69.

4 May 1942:
Arrives at Ishinomaki.

E 4 ~ 5 May 1942:
Departs Ishinomaki.

5 May 1942:
Arrives in Kinkasan waters.

6 May 1942:
Departs Kinkasan waters escorting the S Yokohama convoy. Arrives at Miyako later that day.

7 May 1942:
Departs Miyako and arrives in Kinkasan waters later this day.

8 May 1942:
Departs Kinkasan waters on patrol. Arrives at Ohara Bay later that day.

9 May 1942:
Departs Ohara Bay and arrives in Kinkasan waters later that day.

10 May 1942:
Departs Kinkasan waters. Sweeps while heading towards Yokosuka.

11 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

13 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day.

15 May 1942:
Directly attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Guard Force instruction No. 39.

20 May 1942:
Departs Uraga on trials.

21 May 1942:
Depart Uraga for Futtsu vicinity. Departs there later that day, escorting westbound HIBARI MARU.

22 May 1942:
Sweeps while heading from 184° and 5 nautical miles off Daiozaki to Uraga.

26 May 1942:
Escorts westbound civilian (C-AK) TAMON MARU No. 6 and IJA auxiliary transport KURETAKE MARU. En route, IJN auxiliary transport SHOUN MARU joins the convoy.

27 May 1942:
Near Daiosaki, detaches and heads towards auxiliary minesweeper SHINTOHOKU MARU. Sweeps while escorting SHINTOHOKU MARU to Uraga.

28 May 1942:
Escorts a southbound convoy. Arrives at Yokosuka later this day.

31 May 1942:
Assigned to escort from 1st ‘Jun a northbound convoy under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 332.

1 June 1942:
At 1000, departs Minato (near Yokosuka) escorting a convoy consisting of YAMAHAGI, SEIZAN, KATSURAGI, FUKI, DOZAN and AIYO MARUs. The convoy is bound for Hokkaido.

2 June 1942:
At 0800, ends escort and begins a transport mission.

4 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.

6 June 1942:
Departs Ominato.

8 June 1942:
Departs Yokosuka escorting a westbound convoy consisting of auxiliary transports AKIBASAN and YAMASHIMO MARUs and IJN requisitioned (B-AK) KONEI and ATLANTIC MARUs.

9 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

12 June 1942:
Escorts a northbound convoy consisting of KENEI, KOWA, TAOKAI, WOOSUNG, JINBU, TAISEI (2,423 GRT) and YAGUMO MARUs.

13 June 1942:
At 2130, at 143° and 5 nautical miles from Inubozaki, ends escort and heads towards Uraga. Arrives there later that day.

E 13 ~ 14 June 1942:
Departs Uraga.

14 June 1942:
Arrives outside Yokosuka port.

15 June 1942:
Moors at No. H6 floating buoy. Directly attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 99 and Yokosuka Guard Force instruction No. 42.

16 June 1942:
Departs Nagaura and arrives at Uraga later this day.

17 June 1942:
Departs Uraga escorting a convoy consisting of civilian cargo ships (C-AK) KOYO (3022 GRT), INARI and NIKKO MARUs, IJA transport SETSUYO MARU, IJN auxiliary transport SHOEI (3,099 GRT) MARU and government owned passenger ship (C-AP) RASHU MARU.

19 June 1942:
Escorts a northbound convoy consisting of TAKAOSAN, YUZAN, KOSHIN, HITORA, SAIHO and TSUNESHIMA MARUs. Arrives at Odomari and departs there later this day.

21 June 1942:
Escorts a westbound convoy consisting of FUSHIMI, YAMHAGI, HOKUSAN, DURBAN and SHUNTEN MARUs.

22 ~ 23 June 1942:
Patrols at Sagami Nada.

23 June 1942:
Departs Tokyo Bay escorting a convoy bound for Muroran consisting of civilian cargo ships (C-AK) ASAMA MARU (4,891 GRT) and SHINYO MARU No. 3 and SHINYO MARU No. 8, IJA transports UGA (4,433 GRT) and HINKO MARUs.

24 June 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

E 25 ~ 26 June 1942:
Departs Uraga.

