YUSOSEN!

(NISSHIN MARU in peacetime )

IJN NISSHIN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2009-2021 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

Revision 8


26 February 1936:
Kobe. Laid down by Kawasaki Zosensho K.K. as a 16,764-ton whaling factory ship for Taiyo Hogei K.K., the whaling division of Hayashikane Shoten, later Taiyo Gyogyo (now Maruha) K.K. The design is based on Norwegian factory ship SIR JAMES CLARK ROSS.

1 August 1936:
Launched and named NISSHIN MARU.

28 September 1936:
Completed and registered at Tokyo with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of respectively 16,764-tons and 13,350-tons. Her Call sign is JGFL. [1]

7 October 1936:
Taiyo Hogei K.K. receives a ‘Mothership type whale’ fishery approval certificate No. 1 for the period 3 October 1936 till 31 May 1937. Operating area is the ocean south of the 40° latitude. 8 fishing ships of more than 200-tons are attached to the NISSHIN MARU.

Departs Kobe for Fremantle, Australia and then the Southern Ocean.

13 November 1936:
Antarctic. NISSHIN MARU begins a four month whaling expedition, killing more than 1,000 whales, including 807 blue whales.

1937:
NISSHIN MARU is transferred to direct ownership of Hayashikane Shoten K.K.

4 September 1937:
Taiyo Hogei K.K. receives a ‘Mothership type whale’ fishery approval certificate No. 1 for the period 24 September 1937 till 31 May 1938. Operating area is the ocean south of the 40° latitude. 9 fishing ships of more than 200-tons are attached to the NISSHIN MARU.

27 September 1937:
Departs Kobe for the Southern Ocean.

22 September 1938:
Taiyo Hogei K.K. receives a ‘Mothership type whale’ fishery approval certificate No. 1 for the period 22 September 1938 till 31 May 1939. Operating area is the ocean south of the 40° latitude. 9 fishing ships of more than 200-tons are attached to the NISSHIN MARU.

21 October 1938:
Taiyo Hogei K.K. receives a new ‘Mothership type whale’ fishery approval certificate No. 1 for the period 22 September 1938 till 31 May 1939. Operating area is the ocean south of the 40° latitude. 10 fishing ships of more than 200-tons are attached to the NISSHIN MARU.

1938:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 16,738-tons and 13,228-tons. Whaling in the Southern Ocean. [1]

1940:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 16,801-tons and 13,220-tons. Whaling in the Southern Ocean. [1]

22 February 1941:
Antarctic Ocean. German Rear Admiral Robert Eyssen’s Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) Schiff 45 KOMET is looking for the Anglo-Norwegian whaling fleets, but his radio operator hears only Japanese traffic. Commerce Raider KOMET discovers a Japanese whaler and later, NISSHIN MARU and factory ship TONAN MARU No. 2. Eyssen learns from the Captain of TONAN MARU No. 2 that his potential targets are operating further west.

18 August 1941:
Arrives at Moji.

14 November 1941:
Her owners receive a requisition notice under instruction No. 1370.

25 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN as an Ippan Choyosen (General Requisitioned oil transport Ship) attached to the Department of the Navy.

2 December 1941:
Arrives at Minamitorishima (Marcus Island).

2 ~ 12 December 1941:
Transports 1304-tons of munitions and 1,192 personnel.

12 December 1941:
Arrives at Iwo Jima, Bonins. Departs later this day.

13 December 1941:
Arrives at Hahajima, Bonins. Departs later that day and arrives at Chichijima, Bonins later this same day.

17 December 1941:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

17 ~ 24 December 1941:
Assigned to transport munitions to the South Sea under instruction No. 848.

