YUSOSEN!
|
(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of
Japanese Warships")
IJN KYOEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
20 May 1937:
Aioi. Laid down at Harima Shipbuilding Co. as a 607-ton coastal tanker for Kyoei Tanker Co K.K., Tokyo.
3 September 1937:
Launched and named KYOEI MARU.
28 October 1937:
Completed.
8 November 1937:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 October 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary transport (oil supply) in the Kure Naval District.
10 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
29 January 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
8 February 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
27 March 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
16 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
1 July 1942:
Departs Ominato.
16 July 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
7 September 1942:
Departs Kure. At sea, KYOEI MARU 8-cm gunners test
fire the gun twice. Arrives back at Kure.
8 September 1942:
KYOEI MARU’s 8-cm gunners disassemble the gun,
perform an inspection, repair defective parts and resassemble the gun.
9 September 1942:
KYOEI MARU’s 7.7-mm machine gunners disassemble
their guns, perform an inspection, repair defective parts and resassemble the
guns.
10 September 1942:
KYOEI MARU’s crewmen disassemble their 38 type
rifles, perform an inspection, repair defective parts and resassemble the guns.
11 September 1942:
Loads food stores, drinking water and takes on
heavy oil.
17 September 1942:
Weapon fixture and consumable acceptance.
18 September 1942:
Food and buffet goods acceptance.
22-23 September 1942:
Departs Kure. Arrives at fuel pier. Loads Type 91 Gasoline.
24 September 1942:
Leaves Yoshiura for compass adjustment testing then returns to Yoshiura before departing that port later that day.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Saipan. Loads food stores and drinking
water.
4 October 1942:
Departs Saipan.
11 October 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
11 October 1942:
Refuels flying boat tender AKITSUSHIMA.
13 October 1942:
KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire a hundred rounds
and her crew fires 60 rifle shots at the attacking planes. Arrives at Rabaul.
14 October 1942:
Anchors outside port. Over the next 18 days makes daily trips into Rabaul to offload gasoline, probably into Daihatsu barges or lighters.
23 October 1942:
Air raid on Rabaul. USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17 "Flying Fortresses" bomb shipping. KYOEI MARU’s 8-cm gun fires one shot and her machine gunners fire several hundred rounds at the attacking planes.
28 October 1942:
Air raid on Rabaul. USAAF Fifth Air ForceB-17s bomb shipping. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 50 rounds at attacking planes.
31 October 1942:
Air raid on Rabaul. USAAF Fifth Air ForceB-17s bomb shipping. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 100 rounds at the
attacking planes.
2 November 1942:
Rabaul. KYOEI MARU is provided lube oil by oiler KINREI MARU.
3 November 1942:
KYOEI MARU is provided drinking water by auxiliary
water transport WAYO MARU.
4 November 1942:
KYOEI MARU’s 7.7-mm machine gunners disassemble their
guns and repair defective connections.
7 November 1942:
Refuels flying boat tender AKITSUSHIMA.
15 November 1942:
USAAF Fifth Air Force B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul. KYOEI MARU’s
machine gunners fire several hundred rounds at the attacking planes.
17 November 1942:
A lone Fifth Air Force B-24 " Liberator" bombs the wharf area at Rabaul, New Britain Island. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 150 rounds at the plane.
19 November 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
28 November 1942:
Arrives at Palau.
29 November 1942:
Loads food stores and fresh water. Embarks one passenger and departs Palau.
5 December 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
6 December 1942:
Loads heavy oil. Transfers from No. 5 to No. 3 Pier.
7-8 December 1941:
Loads gasoline.
9-10 December 1942:
A defective engine part is disassembled and repaired.
10 December 1942:
Loads food stores.
11 December 1942:
KYOEI MARU departs Balikpapan in a convoy with HISHI
MARU No. 2 escorted by auxiliary KEINAN MARU No. 7. At 1630, KEINAN MARU No. 7 is detached.
12 December 1942:
At 1000, auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU joins as escort.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
14 December 1942:
Departs Makassar with auxiliary subchaser SHONAN
MARU still as escort. At 2200, SHONAN MARU is detached.
