Japanese Hospital Ships

BYOINSEN

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

IJN Hospital Ship KIKU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

12 January 1929:
Kobe. Laid down at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding as a 759-ton passenger ship for the Tokiowan Kisen K. K. (Tokyo Bay Steam Ship Co.)
27 April 1929:
Launched and named KIKU MARU.
25 June 1929:
Completed.
1 July 1929:
Begins Tokyo coastal islands service
1929:
Departs Tokyo. Arrives at Izu-Oshima Island, then steams to Shimoda on Tokiowan Kisen’s route.
24 August 1935:
Tokyo Bay. Runs aground near Kisarazu port.
5 November 1938:
Nisshin Kisen K.K. charters KIKU MARU to the Imperial Army for use as a hospital ship on the Yangtze River.
10 August 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
12 September 1941:
Registered as a specially installed netlayer in the Yokosuka Naval District. Begins conversion at Yokosuka Navy Yard.
15 October 1941:
The conversion is completed. Assigned to the Ominato Guard Unit.
1 December 1941:
Reassigned to the Tsugaru Guard Unit.
15 December 1941-17 September 1942:
Makes frequent short patrols out of Ominato, then returns to port.
28 August 1942:
Transferred to new owner Tokai Kisen K. K.
25 September 1942:
Departs Ominato.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Muroran, Hokkaido.
4 October – 29 June 1943:
Makes frequent short patrols out of Muroran, then returns to port.
22 March 1943:
Assists cargo ship MANJU MARU torpedoed and damaged the previous day at 41 -37N, 142-30E by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Walter G. Ebert’s USS SCAMP (SS-277).
1943:
Captain Kusegawa Shinji assumes command.
1 July 1943:
Departs Muroran.
31 July 1943:
Arrives Muroran.
25 Augusat 1943:
Departs Muroran.
6 September 1943:
Rescues survivors of cargo ship SHOGEN MARU torpedoed and sunk that day at 42-13N, 142-00E by LtCdr (later Admiral) Ignatius J. Galantin’s USS HALIBUT (SS-232).
10 October 1943:
Escorts a convoy from Manila, Philippines.
12 October 1943:
Arrives at Iloilo, Philippines.
18 October 1943:
Arrives Cebu, Philippines.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
4 November 1943:
Departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
30 January 1944:
Returns to Muroran.
3 February 1944:
Departs Muroran.
27 March 1944:
Arrives Muroran.
1 April 1944:
Departs Muroran on an anti-submarine sweep.
28 April 1944:
Returns to Muroran.
1 May 1944:
Departs Muroran.
24 May 1944:
Arrives at Muroran.
2 June 1944:
Departs Muroran.
29 June 1944:
Arrives Muroran.
5 July 1944:
Departs Muroran.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
5 September 1944:
Departs Ominato.
1 October 1944:
Departs Keelung in special convoy “Taka-Rinji”.
6 October 1944:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa.
19 October 1944:
Departs Naha carrying 452 aircrew and 300 others.
12 December 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
18 January 1945:
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as required by the Geneva Convention, notifies the warring countries that KIKU MARU is a designated hospital ship.
20 January 1945:
KIKU MARU is relieved of assignment in the Ominato Guard Unit and registered as a specially installed hospital ship in the Yokosuka Naval District. Assigned to the Combined Fleet’s 22nd Squadron.
Janauary 1945:
Yokohama. Begins conversion at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard.
4 March 1945:
Departs Yokohama. Arrives at Shimoda.
6 March 1945:
Departs Shimoda. Arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
23 March 1945:
Departs Yokosuka. Arrives at Shimoda later that day.
25 March 1945:
Departs Shimoda. Arrives at Yokohama later that day.
15 April 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
9 June 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka
20 June 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
July 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 August 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
2 August 1945:
LtCdr William Cook’s Australian HMAS destroyer NIZAM is escorting HMS ARBITER. They are proceeding to rendezvous with Task Force 37 (BPF) in the vicinity of Saipan. Just before dawn, NIZAM passes a ship showing lights. NIZAM challenges, but receives no answer. At first light, the Japanese ensign is seen on the masthead as are large Red Cross signs painted on the craft. NIZAM sends a boarding party over by whaler to investigate. The party is told that the ship is destined for Torishima (Marcus Island). The ship has accommodations for 100 patients, but has none aboard. KIKU MARU is permitted to proceed.
8 August 1945:
About 250 miles NW of Marcus Island. Destroyer USS CASSIN (DD-372) puts a boarding party aboard KIKU MARU. After observing no violations, CASSIN permits KIKU MARU to proceed to Yokosuka.
13 August 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 August 1945:
Peace is declared. That same day, KIKU MARU is re-rated a special transport and assigned to Yokosuka’s local demobilization bureau. The ship is later assigned Scapjap Number K-090.
9 October 1945:
Departs Uraga.
14 October 1945:
Arrives at Kita Daito Jima.
15 October 1945:
Departs Kita Daito Jima.
18 October 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
28 October 1945:
Departs Kure.
30 October 1945:
Arrives at Kita Daito Jima and departs later that day.
1 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
5 November 1945:
Departs Kagoshima.
7 November 1945:
Arrives at Kita Daito Jima.
8 November 1945:
Departs Kita Daito Jima.
11 November 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
21 November 1945:
Departs Kure.
25 November 1945:
Arrives at Kita Daito Jima.
26 November 1945:
Departs Kita Daito Jima.
29 November 1945:
Arrives at Kure and undergoes repairs.
9 December 1945:
Repairs are completed.
12 December 1945:
Departs Kure.
14 December 1945:
Arrives at Ishigakijima.
20 December 1945:
Departs Ishigakijima.
24 December 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
3 January 1946:
Departs Kure.
7 January 1946:
Arrives at Miyakoshima.
8 January 1946:
Departs Miyakoshima.
12 January 1946:
Arrives at Otaka.
15 January 1946:
Arrives at Kure for repairs.
23 January 1946:
Repairs are completed.
25 January 1946:
Departs Kure.
30 January 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.
4 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.
10 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
12 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai.
14 February 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
16 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.
20 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
22 February 1946:
Arrives at Lienyunchiang and departs later that day.
27 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.
4 March 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tamano.
30 March 1946:
Repairs are completed.
3 April 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
7 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren (Hua Lien), Formosa.
8 April 1946:
Departs Kwaren.
12 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
17 April 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
20 April 1946:
Arrives at Tangku.
22 April 1946:
Departs Tangku.
27 April 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.
30 April 1946:
Departs Hakata.
5 May 1946:
Arrives at Tangku.
8 May 1946:
Departs Tangku.
12 May 1946:
Arrives at Hakata:

14 May 1946:
Departs Hakata.
17 May 1946:
Arrives at Pusan, Korea and departs later that day.
20 May 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.
21 May 1946:
Departs Hakata.
23 May 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai.
27 May 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
30 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 July 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
7 July 1946:
Arrives at Tangku.
10 July 1946:
Departs Tangku.
13 July 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 August 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
8 August 1946:
Arrives at Tangku and departs later that day.
9 August 1946:
Arrives at Tsientsin.
13 August 1946:
Departs Tsientsin.
16 August 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Removed from the Navy List. Returned to her owners.
12 June 1969:
Scrapping begins at Utsumi.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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