Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(KOTO MARU prewar)

IJN KOTO MARU No. 2 GO:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2013 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

3 December 1936:
Yokohama. Laid down by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Zosensho shipyard as a 3,557-tons passenger/cargo ship for Chosen Yusen K.K., Jinsen.
7 May 1937:
Launched and named KOTO MARU.
30 June 1937:
Completed and registered in Jinsen, Chosen (now Incheon, South Korea). Her Net Registered Tonnage is 2,078-tons. [1]
E 1939:
Her Net Registered Tonnage is changed to 2,073-tons.
2 November 1941:
Ryojun (Port-Arthur). Begins conversion to her military duty at Chosen Yusen K.K. shipyard.
23 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a transport (Ippan Choyosen). [2].
10 December 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category under internal order No. 1634 and attached to the Sasebo Naval District. Her home port is Sasebo. That same day, renamed KOTO MARU No. 2 GO under IJN secret instruction No. 2-11623. [3][4]
3 January 1942:
The conversion is completed. At 1600 departs Ryojun, Manchuria (now Lushun, China) for Sasebo.
6 January 1942:
At 1640 arrives at Sasebo.
13 January 1942:
At 1040 transfers to Sakito, arriving there at 1315.
14 January 1942:
At 1314 departs Sakito for Seso, Kakeroma-Jima Island, Amami Gunto (Ryukyus).
15 January 1942:
At 1800 arrives at Seso.
18 January 1942:
At 1605 departs Seso for Mako, Pescadores.
21 January 1942:
At 1150 arrives at Mako.
22 January 1942:
At 0830 transfers to Takao, Formosa, (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan), arriving at 1800.
24 January 1942:
At 1615 departs Takao for Kirun, (now Keelung), Formosa.
25 January 1942:
At 1830 arrives at Kirun.
27 January 1942:
At 1550 departs Kirun for Naha, Okinawa.
29 January 1942:
At 0720 arrives at Naha.
2 February 1942:
At 1700 departs Naha for Kagoshima, Kyushu.
4 February 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Kagoshima.
6 February 1942:
At 0700 departs Kagoshima for Sasebo.
7 February 1942:
At 1120 arrives at Sasebo.
13 February 1942:
At 0800 transfers to Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture, arriving at 1720.
14 February 1942:
At 1220 departs Miike for Shanghai, China.
16 February 1942:
At 1440 arrives at Shanghai.
20 February 1942:
At 1700 departs Shanghai for Sasebo.
22 February 1942:
At 1450 arrives at Sasebo.
1 March 1942:
At 1255 departs Sasebo for Takao.
5 March 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Takao.
7 March 1942:
At 0725 departs Takao for Hong Kong.
9 March 1942:
At 0910 arrives at Hong Kong.
10 March 1942:
At 1655 departs Hong Kong for Haikou (Haikow), Hainan Island, China.
12 March 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Haikou.
15 March 1942:
At 1740 departs Haikou for Samah, Hainan Island.
16 March 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Samah.
21 March 1942:
At 1500 departs Samah for Yulin, Hainan Island, and arrives there at 1900.
22 March 1942:
At 1800 departs Yulin for Hong Kong.
24 March 1942:
At 1425 arrives at Hong Kong.
26 March 1942:
At 1800 departs Hong Kong for Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
1 April 1942:
At 0950 arrives at Yawata.
6 April 1942:
At 1010 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
7 April 1942:
At 1550 arrives at Sasebo.
13 April 1942:
At 1400 departs Sasebo and transfers to Sakito, arriving at 1605.
14 April 1942:
At 0610 departs Sakito for Mako.
18 April 1942:
At 0850 arrives at Mako.
19 April 1942:
At 1520 departs Mako and transfers to Takao, arriving at 1520.
23 April 1942:
At 0815 departs Takao for Kirun.
24 April 1942:
At 0830 arrives at Kirun.
25 April 1942:
At 0710 departs Kirun for Naha.
27 April 1942:
At 0920 arrives at Naha.
