Tabular Record of Movement
© © 2011-2017 Bob Hackett and Erich Muehlthaler
Revision 3
E 1908:
Queen’s Island, Belfast, Ireland. Laid down by Harland & Wolff,
Ltd. as building number No. 407, a 3,213-ton cargo ship for the Australasian
United Steam Navigation Company, Ltd., Brisbane.
1909:
Launched and named MALLINA.
1909-1914:
Completed and placed on the Australian United Steam
Navigation Company's Rockhampton to Sydney cargo route.
1914: World War I:
Requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Serves as a store carrier and collier. HMAS MALLINA paricipates in the
Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force's occupation of German New
Guinea. Later, with HMAS AUSTRALIA, searches the Pacific for German Vice Admiral
Maximilian von Spee's squadron. During the war, HMAS MALLINA also supplies
British Royal Navy vessels patrolling off Central America.
1915:
Decommissioned by the RAN. Returned to her owners.
1915-1929:
In Australian United Steam Navigation Company's service.
1929:
Sold to Machida Shokai Kisen Kaisha of Japan. Renamed SEIKO
MARU.
1929-1934:
In Machida Shokai K. K.'s service.
31 October 1934:
Sold to Kita Nippon Kisen K. K. and converted into a
cargo-passenger ship..
8 April 1935:
Renamed SIBERIA MARU and
registered in the port of Kobe.
26 May 1935:
Put in service on the Tsuruga – Vladivostok route.
5 September 1939:
Departs Niigata.
7 September 1939:
Arrives at Seishin, Korea.
8 September 1939:
Departs Seishin. Arrives later this day at Rashin,
Korea.
14 September 1939:
Departs Niigata.
16 September 1939:
Arrives at Seishin, Korea.
17 September 1939:
Departs Seishin. Arrives later this day at Rashin, Korea.
23 September 1939:
Departs Niigata.
25 September 1939:
Arrives at Seishin, Korea.
26 September 1939:
Departs Seishin. Arrives later this day at Rashin.
30 January 1940:
Acquired by Nipponkai Kisen K. K., port of registry
altered to Tokyo.
12 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Alloted IJA No. 993.
Later converted to a Byoinsen (hospital ship).
12 November 1941:
Departs Moji.
15 November 1941:
Arrives at Shanghai.
17 November 1941:
Departs Shanghai.
20 November 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
27 November 1941:
Departs Moji.
1 December 1941:
Arrives at Chinwangtao, North China.
3 December 1941:
Departs Chinwangtao.
7 December 1941:
Arrives at Moji.
14 December 1941:
Departs Moji.
17 December 1941:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
20 December 1941:
Departs Tsingtao.
27 December 1941:
Arrives at Osaka.
28 December 1941:
Departs Ujina.
1 January 1942:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung), Taiwan.
2 January 1942:
Departs Kirun on a patient transport mission accompanied by
the 25th Medical Corps.
5 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
6 January 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
11 January 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
11 January 1942:
Departs Moji.
15 January 1942:
Arrives at Woosung (near Shanghai). Departs the same
day.
17 January 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
18 January 1942:
Departs Kirun.
20 January 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
25 January 1942:
Departs Moji.
29 January 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.
30 January 1942:
Departs Kirun.
3 February 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
5 February 1942:
Departs Moji.
8 February 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
10 February 1942:
Departs Dairen.
13 February 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
14 February 1942:
Departs Ujina.
17 February 1942:
Arrives at Fusan, Korea.
19 February 1942:
Departs Fusan.
21 February 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
22 February 1942:
Departs Dairen.
23 February 1942:
Arrives at Fusan.
28 February 1942:
Departs Fusan.
2 March 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
4 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
8 March 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
9 March 1942:
Departs Dairen.
12 March 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
15 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
17 March 1942:
Arrives at Fusan. Departs the same day.
18 March 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
22 March 1942:
Departs Moji.
25 March 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
27 March 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
4 April 1942:
Departs Ujina.
