Japanese Destroyer Tender

SUIRAI-BOKAN!

(Shuri Maru between 1939 and 1941- Berend van der Wal Collection)

IJN Destroyer Tender
SHURI MARU: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008 -2020 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
Revision 3

2 July 1928:
Yokosuka. Laid down at Uraga Senkyo K.K. Uraga Kojo as as an 1,857-ton passenger and cargo ship for Osaka Shosen Kabushiki (OSK) Kaisha.
26 September 1928:
Launched and named SHURI MARU.

27 December 1928:
Completed and registered at Osaka. Her gross registered (GRT) tonnage and net registered tonnage (NRT) respectively are 1,857-tons and 1,059-tons. Her call sign is JRGB. [1]
1928-1937:
In OSK's service on their route between Kagoshima, Kyushu and Naze, Amami-O-Shima and Naha, Okinawa.
1929:
Her NRT changes to 1,261- tons. [1]
1930:
Her NRT changes to 1,076 -tons. [1]
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge ("China") Incident:
Hun River. Lugouqiao, China. Japanese troops fire blank cartridges on night maneuvers at the bridge. Chinese troops fire back, but do not cause injuries. At morning roll call, the Japanese discover a soldier missing and assume the Chinese captured him. The Japanese demand entry to a Peking (Beijing) suburb to look for the soldier. The Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city. An undeclared war on China begins.
9 September 1937:
SHURI MARU is requisitioned by the IJN.
11 September 1937:
Ujina. Registered as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Kure Naval Distict under instruction No. 594. Navy Cdr Shimizu Chokichi is appointed Commanding Officer. Conversion to a gunboat by Ujina Zosen begins. Assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Hasegawa Kiyoshi 's (31)(former CO of NAGATO) China Area Fleet.
17 September 1937:
Attached to the First Gunboat Fleet under instruction No. 604.
30 September 1937:
Departs Ujina and arrives at Kure later that day.
4 October 1937:
Departs Kure.
5 October 1937:
Arrives at Sasebo.
12 October 1937:
Lies alongside the Sasebo shoreline.
13 October 1937:
Navy Cdr. Nakamura Yasuzo is appointed Commanding Officer
14 October 1937:
The conversion is completed. Equipped with 12 guns. Departs Sasebo.
16 October 1937:
Arrives at Gonoura.
17 October 1937:
Arrives at Sasebo.
29 October 1937 Departs Sasebo on a central China coast patrol.
4 November 1937:
Collides with the bow of the minesweeper W-18. Arrives at Wusong, China later this day.
8 November 1937:
Departs Wusong and returns later that day.
13 November 1937:
Departs Wusong and arrives Off Wusong. Departs Off Wusong later that day.
18 November 1937:
Departs Xu Pukou.
1 December 1937:
Attached to the Third Fleet First Gunboat Fleet. Navy Captain Nakamura Tamotsu is appointed Commanding officer.
6 December 1937:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung), Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan).
7 December 1937:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
10 December 1937:
Arrives at Tongao Tao (near Hong Kong)
From 1025 till 1345 light cruiser NAGARA lies alongside.
13 December 1937:
At 1336, alongside to port of seaplane carrier KAMOI. At 1404, starts replenishing her with boiler water. At 1525 Replenishing with boiler water is completed. At 1540, KAMOI disengages. Departs Tongao Tao later this day.
20 December 1937:
Arrives at Tongao Tao.
22 December 1937:
At 0949, alongside to port of seaplane carrier KAMOY. At 1000, starts replenishing her with boiler water. At 1232 Replenishing with boiler water is completed. At 1255, KAMOY disengages. Departs Tongao Tao later that day.
1938:
SHURI MARU is restyled SYURI MARU.
2 January 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
5 January 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
28 January 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
31 January 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
1 February 1938:
Attached to the Fifth Fleet First Gunboat Divison.
22 February 1938:
Arrives at Kirun. Enters a dock.
11 March 1938:
Leaves the dock.
12 March 1938:
Departs Kirun for Kinmen Island.
19 March 1938:
Anchors at Kinmen Island
21 March 1938:
Anchors at Kinmen Island.
26 March 1938:
Anchors at G anchorage in Kinmen Island harbor.
30 March 1938:
Departs Amoy (now Xiamen).