26 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

28 June 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and returns there later that day.

6 July 1942:
Assigned to patrol from Shimizu to Suruga Bay under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 603. Departs Yokosuka. At 2130, at 275° and 2,000m of Omaezaki LH, unloads beached EIFUKU MARU.

7 July 1942:
Assigned to survey IJA transport HARUNA MARU (10,421 GRT) stranded on a reef east of Omaezaki LH under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 621.

8 July 1942:
Patrols Sagami Nada.

9 July 1942:
Departs Sagami Nada.

10 July 1942:
Assigned to escort from 11 ‘Jul northbound convoy under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 647.

11 July 1942:
Escorts northbound TAIKYU and TATEYAMA MARUs.

12 July 1942:
Escorts westbound TATSUHA, KONEI, HORAI and NICHIUN MARUs. Arrives at Yokosuka later this day.

13 July 1942:
Scheduled to transport to Miyakejima and to Mikurajima, Izu Shoto (Islands) Aircraft Factory No. 2 workers under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 671.

14 July 1942:
Departs Nagaura searching for aircraft carrier ZUIKAKU’s missing aircraft.

15 July 1942:
Continues searching for the missing aircraft.

16 ~ 18 July 1942:
Off Mikurajima and Miyakejima searches for the missing aircraft.

18 July 1942:
Scheduled to embark a Zuikaku’s Naval Officer and other military personnel, then to proceed towards Uraga and to carry-out an anti-submarine sweep under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 731.

19 July 1942:
Miyakejima. Embarks two workers and four military personnel. Thereafter, departs Miyakejima for Uraga. While heading for Uraga carries out an anti-submarine sweep.

E 19 ~ 21 July 1942:
Arrives at Uraga and departs there.

21 July 1942:
Escorts a westbound convoy.

22 July 1942:
Escorts a northbound convoy.

23 July 1942:
Escorts a westbound convoy.

24 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

25 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka escorting a northbound convoy.

27 July 1942:
Escorts westbound TETSUZAN and GYOKO MARUs and southbound SHIBAZONO and KAIHEI MARUs.

28 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

29 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

30 July 1942:
Escorts southbound auxiliary ammunition ship TATSUTAKE MARU and then westbound torpedo boat KARI.

31 July 1942:
Escorts northbound BENGAL, TAMASHIMA and ROZAN MARUs. Scheduled to go to Yokosuka for repairs after completing current mission under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 812.

1 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka for repairs.

E 2 ~ 7 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka likely on trials.

7 August 1942:
Arrives back at Yokosuka.

10 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka again likely on trials.

21 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

25 August 1942:
Repairs are completed. Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Uraga later this day. Scheduled to escort a northbound convoy to Hachinohe and to carry out simultaneously an anti-submarine sweep between Miyako and Hachinohe from 26 ‘Aug under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 812.

26 August 1942:
Departs Uraga escorting northbound GENZAN MARU and tanker NISSHIN MARU No. 2.

29 August 1942:
Patrols off Miyako, thereafter with auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU escorts a northbound convoy.

30 August 1942:
Patrols Miyako waters.

31 August 1942:
Patrols Miyako waters. Thereafter, with auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO escorts a northbound convoy consisting of SEIKO, MINAMI, HITORA, SHOGEN, NIIGATA, WOOSUNG, SAIHO, REIYO and REIAN MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 5.

1 September 1942:
Near Miyako Bay, escorts a northbound convoy with auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO consisting of TAIKYU, SHUNSHO, CHINZEI and SHORYU MARUs.

4 September 1942:
Scheduled to escort from 5 ‘Sep a northbound convoy and then to refuel at Oiso, Naka Prefecture, under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 1907. Thereafter, scheduled to perform a joint anti-submarine sweep in Kuji Bay waters under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 2230. Departs Hachinohe later in the day.

5 September 1942:
Placed temporarily under Miyako Naval Base Command by Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 57.

Together with minesweeper W-18, destroyer HATAKAZE, auxiliary gunboats HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO and CHITOSE MARU, conducts a submarine hunt off Miyako, Iwate Prefecture under Miyako Naval Base Command instruction No. 129.

At 50° and 34 nautical miles of Samekado LH, carries out an anti-submarine sweep under Miyako Naval Base Command instruction No. 122. Drops four depth charges.

