YUSOSEN!
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(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings
of Japanese Warships")
IJN KOKUYO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
©2006 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
17 June 1938:
Kobe. Laid down as a 10,026-ton merchant tanker by Kawasaki Shipbuilding for the Kokuyo Kisen (Steamship) Co.
26 December 1938:
Launched and named KOKUYO MARU
16 May 1939:
Completed.
1939-1940:
Employed on North American-Japan oil transport service.
16 November 1940:
KOKUYO MARU is requisitioned by the IJN.
16 December 1940:
Registered as a converted merchant transport (oil supply) in the Kure Naval District. Captain Itagaki Koichi is appointed Supervisor.
6 February 1941:
Departs Sasebo for the Dutch East Indies to load a cargo of oil.
22 February 1941:
Arrives at the Tokuyama Fuel Depot. Offloads her cargo.
14 March 1941:
Departs Mako for the Dutch East Indies to load a further cargo of oil.
27 March 1941:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Offloads her cargo.
6 April 1941:
Departs Kure for North American coast (probably San Pedro) to load a cargo of oil.
4 May 1941:
Arrives at Yokkaichi. Offloads her cargo.
13 May 1941:
Departs Kure for the North American coast for another cargo of oil.
13 June 1941:
Arrives at Tsurumi.
15 June 1941:
Re-rated a Converted Transport (Oil supply) and fully manned by an IJN crew. Captain (Retired) Hidai Toraji (37) is appointed Commanding Officer.
25 June 1941:
Departs Kure for the North American coast for another cargo of oil.
26 July 1941:
Osaka. Arrives at Amagasaki.
18 September 1941:
Kure Naval Yard. begins conversion to a Naval Auxiliary.
15 October 1941:
Rerated back to a converted merchant transport (Oil supply). Captain Hidai reverts from CO to Supervisor.
21 October 1941:
The conversion is completed.
10 November 1941:
Kure. The Chief of Staff of the Kure Naval District advises Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kusaka Ryunosuke (41)(former CO of AKAGI) that arrangements have been made to reequip oilers KOKUYO, SHINKOKU, KENYO and KYOKUTO MARUs for simultaneous port and starboard refueling by 13 November.
13-14 November 1941:
Oilers KOKUYO, KENYO, KYOKUTO and SHINKOKU MARUs conduct fueling at sea exercises with CarDiv 1's AKAGI, DesRon 1, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, CarDiv 2's SORYU and HIRYU and CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU. [1]
18 November 1941 - "The Hawaii Operation":
Departs Saeki. Seven oilers are assigned to Operation AMO, but the IJN’s practical experience in refueling at sea is almost nil. Earlier in the month, three refueling exercises were held in Sukumo Bay and the Ariake Sea. Now, while enroute to the Kuriles, all units in the carrier formation are refueled ten times.
26 November 1941:
Etorofu Island, Kuriles. KOKUYO MARU departs Hitokappu Bay with Captain Oto Masano's Supply Group No. 1's oilers KYOKUTO, KENYO, NIPPON and SHINKOKU MARUs and Captain Niimi Kazutaka's Supply Group No. 2's oilers TOHO and TOEI MARUs. Provides fuel for Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi's Carrier Striking Force ("Kido Butai") CarDiv 1's AKAGI, KAGA, CarDivs 2 and 5 and the Support Force.
The Support Force consists of Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's BatDiv 3/1's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA and Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Omori Sentaro's DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, URAKAZE, TANIKAZE and HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 18's ARARE, KASUMI, KAGERO and SHIRANUHI and CarDiv 5's AKIGUMO and Captain Konishi Kaname's Midway Bombardment Unit's DesDiv 7's SAZANAMI and USHIO.
Nagumo's orders from Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku, CINC, Combined Fleet, are that if refueling proves impossible in the stormy winter waters of the Northern Pacific, Nagumo is to detach AGAKI, SORYU and HIRYU and his destroyers and make the attack with only KAGA, SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU that need no refueling.
2 December 1941:
940 miles N of Midway Island. Nagumo’s Force receives the coded signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. It signifies that X-Day hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time).
4 December 1941: [2]
N Pacific. Weather conditions worsen. Rough seas cause the Striking Force's ships to roll up to 45 degrees. Refueling is cancelled.
5 December 1941: [2]
600 miles N of Oahu, Hawaii. At about 1130, after fleet refueling is completed, the 2nd Supply Group's oilers TOHO, NIPPON and TOEI MARUs and destroyer ARARE are detached from the Striking Force and turn towards a designated rendezvous point with the carriers for the retrurn trip to Japan.