3 April 1938:
At 1020, departs Kinmen Island and arrives at the Amoy harbour entrance at 1104. At 1620, towed a junk offshore and delivered it to light cruiser TATSUTA. Disengaged immediately for a junk sweep. At 1850, anchored at Kinmen Island anchorage. At 1950, translocates anchorage to the Amoy harbor entrance.
12 April 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
14 April 1938:
Changes anchorage.
15 April 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
24 April 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
26 April 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
2 May 1938:
Arrives at Kinmen Island.
3 May 1938:
At 1330, anchors at Kinmen Island inner harbor. At 1535, transfers anchorage to Kinmen Island outer harbor.
7 May 1938:
At 1340 alongside to starboard of tanker TOEN MARU.
10 May 1938:
SYURI MARU participates in an amphibious assault on Amoy (Xiamen) with Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Koichi Shiozawa’s (32)(former CO of FURUTAKA) 5th Fleet consisting of CruDiv 9's MYOKO (F) and light cruiser TAMA, CruDiv 10's light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU, DesRon 5's light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 3’s NADAKAZE, SHIMAKAZE, SHIOKAZE, DesDiv 16’s KARUKAYA, FUYO and ASAGAO, CarDiv 1's KAGA, DesDiv 29’s HAYATE and OITE, SORYU with DesDiv 30’s YAYOI and KISARAGI, auxiliary seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU, collier MUROTO, CarDiv 3's seaplane tender KAMOI, auxiliaries SYURI, CHOJU, DELHI, EIKO, IKUTA, KAZAN, KURI, HAYA MARUs and DAIICHI MARU No. 8, NANSHIN MARU No. 8, NANSHIN MARU No. 31, TAIKO, YODATI and auxiliary minelayers ENOSHIMA and ENTO (MAROSHIMA).
At dawn, the 5th Fleet’s warships, including SYURI MARU, bombard Ho-tsu, Ni-chin, and Wu-tung and cover an amphibious assault landing by more than 2,000 troops of the Yokosuka, Kure and Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF). At the same time, NE of Xiamen (Amoy), Japanese aircraft from tenders KAMOI and KAMIKAWA MARU bomb bridges, roads, ferries and ships. The poorly equipped Nationalist Chinese 75th Division defenders suffer heavy casualties, are overrun by the SNLFs and withdraw.
12 May 1938:
That night, Chinese forces abandon Amoy to the Japanese.
14 May 1938:
Arrives at Amoy.
15 May 1938:
Anchors in the inner harbor of Amoy.
E 16 May ~ 4 June 1938:
Departs Amoy.
5 June 1938:
Alongside auxiliary transport KINUGASA MARU off the coast of Yangzhou.
8 June 1938:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores (now Magong, Penghu Islands, Taiwan).
14 June 1938:
Departs Mako on a South China coast patrol.
26 June 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
29 June 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
30 June 1938:
Arrives at Nan’ao Island.
1 July 1938:
Departs Nan’ao Island.
18 July 1938:
Arrives at Amoy.
19 ~ 21 July 1938:
Departs Amoy.
22 July 1938:
Arrives at Hou Di Ao. Later that day departs Hou Di Ao.
14 August 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
15 August 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
20 August 1938:
Arrives off Wenzhou Gulf. Departs Whenzou Gulf later that day.
11 September 1938:
Arrives at Kirun. Enters dock.
15 September 1938:
Attached to the First Gunboat Fleet under instruction No. 785.
18 September 1938:
Leaves the dock.
19 September 1938:
Departs Kirun on a South China coast patrol.
21 September 1938:
Arrives at Wenzhou.
23 September 1938:
Departs Wenzhou and returns later that day.
24 September 1938:
Departs Wenzhou.
4 October 1938:
Departs Mako.
7 October 1938:
Arrives at Nagayama anchorage.
12 October 1938:
SYURI MARU participates in an amphibious assault on Ta-Ya (Bias Bay), 35 miles NE of Hong Kong. At dawn, LtGen Furusho Motoo’s 21st Army, supported by the China Area Fleet’s 5th Fleet and Formosa-based and carrier-based Navy air units, make a surprise landing. Thereafter, Japanese forces continue their advance with little or no resistance and by 21 October capture Canton. The operation isolates Hong Kong and Macao.
16 October 1938:
Departs Mako on a South China coast patrol.
29 October 1938:
Arrives at Kirun.
1 November 1938:
Detached from the First Gunboat Fleet under instruction No. 895.