1 May 1942:
At 1220 departs Naha for Koniya, Amami-Oshima.
2 May 1942:
At 0620 arrives at Koniya.
3 May 1942:
At 1155 departs Koniya for Kagoshima.
4 May 1942:
At 1445 arrives at Kagoshima.
7 May 1942:
At 1700 departs Kagoshima for Sasebo.
8 May 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Sasebo.
13 May 1942:
At 1455 departs Sasebo for Koniya.
15 May 1942:
At 0720 arrives at Koniya and departs there at 1830.
19 May 1942:
At 0750 arrives at Mako and departs that same day at 1805 for Samah.
22 May 1942:
At 1745 arrives at Samah.
26 May 1942:
At 0625 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1040.
28 May 1942:
At 1205 departs Yulin for Hong Kong.
30 May 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Hong Kong.
31 May 1942:
At 1740 departs Hong Kong for Takao.
3 June 1942:
At 1055 arrives at Takao. Departs later that same day, at 1625, for Mako.
4 June 1942:
At 0845 arrives at Mako. Departs at 1700 that day in convoy No. 219 also consisting of IJA transports BANEI MARU No. 6 and UNYO MARU No. 3 and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
9 June 1942:
At 1510 arrives at Ebisu Wan (Bay), S of Sasebo. Departs later that day at 1655, for Yawata.
10 June 1942:
At 1605 arrives at Yawata.
11 June 1942:
At 1705 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
12 June 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Sasebo.
14 June 1942:
At 0610 departs Sasebo and transfers to Nagasaki, arriving at 1210. Probably undergoes maintenance and repairs.
9 July 1942:
At 0955 departs Nagasaki and arrives later that same day, at 1630, at Sasebo.
14 July 1942:
At 1445 departs Sasebo for Koniya.
16 July 1942:
At 0610 arrives at Koniya.
17 July 1942:
At 1340 departs Koniya for Mako.
20 July 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Mako.
23 July 1942:
At 1030 departs Mako for Samah.
26 July 1942:
At 1635 arrives at Samah.
27 July 1942:
At 0300 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 0710.
5 August 1942:
At 1205 departs Yulin for Hong Kong.
7 August 1942:
At 0750 arrives at Hong Kong.
9 August 1942:
At 0800 departs Hong Kong for Mako.
10 August 1942:
At 1350 arrives at Mako.
11 August 1942:
At 1000 departs Mako for Ebisu Wan (Bay) in convoy No. 247 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships without escort.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Ebisu Wan. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
16 August 1942:
Transfers to Sasebo, arriving at 1810.
18 August 1942:
At 1255 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
19 August 1942:
At 0840 arrives at Yawata.
21 August 1942:
At 0730 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
22 August 1942:
At 0940 arrives at Sasebo.
E 23 August – 2 September 1942:
Undergoes maintenance and repairs at Sasebo’s Navy Yard.
3 September 1942:
At 1210 departs Sasebo for Koniya.
4 September 1942:
At 2110 arrives at Koniya.
6 September 1942:
At 1255 departs Koniya for Naha.
7 September 1942:
At 0635 arrives at Naha.
8 September 1942:
At 1000 departs Naha for Hong Kong.
11 September 1942:
At 1730 arrives at Hong Kong.
13 September 1942:
At 1210 departs Hong Kong for Haikou.
14 September 1942:
At 1450 arrives at Haikou.
18 September 1942:
At 1655 departs Haikou for Samah.
19 September 1942:
At 1720 arrives at Samah.
22 September 1942:
At 0755 departs Samah and arrives at 1200 that same day at Yulin.
24 September 1942:
At 1205 departs Yulin for Takao.
27 September 1942:
At 1850 arrives at Takao.
30 September 1942:
At 1030 departs Takao and transfers to Mako, arriving at 1815.
1 October 1942:
At 1315 departs Mako for Ebisu Wan (Bay) in convoy No. 270 also consisting of three unidentified merchant ships with no escort.