6 December 1941: [2]
400 miles N of Oahu, Hawaii. At 0630, the entire Striking Force engages in its final refueling. At 0810, after refueling is complete, the 1st Supply Group's oilers KOKUYO, SHINKOKU, KENYO and KYOKUTO MARUs and destroyer KASUMI are detached and turn N towards a designated rendezvous point with the carriers for the retrurn trip to Japan.
At 1130, the Striking Force increases speed to 24 knots and proceeds due S to Hawaiian waters. Vice Admiral Nagumo dispatches ABUKUMA and DesDiv 17's TANIKAZE to Supply Group No. 1 at the rendezvous point following final refueling before the attack. At about 2100, the two warships reach the oilers, refuel and return with the oilers to the First Air Fleet.
7 December 1941: [2] Operation "Z" - The Attack on Pearl Harbor:
At 0618, the Carrier Striking Force launches attacks that later sink battleships USS ARIZONA (BB-39), OKLAHOMA (BB-37) and CALIFORNIA (BB-44) and damage NEVADA (BB-36), PENNSLYVANIA (BB-38), TENNESSEE (BB-43), MARYLAND (BB-46), WEST VIRGINIA (BB-49) and other smaller ships. 2,335 American servicemen die in the attack, most on ARIZONA. After recovering all but 29 of its aircraft lost in the attack, the Striking Force departs Hawaiian waters NNW towards Japan.
26 December 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
7 January 1942:
Departs Davao.
10 January 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan.
15 January 1942:
Arrives at Kanogawa.
4 February 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
6 February 1942:
Departs Mako.
2 March 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
9 March 1942:
Departs Kanogawa for Staring Bay, Celebes, NEI.
27 March 1942: Operation “C” – The Raids into the Indian Ocean:
Departs Staring Bay with Supply Group No. 1’s oilers KENYO, NIPPON, KYOKUTO, SHINKOKU and TOEI MARUs with Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force's AKAGI, CarDiv 2, CarDiv 5, BatDiv 3, CruDiv 8, DesRon 1 plus destroyers ARARE, KAGERO, MAIKAZE, HAGIKAZE and AKIGUMO and Supply Group No. 2's oiler KYOEI MARU. After the air attacks on the British naval bases at Columbo and Trincomalee, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the Striking Force departs the Indian Ocean Area for Japan.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
13 May 1942:
Departs Kure.
16 May 1942:
Returns to Kure.
23 May 1942:
Departs Kure.
29 May-5 June 1942: Operation “MI” – The Battle of Midway:
KOKUYO MARU departs Hashirajima with Captain Oto's Supply Group No. 1’s oilers NIPPON, KYOKUTO, TOHO and SHINKOKU MARUs with the Carrier Striking Force's CarDivs 1, 2, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's Support Group's CruDiv 8, BatDiv 3/2's HARUNA, KIRISHIMA, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Susumu's DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA with NOWAKI, ARASHIO, HAGIKAZE, MAIKAZE, KAZAGUMO, YUGUMO, MAKIGUMO, URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE and HAMIKAZE.
15 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
16 June 1943:
Departs Osaka.
17 June 1943:
Arrives Kure.
19 June 1943:
Departs Kure.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
25 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
2 July 1942:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Takahashi Ichimatsu (40)(former CO of ITSUKUSHIMA) is appointed Supervisor and relieves Captain Hidai.
10 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
1 August 1942:
Arrives at Genzan, Chosen (now Wonsan, Korea).
14 August 1942:
Reassigned to the Guadalcanal Transport Replenishment No.1 Group to replenish the Carrier Striking Force (Kido Butai).
1 September 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Hiro.
26 September 1942:
Departs Kure.
11 October 1942:
KOKUYO MARU sorties from Truk with the Supply Group’s oilers TOHO, TOEI and KYOKUTO MARUs to provide refueling for the Striking Force’s CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, CruDiv 7’s KUMANO and destroyers AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, YUKIKAZE, ARASHI, MAIKAZE, TERUZUKI and HAMAKAZE.
17-24 October 1942:
N of the Solomons. Destroyer NOWAKI arrives from Shortlands. The Supply Force refuels the fleet at sea for eight consecutive days.
26 October 1942: - The Battle of Santa Cruz:
Nagumo's Carrier Strike Force engages Task Force 16's ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and Task Force 17's HORNET (CV-8) in an air battle. Nagumo's planes sink HORNET and damage SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) and SAN JUAN (CL-54).
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
11 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
November 1942:
A new, but unknown, Captain is appointed Supervisor. Captain Takahashi is reassigned to the staff of the Eighth Fleet at Rabaul.
