KAKYAKUSEN
(TEIFU MARU ex-BOUGAINVILLE)
Transport TEIFU MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2009-2010 Bob Hackett, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
1913:
Le Havre, France. Laid down at the Forge et Chantiers et Ateliers de la
Mediterranee shipyard as a 7,110 gross register ton mixed refrigerated cargo
liner for Compagnie Française de Navigation à Vapeur Chargeurs Réunis (United
Shippers).
1914:
Launched and named BOUGAINVILLE.
April 1914:
Completed.
1914-1918: World War I:
Requisitioned by the French Navy and armed.
1930-1942:
In service on Chargeurs Réunis Far East routes between
Antwerp-Haiphong and Hamburg-Shanghai. These routes are terminated by the
Japanese occupation in World War II.
3 September 1939-World War II Begins:
After the German invasion of
Poland, Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany.
25 June 1940: Franco-German Armistice:
After the Armistice,
BOUGAINVILLE becomes part of the Vichy fleet.
September 1940:
Vichy France grants Japan limited military occupation
of Indochina.
17 May 1941:
BOUGAINVILLE arrives at Saigon.
8 June 1941:
Arrives at Diego Suarez.
29 July 1941:
Under the Franco-Japanese "common defence" agreement
signed at Vichy by Deputy-Premier Admiral Darlan and Japanese Ambassador Kato,
Indo-China is "integrated" in "common defence" and the Japanese are allowed to
use Saigon as an advance base for operations in South-East Asia.
21 March 1942:
Departs Saigon for Yokohama with her French crew carrying a cargo of rice.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Yokohama.
12 April 1942:
Yokohama. The Japanese Government requisitions BOUGAINVILLE under the Right of Angary. Chartered by Teikoku Senpaku Kaisha (Imperial Steamship Co.), wholly owned by the Japanese Government. Renamed TEIFU MARU. [1]
28 April 1942:
Yokohama. Operated by a Mitsui Line captain and crew and used as a
cargo ship under civilian control.
7 October 1942:
At 0645, TEIFU MARU departs Tokyo for Moji in an unescorted convoy consisting of HAGUE, IKOMA, TETSUYO and ROKUYO MARUs.
8 October 1942:
At 1015, LtCdr Robert H. Rice's USS DRUM (SS-228) attacks the convoy. Rice fires six torpedoes and gets two hits on HAGUE MARU. She breaks in two and, at 1035, sinks at 34-01N, 135-06E. Later, TEIFU MARU arrives safely at Moji.
25 March 1943:
TEIFU MARU is at Saigon.
28 September 1943:
At 1615, convoy No. 102 departs Mutsure for Takao consisting of TEIRYU (ex-German AUGSBURG), SUEZ, BELGIUM, CHIYODA, MISAKI, TAIAN, FRANCE and YUBAE MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
29 September 1943:
At 1300, TEIFU and HAVRE MARUs depart Miike and later join convoy No. 102.
3 October 1943:
At 1925, arrives at Takao.
3 January 1944:
TEIFU MARU departs St Jacques in convoy No. 454 consisting of SHUNTEN, SUZAN (SUNGSHAN) MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
8 January 1944:
Two unidentified ships are detached from the convoy for Hong Kong.
11 January 1944:
TEIFU and SHUNTEN MARUs both run aground at an unknown China Coast location. Both are later refloated, SHUNTEN MARU on 20th January, arriving Takao 28 January. It is unclear if TEIFU MARU proceeds to Takao after salvage.
18 June 1944:
At 1307, TEIFU MARU departs Manila for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-05 also consisting of cargo/transports ARIMASAN, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Swedish NINGPO), TATSUJU, SURAKARUTA, ROKKO, DAIZEN, MIIKESAN, NICHIYO, HIDA and SEIWA MARU, fleet oiler NOTORO, and tankers TACHIBANA, SAN DIEGO, BAIEI, KENZUI, ATAGO, JINEI, AYANAMI, CERAM, OEI and TOKUWA MARUs, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, and KYOEI MARU No. 8 escorted by kaibokan CD-14 and CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38, minesweeper W-17, minelayer MAESHIMA and auxiliary subchasers CHa-22 and CHa-95 and two unidentified warships.
23 June 1944:
At 1257, convoy MI-05 arrives at Miri.
25 June 1944:
At 1915, TEIFU MARU departs Miri for Singapore in convoy MISHI-03 also consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO and tankers SAN DIEGO, NICHIYO, HIDA, FUYUKAWA, AYANAMI, KYOEI No. 8, BAIEI, NIPPO (ex-Swedish NINGPO), DAIZEN, SEIWA, SURAKARUTA, HINAGA, MANILA, ARIMASAN, ROKKO, TATSUTAMA (ex-American SS ADMIRAL Y. S. WILLIAMS), TOA, KENZUI and JINEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17, subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 6 and TOSHI MARU No. 2.