5 October 1942:
At 1430 arrives at Ebisu Wan. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
7 October 1942:
At 0800 transfers to Sasebo, arriving at 0900. Departs at 1410 that same day for Yawata.
8 October 1942:
At 1330 arrives at Yawata.
10 October 1942:
At 1515 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
11 October 1942:
At 1310 arrives at Sasebo.
18 October 1942:
At 1045 departs Sasebo for Koniya.
19 October 1942:
At 1740 arrives at Koniya.
20 October 1942:
At 1605 departs Koniya for Mako.
23 October 1942:
At 1023 arrives at Mako.
28 October 1942:
At 1350 departs Mako for Samah.
31 October 1942:
At 1205 arrives at Samah.
4 November 1942:
At 0455 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 0930.
6 November 1942:
At 1105 departs Yulin for Haikou (Haikow).
7 November 1942:
At 1800 arrives at Haikou.
10 November 1942:
At 1735 departs Haikou for Takao.
14 November 1942:
At 0915 arrives at Takao.
15 November 1942:
At 0820 departs Takao for Sasebo in convoy No. 292 also consisting of BELGIUM and SHOGEN MARUs without escort. At 1720 arrives at Mako.
16 November 1943:
At 1410 the convoy departs Mako.
22 November 1942:
At 1135 arrives at Sasebo. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
26 November 1942:
At 1200 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
27 November 1942:
At 1215 arrives at Yawata.
30 November 1942:
At 0725 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
1 December 1942:
At 1445 arrives at Sasebo.
7 December 1942:
At 1405 transfers to Sakito, arriving there at 1610.
8 December 1942:
At 0720 departs Sakito for Koniya.
9 December 1942:
At 1425 arrives at Koniya.
10 December 1942:
At 1700 departs Koniya for Naha.
11 December 1942:
At 1040 arrives at Naha.
12 December 1942:
At 0845 departs Naha for Takao.
15 December 1942:
At 1010 arrives at Takao.
18 December 1942:
At 1720 departs Takao for Hong Kong.
20 December 1942:
At 0920 arrives at Hong Kong.
23 December 1942:
At 1655 departs Hong Kong for Samah.
25 December 1942:
At 1230 arrives at Samah.
27 December 1942:
At 1230 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1740.
30 December 1942:
At 1320 departs Yulin for Takao.
4 January 1943:
At 0940 arrives at Takao.
5 January 1943:
At 0815 departs Takao for Mako.
6 January 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Mako.
8 January 1943:
At 1400 departs Mako for Sasebo in convoy No. 218 also consisting of CHINA, TENRYO, TEIKON and HAGURO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE.
15 January 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Sasebo. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
17 January 1943:
At 1000 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
18 January 1943:
At 1150 arrives at Yawata.
21 January 1943:
At 1100 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
22 January 1943:
At 1530 arrives at Sasebo.
29 January 1943:
At 1205 departs Sasebo for Takao.
2 February 1943:
At 1005 arrives at Takao.
4 February 1943:
At 1750 departs Takao for Hong Kong.
6 February 1943:
At 1020 arrives at Hong Kong.
9 February 1943:
At 1635 departs Hong Kong for Yulin.
11 February 1943:
At 0920 arrives at Yulin. Transfers later in the day at 1235 to Samah, arriving at 1715.
15 February 1943:
At 0400 departs Samah and arrives at 0915 that day at Yulin.
17 February 1943:
At 1815 departs Yulin for Takao.
22 February 1943:
At 0845 arrives at Takao.
23 February 1943:
At 1110 departs Takao for Sasebo in convoy No.234 also consisting of tanker SEIAN MARU and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
28 February 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Sasebo. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
2 March 1943:
At 1415 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
3 March 1943:
At 1115 arrives at Yawata.
5 March 1943:
At 1620 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
6 March 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Sasebo.
11 March 1943:
At 1205 departs Sasebo for Hong Kong.
16 March 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Hong Kong.
18 March 1943:
At 1400 departs Hong Kong for Samah.
20 March 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Samah.
24 March 1943:
At 0705 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1125.
