Japanese Army Auxiliary Transports

RIKUGUN YUSOSEN

SHINFUKU MARU, prewar

IJA/IJN SHINFUKU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2017 Bob Hackett

E1917:
Laid down at Fujinagata Dockyard as Yard No. 25, a 2,205 grt cargo ship for Kuribayashi Shosen K.K.
E 1918:
Launched and named SHINFUKU MARU. [1]
September 1918:
Completed.
1926:
Sold to Kishimoto Kisen K. K.
1938:
Renamed SINHUKU MARU.
E 1942:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Army (IJA) and assigned Army No. 633.
22 December 1942:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Muroran, Hokkaido for Hakodate, Hokkaido in a convoy also consisting of EIYO, HANASAKI, KAIKO, MIYAZAKI, UGO and YUZAN (6,380 grt) MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU.
23 December 1942:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Hakodate in South Convoy No.82 also consisting of EIYO, HANASAKI, KAIKO, MIYAZAKI, UGO and YUZAN MARUs escorted by DELHI MARU.
26 December 1942:
Arrives at Shibaura.
3 January 1943:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Yokohama in convoy No. 1103 also consisting of HOKUTO and MATSUMOTO MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 3 escorted by minesweeper W-18.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Muroran, Hokkaido.
8 March 1943:
Hokkaido. At 0800, SHINFUKU MARU departs Muroran with ATAKA, FUKUJU, HOKUYO and KENAN MARUs and two unidentified ships escorted by minesweeper W-24. At noon, the ships arrive off Komui-saki (a.k.a Furutakei-saki) where HISASHIMA MARU joins the convoy from Hakodate and KONSAN MARU joins from nearby Komui Bay. The convoy receives the designation 2308 and departs for the Tokyo-Yokohama area.
From 1400, minelayer SHIRAKAMI and auxiliary KEISHU MARU No. 3 provide distant cover. At 1530, when the convoy arrives at a point 75 degrees 3 nautical miles from Shiriya-zaki, it alters course and proceeds toward Monomi-saki.
At 1645, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Wreford G. Chapple´s PERMIT (SS-178) attacks the rear section of the convoy and torpedoes HISASHIMA MARU. He gets two hits that sink her at 41-16N 141-29E. W-24 immediately carries out a depth charge attack. PERMIT evades and sets course back to Midway. HOKUYO MARU rescues survivors and then proceeds to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The rest of the convoy retreats to Yamada Port.
12 March 1943:
At 1905, arrives at Yokosuka.
21 March 1943:
At 0733, SHINFUKU MARU departs Muroran, Hokkaido for Yokohama in convoy No. 2321 also consisting of FUKI, GOZAN, KOWA, SEIRYU, SHIGANOURA, and SHOZAN MARU escorted by minesweeper W-24. That day, SEIRYU MARU and BANEI MARU No. 15 are detached for Hakodate, Hokkaido.
24 March 1943:
At 0530, arrives at Kunisaki where the convoy is dissolved.
6 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
8 October 1943:
At 1045, SHINFUKU MARU departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 1008 also consisting of SEKIHO MARU escorted by minesweeper W-27.
10 October 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Yamada.
11 October 1943:
At 0730, departs Yamada Wan (Bay).
12 October 1943:
At 0500, arrives at Muroran.
31 December 1943:
At 1000, SHINFUKU MARU departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 1231 also consisting of IJA transports HOKURYU MARU, IJN cargo ship TATSUTAGAWA MARU and one unidentified merchant ship with unknown escort. The convoy steams at 8 knots.
3 January 1944:
Arrives at Muroran.
7 March 1944:
At 1300, SHINFUKU MARU departs Chichi-Jima for Truk in convoy Higashi-Matsu 1B consisting of IMIZU and HOKO MARUs escorted by IJN submarine Tender NACHI MARU, minelayer YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweeper TORISHIMA MARU.
21 February 1943:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Muroran in convoy No. 2221 also consisting of auxiliary transport KINSEN MARU, IJN cargo ship (B-AK) JUZAN MARU, IJN HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO, IJA transports FRANCE and HOKURYU and civilian transport/cargo (C-APK) ATAKA (ex-Italian ADA) MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) BANEI MARU No. 2, probably unescorted.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at at Tokyo Wan (Bay).
