Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(NACHISAN MARU in wartime by Ueda Kihachiro)

IJN NACHISAN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011 Gilbert Gasse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2

5 May 1931:
Tamano. Laid down at Zosenbu Tama Kojo as a 4,309-ton cargo-passenger ship for Mitsui Bussan K.K., Kobe.
26 October 1931:
Launched and named NACHISAN MARU [1].
12 December 1931:
Completed and placed on Mitsui's Japan~Saigon~Bangkok commercial service.
1933:
Undergoes modifications which increase her GRT to 4,306-ton.
May 1936:
Undergoes further modifications that increase her to 4,433-tons. After “remodeling”, she becomes Mitsui Line's first passenger liner. She stays on the Japan~Saigon~Bangkok run, but it is extended to Singapore to meet the demand for additional passengers and cargo.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The "First China Incident") Incident:
Hun River, Lukuokiao, China. Japanese troops at the bridge fire blank cartridges during night maneuvers. Chinese troops fire back. Later, the Japanese discover a soldier missing. They demand entry to the Peking (Beijing) suburb of Wanping to look for him, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese shell the city and an undeclared war on China begins.
30 July 1937:
With the outbreak of Sino-Japanese conflict, NACHISAN MARU is requisitioned by the IJN as an auxiliary transport under internal order No. 385. Recalled Captain (later Rear Admiral) Motoizumi Takeshi (37)(former CO of SHIRATAKA) is assigned as CO.
4 August 1937:
Attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under internal order No. 408. Although a transport, she is assigned mainly to salvage duties.
5 August 1937:
Departs Yokohama.
7 August 1937:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
8 August 1937:
Departs Tokuyama and arrives the same day at Saitozaki, Fukuoka.
11 August 1937:
Departs Saitozaki for the South Seas. Make calls at Palau, Truk, Ponape and Saipan.
15 September 1937:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 September 1937:
Departs Yokosuka.
29 September 1937:
Arrives at Kure.
1 October 1937:
Departs Kure.
2 October 1937:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 October 1937:
Departs Sasebo.
5 October 1937:
Arrives at Kure.
7 October 1937:
Departs Kure.
9 October 1937:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 October 1937:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 October 1937:
Arrives at Kure.
15 October 1937:
Departs Kure.
16 October 1937:
Arrives at Sasebo and departs the same day for Korea (Chosen). Operates in an area between southern and northern China and steams back to Yawata.
22 October 1937:
Arrives at Yawata.
25 October 1937:
Departs Yawata, operates in the Korean area and steams back to Mutsure Jima.
31 October 1937:
Arrives at Mutsure Jima.
1 November 1937:
Attached to the Sasebo Naval District under internal order No. 775. Departs for Saishu-to (Quelpart Island)(now Cheju), Korea.
5 November 1937:
Departs Saishu-to, travels along the northern China coast and returns to Saishu-to.
11 November 1937:
Arrives at Saishu-to and departs for Sasebo.
17 November 1937:
Departs Sasebo, operates in the Korean area and returns to Sasebo.
28 November 1937:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs for Mako, Pescadores.
8 December 1937:
Departs Mako, travels along the southern China coast and returns to Mako.
15 December 1937:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
17 December 1937:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams to Sasebo.
25 December 1937:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 January 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the northern China coast and returns to Sasebo.
1 February 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo. Then steams for Takao.
15 February 1938:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
1 March 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo.
22 March 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the northern China coast and steams for Furue in the Hyuga-nada (Inland Sea).
3 April 1938:
Arrives at Furue. Later, departs for Takao.
28 April 1938:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
22 May 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo. Later, departs for Saishu-to, Korea.
5 June 1938:
Departs Saishu-to, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Ryojun (Port Arthur), Manchuria.
12 June 1938:
Arrives at Ryojun.
14 June 1938:
Departs Ryojun, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Saishu-to.
18 June 1938:
Arrives at Saishu-to. Then steams to Sasebo.
6 July 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Mako.
13 July 1938:
Arrives at Mako and departs for Takao.
17 July 1938:
Departs Takao, travels along the northern China coast, then returns to Mako.
21 July 1938:
Arrives at Mako.
26 July 1938:
Departs Mako for Sasebo.
7 August 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 August 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Mako.
31 August 1938:
Arrives at Mako and departs the same day for Takao.
