KYURYOSEN!
(SHINSEI MARU, prewar)
IJN SHINSEI MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2018-19 Gilbert Casse, Berend van der Wal and Peter Cundall
5 October 1916:
Uraga. Laid down by Uraga Senkyo K.K. Kojo shipyard for Kishimoto Kisen K.K as a 4,733-tons cargo ship.
10 March 1917:
Launched and named SHINSEI MARU. [1]
30 April 1917:
Completed with Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 4,733-tons and Net Registered Tonnage (NRT) of 3,417-tons. Her registered homeport is Nishinomiya. [2]
1925:
Her registered homeport is changed to Kobe.
9 December 1933:
Her owners are changed to Nihon Godo Kosen K.K.
28 October 1936:
Her owners are changed to Kyodo Gyogyo K.K.
24 April 1937:
Her ownership owners are changed to Nippon Suisan K.K.
1937:
Requisitioned by the IJA as Army transport No. 358.
11 December 1937:
Departs Osaka.
15 December 1937:
Arrives at Qing Jin, Chosen (now Chongjin, North Korea).
16 December 1937:
Departs Qing Jin.
17 December 1937:
Arrives at Moji. Departs there later that day.
19 December 1937:
Arrives at Hiroshima.
1940:
Her GRT is changed to 4,746-tons. [2]
1941:
Her GRT and NRT are respectively changed to 4,758-tons and 3,396-tons. [2]
16 October 1941:
Departs Tokyo.
31 October 1941:
Arrives at Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
2 November 1941:
Departs Saigon.
16 November 1941:
Arrives at Ujina.
17 November 1941:
Departs Osaka.
17 December 1941: The Invasion of Lamon Bay, Southern Luzon:
Imperial General Headquarters launches the combined IJA and IJN Lamon Bay Operation. The Army force consists of Gen (later Field Marshal) Count Terauchi Hisachi’s Southern Expeditionary Army. Its 14th Army, under LtGen Homma Masaharu, fields MajGen Morioka Susumu's Invasion Unit of about 7,000 troops consisting of elements of the 16th Infantry division: 20th Infantry, 22nd Field Artillery, HQ and II Battalion, 16 HQ Company, 16th Eng Battalion, 16th Recon Battalion, 3/45 AA Company, 16th Transport, 16th Signal Company, 16th Medical Unit and 16th Veterinary Unit. Two AA and one Signals regiments are stationed on IJA transports.
The invasion units are embarked on 20 IJA transports: LISBON, BENGAL, DAINICHI, DURBAN, KAIMEI, KAYO, KITANO, KOFUKU, NAGATO, NICHIREN, RYOKA, RYUYO, SHINSEI, SHINSHU (4,182 GRT), TAIAN, TATSUNO, TOFUKU, TOYAMA and TOYOHASHI MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 5.
The naval force consists of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's (35) (former CO of KONGO) Southern Force, Philippines Invasion Group that includes Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (35) (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Third Fleet. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji’s (38) (former CO of KAGA) Invasion Unit consists of his 1st Base Force HQ, in light cruiser NAGARA, 1st Quartermaster Ports and Docks Unit and 1st Naval Signal Unit, aboard HAKUSAN MARU, 1st Naval Guard Unit, aboard KIMISHIMA MARU, 1st Naval Survey Unit in SENKO MARU and Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo's (40) (former CO of SATA) Sasebo No. 1 and 2 Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) aboard MYOKO MARU.
The convoy’s escort consists of light cruiser NAGARA (F), heavy cruiser ASHIGARA, destroyers TOKITSUKAZE, YUKIKAZE, KAWAKAZE, SUSUKAZE, UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, minelayer AOTAKA, minesweepers W-7 and W-8, auxiliary gunboat/minelayer IKUSHIMA MARU, auxiliary gunboats BUSHO, KEIKO, KANKO and MYOKEN MARUs, auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 17 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 5 and auxiliary netlayer FUKUEI MARU No. 15.
