KYURYOSEN!
(KOSOKU MARU No. 3, prewar – Peter Cundall Collection)
IJN KOSOKU MARU No. 3:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2019 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
9 August 1932:
Hikoshima. Laid down by Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. Zosensho as a 176-tons refrigerated cargo ship for Kosoku Unyu K.K.
5 October 1932:
Launched and named KOSOKU MARU No. 3
1 December 1932:
Completed.
September 1933:
Her owners are changed to Kosoku Reizo K.K.
4 June ~ 8 November 1933:
Chartered by Nihon Godo Kosen K.K.
13 January 1937:
Her owners are changed to Kyodo Gyogyo K.K.
7 May 1937:
Her owners are changed to Nippon Suisan K.K. Registered at Tobata.
17 September 1937:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a general requisitioned transport (stores ship).
25 September 1937:
Off Shidongkou, China.
2 October 1937:
At 1515, alongside to starboard of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 1520, starts replenishing KAMOI with fresh food. At 1540, replenishment is completed. At 1550, separates from KAMOI.
4 October 1937:
At 1240, alongside to starboard of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 1250, starts replenishing KAMOI with fresh food. At 1345, replenishment is completed. At 1350, separates from KAMOI.
12 October 1937:
At 0900, alongside to port of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 0953, separates from KAMOI.
October 1937:
Departs Shidongkou for Wusong (Woosung), entrance of Shanghai, China.
17 October 1937:
At 1320, alongside to starboard of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 1345, separates from KAMOI.
20 October 1937:
At 0950, alongside to starboard of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 0955, starts replenishing KAMOI with fresh food. At 1010, replenishment is completed and separates from KAMOI.
27 October 1937:
At 1707, alongside to starboard of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 1710, supply of KAMOI with lubricating oil starts. At 1725, supply is completed. At 1730, separates from KAMOI.
4 November 1937:
1720 ~ 1743: alongside auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
9 November 1937:
1030 ~ 1105: alongside auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
12 November 1937:
1640 ~ 1705: alongside auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
E August 1938:
Arrives at Jiujiang, China.
30 August 1938:
Alongside to port aft of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
E 31 August ~ 11 September 1938:
Departs Jiujiang for Shinshu (Xinzhou), China.
12 September 1938:
1635 ~ 1700: alongside to starboard of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU.
E 13 ~ 25 September 1938:
Departs Shinshu for Shizi shan, China.
26 September 1938:
0710 ~ 0725: alongside to port of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
E 27 September ~ 22 O ctober 1938:
Departs Shizi shan for Echeng, China.
23 October 1938:
1145 ~ 1212: alongside to port of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
E 24 October ~ 11 November 1938:
Departs Echeng for Fu Xi An, China.
12 November 1938:
0915 ~ 1010: alongside to port of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
E 13 ~ 21 November 1938:
Depoarts Fu Xi An for Longwang Ji, China.
22 November 1938:
0830 ~ 0847: alongside to port aft of auxiliary minesweeper tender NIPPONKAI MARU and replenishes her with fresh food.
16 February 1939:
Arrives at Wuhu, China.
17 February 1939:
Departs Wuhu.
26 February 1939:
Arrives at Wuhu.
27 February 1939:
Departs Wuhu and arrives back there later in the day.
16 April 1939:
1500 ~ 0650: alongside auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1. Later, departs Wuhu for Nanking, China.
1 June 1939:
1435 ~ 1448: alongside auxiliary gunboat NANKAI MARU No. 1 and replenishes her with fresh food. Later, departs Nanjin, China for nearby Lake Dongting, China.
26 September 1939:
Supplies auxiliary tugboat YAGI MARU (ex-No. 841) with fresh food and 30-tons of coal.
27 ~ 30 September 1939:
Departs Lake Dongting for Yuezhou, China.
1 October 1939:
Supplies auxiliary tugboat YAGI MARU (ex-No. 841) with fresh food. Later this month, departs Yuezhou.
11 December 1939:
Arrives at Zhenjiang, China.
