Tabular Record of Movement
© 2011-2018 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2
18 November 1940:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
9 December 1940:
Departs Mako and operates in southern China waters.
16 December 1940:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Ko) category under internal order No. 980 and attached to the Sasebo Naval District as her homeport. [1]
19 December 1940:
Arrives at Takao.
11 November 1941:
Departs southern China waters and arrives at an unknown date at Yawata for more refitting.
E November 1941:
Departs Takao.
27 November 1941:
Operates in southern China waters and arrives at Haikow (Haikou), Hainan Island at an unknown date.
4 December 1941:
Departs Haikow for Samah, Hainan Island.
5 December 1941:
Arrives at Samah and departs the same day for Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Indochina (now Vietnam).
8 December 1941:
Arrives at Saigon.
14 December 1941:
Departs Saigon for Camranh Bay.
15 December 1941:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
19 December 1941:
Departs Camranh Bay for Haikow.
22 December 1941:
Arrives at Haikow.
25 December 1941:
Departs Haikow.
26 December 1941:
About 80 nautical miles ESE of Portuguese Macau. Sustains a torpedo attack from an unidentified submarine at 21-29N, 115-11E, without being hit. [2]
28 December 1941:
Arrives at Kirun (now Keelung).
30 December 1941:
Departs Kirun for Koniya, Amami-Oshima.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Koniya.
1 January 1942:
At 1200 departs Koniya for Sasebo.
8 April 1942:
At 0915 arrives at Takao.
9 April 1943:
At 1045 departs Miike and arrives at 1650 at Nagasaki.
10 April 1943:
At 1200 departs Nagasaki and arrives at 1655 at Tomie, Fukue Island, Goto Islands.
12 April 1943:
At 0825 departs Tomie for Takao. TATSUWA MARU left Tomie at the same time as civilian tanker (C-AO) SEINAN MARU. They probably join convoy No. 143 also consisting of 14 unidentified merchant ships (sailing in two parts) accompanied by destroyer KARUKAYA. Auxiliary transport SUITEN MARU and auxiliary oiler KIYO MARU are likely also part of this convoy.
19 May 1943:
The convoy arrives at St. Jacques. TATSUWA MARU departs and arrives at 1300 at Saigon.
7 June 1943:
Collides with tanker OGURA MARU No. 3 at 24-05N, 121-59E. However, damage is light and both ships resume their course to Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan) where they arrives at 1600.
21 June 1943:
At 0900 departs Kirun for Nagasaki.
4 September 1943:
Arrives at Takao. Later that day at 1135, arrives at Mako
6 October 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques. At 1945 arrives at Saigon.
E 4 November 1943:
TATSUWA MARU is detached at an unknown point for Sasebo.
8 November 1943:
At 1400 departs Sasebo for Osaka.
29 December 1943:
At 1315 arrives at Singapore.
15 January 1944:
At 0835 departs Singapore.
17 January 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Saigon.
27 January 1944:
At 1600 departs Saigon and arrives at 2020 at St. Jacques.
1 February 1944:
At 2055 departs St. Jacques for Yulin in convoy SATA-01 also consisting of auxiliary transport RAKUTO MARU and three unidentified ships, escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.
4 February 1944:
At 1620 arrives at Yulin.
6 February 1944:
At 1500 the convoy departs Yulin for Takao. Auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU joins escort and KARUKAYA is detached.
10 February 1944:
At about 2200, TATSUWA MARU is torpedoed and damaged by LtCdr Joseph W. Williams' (USNA ‘33) USS SPEARFISH (SS-190) at 21-55N, 119-30E. However, she resumes her course and steams to Takao independently.
11 February 1944:
At 1145 arrives at Takao. Undergoes temporary battle damage repairs.
22 February 1944:
At 1710 departs Takao. Later, she reverses course back to Takao.
24 February 1944:
At 1740 arrives back at Takao. Additional repairs are performed.
10 March 1944:
Repairs are completed. At 0920 departs Takao for Sasebo in convoy TAMO-09 also consisting of nine unidentified ships escorted by auxiliary minesweepers SEKI and FUJI MARUs.