25 February 1944:
Returned by the IJA back to her owners. That same day, SHINFUKU MARU is requisitioned by the Imperial Navy (IJN) as an Ippan Choyosen (B-AK) with a civilian crew.
14 March 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
24 March 1944
At 0700, convoy HIGASHI MATSU No. 2 (return) departs Saipan consisting of SHINFUKU, AWA BINGO, DAITEN, HIBI, MIHO, NACHI, RYUKA, TAKAOKA, TAKUNAN, TAMAHOKO and TATSUHARU MARUs, storeship SOYA and an unidentified ship escorted by destroyers ASAKAZE and NOWAKI, kaibokan MANJU, minelayer KYOSAI and subchasers CH-17, CH-31, CH-32. En route SOYA is detached and arrives at Chichi-Jima.
1 April 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Tokyo.
4 May 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Tateyama for the Marianas in convoy No. 3503 also consisting of IJA transports NICHIWA, ENOSHIMA, MINO, OSAKA, FUKKO, FUKOKU and KOHO MARUs, auxiliary transports KEIYO and TATSUTAGAWA MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) TAIKOKU and KOJUN MARUs escorted by destroyers ASANAGI and MINATSUKI, kaibokan OKI and CD-24, torpedo boat OTORI, subchasers CH-31, CH-32 and CH-52, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 and auxiliary netlayer SHUNSEN MARU,
E 9 May 1944:
CH-52 is detached from the convoy.
10 May 1944:
420 miles NW of Saipan. At 1743, LtCdr Russell Kefauver’s (USNA ’33) USS TAMBOR (SS-198) torpedoes and damages KEIYO MARU at 19-27N 140-00E. No. 2 and No. 3 holds flood. 97 crewmen are KIA. [3]
14 May 1944:
At 14-57N, 144-58E, KOHO and SHUNSEN MARUs and OTORI, SHONAN MARU No. 8 are detached for Guam. At 1200, the rest of the convoy arrives at Saipan.
3 June 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Saipan for Truk in a convoy also consisting of IJN NISSHO MARU No. 18, carrying 426 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops and 10,000 bags of rice, and civilian cargo ship SEIGA MARU (C-AK) escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI, minelayers KYOSAI and YURIJIMA (YURISHIMA) and net layer KISHIN MARU.
6 June 1944:
At 2150 (JST) the convoy is attacked by one large enemy plane at 07-46N, 147-30E. SHINFUKU MARU is strafed and sustains light damage, 4 crew slightly wounded; NISSHO MARU No.18 is strafed, and sustains slight damage, but one crewman is KIA and one SNLF trooper is severely wounded; YURIJIMA is strafed by many machine gun bullets, one crewman is KIA, 3 severely wounded and 10 lightly wounded, no hindrance to her navigation but will require immediate repairs.
9 June 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
21 June 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Truk in convoy also consisting of civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARU and transport IJN NISSHO MARU No. 18 escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI, minelayer YUIJOMA and net layer KISHIN MARU.
29 June 1944:
Arrives at Davao, Mindanao, Philippines.
7 July 1944:
Departs Davao.
9 July 1944:
Arrives at Cebu, Philippines.
11 July 1944:
Departs Cebu.
13 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila, Luzon, Philippines.
16 July 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Manila in convoy MATA-25 also consisting of auxiliary transport HAKOZAKI MARU and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARUs, IJA water tanker SHINSUI MARU and two unidentified merchants escorted by subchaser CH-48, kaibokan CD-10, auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 and one unidentified warship.
20 July 1944:
Kaba coast. Arrives in Lingayen Gulf.
22 July 1944:
Departs Lingayen Gulf and arrives at San Fernando later that day.
23 July 1944:
HAKOZAKI MARU transfers charcoal fuel to SHINFUKU MARU and IJA TENSHO MARU.
26 July 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs North San Fernando in convoy MATA-25 also consisting of HAKOZAKI and SEIGA MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 18 and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by subchaser CH-48, auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 and one unidentified warship with convoy YUTA-09 consisting of MACASSAR, TATSUWA, PACIFIC, MURORAN and JUNPO MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE and kaibokan CD-10.