25 March 1943:
At 1805 departs Yulin for Takao.
29 March 1943:
At 0910 arrives at Takao.
30 March 1943:
At 1110 departs Takao for Sasebo in convoy No. 247 also consisting of auxiliary transport TARUSHIMA MARU and four unidentified merchant ships without escort.
4 April 1943:
At 1310 arrives at Sasebo. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
6 April 1943:
At 0620 departs Sasebo for Azuchi-Oshima, Nagasaki Prefecture.
7 April 1943:
Arrives at Azuchi-Oshima. Transfers later that same day to Hakata, Fukuoka Prefecture and arrives at 1210.
8 April 1943:
At 0845 departs Hakata and transfers to Yawata, arriving at 1800.
12 April 1943:
At 1245 departs Yawata for Mutsure.
13 April 1943:
At 0800 arrives at Mutsure.
14 April 1943:
At 0500 departs Mutsure for Sasebo.
15 April 1943:
At 0815 arrives at Sasebo. Probably undergoes maintenance and repairs.
29 April 1943:
At 0600 departs Sasebo and arrives At 1340 the same day at Imari, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
30 April 1943:
At 0800 departs Imari Wan in convoy SA-13 also consisting of SEIAN, MENADO, TATSUHA, MAKO, TAITO and SHISEN MARUs and KOTO MARU No. 2 Go mostly bound for Shanghai and escorted by the minelayer TAKASHIMA.
2 May 1943:
At 1000 due to arrive in Chusan Island Group.
8 May 1943:
At 0545 arrives at Samah.
12 May 1943:
At 1200 departs Samah, and at 1605 arrives at Yulin.
13 May 1943:
At 2015 departs Yulin for Takao.
17 May 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Takao.
18 May 1943:
At 0710 departs Takao for Sasebo in convoy No.263 also consisting of tanker SHOYU MARU and six unidentified merchant ships with kaibokan SADO as escort.
23 May 1943:
At 1010 arrives at Sasebo. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
24 May 1943:
At 1445 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
25 May 1943:
At 1035 arrives at Yawata.
27 May 1943:
At 1645 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
28 May 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Sasebo.
3 June 1943:
At 0820 departs Sasebo for Hong Kong and joins convoy Shi-310 also consisting of UNZEN, GYOTEN, YAMAYURI, REKIZAN, KANSAI, DAIYA, NARUO and TOTAI MARUs escorted by minelayer TAKASHIMA. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
9 June 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Hong Kong.
15 June 1943:
At 1545 departs Hong Kong for Samah.
17 June 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Samah.
22 June 1943:
At 0400, departs Samah for Yulin and arrives there at 0845.
23 June 1943:
At 1940 departs Yulin for Takao.
26 June 1943:
At 1945 arrives at Takao.
30 June 1943:
At 1620 departs Takao for Sasebo with patrol boat PB-38 as escort.
7 July 1943:
At 1520 arrives at Sasebo.
9 July 1943:
At 1610 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
10 July 1943:
At 0950 arrives at Yawata.
12 July 1943:
At 1610 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
13 July 1943:
At 1040 arrives at Sasebo.
21 July 1943:
At 0750 departs Sasebo for Sijiao Island (Ssu Chiao Shan), Chusan (now Shengsi) Archipelago, E of Shanghai and joins convoy Shi-106 also consisting of HORAI, JUNYO, TOYOURA, SATSUMA and TOYAMA MARUs escorted by minelayer HIRASHIMA. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
23 July 1943:
At 1350 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
28 July 1943:
At 1500 departs Ssu Chiao Shan for Takao.
30 July 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Takao.
6 August 1943:
Anchors off An Ping.
7 August 1943:
At 0620 departs Takao for Yulin in convoy No. 314 also consisting of tankers KONSAN and NITTETSU MARUs, civilian cargo ship FUKUJU MARU, Government requisitioned cargo ship KENSEI (ex-British HINSANG) MARU, IJA transport LONDON, HAMBURG and RYUYO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU. At some point KOTO MARU No.2 GO is detached from the convoy.