At 1500, the Invasion Force departs Koniya, Amami Oshima for Lamon Bay, Quezon, Philippines.
24 December 1941:
At 0200, the Invasion Force arrives at Lamon Bay. The landings proceed without strong opposition.
29 December 1941:
Departs Lamon Bay.
17 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina. Departs there later that day.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Qingdao (Tsingtao/Chintao), China. Departs the same day in a convoy also consisting of KOFUKU, FUJI, UME, KAIMEI, LISBON, NICHIREN, KAYO and DURBAN MARUs escorted by destroyer HASU, auxiliary gunboats SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO and DAIGEN MARU No. 7 (all part way).
28 January 1942:
NICHIREN MARU suffers a crankcase failure, 20 miles SE Chui Shan Islands. FUYO MARU (376-GRT) arrives and takes ship in tow escorted by DAIGEN MARU No. 7.
29 January 1942:
Minelayer SOKUTEN joins the convoy as an escort. SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO is detached.
31 January 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores (now Magong (Makung) City, Taiwan).
2 February 1942:
Departs Mako in a convoy also consisting of KOFUKU, FUJI, UME, KAIMEI, LISBON, KAYO and DURBAN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat KASASAGI. Soon after departing port, LISBON MARU carrying the main elements of the IJA 21st Army Division and fully loaded with soldiers, horses and equipment, takes a faulty course. At 0855 (JST), she hits a Japanese defensive mine amidships, becomes unnavigable and floods. 19 men are killed/wounded. Due to the danger of sinking, all hands are ordered to abandon ship. Afterwards, a naval operated tug arrives, takes the drifting ship in tow and beaches her on the south coast of Boko To (Penghu Tao), Formosa. Later, the crew returns and lands much troop material and ship items. [3]
7 February 1942:
Arrives at Haiphong (Kaibo), French Indochina (now Vietnam).
9 February 1942:
Departs Haiphong.
18 February 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaoshiung, Taiwan).
19 February 1942:
Departs Takao.
26 February 1942:
Arrives at Saigon. Departs later.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 April 1942:
Departs Singapore with LIVERPOOL MARU.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Rangoon, Burma (Now Yangon, Myanmar).
25 April 1942:
Departs Rangoon.
E 8 May 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
9 May 1942:
At 1200, departs Mako in convoy No. 206 also consisting of TATSUWA, TATSUHARU, SENZAN, NANYO, KEIFUKU, TAISHO, KINUGAWA, AKASHI and WAYO MARUs, escorted by second class destroyer SANAE and minelayer TSUBAME.
13 May 1942:
SANAE, KEIFUKU MARU and three other MARUs are detached, the rest of the convoy arrives at Sasebo at 2330.
1942:
Her NRT is changed to 3,395-tons. [2]
5 June 1942:
Released to her owners.
14 February 1943:
At 1800, departs Sakito and at 1900, arrives at Kurobo.
20 February 1943:
Requisitioned by the IJN and registered as an auxiliary stores ship (Otsu) category, attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 281. [4]
22 February 1943:
Departs Nagoya.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
24 February 1943:
Departs Osaka.
27 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
28 February 1943:
Conversion to military duty starts at Sasebo Naval Yard.
31 March 1943:
Her ownership is are changed to Nihon Kaiyo Gyogyo Tosei K.K.
3 April 1943:
Conversion is partially completed.
5 April 1943:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Nagasaki later that same day.
7 April 1943:
Conversion is resumed at Mitsubishi Zosen K.K. Nagasaki Shipyard.
25 May 1943:
Conversion is completed.
26 May 1943:
Departs Nagasaki.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
13 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3613B also consisting of auxiliary transport SANSEI MARU, escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI.
E 21 June 1943:
Auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 8 meets up with convoy.
22 June 1943:
Arrives at Saipan, Marianas.
