Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

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

IJN OGURA MARU No. 2:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1

11 June 1930:
Nagasaki. Laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a 7, 311-ton tanker for Ogura Sekiyu K. K. (Petroleum Corporation), Yokohama.
9 December 1930:
Launched and named OGURA MARU No. 2.[1]
17 February 1931:
Completed.
1931-1941:
In Ogura Petroleum Corporation’s service.
1 June 1941:
The Japanese government merges Ogura Petroleum Corporation with Nippon Oil K. K., Tokyo. Port of registry is changed from Yokohama to Tokyo.
22 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
6 April 1942:
Departs Kure.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 May 1942:
DepartsYokohama.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
8 June 1942:
Departs Takao.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Kudaren [2]
5 August 1942:
Departs Kudaren.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
23 August 1942:
Departs Mako.
19 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
27 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
31 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
2 November 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
8 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
18 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
26 November 1942:
Departs Palau.
3 December 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java.
5 December 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo. Loads oil.
17 December 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
21 December 1942:
OGURA MARU No. 2 arrives at Palembang, Sumatra and loads 6,000 tons of crude oil for the IJA.
23 December 1942:
Departs Palembang.
25 December 1942:
Arrives at Singapore. Loads 4,000 tons crude oil for the IJN.
28 Dececember 1942:
Departs Singapore.
18 February 1943:
Arrives at Kudamatsu.
23 February 1943:
Departs Kudamatsu. Later that day, arrives at Kure.
26 February 1943:
Departs Kure.
1 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
11 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
18 April 1943:
Arrives at Niigata.
28 April 1943:
Departs Niigata.
1 May 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
3 May 1943:
Departs Kobe.
5 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
30 May 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
4 June 1943:
Departs Mutsure.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
10 June 1943:
Departs Mako.
E 19 June 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs St Jacques, Indochina in a convoy consisting of WAKO GO and tanker RIKKO MARU with an unknown escort.
22 June 1943:
Near Singapore, OGURA MARU No. 2 is detached from the convoy. At 1600, she arrives at Palembang.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
13 July 1943:
Departs Takao.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Amagasaki.
25 July 1943:
Kobe. Undergoes conversion and repairs at Mitsubishi.
1 August 1943:
The conversion completed. OGURA MARU No. 2 is manned by an IJN crew.
15 October 1943 :
Departs Kobe for Singapore.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
26 November 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Takao in convoy No. 222 consisting of HAKONE, AKITSU, HAWAII, NITTASU, SHUNKO, HOTEN and ROKKO MARUs and tanker SEINAN MARU escorted by torpedo boat TOMOZURU.
27 November 1943:
SE of Foochow, China. Three 14th Air Force B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers attack the convoy and sink HAKONE MARU. 17 December 1943 US Aspro attacks the convoy in 23.59N 124.42E and Sarawak and Tenei Marus are both lightly damaged by torpedoes.
3 December 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
5 December 1943:
Arrives at Kudamatsu.
9 December 1943:
Departs Kudamatsu. Later that day, arrives at Tokuyama.
12 December 1943:
Departs Tokuyama.
E 14 December 1943:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Moji in an unidentified convoy consisting of oilers SARAWAK and TENEI MARUs, FUSHIMI MARU No. 3, and cargo ships BATAVIA, NICHIREI and HIROTA MARUs and eight other unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE and minesweeper W-33. [1]
17 December 1943:
S of the Ryukyus. At 2226, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson’s USS ASPRO (SS-309) torpedoes and damages SARAWAK MARU at 24-10, 124-40E. About the same time, ASPRO torpedoes and damages TENEI MARU at the same place. SHIOKAZE counterattacks, but ASPRO evades and escapes. TENEI MARU setttles by the bow, but is towed away by an unindentifed cargo ship.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
22 December 1943:
Departs Takao. 25 December 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
3 January 1944:
Miri, Borneo. OGURA MARU No. 2 suffers engine breakdown.
5 January 1944:
At 1800, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri for Manila in a convoy with tanker FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 escorted by torpedo boat TOMOZURU.
7 January 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri, Borneo for Manila in a convoy consisting of tanker FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 escorted by torpedo boat TOMOZURU and subchaser CH-46.
SW of Palawan Island. At 2200, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr Herbert L. Juke's USS KINGFISH (SS-234). In a radar-assisted attack, Jukes hits FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 with two of four torpedoes. FUSHIMI MARU No. 3 sinks at 09-27N, 117-36E. TOMOZURU commences an antisubmarine sweep while CH-46 escorts OGURA MARU No. 2 out of the area.
11 January 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
20 January 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Manila in convoy No. 883 consisting of MIIKESAN MARU escorted by subchaser CH-24.
24 January 1944 :
Arrives at Takao.
26 January 1944:
Departs Takao.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
9 February 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Tomie, Goto Retto in convoy MOTA-09 consisting of tanker SAN LUIS MARU, liner TEIRITSU MARU and cargo ships MATSUE, DAIZEN, TAKETOYO, HAMBURG, KYOKUZAN, MURORAN, BATOPAHAT, CHUYO, BUNZAN, TAIYU and SHOEI MARUs and HINO MARU No. 1 escorted by second-class destroyer WAKATAKE.
E 10 February 1944:
Patrol boat PB-38 joins the escort of MOTA-09.
11 February 1944:
CHUYO MARU develops engine trouble and falls behind. At 0950, PB-38 is detached to find her, but is unsuccessful and later rejoins the convoy.
13 February 1944:
At 1844, an enemy submarine is detected at 25-58N, 121-34E. The escorts drop 50 depth charges and drive it off.
14 February 1944:
PB-38 detects another enemy submarine and drives it off by dropping three depth charges.