11 March 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Kirun.
14 March 1944:
At 0255 departs Kirun. At 1935 arrives at Ishigaki Jima.
15 March 1944:
At 0555 departs Ishigaki Jima and at 1555 arrives at Miyako Jima.
16 March 1944:
At 0410 departs Miyako Jima. At 1120 arrives at Kerama Retto.
17 March 1944:
At 1230 departs Kerama Retto and at 1730 arrives at Nakagusuku Wan and departs there at 2338.
18 March 1944:
At 1720 arrives at Koniya.
19 March 1944:
At 0835 off Seso, Amami Oshima, torpedo boat MANAZURU joins the escort. The convoy departs Koniya at 0830.
21 March 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Sasebo.
24 March 1944:
At 1530 departs Sasebo for Osaka.
26 March 1944:
At 0530 arrives at Osaka.
30 March 1944:
At 1400 departs Osaka for Kasado Jima, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
31 March 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Kasado Jima.
1 April 1944:
TATSUWA MARU enters dock for maintenance and repairs.
17 May 1944:
Maintenance and repairs are completed. Undocked.
18 May 1944:
Departs Kasado Island for Sasebo.
22 May 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
27 May 1944:
Departs Sasebo for Mutsure Jima.
28 May 1944:
Arrives at Mutsure Jima.
2 June 1944:
E of Formosa. The convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins’ (USNA ’33) new USS GUITARRO (SS-363) en route from Pearl to Fremantle. At 0519 and 0527, Haskins makes a moonlight periscope approach and fires six torpedoes at an oiler. One of the torpedoes makes a circular run and USS GUITARRO is forced deep. Later, USS GUITARRO avoids depth charge and aircraft attacks and escapes to Australia. Haskins claims four hits and sinking an oiler, but the claims cannot be substantiated.
Raborn's USS PICUDA (SS-382) fires two torpedoes at IJA transport ARIMASAN MARU that cause her to collide with IJA landing craft depot ship SHINSHU MARU's stern. This causes a depth-charge explosion that kills about 70 men and causes rudder damage. IJA transport KASHII MARU takes SHINSHU MARU in tow. IJA transport ARIMASAN MARU is lightly damaged in the attack and heads for Kirun (Keelung), Formosa with KASHII and SHINSHU MARUs.
3 June 1944:
The convoy arrives at Kirun, Formosa.
4 June 1944:
Departs Kirun. Later that day, arrives at Takao, Formosa. Escort carrier KAIYO rejoins the convoy after brief stop at Saei (Tsoying), Formosa. Civilian tanker (C-AO) JINEI MARU joins the convoy at sea. ARIMASAN, MANILA, KASHII, TATSUWA and SHINSHU MARUs are all detached for Manila.
7 June 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Manila and docks at Cavite Naval Base’s pier.
8 June 1944:
Five troops disembark and two postal parcels are landed. Unloading operations begin.
10 June 1944:
Unloads 960-tons of explosives, other military supplies, aircraft and electrical parts. Loading operations begin.
12 June 1944:
82 troops disembark. Loads 145-tons of drinking water and 200-tons of boiler water.
13 June 1944:
Loads 1,111-tons of explosives, military supplies, machinery equipment, vehicles and other supplies. At 1855 departs harbor and tethers to a buoy in Manila Bay, at 1935.
14 June 1944:
At 0100 departs Manila for Cebu in convoy C-143 also consisting of two unidentified merchant ships escorted by submarine chaser CH-60.
16 June 1944:
At 0810 arrives at Cebu.
17 June 1944:
At 1130 departs Cebu because of threatened air attack and arrives the same day at Bantayan Island anchorage, northern tip of Cebu, at 2105.
18 June 1944:
At 0615 departs Bantayan Island and arrives the same day back at Cebu, at 1530.
19 June 1944:
At 0630 departs Cebu in P-196 convoy with HAKUSAN MARU (4351 gt) escorted by subchasers CH-3 and CH-60 and arrives at 1755 the same day at one of the many anchorages named “Looc Bay”, probably the one located W of Dinagat Island, Philippines.
22 June 1944:
At 0545 Departs Mati and arrives later in the day at Davao, at 1445. Docks at the aircraft factory pier.