6 April 1942:
Arrives at Fusan.
7 April 1942:
Departs Fusan.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
9 April 1942:
Departs Dairen on a patient transport mission accompanied by the 9th Medical Corps.
11 April 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
12 April 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
15 April 1942:
Departs Ujina.
18 April 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
20 April 1942:
Departs Dairen.
23 April 1942:
Arrives at Osaka.
29 April 1942:
Departs Osaka.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
3 May 1942:
Departs Dairen.
5 May 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
12 May 1942:
Departs Moji.
16 May 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
17 May 1942:
Departs Dairen.
18 May 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
25 May 1942:
Departs Moji.
29 May 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
30 May 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
3 June 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
10 June 1942:
Departs Moji.
12 June 1942:
Arrives at Fusan.
13 June 1942:
Departs Fusan.
15 June 1942:
Arrives at Seishin.
16 June 1942:
Departs Seishin.
20 June 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
25 June 1942:
Departs Ujina.
28 June 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
30 June 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
11 July 1942:
Departs Ujina.
14 July 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
15 July 1942:
Departs Dairen.
18 July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
26 July 1942:
Departs Moji.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at Fusan.
29 July 1942:
Departs Fusan.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
8 August 1942:
Departs Ujina.
11 August 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
15 August 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
17 August 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
23 August 1942:
Departs Ujina.
26 August 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
30 August 1942:
Departs Dairen.
31 August 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
7 September 1942:
Departs Ujina.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
11 September 1942:
Departs Shanghai.
13 September 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
16 September 1942:
Departs Ujina.
20 September 1942:
Arrives at Chinwangtao.
21 September 1942:
Departs Chinwangtao.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
26 September 1942:
Departs Moji.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Dairen.
30 September 1942:
Departs Dairen.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
8 October 1942:
Departs Moji.
12 October 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Taiwan. Departs the same day.
18 October 1942:
Arrives at Cap St. Jacques, French Indo-China.
22 October 1942:
Departs Cap St. Jacques. The same day arrives at Saigon. Departs Saigon the same day on a patient transport mission accompanied by the 9th Medical Corps.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
29 October 1942:
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an official notice to all belligerent countries that SIBERIA MARU is employed as a hospital ship.
29 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong on a patient transport mission mission accompanied by the 9th Medical Corps.
4 November 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
November 1942:
Departs Ujina.
November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.
26 November 1942:
Departs Shanghai on a patient transport mission accompanied by the 26th Medical Corps.
29 November 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
2 December 1942:
Departs Ujina.
7 December 1942:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
9 December 1942:
Departs Hong Kong.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 December 1942:
Departs Ujina carrying the 55th Independent Engineer Battalion.
21 December 1941:
Arrives at Chinwangtao.
23 December 1941:
Departs Chinwangtao.
26 December 1942:
Arrives at Moji.
28 December 1942:
Departs Moji.
1 January 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
3 January 1943:
Departs Hong Kong.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
7 November 1943:
Departs Osaka on a medical mission.
November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
November 1943:
Departs Takao.
30 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
10 December 1943:
Departs Palau.
15 December 1943:
Arrives at Ujina.
18 December 1943:
Departs Ujina.
31 December 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
1944:
At an unknown time and place, SIBERIA MARU is rerated a transport and repainted, probably grey overall.
5 January 1944:
Departs Manila.
9 January 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
11 January 1944:
Departs Palau.
16 January 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
18 January 1944:
Departs Manila.
22 January 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
24 January 1944:
Departs Palau.
27 January 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
30 January 1944:
Departs Manila.
1 February 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
2 February 1944:
Departs Takao.
4 March 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
10 March 1944:
Departs Singapore.
13 March 1944:
Arrives at Djakarta.
1 April 1944:
Departs Djakarta.
4 April 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
5 April 1944:
Departs Singapore.
6 April 1944:
Arrives at Belawan, Sumatra.
23 April 1944:
Departs Belawan.
26 April 1944:
Arrives at Manila. Departs later the same day.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
28 April 1944:
Departs Singapore.
