Japanese Oilers

YUSOSEN!

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

IJN SAN LUIS MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2008-2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Revision 1

2 April 1928:
Tokyo. Laid down at Mitsubishi Zosen Kaisha for Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha.
1 October 1928:
Launched and named SAN LUIS MARU.
1 December 1928:
Completed.
3 December 1928:
Departs Nagasaki on her first voyage to San Pedro, California.
1928-1941:
In Mitsubishi’s service. Transports oil from California to Japan.
8 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN. Begins conversion to Navy auxiliary oil tanker. Captain Nakajima Riyu is posted CO.
10 December 1941:
The conversion is completed.
22 December 1941:
Luzon, Philippines. SAN LUIS MARU is with the Lingayen invasion force.
1 April 1942:
Departs Takao, Formosa.
26 April 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
30 April 1942:
Departs Takao.
6 May 1942:
Luzon. SAN LUIS MARU is the first Japanese oiler to enter Manila Bay, after the fall of Manila.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadore Islands.
29 July 1942:
Departs Mako.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
22 August 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
2 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
5 October 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
7 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
10 October 1942:
Departs Kure. Later that day, arrives at Tainouchi, Inland Sea.
12 October 1942:
Departs Tainouchi. Later that day, arrives at Tokuyama Naval Fuel Depot.
16 October 1942:
Departs Tokuyama. Later that day, arrives at Kanogawa.
18 October 1942:
Departs Kanogawa.
21 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
25 October 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
29 October 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Shimotsu.
1 November 1942:
Departs Shimotsu.
3 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
8 November 1942:
Departs Kure. Later that day, arrives at Tokuyama.
11 November 1942:
Departs Tokuyama.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
17 November 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 November 1942:
Departs Yokosuka. Later that day, arrives at Oshibazaki. [1]
29 November 1942:
Departs Oshibazaki.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokkaichi.
4 December 1942:
Departs Yokkaichi.
6 December 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
9 December 1942:
Departs Kure.
13 December 1942:
Near Shanghai. In dense fog, SAN LUIS MARU runs aground in the Whangpoo River. Later that day, she is refloated and arrives at Shanghai.
17 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
21 December 1942:
Departs Mako.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Loads 12,193 kilolitres of crude oil.
8 January 1943:
At 0900, departs Singapore in a convoy via St Jacques, Indochina.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
1 February 1943:
Departs Kobe.
3 February 1943:
Off Mikimoto Jima. SAN LUIS MARU is in a collison with passenger-cargo vessel ISSEI MARU.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama. Undergoes repairs at Mitsubishi.
26 February 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
9 March 1943:
Departs Takao.
21 March 1943:
At 1200, arrives at Palembang, Sumatra.
12 April 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
18 April 1943:
Departs Mako. While enroute to Genzan, a generator explosion occurs and the ship loses power.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Genzan.
29 April 1943:
Departs Genzan.
1 May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Singapore.
17 May 1943:
SAN LUIS MARU departs Mako in convoy No. 392 consisting of fleet oiler TSURUMI and seven unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU.
22 May 1943:
SAN LUIS MARU and TSURUMI are detached from the convoy. SAN LUIS MARU heads for Palembang, Sumatra.
26 May 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Palembang.
28 May 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Surabaya. Later, proceeds to Balikpapan, Borneo.
23 June 1943:
At 0815, SAN LUIS MARU departs Takao for Moji in convoy No. 275 consisting of TEIKO, SEKKO, MAEBASHI, TEIKAI, CHOJUN, YASUKUNI, ROKKO and RISSHUN MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
25 June 1943:
At 0850, arrives at Moji.
1 August 1943:
At Singapore awaiting a convoy.
9 September 1943:
Ordered alongside Bukum No. 2 terminal at Singapore.
4 October 1943 :
At 1200, arrives at Imari Bay.
10 December 1943:
At 1530, arrives at Tokuyama. Unloads her cargo of fuel oil.
20 January 1944:
At 1000, SAN LUIS MARU departs Takao for Manila in a convoy consisting of cargo ships SHUNSEN, SHOEKI and KANKO MARUs for Surabaya and KYODO MARU No. 36 for Manila, with an unknown escort, if any.
24 January 1944:
At 0600, arrives at Manila.
E 31 January 1944:
SAN LUIS MARU departs Manila probably for Balikpapan and Surabaya in convoy No. 3105 consisting of SHUNSEN, KANKO and BENGAL MARUs and tankers HOKUAN and KOKUEI MARUs with an unknown escort. SAN LUIS MARU is detached for Miri at some point.
9 February 1944:
SAN LUIS MARU departs Tomie, Goto Retto in convoy MOTA-09 consisting of tankers OGURA MARU No. 2, and TAKETOYO MARU, liner TEIRITSU MARU and cargo ships MATSUE, DAIZEN, 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 No. 2 develops engine trouble. 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 submarine and drives it off by dropping three depth charges.