14 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
15 February 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Truk's Northern channel escorted by subchaser CH-11.
18 May 1943:
Departs Truk via the Kimijima Channel with subchaser CH-12 as escort.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
23 May 1943:
Departs Kure. Later that day, arrives at Osaka.
1 August 1943:
At 0700, departs Tarakan with a cargo of refined oil in a convoy consisting of KOKUYO and NICHIEI MARUs with an unknown escort.
2 August 1943:
At 1800, arrives Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of crude oil.
17 September 1943:
Departs Balikpapan for Tarakan with 3,947-tons (about 538 barrels) of crude for further refining.
26 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
21 October 1943:
Departs Tarakan with a cargo of refined oil for Balikpapan.
31 October 1943:
At 0830, while en route to Rabaul, meets up with minesweeper W-26 that escorts her to Rabaul.
5 November 1943: - Carrier Raid on Rabaul:
Simpson Harbor, Rabaul. CruDiv 4's ATAGO, MAYA and TAKAO, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA and MOGAMI and CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA arrive at Rabaul. About noon, while KOKUYO MARU is refueling ATAGO, the cruisers are attacked by 97 planes from Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frederick C. Sherman's Task Force 38's USS SARATOGA (CV-3) and PRINCETON (CVL-23). ATAGO sustains three near-miss bombs dropped by Douglas SBD “Dauntless” dive-bombers from SARATOGA that kill 22 crewmen including her skipper hit by a bomb splinter while on the bridge. TF 38's planes also damage TAKAO, MAYA, CHIKUMA and MOGAMI, light cruisers AGANO and NOSHIRO and destroyers AMAGIRI and FUJINAMI.
9 November 1943:
Departs Rabaul en route to Kavieng in convoy O-802 consisting of KOKUYO MARU and cargo ship TAJIMA MARU making 11 knots.
24 November 1943:
At 0600, departs Tarakan carrying a cargo of refined oil in a convoy consisting of KOKUYO and AZUMA MARUs (ex cargo). Shortly after departing the two ships collide, but little damage results to either.
26 November 1943:
At 1400, arrives Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of crude oil.
30 November 1943:
At 0700, departs Balikpapan in convoy with tankers KENYO and AZUMA MARUs (ex cargo) escorted by subchaser CH-6 and another unknown vessel.
3 December 1943:
At 1947(I), AZUMA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by USS TINOSA (SS-283).
4 December 1943:
Arrives at Palau at 1200. Departs for Truk shortly thereafter.
8 January 1944:
At 1700, departs Balikpapan loaded with crude oil in convoy "KU"consisting of oilers NIPPON and KOKUYO MARUs making 14 knots, escorted escorted by destroyers SHIMAKAZE and HAYANAMI and by patrol boat No. 102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) at the start of the journey.
17 January 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
19 January 1944:
Departs Truk for Rabaul with cargo ship NANREI MARU escorted by destroyers NOWAKI, YAMAGUMO and MAIKAZE.
22 January 1944:
Arrives at Rabaul. Departs that same day for Kavieng with NOWAKI and MAIKAZE and subchaser CH-36.
25 January 1944:
Departs Kavieng for Truk with NOWAKI and MAIKAZE.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
5 February 1944:
At 1600, departs Truk in a convoy consiting of KOKUYO, NICHIEI and KYOKOTU MARUs escorted by destroyers OITE, SHIMAKAZE and IKAZUCHI.
11 February 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Davao.
12 February 1944:
At 1240, departs Davao with only SHIMAKAZE as escort.
15 February 1944:
At 0907, arrives at Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of crude oil.
21 February 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in a convoy consisting of KOKUYO, NISSHO and KYOKOTU MARUs escorted by SHIMAKAZE.
25 February 1944:
Off Mindanao, Phillipines. At 0100, KYOKUTO MARU in convoy with oiler NISSHO MARU is attacked by LtCdr Victor B. McCrea's USS HOE (SS-258). McCrea fires four torpedoes in a surface radar attack and gets two hits on KYOKUTO MARU at 05-38N, 126-00E that cause heavy damage. At 0220, McCrea sinks NISSHO MARU at 05-50N, 126-00E.
Arrives at Davao later that same day.
29 February 1944:
Departs Davao.
2 March 1944:
Arrives at Palau. The convoy is dissolved.
4 March 1944:
Departs Palau for Saipan.
10 March 1944:
Departs Saipan for Palau with FUJINAMI and HAYANAMI.
13 March 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
18 March 1944:
Departs Palau for Tarakan, then to Balikpapan with HAMANAMI.
22 March 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan. Loads refined oil.
25 March 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of crude oil.
29 March 1944:
Departs Balikpapan with HAMANAMI.
1 April 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
8 April 1944:
Departs Davao. Later returns to Balikpapan. Loads crude oil.
