Japanese Auxiliary Netlayers

KYUSETSUMOKAN!

HOKAKUMOTEI!

(KOGA MARU – Berend van der Wal Collection)

IJN KOGA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2022 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall

1941:
Osaka. Laid down by Nakata Zosensho K.K. as a 909-tons cargo ship for Sanko Kisen K.K.
22 April 1941:
Launched and named KOGA MARU. [1]
16 June 1941:
Completed and registered at Amagasaki with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 909-tons and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of 571-tons. Her call sign is JJVD. [2]
7 December 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
12 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary netlayer attached to the Sasebo Naval District under order No. 1701. Wakamatsu. Conversion for military duty begins at Tochigi Zosensho K.K. shipyard.
31 December 1941:
Attached to the Sasebo Defense Force under instruction No. 1780. Attached to the Sasebo Naval District, Sasebo Defense Squadron.
1 January 1942:
Rated as Sakito Unit’s, Second Patrolling Unit. Departs Fukuoka Bay that same day.
2 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo and returns to base later this day.
15 January 1942:
Attached to the Sea Surface Defense Unit, Sasebo Area Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 14. Rated as Sakito Unit’s, Second Patrolling Unit under Sasebo Naval District Command No. 31.
16 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
23 January 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
1 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
13 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
5 February 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Area Defense Unit, Sea Surface Defense Unit, under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 16. Rated as the Sakito Unit’s Second Patrolling Unit under Sasebo Naval Defense Command No. 32.
14 February 1942:
Assigned to anti-submarine sweeping under Sakai Defense wireless No. 30.
15 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
18 February 1942:
Assigned to anti-submarine sweeping under instruction No. 218.
21 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
27 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
E27 ~ 28 February 1942:
Rated as Second Platoon’s, Sixth Unit.
3 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
19 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
4 April 1942:
Assigned to anti-submarine sweeping with the Second Sweeping Corps from 6 April W Meshima under Sasebo Naval District Defense Force wireless order No. 34.
5 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 April 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Area Defense Unit, Sea Surface Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 22.
12 April 1942:
Assigned to anti-submarine sweeping inside a rectangle that wraps 200° line that passes through Osezaki Ushishima and 290° parallel line through Osezaki and Meshima under Sasebo Naval District Defense Force wireless order No. 36. Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor later that day.
19 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 April 1942:
Assigned to Sakito Unit, Second Patrolling Unit under Sasebo Naval Defense Force Command No. 35.
22 April 1942:
Assigned to anti-submarine sweeping with the Third Sweeping Corps from 25 April W Meshima under Sasebo Naval District Defense Force wireless order No. 34.
E1 May ~ 5 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
5 May 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
17 May 1942:
Disposes of one floating mine and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
26 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor. Shoots at one floating mine at 72° and 4 nautical miles of Kotatejima.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
6 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo on alert at outer harbor.
10 July 1942:
Shoots at one floating mine at the southern half of Kuroshima. Arrives at Sasebo later that day.
August ~ September 1942:
At Sasebo.
25 September 1942:
Rated as Shijiki Unit, First Patrol Unit.
24 October 1942:
Enters Sasebo Navy Yard No. 6 Drydock.
28 October 1942:
Undocked.
November 1942:
At Sasebo.
10 November 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Area Defense Unit, Sea Surface Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 33.
1 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
6 December 1942:
Attached to Sasebo Area Defense Unit, Sea Surface Defense Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 34.
8 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
17 December 1942:
Rated as Shijiki Unit, First Patrol Unit under Sasebo Naval Defense Force Command No. 47.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
10 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 January 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
12 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 February 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo and returns to base later that day.
16 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo on training and returns there later this day.
17 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo on patrol at outer harbor.
18 March 1943:
Rescues pilots after a crash landing on a sandy beach in Hiramachi, Ukushima.
19 March 1943:
An IJNAF seaplane arrives to pick up the rescued pilots.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
30 March 1943:
Departs Sasebo on a patrol at outer harbor.
31 March 1943:
At 2110, at 33-51N, 130-15E about 119 nautical miles SSW Itozaki, Genkaishima civilian cargo ship NANSHIN MARU (4,806 GRT) collides with civilian cargo ship OHA MARU’s (later renamed KURASAKI) port bow. NANSHIN MARU subsequently sinks with unknown casualties.