11 August 1943:
At 1120 arrives at Yulin.
12 August 1943:
At 0700 departs Yulin and transfers to Samah, arriving at 1130.
16 August 1943:
At 1505 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 2040.
18 August 1943:
At 1200 departs Yulin for Kirun escorted by auxiliary patrol boat KAINAN MARU.
22 August 1943:
At 0810 arrives at Kirun.
27 August 1943:
At 0650 departs Kirun for Sasebo.
30 August 1943:
At 1825 arrives at Sasebo.
3 September 1943:
At 1555 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
4 September 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Yawata.
8 September 1943:
At 0720 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
9 September 1943:
At 0815 arrives at Sasebo.
16 September 1943:
At 0855 departs Sasebo for Hong Kong.
22 September 1943:
At 1015 arrives at Hong Kong.
26 September 1943:
At 1650 departs Hong Kong for Yulin.
28 September 1943:
At 1430, arrives at Yulin.
30 September 1943:
At 0740 departs Yulin and transfers to Samah, arriving at 0840.
3 October 1943:
At 1430 departs Samah for Basuo (now Dong Fang), Hainan Island’s west coast.
4 October 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Basuo.
5 October 1943:
At 1710 departs Basuo for Samah.
6 October 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Samah. Departs later that same day at 2000 for Takao and joins convoy No. 431 also consisting of two unidentified merchant ships without escort.
11 October 1943:
At 1700 arrives at Takao.
13 October 1943:
At 1700 departs Takao for Sasebo in convoy No. 211 also consisting of IJA transport YASUKUNI MARU, IJA allotted cargo ship (A/C-AK) SYDNEY MARU (5,425 GRT), IJN requisitioned cargo ship SHOBU MARU and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by Kaibokan SADO.
20 October 1943:
At 0420, arrives at Sasebo quarantine anchorage. The rest of the convoy proceeds to Moji.
22 October 1943:
Transfers to Sasebo.
23 October 1943:
At 1300 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
24 October 1943:
At 1145 arrives at Yawata.
27 October 1943:
At 1515 departs Yawata for Sasebo.
28 October 1943:
At 1125 arrives at Sasebo.
11 November 1943:
At 1600 departs Sasebo for Misumi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu.
12 November 1943:
At 0940 arrives at Misumi.
14 November 1943:
At 1445 departs Misumi for Sasebo.
15 November 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Sasebo.
19 November 1943:
At 1410 departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 115 that departed Moji that same day also consisting of auxiliary transport NIPPONKAI (NIHONKAI) MARU, IJA transport LONDON MARU, civilian ore carriers GYOKUREI MARU, HIDA MARU. civilian cargo ship GETSUYO MARU, tanker OGURA MARU No. 1 and one unidentified merchants ship escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU. Soon after departure, CHOHAKUSAN MARU's engine breaks down and she returns to port.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at Niupishan Shuitao (Strait), S of Chusan Island, China.
24 November 1943:
Departs Niupishan Shuitao. At 0400, GYOKUREI MARU is detached for Keelung at 26-0N, 120-10E and KOTO MARU No. 2 GO is detached for Hong Kong.
27 November 1943:
At 0820, arrives at Hong Kong.
29 November 1943:
At 1745 departs Hong Kong for Samah in convoy No. 57 also consisting of civilian passenger/cargo TSUKUBA MARU and IJA transport TENSHO MARU.
1 December 1943:
At 1030, arrives at Samah.
3 December 1943:
At 1215 departs Samah and transfers to Yulin, arriving at 1335.
5 December 1943:
At 1850 departs Yulin for Takao.
11 December 1943:
At 1540 arrives at Takao.
15 December 1943:
At 1510 departs Takao for Moji, in convoy No. 227 also consisting of civilian ore carriers HOREI, KINREI and GYOKUREI MARUs, IJA transport SEATTLE MARU, IJN requisitioned transport HORAIZAN (HORAISAN) MARU, IJA requisitioned transport NIKKO MARU (5,057 GRT) and IJA landing craft depot ship NIGITSU MARU escorted by minelayer NUMAKAZE.
