Tabular Record of Movement
©2012-2014 Bob Hackett
Revision 3
5 October 1927:
Yokohama. Laid down at Yokohama Dock Co., Ltd as Yard No.
162, a 3,143-ton passenger-cargo ship for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line), K.
K. of Tokyo.
5 May 1928:
Launched and named Launched and named MIKASA MARU.
29 June 1928:
Completed. Placed on NYK’s Yokohama ~ Shanghai route.
28 January 1932: The "First Shanghai Incident":
Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) of about 2,500 troops is dispatched to evict two divisions of the Chinese 19th Route Army from Shanghai. The Japanese attack the forts of Wusong and Chapei (Zhabei). That night, seaplane tender NOTORO's seaplanes drop flares to frighten the opposition. The Chinese think they are being attacked and retaliate. There are many Japanese casualties.
29 January 1932:
Huangpu (Whangpoa) River, Shanghai. NOTORO, anchored in the Yangtze River, launches an aerial attack on Chinese military positions in Shanghai in foggy weather. NOTORO’s E1Y3 floatplanes make ten low-level attacks on Chinese positions that result in a heavy loss of civilian lives and property. The Chinese unify against the Japanese who are unable to capture Shanghai. Large-scale fighting breaks out.
3 February 1932:
Chartered by the Imperial Army (IJA) as an emergency troop transport.
10/11 February 1932:
MIKASA MARU departs Ujina in a troop convoy also consisting of AMUR, FRANCE, IKOMA, IWATE, MAYA, TSUKUBA, URASIO and YAKUMO MARUs. The convoy carries the IJA 9th division to China. MIKASA MARU carries the 9th division HQ.
13 February 1932:
Arrives at Shanghai in the evening.
1932:
In IJA service as a hospital ship, traffic boat and troop transport.
8 March 1932:
Arrives at Ujina.
9 March 1932:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
11 March 1932:
Arrives at Fairway Bell Buoy, near Woosung, and departs.
12 March 1932:
Arrives at Shanghai.
13 March 1932:
Departs Shanghai.
16 March 1932:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
17 March 1932:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 March 1932:
Departs Ujina.
19 March 1932:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
21 March 1932:
Arrives at Fairway Bell Buoy and departs.
22 March 1932:
Arrives at Shanghai.
23 March 1932:
Departs Shanghai.
26 March 1932:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
27 March 1932:
Arrives at Ujina.
28 March 1932:
Departs Ujina.
29 March 1932:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
31 March 1932:
Arrives at Fairway Bell Buoy and departs.
1 April 1932:
Arrives at Shanghai.
2 April 1932:
Departs Shanghai.
5 April 1932:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
6 April 1932:
Arrives at Ujina.
2 June 1932:
Chartered by the Imperial Army (IJA).
July 1937:
The Second Sino-Japanese War begins.
2 August 1937:
The second echelon of China Emergency troop carriers arrives at Pusan, Korea to load. MIKASA, HANKOW, HIDE, HOKUSHO, SINGAPORE, TASMANIA and TOKYO MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 all of the second echelon arrive this day.
14 October 1937:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Ujina.
17 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
18 October 1937:
Departs Moji.
22 October 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
23 October 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
27 October 1937:
Departs Moji.
28 October 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
29 October 1937:
Departs Osaka and arrives at Ujina.
2 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
3 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
7 November 1937:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
8 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji.
12 November 1937:
Departs Moji.
13 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka, then departs and arrives at Ujina
16 November 1937:
Departs Ujina to transport wounded .
19 November 1937:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, China).
20 November 1937:
Departs Dairen.
23 November 1937:
Arrives at Moji and then departs to transport wounded .
24 November 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
30 November 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
1 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji
1 December 1937:
Departs Moji
4 December 1937:
Arrives at Dairen.
5 December 1937:
Departs Dairen.
8 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji and then departs.
9 December 1937:
Arrives at Osaka.
