Japanese Auxiliary Seaplane Tenders

TOKUSETSU SUIJOKI-BOKAN!

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

IJN Seaplane Tender SAGARA MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 1998-2004 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, Allan Alsleben and Peter Cundall

23 June 1939:
Yokohama. The SAGARA MARU is laid down as a cargo liner by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for the Nihon Yusen Co. (Japanese Mailboat Co.)
23 March 1940:
Launched and named the SAGARA MARU.
12 November 1940:
Yokohama. Completed. The SAGARA MARU is assigned to NYK's Seattle route.
11 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
20 September 1941:
The SAGARA MARU completes conversion and is registered (commissioned) in the Yokosuka Naval District as a converted seaplane tender. Recalled Captain Kohashi Yoshiaki is the Commanding Officer.
The SAGARA MARU’s aircraft complement is six Type 0 Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” two-seat float reconnaissance biplanes with two Type 95 Kawanishi E8N2 “Dave” two-seat float reconnaissance biplanes in reserve. Her aircraft code is “UVI-xx” and her call sign is JNPO.
1 October 1941:
Attached to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
31 October 1941:
Yokohama. At Mitsubishi's shipyard for installation of equipment.
26 November 1941:
Departs Samah, Hainan Island.
5 December 1941: Operation “E” – The Invasion of Malaya:
Camranh Bay, Chochin China (Vietnam). The SAGARA MARU is administratively attached to the Southern Area Fleet, 9th Base Force with the light cruiser KASHII, but tactically attached to the 12th Seaplane Tender Division under Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Imamura Osamu (former CO of NOTORO).
6 December 1941:
Departs Saigon. Makes a rendezvous with the invasion convoy S of Cape Camau.
8 December 1941:
The SAGARA MARU participates in the invasion of the Malay Peninsula.
10 December 1941:
The SAGARA MARU provides air cover for the landings at Bandon and Nakhorn, Siam (Thailand).
11 December 1941:
Departs for Camranh Bay.
13 December 1941:
Departs Camranh.
16 December 1941:
Arrives off Singora and Patani, Siam at night. The SAGARA MARU provides air cover for the second invasion echelon.
27 December 1941:
Returns to Camranh Bay.
31 December 1942:
Departs Camranh.
8 January 1942:
Arrives off Patani. Provides air cover for the third invasion echelon.
9 January 1942:
Arrives off Singora. Provides air cover for the third invasion echelon.
20 January 1942:
Off Singora/Patani. Provides air cover with the tender KAMIKAWA MARU for a convoy of 11 transports from Camranh Bay carrying troops of the IJA's 18th Infantry Division.
1 February 1942:
E of Malaya, Near Anambas Island. An F1M2 Pete from the SAGARA MARU encounters two flying boats. The Pete’s pilot claims one flying boat as a probable.
10 February 1942:
The SAGARA MARU is attached to the 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet. The code for her aircraft is changed to “O-xx.”
11 February 1942:
The SAGARA MARU, as a unit of the Advance Force, departs Camranh Bay with other units of the 9th Base Force.
14 February 1942:
Bangka Island. The SAGARA MARU anchors off Muntok and begins air operations.
16 February 1942:
The SAGARA MARU and the KAMIKAWA MARU leave a detachment of F1M2 scouts at Bangka Island to operate from Muntok.
Sumatra. Moesi River. In the late afternoon, two of the SAGARA MARU's detachment of F1M2 Petes intercept Lockeed "Hudson" light bombers of the RAAF's 8 Squadron from Palembang over the IJN invasion ships. During their attack, one of the two F1M2s is shot down.
17 February 1942:
Both units return to Camranh Bay for replenishment.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
9 March 1942: Operation "T" - The Invasion of Northern Sumatra:
At 1000, the SAGARA MARU and the main elements of the Northern Sumatra Invasion Force depart Seletar, Singapore. This force consists of the CHOKAI (flagship), CruDiv 7’s MOGAMI, MIKUMA, KUMANO and the SUZUYA, DesDivs 11 and 12. The Invasion Force heads for the waters south of Great Nicobar Island.
10 March 1942:
Reassigned to the First Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
11 March 1942:
Departs Penang.
12 March 1942:
Provides air cover for troop landings at Kutaradja and Sabang, Sumatra.
March 1942: Operation “D” – The Seizure of the Andaman Islands.
The SAGARA MARU provides air cover and operates E of the Nicobar's.
4 April 1942:
Provides air support for the Burma operation.
9 April 1942:
Arrives at Penang.
10 April 1942:
Departs Penang for Singapore.
18 April 1942:
Captain (Retired) Matsuhara Masata (35) (former CO of NOTORO) is posted as the Commanding Officer.
3 May 1942:
At Penang. Assists in the construction of a seaplane base.
5 June 1942:
Arrives at Singapore. Drydocked. Undergoes repairs.
26 June 1942:
Seletar Naval Base, Singapore. The SAGARA MARU wears a “dazzle” type of camouflage.