16 December 1943:
Civilian liner ORYOKU MARU joins the convoy at Keelung. NIGITSU MARU is detached and steams to Palau.
17 December 1943:
At 1800, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a signal from the CO of DesDiv 11 that reads: "The entire bow of NUMAKAZE has broken off from three meters above vicinity -----. There is a hole above and below the waterline on both sides of the ship forward of #1 main bulkhead. Another hole along the #7 beam starboard side above waterline 1 meter and about 30 centimeters. Have completed one patch and able to do eighteen knots.”
18 December 1943:
50 miles ENE of Naha, Okinawa. LtCdr (later KIA) John A. Moore’s (USNA '29 ) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) (later lost in action) torpedoes and sinks NUMAKAZE with all hands at 26-29 N, 128-26 E.
At 2130, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt another signal that reads: “NUMAKAZE under tactical command commander DesDiv 1 left Takao escorting convoy No. 227. Route Moji. On 18 December at 2130 in position 26-30N, 128-13E reported sighting enemy submarine and depth charging same. Since then, nothing has been heard from said vessel. ----. A large quantity of material washed ashore at Betozaki in Okinawa.”
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Obama, Oki Retto (Islands).
21 December 1943:
D Departs Obama and arrives at 1640 that same day at Sasebo.
24 December 1943:
At 1400 departs Sasebo for Yawata.
25 December 1943:
At 1035 arrives at Yawata.
26 December 1943:
At 0720 departs Yawata and at 0800 transfers to Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
27 December 1943:
At 1025 departs Wakamatsu and at 1550 transfers to Tobata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
29 December 1943:
At 0930 departs Tobata and at 1000 transfers to Wakamatsu.
30 December 1943:
At 0845 departs Wakamatsu for Osaka.
31 December 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Osaka.
3 January 1944:
At 1215 departs Osaka and at 1345 transfers to Kobe.
9 January 1944:
At 1400, departs Kobe for Moji.
10 January 1944:
At 1605 arrives at Moji.
11 January 1944:
At 1445, departs Moji for Takao in convoy No. 128 also consisting of tankers CHIHAYA and SAN LUIS MARU, auxiliary survey ship KYODO MARU No. 36, civilian cargo ship JUYO MARU, IJA transports BELGIUM and SEISHO MARUs, IJA allotted transports (A/C-AK) SHIKISAN and YOSHU MARUs, and IJN requisitioned cargo ship WAZAN MARU escorted by destroyers ASAKAZE and SHIOKAZE.
16 January 1944:
At 1950 arrives at Takao.
20 January 1944:
At 1100, departs Takao for Manila in convoy No. 787 also consisting of tanker SAN LUIS MARU, auxiliary survey ship KYODO MARU No. 36, and auxiliary netlayers KANKO, SHUNSEN and SHOEKI MARUs with KANKO and SHUNSEN MARUs acting as escorts.
23 January 1944:
Arrives outside Manila Port.
24 January 1944:
At 0600, arrives at Manila.
30 January 1944:
At 1445 departs Manila for Linapakan Island, Palawan, Philippines.
31 January 1944:
At 1950 arrives at anchorage S of Linapakan Island.
1 February 1944:
At 0725 departs Linapakan Island for Tawi Tawi, Philippines.
2 February 1944:
At 2250 arrives at Tawi Tawi.
6 February 1944:
At 0805 departs Tawi Tawi for Balikpapan, Borneo.
9 February 1944:
At 1115 arrives at Balikpapan.
28 February 1944:
At 0800 departs Balikpapan for Singapore, Malaya.
5 March 1944:
At 1730 arrives at Singapore.
10 March 1944:
At 0750 departs Singapore for Saint Jacques, Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam) in convoy SHISA-09A also consisting of IJA allotted transport YOSHU MARU, IJA transport MIYAURA MARU, IJN requisitioned cargo ship OAKITA MARU and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan SADO.