28 December 1937:
Arrives at Ujina.
29 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji
29 December 1937:
Departs Moji.
1 January 1938:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
2 January 1938:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
5 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and then departs.
6 January 1938:
Arrives at Osaka.
7 January 1938:
Departs Osaka.
8 January 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
14 January 1938:
Departs Ujina
15 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and then departs.
18 January 1938:
Arrives at Shanghai.
21 January 1938:
Departs Shanghai.
24 January 1938:
Arrives at Moji and then departs.
25 January 1938:
Arrives at Ujina.
1939:
Sold to Toa Kaiun K.K., Tokyo.
12 August 1939:
Departs Ujina.
9 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Armu (IJA) and allotted Army No.90. That same day, she departs Takao.
16 November 1941:
Arrives at the Yellow Sea.
17 November 1941:
Departs the Yellow Sea.
19 November 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Ujina.
12 December 1941:
Arrives at Pusan and then departs.
14 December 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
19 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
21 December 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai.
23 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai.
8 January 1942:
Arrives at Singora, Siam.
9 January 1942:
Departs Singora.
12 January 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
13 January 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
18 January 1942:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island.
20 January 1942:
Departs Samah.
3 February 1942:
Arrives at Guangdong, China.
4 February 1942:
Departs Guangdong.
21 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
22 February 1942:
Departs Ujina.
25 February 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 February 1942:
Departs Kirun.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
27 February 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
14 March 1942:
Arrives at Saigon and then departs.
16 March 1942:
Arrives at Bangkok.
21March 1942:
~ Departs Bangkok.
26 March 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
28 March 1942:
Departs Saigon
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong
8 April 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Shantou, Guangdong province.
15 April 1942:
Departs Shantou.
16 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
20April 1942:
Departs Takao.
26 April 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
29 April 1942:
Departs Saigon.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Bangkok.
5 May 1942:
Departs Bangkok.
9 May 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
10 May 1942:
Departs Saigon.
17 May 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
26 May 1942:
Departs Singapore.
30 May 1942:
Arrives at Rangoon.
2 June 1942:
Departs Rangoon.
8 June 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
13 June 1942:
Departs Singapore.
17 June 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
19 June 1942:
Departs Saigon.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Bangkok.
24 June 1942:
Departs Bangkok.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
30 June 1942:
Departs Saigon.
5 July 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
9 July 1942:
Departs Takao.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
23 July 1942:
Departs Manila.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
28 July 1942:
Departs Takao.
2 August 1942:
Arrives at Manila.
3 August 1942:
Departs Manila.
6 August 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
9 August 1942:
Departs Takao.
21 August 1942:
Arrives at Bangkok, Siam (Thailand).
24 August 1942:
Departs Bangkok.
31 August 1942:
Arrives at Saigon and then departs.
7 September 1942:
Arrives at Whampoa River, near Hong Kong..
10 September 1942:
Departs Whampoa River.
23 September 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
27 September 1942:
Departs Ujina.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
30 September 1942:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
11 October 1942:
Departs Ujina.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
17 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
22 October 1942:
Departs Ujina
25 October 1942:
Arrives at Dalian.
28 October 1942:
The 57th Medical Group embarks patients for transport. Departs Dalian.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
21 November 1942:
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies warring powers that MIKASA MURU is a designated hospital ship
30 November 1942:
Departs Ujina.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
7 December 1942:
Departs Qinhuangdao.
10 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
11 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Pusan.
12 December 1942:
Departs Pusan.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
.15 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
17 December 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
20 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
23 December 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.
.26 December 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
31 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
3 January 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
4 January 1943:
Departs Ujina.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
8 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
13 January 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
15 January 1943:
Departs Manila.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
19 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
23 January 1943:
Departs Manila.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
26 January 1943:
Departs Takao.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa,(Keelung, Taiwan).
27 January 1943:
Departs Kirun.
3 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs that day.
14 February 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
27 February 1943:
Departs Moji.
