Japanese Auxiliary Oilers

YUSOSEN!

(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN NIPPON MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 1998-2007 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

30 June 1936:
Kobe. Completed as merchant tanker NIPPON MARU by the Kawasaki Dockyard for the Yamashita Kisen (Steamship) K.K. [1]
July 1936-August 1941:
Completes numerous peacetime voyages for her owners to North Sakhalin, Borneo and Los Angeles.
8 August 1941:
Kobe. Undergoes conversion to a Naval Auxiliary Tanker at Kawasaki Heavy Industries shipyard.
7 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
20 September 1941:
Registered (commissioned) in the IJN as a converted merchant transport (oil supply) in the Kure Naval District. Captain Ueda Hironosuke (42) is appointed Supervisor of NIPPON MARU.
15 October 1941:
The conversion is completed.
18 November 1941: - "The Hawaii Operation":
Departs Saeki. Seven oilers are assigned to the Hawaii Operation, but the IJN’s practical experience in refueling at sea is almost nil. Earlier in the month, three refueling exercises were held in Sukumo Bay and the Ariake Sea. That same day, NIPPON MARU refuels destroyer AKIGUMO and other destroyers for training purposes. While enroute to the Kuriles, all units in the carrier formation are refueled ten times.
26 November 1941:
Etorofu Island, Kuriles. NIPPON MARU departs Hitokappu Bay with Captain Niimi Kazutaka's Supply Group No. 2's oilers TOHO and TOEI MARUs and Captain Oto Masano's Supply Group No. 1's oilers KOKUYO, KYOKUTO, KENYO and SHINKOKU MARUs. Provides fuel for Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi's Carrier Striking Force ("Kido Butai") CarDiv 1's AKAGI, KAGA, CarDiv 2's HIRYU and SORYU, CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU and the Support Force.
The Support Force consists of Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's BatDiv 3/1's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's CruDiv 8's TONE, CHIKUMA and Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Omori Sentaro's DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, URAKAZE, TANIKAZE and HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 18's ARARE, KASUMI, KAGERO and SHIRANUHI and CarDiv 5's AKIGUMO and Captain Konishi Kaname's Midway Bombardment Unit's DesDiv 7's SAZANAMI and USHIO and oiler SHIRIYA.
Nagumo's orders from Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku, CINC, Combined Fleet, are that if refueling proves impossible in the stormy winter waters of the Northern Pacific, Nagumo is to detach AGAKI, SORYU and HIRYU and his destroyers and make the attack with only KAGA, SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU that need no refueling.
2 December 1941:
940 miles N of Midway Island. Nagumo’s Force receives the coded signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. It signifies that X-Day hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time).
That same day, the oilers refuel battleships HIEI and KIRISHIMA.
4 December 1941: [2]
N Pacific. Weather conditions worsen. Rough seas cause the Striking Force's destroyers to roll up to 45 degrees. Refueling is cancelled.
5 December 1941: [2]
600 miles N of Oahu, Hawaii. NIPPON MARU provides destroyer AKIGUMO with 10-tons of fuel. At about 1130, after fleet refueling is completed, the 2nd Supply Group's oilers TOHO, NIPPON and TOEI MARUs and destroyer ARARE are detached from the Striking Force and turn towards a designated rendezvous point with the carriers for the retrurn trip to Japan.
6 December 1941: [2]
400 miles N of Oahu, Hawaii. At 0810, after refueling the Carrier Force, the 1st Supply Group's oilers SHINKOKU, KENYO, KOKUYO and KYOKUTO MARUs and destroyer KASUMI are detached and turn towards a designated rendezvous point with the carriers for the retrurn trip to Japan. The Striking Force increases speed to 24 knots and proceeds to Hawaiian waters to launch the attack.
Vice Admiral Nagumo dispatches ABUKUMA and DesDiv 17's TANIKAZE to Supply Group No. 1 at the rendezvous point following final refueling before the attack. At about 2100, the two warships reach the oilers, refuel and return with the oilers to the First Air Fleet.
7 December 1941: Operation "Z" - The Attack on Pearl Harbor: [2]
At 0618, the Carrier Striking Force launches attacks that later sink battleships USS ARIZONA (BB-39), OKLAHOMA (BB-37) and CALIFORNIA (BB-44) and damage NEVADA (BB-36), PENNSLYVANIA (BB-38), TENNESSEE (BB-43), MARYLAND (BB-46), WEST VIRGINIA (BB-49) and other smaller ships. 2,335 American servicemen die in the attack, most on ARIZONA. After recovering all but 29 of its aircraft lost in the attack, the Striking Force departs Hawaiian waters NNW towards Japan.