15 February 1944:
At 1845, arrives at Takao.
23 February 1944:
At 0600, SAN LUIS MARU departs Takao in convoy TAMO-05 consisting of CEYLON, NIPPO, CHIHAYA, FRANCE, PACIFIC, SHUNSEN, MUTSUYO (BOKUYO) and ASO MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-38, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU, auxiliary subchaser TAMA MARU No. 7 and an unidentified warship.
27 February 1944:
At 2058, LtCdr John A. Moore's GRAYBACK (SS-208) torpedoes and sinks CEYLON MARU at 31-35N, 127-47E. [2]
29 February 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure.
28 April 1944:
At 1300, SAN LUIS MARU departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-17 consisting of NITTATSU, TAKEGAWA, WALES, BELGIUM, PEKING, SHIROGANESAN, YAMAHAGI, YASHIMA, HAKKA (SHIRAKAWA), TSUSHIMA and NISSAN MARUs escorted by destroyer HARUKAZE, minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU.
29 April 1944:
Destroyer ASAKAZE joins the escort. At 2155, LtCdr Anton R. Gallaher's USS BANG (SS-385) torpedoes and sinks TAKEGAWA MARU at 19-20N, 118-50E.
30 April 1944:
At 0430, Gallaher torpedoes and sinks NITTATSU MARU at 19-22N, 118-450.
2 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
5 May 1944:
SAN LUIS MARU departs Manila in a convoy consisting of OMINE and TEIHOKU MARUs and tankers TAKETOYO and SEISHIN MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE and possibly others enroute to Singapore via Miri.
11 June 1944:
At 1530, SAN LUIS MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-08 consisting of MATSUURA, KAMO, SHINKOKU, NISHI, MINO, TAIKAI, KAKOGAWA, MYOGI, OYO (GYOKUYO) MARUs and tankers KOEI, TAIEI, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO and 12 unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyers ASAKAZE, ASAGAO, kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-2 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3. Immediately after leaving port, KOEI MARU develops engine problems and is forced to return.
15 June 1944:
At 1040, anchors at Oshima Strait, Amami Oshima.
16 June 1944:
Departs Oshima Strait.
17 June 1944:
MATSUURA and KAMO MARUs with second-class destroyer ASAGAO are detached and head for Kirun.
18 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao. Later, ASAGAO rejoins convoy. At 1955, the convoy departs Takao.
23 June 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Manila. CD-2 and ASAGAO are detached.
27 June 1944:
At 0600, departs Manila.
2 July 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Miri.
10 July 1944:
At 1550, SAN LUIS MARU departs Miri for Moji in convoy MI-08 consisting of MEXICO, ASAKA, OLYMPIA, RASHIN, HAKUROKU, TATSUBATO, KUROGANE MARUs and tankers SAN DIEGO, NITTETSU, OEI, TAKETSU (BUTSU), CHIHAYA, RYUSHO and SANKO (YAMAKO) MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by torpedo-boat SAGI and minesweepers W-17 and W-18.
11 July 1944:
At 1830, the convoy anchors in Kimanisu Bay, SW of Kota Kinabalu, Borneo.
12 July 1944:
At 1300, the convoy departs Kimanisu Bay. At 1015, TAKETSU MARU detaches and begins a return journey to Miri.
16 July 1944:
From 0820 until 1400, the convoy is accompanied by torpedo-boat HIYODORI and kaibokan MIKURA. At 2035, the convoy arrives safely at Manila where it is reorganized.
23 July 1944:
At 1545, SAN LUIS MARU departs Manila for Moji in convoy MI-08 consisting of MIZUHO, CHIHAYA, SAN DIEGO, MANILA, MIRI, SANKO (YAMAKO), ARABIA, TATSUBATO, RYUSHO, HAKUROKU, TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARUs and NITTETSU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-1, CD-18, CD-28, torpedo boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17, minelayer ENOSHIMA and subchaser CH-61. The convoy's speed is 8 knots.
27 July 1944:
At 0920, auxiliary subchaser CHa-74 and auxiliary transport OYO MARU join the escort. At 1605, the convoy arrives at Takao and is again reorganized.
30 July 1944:
At 1800, SAN LUIS MARU departs Takao in convoy MI-08 now consisting of ZUIHO, CHIHAYA, SAN DIEGO, BOKO, MANILA, MIRI, SANKO (YAMAKO), TSUYAMA, ARABIA, RYUSHO, TATSUBATO, NITTETSU, YAGI, TOUN and EIHO MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-1, CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU. The convoy's speed is 7 knots.
1 August 1944:
At 1400, after it is suspected that American submarines have gained contact, the convoy arrives at Keelung.
4 August 1944:
At 1600, the convoy departs Keelung and heads up the Ryukyu Islands bound for Kyushu.