23 June 1943:
Departs Saipan still in convoy No. 3613B, escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI and destroyer INAZUMA. The ships sail at 10 knots.
27 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk, Central Carolines. Departs there later that day.
27 July 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy with AKIBASAN, HIYOSHI and YAMASHIRO MARUs escorted by destroyer INAZUMA.
6 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
27 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3827B also consisting of SHONAN MARU and Oil Tanker No. 6010 escorted by subchaser CH-47. The convoy sails at 8 knots.
28 August 1943:
10km West of Mikura Shima. The convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Cdr) Thomas L. Wogan's (USNA ’30) old USS TARPON (SS-175). At 0445, Wogan fires four torpedoes and gets one hit on SHINSEI MARU at 38-52N, 139-29E. The convoy turns back to Japan.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Tateyama.
2 September 1943:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
20 September 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama.
30 September 1943:
Drydocked at Nihonkokan K.K. Asano dockyard. Begins repairs.
30 September 1943 ~ 22 August 1944:
Under repairs.
1 August 1944:
Attached to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) Third Fleet.
15 August 1944:
Attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro’s (35) Southwestern Area Fleet.
E 23 August 1944:
Repairs are completed.
24 August 1944:
Departs Yokohama.
2 September 1944:
Departs Muroran in convoy No. 2902 with other unknown ships escorted by auxiliary minesweepers TOGO MARU (initially) and then also SHINTOHOKU MARUs. En route S, the ships stop at Kamaishi off Yagi, auxiliary minesweeper SHINTOHOKU MARU starts escort.
3 September 1944:
Arrives at Kamaishi. Departs later.
9 September 1944:
At 1200, departs Moji in convoy MI-19 also consisting of tankers CHIHAYA, IWAKUNI, DAIMEI, KENZUI, EIHO, MITSU and SAN DIEGO MARUs and cargo ships DAIBIN (OTOSHI), ENOURA, MATSUURA, YULIN, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), ARISAN, TEIFU, TASMANIA , DAIA, NIKKO and SHUNSHO MARU escorted by kaikoban ETOROFU, SHONAN, CD-6 and CD-16, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU.
10 September 1944:
At 1212, LtCdr's (later Cdr) Edward E. Shelby's (USNA ’33) USS SUNFISH (SS-281) torpedoes and sinks CHIHAYA MARU at 33-49N, 127-41E. 76 troops, one guard and eight crewmen are KIA. The convoy immediately retires to Chinto (Chin Hajo Island), China where it regroups. The escorts launch a concerted, but unsuccessful attempt to find the submarine.
12 September 1944:
Convoy MI-19 departs Chinto.
16 September 1944:
At Yulin, Hainan Island, China. Kaibokan ETOROFU is detached to join the escort of convoy HI-72/ MAMO-03 which suffered a series of devastating attacks in the South China Sea.
17 September 1944:
Convoy MI-19 splits. SHUNSHO, NIKKO, MATSUURA, ENOURA and KENZUI MARUs head for Kirun (now Keelung) escorted by kaibokan SHONAN.
18 September 1944:
At 1100, arrives with the rest of the convoy at Takao.
1 October 1944;
Departs Takao in convoy TAMA-28 also consisting of TSUYAMA, CHOSAN, MURORAN, MACASSAR, FUYUKAWA, FUSHIMI, KIZAN, NANKING, EIKO and TAISEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan DAITO and YASHIRO, patrol boat PB-104 (ex-Dutch GM ss VALK), auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU, subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-87 and CHa-92.
2 October 1944:
Luzon Strait, Philippines. During a storm, LtCdr Frank C. Acker's (USNA ’32) USS POMFRET (SS-391) torpedoes and sinks TSUYAMA MARU at 20-50N, 121-31E. The ship is carrying 1600 men of the Mobile 18th Infantry Regiment. 73 crewmen and 1,211 soldiers on board are KIA.