14 March 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Saint Jacques.
15 March 1944:
At 0405 departs St Jacques and at 0840 rransfers to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
17 March 1944:
At 1215 departs Saigon and at 1720 transfers to Saint Jacques.
23 March 1944:
At 1230 departs Saint Jacques for Manila in convoy SATA-12 also consisting of IJA transport ARABIA MARU, IJA allotted transports HAWAII, YOSHU and NORFOLK MARUs, Government survey vessel RYOFU MARU escorted by subchasers CH-41 and CH-21. The convoy sails with convoy SAMA-03 consisting of IJA transports DAKAR, MIYAURA and UGO MARUs.
27 March 1944:
Both escorts are detached from the joint convoy.
28 March 1944:
At 2230 arrives outside Manila Port.
29 March 1944:
At 0740 transfers to Manila Port, arriving at 0800.
30 March 1944:
At 1545 departs Manila for Takao still in convoy SATA-12 with unchanged composition except for new unknown escort.
3 April 1944:
Arrives outside Takao port.
4 April 1944:
Transfers to Takao.
13 April 1944:
Departs Takao for Osaka in convoy TAMO-16 also consisting of tanker KONSAN MARU, auxiliary stores ship TOYO MARU No.3, IJA allotted transports HAKUSHIKA, NORFOLK and HAWAII MARUs, IJN requisitioned OYO (WOYO) MARU, IJN allotted (B/C-AC) ore carriers YASUKUNI and HIOKI MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
20 April 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
21 April 1944:
Transfers to Osaka.
29 April 1944:
Transfers to Kobe.
2 May 1944:
Departs Kobe for Sakito.
4 May 1944:
Arrives at Sakito.
5 May 1944:
Transfers to Sasebo.
E May 1944:
Enters Sasebo Navy Yard for maintenance and repairs.
E June 1944:
Attached to Southern Fleet, 11th Special Base Force. Her home port is Haiphong, Indochina.
2 June 1944:
Departs Sasebo. Arrives that same day at Karatsu Wan (Bay), Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
3 June 1944:
Departs Karatsu Wan for Takao and joins convoy MOTA-21 (part 1) that departed Moji also consisting of IJN requisitioned transports TAMA, AZUCHISAN and HAVRE MARU(5,467 GRT), IJA transports NARUO, CLYDE, HAMBURG, SEKIHO, TATSUAKI, SHINSHO and TSUYAMA MARUs and eleven unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-14, subchasers CH-56 and CH-23, auxiliary subchasers CHa-90 and CHa-95.
7 June 1944:
At 0900, an enemy submarine is sighted at 28-18N, 123-03E.
9 June 1944:
At 0900. an enemy submarine is sighted at 24-50N, 120-30E.
10 June 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
16 June 1944:
Departs Takao for Hong Kong.
20 June 1944:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
26 June 1944:
Departs Hong Kong for Yulin.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Yulin.
30 June 1944:
Departs Yulin for Saigon.
3 July 1944:
Arrives at Saigon.
6 July 1944:
Departs Saigon.
7-8 July 1944:
About 11 nms SE of entrance to Port Dayot Bay (Qui Sande Bay), Indochina (now Vinh Vân Phong, Vietnam). About midnight, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Rueben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) (former CO of S-44) USS FLASHER (SS-249) makes radar contact with a cargo ship. Whitaker torpedoes and hits KOTO MARU No. 2 GO at 12-58N, 109-28E. The transport is able to continue but floods gradually. At 0105, she sinks off Cape Varella (now Mui Ke Ga) at 13-08N, 109-28E, taking down two crewmen.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No. 232.

Authors Notes:
[1] 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 reducing 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.
[2] See Zatsuyosen home page for full explanation.
[3] Renamed to avoid any confusion with another auxiliary transport bearing the same name (1,053 GRT, ’39).
[4] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[5] There is some suggestion KOTO MARU No.2 and YASUKUNI MARU left on 14 April and caught up with the convoy.

Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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