1 April 1943:
Assigned to rush to NANSHIN and OHA MARUs (33-51N, 130-15E) collision location and engage in rescue under Sakai Defense wireless instruction No. 2.
2 April 1943:
At 0400, arrives at NANSHIN MARU’s sinking location.
5 April 1943:
Assigned to return to Sasebo after being relieved by auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 2.
7 April 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Rated as a main escort unit under Sasebo Naval Defense Force Command No. 54.
E7 ~ 13 April 1943:
Loads 20 depth charges.
13 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Kagoshima.
17 April 1943:
KOGA MARU telegram No. 171400: Convoy ROKU-03.
KAGI MARU (bound for Naha, Okinawa via Naze, Amami Oshima), KANATO MARU (bound for Naze), NANYO MARU (bound for Koniya, Amami-Oshima), MIYAKO MARU (bound for Naha via Koniya).
Scheduled to depart Kagoshima on 17 April at 1400, speed 8 knots and convoy consists of 5 sections.
Scheduled noon position on 18 April is 28- 45N, 130-04E.
Scheduled to arrive at Naze on 1600.
Scheduled to arrive at Koniya harbor at 1800.
Scheduled to depart Naze on 19 April at 1500.
Scheduled to arrive at Naha on 20 April.
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-3.
18 April 1943:
At 1700, arrives at Naze. Departs there and calls at Koniya. Departs there later this same day.
19 April 1943:
Arrives at Naze-Tobishima, Amami Oshima and departs there at 1500.
20 April 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Naha.
23 April 1943:
KOGA MARU telegram No. 230930: Convoy OKI-03.
KAGI MARU (bound for Osaka via Naze), KEIUN MARU (bound for Kagoshima via Naze).
Scheduled to depart Naha on 23 April at 1200.
Speed 8 knots.
Convoy consists of 5 sections.
Scheduled to arrive at Naze on 24 April at 1000.
Scheduled to depart Naze at 1200.
Scheduled to arrive at Kagoshima on 25 April at 1800.
KAGI MARU is scheduled to detach at Cape Sata on 25 April at 1400. Request instructions regarding the escort route.
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-03.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Naze.
KOGA MARU telegram No. 241145:
RYUKYU MARU (bound for Kagoshima) joins the convoy off Naze’s coast. KAGI MARU calls at Kagoshima and is scheduled to depart on 26 April after replenishing boiler water.
Scheduled to go N via Aizaki Seto at noon on 26 April at 32-16N, 129-49E.
Departs Naze escorting convoy OKI-03.
25 April 1943:
At 1500, arrives at Kagoshima.
30 April 1943:
KOGA MARU telegram No. 301045: convoy ROKU-06
KEIUN MARU (bound for Naha via Naze), RYUKYU MARU (bound for Kikajima, Amami Oshima Islands from Naze), AMOY MARU (bound for Naha), KANATO MARU (bound for Naze), TACHIBANA MARU (1,772 GRT), embarked Army soldiers, bound for Singapore via Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan), speed 14 knots), MIHARA MARU (697 GRT), embarked Army soldiers, bound for Manila, Philippines via Takao, speed 12 knots).
Scheduled to depart Kagoshima on 30 April at 1000 for Naze.
Scheduled to arrive at Naze on 1 May at 1100.
Scheduled to depart Naze for Naha at 1500.
Scheduled to arrive at Naha on 2 May at 1100.
Speed 9 knots.
TACHIBANA and MIHARA MARUs will detach from the convoy near Naha.
At 1000, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU -6 consisting of KEIUN, KANATO, AMOY, RYUKYU, TACHIBANA and MIHARA MARUs.
1 May 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day for Naha.
2 May 1943:
At 1330, arrives at Naha.
5 May 1943:
At 1200, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-5 consisting of KEIUN, AMOY, RYUKYU, CHIYO and KATSURAGISAN MARUs.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
7 May 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Kagoshima.
KOGA MARU telegram No. 071200:
Assigned to escort convoy OKI-05 consisting of KEIUN MARU, AMOY MARU, RYUKYU MARU and KATSURAGISAN MARU to Kagoshima Bay.
Assigned to escort KATSURAGISAN MARU (bound for Kobe).
Scheduled to depart Kagoshima Bay’s entrance at 1200.