7 November 1938:
Departs Sasebo for North China coast patrol.
24 November 1938:
Arrives at Ryojun (Lushun, former Port Arthur, now Dalian), northern China.
27 November 1938:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
6 December 1938:
Arrives at Ryojun.
10 December 1938:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
24 December 1938:
Arrives at Ryojun.
28 December 1938:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
1939:
SYURI MARU undergoes conversion and is rerated a specially installed torpedo depot ship. [2]
13 January 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
17 January 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
6 February 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
12 February 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
13 February 1939:
Captain (later Rear Admiral Hase Shinzaburo )(44) is posted CO of gunboat SYURI MARU.
19 February 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
20 February 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
8 March 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
11 March 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
28 March 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
31 March 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
22 April 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
26 April 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
6 May 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
8 May 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
24 May 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
1 June 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
19 June 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
20 June 1939:
Navy Cdr. Masao Tachibana is appointed Commanding Officer.
24 June 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
17 July 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
21 July 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
7 August 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
11 August 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
23 August 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun. Later that day departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
1 September 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
5 September 1939:
Departs Ryojun for North China coast patrol.
23 September 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
29 September 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
15 October 1939:
Navy Captain Ari Kokoro Zashimatsu is appointed Commanding Officer
20 October 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun. Enters drydock.
9 November 1939:
Leaves the dock.
10 November 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
15 November 1939:
Reregistered as an auxiliary torpedoboat tender attached to the Kure District under instruction No. 852. Navy Captain Ari Kokoro Zashimatsu is appointed captain. Attached to the Fourth Fleet.
28 November 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
3 December 1939:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
24 December 1939:
Arrives at Ryojun.
28 December 1939:
Departs Ryojun for North China coast patrol.
21 January 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
25 January 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
10 February 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
14 February 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
3 March 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
6 March 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
24 March 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
29 March 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
18 April 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
24 April 1940:
Departs Ryojun for North China coast patrol (apparently aborted).
25 April 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
26 April 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol, but it is aborted.
27 April 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
30 April 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
20 May 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
31 May 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
20 June 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
25 June 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
14 July 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
20 July 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
1 August 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
5 August 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
17 August 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
21 August 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
9 September 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
14 September 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
10 October 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
13 October 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
15 November 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun. Captain (later Rear Admiral) Senda Kinji )(45) assumes command.
30 November 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
20 December 1940:
Arrives at Ryojun.
24 December 1940:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
15 January 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
1941:
SHURI MARU is in the 21th Torpedo Division of the China Area Fleet's 3rd Fleet with torpedo boats TOMOZURU, HATSUKARI, MANAZURU and CHIDORI. Assigned to the North Patrol Division.
20 January 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
8 February 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
12 February 1941:
Departs Ryojun for North China coast patrol.
4 March 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
10 March 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
14 March 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
15 March 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
30-31 March 1941:
Shells the North Chinese coast with torpedo boat TOMOZURU to repel Chinese insurgents.
2 April 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
9 April 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
28 April 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
2 May 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
25 May 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
28 May 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
6 June 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
9 June 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
14 June 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun and that same day departs for North China coast patrol.
1 July 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
2 July 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
6 July 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
17 July 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
2 August 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
6 August 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
19 August 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
22 August 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
1 September 1941: Tactically assigned to the Third Division of the China Fleet. Navy Cdr. Mori Tsuyoshi Jiro is appointed Commanding Officer.
3 September 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
10 September 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
7 October 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun and that same day departs for North China coast patrol.
14 October 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
17 October 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
3 November 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
8 November 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
21 November 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
1 December 1941:
Rated as a Northern Force Surveillance Unit. Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
2 December 1941:
Arrives at Weihai Wei. Later that day departs and arrives at Zhifu. Departs Zhifu later that day.
3 December 1941:
Arrives at Da Gu Chong.
9 December 1941:
Departs Da Gu Chong.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
12 December 1941:
Receives Northern Force instruction No. 232:
1 SYURI MARU should act in a timely manner, return to her specific misison and report the action schedule.
2 The Commander of the North Surveillance Unit should apply anti submarine camouflage to SYURI MARU.
Departs Ryojun.
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.Departs later that day.
14 December 1941:
Arrives at Zhifu. Later departs Zhifu and arrives at Weihai Wei later that day. Later that day departs Weihai Wei.
15 December 1941:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao, now Qingdao).
19 December 1941:
Departs Seito.
