KYUHEIKAN!
(TATSUTAKE MARU prewar)
IJN TATSUTAKE MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
Revision 3
6 April 1939:
Kobe. Laid down at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding as a 7,068-ton cargo ship for Tatsuma Goshi Kaisha, K.K., Nishinomiya.
13 November 1939:
Launched and named TATSUTAKE MARU.
29 February 1940:
Completed. Enters service on Tatsuma Goshi Kaisha’s Japan-Formosa route.
1941:
In service on Tatsuma Goshi Kaisha’s Japan-North American routes.
24 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
25 November 1941:
Yokohama. Begins conversion by Mitsubishi Jukogyo (Heavy Industries).
1 December 1941:
Registered as an auxiliary ammunition ship in the Yokosuka Naval District.
8 December 1941:
Anchored off Sasebo.
30 December 1941:
The conversion is completed. Assigned to the Inner Southern Ocean Force.
9 January 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
23 January 1942:
At Truk provides water to auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO.
18 March 1942:
At Rabaul supplies ammunition to auxiliary gunboat SEIKAI MARU moored alongside.
11 May 1942:
At Rabaul supplies ammunition to auxiliary gunboat KEIJO MARU.
1 July 1942:
Departs Truk.
10 July 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
1 August 1942:
Assigned to the Outer Southern Ocean Force.
15 August 1942:
Departs Rabaul for Truk and Yokosuka.
12 September 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 September 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
20 October 1942:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Ara Tadashi (33)(former CO KATSURIKI) is appointed Supervisor.
23 November 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 December 1942:
A new, but unknown officer is appointed Supervisor.
10 December 1942:
TATSUTAKE MARU departs Yokosuka for Truk as part of No. 1 Go convoy consisting of BANGKOK, YAMAFUKU and FLORIDA MARUs and possibly others escorted by seaplane carrier NISSHIN and probably others.
15 December 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.
31 January 1943:
At 1545, TATSUTAKE departs Rabaul for Truk in an unnumbered convoy consisting of KAGU and SHINRYU MARUs that steam unescorted.
4 February 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Truk.
6 February 1943:
Departs Truk.
12 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
19 February 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo.
15 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
1 April 1943:
Reassigned to the Eighth Fleet at Rabaul.
3 May 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Truk.
8 May 1943:
TATSUTAKE MARU departs Truk for Yokosuka in convoy No. 4508 consisting of troop landing ship MAYASAN MARU and transports KUNIKAWA and KINAI MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI.
9 May 1943:
At 0211, KUNIKAWA MARU is torpedoed by LtCdr Raymond H. Bass’ USS PLUNGER (SS-179). Two dud torpedoes hit the port bow and port stern causing light damage. At 1600, another dud is hits the ship. HIYODORI counterattacks with depth charges.
10 May 1943:
LtCdr Bass makes two attacks on KINAI MARU. At about 0400, PLUNGER torpedoes and damages KINAI MARU. TATSUTAKE MARU is ordered to take off about 4,000 troops and passengers. At 0748 PLUNGER torpedoes TATSUTAKE MARU while she is taking off troops and passengers from KINAI MARU. Many of
them are KIA. TATSUTAKE MARU sinks by the stern at 14-29N, 149-23E.
At 1253, PLUNGER again torpedoes and damages KINAI MARU. HIYODORI assists and rescues survivors of TATSUTAKE and KINAI MARUs.
11 May 1943:
At about 0600, PLUNGER finds KINAI MARU still afloat. LtCdr Bass surfaces and finishes her off with gunfire.
15 July 1943:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
Photo credit goes to Gilbert Casse of France.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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