Scheduled to arrive at Akune at 1900.
Scheduled to depart Akune on 8 May at 0500 for Sasebo.
KATSURGISAN MARU gives a route instruction near Sakito and goes N alone, speed is 9 knots.
Receives conversion instructions for minesweeper equipment. As soon as possible all netlaying nets and related equipment will be landed and replaced by minesweeping equipment. Netlaying equipment stand will be replaced by a minesweeping equipment stand. A new towing eye ring will also be fitted under instruction No. 2167.
Departs Kagoshima later this day escorting IJA transport KATSURAGISAN MARU and arrives at Akune later that same day.
8 May 1943:
Near Sakito ends escort and arrives at Sasebo later this day.
13 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Yamakawa, Okinawa.
15 May 1943:
Rated as a Sea Surface Defense Unit, Escort Main Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 42.
KOGA MARU telegram No. 150800: Convoy ROKU-9.
KAIJUN GO ex-HAI SHUN), JUNGEN GO (ex-SHUN YUAN), SHINSHU MARU (bound for Takao via Naha), NANKAI and KAIJO MARUs (bound for Naha), KORYU MARU (bound for Kitadaito Island, Daito Islands).
Scheduled to depart Yamakawa on 15 May at 1100.
Speed will be 8 knots.
Scheduled to arrive at Naze on 16 May at 1000.
Scheduled to depart Naze at 1300.
Scheduled to arrive at Naha on 17 May at 1200.
At 1100, departs Yamakawa escorting convoy ROKU-9.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
17 May 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Naha.
20 May 1943:
Receives Okinawa detachment secret telegram no. 201505:
Assigned to escort convoy OKI-9.
KAIJO MARU is scheduled to depart for Kagoshima via Naze.
Scheduled to depart on 20 May at 1400.
Speed 10 knots.
Scheduled to arrive at Naze on 21 May at 0800.
Scheduled to depart Naze at 1200.
Scheduled to arrive at Kagoshima on 22 May at 0800.
At 1400, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-9.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
22 May 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Kagoshima.
30 May 1943:
KOGA MARU telegram No. 301100: Convoy ROKU-12.
AMOY and UNTEN MARUs (bound for Naha via Naze, MINAMI MARU (ex-CAPELLA bound for Okidaito Island via Naze), YAMATO MARU No. 3 (bound for Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) via Kirun, Formosa, now Keelung, Taiwan).
YAMAKAWA MARU is scheduled to depart on 30 May at 1030, speed will be 7.5 knots, approaching Tokara (Toshima) Islands, direct route from E Oshima to Naze, scheduled to arrive at Naze on 31 May at 1300.
Scheduled to depart Naze at 1700.
Scheduled to arrive at Naha on 1 June at 1800.
At 1030, departs Yamakawa escorting convoy ROKU-12.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
1 June 1943:
At 1800, arrives at Naha.
4 June 1943:
Departs Naha with auxiliary netlayer KUMANO MARU escorting convoy OKI-403 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
7 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
11 June 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-1110 consisting of 10 unidentified merchant ships.
13 June 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
16 June 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-609 consisting of NIKKAKU MARU towing an oil barge, SHIGANOURA UNTEN (latter from Funauki Wan) and TEIKON MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships. The ships sail at 7.5 knots.
18 June 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
19 June 1943:
Departs Naha.
21 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
E22 ~ 30 June 1943:
Auxiliary minesweeper instruction work.
4 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
5 July 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
7 July 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-707 consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
11 July 1943:
At 1700, departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-101 consisting of KAIJO MARU.
12 July 1943:
Arrives at Naze at 1200 (ETA) and departs there later this day at 1400 (ETD).
13 July 1943:
At 1700 (ETA), arrives at Kagoshima.
16 July 1943:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives off Sakurajima later that day.
17 July 1943:
Departs Sakurajima waters and arrives at Kagoshima later this day.
19 July 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-910 consisting of SUGIYAMA MARU, meteorological ships KAIYO No. 1 and KAIYO No. 2 and seven unidentified merchant ships.
20 July 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
23 July 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-301 consisting of KORYU MARU (2,170 GRT).
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
25 July 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Kagoshima.
28 July 1943:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives off Sakurajima later that day.
29 July 1943:
Departs Sakurajima waters.