16 December 1942:
At 1700, KYOEI MARU is detached.
26 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
USAAF B-17s bomb shipping. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 250 rounds at the attacking planes.
27 December 1942:
USAAF B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 300 rounds at the attacking planes. The ship moves from outside to inside the port.
28 December 1942:
USAAF B-17s bomb shipping at Rabaul. KYOEI MARU’s
machine gunners fire 60 rounds at the attacking planes.
30 December 1942:
USAAF 5th Air Force B-17s bomb shipping in Simpson
Harbor, Rabaul. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 300 rounds at the attacking planes.
1 January 1943:
USAAF 5th Air Force B-24s and B-17s bomb shipping at
Rabaul. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 300 rounds at the attacking planes.
3 January 1943:
KYOEI MARU is bunkered by KINREI MARU with fuel oil.
4 January 1943:
At 0800, KYOEI MARU departs Rabaul in a convoy
consisting of fleet oiler TSURUMI and small cargo ships HOKKAI and GIYU MARUs
escorted by subchaser CH-16.
6 January 1943:
At 0800 TSURUMI and HOKKAI MARU detach. At 1030, the convoy is attacked by two aircraft that are driven off without damage. At 1300, arrives at the 851st Naval Air Group (ex Toko ku) base at Shortland Islands. Remains off this base or at nearby anchorages for the next 8 weeks gradually offloading cargo almost on a daily basis.
30 January 1943:
KYOEI MARU is provided drinking water replenishment
by auxiliary seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU.
6 February 1942:
Moves from normal anchorage to temporary anchorage off Shortland before returning to previous anchorage.
10 February 1942:
Receives stores.
13 February 1942:
Shortland Island. Six B-24s of Thirteenth Air Force’s 424th Bomb Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bomb Group (Heavy) escorted by P-38 “Lightnings” s and P-40 “Warhawks” and nine USN PB4Ys (B-24) escorted by P-38 and F4U “Corsairs”, on separate missions, bomb shipping in the Shortland-Buin, Bougainville area.
KYOEI MARU’s 8-cm gunners fire four shots and her machine gunners fire
140 rounds at attacking planes.
23-25 February 1942:
Moves from normal anchorage to temporary anchorage off Shortland before returning to previous anchorage.
26 February 1942:
Temporaily anchors at Ballale, Bougainville to fill drums with gasoline.
27 February 1942:
Departs Ballale and returns to Shortland.
28 February 1942:
Departs Shortland and returns to Ballale.
1 March 1943:
Departs Ballale and returns to Shortland.
2 March 1943:
Departs Shortland and returns to Ballale.
3 March 1943:
Departs Shortland, sails to Buin and returns to anchorage later that day.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Buin, Bougainville. Embarks 32 passengers. At
1600, departs Buin in a convoy consisting of oiler KYOEI MARU and cargo ship
KISARAGI MARU escorted by subchaser CH-22. At 1620, shortly after leaving port about 12 American aircraft attack the convoy, but are beaten off. KYOEI MARU’s 8-cm gun fires twos shot and her machine gunners fire several hundred rounds at the attacking planes.
6 March 1943:
At 0500, arrives at Rabaul. 12 passengers are disembarked.
7 March 1943:
Undergoes hull repairs and ammunition replenishment. Engine is disassembled and maintained.
11 March 1943:
KYOEI MARU is provided drinking water by auxiliary
water transport WAYO MARU.
12 March 1943:
Air raid on Rabaul. Fifth Air Force B-24s and B-17s bomb airfields and
attack shipping. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 140 rounds at the attacking planes.
23 March 1943:
Air raid on Rabaul. Fifth Air Force B-24s and B-17s bomb airfields and
attack shipping. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 561 rounds at the attacking planes.
25 March 1943:
Air raid on Rabaul. KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 280 rounds at attacking planes.
26 March 1943:
Rabaul. SAN CLEMENTE MARU bunkers KYOEI MARU. TOYO MARU supplies coal.
1 April 1943:
KYOEI MARU is provided drinking water by auxiliary water transport WAYO MARU.