1 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
3 March 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
6 March 1943:
??? HAWAII MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 134 also consisting of MIKASA, YAMAHAGI and TSUSHIMA MARUs escorted by destroyer SANAE.
11 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao and departs.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
18 March 1943:
Departs Manila.
21 March 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
22 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 April 1943:
Departs Kirun.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
16 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji and departs.
16 April 1943:
Arrives at Pusan.
18 April 1943:
Departs Pusan.
19 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
21 April 1943:
Departs Moji.
22 April 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
24 April 1943:
Departs Tsingtao.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
2 May 1943:
Departs Moji.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs.
7 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
13 May 1943:
Departs Ujina.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Dalian.
18 May 1943:
Departs Dalian.
22 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
24 May 1943:
Departs Moji.
.28 May 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
29 May 1943:
Departs Kirun.
1 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
8 June 1943:
Departs Moji.
11 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
12 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
19 June 1943:
Departs Ujina.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Dalian.
25 June 1943:
Departs Dairen.
29 June 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
30 June 1943:
Departs Osaka.
12 July 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
14 July 1943:
Departs Tsingtao.
17 July 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
.20 July 1943:
Departs Ujina.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
28 July 1943:
Departs Manila.
30 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
31 July 1943:
Departs Takao.
? August 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
6 August 1943:
Departs Kirun.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
28 August 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
31 August 1943:
Departs Manila.
7 September 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
8 September 1943:
Departs Ujina.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.
15 September 1943:
Departs Kirun.
20 September 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
6 October 1943:
Departs Ujina.
10 October 1943:
At 1505, MIKASA MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 105
also consisting of TEIKAI MARU (ex-German FULDA), CHICAGO, AMERICA, HEIAN,
NICHIEI and GYOTEN (ex-British EMPIRE PAGODA) MARUs, civilian ore carrier
GYOKUREI MARU and tankers SAN RAMON and MITSU MARUs escorted by destroyer
SHIOKAZE. The convoy carries elements of the IJA 4th Division.
15 October 1943:
At 0110, LtCdr (later KIA) Charles F. Brindupke's
(USNA '32) USS TULLIBEE (SS-284) torpedoes and sinks CHICAGO MARU at 24-30N,
120-26E. 43 troops and eight crewmen are KIA. Over the next five hours,
GYOKUREI, NICHIEI and SAN RAMON MARUs rescue survivors. Later that day, the
convoy arrives at Takao.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
30 October 1943: Departs Singapore.
1 November 1943:
Arrives at Palembang, Sumatra.
9 November 1943:
Departs Palembang.
10 November 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
20 November 1943:
Departs Singapore.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at Djakarta, Java (now Indonesia).
3 December 1943:
Departs Djakarta.
11 December 1943:
Arrives at Ambon.
22 December 1943:
Departs Ambon.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Halmahera, Moluccas and departs that day.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at unidentified "Garera" location.
28 December 1943:
Departs Garera.
30 December 1943:
Arrives at Wasili, Halmahera.
7 January 1944:
At 0600, MIKASA MARU departs Wasili for Manokwari, New
Guinea in a convoy consisting of BUNZAN, KAIRYU, NISSHU, TACOMA, TOCHIHOSHI and
TSUKUKAWA MARUs escorted by auxiliary minesweeper Wa-105.
9 January 1944:
At 1300, arrives safely at Manokwari.
12 January 1944:
Departs Manokwari.
17 January 1944:
At 0800, PB-105 departs Wasile, Halmahera Island with
auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 12 escorting convoy M-9 consisting of NISSHU,
TAIZAN, SHOGEN, TSUSHIMA, MIKASA and YUSEI MARUs.
21 January 1944:
At 0700, arrives at Cebu.
8 February 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 February 1944:
Departs Singapore.
19 February 1944:
Arrives at Palembang.
20 February 1944:
Departs Palembang.