3 October 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Musa.
4 October 1944:
At 0600, departs Musa and at 1930, arrives at Lapoc Bay, Philippines.
5 October 1944:
At 0700, departs Lapoc Bay and at 1230, arrives at San Fernando, Philippines.
6 October 1944:
At 0630, departs San Fernando. At 1915, arrives and shelters in Lapoc Bay. Meanwhile YASHIRO suffers generator problems and is detached to Aparri.
7 October 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc Bay. Later LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) torpedoes and sinks MACASSAR MARU at 17-30N, 119-53E. Three crewmen, four gunners and one passenger are KIA.
8 October 1944:
At 1745, arrives at North San Fernando. SHINSEI MARU detaches with FUSHIMI and FUYUKAWA MARUs.
11 October 1944:
Sustains engine failure.
12 October 1944:
Departs San Fernando.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
17 October 1944:
At 1820, departs Manila in the "Taihi" (Refugee) convoy also consisting of MANILA, EIMAN, DAIIKU, KENEI, DAIMEI, SHIRANESAN, ARABIA, TAIKAI and TEIFUI MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tankers MITSU MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, torpedo boat HIYODORI, patrol boat PB-104 (ex-Dutch GM ss VALK), subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary gunboats CHOUN and KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs.
18 October 1944:
At 0716, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's (USNA ’34) USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) torpedoes and damages ARABIA MARU at 14-4N, 119-52E. She is carrying 2,635 men of whom 1870 are from the IJA's 49th Infantry Division with others from the 20th Infantry Division and 5th Division. At 1208, USS BLUEGILL again torpedoes ARABIA MARU. She sinks, taking down 1,658 troops and 89 crewmen and gunners. At 2210, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's (USNA ’37) USS RATON (SS-270) torpedoes and sinks SHIRANESAN (1,318 troops, 47 gunners and 63 crewmen KIA) and TAIKAI (101 crewmen, 37 gunners and 445 troops KIA) MARUs at 12-30N, 119-10E.
20 October 1944:
Arrives at Bacuit Bay, Palawan, Philippines.
21 October 1944:
At 0855, departs Bacuit Bay still in the "Taihi" (Refugee) convoy now consisting of TEIFU, MANILA, EIMAN, DAIIKU, KENEI, TAIMEI, MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tankers MITSU MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU and torpedo boat HIYODORI.
22 October 1944:
The convoy is attacked by Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers.
23 October 1944:
The convoy is attacked again by Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers. MITSU MARU and HIYODORI are detached during the day.
24 October 1944:
Arrives at Gaya Bay, north Borneo. Some ships separate at this point.
26 October 1944:
At 0635, departs Gaya Bay and at 1835, arrives at Labuan (Victoria), Borneo (now Kalimantan), (now Malaysia).
27 October 1944:
At 1045, departs Labuan and arrives at Brunei later that day.
28 October 1944:
Departs Brunei in the "Taihi" convoy, now also consisting of TEIFU, MANILA, and KENEI MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and arrives at 1650, at Miri, Sarawak (now Malaysia).
30 October 1944:
At 0600, departs Miri in convoy MISHI-12 also consisting of MANILA, TASMANIA, JUNPO, TEIFU, EIMAN and DAIIKU MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tankers SAN LUIS MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and one unidentified ship (possibly TATEBE MARU) escorted by patrol boat PB-104 (ex-Dutch GM ss VALK) and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
3 November 1944:
At 1030, arrives at Singapore.
18 November 1944:
At 0645, departs Singapore in convoy SHIMA-05 also consisting of MANILA, TASMANIA, AYANAMI, KENEI MARU and SHINSEI MARU No. 5 and Navy landing ship T-149 escorted by patrol boat PB-104 (ex-Dutch (GM ss VALK), kaibokan CD-31, subchaser CH-56, auxiliary minesweeper Wa-10 and auxiliary patrol boat NITTO MARU No. 17. T-149 met the convoy after departure at 1448.
