YUSOSEN!
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(Oiler by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings
of Japanese Warships")
IJN OTOWASAN MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1
1935:
Tamano. Laid down at Mitsui’s shipyard as a 9,205-ton tanker for Mitsui Bussan K.K., Kobe.
E 1936:
Launched and named OTOWASAN MARU.
31 March 1936:
Completed and placed in service with Mitsui Bussan Kaisha. Her maiden voyage is to Los Angeles' San Pedro oil terminal to load and transport oil for Japan's stockpile at Tokuyama Navy oil depot.
28 July 1941:
Arrives at San Pedro to load oil, but two days prior to her arrival, the United States places an embargo on oil exports to Japan to counter Japanese aggression in Asia. OTOWASAN MARU returns to Japan in ballast.
December 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJA. Arrives in SE Asia. Transports crude oil from Palembang, Sumatra to Singapore.
24 August 1942:
W of Luzon, Philippines. LtCdr Leonard S. Mewhinney's USS SAURY (SS-189) torpedoes and severely damages OTOWASAN MARU at 14-15N, 120-19E. She loses power and goes dead in the water.
September 1942:
Undergoes repairs at an unknown location.
17 July 1943:
OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore in the "L" convoy with transport KIYOKAWA MARU escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU.
23 July 1943:
At about 1240, arrives at Takao, Formosa.
26 July 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
3 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
4 August 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
8 August 1943:
Departs Kobe.
9 August 1943:
Arrives at Mutsure Island.
28 September 1943:
At 1900, OTOWASAN MARU departs Cap St Jacques for Moji in convoy HI-10 consisting of ASAMA MARU and tankers MIRI and TATEKAWA MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA.
6 October 1943:
Convoy HI-10 is amalgamated with convoy MA-06 (composition unknown).
9 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
December 1943:
Released from IJA service and returned to commercial service by her owners. Under charter to the IJN, OTOWASAN MARU continues transporting oil from Singapore for the Tokuyama Navy oil depot.
20 January 1944:
At 1200, OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-37 consisting of tankers AMATSU and OMINESAN MARUs, passenger-cargo ships MIIKE and NOTO MARUs and troop transports KIBITSU and MAYASAN MARUs and an unidentified ship escorted by kaibokan MIYAKE and KANJU.
29 January 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Singapore.
2 February 1944:
At 1300, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy HI-38 consisting of fleet oiler ASHIZURI and tankers AMATSU, OMINESAN, NICHINAN and OKIKAWA MARUs, transports KAGU and KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON) escorted by kaibokan KANJU.
8 February 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Takao.
9 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
13 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji at 1430.
21 February 1944:
At 0700, OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji in convoy HI-47 consisting of oilers AMATSU, OMINESAN and KYOKUHO MARUs and NOSHIRO MARU and five unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU and SADO.
26 February 1944:
At 0850, the convoy arrives at Takao.
27 February 1944:
At midnight, the convoy departs Takao, its number swelled by five unidentified merchants and kaibokan IKI.
28 February 1944:
Kaibokan SADO is detached from the convoy and returns to Takao
4 March 1944:
South China Sea, about 300 miles W. of Miri, Borneo. At dawn, LtCdr Charles M. Henderson's USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) torpedoes and sinks OMINESAN MARU in shallow water at 05-29N, 108-46E.
5 March 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
11 March 1944:
At 0730, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-48 consisting of tankers OMUROSAN, TATEKAWA, ITSUKUSHIMA, SEIYO, NICHIEI and KUROSHIO MARUs, transport/cargo liners AWA, SANUKI, TEIA and HUKUROKU MARUs and two unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan MIYAKE, SHIMUSHU and IKI.
14 March 1944:
Gulf of Thailand. SANUKI MARU is damaged by a mine or torpedo. The damage causes her to drop out of the convoy on the coast. At 1700, ETOROFU arrives at Van Phong Bay, French Indochina.
15 March 1944:
At 1100, departs Van Phong Bay.
