YUSOSEN!
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(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of
Japanese Warships")
IJN NICHIEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2000-2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1
4 September 1937:
Kobe. Laid down by Kawasaki Shipbuilding as a 10,018-ton merchant tanker for Nitto Kogyo Kisen, Tokyo.
15 April 1938:
Launched and named NICHIEI MARU.
30 June 1938:
Kobe. Completed.
4 July 1938:
Departs Yokohama for San Francisco.
31 October 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN and registered in the Kure Naval District.
10 November 1941:
Kobe. Begins conversion to a naval auxiliary at
Kawasaki Dockyard.
25 November 1941:
The conversion is completed.
8 December 1941:
Off the Poulo Condore Islands, Indochina. Meets and refuels naval forces.
17 March 1942:
NICHIEI MARU is part of the Malaya Area Fleet Replenishment Force.
23 March 1942: Operation “D” – The Seizure of the Andaman Islands.
Indian Ocean. NICHIEI MARU arrives at the Andaman Islands. Provides
fuel replenishment for naval forces landing troops at Port Blair.
23 March 1942:
Port Blair, Andaman Islands. Seven (later 18)
Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boats
of the Toko Naval Air Squadon arrive from Sabang, Sumatra and begin flying
reconnaissance missions in the Indian Ocean. A week later, several H6Ks fly 700
miles from Port Blair to reconnoiter Ceylon as part of Operation "C".
1 April 1942: Operation "C "– The Raids in
the Indian Ocean:
NICHIEI MARU provides fuel replenishment for Vice
Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) Second Expeditionary Fleet that
conducts raids against merchant shipping in the Bay of Bengal with CruDiv 4's
CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, KUMANO, MIKUMA and MOGAMI, CarDiv 4's light carrier
RYUJO and SubRon 5's light cruiser YURA and destroyers AYANAMI, YUGIRI, ASAGIRI
and SHIOKAZE.
2/3 April 1942:
Port Blair is attacked by two Boeing B-17 "Flying
Fortresses" and a Consolidated LB-30A (British B-24) "Liberator" of the USAAF's
7th Bomb Group from their base in India.
4 April 1942:
NICHIEI MARU departs the Andaman Islands.
30 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
22 May 1942:
Departs Kure.
28 May 1942:Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway:
The Transport Group's Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral)
Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) DesRon 2's light cruiser JINTSU departs
Saipan escorting oiler AKEBONO MARU, transports KIYOSUMI, ZENYO, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AZUMA, KEIYO, GOSHU, KANO, HOKURIKU, KIRISHIMA and NANKAI MARUs and TOA MARU No. 2.
NICHIEI MARU departs Saipan with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Fujita Ruitaro's Seaplane Tender Div 11's CHITOSE and KAMIKAWA MARU. Seaplane Tender Div 11 is to set up a seaplane base at Midway's Kure Island or Eastern Island. NICHIEI MARU, CHITOSE and KAMIKAWA MARU are stationed about 3.5 miles astern of Tanaka's main transport group.
30 May 1942:
CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, MIKUMA, KUMANO and SUZUYA and DesDiv
8's ASASHI and ARASHIO rendezvous with the Transport Group and NICHIEI MARU.
3 June 1942:
The convoy is bombed by nine B-17s. Later, the convoy is
also attacked by torpedo-carrying Consolidated PBY-5 "Catalina" patrol planes
that hit oiler AKEBONO MARU.
6 June 1942:
MOGAMI and MIKUMA, heading for Wake Island, are attacked
by SDB dive-bombers from the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and HORNET (CV-8). MIKUMA is
hit by bombs and sinks. MOGAMI and destroyers ARASHIO and ASASHIO are hit by
bombs and damaged. They rescue MIKUMA's survivors and depart for Truk.
7 June 1942:
NICHIEI MARU refuels collision-damaged MOGAMI using the
stern-to-bow technique.
13 June 1942:
NICHIEI MARU arrives at Truk.
15 June 1942:
Departs Truk.
16 June 1942:
Arrives at Guam.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
7 August 1942: American Operation “Watchtower” – The Invasion of
Guadalcanal, Solomons:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K. Turner's
Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J.
Fletcher’s Task Force 61 and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task
Force 63’s land-based aircraft, lands Maj Gen (later Gen/MOH/Commandant)
Alexander A. Vandergrift’s 1st Marine Division on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu,
Tanambogo and Guadalcanal opening the campaign to take the island.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
11 August 1942:
Departs Kure with the Guadalcanal transport support unit advance force.