24 February 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya.
12 April 1944:
At 1300, MIKASA MARU departs Surabaya in a convoy
consisting of SHINSEI MARU No. 17 escorted by minesweeper W-12 and subchaser
CH-2. The transports are probably carrying elements of the IJA's 123rd Infantry
Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 147th Infantry Regiment.
15 April 1944:
Arrives at Bima Bay, Sumbawa Island.
16 April 1944:
At 0500 departs Bima Bay.
17 April 1944:
Arrives at Maumere, Flores Island.
18 April 1944:
Departs Maumere.
19 April 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Bima Bay.
22 April 1944:
At 0130, departs Bima Bay.
23 April 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Surabaya.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at St. Nikolaus.
3 May 1944:
Departs St. Nikolaus.
22 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore and departs later that day.
24 May 1944:
Arrives at Palembang.
30 May 1944:
Departs Palembang.
14 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
15 June 1944:
Departs Singapore.
1 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
2 July 1944: MIKASA MARU departs Singapore in convoy SHISA-23 also
consisting of ROKKO, KIYO and YUKI MARUs CH-21
6 July 1944:
Arrives at St Jacques.
11 July 1944:
MIKASA MARU departs Saigon in convoy SAMA-09 also
consisting of ROKKO and YUKI MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary
gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU.
17 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
28 July 1944:
Arrives at unidentified "Tweet ton" location.
5 August 1944:
Departs "Tweet ton."
31 August 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
6 September 1944:
At 0600, MIKASA MARU departs Manila for Cebu in
convoy C-067 also consisting of KEIAN, GENKAI, TOYO, RAKUTO, AYASONO and BANRYU
(later SS-2) MARUs and FUKUEI MARU No. 17 escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA,
patrol boat PB-103, auxiliary subchaser MOGAMI MARU and auxiliary TERUKAZE MARU.
8 September 1944:
At 1335, arrives at Cebu.
9 September 1944:
Departs (M103 fleet) Cebu in convoy M-103.
10 September 1944:
At 1050, arrives at Loc Bay, Masbate Island.
12 September 1944:
At 1049, departs Loc Bay.
13 September 1944:
At 0430, arrives at Santa Cruz, Mindoro Island.
16 September 1944:
At 0947, departs Santa Cruz and at 1915 anchors at Batangas.
17 September 1944:
At 0555, departs Batangas and at 1600 arrives at Manila.
20 September 1944:
At 0610, MIKASA MARU departs Bataan in Manila Bay
for Cape St. Jacques, Indochina in convoy MASA-11 also consisting of, FRANCE,
MYOGI and UGO MARUs and convoy MAYU-08 bound Samah, Hainan Island consisting of
BINGO and NICHIZUI MARUs escorted by minelayer YURISHIMA, minesweepers W-18 and
W-101, auxiliary subchasers KAIKO MARU and CHa-67 and auxiliary transport UJINA MARU.
22 September 1944:
At 0900, Convoy MASA-11 splits off from MAYU-08.
26 September 1944:
At 0140, convoy MASA-11 arrives at Cape St. Jacques.
3 October 1944:
At 1500, MIKASA MARU departs Cap St Jacques in convoy
SAMA-13 consisting of MYOGI, HEIAN, TEIYU (ex-Italian CARIGNANO) and OYO MARUs
escorted by minelayer YURASHIMA and minesweeper W-18. That evening, as the ships
travel close to shore, a strong wind blows MYOGI, HEIAN and OYO MARUs ashore.
The remainder of the convoy returns to St Jacques while the escorts assist refloating the three ships which return to St Jacques for minor repairs.
16 October 1944:
At 1343, the same convoy again departs St Jacques.
20 October 1944:
In the early morning, UGO MARU, carring 4500 tons of
rice, and OYO MARU, loaded with 6700 tons of rice, are both torpedoed and sunk
by LtCdr John C. Martin's (USNA ’34) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) at 04-45N 113-30E.
24 of the crew on UGO MARU, and one passenger and three crewmen of OYO MARU are KIA.