24 November 1944:
At 1105, arrives at Miri. Wa-10, NITTO MARU No. 17 are detached as well as KENEI MARU and possibly SHINSEI MARU and one other. Kaibokan CD-32 and KURAHASHI join the convoy.
29 November 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Manila.
E December 1944:
Departs Manila for St. Jacques, Indochina (now Vung Tau, Vietnam).
19 December 1944:
At 0802, departs St. Jacques in convoy SAMA-14 also consisting of BINGO, RYUSHO, SHINNO, TOYOKAWA and JUZAN MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 3 escorted by Minesweeper W 21 and kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-130 and CD-134 and arrives at Fuatachiseto later that day.
20 December 1944:
Departs Fuatachiseto and arrives at Padaran Gulf, Indochina at 1644.
21 December 1944:
Departs Padaran Gulf and arrives at Nha Trang Bay, Indochina at 1905.
22 December 1944:
At 1905, minesweeper W-21 comes alongside. At 1930, starts supplying coal. At 2140, coal supply is completed. At 2318, W-21 departs.
23 December 1944:
At 0807, departs Nha Trang Bay in convoy SAMA-14 but SHINNO MARU brakes down and at 0915, the convoy returns to port. At 1814, departs Nha Trang again.
24 December 1944:
At 0516, arrives at Qui Sande Bay, Indochina. At 0910, departs. At 2050, the No.6 ship in the convoy runs aground.
25 December 1944:
At 0900, the No. 6 ship is towed off and the convoy resumes its voyage. At 2126 arrives at Qui Nhon, Indochina.
26 December 1944:
At 1006, departs Qui Nhon.
27 December 1944:
At 1558, arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island, China Departs there at 1901.
30 December 1944:
Between 1104 and 1124, the convoy is attacked by a Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" heavy bomber, but sustains no damage.
1 January 1945:
At 1437, arrives at Saei (Tsoying), Formosa. Because of pending air raids, the convoy is ordered out of port.
3 January 1945:
At 1135, arrives at Takao. Departs there at 1255. At 1300, kaibokan CD-41, CD-60 and CD-205 join the convoy escort.
4 January 1945:
At 1700, arrives at Nanao Island.
5 January 1945:
At 1600, departs Nanao Island still in convoy SAMA-14 loaded with food and 800kg bombs.
6 January 1945:
At 1100, the convoy returns to Takao.
7 January 1945:
At 2215, sustains an air attack by USAAF 14th Air Force Consolidated B-24 “Liberator” heavy bombers in Formosa Strait and is damaged near the starboard engine room at 22-40N, 118-05E. Seven crewmen are KIA.
8 January 1945:
At 0300, flooding expands and ship begins sinking. Minesweeper W-21 is nearby. At 0800, W-21 is detached from SAMA-14 and ordered to proceed to rescue survivors. At 0830, the captain transfers to W-21. At 0850, part of the wounded are transferred to W-21. At 1050, the passengers are transferred to W-21. At 1400, all victims are transferred to W-21. At 1545, sinks. At 1600, W-21 starts searching for missing passengers. At 1817, five persons picked up by other ships are transferred to W-21. Later that day W-21 arrives back at Takao.
5 February 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 101.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Not to be confused with Army transport No. 529 (312-GRT, ’34), Army transport No. 1037 (575-GRT, ’42) or Navy requisitioned ship (B-AK) (2,880-GRT, ’44).
[2] NRT is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). It is calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's gross register tonnage (GRT). Net register tonnage (NRT) is not a measure of the weight of the ship or its cargo, and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement.
[3] LISBON MARU was refloated 24 Mar ’42, towed to Hong Kong in May ’42 and later to Singapore where she was fully repaired 15 Sep ’42.
[4] There were two categories of Kyuryosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Berend van der Wal, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
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