3 September 1938:
Departs Takao, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Sasebo.
20 September 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 September 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the northern China coast, then returns to Sasebo.
6 October 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo. Then steams to Yokosuka.
19 October 1938:
Departs Yokosuka, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
6 November 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo.
14 November 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
19 November 1938:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
22 November 1938:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
8 December 1938:
Arrives at Sasebo.
26 December 1938:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
30 December 1938:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
2 January 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
14 January 1939:
Arrives at Mako, then steams for Sasebo.
28 January 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Ryojun.
2 February 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
3 February 1939:
Departs Ryojun, travels along the northern China coast, then steams for Sasebo.
7 February 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 February 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
17 February 1939:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
19 February 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
13 March 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo. Then steams for Mako.
30 March 1939:
Departs Mako, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Takao.
28 April 1939:
Arrives at Takao. Then steams forSasebo.
11 May 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
16 May 1939:
Arrives at Mako and later, steams for Takao.
19 May 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
7 June 1939:
Arrives at Mako and later, steams for Sasebo.
17 June 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
4 July 1939:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
8 July 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
1 August 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 August 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
12 August 1939:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day to Takao.
14 August 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Takao.
2 September 1939:
Arrives at Takao. Departs the same day for Mako.
4 September 1939:
Departs Mako, travels along the southern China coast and steams to Sasebo.
11 September 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo.
19 September 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
24 September 1939:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day to Takao.
29 September 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
20 October 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 October 1939:
Captain ((Rear Admiral, posthumously) Nakamaruo Yoshizo (36)(former ComDesDiv 30) is appointed Supervisor.
1 November 1939:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
6 November 1939:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
8 November 1939:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
1 December 1939:
Arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repair and maintenance.
9 January 1940:
Repairs and maintenance are completed. Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
13 January 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
16 January 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Takao.
1 February 1940:
Arrives at Takao and later, steams for Sasebo.
18 February 1940:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
23 February 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day to Takao.
25 February 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Takao.
15 March 1940:
Arrives at Takao. Then steams for Sasebo.
2 April 1940:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
7 April 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
11 April 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
1 May 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 May 1940:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
19 May 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
22 May 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Takao.
9 June 1940:
Arrives at Takao, then steams to Miura Wan (Bay), near Yokosuka.
27 June 1940:
Departs Miura Wan (Bay), travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
2 July 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
5 July 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
17 July 1940:
Arrives at Mako and later, steams for Sasebo.
27 July 1940:
Departs Sasebo. Operates in the Korean area and steams back to Sasebo.
3 August 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo. Then steams to Wan (Bay).
14 August 1940:
Departs Miura Bay, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
19 August 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
24 August 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Takao.
7 September 1940:
Arrives at Takao.
9 September 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Kirun (Keelung).
12 September 1940:
Arrives at Kirun. Departs the same day for Sasebo whe she probably undergoes maintenance.
30 October 1940:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
3 November 1940:
Arrives at Mako.
4 November 1940:
Departs Mako, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Mako.
5 November 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
8 November 1940:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
4 December 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo and later, steams for Koniya, Amami-Oshima, Ryukyus.
23 December 1940:
An unknown officer is appointed Supervisor. Captain Nakamaruo is later appointed CO of HOYO MARU.
26 December 1940:
Departs Koniya, Amami-Oshima. Travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
30 December 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day to Takao.
4 January 1941:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
16 January 1941:
Arrives at Mako.
18 January 1941:
Departs Mako, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Sasebo.
24 January 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
6 February 1941:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
12 February 1941:
Arrives at Mako. Departs the same day for Takao.
17 February 1941:
Departs Takao, travels along the southern China coast and steams back to Takao.
14 March 1941:
Arrives at Takao and departs for Sasebo.
27 March 1941:
Departs Sasebo, operates in the Korean area and steams back to Sasebo.
4 April 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
23 April 1941:
Departs Sasebo, travels along the southern China coast and steams for Mako.
29 April 1941:
Arrives at Mako.
E May 1941:
Departs Mako for southern China.
5 May 1941:
Arrives at southern China.
18 May 1941:
Departs southern China for Takao. Arrives at Takao and departs for Sasebo.
E June 1941:
Departs Sasebo for Korea.
2 June 1941:
Arrives in Korea.
21 June 1941:
Departs Korea for Sasebo.