24 December 1941:
Departs Yokosuka for Kure.

29 December 1941:
Departs Kure.

30 December 1941:
Departs Osaka.

4 January 1942:
Arrives at Palau.

10 January 1942:
Departs Palau.

14 January 1942:
Arrives at Truk, Carolines.

16 January 1942:
Departs Truk.

18 January 1942:
Arrives at Ponape, Carolines. Departs later that day.

21 January 1942:
Arrives at Imieji, Jaluit, Marshalls.

22 January 1942:
Departs Imieji.

23 January 1942:
Arrives at Taroa, Maloelap, Marshalls. Departs later this day.

24 January 1942:
Arrives at Wotje, Marshalls.

26 January 1942:
Departs Wotje.

27 January 1942:
Arrives at Roi, Marshalls.

29 January 1942:
Departs Roi and arrives at Kwajalein, Marshalls later that day.

31 January 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.

8 February 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

8 ~ 12 February 1942:
Loads munitions under Transport instruction No. 220.

12 February 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

14 February 1942:
Arrives at Otoroshima (Wake).

17 February 1942:
Departs Otoroshima.

18 February 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.

19 February 1942:
Departs Osaka.

21 February 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.

24 February 1942:
Departs Tokyo.

8 March 1942:
Arrives at Otorishima.

10 March 1942:
Departs Otorishima.

13 March 1942:
Arrives at Wotje.

15 March 1942:
Departs Wotje.

16 March 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.

17 March 1942:
Departs Kwajalein.

21 March 1942:
Arrives at Truk.

22 March 1942:
Departs Truk.

26 March 1942:
Arrives at Palau.

28 March 1942:
Departs Palau.

4 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

4 ~ 6 April 1942:
Assigned to transport munitions and personnel under Transport instruction No. 712.

6 April 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

8 April 1942:
Arrives at Kanogawa.

11 April 1942:
Southwest of Shionomisaki. At 1327, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral ) Frank W. Fenno’s (USNA ’25) USS TROUT (SS-202) fires three torpedoes at NISSHIN MARU. He gets one hit that probably damages her at 33-26N, 135-38N. NISSHIN MARU escapes seaward at full speed.

13 April 1942:
Departs Shortland, Bougainville, Solomons ( now Papua New Guinea).

14 April 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, Australia (now Papua New Guinea).

15 April 1942:
Departs Rabaul.

21 April 1942:
Arrives at Truk.

Late April - early May 1942:
Probably undergoes battle-damage repairs at an unknown location, possibly Truk.

10 May 1942:
At Rabaul. Supplies minelayer OKINOSHIMA with heavy oil.

Fourth Fleet order No. 435:
Assigned to supply the auxiliary oilers TOHO and HOYO MARUs. The outbound route is Rabaul to Shortland. Subchaser CH-20 will escort in stead of minesweeper W-20 which needs to return to Rabaul rapidly. When returning to Rabaul a part of the ‘MO’invasion unit will escort.

Departs Rabaul later this day.

12 May 1942:
Arrives at Shortland escorted by destroyer OITE.

6th Squadron instruction No. 168:
1 After supplying TOHO MARU in Shortland and HOYO MARU in Queen Carola harbor, Buka, Solomons depart to Rabaul.
2 OITE escorts NISSHIN MARU until it arrives at Rabaul, thereafter should join the main corps. 6th Squadron instruction No. 170:
The NISSHIN MARU’s supply area for the HOYO MARU changes to Shortland.

At 0900 begins supplying 8,200-tons of heavy oil to the TOHO MARU.

13 May 1942:
At 0500 completes supplying 8,200-tons heavy oil to the TOHO MARU. Departs Shortland later that day.

14 May 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

15 May 1942:
Departs Rabaul.

20 May 1942:
At 1200 meets up with auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU that has departed Rabaul a few days before.

21 May 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Truk.

31 May 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.

2 June 1942:
Departs Osaka.

3 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

E 4 June 1942:
Departs Hesaki in convoy also consisting of auxiliary oiler TATEKAWA MARU and cargo ships KYUSHU and KAISHO MARUs.