17 August 1942:
NW of Truk. About noon, NICHIEI MARU, in convoy with
oiler SHINKOKU MARU, is attacked by LtCdr William S. Stovall's USS GUDGEON
(SS-211) at 07-40N, 151-05E. Both oilers are hit by torpedoes fired in a
submerged attack, but both suffer only light damage. Possibly, one or more of
the Mark-14 torpedoes that hit the oilers was a dud.
28 August 1942:
Truk. Temporary repairs are completed, perhaps by
repair ship AKASHI. Departs Truk with SHINKOKU MARU.
4 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Enters dry dock for repairs.
7 November 1942:
Kure. Repairs are completed.
27 January 1943:
Captain-Ret Okano Ikkan (36) is appointed Supervisor.
E 18 February 1943:
NICHIEI MARU is joined at sea by minesweeper W-16
that escorts her to Balikpapan.
24 February 1943:
Owner's name is restyled as Nitto Kisen.
30 April 1943:
At 1600, arrrives at Truk's north channel escorted by
destroyer HATSUYUKI.
8 May 1943:
At 0600, departs Truk by the north channel.
25 May 1943:
Captain-Ret Okano is appointed Commander.
22 June 1943:
Departs Truk for Rabaul escorted by destroyer MINAZUKI
to offload fuel to fleet oiler NARUTO and then steam to Tarakan and Balikpapan.
18 July 1943:
Departs Kure.
23 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
1 August 1943:
At 0700, departs Tarakan with a cargo of refined oil in
convoy consisting of NICHIEI and KOKUYO MARUs with an unknown escort.
2 August 1943:
At 1800, arrives Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of crude
oil.
18 September 1943:
Departs Truk with the fleet in a sortie to Brown
Island, Eniwetok in response to raids on Tarawa, Makin and Abemama Atolls
launched by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Charles A. Pownall's Task Force
15's USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), PRINCETON (CVL-23) and BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24).
Vice Admiral Ozawa Jizaburo (former CO of HARUNA), in tactical command,
leads the fleet's first section: BatDiv 1's YAMATO and NAGATO, CarDiv 1's
SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, (followed by ZUIHO on 19 Sep '43), CruDiv 5's MYOKO and
HAGURO, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE, light cruisers AGANO, NOSHIRO and
destroyers. Vice Admiral Kurita Takao leads the second section with his Advance
Force of CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI.
21 September 1943:
Arrives at Brown Island.
25 September 1943:
No contact is made with Task Force 15. The fleet
returns to Truk.
6 October 1943:
NICHIEI MARU is attacked and missed by torpedoes from
an unknown submarine at 05-13N, 134-55E. [1]
13 October 1943:
At 1800, arrives at Surabaya.
18 October 1943:
At 1452, departs Surabaya in an unnumbered convoy
consisting of oilers NICHIEI and KENYO MARUs escorted by patrol boat No. 102
(ex-USS STEWART, DD-224).
20 October 1943:
At 1005, arrives at Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of oil.
23 October 1943:
At 0750, departs Balikpapan with a cargo of oil for Truk in a convoy consisting of NICHIEI and KENYO MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-6.
1 November 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Truk in a convoy consisting of
NICHIEI and NISSHO MARUs escorted by destroyer SHIMAKAZE. Enters Truk by the
south channel.
2 November 1943:
NICHIEI and NISSHO MARUs escorted by destroyers
AMATSUKAZE and SHIMAKAZE depart Truk for Rabaul.
10 November 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan in a convoy consisting of tankers
NICHIEI and SHINSHU MARUs (ex cargo) and an unknown ship. Loads a cargo of oil.
17 November 1943:
Departs Tarakan in convoy consisting of oilers
NICHIEI and SHINSHU MARUs and are met enroute to Balikpapan by auxiliary
subchaser CHa-36.
3 November 1943:
CruDivs 4's ATAGO, CHOKAI, MAYA, TAKAO, CruDiv 7's
SUZUYA and MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and MOGAMI and destroyers depart Truk for
Rabaul to attack U.S. forces that landed at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville on
1 November.
4 November 1943:
Enroute, CHOKAI detaches with destroyer SUZUNAMI to
assist oilers NICHIEI and NISSHO MARUs damaged 130 miles W of Kavieng by AIRSOLS
aircraft from Guadalcanal.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
2 December 1943:
At 1700, departs Singapore in unescorted convoy
consisting of oilers NICHIEI, TERUKAWA (ex cargo) and KYOKUTO MARUs.