9 April 1943:
At 1400, KYOEI MARU departs Rabaul in a convoy consisting of KOAN and HARUNA MARUs and tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 escorted by subchaser CH-37.
12 April 1943:
LtCdr Louis D. McGregor's USS PIKE (SS-173) attacks the
convoy. KOAN MARU successfully evades a torpedo attack at 05-30N, 150-42E.
USAAF’s Fifth Air Force B-24's and B-17's attack Rabaul. KYOEI MARU's 8-cm gunners fire
five shots at the attacking planes.
14 April 1943:
At 1040, arrives at Truk.
20 April 1943:
Departs Truk in a convoy consisting of MEITEN, SANSEI and KYOEI MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-33.
26 April 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
11 May 1943:
KYOEI MARU departs Palau for Balikpapan in fleet convoy
No. 2501 consisting of YASUKUNI, HAKUSAN, DAIGEN, KENKOKU, HOKO and SANYO MARUs
escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.
18 May 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Balikpapan where the convoy is
dispersed.
19 May 1943:
Loads heavy oil, automobile oil, food stores and boiler
water at No. 5 Pier.
20 May 1943:
Transfers from No. 5 to No. 3 Pier.
27 May 1943:
KYOEI MARU departs Balikpapan for Tarakan in a convoy
consisting of cargo ships TOBI, SHONAN and MIYAURA MARUs. At 1600, subchaser
CH-5 joins as escort.
29 May 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Tarakan.
1 June 1943:
At 1200, KYOEI MARU departs Tarakan in a convoy consisting of tankers SANRAKU and SHONAN MARU's escorted by auxilary gunboat BUSHO MARU.
3 June 1943:
At 1600, auxiliary gunboat BUSHO MARU is detached and auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU joins as relief escort.
5 June 1943:
At 1830, arrives at Manila.
8-11 June 1943:
Undergoes boiler repairs.
14 June 1943:
Takes on boiler water and food stores.
15 June 1943:
At 0730, KYOEI MARU departs Manila for Takao in convoy No. 853 consisting of ROKKOSAN, and FUJISAN MARUs escorted by kaibokan WAKATAKE.
18 June 1943:
At 0730, arrives at pier 15, Takao.
21 June 1943:
Departs Takao.
27 June 1943:
Arrives at Kure and later that day moves to Yoshiura.
29 June 1943:
Loads food stores and departs Yoshiura.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama. Unloads automobile oil and
departs.
1 July 1943:
Arrives at Hiroshima Bay.
3 July 1943:
Departs Hiroshima Bay.
4 July 1943:
Arrives at Aioi. Unloads ammunition.
6 July 1943:
Enters dock at Harima shipyard.
16 July 1943:
Undocked. Undergoes section inspection trial run.
17 July 1943:
Reloads ammunition. Departs Aioi.
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Yoshiura.
20 July 1943:
Loads boiler water, food and more ammunition.
22 July 1943:
Refuels.
24 July 1943:
Departs Yoshiura.
25 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji .
28 July 1943:
Departs Moji .
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa then departs to anchor off port.
2 August 1943:
Arrives Naha Port again.
4 August 1943:
Departs Naha.
6 August 1943:
Off the coast of
Keelung, Formosa.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
13 August 1943:
Loads food stores then anchors off Takao Port before departing later that day.
16 August 1943:
Arrives outside Manila
Port.
18 August 1943:
Weighs anchor in Manila and berths in Manila Port.
26 August 1943:
Departs Manila.
28 August 1943:
Part of five ship convoy including KYOEI MARU, OGURA MARU No ?, DAIKI MARU with destroyer ASAKAZE as escort.
30 August 1943:
OGURA MARU No ? separates from convoy.
1 September 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
3 September 1943:
Loads Avgas (Aviation Spirit) at No.5 Pier.
4 September 1943:
Departs Balikpapan.
Joins convoy 2607 consisting of KYOEI MARU and 7 unidentified ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE and auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU.
8 September 1943:
An unidentified destroyer and an auxiliary vessel join the convoy.
10 September 1943:
An unidentified oiler and auxiliary vessel are
detached. Arrives at Palau.
18 September 1943:
Departs Palau.