21 October 1944:
At 1900, the rest of the convoy arrives Miri.
29 October 1944:
MIKASA MARU departs Miri in a convoy also consisting of MYOGI, HEIAN and TEIYU (ex-Italian CARIGNANO) MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-18 and CD-26 and patrol boat PB-105.
2 November 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
9 November 1944: Operation "TA No. 3" - The Reinforcement of Leyte:
At
0140, in a heavy downpour, MIKASA MARU departs Manila for Ormoc, Philippines to
resupply Japanese forces fighting on Leyte Island in convoy TA No. 3 also
consisting of CELEBES MARU, TAIZAN (ex-British ST. QUENTIN), SAIHO and TENSHO
MARUs escorted by destroyers SHIMAKAZE, HAMANAMI, HATSUHARU, TAKE, W-30 and
subchaser CH-46. The convoy is carrying 4,000 men, 6,000-tons of munitions and
heavy equipment of the IJA's 26th Division to Leyte. MIKASA MARU is carrying the the 1st Reclamation Unit's 26th
and 27th Companies each with a strength was 58 men.,
10 November 1944:
Sibuyan Sea, southern Luzon. At 0335, in a heavy
storm, CELEBES MARU runs hard aground on an uncharted rock in the dangerous
Subunguin Reef at 13-17N, 122-27E, off the Bondoc Peninsula. Refloating work by
a consort vessel fails and she is left behind. Subchaser CH-46 is detached to guard her.
At 2045, the remnants of convoy “TA No. 4”, returning from Ormoc to
Manila, met “TA No. 3” and DDs NAGANAMI, ASASHIMO and WAKATSUKI are detached
from “TA No. 4” and join “TA No. 3”.
At about 1000, 30 USAAF 13th Air Force B-25 “Mitchell” mediun bombers,
P-47 "Thunderbolt" fighter-bombers, and P-38 "Lightning" figher-bombers attack
convoy TA-3 and sink army cargo ships KASHII MARU and KOZU MARU. KOZU MARU
carried the 72nd Specially Established Machine Cannon Unit (12 Type 98 20mm).
104 crewmen and 243 troops aboard KOZU MARU are KIA. Kaibokan CD-13 is strafed1
crewman is KIA and 6 wounded.
11 November 1944:
Pre-dawn. TA No. 3 arrives off Caduruan Point,
11-43N, 124-04E, the southeastern extremity of Masbate. At 0310, the convoy is
surprised by an attack of four USN PT-boats, but receives no damage. Destroyer
HAMANAMI and another escort sweep the area while the convoy reverses direction.
After the sweep the convoy restores southern course.
Leyte. At 0830, as the convoy enters Ormoc Bay, it is attacked by a total
of 347 aircraft from Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Alfred E. Montgomery's
(former CO of RANGER, CV-4) TG 38.1, Rear Admiral (later Admiral-Ret) Frederick
C. Sherman’s (former CO of LEXINGTON, CV-2) TG 38.3 and Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) Ralph E. Davison's TG 38.4's.
The escorts lay smoke screens to conceal the ships, but to no avail.
Despite heavy AA-fire from all ships, at 1123 the planes sink cargo ships TENSHO
and TAIZAN (ex-British ST. QUENTIN) MARUs and at 1140 sink MIKASA MARU.
47 troops and 72 crewmen aboard are KIA.
At 1350, USN planes sink SAIHO MARU. The planes strafe and kill the convoy's survivors wading ashore
who otherwise would still be able fighting men. Of the 4,000 troops carried on the four transports
only about 300 survive.
The planes also sink destroyers HAMANAMI, NAGANAMI, SHIMAKAZE and WAKATSUKI and minesweeper W-30 at 10-50N, 124-35E.
Author's Note:
Thanks go to John Whitman of Virginia and Fonessa-san of Japan for info about MIKASA MARU in 1932. Thanks also go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
Bob Hackett