28 July 1944:
At 1545, the merged convoys arrive at Takao.
20 August 1944:
At 0515, SHINFUKU MARU departs Keelung in convoy TAMO-23 also consisting of KIYOKAWA, NIKKO, MATSUMOTO and TETSUYO MARUs and TONAN MARU No. 2 and seven unidentified merchants escorted by kaibokan CD-5, CD-6, CD-9, CD-16, CH-58 and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU.
22 August 1944:
At 1955 LtCdr (later Admiral/CINCPACFLT) Bernard A. Clarey’s (USNA ’34) USS PINTADO (SS-387) torpedoes and sinks TONAN MARU No. 2 at 29-53N, 125-9E. Four crewmen are KIA.
25 August 1944:
At 2355 arrives north of Hirado Jima.
26 August 1944:
At 0550, departs near Hirado Shima and at 1848 arrives at Mutsure. Later, arrives at Moji.
22 October 1944:
At 1220, SHINFUKU MARU departs Moji for Manila with in convoy MOMA-06 also consisting of ATLAS, DAIKEN, DAITOKU, GASSAN, KAKOGAWA, MIKAGE, SEIWA, SEKIHO, and SHINSHO MARUs and an unidentified ship escorted by kaibokan CD-1, CD-3 and CD-7.
23 October 1944:
At about 0400, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) John E. Lee’s (USNA ’30) USS CROAKER (SS-246) torpedoes and damages GASSAN MARU. Later, she is towed to Saishu Island by SHINFUKU MARU where 3500 troops are put ashore.
24 October 1944:
At about 0400, CROAKER torpedoes and sinks MIKAGE MARU.
27 October 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Kirun, Formosa (Keelung, Taiwan).
10 November 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Miike, Kyushu for Manila in convoy MOMA-07 also consisting of FUKUYO, GYOKUYO, JINYO, KENJO, MIHO, MINO, NARUO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and TATSUAKI (TATSUSHO) MARUs and KONAN MARU No. 1 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-9, CD-28, CD-54, auxiliary subchaser CHa-24 and an unidentified warship. SHINFUKU MARU carries 185 men of Lt Matsuda Yoshihisa's 12th Shinyo Squadron. GYOKUYO MARU carries the 14th and 15th Shinyo EMB units. MIHO MARU carries the 20th Shinyo EMB unit. TATSUAKI Maru carries elements of the 19th Division and elements of the 18th Sea Raiding Battalion (EMB). SHINFUKU MARU arrives at Manila on 15 Dec ‘44. Later, the 12th Shinyo Squadron is dispatched to defend Corregidor Island.
11 November 1944:
Near Cape Ose Sea, Goto Archipelago. At 0906, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Charles E. Loughlin’s (USNA '33) USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) fires four torpedoes and hits MIHO MARU in the bow. Unable to keep up with the convoy, she heads for Sasebo. The escorts drop 55 depth-charges on QUEENFISH, but she remains undamaged.
12 November 1944:
248 miles SW of Nagasaki. At 0420, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene B. Fluckey’s (USNA '35) USS BARB (SS-220) torpedoes NARUO and GYOKUYO MARUs at 31-30N 125-57E. NARUO MARU, hit by one or more torpedoes, blows up and sinks instantly. She was carrying 20,000 shells and army troops. 490 passengers, 72 crewmen and 131 gunners are KIA.
GYOKUYO MARU is hit by a torpedo in the engine spaces. She goes dead in the water and begins to drift. Later, JINYO MARU attempts to tow the cripple, but the towline parts. The passengers are transfered to other ships. The escorts drop seven depth-charges on BARB and inflict slight damage.
At about 0620, LtCdr Robert H. Caldwell’s (USNA '36) USS PETO (SS-265) torpedoes TATSUAKI MARU at 31-46N, 125-40E. One strikes No. 2 hold, a huge explosion occurs. She lists over, then explodes. 145 passengers and 65 crewmen are KIA. JINYO MARU rushes to the area from where the attack came and drops depth-charges.
13 November 1944:
At 0950, arrives at the Shushan Islands, E of Shanghai.