15 October 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary stores ship attached to the Sasebo Naval District under instruction No. 1256. Attached to Vice Admiral (posthumously Fleet Admiral) Koga Mineichi’s (34) China Area Fleet as a special transport (Otsu) category. [1]
12 December 1941:
At 1500, one nautical mile upstream of Daibasha Sand, China sustains enemy MG and small gun fire.
7 January 1942:
Departs Shanghai for Dinghai, China.
9 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh food.
January 1942:
Departs Dinghai for Taichow (now Taizhou) Islands, China.
12 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO with fresh food.
E 13 ~ 18 January 1942:
Departs Taichow Islands for Sijiao Island, China.
19 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat UNKAI MARU No. 10 with fresh food.
E 20 January 1942:
Departs Sijiao Island for Dinghai.
21 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh food.
E 22 January 1942:
Departs Dinghai for Taichow Islands.
23 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh food. Later, departs Taichow Islands for Wusong.
24 January 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat UNKAI MARU No. 10 with fresh food.
E 25 January ~ 1 February 1942:
Departs Wusong for Dinghai.
2 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh food.
E 3 ~ 9 February 1942:
Departs Dinghai for Lu Huashan, China.
10 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat UNKAI MARU No. 10 with fresh food.
E 11 ~ 12 February 1942:
Departs Lu Huashan for Taichow Islands.
13 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboats NISSHO MARU No. 12 and DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh food. Later departs Taichow Islands for Yangkou, China.
14 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
E 15 February 1942:
Departs Yangkou for Dinghai.
16 February 1942:
Transfers seized goods to auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7.
E 17 ~ 24 February 1942:
Departs Dinghai for Taichow Islands.
25 February 1942:
At Taichow Islands supplies auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with boiler water.
26 February 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboats NISSHO MARU No. 12 and DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh food. Later departs Taichow Islands for Wai Heng Men, China.
27 February 1942:
At Wai Heng Men replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
E 28 February ~ 6 March 1942:
Departs Wai Heng Men for Sijiao Island.
7 March 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboats UNKAI MARU No. 10 and SHOSEI MARU with fresh food.
E 8 ~ 9 March 1942:
Departs Sijiao Island for Ermu Shanchong, China.
10 March 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh food.
E 11 ~ 13 March 1942:
Departs Ermu Shanchong for Taichow Islands.
14 March 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh food.
E 15 ~ 18 March 1942:
Departs Taichow Islands for Sijiao Island.
19 March 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHOSEI MARU with fresh food.
E 20 ~ 22 March 1942:
Departs Sijiao Island for Taichow Islands.
23 March 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh food.
E 24 ~ 30 March 1942:
Departs Taichow Islands for Bell Buoy (near Shanghai), China.
31 March 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat UNKAI MARU No. 10 with fresh food. Departs later for Zhenhai, China.
2 April 1942:
Departs Zhenhai.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
12 April 1942:
Departs Shanghai and arrives at Sijiao Island later in the day. Replenishes auxiliary gunboat UNKAI MARU No. 10 with fresh food.
13 ~ 15 April 1942:
Departs Sijiao Island for Shipu, China.
16 April 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh food. Later departs Shipu for Taichow Islands.
17 April 1942:
At Taichow Islands, replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food.
E 18 April 1942:
Departs Taichow Islands.
19 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
24 April 1942:
Arrives at Sijiao Island southern coast. Delivers documents to auxiliary gunboat SHOSEI MARU.
E 25 ~ 26 April 1942:
Departs Sijiao Island for Si Jia Shan, China.
27 April 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 with fresh food. Departs there later for Jue Chong, China.
E 28 ~ 30 April 1942:
Departs Jue Chong coast, China.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
4 May 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
6 May 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 May 1942:
Fitted with one Type 92 7.7mm Type A MG and four Type 38 Arisaka rifles under Navy’s instruction No. 5990.
12 June 1942:
Fitted with one 8cm/40cal deck gun under Navy’s instruction No. 7246.
27 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
4 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai for Zhang Tu Gang, Chusan Archipelago, China.
5 October 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat SHOSEI MARU with fresh food.
October 1942:
Departs Zhang Tu Gang for Dinghai.
6 October 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat TOSHO MARU with fresh food. Later departs Dinghai for Shipu.