E July 1941:
Departs Sasebo for southern China.
16 July 1941:
Arrives at southern China.
21 July 1941:
Departs southern China for Takao. Arrives and departs the same day for Mako.
E July 1941:
Departs Mako for southern China.
25 July 1941:
Arrives at southern China.
21 August 1941:
Departs southern China for Yawata, Japan.
5 September 1941:
Arrives at Yawata. Recalled Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Hara Seitaro (35)(former CO of YUBARI) is appointed Supervisor.
E September 1941:
Departs Takao for southern China.
22 September 1941:
Arrives at southern China.
10 October 1941:
Departs southern China to Sasebo. Probably undergoes maintenance and refit.
1 December 1941:
Arrives at the Iki Channel for the start of salvage operations of IJN submarine I-61 accidently sunk in a collision with auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU off Iki on 2 Oct ‘41.
10 December 1941:
Goes to war in her auxiliary transport role, but remains assigned mainly to Rescue and Salvage operations.
23 December 1941:
Tsushima Straits. Arrives at Gonoura harbor (Gonouracho), Iki Island.
30 December 1941:
Departs Gonoura and arrives the same day at Karatsu.
2 January 1942:
Departs Karatsu and arrives the same day at Gonoura.
3 January 1942:
Departs Gonoura and arrives the same day at Sasebo.
1 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Moji.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
4 February 1942:
Departs Moji for Amoy (Xiamen), China.
7 February 1942:
Arrives at Amoy.
8 February 1942:
Departs Amoy for Hong Kong.
9 February 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
24 February 1942:
Departs Hong Kong for Camranh Bay, French Indochina.
27 February 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay. Departs the same day for Fuzhou, China to assist damaged FUKUYO MARU that is taken in tow. Returns after to Camranh Bay.
7 March 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay for Pattani, Siam (Thailand).
9 March 1942:
Arrives at Pattani. Starts salvage operations on 9,305-ton KINKA MARU (A-AK) and 8,811-ton ASOSAN MARU (A-APK). The salvage operations are successful. [2]
25 April 1942:
Departs Pattani for Hong Kong.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
2 May 1942:
NACHISAN MARU is ordered to undergo an overhaul and be fitted with a range finder, supplies and some new visual detection equipment per internal order No. 5289.
23 May 1942:
The overhaul and installation of equipment is completed. Departs Hong Kong for St. Jacques, Indochina.
27 May 1942:
Arrives St. Jacques.
28 May 1942:
Departs St. Jacques and arrives the same day at Saigon.
30 May 1942:
Departs Saigon for Hong Kong for her overhaul period.
20 November 1942:
Recalled Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Captain Ikeda Konosuke (34)(former CO of KONGO) is appointed Supervisor. Captain Hara is posted CO of KIYOSUMI MARU, with additional duty as CO of KIYOKAWA MARU. Overhaul is completed.
22 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong for Moji.
29 November 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
1 December 1942:
Departs Moji for Tamano.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Tamano.
20 December 1942:
Departs Tamano for Kure.
21 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
22 December 1942:
Departs Kure for Sasebo.
24 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 December 1942:
NACHISAN MARU's owner’s business name is changed from Mitsui Bussan K.K. to Mitsui Senpaku K.K. and her registry port is changed from Kobe to Tokyo.
31 December 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Hong Kong.
4 January 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
14 January 1943:
Departs Hong Kong for Batavia (Djakarta), Java (Indonesia).
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Batavia.
22 January 1943:
Departs Batavia for Surabaya.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
14 February 1943:
Departs Surabaya for Batavia.
16 February 1943:
Arrives at Batavia.
22 February 1943:
Departs Batavia for Hong Kong.
7 March 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
13 March 1943:
Departs Hong Kong for Manila.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
24 March 1943:
Departs Manila for Surabaya.
31 March 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
25 April 1943:
Recalled Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Captain Kawagoe Tadamitsu (33) is appointed Supervisor. Captain Ikeda is later posted CO of SHINYO MARU. Later the same day, NACHISAN MARU departs Surabaya for Batavia.
27 April 1943:
Arrives at Batavia.
3 May 1943:
Departs Batavia for Singapore.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 May 1943:
Departs Singapore for Hong Kong.
16 May 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
21 May 1943:
Departs Hong Kong for Manila.