23 June 1944:
One postal parcel is landed. 868 troops disembark. Loading operations begin.
28 June 1944:
Loads 2,024-tons of explosives, military supplies, aircraft and electrical parts. Later in the day loads 224-tons of supplies, one boat, one barge, 70-tons of charcoal fuel, 20-tons of water and 105 postal parcels. 333 troops embark.
29 June 1944:
At 0610 departs Davao escorted by destroyer AKIKAZE and submarine chaser CH-3. At 1624, scrapes a reef at 06-37N, 126-14E. At 1730, some flooding is noticed and damage control parties start emergency repairs. At 1800, she alters her course for Mati anchorage to continue emergency repairs and anchors there shortly after. At 1900, damage control parties still perform repairs.
30 June 1944:
At 0800, destroyer AKIKAZE transfers some lubricant oil to TATSUWA MARU. At 0950, departs Mati anchorage and arrives at 2140 in Lianga Bay anchorage.
1 July 1944:
At 0540 departs Lianga Bay for Melgar anchorage, Dinagat Island. Arrives at 1920.
2 July 1944:
At 0550 departs Melgar anchorage the same day for Manila.
3 July 1944:
At 2025 arrives at Manila. Drops anchor in the bay.
5 July 1944:
Weighs anchor and tethers to a buoy. 201 troops disembark. Loads 100-tons of drinking water and 100-tons of boiler water.
6 July 1944:
At 0720 enters the harbor and docks at a pier at Cavite Naval Base at 0810. Unloads one boat and one barge. 132 troops disembark. Begins loading operations.
7 July 1944:
Loads 150-tons of drinking water, 250-tons of boiler water and 450-tons of charcoal fuel. Later in the day, unloads 211-tons of military supplies.
8 July 1944:
At 0610 departs Manila for Yulin in convoy MAYU-05 also consisting of IJA transports MACASSAR and JUNPO MARUs escorted by Auxiliary gunboats HUASHAN (KAZAN) and PEKING MARUs.
11 July 1944:
At 2055 arrives at Yulin and drops anchor outside the harbor.
12 July 1944:
Enters the harbor to the anchor roller. Loading operations begin.
13 July 1944:
Loads 6,500-tons of iron ore and 70-tons of boiler water. Departs Yulin, arrives later in the day at Samah and begins loading operations.
14 July 1944:
Loads 147-tons of explosives, military supplies, vehicles and their related equipment. Later in the day, loads 350-tons of charcoal fuel and embarks 602 troops.
15 July 1944:
At 1210, departs Samah in convoy YUTA-09 also consisting of IJA (A-AK) TEIRYU MARU (ex-German AUGSBURG), PACIFIC, MURORAN, MACASSAR and JUNPO MARUs and two unidentified ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARUs.
21 July 1944:
Departs North San Fernando. At an unknown point, kaibokan CD-10 joins the convoy to provide additional escort. At 2255, PEKING MARU runs aground at 17-31N, 120-22E. [4].
22 July 1944:
At 1530 the convoy arrives at San Fernando.
24 July 1944:
IJN auxiliary transport HAKOZAKI MARU transfers 240-tons of charcoal fuel and 60-tons of water to TATSUWA MARU.
26 July 1944:
At 0620 Convoy YUTA-09 departs San Fernando and joins convoy MATA-25 consisting of auxiliary transports HAKOZAKI MARU and NISSHO MARU No. 18, IJA transport SHINFUKU MARU and and civilian cargo ship (C-AK) SEIGA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships, escorted by kaibokan CD-10, subchaser CH-48, auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 and an unknown warship.
28 July 1944:
The combined convoy arrives at Takao. At 1545 TATSUWA MARU moors to buoy No. 13, outside the harbor.
29 July 1944:
Enters the harbor to anchor roller. 125 troops disembark. Loads 100-tons of drinking water and 100-tons of boiler water.
30 July 1944:
Loads 380-tons of charcoal fuel (until 31 Jul), 200-tons of drinking water and 100-tons of boiler water. Embarks one passenger and takes aboard 53 funerary urns.