15 February 1944:
At 1845, arrives at Takao.
1 May 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 in convoy MI-03 consisting of cargo ships SHOHEI, NIKKO, ETAJIMA, DAIJUN, SHINNO, TOUN, KANKYO and TAISEI MARUs and tankers CHIYODA, KOTOKU and SHUNTEN MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 and possibly cargo ship KENWA MARU and six other unidentified ships escorted by second-class destroyer KARUKAYA, torpedo boat HATO, auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU and other unidentified warships.
E 7 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao and later departs port for Manila.
8 May 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 is removed from the Navy List and returned to her owners.
E 9 May 1944:
Kaibokan KURAHASHI probably joins the escort.
10 May 1944:
150 miles NW of Manila, Luzon. Cdr (later Rear Admiral) James C. Dempsey's USS COD (SS-224) attacks convoy MI-03. At 0647, Dempsey torpedoes and sinks destroyer KARUKAYA at 15-47N, 119-32E. Dempsey then torpedoes and sinks transport SHOHEI MARU.
13 June 1944:
As a result of a restructure, OGURA MARU No. 2 is transferred to new owners Nippon Yusosen K.K. (NYK).
20 June 1944:
At 1900, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Singapore for Miri in convoy SHIMI-04 consisting of MATSUMOTO, NICHINAN, NANSEI, ZUIHO and KOTOKU MARUs and another ship also named NICHINAN MARU escorted by minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary minesweepers KIKU MARU and CHOUN MARU No. 6.
24 June 1944:
At 1145, arrives at Miri.
27 June 1944:
At 1650, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-06 consisting of YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, NICHINAN, MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, NANSEI, ATAGO, ZUIHO and BAIEI MARUs and ankers KOTOKU, TOKUWA MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 escorted by kaibokan CD-14, patrol boat PB-38 and minesweeper W-18. At an unknown point, tanker CERAM MARU joined the convoy.
E 1 July 1944:
W-18 is detached from the convoy.
2 July 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs convoy MI-06 departs Manila now consisting of tankers ATAGO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA and ZUIHO MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 5, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and OGURA MARU No. 2 and transports TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO, YAGI and probably PACIFIC and MURORAN MARUs. escorted by CD-14, Patrol Boat No.38, Minesweeper W18.
10 July 1944:
OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Takao in convoy MI-06 now consisting of tankers ATAGO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA and ZUIHO MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 5, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and transports TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO and YAGI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-8 and CD-14, patrol boat P-38, auxiliary patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and minesweeper W-18.
17 July 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Moji.
26 July 1944:
At 0600, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Imari Bay in convoy MI-13 consisting of tankers SHINCHO, TEIKON, TOKUWA, KYOEI and ATAGO MARUs and cargo ships HIYORI, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, URAL, SHIROTAE, KOKUSEI, CHINA, HIGANE, MATSUURA, RISSHUN and ATLAS MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and CD-14, minesweeper W-18, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU, patrol boat No. 38 and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs.
31 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao. SHIROTAE, CHINA and MATSUURAs are detached. Tankers SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs, cargo ship SHINKO MARU and Naval Transport T. 3 join the convoy. Auxiliary patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU are detached from the escort and replaced by destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokan KUSAGAKI and YASHIRO.
4 August 1944:
At 0830, the reconstituted convoy departs Takao.
7 August 1944:
At 2205, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskin's USS GUITARRO (SS-363) torpedoes and sinks kaibokan KUSAGAKI at 14-50N, 119-57E.
8 August 1944:
At 0900, the convoy arrives at Manila. DURBAN, KIZAN, RISSHUN, KUNIYAMA, SHINKO and ATLAS MARUs are detached. SHOEI MARU joins the convoy. All of the escorts are detached except CD-14, patrol boat P-38 and subchasers CH-30 and CH-33.
11 August 1944:
At 2100, the convoy departs Manila for Miri.
12 August 1944:
At 0730, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s USS PUFFER (SS-268) attacks the convoy. Selby torpedoes and damages SHINPO MARU. She is taken under tow by SHOEI and KYOEI MARUs and beached, then abandoned. Selby torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU. CD-14 and patrol boat P-38 counter-attack with 37 depth charges, but PUFFER slips away unscathed.
18 August 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Miri.
29 August 1944:
At 0830, OGURA MARU No. 2 departs Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-14 consisting of tankers ATAGO and TOKUWA MARUs and cargo ships KENSEI, IIDA, JUZAN, CHUKA and SURAKARUTA MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-14, subchaser CH-20 and patrol boat P-38.
5 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila. The convoy is reformed to consist of OGURA MARU No. 2 and tankers ATAGO and TOKUWA MARUs and TOKUSHIMA, ENOSHIMA, MIHO, KENSEI and KEISHU MARUs with the same escorts.
9 September 1944:
At 1600, departs Manila. Enroute north, the convoy is joined by minesweepers W-38 and W-39.
16 September 1944:
At 0440, departs Basco Bay, Batan Island, Philippines.
Bashi Channel. At 1355, TOKUSHIMA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho‘s USS PICUDA (SS-382) at 21-57N, 121-35E. TOKUSHIMA MARU’s explosion damages nearby oiler OGURA MARU No. 2.
OGURA MARU No. 2 stops for repairs, but at 1515, she is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Louis D. McGregor's USS REDFISH (SS-395) at 21-42N, 121-41E.

Author's Notes:
[1] The kanji for Ogura is the same as for Kokura. Kokura, near Moji on the Shimonoseki Straits, has long been an oil tank farm location. It is possible that although western records, almost without exception, record the name as Ogura, that the correct name may be Kokura.

[2] Unknown location. Could be kanji error for Mutsure.
[3] According to an Ultra report, two unidentified convoys crossed at 24-10N, 124-40E consisting of the ships listed. Exactly which ships belonged to which convoy is unknown.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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