11 December 1943:
Destroyers SHIMAKAZE and TAMANAMI join the convoy
about longitude 135 degrees E. Later, the convoy stops at Palau.
12 December 1943:
Departs Palau. The same convoy is now numbered 1040.
15 December 1943:
At 1730, arrives Truk.
16 December 1943:
Truk. Refuels destroyer AMAGI.
17 December 1943:
Unloads drummed fuel.
19 December 1943:
Loads food.
20 December 1943:
Loads supplies, clothing and ammunition.
22 December 1943:
Truk. Refuels carriers HIYO and RYUHO that arrive from Palau on aircraft ferry duty.
26 December 1943:
NICHIEI MARU departs Truk for Surabaya, Java in a convoy consisting of oiler KYOKUTO escorted by destroyers UZUKI and AMAGIRI.
29 December 1943:
Destroyer HAYANAMI joins the escort after leaving
Palau.
30 December 1943:
UZUKI and AMAGIRI are detached at 14-00N, 135-00E.
2 January 1944:
HAYANAMI is detached at 130E longitude. Patrol Boat
No. 102 takes over.
6 January 1944:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java.
9 January 1944:
Departs Surabaya for
Balikpapan, Borneo.
12 January 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Takes on a cargo of heavy oil.
17 January 1944:
At 0825, departs Balikpapan in convoy KU-702 consisting of oilers KYOKUTO and NICHIEI MARU, escorted by patrol boat No. 2. KYOKUTO MARU carries 7, 900-tons of fuel oil; NICHIEI MARU carries 10,032-tons of heavy oil..
22 January 1944:
At 1345, destroyers SHIMAKAZE and TAMANAMI join the
convoy at longitude 130 degrees East replacing patrol boat No. 2.
26 January 1944:
At 1030, arrives Truk.
27 January 1944:
Arrives at Truk. Refuels battleship FUSO with 1, 325-tons.
5 February 1944:
At 1600, departs Truk in the "NICHIEI MARU" convoy
consisting of oilers NICHIEI, KYOKUTO and KOKUYO MARUs escorted by destroyers
OITE, SHIMAKAZE and IKAZUCHI.
11 February 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Davao. Refuels SHIMAKAZE with 149-tons of heavy oil..
12 February 1944:
At 1240, departs Davao with only SHIMAKAZE as
escort.
15 February 1944:
At 0907, arrives at Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of oil. Takes on food provisions and embarks 19 passengers.
16 February 1944:
Embarks 30 more passengers.
20 February 1944:
Arrives at Palembang. Dismbarks passengers.
22 February 1944:
Departs Palembang.
24 February 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
11 March 1944:
At 0730, convoy HI-48 departs Singapore consisting of
oilers NICHIEI, KUROSHIO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TATEKAWA, ITSUKUSHIMA and SEIYO
MARUs, transport/cargo liners AWA, SANUKI, TEIA and HOKUROKU MARUs and two
unidentified ships escorted by kaibokans MIYAKE, SHIMUSHU, IKI and ETOROFU.
14 March 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Ban Phong Bay, Indochina.
15 March 1944:
At 1100, departs Ban Phong Bay.
18 March 1944:
At 0114, HOKUROKU MARU is hit by four torpedoes fired
by LtCdr Lowell T. Stone's USS LAPON (SS-260), blows up and sinks taking down 80
crewmen and 248 passengers. TEIA MARU sends off a report of the attack. Later
that day, KASHII MARU joins the convoy.
19 March 1944:
At 0600, kaibokan SHIMUSHU runs aground, but later that
day is refloated. At 1600, the convoy arrives at Takao.
20 March 1944:
At 1300, departs Takao.
25 March 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Moji.
8 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama Fuel Depot.
1 April 1944:
Arrives at Kobe and enters Kawasaki's drydock.
24 April 1944:
Undocked.
1 May 1944:
Departs Kure.
3 May 1944:
At 0445, departs Moji in convoy HI-61 consisting of empty
oilers NICHIEI, TATEKAWA, AZUSA, JINEI, EIYO, AKANE, OTORISAN, SARAWAK and
ASANAGI MARUs and perhaps HAYASUI, and passenger cargo ship MIZUHO MARU escorted
by escort carrier TAIYO, destroyers ASANAGI, HIBIKI and INAZUMA and kaibokans
SADO, KURAHASHI and CD-5, CD-7 and CD-13.
7 May 1944:
JINEI MARU is detached because of engine trouble.