31 July 1944:
At 1020 departs Takao in Convoy TAMO-22 also consisting of HAKUROKU (HAKUSHIKA) MARU and five unidentified ships escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan CD-10, subchaser CH-48 and minelayer YURIJIMA.
1 August 1944:
At 1230 the convoy arrives at Kirun. TATSUWA MARU tethers to buoy No. 6 outside the harbor and then to an anchor roller. Loads 100-tons of boiler water.
4 August 1944:
At 1220 Convoy TAMO-22 departs Kirun.
8 August 1944:
At 0615, TATSUWA MARU is detached from the convoy; at 0920 she arrives at Sasebo Naval Arsenal and tethers at 1125 to buoy No. 3. 388 troops disembark.
10 August 1944:
Unloads 147-tons of explosives, military supplies, vehicles and their related equipment. At 1440 departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Yahata anchorage, Iki Island, at 2245.
11 August 1944:
At 0355 departs Yahata, makes a call at Mutsure Jima anchorage at 1330, arrives the same day at Yawata and tethers to buoy No. 2 at 1555, then to anchor roller at pier No. 8. Unloading operations begin.
12 August 1944:
Unloads 2,800-tons of iron ore. At 1735 departs Yawata and arrives the same day at Wakamatsu at 1830, tethering to buoy No. 6.
13 August 1944:
Begins to unload her iron ore cargo.
15 August 1944:
Unloads 3,700-tons of iron ore. Loading operations begin.
16 August 1944:
Loads 375-tons of steel, oil and four landing barges and their related equipment. Later in the day, loads 85-tons of drinking water and at 1545, departs Wakamatsu for Sasebo.
17 August 1944:
At 0945 arrives at Sasebo and tethers to buoy No. 3. Unloading operations begin.
18 August 1944:
Unloads 375-tons of steel, oil and four landing barges and their related equipment.
19 August 1944:
Loads 40-tons of drinking water and 100-tons of boiler water.
20 August 1944:
Loads 200-tons of drinking water and 200-tons of boiler water.
21 August 1944:
Loads 100-tons of drinking water and 100-tons of boiler water.
22 August 1944:
Loads 150-tons of charcoal fuel.
23 August 1944:
Loads 200-tons of drinking water. 282 troops embark. Complete loading operations of 2579-tons of explosives, aircraft and electrical parts.
25 August 1944:
At 0645 departs Sasebo and arrives the same day at Miike, at 1720. Drops anchor outside the harbor.
26 August 1944:
At 0825 enters Miike harbor and at 0905, docks at pier to load 78-tons of charcoal fuel and 35-tons of boiler water. Later in the day at 1910, departs Miike.
27 August 1944:
Arrives at Kagoshima Bay, S Kyushu, and at 1450 drops anchor off Chiringashima Island.
28 August 1944:
At 0400, departs Chiringashima in convoy KATA-827 also consisting of IJA transports TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3, DOSHI, ISSHIN, KINZAN, NANYO, HAKUYO, JOGU, KORYU and DAISHIN MARUs, civilian cargo ships (C-AK) KEIUN and KOTSU MARUs, IJN requisitioned cargo ships (B-AK) KEIZAN and AMOY MARUs, civilian tankers (C-AO) HORAI MARU No. 6, HORAI MARU No.7 and NANKO MARU No.1 and 15 other unidentified ships. Escorts include torpedo boat MANAZURU, minelayer NIIZAKI, subchasers CH-17, CH-18 and CH-49, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, auxiliary subchaser CHIKUTO MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HOEI MARU and auxiliary HOKOKU MARU No. 3. The convoy is bound for Kirun, Formosa but TATSUWA MARU aand TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3 both make a longer call at Naha.
30 August 1944:
At 1030 arrives at Naha. Drops anchor outside the harbor.
31 August 1944:
278 troops disembark. Loading operations begin.
2 September 1944:
Loads 15-tons of boiler water.
3 September 1944:
Enters the harbor. Loads 15-tons of boiler water.
4 September 1944:
Loads 15-tons of boiler water.
5 September 1944:
Loads 30-tons of boiler water.
6 September 1944:
Loads 15-tons of boiler water.
7 September 1944:
Loads 30-tons of boiler water.