30 July 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
31 July 1943:
At 0800, departs Kagoshima with auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU and auxiliary patrol boat HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO escorting convoy ROKU -106 consisting of auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU, cargo ships TAMON MARU No. 8, NIITAKA and KOJUN MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Naze.
KOGA MARU secret telegram No. 011720: additional correction of the ROKU-106 convoy:
After NIITAKA and KOJUN MARUs and nine vessels arrive at Naha at 1500, escorts SEKI MARU (to Naze) and HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO (to Naha) will be used as planned.
2 August 1943:
Departs Naze escorting convoy ROKU-12.
3 August 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
4 August 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-404 consisting of TAICHU MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
5 August 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
6 August 1943:
At 1130, arrives at Kagoshima and departs there later that day.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
15 August 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-504 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
16 August 1943:
Arrives at Seso, Kakeromajima.
17 August 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Koniya, later this day.
18 August 1943:
Departs Koniya and arrives at Seso later that day.
20 August 1943:
Departs Seso.
21 August 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
27 August 1943:
Departs Naha.
29 August 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
30 August 1943:
KOGA MARU secret telegram no. 301735: Convoy ROKU-102.
NICHIRIN MARU and BANSHU MARU No. 3.
Scheduled to depart Kagoshima on 31 August at 0500 for Take jima East Bank, 5 nautical miles of Tokara Islands West Bank.
After passing through Ie Suido scheduled to arrive at Naha on 2 September at 1500.
Speed 8 knots.
Escort cooperation ship to Oshima will be auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU.
31 August 1943:
At 0800, departs Kagoshima with auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU escorting convoy ROKU-102 consisting of auxiliary transport NICHIRIN MARU (1,020 GRT) and auxiliary stores ship BANSHU MARU No. 3.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Seso and departs there later this day.
2 September 1943:
At 1500 (ETA), arrives at Naha.
3 September 1943:
At 1000 (ETD), departs Naha with auxiliary patrol boats UGORO and NAGATO MARUs escorting convoy OKI-304 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships and calls at Oshima. Departs there later this same day.
5 September 1943:
Arrives at Yamakawa.
7 September 1943:
Departs Yamakawa and arrives at Kagoshima later that day.
9 September 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-905 consisting of WAKO GO (ex-HOHSING) and four unidentified merchant ships, and arrives at Chiringashima later this day.
10 September 1943:
Departs Chiringashima.
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
14 September 1943:
Departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-402 consisting of TAICHU MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
16 September 1943:
Arrives at Sakiura, Yakoura Island.
17 September 1943:
Departs Sakiura and arrives at Sasebo later that day.
21 September 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
22 September 1943:
Arrives at Koniya.
26 September 1943:
Departs Konya and arrives at Naze later this day.
27 September 1943:
Departs Naze.
28 September 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
29 September 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-902 consisting of KONAN MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
1 October 1943:
At 1450, arrives at Naha.
5 October 1943:
Departs Naha.
6 October 1943:
Arrives at Seso.
7 October 1943:
Departs Seso and arrives at Kuji Bay, Amami Oshima later that day.
8 October 1943:
Departs Kuji Bay.
9 October 1943:
Arrives at Kataura, Kagoshima prefecture and departs there later this day.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 October 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
13 October 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
15 October 1943:
Departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-504 consisting of TAISOKU MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later that day.
17 October 1943:
Arrives at Naha.
20 October 1943:
Departs Naha with auxiliary netlayer AGATA MARU escorting convoy OKI-004 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Naze and departs there later this day.
23 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
1 November 1943:
Rated as a Sea Surface Defense Unit, Main Unit under Sasebo Naval District Order No. 49. Attached to the Main Escort Unit’s, Second Escort Unit.
4 November 1943:
Receives Sasebo Naval District Maritime Defense Force Ordinance No. 6:
1 - KOGA MARU, KUMANO MARU and AGATA MARU will be assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwest Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Tayui Minoru’s (39) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
2 - KUMANO MARU should return to Sasebo after completing convoy OKI-303’s escort mission.
3 - AGATA MARU should make a round trip to Sasebo as soon as possible through Seso (change of her CO if necessary) in preparation for the sortie.
For the time being, after ROKU convoy departs on 8 November the Okinawa route will be Yamakawa, Nazema Yamakawa Corps, Naze, Nahama Oshima Corps and Tsubaki.