23 September 1943:
Air raid. KYOEI MARU’s 8-cm gun fires three shots and her
machine gunners fire 40 rounds at attacking planes.
25 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
27 September-10 October 1943:
Loads food stores and gasoline drums.
7 October 1943:
Rabaul. Fleet oiler NARUTO provides bunker oil to KYOEI MARU. KOAN MARU provides boiler water.
9 October 1943:
At 1300, KYOEI MARU departs Rabaul for Palau in convoy O-903 consisting of TAKAOKA and NANMAN MARUs escorted by subchasers CH-16 and CH-39.
16 October 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Palau.
21 October 1943:
Departs Palau.
24 October 1943:
KYOEI MARU’s is in an antisubmarine action. Her 8-cm gunners fire three shots. Later, she arrives at the south tip of Davao island.
25 October 1943:
Arrives at Davao.
26 October 1943:
Loads 300 drums and departs Davao.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Menado. Loads food stores.
29 October 1943:
Departs Menado.
1 November 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
1-2 November 1943:
Unloads 300 drums.
3 November 1943:
Arrives at No. 6 Pier. Loads Type 91 Gasoline.
4 November 1943:
At 1830, KYOEI MARU departs Balikpapan in convoy 2610
consisting of oilers SEIAN MARU and SATA escorted by destroyer SANAE and
auxiliary subchaser CHa-37.
6 November 1943:
Auxiliary subchaser CHa-37 is detached.
7 November 1943:
Cargo ship KENZAN MARU joins the convoy.
10 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
17 November 1943:
At 0950, KYOEI MARU depart Palau in convoy 8175
consisting of oilers TSURUMI, SATA, SEIAN MARU and cargo ship SHOYU MARU
escorted by destroyer AMATSUKAZE, subchaser CH-33 and auxiliary subchaser
CHa-27. About 1400, an unidentified submarine is detected. The escorts conduct
an unsuccessful depth charge attack.
20 November 1943:
At 2000, CHa-27 is detached and returns to Palau.
24 November 1943:
At 0840, arrives at Truk.
2-4 December 1943:
Unloads drums.
6-11 December 1943:
Unloads drums.
9 December 1943:
Loads food stores.
14 December 1943:
Loads food stores.
21 December 1943:
Loads food stores and embarks six passengers.
22 December 1943:
At 0830, departs Truk for Palau in fleet convoy 7222
consisting of KYOEI and SHINSHU MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-33.
27 December 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Palau after weathering bad
storms at sea. Disembarks six passengers.
16 January 1944:
At 0830, KYOEI MARU departs Palau for Balikpapan, Borneo in
convoy No. 2517 consisting of IJA landing ship carrier SHINSHU MARU and HARUNA MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-6 and auxiliary subchaser Cha-32.
At 2155, KYOEI MARU’s bow collides with the starboard aft section of
HARUNAMARU and. At 2200, HARUNA MARU’s crew abandons ship and takes to their
lifeboats. At 2211, HARUNA MARU sinks.
21 January 1944:
The convoy's destination is changed to Tarakan,
Borneo.
22 January 1944:
At 1630, arrives at Tarakan. JAMBI MARU joins the
convoy escorted by auxiliary subchasers Cha-41 and Cha-46.
26 January 1944:
At 1545, departs Tarakan.
28 January 1944:
: At 1630, arrives at Balikpapan. CH-6 is detached.
4 February 1944:
At No. 5 Pier loads fuel oil.
5 February 1944:
At 1030, KYOEI MARU departs Balikpapan in a convoy.
consisting of tanker YAMAMIZU MARU, fleet oiler TSURUMI and converted tanker NAGISAN
MARU escorted by auxiliary subchasers CHa-36, CHa-37 and CHa-41.
6 February 1944:
At 0930, YAMAMIZU MARU is detached for Singapore.
7 February 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya’s naval pier.
9 February 1944:
Transfers from Naval Pier to No. 3 Berth.
11 February 1944:
Begins repairs.
14 February 1944:
Unloads ammunition.
17 February 1944:
Enters No. 1 Drydock.
25 February 1944:
Undocked.