1 July 1942:
Departs Singapore. Arrives at Penang the same day.
14 July 1942:
Assigned to the Malaya Area Fleet. The SAGARA MARU’s aircrafts' tail code is changed to “UVII-xx”.
24 July 1942:
Loads 700-tons of heavy oil in preparation for operations.
1 August 1942:
At Palembang, Sumatra.
20 September 1942:
In the Malacca Strait. Conducts flight training.
November 1942:
The SAGARA MARU's aircrafts' tail code is changed to “P1-xx.”
November 1942:
Departs Singapore:
1 December 1942:
Rerated as a converted transport (Miscellaneous) and attached to the Navy Ministry Supply Force at Yokosuka.
6 December 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Loads part of an air defense unit.
11 December 1942:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk, Rabaul and Shortland.
31 December 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo. Loads 1,073 men of the IJA’s 20th Infantry Division.
9 January 1943: Operation “C” (HINOE-GO) – The Reinforcement of New Guinea:
Departs Pusan, Korea on a troop transport mission with Rear Admiral Kishi Fukuji's flagship light cruiser KITAKAMI and OI, auxiliary cruisers AIKOKU MARU and GOKOKU MARU, submarine tender YASUKUNI MARU, ex-seaplane tender SANUKI MARU, ex-auxillary HAKOZAKI MARU, ex-gunboats SHINKYO MARU and JUSAN MARU, transport ARATAMA MARU and the destroyers HATSUYUKI and SHIKANAMI. Transport group "HINOE-GO No. 1" carries the IJA’s 20th Infantry Division.
The convoy's ships sail in three echelons at different times. The SAGARA and SANUKI MARUs sail as the 1st unit escorted by KITAKAMI and OI, both of which also embark troops. These ships sail separately from the others.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
16 January 1943:
Departs Palau.
19 January 1943:
Arrives at Wewak, New Guinea. Disembarks troops.
20 January 1943:
Wewak. Attacked by four B-24's of the 90th Bomb Group, but they are driven off by A6M "Zekes" from the JUNYO's fighter squadron flown into Wewak to provide close protection. Two B-24's are damaged. Later that day, the SAGARA MARU departs for Palau.
30 January 1943:
Captain (Retired) Kanda Yoshio is posted as the Commanding Officer. Captain Matsuhara is posted to the Yokosuka Naval District.
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Tsingtao, China. Embarks the IJA’s 41st Infantry Division.
4 February 1943:
Departs Tsingtao with Transport group "HINOE-GO No. 3". The transport group is divided into four units with the 1st unit again consisting of SAGARA and SANUKI MARUs escorted by the KITAKAMI and OI.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
17 February 1943:
Departs Palau escorted by the KITAKAMI and OI and destroyers YUGUMO and KAZAGUMO.
20 February 1943:
Arrives at Wewak. Disembarks troops.
21 February 1943:
Departs Wewak.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
28 February 1943:
Departs Palau.
4 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
30 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama.
18 April 1943:
Sasebo Navy Yard. Completes the installation of equipment.
19 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
26 May 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
28 May 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
26 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
11 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai.
14 June 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
22 June 1943:
Departs Kobe for Yokosuka carrying raw cotton, and a total of 700-tons of sundry goods.
23 June 1943:
Off Mikomoto Island, SE of Cape Omae Zaki lighthouse, Honshu. Cdr (MOH posthumously) Samuel L. Dealy’s USS HARDER (SS-257) picks up a large ship on her SJ radar. Dealy makes a submerged approach. At 0350 (JST), while the destroyer SAWAKAZE is escorting the SAGARA MARU, Dealey attacks. As he closes to 2,500 yards, the SAGARA MARU opens fire on the HARDER’s periscope. Dealey fires four torpedoes. The SAGARA MARU attempts to evade them, but the first torpedo hits between her bow and bridge. The SAGARA MARU is damaged severely and begins to drift. The SAWAKAZE takes her in tow.
24 June 1943:
1.5 miles SW of Kaketsuka Light. The SAGARA MARU is beached to avoid sinking at the estuary of the Tenryu River at 33-45N, 138-10E. Captain Kanda is among the survivors.
4 July 1943:
At 2200, LtCdr Willis M. Thomas' USS POMPANO (SS-181), in a night radar attack, torpedoes the beached SAGARA MARU. Thomas fires hits three torpedoes at her and gets two hits.
17 August 1943:
Captain (Ret) Kanda is officially relieved.
1 September 1943:
The hulk of the SAGARA MARU is finally abandoned as a total loss.
Removed from the Navy List that same day.

Authors' Note:
Special thanks for assistance in developing this TROM go to Mr. Andrew Obluski of Poland and Mr. Jean-Francois Masson of Canada.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp, Allan Alsleben and Peter Cundall.

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