21 December 1941:
The 2nd Supply Group's oilers NIPPON, TOHO and TOEI MARUs rendezvous with, and refuel, the Striking Force. That same day, seven destroyers of DesDiv 21 and DesDiv 27 from Tokoyama rendezvous with the 1st Air Fleet to provide additional ASW protection.
23 December 1941:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
7 January 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
23 January 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
28 January 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
15 February 1942:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
16 February 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
24 March 1942:
Departs Mako.
27 March 1942: Operation “C” – The Raids into the Indian Ocean:
Departs Staring Bay with Supply Group No. 1’s oilers KENYO, KOKUYU, KYOKUTO, SHINKOKU and TOEI MARUs with Vice Admiral Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force's AKAGI, CarDiv 2, CarDiv 5, BatDiv 3, CruDiv 8, DesRon 1 plus destroyers ARARE, KAGERO, MAIKAZE, HAGIKAZE, AKIGUMO and Supply Group No. 2's oiler KYOEI MARU. After air attacks on British naval bases at Columbo and Trincomalee, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), departs the Indian Ocean Area.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
26 May 1942:
Arrives at Hiroshima Bay.
29 May-5 June 1942: Operation “MI” – The Battle of Midway:
Departs Hashirajima with Captain Ota's Supply Group No. 1’s oilers KOKUYO MARU, KYOKUTO MARU, KENYO MARU, SHINKOKU MARU in the Carrier Striking Force: CarDivs 1 and 2, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's Support Group: CruDiv 8, BatDiv 3/2's HARUNA, KIRISHIMA, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Susumu's DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA with DesDiv 4's NOWAKI, ARASHIO, HAGIKAZE and MAIKAZE, DesDiv 10's KAZAGUMO, YUGUMO and MAKIGUMO and DesDiv 17's URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE and HAMIKAZE.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
4 July 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
10 July 1942:
Assigned to the Northern Area Naval Forces.
14 July 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
16 July 1942:
Arrives ats Hiroshima Wan.
7 August 1942: American Operation “Watchtower” – The Invasion of Guadalcanal, British 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 retake the island.
8 August 1942:
Departs Mergui, Burma with oiler KYOKUTO MARU, destroyers SHIKINAMI and URANAMI via Makassar, Celebes and Tarakan, Borneo to load oil, then joins the fleet N of the Solomons.
22-28 August 1942: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons:
Departs Truk to join the fleet with destroyers MINEGUMO and URANAMI.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
7 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
10 November 1942:
Captain Ueda is relieved as supervisor of NIPPON MARU by an unknown Captain.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
12 May 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
24 May 1943:
Arrives at Hiro.
28 May 1943:
Departs Hiro.
3 June 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
7 July 1943: Operation “KE” - The Evacuation of Kiska.
NIPPON MARU departs Paramushiro, Kuriles with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's Evacuation Task Force's light cruisers TAMA and ABUKUMA, DesDiv 10's YUGUMO, KAZAGUMO and AKIGUMO, light cruiser KISO, DesRon 9's ASAGUMO and USUGUMO, DesDiv 6's HIBIKI, Guard Unit No. 1's DesDiv 21's WAKABA and HATSUSHIMO, DesDiv 32's NAGANAMI, Guard Unit No. 2 DesDiv 11's SHIMAKAZE, DesDiv 27's SAMIDARE, Supply Force's converted cruiser AWATA MARU and kaikoban KUNASHIRI.
18 July 1943:
The mission is aborted due to weather. Returns to Paramushiro.
22 July 1943:
Departs Paramushiro. Refuels the Evacuation Task Force on the second run to Kiska.
29 July 1943:
The evacuation is successful.
1 August 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro with destroyer HATSUSHIMO.
3 August 1943:
Departs Paramushiro for Maizuru with destroyer NAGANAMI.
7 August 1943:
Arrives at Maizaru.
8 August 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
13 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
9 September 1943:
At 0630, arrives at Truk South Channel escorted by WAKAZUKI.
30 September 1943:
Departs Truk. [2]
8 October 1943:
Departs Tarakan in a convoy consisting of NIPPON and TOA MARUs escorted by subchaser CH-5.
9 October 1943:
At 1700, arrives Balikpapan.
15 October 1943:
Recalled Captain-Ret Takehara Kuichiro (35) assumes command.
26 October 1943:
Arrives at Truk in a convoy consisting of NIPPON and TOA MARUs.
30 October 1943:
Departs Truk in a convoy consisting of NIPPON and TOA MARUs escorted some of the way by destroyer SHIMAKAZE.
6 November 1943:
Arrives in convoy at Tarakan..