5 June 1942:
Departs Kure and passes through the Bungo Suido.

15 June 1942:
Arrives at Truk.

24 June 1942:
At Truk refuels heavy cruiser KAKO.

25 June 1942:
Departs Truk for Kure.

3 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.

12 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo.

15 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.

17 July 1942:
Departs Yokohama.

18 July 1942:
At 1000 NISSHIN MARU and NISSHIN MARU No. 2 departs Yokosuka, the former for Mako, Pescadores escorted by destroyer HATSUKAZE and OBORO.

19 July 1942:
At 1900 at 31.00N 137.00E destroyer HATSUKAZE detaches. At an unknown date and place NISSHIN MARU No. 2 is detached for Rabaul. OBORO continues to escort NISSHIN MARU.

E 23 July 1942:
Arrives at Mako (now Magong, Penghu Islands, Taiwan).

26 July 1942:
At 0700 departs Mako in Toku Convoy also consisting of CANBERRA MARU escorted by destroyer MINAZUKI.

27 July 1942:
Navy (Resv) Okamoto Kantaro is appointed Commanding Officer.

29 July 1942:
Arrives at Manila.

3 August 1942:
Arrives at Macassar, Celebes, Netherlands Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).

6 August 1942:
Departs Macassar.

7 August 1942:
Arrives at Pomala (Pomalaa), Celebes, Netherlands Indies (now Sulawesi, Indonesia).

12 August 1942:
Departs Pomala.

13 August 1942:
Arrives at Macassar.

16 August 1942:
Departs Macassar.

21 August 1942:
Arrives at Miri, Borneo,British Malaya, (now Malaysia).

27 August 1942:
Departs Miri.

29 August 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.

6 September 1942:
Departs Singapore.

14 September 1942:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung), Taiwan.

16 September 1942:
Departs Kirun.

21 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

22 September 1942:
Departs Kure.

24 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.

7 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

12 October 1942:
Departs Kure.

13 October 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.

14 October 1942:
Departs Osaka.

16 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

17 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.

27 October 1942:
In waters off Truk destroyer ASANAGI meets up with NISSHIN MARU and briefly escorts the vessel.

28 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.

1 November 1942:
Departs Truk for Shortland in convoy with OGURA MARU No. 3 and Naval oiler NARUTO escorted by destroyer YUZUKI.

4 November 1942:
At 01-00S 152-35E YUZUKI is detached.

6 November 1942:
Arrives at Shortland.

8 November 1942:
From 1125 at Shortland OGURA MARU No. 3 and NISSHIN MARU refuel destroyers of 31 DG, 24 DG and 10 DG. Destroyers AKIGUMO and MINEGUMO are not present.

9 November 1942:
Departs Shortland likely escorted by the submarine chaser CH-16.

11 November 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

12 November 1942:
Fleet oiler TSURUMI comes alongside. NISSHIN MARU transfers 2,300t heavy oil to TSURUMI.

14 November 1942:
At 1600 departs Rabaul for Truk likely escorted by submarine chaser CH-16.

20 November 1942:
Arrives at Truk. Soon after submarine I-175 is damaged in a collision with NISSHIN MARU at Eten Island South Anchorage. I-175 is run aground to avoid sinking.

21 November 1942:
Departs Truk with tanker OMUROSAN MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU.

22 November 1942:
In western Carolines near 10 nautical miles of Yoripikku (Eauripik Atoll), Namonuito Islands, CHOUN MARU is detached.

27 November 1942:
Departs Manila escorted by auxiliary gunboat KISO MARU. The gunboat later is detached to carry out a submarine sweep on the west side of Palawan Island.

2 December 1942:
Arrives at Miri.

6 December 1942:
Departs Miri.

21 December 1942:
At 1200, arrives at Yokohama.

25 December 1942:
Enters Asano dock. Undergoes collision repairs and other maintenance.

21 January 1943:
Departs Yokohama and arrives Yokosuka later that day.

22 January 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorted by patrol boat PB-31. At 1600 off the coast of Sunosaki subchaser CH-33 joins the escort. Near the 33 degree north latitude patrol boat PB-31 ends the escort.

