RIKUGUN HAITOSEN!
(Type 1TM Standard Tanker underway)
IJN NICHIRIN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
©2011-2013 Bob Hackett
Revision 1
1941:
Yokohama. Laid down at Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K., as a 5,163-ton Standard Type 1TM tanker for Showa Yusosen, K. K., Tokyo.
E 1942:
Launched and named NICHIRIN MARU.
December 1942:
Completed and requisitioned by the Japanese Government's Senpaku Uneikai civilian wartime shipping authority.
Chartered to the Imperial Army with a civilian crew.
15 June 1943:
At 0650, NICHIRIN MARU departs Sasebo in convoy No. 166 consisting of oilers GOYO, TACHIBANA, KIYO, HAKKO, CHIYODA, CHIHAYA MARUs and transports CEYLON, NORFOLK, SHOGEN, TAIAN and ISUZU MARUs. escorted by patrol
boat PB-36.
18 June 1943:
At 1000, TAIAN MARU is detached for Kirun (Keelung), Formosa.
20 June 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Takao, Formosa.
10 August 1943:
At 1400, NICHIRIN MARU departs Moji in convoy No. 185 consisting of tankers TACHIBANA, TONAN, YAMAMIZU and SAN RAMON MARUs passenger-cargo ships KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON) and GINYO MARUs, cargo ship ASUKA MARUs and four unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan SADO.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
13 February 1944:
At 1600, NICHIRIN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-40 consisting of tankers NAMPO, KOKUEI, ICHIYO, NANEI and ASAMA MARUs escorted by kaibokan SHIMUSHU.
19 February 1944:
South China Sea, 300 miles W of Luzon. At 0550, Captain (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Thomas M. Dykers’ USS JACK (SS-259) attacks HI-40. Dykers torpedoes and sinks NANEI and KOKUEI MARUs at 14-34N, 114-11E,
NICHIRIN MARU at 15-40N, 115-48E and ICHIYO MARU at 15-46N, 115-57E.
48 of NICHIRIN MARU’s crewmen are KIA.
Author's Note:
Thanks go to Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett
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