18 March 1944:
At 0114, HUKUROKU MARU is hit by three torpedoes fired by LtCdr Lowell T. Stone's USS LAPON (SS-260). One hit causes an induced explosion. HUKUROKU MARU sinks with 6,700-tons of bauxite and 600-tons of crude oil at 19-24N, 116-50E. Later that day, KASHII MARU joins the convoy.
19 March 1944:
At 0600, kaibokan SHIMUSHU runs aground, but is refloated later that day. At 1600, the convoy arrives at Takao.
20 March 1944:
At 1300, departs Takao.
25 March 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Moji.
1 April 1944:
OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-57 consisting of tankers ITSUKUSHIMA, OMUROSAN and RYOEI MARUs, troop transports SHINSHU and MAYASAN MARUs and three unidentified ships (probably tankers SHINCHO and ZUIHO MARUS and one other) escorted by escort carrier KAIYO, kaibokan IKI, SHIMUSHU, CD-8, CD-9 and torpedo boat SAGI.
2 April 1944:
The convoy encounters extremely severe weather and returns to Moji.
3 April 1944:
At 0600, the unchanged convoy departs Moji.
7 April 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Takao.
8 April 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
12 April 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Camranh Bay.
13 April 1944:
At 1200, departs Camranh Bay.
16 April 1944:
At 1240, arrives at Singapore.
21 April 1944:
At 0700, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-58 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, RYOEI, OMUROSAN and probably ZUIHO MARUs, troop transport SHINSHU MARU and MAYASAN MARUs escorted by escort carrier KAIYO and kaibokan IKI, SHIMUSHU, CD-8 and CD-9.
24 April 1944:
E of Saigon. USS ROBALO (SS-273) under LtCdr Manning M. Kimmel (son of Admiral H. E. Kimmel, former CINCPACFLT at Pearl Harbor) attempts to attack the convoy, but is sighted by a Nakajima B5N2 "Kate” of the 931st NAG detachment from KAIYO. The B5N2 drops one 250-kg depth-charge on the submerged submarine and causes medium damage.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
3 May 1944:
HI-58 arrives at Moji.
13 May 1944:
At 0400, OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-63 consisting of cargo liners/transports SANUKI, AWA, TEIA, TAMATSU, KIBITSU, USSURI and NISSHO MARUs, tankers KYOKUHO, SANYO and RYOEI and OTOWASAN MARUs escorted by kaibokans IKI, MATSUWA, CD-9 and CD-15. SANUKI MARU and the other transports except TAMATSU, KIBITSU and NISSHO MARUs carry troops bound for Burma.
18 May 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Manila. TAMATSU, KIBITSU and NISSHO MARUs are detached.
20 May 1944:
At 2000, the remaining eight ships in HI-63 depart Manila with the same escort.
24 May 1944:
LtCdr James W. Davis' USS RATON (SS-270) attacks the convoy. In a series of attacks, Davis torpedoes and sinks kaibokan IKI and lightly damages MATSUWA at 01-17N 107-53E. The rest of HI-63 escapes unscathed.
27 May 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Singapore.
6 June 1944:
At 0730, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy HI-64 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships (probably tankers EIYO, NIYO MARUs and transport TEIA MARU escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and CD-9.
15 June 1944:
At 0600, arrives at Moji.
13 July 1944:
At 1600, OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-69 consisting of escort carriers KAIYO and TAIYO, each loaded with aircraft for Luzon, tankers KOEI, HAKKO, OMUROSAN, KUROSHIO, HARIMA, SERIA, TENEI MARUs and transports KIMIKAWA, AKI, ASAMA, SAIGON, KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON), MANKO MARUs and possibly MANJU MARU escorted by escort carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan CHIBURI, SADO, CD-7 and CD-17. SHINYO's aircraft conduct patrols.