9 August 1944:
N of Okinoshima. LtCdr Robert A. Keating's BARBEL (SS-316) torpedoes and sinks IJA cargo ship YAGI MARU and merchant cargo ship BOKO MARU (ex-British SAGRES) at 27-56N, 128-47E. W-17 and CD-1 carry out an antisubmarine sweep and drop 21 depth-charges that cause some damage to BARBEL. Afterwards, the convoy heads out of the area at full speed making evasive movements. At 1200. the convoy arrives at Koniya, Amami-O-Shima, Ryukyu Islands.
11 August 1944:
At 0400, the convoy departs Amami-O-Shima.
13 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
23 September 1944:
At 1600, SAN LUIS MARU departs Moji in convoy MI-21 consisting of TEIKA, TSUYAMA, EJIRI, FUSHIMI, KEISHIN, KEIZAN, CHOSAN, TATSUBATO, KIZAN and YOSHU MARUs and tankers SHUNTEN and EIKYO MARUs and an unidentified ship escorted by kaibokan DAITO, patrol boat PB-104 auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU, subchaser CH-21, auxiliary subchasers CHa-87 and CHa-92.
29 September 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Takao and the convoy is dissolved.
8 October 1944:
At 0700, PB-105 departs Manila for Miri, Borneo with kaikoban CD-18 and CD-26, subchaser CH-19 and auxiliary subchaser Cha-56 escorting reorganized convoy MI-19 consisting of NITTETSU, SAN LUIS, DAIZEN, HIDA, SAN DIEGO, EIKYO, TOKUWA, SHUNTEN, TATSUBATO, DAISHU and YOSHU MARUs.
9 October 1944:
At about 1700, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s USS BECUNA (SS-319) makes four separate underwater attacks against a convoy. Sturr scores two hits and damages SAN LUIS MARU at 12-43N, 118-05E. LtCdr Francis W. Scanland’s HAWKBILL (SS-366) also torpedoes SAN LUIS MARU about the same time. At 1804, BECUNA torpedoes and sinks TOKUWA MARU.
10 October 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU and two of the escorts are detached with damaged SAN LUIS MARU and head for Sandakan, Borneo.
October 1944:
Undergoes temporary repairs.
30 October 1944:
At 0600, SAN LUIS MARU departs Miri in convoy MISHI-12 consisting of MANILA, TEIFU, SHINSEI, KENEI, EIMAN and DAIIKU MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tankers and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and three unidentified ships escorted by patrol boat PB-104 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
3 November 1944:
At 1030, arrives at Singapore.
November-December 1944:
Undergoes repairs, probably by the IJN's No. 101 Repair Unit at Seletar Naval Base.
30 December 1944:
Fleet tanker SAN LUIS MARU departs Singapore for Moji in convoy HI-86 consisting of TATSUBATO, OTSUSAN, SHOEI, KYOKUUN, EIMAN, KEMBU (TATEBE), YOSHU and YUSEI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 escorted by the 101st Escort Group's kaibokan KASHII, TSUSHIMA, DAITO, UKURU, CD-23, CD-27 and CD-31.
4 January 1945:
Arrives at Cape St. Jacques (Saigon).
9 January 1945:
SAN LUIS MARU departs Cape St. Jacques for Moji in convoy HI-86 consisting of fleet tanker and TATSUBATO, OTSUSAN, SHOEI, KYOKUUN, EIMAN, KEMBU (TATEBE), YOSHU and YUSEI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 escorted by the 101st Escort Group’s light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan DAITO, UKURU, CD-23, CD-27 and CD-51.
10 January 1945:
Arrives at Van Fong Bay, Indochina.
11 January 1945:
Departs Van Fong. Arrives at Qui Nhon Bay, Indochina..
12 January 1945: Operation "Gratitude":
Vice Admiral John S. McCain's Task Force 38 launches almost 1,500 sorties looking for the Japanese fleet. TF 38 bombs Indochina, Hong Kong and Southern Formosa and sinks 44 ships.
Convoy HI-86 departs Qui Nhon. From 1100 to 1700, Curtiss SB2C "Helldiver" dive-bombers and Grumann TBF "Avenger" torpedo-bombers from Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frederick T. Sherman's (former CO of LEXINGTON, CV-2) Task Group 38.3's USS ESSEX (CV-9), TICONDEROGA (CV-14), LANGLEY (CVL-27) and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30) attack and decimate convoy HI-86. Only three escorts survive the attacks.
25 miles NE of Binhdinh, Indochina. Sherman's planes sink SAN LUIS MARU at 14-20N, 109-09E.
8 June 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Author's Notes:
[1] An unidentified location, probably located off Tokyo Bay.
[2] GRAYBACK is later sunk by Nakajima B5N2 Kates of the Okinawa Naval Air Group.
- Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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