8 September 1944:
Loads 15-tons of boiler water.
9 September 1944:
Loads 20-tons of boiler water.
10 September 1944:
Loads 15-tons of boiler water. Completes loading of 1,392-tons of explosives, military and other supplies, alcohol, mineral oil, gasoline and aircraft and electrical parts. Later in the day, loads six-tons of ethanol and 454 postal parcels. Lands two postal parcels.
11 September 1944:
100 troops embark. At 0805 departs Naha, Okinawa and arrives at 1045 the same day at the Kerama Islands, Ryukyus.
13 September 1944:
At 0045 departs Kerama in convoy KATA-817 consisting of unidentified ships and arrives at 2145 the same day at Miyako Jima.
14 September 1944:
From 0650-0735 enters Hirara harbor. 100 troops disembark.
15 September 1944:
Unloading operations begin.
17 September 1944:
81 troops embark.
22 September 1944:
Complete unloading operations of 559-tons of explosives, military and other supplies, gasoline and electrical parts. 454 postal parcels are landed.
23 September 1944:
At 0630 departs Hirara harbor. Later in the day at 1600, departs Miyako Jima for Naha.
24 September 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Naha.
25 September 1944:
67 troops embark. Loads 24-tons of boiler water. At 1500 departs Naha and arrives at 1745 the same day at Sesoko Island, northern tip of Okinawa.
26 September 1944:
At 0425 departs Sesoko and arrives at 1900 the same day at Kakeroma Island, S of Amami Oshima. Tethers to buoy No. 2.
27 September 1944:
Five troops disembark. Loads 23-tons of boiler water.
28 September 1944:
Loads 30-tons of boiler water. One postal parcel is landed. Unloading operations begin.
29 September 1944:
Two soldiers disembark and 76 troops embark. Completes unloading of 681-tons of explosives, electrical and spare parts and other supplies. Loads 24 oxygen bottles and three funerary urns.
30 September 1944:
At 0125 departs Kakeroma and arrives at 2400 the same day at Nanatsu-shima, Kagoshima Bay.
1 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Nanatsu-shima and arrives at 0655 the same day at Kagoshima. 63 troops disembark.
2 October 1944:
Seven troops disembark.
7 October 1944:
Weighs anchor and moves to anchorage area No. 7.
8 October 1944:
Moves again to the bay anchor. Loads 70-tons of boiler water. Later in the day, moves to anchorage area No. 10.
9 October 1944:
68 troops disembark. At 1450 departs Kagoshima and arrives at 1630 the same day at Chiringashima Island, S of Kagoshima Bay.
10 October 1944:
At 0325 departs Chiringashima in convoy ROKU-KITA-909 also consisting of auxiliary transport NICHIRIN (ex-British MATA HARI) MARU and civilian cargo ships (C-AK) KEIUN MARU and NISSHO MARU No. 1 and possibly other merchant ships without escort. The convoy arrives at 1715 the same day at Ushibuka.
12 October 1944:
At 0545 departs Ushibuka. At 1100, TATSUWA MARU is detached and arrives at 1500 at Sasebo, tethering to buoy No. 10. At 1615, she is towed to Sasebo Naval Yard and enters dock No. 5 at 1717. At 1800, 83 troops disembark. At 1830, the dock gates are closed.
13 October 1944:
Water is drained from the dock.
16 October 1944:
Dock is flooded with water. Undocks and tethers to buoy No. 5. Undergoes general repairs and maintenance.
17 October 1944:
Repairs and maintenance continue aboard the ship.
18 October 1944:
Repairs and maintenance continue. At 1300, towed and arrives at 1345 at Sasebo Naval Yard, dock No. 7. Dock gates are closed at 1615 and water drained at 1630. Drainage is aborted at 1800.
19 October 1944:
Drainage is resumed and completed.
20 October 1944:
Undergoes hull maintenance and repairs.
30 October 1944:
Repairs are completed. At 1600, dock flooding begins, but is aborted at 1710.
31 October 1944:
At 0545, dock flooding resumes and is completed. At 0720, dock gates are opened. She is towed at 0910. Tethered to buoy No. 1 at 1035.