23 January 1943:
At 0030 near the 34 degree north latitude in stormy weather looses contact with CH-33.

2 February 1943:
Arrives at Miri. Probably loads fuel oil. Departs later that day.

3 February 1943:
Arrives at Victoria, Labuan, British Borneo (now Malaysia).

6 February 1943:
Departs Victoria and arrives at Miri later this day.

7 February 1943:
Off Miri, Borneo. At 1510 (Hawaii time), from 5,000 yards LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH) Lawson P. Ramage’s (USNA ’31) submerged USS TROUT (SS-202) fires two torpedoes at NISSHIN MARU that is anchored at 04-41N, 114-52E, well within the five fathom curve at Miri. At 1513, USS TROUT battle surfaces, but NISSHIN MARU opens fire with a deck gun and scores two near-misses on the submarine. Ramage crash dives. At 1517, one explosion is heard. Ramage sees smoke over NISSHIN MARU’s stern through his periscope as he takes USS TROUT to deeper water and safety.

20 February 1943:
At 1500 departs Miri escorted by minesweeper W-7.

24 February 1943:
At 1620 arrives at Singapore.

24 February ~ 30 November 1943:
Undergoes battle-damage repairs at Seletar, Singapore.

March 1943:
The company is restyled as Nishi Taiyo Gyogyo K.K.

23 August 1943:
Scheduled to be relaeased to her owners on 31 August 1943 under release notice instruction No. 18-8-37.

21 December 1943:
Released to her owners. Requisitioned again the same day as a Navy transport ship attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.

21 ~ 27 December 1943:
Loads 20,500 kiloliters of crude oil.

27 December 1943:
At 0900 departs Singapore in convoy No. 646 escorted by Auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU. There may have been other ships in the convoy.

30 December 1943:
At 1830, arrives at St. Jacques.

5 February 1944:
Arrives at Shimotsu.

5 February ~ 11 February 1944:
Offloads 20,500 kiloliters of crude oil.

11 February 1944:
Departs Shimotsu and later that day arrives at Osaka.

12 ~ 22 February 1944:
Undergoes repairs at Kawasaki Jukogyo K.K.

21 February 1944:
Rated as the 37th Navy designated ship.

22 February 1944:
Departs Osaka.

24 February 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.

24 February ~ 2 March 1944:
Loads about 3,000-tons of large foreign munitions and embarks 300 passengers.

2 March 1944:
Departs Sasebo.

4 March 1944:
At Kagoshima NISSHIN MARU joins Convoy MOTA-05 that had previously being devastated by submarine attack. The convoy, by now consisting of NISSHIN MARU and one unidentified merchant ship joins convoy MOTA-07 consisting of TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA), YAMAHAGI, KONSAN, CHIYODA, SUGIYAMA, KENSEI, SARAWAK, HAKUROKU (HAKUSHIKA), RIKKO, ATAGO, NITTATSU, and KUNIKAWA MARUs escorted by the destroyer AMAGIRI and minesweeper W-30. Additional escorts in the form of the old destroyer ASAGAO and minelayer MAESHIMA also join. The ships depart Kagoshima.

7 March 1944:
HAKUROKU MARU suffers engine problems and straggles but at 1620 rejoins the convoy.

8 March 1944:
NITTATSU MARU straggles but at 0700 rejoins convoy. Off northern Formosa TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA) and YAMAHAGI MARUs are detached.

9 March 1944:
At 0700, having detached from convoy joins minesweeper W-30. At 1000 joins convoy MOTA-07. At 1440 arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).

16 March 1944:
Departs Takao in convoy TASA-10 also consisting of SARAWAK, HIOKI, YASUKUNI, KENSEI MARUs, HISHI MARU No.3 and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by the auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU.