Arrives at Muroran later that day. Placed temporarily under Tsugaru Defense Force Command under Ominato Guard District instruction No. 57.

Temporarily detached to Miyako Defense Unit under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 408.

7 September 1942:
Departs Muroran.

10 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

16 September 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

22 September 1942:
Scheduled to sail to Muroran under Ishigaki Naval Station instruction No. 307.

23 September 1942:
Detached from Miyako Defense Unit under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 139.

Detached from Tsugaru Defense Force Command under Ominato Guard District instruction No. 100 and No. 124.

Scheduled to carry out convoy escort duties while returning to Yokosuka under Maritime Defense Command instruction No. 2025. Proceeds to Yokosuka.

24 ~ 25 September 1942:
Escorts a southbound convoy.

25 September 1942:
Directly attached to Yokosuka Local Defense Squadron, Tokyo Bay Area Force under Yokosuka Naval District instruction No. 126.

28 September 1942:
Arrives at Uraga.

E 28 ~ 30 September 1942:
Departs Uraga.

30 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Departs later.

3 October 1942:
Departs Minato escorting a northbound convoy.

5 October 1942:
After ending convoy escort, heads towards Noma LH and carries out an anti-submarine sweep between Noda and Kakuma.

6 October 1942:
Ends anti-submarine sweep and starts escorting the Kitakami convoy until point N.

8 October 1942:
Anti-submarine sweep of Sanriku seaside base on Miyako.

9 October 1942:
Patrols SA area. Arrives at Yokosuka later this day.

11 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

13 October 1942:
Escorts a southbound convoy. At 140° and 40 nautical miles of Samekado LH, carries out an anti-submarine sweep and drops six depth charges.

15 October 1942:
At 1749, at 136° and 25 nautical miles of Samekado LH, discovers enemy submarines.

21 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

26 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Muroran.

27 October 1942:
Departs Muroran escorting a southbound convoy (possibly South Convoy No. 11).

30 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

E 31 October ~ 3 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

4 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

9 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

10 November 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.

12 November 1942:
Departs Muroran.

15 November 1942:
Arrives at Tateyama.

16 November 1942:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Nagaura later this day.

E 16 ~ 18 November 1942:
Departs Nagaura.

18 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka for repairs.

21 November 1942:
Repairs are completed. Departs Futtsu vicinity escorting northbound convoy No. 45 later that day.

24 November 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.

25 November 1942:
Departs Kobui escorting southbound convoy No. 45.

28 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

December 1942:
Rated as an auxiliary escort vessel.

2 December 1942:
Departs Futtsu waters escorting northbound convoy No. 57 consisting of SEKIHO and KOWA MARUs.

4 December 1942:
At 1730, at 45-29N, 141-48E discovers an enemy periscope. Drops six depth charges.

5 December 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.

6 December 1942:
Departs Kobui escorting southbound convoy No. 61 consisting of FUKI, HOKUTO and TAISEI MARUs.

7 December 1942:
Off Kinkasan, IJA transport HOKUTAI MARU joins the convoy.

9 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

E 9 ~ 12 December 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

12 December 1942:
Patrols N area and caries out an anti-submarine sweep.

13 December 1942:
On patrol.

14 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

23 December 1942:
Off Funakata, escorts westbound convoy No. 81 consisting of NORWAY, GINYO, HAKUYO, HITORA, TAIZAN and UNYO MARUs.

25 December 1942:
Arrives in Yura waters.

28 December 1942:
Departs Kobe escorting eastbound convoy No. 58 consisting of IJN auxiliary transport SUITEN (ex-Dutch SCHOUTEN), civilian tanker (C-AO) MITSU MARU, IJA transports KEIJO and FUKUYAMA (ex-British FEDERLOCK) MARUs, auxiliary stores ship HYUGA MARU, civilian collier (C-AC) TSUKUSHI MARU, government owned cargo ship (C-AK) JOSHU GO (ex-Chinese HSU CHOW), two unidentified ships named SHINHO and HIRATSU MARUs, and an unidentified ship called OMASA MARU.

30 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

5 January 1943:
Departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 1105 B consisting of IJN auxiliary transport YOKO MARU, IJA transports WAKATSU, HAKUSAN MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 5 and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) TAKE MARU.