26 February 1944:
Reloads ammunition.
and empty drums.
1 March 1944:
At 1200, KYOEI MARU depart Surabaya a convoy consisting
of KITA MARU and and fleet oiler TSURUMI escorted by minesweeper W-12 and
auxiliary subchaser CHa-103.
2 March 1944:
A radio message is received advising Balikpapan Port has
been mined. The convoy sails to Pagatan arriving there later that day.
3 March 1944:
At 0400, departs Pagatan. At 0930, KITA MARU is detached
from the convoy. Later that day, the convoy arrives in the Kotabaru Sea and
anchors there.
4 March 1944:
At 1530, departs Kotabaru Sea and at 2000 arrives at
Pamukan Bay.
5 March 1944:
At 0500, departs Pamukan Bay and later that day arrives
at Balikpapan.
6 March 1944:
At No. 5 Pier discharges empty drums.
7 March 1944:
At No. 7 Pier loads Type 91 gasoline.
15 March 1944:
At 0730, CH-6 departs Balikpapan for Palau in an
unnumbered convoy consisting of three echelons. The first echelon consists of
fleet oilers IRO and tankers NAGISAN MARU and HISHI MARU No. 2. The second
echelon consists of KYOEI MARU, fleet oiler TSURUMI, and cargo ship RAIZAN MARU
and the third echelon consists only of cargo ship HOKUTAI MARU. All three
echelons are escorted by destroyers HARUSAME and SHIRATSUYU, minesweeper W-36,
and auxiliary subchaser CHa-52.
16 March 1944:
At 1530, destroyer MICHISHIO joins the convoy and the
other escorts depart.
20 March 1944:
At 0910, auxiliary subchasers CHa-51 and CHa-53 join
the escort.
21 March 1944:
Auxiliary subchaser CHa-27 joins the escort.
22 March 1944:
LtCdr John A. Scott's USS TUNNY (SS-282) SJ radar picks
up a large convoy. At daybreak, Scott is maneuvering to gain an attack position
when his radar picks up a destroyer at 14,000 yards. The destroyer sights the
submarine and challenges TUNNY with a blinker. Scott ducks into a nearby rain
squall and continues to close on the surface in conditions of poor visibility.
Through the haze, he makes out a group of oilers and cargo ships.
Scott sets up and fires a full bow spread of six-torpedoes at two cargo
ships at 07-22N, 132-08E. He and his crew see and hear hits on both, but
suddenly, a small oiler, probably KYOEI MARU, appears out of the gloom and
almost collides with TUNNY.
Scott sets up on destroyer MICHISHIO moving at high speed across TUNNY’s stern. He fires four Mark-18 electric torpedoes, then crash dives as depth charges from a subchaser explode on his port quarter. During the next four hours, IRO is hit in the bow, forward of the bulkheads. The Japanese drop 87 depth charges on TUNNY, but without effect.
23 March 1944:
The convoy arrives at Palau. IRO also limps in.
27-28 March 1944:
Loads food stores. A short wave wireless for
aviation is installed.
29 March 1944:
KYOEI MARU departs Palau for Saipan in a convoy consisting of ammunition ship ARATAMA MARU and MATSUE and KIZUGAWA MARUs and an unidentified ship escorted by destroyers MINAZUKI, YUZUKI, subchaser CH-30
auxiliary subchasers KYO MARU No. 7 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 2.
5 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
9 April 1944:
At 1800, convoy “Higashi Matsu” (East Pine) No. 4 enters port at Saipan and escort Wa-4 joins ship [together with Guam and Truk contingents of that convoy]
10 April 1944:
At 1200, the Guam contingent is detached. At 1230, SHINYO MARU [nearby, unclear as to whether also in convoy] suffers engine breakdown at Guam. At 1630, this ship completes repairs and recommences voyage [and joins KYOEI MARU].
12 April 1944:
Two escorts join both vessels.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Truk and anchors off Moen Island.
16-20 April 1944:
Unload drums of aviation gasoline.
18 April 1944:
Anchors off Param Island and later that day transfers to anchor off Fefan Island.
21 April 1944:
Loads food stores and fresh water.