18 April 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.
26 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan; then returns to Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of crude oil.
13 May 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.
15 May 1944:
Arrives Tawi Tawi.
23 May 1944:
At 0640, departs Tawi Tawi in a convoy consisting of KOKUYO, NICHIEI, SEIYO and TATEKAWA MARUs escorted by destroyers HIBIKI, AKISHIMO and HAMAKAZE.
24 May 1944:
At 1517, the TATEKAWA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Charles H. Andrews' USS GURNARD (SS-254) at 05-42N 125-43E.
25 May 1944:
At 0200, arrives at Davao.
27 May 1944: American Operation “Horlicks” – The Invasion of Biak:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) William M. Fechteler’s Task Force 77 lands Maj Gen Horace H. Fuller’s 41st Division on Biak off New Guinea.
13 June 1944: Operation A-GO - The Defense of the Philippines.
Davao. Battleship FUSO transfers fuel oil to the 1st Supply Force’s oilers KOKUYO, NICHIEI and SEIYO MARUs and HAYUSUI.
14-15 June 1944:
Departs Davao for refuelling rendezvous with the Mobile Fleet. Enroute, SEIYO MARU collides with and sinks destroyer SHIRATSUYU.
16 June 1944:
At about 1000, at 11-00N, 130-00E, the 1st Supply Force's oilers HAYUSUI and the NICHIEI, KOKUYO and SEIYO MARUs rendezvous with Vice Admiral Ugaki Matome's (former CO of HYUGA) aborted Operation "Kon" Task Force's Bat Div 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, Cru Div 5's HAGURO and MYOKO, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and Des Div 4's OKINAMI, SHIMAKAZE, ASAGUMO, MAIKAZE and MICHISHIO and DesRon 10's YAMAGUMO and NOWAKI.
Ugaki's force is refueled promptly, then Ugaki's force and the 1st Supply Force head north to join Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) First Mobile Fleet's Main Body. At 1650, they rendezvous with Ozawa. The 1st Supply Force begins to refuel the Mobile Fleet.
17 June 1944:
At 2000, the refueling is completed. At this time, the First Mobile Fleet is at 12-15N, 132-45E. The 1st Supply Force stands by to rendezvous with the the 2nd Supply Force's oilers GENYO and AZUSA MARUs enroute from Guimaras. All six oilers then depart the area for a designated standby point at 14-40N, 134-20E.
20 June 1944: Operation A-GO - The Battle of the Philippine Sea:
The Supply Forces are attacked by LtCdr J. D. Blitch's seven Grumman "Avenger" TBF torpedo-bombers, 12 Curtiss "Helldiver" SB2C dive-bombers and 16 "Hellcat" F-6F strafers from Task Force 58's USS WASP (CV-18). HAYASUI is hit by a bomb and set afire. SEIYO and GENYO MARU are damaged by bombs and later scuttled by destroyers.
KOKUYO MARU departs the Philippine Sea for Okinawa.
23 June 1944:
Arrives at Okinawa. Refuels the Mobile Fleet for its return to Japan. Departs Okinawa the same day via Manila to Singapore with FUJINAMI and TAMANAMI.
29 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
2 July 1944:
Departs Singapore for Manila with FUJINAMI and TAMANAMI.
7 July 1944:
South China Sea. At about 0200, while enroute to Manila, TAMANAMI is hit by three torpedoes fired by LtCdr Joseph J. Staley's USS MINGO (SS-261) and sinks bow first at 14-10N, 117-50E.
July 1944:
Departs Manila in ballast for Makassar, Celebes.
30 July 1944:
125 miles W of Jolo. At about 0100, KOKUYO MARU is attacked by LtCdr Lawrence L. Edge's USS BONEFISH (SS-223). Hit by four of five torpedoes Edge fires in a night surface radar attack, KOKUYO MARU blows up and sinks by the stern at 06-07N, 120-00E. Nine crewmen are killed.
10 September 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
[1] CarDiv 1's KAGA was in dock at Sasebo at the time.
[2] Hawaiian Time.
[3] Records show KOKUYO MARU was the only survivor of a fast tanker convoy that left Balikpapan on 8 Jan '44. Since the ship was capable of 19 knots empty versus 11 knots for the slowest ship in the convoy (AKIBASAN MARU), it is probable that KOKUYO MARU split from the convoy, probably at Saipan, and made her way to Balikpapan since only a laden tanker would sail to Truk and Rabaul.
Alternatively, it is possible that this KOKUYO MARU was the warbuilt No. 43 4667 cargo ship, although the kanji for this ship is different from the vessel in convoy 3231.
Thanks for assistance go to Allan Alsleben of Oregon.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
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