21 December 1941:
Arrives at Da Gu Chong.
22 December 1941:
Departs Da Gu Chong.
23 December 1941:
Arrives at Zhifu.Departs later that day and arrives at Weihai Wei.
24 December 1941:
Departs Weihai Wei.
25 December 1941:
Arrives at Ryojun.
30 December 1941:
Departs Ryojun on a North China coast patrol.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Zhifu (Chefoo).
3 January 1942:
Departs Zhifu and arrives at Weihai Wei later that day.
5 January 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei and arrives at Zhifu later that day.
6 January 1942:
Departs Zhifu.
7 January 1942:
Arrives at Shidao.
10 January 1942:
Departs Shidao and arrives at Long zi Dao later that day.
11 January 1942:
Departs Long Zi Dao.
12 January 1942:
Arrives at Zhifu. Later departs and arrives at Weihai Wei later that day.
12 ~ 17 January 1942:
The injured on Liugong Island boarded the ship.
17 January 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei and arrives at Zhifu later that day.
18 January 1942:
Departs Zhifu and arrives at Weihai Wei later that day.
21 January 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei.
22 January 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
26 January 1942:
Departs Ryojun for North China coast patrol. At 1600 arrives at Seito.
27 January 1942:
Arrives ar Weihai Wei.
1 February 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei and arrives at Zhifu later that day.
5 February 1942:
Departs Zhifu and arrives at Longkou later that day.
8 February 1942:
Departs Longkou and arrives at Zhifu later that day.
12 February 1942:
Departs Zhifu and arrives at Weihai Wei later that day.
16 February 1942:
17 February 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
21 February 1942:
Departs Ryojun and arrives at Zhifu later that day.
22 February 1942:
Departs Ryojun and arrives at Longkou later that day.
25 February 1942:
Departs Longkou and arrives at Miao Dao later that day.
26 February 1942:
Departs Miao Dao and arrives at Longkou later that day.
E 1 March 1942:
Departs Ryojun for a North China coast patrol.
3 March 1942:
5 March 1942:
Receives Third Division wireless instruction No. 87:
1 on 7 March 1942 NIHONKAI MARU leads departure from Seito and inspects each action section according to schedule.
2 SHURI MARU should make a round voyage to Weihai Wei on 8 March 1942 and make a round voyage on 9 March 1942 to Weihai Wei and to Seito.
6 March 1942:
Departs Zhifu and arrives at Weihai Wei later that day.
9 March 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei.
10 March 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
22 March 1942:
Departs Seito.
23 March 1942:
Arrives at Weihai Wei.
24 March 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei for S Liu Zuozhan Di Xingdong.
31 March 1942:
At 0730 SHURI MARU and TOYOHARA MARU arrive at Seito.
2 April 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
4 April 1942:
Offloads ammunition.
5 April ~ 27 May 1942:
Departs Seito for a North China coast patrol.
10 April 1942:
Assigned to the China Area Fleet’s Tsingtao Area Special Base Force. Rated as a North Unit.
25 April 1942:
Departs Seito for North Area.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
6 May 1942:
Departs Seito.
7 May 1942:
Arrives ar Weihai Wei.
11 May 1942:
Departs Weihai Wei.
28 May 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
2 June 1942:
Departs Ryojun for an unknown patrol area- probably in the Yellow Sea.
20 June 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
22 June 1942:
Departs Ryojun for an unknown patrol area- probably in the Yellow Sea.
24 June 1942:
Departs Seito.
4 July 1942:
Message: SHURI MARU should be directly vigilant when the 28th Army convoy passes Shandong Gaojia under Northern Forces wireless instruction No. 100.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
13 July 1942:
Departs Ryojun for an unknown patrol area- probably in the Yellow Sea.
19 August 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
26 August 1942:
Departs Ryojun for an unknown patrol area- probably in the Yellow Sea.
16 September 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
8 October 1942:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
10 October 1942:
Attachment to North Force is confirmed under China Fleet instruction No 396 part 2.
12 October 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
15 October 1942:
Navy Captain Kajiwara Sueyoshi is appointed Commanding Officer.
24 October 1942:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
28 October 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun.
7 November 1942:
Departs Ryojun for an unknown patrol area- probably in the Yellow Sea.