1 November 1944:
Repairs and maintenance are made to her drainage pipes and double hull compartments. Water is drained from her holds, leaks are secured and other repairs performed 'til 7 Nov.
6 November 1944:
Loads 927-tons of explosives, military supplies, electrical parts and other supplies 'til 10 Nov.
7 November 1944:
Loads 200-tons of drinking water and 200-tons of boiler water.
9 November 1944:
Three postal parcels are loaded.
10 November 1944:
Loads 500-tons of charcoal fuel up to 11 Nov, 200-tons of drinking water and 150-tons of boiler water.
11 November 1944:
1,436 troops embark. At 1415 departs Sasebo and arrives at 1740 the same day at Nomozaki northern anchorage.
12 November 1944:
At 0400 departs Nomozaki and arrives at 1600 the same day at Kagoshima. Drops anchor outside the harbor.
13 November 1944:
Loads 55-tons of drinking water.
15 November 1944:
Weighs anchor and steams to a location nearer the harbor where she drops anchor again. Two troops disembark.
17 November 1944:
Due to suspicions of possible infectious disease, three soldiers are temporarily transferred to IJA hospital ship TACHIBANA MARU.
18 November 1944:
10 troops presenting symptoms of dysentery are landed.
19 November 1944:
TATSUWA MARU undergoes quarantine and disinfection procedures. Four additional troops are transferred to a hospital. However, loading operations resume. She loads 100-tons of charcoal fuel, 55-tons of drinking water and 100-tons of boiler water. 1,124 postal parcels are carried aboard.
20 November 1944:
At 0400 departs Kagoshima.
21 November 1944:
At 0300 arrives at Oshima Bay, Kakeroma Island near Amami-Oshima, Ryukyus. Drops anchor off the naval station and then tethers to No. 2 buoy. Begins unloading 929-tons of explosives, military supplies, electrical parts and other supplies. 1,444 troops disembark. Afterwards, the ship undergoes a complete disinfection procedure.
22 November 1944:
1,127 postal parcels are landed.
24 November 1944:
Loads 45-tons of boiler water.
25 November 1944:
Loads an aircraft engine, a cutter boat, and 1.31-tons of spare parts, 55-tons of drinking water and 55-tons of boiler water.
E December 1944:
Departs Kakeroma and returns to mainland Japan proper at an unknown date.
11 December 1944:
A convoy consisting of TOYOKAWA, TATSUWA and MASASHIMA MARUs escorted by TSUGA is reported off the China Coast near Chiu Shan Liehtao with Navy air group 701 planes providing air escort.
3 January 1945:
The convoy arrives at Zhoushan (Shushan) Archipelago northern anchorage, S of Shanghai.
5 January 1945:
Departs Zhoushan.
7 January 1945:
East China Sea. The convoy is sighted by "Loughlin's Loopers", a submarine wolf pack consisting of Cdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene R. Fluckey's (USNA ‘35) USS BARB (SS-220) and LtCdr Evan T. Shepard's (USNA ‘35) USS PICUDA (SS-382), later joined by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's (USNA ‘33) USS QUEENFISH (SS-393). At 0905, in high seas, Shepard's USS PICUDA heavily damages MUNAKATA MARU in the bow. She is assisted by KURAHASHI then proceeds separately to Kirun (Keelung). The convoy anchors at Shinchiku Roadstead, Formosa. At 1300, the convoy is sighted by the wolf pack and tracked. RYUHO and SHIGURE are detached and proceed to Kirun. At 1830, in dense fog, the convoy anchors temporarily on the W Formosan coast. The ships then split up and enter Takao’s port at different times.
8 January 1945:
TATSUWA MARU arrives at Takao.
19 January 1945:
At 0600, departs Takao for Moji in convoy TAMO-38 also consisting of Dof IJA shared tanker (A/C-AO) DAINAN MARU, civilian cargo ship (C-AK) BINGO MARU, IJA transports TOYOKAWA, RASHIN and SHINNO MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan IKUNA, CD-26, CD-39 and CD-112.
20 January 1945:
The convoy arrives at Nanri Island (now Fujian Putian Xiuyu) anchorage, southern China.
21 January 1945:
The convoy departs Nanri Island.