8 May 1944:
About 0615, at 19-19N, 120-00E, LtCdr Victor B. McCrae's
USS HOE (SS-258) attacks the convoy and gets a hit on the AKANE MARU. She is
detached from the convoy and returns to Takao, Formosa for repairs.
9 May 1944: Operation "A-GO" - The Defense of the Marianas.
At 2055,
arrives at Luzon. NICHIEI, TATEKAWA and AZUSA MARUs are detached from the convoy
to participate in the planned "A-GO" operation.
11 May 1944:
At 1625, departs Manila in an unnumbered convoy
consisting of NICHIEI and TATEKAWA MARUs escorted by HIBIKI and INAZUMA and an
unidentifed escort.
14 May 1944:
Tawi Tawi Bay. At about 0300, while patrolling on the
surface, LtCdr Thomas W. Hogan’s USS BONEFISH (SS-223) intercepts a three-tanker
convoy making 14 knots consisting of NICHIEI, TATEKAWA and AZUSA MARUs with
three destroyer escorts. Hogan fires his last five torpedos at the largest
oiler. He claims two hits and a sinking, but, in actuality, none of the oilers
are damaged. At 0420, one of the torpedoes explodes under destroyer INAZUMA and
sinks her. The two remaining destroyers charge and drop twenty heavy depth
charges, but BONEFISH slips away.
15 May 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Loads a cargo of oil.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi.
23 May 1944:
At 0640, departs Tawi Tawi for Davao in a convoy
consisting of NICHIEI, TATEKAWA, KOKUYO and SEIYO MARUs escorted by destroyers
HIBIKI, AKISHIMO and HAMAKAZE.
24 May 1944:
Off Saranagani Islands, Mindinao. In the early afternoon,
lookouts aboard LtCdr Charles H. Andrews' USS GURNARD (SS-254) sight a convoy
they identify as consisting of two oilers, "two cargo ships" and three
destroyers. Andrews fires four torpedoes at an oiler. At 1517, TATEKAWA MARU is
hit by two torpedoes, set ablaze and sinks.
25 May 1944:
At 0200, arrives at Davao.
31 May 1944:
Refuels cruiser HAGURO and destroyers AKISHIMO, SHIRATSUYU and HARUSAME.
5 June 1944:
Refuels cruiser MYOKO.
6 June 1944:
Refuels battleship YAMATO and destroyers AKISHIMO, HAMAKAZE and others.
13 June 1944: Operation “A-GO” - The Defense of the Marianas:
Tokyo.
The CINC, Combined Fleet, Admiral Toyoda Soemu, (former CO of HYUGA), activates
A-GO.
Davao. That same day, battleship FUSO transfers most of her fuel oil to NICHIEI MARU and the 1st Supply Force's oilers SEIYO and KOKUYO MARUs and Navy fleet oiler HAYUSUI.
14 June 1944:
Departs Davao towards Philippine Sea refueling point
with the 1st Supply Force and destroyers HATSUSHIMO, SHIRATSUYU and old destroyer
TSUGA.
15 June 1944:
90 mile SE of Surigao Strait. SEIYO MARU collides with
and sinks SHIRATSUYU.
16 June 1944:
At about 1000, at 11-00N, 130-00E, NICHIEI MARU and the 1st Supply
Force's Naval fleet oiler HAYUSUI and oilers KOKUYO and SEIYO MARUs rendezvous with Vice
Admiral Ugaki Matome's (former CO of HYUGA) aborted Operation "Kon" Task Force's
Bat Div 1's YAMATO, and MUSASHI, Cru Div 5's HAGURO and MYOKO, DesRon 2's light
cruiser NOSHIRO and Des Div 4's OKINAMI, SHIMAKAZE, ASAGUMO, MAIKAZE and
MICHISHIO and DesRon 10's YAMAGUMO and NOWAKI. Ugaki's force is refueled
promptly, then Ugaki's force and the 1st Supply Force head north to join Vice
Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) First Mobile Fleet's Main Body.
At 1650, Ugaki's force and the 1st Supply Force rendezvous with Ozawa.
The 1st Supply Force begins to refuel the Mobile Fleet.
17 June 1944:
NICHIEI MARU refuels cruisers KUMANO and CHOKAI. At 2000, the refueling is completed. At this time, the First Mobile Fleet is at 12-15N, 132-45E. The 1st Supply Force stands by to
rendezvous with the the 2nd Supply Force's oilers GENYO and AZUSA MARUs enroute
from Guimaras. All six oilers then depart the area for a designated standby
point at 14-40N, 134-20E.