18 July 1944:
Near Takao, Formosa. About 0600, LtCdr John J. Flachsenhar's USS ROCK (SS-274) fires four torpedoes at HARIMA MARU, but misses. Cdr Alan Banister's USS SAWFISH (USS 276) fires nine torpedoes at the convoy. HARIMA MARU is hit by a single torpedo, but she remains able to steam. At 1055, LtCdr Roger M. Keithy's USS TILEFISH (SS-307) torpedoes and heavily damages CD-17. The convoy continues to Manila without stopping at Takao as originally planned (less MANKO MARU detached the day before and damaged HARIMA MARU and CD-17 that put into Takao).
20 July 1944:
At 2100, arrives at Manila. KAIYO and TAIYO begin unloading aircraft.
24 July 1944:
At 0530, OTOWASAN MARU departs Manila for Singapore in convoy HI-69 that now consists of KIMIKAWA, HAKKO, OMUROSAN, KUROSHIO, SERIA, KACHIDOKI and TENEI MARUs escorted by escort carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan SADO, CHIBURI, CD-7, CD-9, CD-13 and CD-19.
31 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 August 1944:
At 2100, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-70 consisting of oilers SERIA, KUROSHIO, OMUROSAN and HAKKO MARUs and MANJU, KINUGASA, ARIMASAN MARUs screened by SHINYO, KASHII, destroyer SHIMOTSUKI and kaibokan CHIBURI, SADO, CD-13 and CD-19.
12 August 1944:
SADO is detached to hunt an enemy submarine.
16 August 1944:
Arrives at Yokoshima.
21 August 1944:
Departs Yokoshima.
15 August 1944:
HI-70 arrives at Moji at 1430.
25 August 1944:
OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-73 consisting of transport/cargo liner KIBITSU MARU, ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU, ex-seaplane tenders KAGU and SANUKI MARUs, tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN, HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and KUROSHIO MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO escorted by escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-1,CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
Later that day, the convoy is joined briefly by transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs and tanker MANEI MARU.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered away because of excessive smoke. CD-1 also detaches for Sasebo. MANEI MARU remains at Kyushu because of engine problems.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. Departs that same day and arrives at Tsoying (near Takao).
1 September 1944:
Off Saei. The convoy splits. KIBITSU, GOKOKU and KAGU MARUs (and probably IRAKO) head for Manila. The remaining ships head for Singapore.
3 September 1944:
TOA MARU strikes a mine S of Saigon and is lightly damaged, but able to continue.
6 September 1944:
At 0954, arrives at Seletar, Singapore.
11 September 1944:
OTOWASAN MARU departs Seletar for Moji in convoy HI-74 consisting of tankers AZUSA, HARIMA, OMUROSAN and HAKKO MARUs escorted by escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII (F) and kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
16 September 1944:
At 2231, OMUROSAN MARU is hit by a torpedo fired by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's USS QUEENFISH (SS-393). At 2334, oiler AZUSA MARU is hit by two of a salvo of six bow torpedoes fired by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B. Fluckey's BARB (SS-220). AZUSA MARU blows up and sinks with all hands. UNYO is hit by other torpedoes in Fluckey's salvo and settles aft.
17 September 1944:
At 0755, UNYO sinks by the stern at 19-10N, 116-35E. More than 900 crewmen and passengers are lost as are 48 aircraft.
18 September 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
23 September 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
1 October 1944:
At 0800, OTOWASAN MARU departs Moji for Singapore in convoy HI-77 consisting oilers OMUROSAN, ARITA, ITSUKUSHIMA, AKANE, TAIHO and KAIHO MARUs, transports MANJU (ex-SANTOS) and KINUGASA and ORYOKU MARUs, German submarine supply ship QUITO (KITO-GO) and an unidentified vessel escorted by kaibokan CHIBURI and CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
5 October 1944:
Arrives at Takao. Before departing later the same day, HI-77’s escort is bolstered by inclusion of kaibokan ETOROFU and SHONAN.
6 October 1944:
250 miles W of Manila. After patrolling the Luzon Strait, a wolfpack consisting of LtCdr Arnold H. Holtz’s USS BAYA (SS-318), LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s BECUNA (SS-319) and LtCdr Francis W. Scanland, Jr’s HAWKBILL (SS-366) heads through the South China Sea towards Fremantle, Australia.