17 November 1942:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Seito.
27 January 1943:
Departs Seito for North Area and then Zhifu Longkou Area.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
19 February 1943:
Departs Seito for S Jiu Zuozhan.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Zhifu Longkou Area. Departs later this day.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao).
25 March 1943:
Departs Seito for Zhifu Longkou Area and then Huwei.
1 April 1943:
Damaged in a collision with SHUNTAI MARU in Yellow Sea 85 Ri S of Kao Chiao.
3 April 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
5 April 1943:
Departs Seito for unknown patrol area- probably in the Yellow Sea.
15 April 1943:
Departs Seito escorting a convoy.
26 April 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
7 July 1943:
Departs Seito.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Tenshin (Tientsin), China.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
16 August 1943:
Deoparts Seito for Zhifu Weihai Wei Area.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
3 September 1943:
Departs Seito for Zhifu, Longkou and then Tanggu Area.
22 September 1943:
Recalled Captain Watanabe Saburo (33) assumes command.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
1 October 1943:
Reassigned to the Navy Ministry Supply Force.
17 October 1943:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
24 October 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
29 October 1943:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
22 November 1943:
Departs Weihaiwei for Zhifu then Longkou Area.
2 December 1943:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria (now Dalian, northern China).
6 December 1943:
Departs Dairen.
15 December 1943:
Departs Seito.
18 December 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
21 December 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Seito.
17 January 1944:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
26 January 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
12 February 1944:
Departs Seito for Shao Qu.
26 February 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
7 March 1944:
Departs Seito.
10 March 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
16 March 1944:
Departs Kure.
2 April 1944:
Departs Seito and arrives at Lianyungang later this day.
5 April 1944:
Departs Lianyungang and arrives at Seito later that day.
7 April 1944:
Enters a dock.
12 April 1944:
Leaves the dock.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
18 April 1944:
Departs Seito.
20 April 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 April 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
5 May 1944:
Departs Seito.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 May 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
13 May 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Dairen.
22 May 1944:
Departs Dairen.
23 May 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
31 May 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
1 June 1944:
Departs Seito.
3 June 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
10 June 1944:
Departs Seito.
11 June 1944:
Arrives at Zhifu.
12 June 1944:
Departs Zhifu.
13 June 1944:
Arrives at Qinhuangdao.
16 June 1944:
Departs Qinhuangdao and arrives at Dagu Chong later this day.
18 June 1944:
Departs Dagu Chong and arrives at Longkou later that day.
20 June 1944:
Departs Longkou and arrives at Weihai Wei later this day.
21 June 1944:
Departs Weihai Wei and arrives at Shidao later that day.
22 June 1944:
Departs Shidao and arrives at Seito later this day.
29 June 1944:
Departs Seito.
30 June 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
5 July 1944:
Departs Seito and arrives at Yangtze River Offshore later that day.
11 July 1944:
Departs Yangtze River Offshore and arrives at Shanghai later this day. Later enters Gangnam Funa dock for enforcement.
14 July 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.
2 August 1944:
Departs Shanghai.
4 August 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
12 August 1944:
Departs Seito.
18 August 1944:
Arrives at Seito.
1 September 1944:
Departs Seito.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
9 October 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.
20 October 1944:
Departs Shanghai.
26 October 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
5 November 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
16 November 1944:
Arrives at Long Xu Dao.
27 November 1944:
Departs Long Xu Dao.
24 December 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
31 December 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
3 January 1945:
Arrives at Seito.
18 January 1945:
SYURI MARU departs Seito for Sasebo.
20 January 1945:
East China Sea. S end of Tsushima Strait, near Sasebo. At midnight, in bright moonlight, LtCdr Thomas S. Baskett’s USS TAUTOG’s (SS-199) lookouts spot an enemy ship at about 10,000 yards. Baskett approaches on the surface from the dark side. At about midnight, he fires three torpedoes and gets two hits that sink SHURI MARU at 33-45N, 128-43E.
USS TAUTOG approaches the wreckage and rescues one survivor. He identifies his ship as motor torpedo boat tender SYURI (SHURI) MARU.
Captain Watanabe and 118 crewmen are KIA. Captain Watanabe is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Notes:
[1] 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.
[2] Japanese sources conflict regarding SHURI MARU. One source suggests she was converted to a seaplane tender in September 1937 and reconverted to a transport in December 1944. Another Japanese source suggests SHURI MARU was converted to a torpedo boat tender.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan and Berend van der Wal of Netherlands.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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