20 June 1944: - The
Battle of the Philippine Sea:
NICHIEI MARU is in the 1st Supply Force
with destroyers HIBIKI, YUNAGI, TSUGA and HATSUSHIMA. They are attacked by LtCdr
J. D. Blitch's seven Grumman "Avenger" TBF torpedo-bombers, 12 Curtiss
"Helldiver" SB2C dive-bombers and 16 Grumman "Hellcat" F-6F strafers from Task
Force 58's USS WASP (CV-18).
SEIYO MARU and HAYASUI are hit by bombs. Destroyer YUKIKAZE scuttles
SEIYO MARU. The 2nd Supply Force's oiler GENYO MARU is also damaged by bombs and
later scuttled by destroyer UZUKI. Later that day, NICHIEI MARU departs the area
for Okinawa with the 1st Supply Force.
23 June 1944:
Arrives at Okinawa. Refuels the Mobile Fleet's
destroyers for their return to Japan.
2 July 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Refuels battleship YAMATO. Ten oil barges come alongside
NICHIEI MARU and take on cargoes of fuel oil.
4-16 July 1944:
Transfers fuel to nine other barges. Loads food and provisions. Undergoes repairs to her hull and additional AA machine guns are fitted.
17 July 1944:
Departs Kure.
23 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila. Refuels subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
27 July 1944:
At 0558, departs Manila in the "NICHIEI MARU convoy"
consisting of oilers NICHIEI, OKIGAWA and RYOEI MARUs escorted by DesDiv 30’s
YUZUKI and UZUKI and SATSUKI and kaibokan MANJU.
29 July 1944:
At 1255, a fire breaks out in RYOEI MARU's engine room,
but is successfully extinguished.
1 August 1944:
At 1539 arrives Singapore.
10 August 1944:
At 0800, NICHIEI MARU departs Singapore the "NICHIEI MARU convoy"
consisting of oilers OKIGAWA and RYOEI MARUs escorted by DesDiv 30’s
YUZUKI and UZUKI and SATSUKI and kaibokan MANJU.
11 August 1944:
At 1740, OKIGAWA MARU and SATSUKI are detached and
return to Singapore.
17 August 1944:
At 1350, arrives at Mako and departs at 1750.
21 August 1944:
At 1716, arrives Kure still in convoy. Moves to Hashirajima fleet anchorage.
Refuels light carrier RYUHO.
22 August 1944:
Hashirajima. Refuels battleships HYUGA and FUSO and old destroyer KUWA.
27 August 1944:
Kure. Dry-docked.
2 September 1944:
Undocked.
6 September 1944:
Departs Kure.
8 September 1944:
At 1100, NICHIEI MARU departs Moji in convoy HI-75 consisting of
oilers NICHIEI, RYOEI, YOHO, TOHO (1944 built), SERIA, AMATO and MANEI MARUs and
passenger liner ASAMA MARU, cargo-passenger SAIGON MARU and flying boat tender
AKITSUSHIMA escorted by escort carrier SHINYO and DesDiv 30’s YUZUKI and UZUKI
and frigates KANJU, MIYAKE and MANJU.
12 September 1944:
In the morning, SAIGON MARU, YUZUKI and KANJU are
detached for the China coast. They later rejoin at Takao.
13 September 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Takao. Refuels kaibokan MIYAKE.
14 September 1944:
The convoy is increased by the addition of oilers
FUJISAN MARU (1944), KUROSHIO and TAIHO MARUs, torpedo boat HIYODORI and
kaibokan CD-28. At 1630, the convoy departs Takao. Soon thereafter, AMATO MARU,
and at 1900, YUHO MARU develop engine problems and are detached.
16 September 1944:
At 2330, KANJU, suffering rudder problems, collides
with SERIA MARU, but there is little damage.
17 September 1944:
At 1000, SAIGON MARU and AKITSUSHIMA with escorts
YUZUKI and UZUKI split from the convoy and head for Manila. Enroute, SAIGON MARU
is sunk by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Rueben T. Whitaker's USS FLASHER (SS-249).
18 September 1944:
At 1040, kaibokan KURAHASHI joins the escort.
19 September 1944:
At 1500, AMATO MARU rejoins the convoy.
20 September 1944:
During the day, NICHIEI, KUROSHIO, TAIHO and
FUJISAN MARUs and carrier SHINYO all suffer engine or rudder problems, but the
convoy remains intact.