7 October 1942:
Replenishes auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 with fresh food.
E 8 ~ 11 October 1942:
Departs Shipu.
12 October 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
31 December 1942:
Attached to Vice Admiral Kusaka Jinichi’s (37) Southeastern Area Fleet under Navy’s instruction No. 281.
11 January 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
January ~ March 1943:
Calls at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan) ~ Palau, Western Carolines ~ Saipan, Marianas ~ Truk, Central Carolines ~ Kavieng, New Ireland and Rabaul, New Britain.
14 March 1943:
At 1600, departs Rabaul in a convoy consisting of KAIFUKU, ATSU, SHINSEI and KARIMO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat OTORI and subchaser CH-32. The convoy sails at 7.5 knots.
15 March 1943:
The convoy arrives at Buka, Solomons.
20 March 1943:
At 0500, departs Shortland, Solomons escorted by minesweeper W-22 for Kieta, Bougainville, Solomons, arriving there at 1045.
31 March 1943:
Her owners are changed to Nihon Kaiyo Gyogyo Tosei K.K.
1 April 1943:
Attached to Vice Admiral Kusaka Jinichi’s (37) Southeastern Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Samejima Tomoshige’s (37) Eight Fleet. At 1300, a convoy consisting of KIKUKAWA, ADEN, KYOSEI, HEIWA MARUs and KOSHU MARU No. 3 (sic) [2] escorted by minesweeper W-22 departs Rabaul.
3 April 1943:
The convoy arrives at Shortland.
18 April 1943:
At 1435, departs Shortland in a convoy also consisting of KYOSEI, KISARAGI, KARIMO, SUMIYOSHI and TOMIOKA MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-29 and CH-30.
20 April 1943:
At 0200, the convoy arrives at Rabaul.
25 April 1943:
At 1400, departs Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of KASHI, HEIWA and SUMIYOSHI MARUs, escorted by subchaser CH-29.
27 April 1943:
SUMIYOSHI MARU is detached at Buka. At 0800, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Shortland.
30 April 1943:
Departs Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of KAISHU, UJIGAWA and HEIWA MARUs, escorted by subchaser CH-29.
2 May 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Rabaul.
17 May 1943:
At 1800, departs Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of ATSU and HEIWA MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-15.
19 May 1943:
At 0920, the convoy arrives at Shortland.
18 June 1943:
Departs Rabaul in a convoy also consisting of MIKAGE MARU No. 2 and YOSHINO MARU escorted by minesweeper W-22.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Shortland.
26 July 1943:
At Rabaul.
15 August 1943:
At 1500, departs Truk in a convoy also consisting of auxiliary stores ship KITAKAMI MARU and auxiliary oiler HISHI MARU No. 2, escorted by minesweeper W-15.
19 August 1943:
At 1030, the convoy arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
21 August 1943:
At 1900, the convoy still escorted by W-15 departs Saipan bound for Kure and Sasebo.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure less KITAKAMI MARU that has been detached.
31 October 1943:
At 1200, departs Yokosuka in convoy with auxiliary stores ship CHIYO MARU with unknown, if any, escort.
10 November 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Truk.
15 November 1943:
At 1630, departs Truk escorting six fishing boats escorted by auxiliary minesweeper Wa-6. The ship tows two landing craft.
21 November 1943:
At 0500, due to arrive at Kavieng.
25 December 1943:
Departs Kavieng.
26 December 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
10 January 1944:
At 0100, departs Rabaul in convoy with HEIWA MARU escorted by auxiliary subchaser Cha-48.
11 January 1944:
At 1100, due to arrive at Kavieng.
14 January 1944:
At 0400, departs Kavieng escorted by auxiliary subchaser Cha-48.
15 January 1944:
At 1630, due to arrive at Rabaul.
Mid-March 1944:
Bombed and sunk at Uranama [unidentified location, probably in New Britain/Solomons area] with unknown casualties.
30 April 1944
Removed from the Navy list under instruction No. 606.
Authors' Notes:
[1] There were two categories of Kyuryosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[2] It is unclear if this ship is KOSHU MARU No. 2 or KOSOKU MARU No. 3, both of which were in the area.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
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