22 April 1944:
Departs Truk.
26 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan. Fleet tanker SUNOSAKI transfers some aviation
gasoline to KYOEI MARU.
27-28 April 1944:
Unloads aviation gasoline
28 April 1944:
SUNOSAKI resumes transfer of aviation gasoline.
to KYOEI MARU. Departs Saipan for Truk in convoy “Higashi Matsu” (East Pine) No.
7 consisting of 15 unidentified merchant ships and six unidentified escorts.
30 April 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
1 June 1944:
Loads Avgas off Param Island (Kaede Shima).
2 June 1944:
KYOEI MARU’s machine gunners fire 47 rounds at attacking
planes. Unloads Avgas and fresh water.
3 June 1944:
Embarks 13 passengers. At 1600, KYOEI MARU departs Truk
in a convoy consisting of MOJI, IMIZU, TATSUTAGAWA, KOJUN MARUs and oilers
NITCHO and NANKO MARU No. 1 and 13 other unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan
CD-6, subchasers CH-20, CH-31, CH-32 and CH-51.
7 June 1944:
At 1140, arrives at Saipan.
10-11 June 1944:
Loads Avgas at New Pier.
11 June 1944:
Air raid on Saipan. F6F “Hellcats” from Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s Task Force 58 attack airfields and shipping. KYOEI MARU’s 8-cm gun fire seven shots and her machine gunners fire 543 rounds at the attacking planes.
At 1800, KYOEI MARU departs Saipan in unnumbered convoy consisting of KATORI, EDOGAWA KINEZAKI and HAGIKAWA MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 1 escorted by auxiliary subchaser CHa-67.
20 June 1944:
Arrives at Koniya.
21 June 1944:
KYOEI MARU is provisioned by supply ship KINEZAKI.
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Seai. Loads coal. Again, KYOEI MARU is provisioned by KINEZAKI, then KYOEI MARU is detached.
24 June 1944:
Refuels and loads fresh water.
26 June 1944:
At 0400, KYOEI MARU departs Saei in a convoy consisting of TOMITSU MARU escorted by minelayer SAISHU and auxiliary TAKUNAN MARU.
27 June 1944:
At 0900, arrives at Kagoshima.
29 June 1944:
At 0430, departs Kagoshima. Arrives later that day at Hosojima.
30 June 1944:
At 1920, arrives at Kure.
3 July 1944:
Departs Kure and arrives at Yoshiura Fuel Pier. Unloads Avgas.
4 July 1944:
Loads assorted goods.
5 July 1944:
Loads food stores.
6 July 1944:
While at anchor off Yoshiura undergoes tank cleaning before again berthing in Yoshiura later that day.
7 July 1944:
Departs Yoshiura.
8-13 July 1944:
Arrives at Aioi. Enters dock at Harima shipyard. Ship's entire bottom undergoes cleaning, coating and painting. A depth charge rack and a 13-mm machine gun stand are installed.
13 July 1944:
Entire 8-cm gun is coated and painted.
14 July 1944:
A flashing light is installed.
16 July 1944:
Undocked. Inside gunwale is coated and painted.
17 July 1944:
A 13-mm machine gun is installed. Loads ammunition..
18 July 1944:
Departs Aioi. KYOEI MARU’s magnetic compass is adjusted.
19 July 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Loads depth charges and 13-mm machine bullets.
20 July 1944:
Loads consumables and assorted goods.
21 July 1944:
Departs Kure.
22 July 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
24 July 1944:
Departs Moji and later arrives at Karatsu Bay.
25 July 1944:
Departs Karatsu Bay and later that day arrives arrives at Imari Bay.
26 July 1944:
At 0600, KYOEI MARU departs Imari Bay for Miri in convoy
MI-13 consisting of tankers SHINCHO, TEIKON, TOKUWA, and ATAGO MARUs and cargo
ships HIYORI, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, URAL, SHIROTAE, KOKUSEI, CHINA, HIGANE,
MATSUURA, RISSHUN and ATLAS MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and OGURA MARU No. 2.
escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA, CD-14, patrol boat PB-38, minelayer NIIZAKI, minesweeper W-18, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs.