20 March 1944:
HIOKI and YASUKUNI MARUs are detached for Yulin, Hainan Island, China.

21 March 1944:
Arrives Camranh Bay, French Indochina (now Vinh Cam Ranh, Vietnam).

22 March 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay.

23 March 1944:
At 1000 arrives Cap St Jacques, French Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).

27 March 1944:
Departs St Jacques in convoy SASHI-14 also consisting of TATEISHI, ZUISHO and TSURUSHIMA MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU. TATEISHI MARU was towing the damaged kaibokan TSUSHIMA.

31 March 1944:
Near Singapore the salvage tug KURUSHIMA (Ex CHRISTINE MOLLER) takes over the tow. Later that day the convoy arrives at Singapore.

1 April 1944:
NISSHIN MARU arrives at Singapore.

1 ~ 19 April 1944:
Offloads about 3,000-tons of large foreign munitions and disembarks 300 passengers. Loads 2,000 kiloliters of heavy oil and embarks 250 passengers.

19 April 1944:
Departs Singapore in convoy SHISA-17 also consisting of auxiliary collier/oiler KORYU MARU carrying a cargo of 1,000-tons of coal, 1,300-tons of gasoline and 1,600-tons of heavy oil, auxiliary transport NAGATA MARU carrying 101 passengers and a cargo of 3,110-tons of nickel ore as well as 117 articles of entrusted private property, IJA oiler YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3 carrying a full cargo of light and heavy oils and IJA transport LONDON MARU loaded with 400 troops, 1,000-tons of mixed goods and 7,500-tons of bauxite escorted by subchaser CH-9.

22 April 1944:
Off Cape St. Jacques. At 1945, seven B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers of the 14th Air Force's 308th Bomb Group make a low-level attack on anchored convoy SHISHA-17. The B-24s sink NAGATA MARU with the loss of seven crewmen, 19 soldiers and 27 passengers, KORYU MARU taking down 43 crewmen and 38 soldiers, LONDON MARU with the loss of one crewman and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3 taking down 18 crewmen. They also slightly damage NISSHIN MARU. One B-24 is damaged. Only CH-9 escapes without damage.

E 23 ~ 30 April 1944:
Offloads 360-tons of heavy oil and embarks 41 passengers.

1 May 1944:
At 0825 patrol boat PB-38 joins and begins escorting.

2 May 1944:
Arrives at Miri.

4 May 1944:
NISSHIN MARU departs Miri in convoy MI-02 (return journey) consisting of tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, SANKO (YAMAKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), TENSHIN, NISSHIN, SHINCHO and MATSUMOTO MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and OGURA MARU No.1, cargo ships KENSEI, TAIHEI, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU escorted by kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI and patrol boat PB-38. At 2100, the convoy anchors in Imuruan Bay, Palawan, Philippines. Patrol boat PB-38 patrols the Bay mouth.

5 May 1944:
At 0530, departs Imuruan Bay.

6 May 1944:
SW of Balabac Island, Philippines. At 0801, LtCdr (later Captain) Francis D. Walker's (USNA’35) USS CREVALLE (SS-291) fires torpedoes at the largest ship in the convoy, NISSHIN MARU. Three hit aft and heavy flooding begins. At 0810, she sinks at 07-19N, 116-52E. 15 crewmen are KIA but the fate of her 291 passengers is unknown. The escorts counter-attack and drop 13 DCs, but without success.


Authors' Notes:

[1] NRT is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). It is calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's gross register tonnage (GRT). Net register tonnage (NRT) is not a measure of the weight of the ship or its cargo, and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement.

Some years ago, the wreck of NISSHIN MARU was discovered laying on its side.

Thanks for assistance goes to Sander Kingsepp of Estonia. Photo credit and thanks for further assistance goes to Gilbert Casse of France and Berend van der Wal of Netherlands. Thanks also go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.


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