About 1400, LtCdr James B. Grady's USS WHALE (SS-239) torpedoes and sinks oiler AKANE MARU. At 1757, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles W. Wilkins' SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and sinks CD-21.
7 October 1944:
At about 2200, KINUGASA MARU is hit by three more torpedoes. At 2224, HAWKBILL, running on the surface, fires four torpedoes and gets three hits followed by an ammo explosion. LtCdr Holtz’s BAYA also torpedoes and sinks KINUGASA MARU.
12 October 1944:
At 1500, the remainder of HI-77 arrives at Singapore.
20 October 1944:
At 1800, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy HI-78 consisting of tankers TOHO and ARITA MARUs escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU and SHONAN.
22 October 1944:
Kaibokan TSUSHIMA joins the escort.
27 October 1944:
The convoy is attacked by USAAF aircraft at 20-42N, 114-36E, but they are beaten off without loss.
3 November 1944:
Arrives at Iwakuni.
6 November 1944:
Departs Iwakuni.
6 November 1944:
Arrives at Ujina.
9 November 1944:
Departs Ujina.
10 November 1944
Arrives at Moji.
13 November 1944:
OTOWASAN MARU departs Imari Bay for Singapore in convoy HI-81 consisting of SHINSHU, KIBITSU, AKITSU, ARITA, HASHIDATE, KIYOKAWA, MAYASAN, MIRII and TOA MARUs escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU (F), TSUSHIMA, DAITO, KUME, SHONAN, CD-9 and CD-61 and escort destroyer KASHI. The convoy stops overnight at Goto Island.
15 November 1944:
Departs Goto Island. Escort carrier SHINYO takes up position at the rear of the center of three columns of vessels. At 1156, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) torpedoes and sinks AKITSU MARU with the loss of over 2,000 aboard. SHINYO's planes attempt to locate and destroy the submarine, but fail to find her.
16 November 1944:
Off Korea. The convoy anchors near Strange Island and shelters there.
17 November 1944:
At 0800, convoy HI-81 departs for the Shushan Islands near Shanghai. At 1815, USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoed and sinks MAYASAN MARU with the loss 3,482 crew and troops of the IJA’s 23rd Division. At 2309, LtCdr Gordon W. Underwood’s USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) torpedoes and sinks escort carrier SHINYO. Escort destroyer KASHI counterattacks the submarine with uncertain results.
18 November 1944:
At 0315, kaibokan TSUSHIMA attacks a submarine with fifteen depth-charges. At 1600, the convoy arrives at an anchorage E of Shanghai.
21 November 1944:
The convoy departs for Mako, Pescadores.
23 November 1944:
Formosa Strait. The convoy anchors in the Nanjih Channel. Kaibokan CD-61 joins escort.
24 November 1944:
At 0730, departs the Nanjih area.
25 November 1944:
CD-61 is detached from the convoy.
26 November 1944:
Arrives at Mako. CD-9 joins the escort.
27 November 1944:
At 1600, convoy HI-81 departs Mako for Singapore. It now consists of OTOWASAN, ARITA, HASHIDATE and TOA MARUs escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU (F), KUME, CD-9 and CD-61 and escort destroyer KASHI.
4 December 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 December 1944:
At 1600, OTOWASAN MARU departs Singapore in convoy HI-82 consisting of tankers OMUROSAN, ARITA, PALEMBANG and HASHIDATE MARUs escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, SHONAN, KUME, CD-9 and CD-19. OTOWASAN MARU carries a cargo of gasoline.
17 December 1944:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
19 December 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay.
22 December 1944:
25 miles E of Quang Ngai, Indo-China. At 0550, LtCdr George W. Grider's USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN and ARITA MARUs. All three tankers burst into flames. At 0550, after being hit amidships by two torpedoes, OTOWASAN MARU sinks at 15-02N, 109-08E. Captain Murotsu Masaichi, 61 seamen and 153 passengers are KIA.
OMUROSAN and ARITA MARUs also sink.
Authors’ Note:
[1] HI-31 was the first carrier escorted convoy.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
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