30 July 1944:
MATSUURA MARU and minesweeper W-18 are detached for
Keelung.
31 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao. SHIROTAE and CHINA MARUs
are detached and tankers SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs and cargo ship SHINKO MARU join
the convoy. NIIZAKI, TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and CHOHAKUSAN MARU are detached from
the escort and replaced by kaibokan KUSAGAKI and YASHIRO and destroyer ASAKAZE.
Naval Transport T-3 also joins.
4 August 1944:
At 0830, the reconstituted convoy departs Takao.
7 August 1944:
At 2205, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskin's USS
GUITARRO (SS-363) torpedoes and sinks kaibokan KUSAGAKI at 14-50N, 119-57E.
8 August 1944:
At 0900, the convoy arrives Manila. DURBAN, KIZAN,
RISSHUN, KUNIYAMA, SHINKO and ATLAS MARUs are detached. SHOEI MARU joins the
convoy. All of the escorts are detached except CD-14, patrol boat P-38 and
subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
11 August 1944:
At 2100, the convoy departs Manila for Miri.
12 August 1944:
: Near Sibutu Passage. At 0730, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s USS PUFFER (SS-268) attacks the convoy on the surface. Selby torpedoes and damages SHINPO MARU.
At 0733, Selby torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU as she charges to ram
submerging PUFFER at 13-18N, 120-11E, but there are no casualties. CD-14 and
patrol boat P-38 counter-attack with 37 depth charges, but PUFFER slips away
unscathed.
SHIMPO MARU is taken under tow by SHOEI and KYOEI MARUs. SHIMPO MARU’s
captain beaches her on Cape Calavite, Mindoro Island. Later, she is abandoned as
a constructive total loss.
14 August 1944:
The convoy arrives at Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro.
17 August 1944:
Subchasers CH-30 and CH-33 are detached.
18 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
19 August 1944:
CD-14 departs Miri for Kuching, Borneo with patrol
boat P-38 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-31 sescorting convoy MISHI-07 consisting of SHINCHO, KOKUSEI, URAL, HIYORI (NICHIWA), HIGANE, SHOEI and KYOEI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1.
21 August 1944:
Arrives at Kuching, Borneo to shelter after a torpedo attack on MISHI-07.
24 August 1944:
Departs Kuching. Patrol boat P-38 is detached.
25 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo.
26 August 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
27 August 1944:
Arrives Singapore. During the day, transfers to Pulau Bukum No.4 anchorage then to No. 5 Wharf then back to Singapore anchorage. Loads Avgas, food and coal.
28 August 1944:
Loads fresh water.
29 August 1944:
Loads consumables.
5 September 1944:
At 1300, TATSUHARU MARU departs Singapore for Miri,
Borneo in convoy SHIMI-10 consisting of URAL, HOKKI, TENSHIN, SHOEI, OMINE,
KYOEI and IMAJI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, KYOEI MARU No. 6 and NANSHIN MARU
No. 18 escorted by auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 6 and CHOUN MARU No. 7,
and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 2.
8 September 1944:
At 0530, arrives at Kuching, Borneo.
9 September 1944:
Departs at midnight.
11 September 1944:
At 1230, arrives at Miri.
15 September 1944:
At 1500, KYOEI MARU departs Miri for Manila,
Philippines in convoy MIMA-11 consisting of fleet oiler KAMOI and TACHIBANA,
URAL, KYOKUHO, SHIKISAN, HOKKI, ZUIYO, TATSUHARU, TENSHIN, SHOEI, OMINE and
IMAHARU MARUs (ex-Dutch De KLERK) and SHINSEI MARU No. 1, YAMAMIZU No. 2 and
KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25, CD-28 and CD-32. The convoy
hugs the coast calling at various small anchorages. That same day, arrives at
Guimaras Bay, Philippines.
17 September 1944:
Departs Guimaras Bay. That same day, arrives at
White Rocks Bay.
18 September 1944:
Departs White Rocks Bay. That same day, arrives off
Tarahican Island.
19 September 1944:
Departs Tarahican Island. That same day, arrives at
Eran Bay, Palawan island.