Leave escort to the relay escort.
5 November 1943:
Receives instruction No. 051742:
It is necessary to work as a subordinate and maintain an auxiliary capture netboat and an auxiliary anti-submarine netboat by Omi secret instruction No. 290930. However due to convenience behavior part of construction work is outsourced to work department of the new affiliation.
1 - Boat name Maintenance staff
MATSU, TATSU and KASHIMA MARUs Yokosuka
HIRO, SHOSEI and SHIMOMATSU MARUs and KOGYO MARU No. 2 Kure
NAGATAKA MARU Ominato
AGATA, KUMANO, KOGA, HARUKAWA, SHOMASU and HANAE MARUs Sasebo
2 - Remove netlaying and minesweeper equipment and prepare for transport missions. If necessary, ammunition should be stored in the gun side ammunition housing and ammunition storage should be abolished.
3 - MATSU, TATSU and KASHIMA MARUs will be equipped with one Type 96 25mm gun. Other ships will be equipped with one Type 83 13mm MG.
Departs Sasebo.
10 November 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral Tayui Minoru’s (39) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet under instruction No. 2381.
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwest Area Fleet, First Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
22 December 1943:
At 1600, departs Takao with torpedo boat TOMOZURU and auxiliary netlayer KUMANO MARU escorting convoy No. 783 consisting of tankers OGURA MARU No. 2 and FUSHIMI MARU No. 3.
25 December 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Manila.
4 January 1944:
At 1440, auxiliary netlayers KOGA and KUMANO MARUs arrive at Singapore.
9 January 1944:
Assigned to cooperate with the 21st Torpedo Boat Division during voyage to Mergui, Burma (now Myeik, Myanmar) under Southern Expeditionary Fleet instruction No. 5.
29 January 1944:
At 1600, due to depart Mergui to meet auxiliary netlayer KUMANO MARU off Victoria Point (presumed following day).
14 ~ 16 March 1944:
Loads 21st Torpedo Boat Division base equipment.
18 March 1944:
Departs Piai Cape, British Malaya (now Tanjong Piai, Malaysia) towing torpedo boat No. 442.
20 March 1944:
Arrives at Port Swettenham, British Malaya (now Port Klang, Malaysia).
21 March 1944:
Departs Port Swettenham and arrives at Dindings, British Malaya (now Malaysia) later that day.
22 March 1944:
Departs Dindings and arrives at Penang, British Malaya (now Malaysia) later this day.
27 March 1944:
Departs Penang and arrives at Terutau, Malaya (now Ko Tarutao, Thailand) later that day.
28 March 1944:
Departs Terutau and arrives at Jung Ceylon (Thalang, now Phuket), Thailand later this day.
29 March 1944:
Departs Jung Ceylon and arrives at Balatan Island, Andamans later that day.
30 March 1944:
Departs Balatan Island and arrives at Victoria Point, Burma (now Kawthaung, Myanmar) later this day.
31 March 1944:
Departs Victoria Point with MTB No. 414 and arrives at unidentified location later that day.
1 April 1944:
Departs unidentified location with MTB No. 414 and arrives at Mergui later this day.
2 ~ 3 April 1944:
Unloads base equipment. Departs later.
18 April 1944:
At 05-02N, 100-14E engages in anti-submarine warfare. Drops a depth charge. Outside Penang port, hits a magnetic mine and floods. Remains there flooded for about 40 days.
1 January 1945:
Attached to the Southwest Area Fleet, Western Command. At Singapore. Main engine and auxiliary equipment are repaired. Current CO is Navy (Resv) Lt Alitake Bunpachi.
11 January 1945:
Evacuates offshore.
12 January 1945:
Lies alongside a quay. Departs and returns there later this same day.
15 January 1945:
Lies alongside a quay. Performs a test run.
17 January 1945:
On calibration trials.
19 January 1945:
Evacuates offshore. Loads ammunition and shells.
20 February 1945:
Departs Singapore.
21 February 1945:
Arrives at Palembang River, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
22 February 1945:
Departs Palembang River and arrives at Palembang. Loads 735-tons of coal.
23 February 1945:
Embarks 157 Army soldiers and loads 3 baggage vehicles. Departs Palembang later that day.