8 January 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.

10 January 1943:
Off Kobui, escorts convoy No. 2109 consisting of MATSUMOTO, TAIKAI (2,478 GRT), NIKKIN (ex-American CANADIAN purchased prewar), KAIKO, FUKI, SHOBU, ESUTORU, CHOSEN and TONAN MARUs.

11 January 1943:
At 1135, at 80° and 3 nautical miles off Inubozaki LH, KAIKO MARU strikes a mine. Rescues survivors. Arrives at Yokohama later this day.

26 January 1943:
Completes repairs.

27 January 1943:
Departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 7127 consisting of KONEI, MALAY, KOJUN, EKKAI, RYOKAI and SEIWA MARUs.

29 January 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.

31 January 1943:
Because of stormy weather, departure of convoy No. 8131 is postponed.

1 February 1943:
Departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8201 consisting of KANSEISHI, KOJUN, ISSEI, NAGATA, SAN LUIS, SHINYUBARI, KIYOTADA (SEICHU), NARUO and HAKOZAKI MARUs and arrives off Yura later that day.

2 February 1943:
Departs Yura waters.

3 February 1943:
At 0030, off Mikimoto Jima, auxiliary oiler SAN LUIS MARU collides with passenger-cargo vessel ISSEI MARU.

4 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

12 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives in Yokohama vicinity later that day.

13 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama waters escorting convoy No. 1213.

14 February 1943:
At 1145, at 206° and 30 nautical miles of Shioyazaki, IJA transport OKUNI MARU is unable to navigate because of a damaged cover condenser. Heads towards Onahama towing OKUNI MARU.

15 February 1943:
At 1630, stops towing OKUNI MARU and heads towards Muroran.

16 February 1943:
At 1200, off Miyako starts escorting convoy No. 1213 consisting of ATAKA (ex-Italian ADA), HIKOSAN, HANASAKI, TSUNESHIMA, DAITO MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 6. Arrives at Muroran later this day.

18 February 1943:
Departs off Kobui escorting convoy No. 2218 consisting of YUSAN, BISAN, KOWA, SHINYO, SHINTO, TOKIWASAN, SHIGANOURA, HISASHIMA MARUs and BANEI MARU No. 15. At 1800, 80° and 4 nautical miles of Mitsunozaki, discovers a mine. Marks location with a buoy.

19 February 1943:
Carries out an anti-submarine sweep. Drops 12 depth charges.

22 February 1943:
Arrives at Nagaura, departs later and arrives at Yokohama later that day.

23 February 1943:
Departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 1223 consisting of TAKUSAN, RYOGA, SHOZAN and WOOSUNG MARUs.

28 February 1943:
Arrives at Hakodate.

3 March 1943:
Departs Hakodate.

7 March 1943:
Arrives at Hachinohe.

9 March 1943:
Departs Hachinohe.

14 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

20 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

26 March 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya.

30 March 1943:
Departs Nagoya.

1 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

3 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

E6 April 1943:
Meets up with convoy No. 2404 consisting of RYOGA, KENEI, SHOZAN, IBURI and TOEI MARUs.

11 April 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka and transfers to Yokohama. Later that day, departs there escorting convoy No. 7411 consisting of TOHO, KURETAKE and SAN PEDRO MARUs and OGURA MARU No.2.

16 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.

24 April 1943:
Arrives at Muroran escorting convoy No. 1422A consisting of RIZAN, KENZUI and KISHIN MARUs, RYUHO MARU No. 1 and an unidentified vessel.

29 April 1943:
Departs Muroran.

1 May 1943:
Escorts, with an unidentified torpedo boat, a southbound convoy consisting of four unknown ships. (Possibly destroyer NAMIKAZE and convoy No. 2429). KEISHIN MARU leads the inshore column. At 0730, the convoy is sighted by LtCdr George H. Wales’s (USNA '29) USS POGY (SS-266). At 0841, at 37-03N, 141-05E, about five nautical miles from Shioyazaki, Fukushima prefecture, Wales fires three torpedoes on the lead ship of the inshore column of which one hits and subsequently sinks KEISHIN MARU with the loss of one crewman.

15 July 1943:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 1455.


Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with wartime Standard 2E Type tanker (884 GRT, ’44).

[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.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

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


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