24 May 1943:
Arrives at Manila and departs the same day for Takao.
4 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
6 June 1943:
Departs Takao for Moji in convoy No.269 also consisting of TATSUWA, NITTATSU, HOKUAN MARUs, tanker OGURA MARU No.3 and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
7 June 1943:
The tanker OGURA MARU No.3 collides with auxiliary transport TATSUWA MARU at 24-05N, 122-59E. However, damage is light and both ships resume their course to Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) where they arrive later that day.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
12 June 1943:
Departs Moji for Tama.
13 June 1943:
Arrives at the Tama shipyard for maintenance.
28 June 1943:
Maintenance is completed. Departs Tama for Sasebo.
30 June 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
8 July 1943:
NACHISAN MARU departs Sasebo for Takao and joins convoy No. 173, which departed Moji the day before, consisting of tankers KYOEI MARU No. 2, ZUIYO, and KOSHIN MARUs, ore-carrier GYOKUREI MARU and cargo/transports ASAKA (1909, 4681 GRT), MURORAN, RYUKO, TAIYU, HIROTA and KYOKKO MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA and patrol PB-36.
13 July 1943:
At 0950, the convoy arrives at Takao. NACHISAN MARU departs the same day for Hong Kong.
15 July 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
22 July 1943:
Departs Hong Kong for Manila.
E 26 July 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
1 August 1943:
Departs Manila for Singapore in convoy No.916 with tankers TATSUNO, TACHIBANA and SHOYU MARUs, and transports/cargo NANREI and NISHIYAMA(3016 GRT) (SEIZAN) MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HAYABUSA. At some point SHOYU and TATSUNO MARUs are detached, the latter arriving at Tarakan on 6 August and the former arriving at Balikpapan on 8 August.
7 August 1943:
The convoy (less the detached ships) arrives at Singapore. NACHISAN MARU departs at an unknown date for Takao.
29 September 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
2 October 1943:
Departs Takao for Moji.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
10 October 1943:
Departs Moji for Tama.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at the Tama shipyard and undergoes maintenance.
29 October 1943:
Maintenance is completed. Departs Tama for Sasebo.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 November 1943:
NACHISAN MARU departs Sasebo and joins combined convoy No. 113-MA-07 bound to Takao and Batavia, which departed Moji on the same day. The convoy, also consisting of ARABIA, TAMAHOKO, RYUYO, DAKAR, CHIYO, TOSEI, ANYO, SYDNEY, HIDA, NITTETSU MARUs escorted by destroyer KURETAKE, steams in two columns. (NANEI MARU was detached at Moji after colliding with HOKI MARU while the convoy was assembling). NACHISAN MARU steams for Batavia (Jakarta) and Surabaya via Manila.
13 November 1943:
At 0556, Cdr Robert E. Dornin’s USS TRIGGER (SS-237) makes a submerged approach on the convoy. After the convoy zigs, Dornin finds himself between two columns of ships, but TRIGGER has no torpedoes remaining in her bow tubes. She empties her stern tubes at the last and biggest ship, believed to be a transport, from a pointblank range, 800 yards (730 m). The target, NACHISAN MARU, carrying a large deck cargo, takes two hits: one aft and one under her stack.
About 60 miles SW of Saishu-to. NACHISAN MARU sinks quickly at 32-55N, 125-09E. Dornin takes TRIGGER deep. KURETAKE drops five depth charges that damage TRIGGER slightly. Dornin comes to periscope depth to find the target has sunk.
Captain Kawagoe and all hands (45 crewmen) are KIA. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
19 November 1943:
The remaining ships of the convoy arrive safely at Takao.
5 January 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Author’s Note:
[1] Also known as NACHIZAN MARU.
[2] KINKA and ASOSAN MARUs were part of the Pattani Invasion Unit by MajGen Takumi Hiroshi's 23rd Infantry Brigade. On 13 Dec ‘41, while at anchor, they were torpedoed by Dutch Ltz. I Anton J. Bussemaker's submarine HNMS O-16 and both grounded to prevent sinking. After salvage operations were completed, both ships were temporarily repaired in Hong Kong, then fully repaired in Japan. Repairs were completed in Nov ‘42 for KINKA MARU and Dec ‘42 for ASOSAN MARU.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan for information on I-61 and in Revision 1 and Matthew Jones for information on some COs/Supervisors.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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