20 September 1944:
Departs Eran Bay. That same day, arrives at St Paul’s Bay.
21 September 1944:
Departs St Paul’s Bay. That same day, arrives at
Bacuit Bay , Palawan Island.
24 September 1944:
Departs Bacuit Bay, but later returns.
25 September 1944:
Departs Bacuit Bay.
26 September 1944:
TATSUHARU MARU supplies coal to KYOEI MARU.
29 September 1944: Bacuit Bay. The remnants of convoy MIMA 11/MI-16
consisting of KYOEI and TATSUHARU MARUs and probably SHIKISAN, IMAHARU, TENSHIN
and SHOEI MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and KYOEI MARU No. 6 are joined by
minesweepers W-8 and W-11.
1 October 1944:
Bacuit Bay. Subchaser CH-31 joins the remnants of
convoy MIMA-11.
2 October 1944:
The rest of the convoy departs leaving TATSUHARU MARU
behind. Arrives at Bacuit Bay, Palawan Island then departs and arrives at
Busuanga anchorage.
3 October 1944:
Departs Busuanga anchorage and arrives at Lubang
Island.
4 October 1944:
Departs Lubang Island and arrives at Manila.
5 October 1944:
Departs Manila and arrives at Canacao troop pier.
Unloads Avgas and departs. Arrives back at Manila and loads food stores and coal.
6 October 1944:
KYOEI MARU departs Manila with fleet oiler SHIRETOKO.
Stops briefly at Lubang Island before resuming voyage. .
7 October 1944:
NW of Manila. At 0334, LtCdr James A. Adkins' USS COD
(SS-224) attacks SHIRETOKO by SJ radar. He fires four torpedoes on radar
bearings and range and gets two hits at 13-30N, 119-20E. Later that day, arrives
a Busuanga anchorage and stays there carrying out urgent repairs for the next
five days.
12 October 1944:
Departs Busuanga. Later that day, arrives at Tawi
Tawi.
13 October 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi. Later that day, arrives at Puerto
Princesa, Palawan Islands.
16 October 1944:
Departs Puerto Princesa. Later that day, arrives at Brookes Point.
17 October 1944:
Departs Brookes Point. Later that day, arrives at
Banggi Island.
18 October 1944:
CH-56 joins the convoy as escort and is refueled by KYOEI MARU. Later that day, tanker SHUNTEN MARU and minesweeper W-105 also join the convoy.
19 October 1944:
Departs Banggi Island and reaches Kudat later that
day. SHUNTEN MARU and W-105 probably are detached.
20 October 1944:
Departs Kudat. Later that day, arrives at Turtle
Island.
21 October 1944:
Departs Turtle Island.
22 October 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan. Embarks 11 passengers.
24 October 1944:
Departs Tarakan and anchors for the night at Moera Bantai.
25 October 1944:
Departs Moera Bantai.
Later that day, arrives at Sangkulirang Bay.
26 October 1944:
Departs Sangkulirang Bay. Later that day, arrives at Moera Pegah.
27 October 1944:
Departs Moera Pegah.
Pagar. Later that day, arrives at at No. 5 Pier,
Balikpapan. Loads food stores and oil and lube products.
28 October 1944:
Loads oil, water and fresh provisions. Embark one
passenger, then puts out to sea.
29 October 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan.
31 October 1944:
Arrives at Trusan Ligitan then departs and later that
day arrives at Manila.
8 November 1944:
At 1900, KYOEI MARU departs Manila for Balikpapan in
convoy B-02 consisting of oilers MANYO MARU and HISHI MARU No. 2 escorted by
subchaser CH-4, three unidentified subchasers and patrol boat PB-2.
9 November 1944:
Mindoro Strait. At 1530, LtCdr Frank C. Lynch's USS
HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes and sinks HISHI MARU No. 2 at 12-24N 120-45E. The
escorts counterattack with depth charges, but Lynch evades and escapes.
16 November 1944:
Tarakan Channel, Borneo. USAAF B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers and P-38 "Lightning" fighter-bombers attack and sink KYOEI MARU and damage MANYO MARU.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Back to the
Oilers Page