8 November 1943:
At 0900, departs Tarakan in an unnumbered convoy consisting of the NIPPON and TOA MARUs escorted by destroyer HIBIKI.
9 November 1943:
At about 0122, LtCdr Edward S. Hutchison's USS RASHER (SS-269) attacks the convoy. At 1,500 yards, Hutchison fires four torpedoes at TOA MARU in a submerged attack made at 00-34N, 118-59E. Hutchinson is not sure if he gets a hit and claims possible damage. In fact, one torpedo runs deep and passes under TOA MARU without exploding; another hits but is a dud. NIPPON and TOA MARUs proceed to Balikpapan, Borneo arriving at 1700 that day.
14 November 1943:
At 1700, departs Balikpapan for Truk in an unnumbered convoy with oilers SHINKOKU, NIPPON and NANPO MARUs escorted by destroyers HIBIKI and HAMAKAZE.
20 November 1943: American Operation “Galvanic” – The Invasion of the Gilberts:
Forces under Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Raymond A. Spruance, Commander, Central Pacific, invade Tarawa and Makin Islands. The invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13 battleships and 11 carriers.
21 November 1943:
At 0530, arrives at Truk.
24 November 1943:
Departs Truk for the Marshalls with cruisers SUZUYA, KUMANO and CHOKAI screened by destroyers HATSUZUKI, SUZUTSUKI, HAMAKAZE, FUJINAMI and HAYANAMI in response to the invasion of Tarawa.
25 November 1943:
In a further response to the invasion of Tarawa, NIPPON and TOA MARUs Refueling Group departs Truk for the Marshalls escorted by DesDiv 4’s YAMAGUMO, MAIKAZE and NOWAKI and DesDiv 10's AKIGUMO. At 1231, N of Ponape, LtCdr Melvin H. Dry's SEARAVEN (SS-196) torpedoes and sinks TOA MARU. AKIGUMO rescues survivors, then returns to Truk.
29 November 1943:
Marshall Islands. Alerted by an "Ultra" signal, in a submerged attack at about noon, LtCdr Robert H. Rice in PADDLE (SS-263) fires five torpedoes at NIPPON MARU at 11-30N, 162-15E. Rice and his crew hear and claim two hits, but they are most probably duds. Captain Takehara reports NIPPON MARU sustained no damage in the attack.
4 December 1943:
Departs Kwajalein with destroyers MAIKAZE and NOWAKI as escorts.
7 December 1943:
Departs Truk for Balikpapan.
14 December 1943:
Arrives at Palau escorted by destroyer HAYANAMI.
23 December 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy 2516 consisting of fast oilers NIPPON and KENYO MARUs with destroyers HAYANAMI and WAKATAKE as escorts.
25 December 1943:
At dawn, HAYANAMI is detached.
28 December 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan.
8 January 1944:
After taking on oil, departs Balikpapan for Palau at 1700 escorted by destroyers SHIMAKAZE and HAYANAMI and by patrol boat No. 102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) at the start of the journey.
14 January 1944:
Departs Palau for Truk in convoy with oiler KENYO MARU, another oiler and a destroyer. NIPPON MARU is carrying three companies comprised of 80 IJN Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops and about 50 Army civilians. Joins destroyers SAZANAMI and AKEBONO that sortie from Rabaul.
180 miles S of Sorol Island. At about 1300, the convoy is sighted by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Norvell G. Ward's USS GUARDFISH (SS-217). Ward sets up on a destroyer, but is unable to shoot. SAZANAMI spots LtCdr James W. Blanchard's ALBACORE (SS-218) and makes for her at high speed. Blanchard fires four stern torpedoes at the charging destroyer. Two hit and sink SAZANAMI at 05-30N, 141-34E. Nearby, Ward's GUARDFISH takes a periscopic photograph of SAZANAMI sinking.
AKEBONO attacks ALBACORE and drops 59 depth charges. While the destroyer is occupied with ALBACORE, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Walter G. Ebert's SCAMP (SS-277) attacks NIPPON MARU. At 1256, Ebert gets hits with two of six torpedoes he fires in a submerged attack. One torpedo hits the aft engine room and one amidships. Fire breaks out and NIPPON MARU burns, then sinks in just two minute at 05-02N, 140-50E. She goes down with 10,200-tons of heavy oil and 2,000 drums of aviation fuel. Of the 80 SNLF aboard, 27 are killed as are 16 crewmen including the CO, Captain Takehara. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:
[1] NIPPON MARU was also known as NIHON MARU by various sources.
[2] Data from an unconfirmed General Intelligence comment indicate NIPPON MARU may have been at Singapore on 30 Sep '43.
Thanks for assistance goes to Sander Kingsepp of Estonia and Allan Alsleben of Oregon.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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