22 September 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Singapore.
24 September 1944:
Departs Singapore.
25 September 1944:
Arrives at Palembang.
27 September 1944:
Departs Palembang.
28 September 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
2 October 1944:
At 1700, departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-76
consisting of oilers NICHIEI, NICHINAN, RYOEI, FUJISAN, KUROSHIO, TARAKAN and
TOHO MARUs, ex-seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU and cargo ship TEIHOKU MARU. Escort
is provided by escort carrier SHINYO and kaibokans KANJU, MANJU, MIYAKE,
KURAHASHI, CD-28 and torpedo boat HIYODORI.
8 October 1944:
South China Sea. At 0100, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s USS
BECUNA (SS-319) attacks the convoy at 14-12N, 115-53E. Sturr fires four
torpedoes and claims two hits on KIMIKAWA MARU. She is detached from the convoy
and heads for Manila escorted by HIYODORI and CD-28.
11 October 1944:
Arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island. Refuels kaibokan MIYAKE.
16 October 1944:
Yokohama. From the Combined Fleet's headquarters at
Keio University, Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Kusaka Ryunosuke (41)(former CO of
AKAGI) releases a dispatch that assigns NICHIEI MARU to Vice Admiral Kurita
Takeo's (38)(former CO of KONGO) First Striking Force's 1st Supply Force with
oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, YUHO, OMUROSAN, RYOEI and BANEI MARUs, kaibokans CHIBURI,
YURISHIMA, kaibokan CD-19 and CD-27 and minesweeper W-34. Later, IJA oilers
HAKKO and NIPPO MARUs are also assigned to Kurita's force. [7]
17 October 1944:
Early in the morning, RYOEI MARU is ordered to detach
with MANJU and MIYAKE and head for Mako. The same day, the Combined Fleet orders
NICHEI MARU sent to Coron escorted by KURAHASHI.
18 October 1944:
Sana, Hainan Island. Refuels kaibokan CD-32. At 1830, NICHEI MARU, KURAHASHI and CD-25 depart Sana. The escort CO advises the ships to make for Ulugan Bay,
Palawan because Coron is within the range of American land-based aircraft.
22 October 1944:
Arrives at Ulugan Bay, Palawan.
23 October 1944:
Refuels kaibokan KURAHASHI.
24 October 1944:
Departs Ulugan for Coron.
25 October 1944: Operation "SHO-I-GO"(Victory) -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
At 1330, CruDiv 21's ASHIGARA and DesDiv
7's KASUMI and USHIO overtake CruDiv 7's heavily damaged KUMANO limping towards
Coron. At 1630, the group arrives at Coron where they refuel from NICHIEI MARU.
27 October 1944:
Coron. NICHIEI and YUHO MARUs refuel cruiser ASHIGARA and destroyers
AKISHIMO, HAMANAMI, KISHINAMI, URAKAZE and SHIMAKAZE.
28 October 1944:
NICHEI MARU departs Coron for Manila.
E 29 October 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
E 30 October 1944:
Departs Manila for Singapore.
E 1 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 December 1944:
Arrives at Lingga Anchorage.
E 22 December 1944:
Departs Lingga.
24 December 1944:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
3 January 1945:
Departs Singapore for Moji loaded with 13,000 tons
fuel oil and 205 passengers, escorted by kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-17 and CD-19.
6 January 1945:
Gulf of Thailand, 60 miles NE of Kota Bharu, Malaya.
LtCdr Thomas L. Wogan’s USS BESUGO (SS-321), patrolling the mouth of the Gulf,
picks up a target on SJ radar. In a night surface attack, LtCdr Wogan fires six
torpedoes; three strike home and sink NICHIEI MARU at 06-57N, 102-57E. Captain
Okano is KIA. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
25 January 1945:
At 1119, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “From: Acting Commander, NICHIEI MARU. Received a torpedo attack, three fish, and sank in position 06-45N, 102-55E at 2220 on 6 January. Secret documents went down with the ship. Killed: 3 officers, 15 POs, 24 enlisted and 29 others for a total of 71. Survivors 134.”
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
[1] According to COMSUBPAC's Submarine Operations Research
Group's (SORG) reports, the unknown submarine may have been LtCdr George H.
Wales' USS POGY (SS-266) that fired four Mark 14 torpedoes at a 10,00-ton oiler
at 1800 that day at 05-03N, 134-42E without getting a hit.
Thanks for assistance goes to Allan Alsleben of Oregon. Thanks also go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
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