14 November 1944:
155 miles E of Shanghai. About midnight, LtCdr Underwood’s SPADEFISH fires five torpedoes by radar bearings at GYOKUYO MARU being towed by kaibokan CD-8 towards Shanghai. Hit by several torpedoes, GYOKUYO MARU sinks at 31-04N, 125-58E. Casualties are unknown, but most passengers and crew had been taken off before the sinking.
19 November 1944:
At 1200, the convoy arrives at Takao and is dissolved.
3 December 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-34 also consisting of FUKUYO, JINYO, KENJO and YAMAKUNI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 31 escorted by destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-28, CD-54 and subchaser CH-33 and two unidentified warships .
6 December 1944:
At 2147, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy M. Davenport's (USNA '33) USS TREPANG (SS-412) begins a wolfpack attack on the convoy with LtCdr Charles D. Brown’s (USNA ‘38) USS RAZORBACK (SS-(394) and LtCdr James D. Fulp's (USNA '34) USS SEGUNDO (SS-398).
W of Dalupiri Island. Davenport's TREPANG torpedoes and sinks Type 2A cargo JINYO MARU at 18-52N, 121-57E. . She was carrying carrying elements of the Army’s 18th and 19th Sea Raiding Battalions, 50 Navy Shinyo “Ocean Shaker” suicide boats, and their munitions (200 depth charges). She goes down fast with 1,427 passengers and 44 sailors, 15 trucks, 50 horses, bombs, and 120 war dogs. High, cold seas ensure that only 76 passengers survived. Soon thereafter, TREPANG also torpedoes and sinks BANSHU MARU No. 31 with no survivors from her crew of 23 at 18-54N, 120-49E.
At 2237, Fulp's SEGUNDO fires four torpedoes at 5,794-ton ore carrier YASUKUNI MARU, loaded with 315 troops, 155 passengers, coal, military vehicles and tanks, and gets one hit at 18-57N-120-58E. YASUKUNI MARU loses power and drifts away.
At about 2300, SEGUNDO makes an unsuccessful surfaced night radar-assisted attack on SHINFUKU MARU at 18-51N,121-07E. [2]
At 2358, Davenport hits 5,463 ton FUKUYO MARU with three torpedoes. FUKUYO MARU blows up and sinks nearby. She was carrying boy soldiers headed for Southern Army and lead elements of the 71st Mountain Artillery of the 71st Division. Also aboard were the 34th Field Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion with eighteen 75mm antiaircraft guns and soldiers of the 18th Sea Raiding Battalion in four parties consisting of 921 men, of which 913 are KIA. 66 ship’s gunners and 94 crewmen are also KIA.
7 December 1944:
At 0005, SEGUNDO torpedoes and sinks KENJO MARU at 18-52N, 121-57E. She was carrying an unknown number of Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops and the Southern Special Intelligence Unit, a total of 379 men and freight. The survivors are forced to float in dark, cold, stormy seas until early next morning when rescue begins. Many die including 78 crewmen.
Losses throughout the convoy exceed 2,900 men KIA. Rescuers pull 650 or so survivors, some critically wounded, out of the water before hypothermia kills them.
At 0043, Brown’s RAZORBACK fires four torpedoes at YASUKUNI MARU making about three knots. At 0047, Brown gets two or three hits and sets YASUKUNI MARU afire. RAZORBACK sees her still burning at about 0300. Later, YASUKUNI MARU is run aground at Fuga Island and later abandoned near 18-59N 120-56E. Because she does not sink, only 25 crewmen and three guards are KIA and an unknown number of Army troops and passengers. Still later, CD-54 is detached to rescue YASUKUNI MARU with unknown results.
15 December 1944:
SHINFUKU MARU arrives at Manila. Later, the 12th Shinyo Squadron is dispatched to defend Corregidor Island.
17 December 1944:
South China Sea. 30 miles west of Manila. U.S.N. Patrol Bomber Squadron VPB-104's Consolidated PB4Y-1 (B-24) "Liberator" heavy bombers attack and sink SHINFUKU MARU at 13-40N, 115-50E.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Author's Note:
[1] Also known as SINHUKU MARU and SHINPUKU MARU.
[2] Source USN Submarine Operations Research Group (SORG) Attack Data.
Thanks and photo credit go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany. Thanks also go to reader Ralph and to Peter Cundall of Australia.

-Bob Hackett

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