YUSOSEN!
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(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings
of Japanese Warships")
IJN KYUEI MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2007-2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1
20 November 1942:
Kobe. Laid down by Kawasaki as a 10,171-ton 1TL Standard Tanker for Nitto Kisen K. K., Higata.
3 June 1943:
Launched and named KYUEI MARU.
6 September 1943:
Completed. Captain Umehara Keisei is appointed Commander.
25 September 1943:
At 1200, KYUEI MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-11 consisting of tanker ITSUKUSHIMA MARU, transport (ex-seaplane tender) KAGU MARU and two unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU. [1]
29 September 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Takao and departs that day at 1835.
4 October 1943:
At 1835, arrives at Singapore.
12 October 1943:
KYUEI MARU departs Singapore in convoy No. 627 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships escorted by subchaser CH-19.
14 October 1943:
LtCdr Earl C. Hawk's Fremantle-based USS POMPON (SS-267) fires four Mark 14-3A torpedoes at KYUEI MARU at 06-00N, 104-10E. Two torpedoes hit, but fail to explode.
15 October 1943:
Requistioned by the IJN and registered as a specially installed transport ship (oil supply) in the Kure
Naval District.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques, Indochina.
25 October 1943
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 437 consisting of 12 unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan WAKAMIYA.
29 October 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
3 November 1943:
Departs St Jacques in convoy No. 437 consisting of 12 unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan WAKAMIYA.
5 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
11 November 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 218 consisting of three or four unknown ships escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
16 November 1943:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
17 November 1943:
Arrives at Moji. Later, sails to Tokuyama to discharge.
24 November 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
25 November 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
5 December 1943
Departs Kobe and later that day arrives Innoshima.
13 December 1943:
Departs Innoshima.
14 December 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
17 December 1943:
Departs Kure and later that day arrives at Moji.
21 December 1943:
Departs Moji in convoy HI-27 consisting of oilers KYUEI and OTORISAN MARUs transport KUNIKAWA MARU, cargo-passenger liners MIIKE and TSUKUSHI MARUs, cargo liner NOTO MARU and troop landing ship MAYASAN MARU escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
26 December 1943:
HI-27 departs Takao for Singapore with a replacement escort, kaibokan MATSUWA. The convoy now consists of KYUEI, OTORISAN, KUNIKAWA and TSUKUSHI MARUs. The others remain at Takao.
27 December 1943:
162 miles WSW of Takao. At about 1100, in the second of two submerged attacks, LtCdr Robert D. Risser's FLYING FISH (SS-229) torpedoes and sinks KYUEI MARU at 21-25N, 118-05E. MATSUWA rescues survivors. The other ships continue their voyage.
5 February 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
[1] KYUEI MARU either made this voyage under civilian control or possibly under charter to the IJN.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
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