22 January 1945:
At 1600, convoy TAMO-38 arrives at Namkwan (Namquan) Bay and merges with anchored convoy MOTA-32 consisting of IJA shared ore carrier (A/C-AC) DAIKYO MARU, IJA shared transports (A/C-AK) TENSHO, SHUNSHO and DAISHUN MARUs, IJA transports SAMARANG and AIZAN MARUs and TAMON MARU No. 16 and five unidentified merchants, possibly including IJN shared transport (B/C-AK) TETSUYO MARU and auxiliary transport (ex-auxiliary minelayer) TATSUHARU MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-31, CD-132, CD-144, MANJU and destroyer SHIOKAZE and subchasers CH-19 and CH-57.
23 January 1945:
At 0402, LtCdr Fluckey's BARB penetrates the outer escort screen on the surface and enters the harbor. An unbroken line of ships at anchor, 4200 yards in length, is clearly visible. Fluckey fires a total of eight torpedoes into the target line. DAIKYO MARU is hit and her cargo of munitions detonates in a massive explosion killing 56 crewmen, 28 gunners and 360 of 558 troops; also lost were six Daihatsu and two shohatsu landing craft. SAMARANG and DAISHUN MARUs, TAMON MARU No. 16 and SHUNSHO MARU are all damaged.
25 January 1945:
Arrives at Kirun, Formosa where the merged convoy is dissolved. Departs Kirun later in the day.
28 January 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
E February 1945:
TATSUWA MARU departs Moji at an unknown date.
18 March 1945:
Departs Shanghai escorted by kaibokan UKURU, DAITO and CD-27 as a member of convoy SHIMO-01 (part 1) also consisting of general requisitioned cargo ship YUKIKAWA MARU, auxiliary transport KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU and Army transport AZUSA MARU.
23 March 1945:
At 0900, arrives at Katoku Suido. At 1025, arrives at Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea)Chinkai (Jinhae), Korea. KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU and the escorts detach.
25 March 1945:
The convoy makes a call at Moji and departs the same day for the Bonins.
27 March 1945:
The convoy arrives at Ani-Jima, Bonins. TATSUWA MARU loads raw food.
E April 1945:
Departs Bonins at an unknown date.
10 May 1945:
Off Shimonoseki, TATSUWA MARU strikes a mine, probably dropped by a USAAF 20th Air Force B-29 bomber, and founders as a result of progressive flooding. [5]
10 June 1945:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 526.
1946:
Identified as salvable and salvage operations begun. The vessel then undergoes lengthy repairs.
1947:
Owners restyled Shinnihon Kisen K. K. Port of registry remains Nishinomiya.
9 December 1949:
Repairs completed and returns to service.
10 May 1954:
While on a voyage from Maulmein (Moulmein) to Kobe with rice, goes missing after reporting in distress in typhoon conditions at 15N, 111E. Believed to have capsized. There are no survivors.
[3] Some sources credit AWAJI's sinking to LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins' USS GUITARRO (SS-363).
[4] On 28 Jul ‘44, the wreck is torpedoed and sunk by USS ASPRO (SS-309).
[5] In 1945, the U. S. Army Air Force launched a five-phased campaign known as “Operation Starvation” to mine Japan’s home waters. The USAAF used 80 to 100 B-29 “Super Fortress” heavy bombers of the 21st Bomber Command based at Tinian in the Marianas. The B-29s could carry seven 2,000 lb. or twelve 1,000 lb. mines.
Beginning on 27 March 1945 and continuing until 5 August 1945, the B-29s flew 1,529 nighttime radar sorties and laid 4,900 magnetic, 3,500 acoustic, 2,900 pressure and 700 low-frequency mines for a total of more than 12,000 mines laid in Japanese waters. These mines sank 294 ships, damaged 137 beyond repair and damaged another 239 that could be repaired. The total was 1, 250,000 tons sunk or damaged or about 75 percent of Japanese shipping available in March 1945. Only 15 B-29s were lost during the mining campaign.
Postwar, removal of these mines posed a major challenge for the Allied Occupation Forces. They pressed 269 former Japanese ships of various types into mine sweeping service to augment their own efforts.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
- Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