30 April 1944:
Arrives at Djakarta.
12 May 1944:
Departs Djakarta.
17 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
19 May 1944:
Departs Singapore.
20 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
26 May 1944:
Departs Manila.
3 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
5 June 1944:
Departs Singapore.
26 June 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
30 June 1944:
Departs Manila.
1 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
3 July 1944:
Departs Singapore.
5 July 1944:
Arrives at Djakarta. Departs later the same day.
6 July 1944:
Arrives at Palembang.
7 July 1944:
Departs Palembang.
9 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
24 July 1944:
Departs Singapore. Later anchors off Tandjoeng Api, W Borneo.
5 August 1944:
Departs Tandjoeng Api.
7 August 1944:
Arrives at Labuan.
8 August 1944:
Departs Labuan.
11 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
12 August 1944:
Departs Miri.
17 August 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
24 August 1944:
Departs Manila.
27 August 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
2 September 1944:
Departs Cebu. Arrives at Iloilo the same day.
5 September 1944:
Departs Iloilo.
6 September 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
8 September 1944:
Departs Cebu for Manila in convoy M-083
9 September 1944:
Arrives at Nasugbu Bay, Batangas Province, Luzon.
11 September 1944:
Departs Nasugbu Bay. Later this day arrives at Manila.
20 September 1944:
At 0600, SIBERIA MARU departs Manila for Baclod Bacolod, W coast of Negros Island in convoy C-203 also consisting of KOSHU MARU No.2 (866 grt) escorted by auxiliary subchasers CHa-39 and CHa-42 SHOFU and TERUKAZE MARUs (259 grt). SIBERIA MARU carries 2,270 passengers including about 1.500 military passengers and many aviation personnel headed for Bacolod Airfield on Negros Island. The units include the 124th Airfield Battalion (4th Air Division), 2nd company of the 9th Air Intelligence Unit. (4th Air Division), 153rd Airfield Battalion (4th Air Division), 32nd Airfield Company (4th Air Division), 3rd Independent Maintenance Unit of Manila Air Depot (Southern Army), 329th Independent Motor Transport Company (4th Air Army), a company of the 6th Air Signal Regiment (4th Air Army), 2nd Shipping AA Machine Cannon Regiment and 16th Transport Regiment personnel (16th Division). SIBERIA MARU also has 86 crew, 8 armed guards and 18 lookouts on board
21 September 1944:
At about 1500, SHOFU MARU receives a signal that an American carrier task force is operating E of the Surigao Strait, so at 1700, the convy shelters in Loc Bay, Masbate, Philippines.
22 September 1944:
At about 0700, supply ship IJN SHINYO MARU (4.658 grt) escorted by auxiliary minesweeper Wa-7 arrive from Cebu and join the convoy.
24 September 1944:
At 0500, the convoy departs Loc Looc Bay for Baclod.
NW of Pulanduta Point, SW tip of Masbate. At 0805, 23 aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 38 attack the convoy. They strafe and bomb SIBERIA MARU. The strafing ignites a deck cargo of automobile gasoline on upper deck of No. 2 hold and starts fires while near misses by bombs cause hull leaks and flooding. SIBERIA MARU takes on a fatal list. At 0930, six of the 8 lifeboats and 50 life rafts are lowered. At 1049, SIBERIA MARU sinks stern first at 11-54 56N, 123-10 08E. 95 passengers and 63 crew are KIA.
28 June 1945 to 4 July 1945:
Asid Gulf, Western Masbate. USS CHANTICLEER (ASR-7) conducts salvage operations on SIBERIA MARU.
4 July 1945 to 14 July 1945:
Jintololo channel, Western Masbate. CHANTICLEER searches the bottom surrounding the wreck of SIBERIA MARU, but her objective is unknown.
Authors’ Notes:
Thanks go to Gilbert Casse of France and to reader Berend of Belgium for input about USS CHANTICLEER.
Bob Hackett and Erich Muehlthaler