25 February 1945:
Arrives at Keppel Port, Singapore.
26 February 1945:
Transfers at pier No. 6, Keppel Port. Army soldiers disembark. Departs there and arrives at Seletar Port, Singapore later that same day. Unloads coal.
1 March 1945:
Loads coal.
4 March 1945:
Loads coal. Assigned to escort convoy HI-88-I from Singapore to St. Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam) under Western Command instruction No. 245.
5 March 1945:
Embarks 82 passengers. At 1008, departs Singapore for Moji with subchasers CH-33, CH-9, minesweeper W-4, ASW detection vessel TATEISHI (fitted with special cable to detect submerged subs), auxiliary subchaser (ex-netlayer) KAINAN MARU and auxiliary subchaser NITTO MARU No. 17 escorting convoy HI-88-I consisting of YAMAKUNI and HOSEN MARUs, NANSHIN MARU No. 21, FUSHIMI MARU No. 2, TAKASAGO MARU No. 6 and GENZAN (MOTOYAMA) MARU No. 1. It seems likely KOGA MARU carried passengers and cargo on this voyage as well as acting as an escort.
8 March 1945:
At 1406, arrives at Pattani, Thailand.
9 March 1945:
At 0837, departs Pattani and returns there at 1047.
10 March 1945:
At 0753, departs Pattani and returns to port at 1104.
11 March 1945:
At 0922, departs Pattani.
12 March 1945:
Engages in anti-submarine warfare. Drops one depth charge.
13 March 1945:
Arrives at Cape Camau . Departs there and arrives at West Ile Poulo Obi, French Indochina (now Hon Khoai, Vietnam) later this same day.
14 March 1945:
Departs West Ile Poule Obi. During the day engages in anti-aircraft combat.
15 March 1945:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat. Arrives at St. Jacques at 1521. Detached from convoy. Begins unloading.
16 March 1945:
Continues unloading. Disembarks 68 passengers. Departs St. Jacques and arrives at Saigon later that same day. Begins unloading. Disembarks 14 passengers.
17 March 1945:
Assigned to escort convoy SASHI-44 from Saigon to Singapore under Western Command instruction No. 249. The convoy consists of KOGA MARU (carrying cargo as well as escort) and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by auxiliary patrol boat NITTO MARU No. 17.
18 March 1945 Completes unloading and begins loading.
22 March 1945:
Completes loading. Departs Saigon later this day.
25 March 1945:
At 1801, arrives at Pattani. Departs there at 2349.
26 March 1945:
At 2216, arrives at Redang Island, British Malaya (now Pulau Redang, Malaysia).
27 March 1945:
At 0753, departs Redang Island. Engages in anti-submarine warfare. Drops 10 depth charges.
28 March 1945:
At 2216, arrives at buoy No. 15, Singapore Strait.
29 March 1945:
Engages in anti-aircraft combat. Enemy aircraft drop magnetic mines. Navigation therefore is prohibited. Waits.
3 April 1945:
Navigation ban is lifted under the Tenth Special Base Channel notification No. 15.
4 April 1945:
Departs buoy No. 15, Singapore Strait and heads towards Seletar port. At Johore Strait, 315° and 700m of buoy No. 25, hits a magnetic mine dropped by a Boeing B-29 ‘Superfortress’ bomber. Engine room and ship’stern flood.
At 0930, auxiliary subchaser NITTO MARU No. 17 and two auxiliary boats on both sides start towing.
At 1136, auxiliary boat on port side is replaced by tugboat No. 2 of Port Affairs Department and begins drainage.
At 1345, lies alongside quay No. 5. Three tugboats from the Port Affairs Department drain ship and perform other salvage tasks.
Begins emergency unloading.
5 April 1945:
At 2015, salvage work and unloading stop.
At 2030, enters drydock No. 2.
September 1945:
Recovered at Singapore in unrepaired condition.
31 December 1945:
Released to her owners but never recovered. The ship’s fate remains unknown. Ship was not formerly allocated as a British war prize. With a large volume of wartime surplus tonnage available there is no evidence ship was repaired and returned to service. It seems likely ship was either scrapped locally or used to reinforce the breakwater under what is now the Keppel Container Terminal. The latter is probably likeliest.
3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 327.

Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with (1,535 GRT ’37) cargo ship.
[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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