28 June 1944:
South China Sea. Off Singapore. At 2100, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Rueben T. Whitaker’s USS FLASHER's (SS-249) radar picks up the convoy. Whitaker, operating in relatively shallow water (150 feet) decides to wait until after the moon sets to make a surface attack.
29 June 1944:
At 0117, two or three torpedoes hit NIPPO MARU and two or three torpedoes hit NOTORO. NIPPO MARU breaks in two and sinks by the bow. NOTORO remains afloat, but goes dead in the water. The escorts begin blindly dropping depth charges. Whitaker, still on the surface, leaves the area on four
engines.
30 June 1944:
At 1437, convoy MISHI-03 arrives at Singapore.
9 September 1944:
At 1200, TEIFU MARU departs Moji for Miri, Borneo in convoy MI-19 also consisting of cargo ships DAIBIN, ENOURA, MATSUURA, YULIN, HAKUROKU, ARISAN, TASMANIA, SHINSEI, DAIA, NIKKO and SHUNSHO MARUs, tankers EIHO, CHIHAYA, SAN DIEGO, IWAKUNI, DAIMEI, KENZUI and MITSU MARUs escorted by kaikoban SHONAN, ETOROFU, CD-6 and CD-16, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU.
10 September 1944:
At 1212, LtCdr's Edward E. Shelby's USS SUNFISH (SS-281) torpedoed and sinks CHIHAYA MARU at 33-49N, 127-41E. The convoy immediately retires to Chinto (Chin Hajo Island) where it regroups. The escorts launch an unsuccessful attempt to find the submarine.
12 September 1944:
Convoy MI-19 departs Chinto.
17 September 1944:
MI-19 splits. SHUNSHO, NIKKO, MATSUURA, ENOURA and
KENZUI MARUs head for Keelung escorted by kaikoban SHONAN.
18 September 1944:
Convoy MI-19 arrives at Takao. Undergoes reorganization.
1 October 1944:
At 1300, TEIFU MARU departs Takao for Manila in convoy TAMA-29 also consisting of EIJIRI, TOKO, RYUEI, KOSHO and URADO MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships, escorted by torpedo boat HIYODORI, kaibokan CD-6, CD-16 and CD-20, minesweepers W-38 and W-39 and subchaser CH-61 and auxiliary subchaser CHa 95, CHa 96.
3 October 1944:
At 1703, the convoy arrives at Camiguin Island. At 1910, TEIFU MARU escorted by minesweeper W-39 are detached for Aparri, northern Luzon. At 2357, they arrive at Aparri and begin unloading. They arrive back at Camiguin Island at 1935 the next day.
6 October 1944:
At 1900, the convoy departs Camiguin Island.
10 October 1944:
Near the Cape Rena Sea. At 1335, LtCdr Donald G. Baer’s USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes EIJIRI MARU at 16-10N, 119-45E. Fires break out and become uncontrollable. Abandon Ship is ordered. Unmanned, at 1700, it runs aground on a reef and violent explosion occurs. At 1800, EIJIRI MARU sinks. The escorts drop 28 depth-charges, but LAPON is not damaged.
12 October 1944:
At dawn, the convoy reaches the Manila Bay area, but the convoy commander is reluctant to enter because of the danger of air attack, so the convoy continues southward.
N of Calavite Strait. At 1410, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea’s USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks TOKO MARU at 13.32N 128-2IE. The escorts drop 30 depth-charges, but RAY is not damaged.
13 October 1944:
The convoy arrives at Manila.
17 October 1944:
At 1820, TEIFU MARU departs Manila in the "Taihi" (Refugee) convoy also consisting of MANILA, EIMAN, DAIIKU, KENEI, DAIMEI, SHIRANESAN, ARABIA, SHINSEI and TAIKAI MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tanker KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, torpedo boat HIYODORI, subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary gunboats CHOUN and KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs.
18 October 1944:
At 0716, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) torpedoes and damages ARABIA MARU carrying 3,500 men of the IJA's 20th Infantry Division at 14-4N, 119-52E. At 1208, BLUEGILL again torpedoes ARABIA MARU. She sinks taking down 1,658 troops and 89 crewmen and gunners. At 2210, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's USS RATON (SS-270) torpedoes and sinks SHIRANESAN and TAIKAI MARUs at 12-30N, 119-10E.
20 October 1944:
At 1220, arrives at Bacuit Bay, Palawan Island, Philippines.
21 October 1944:
At 0855, the convoy departs Bacuit Bay now consisting of TEIFU, MANILA, EIMAN, DAIIKU, KENEI, TAIMEI, SHINSEI MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tanker KYOEI MARU No. 6 escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU and torpedo boat HIYODORI.
22 October 1944:
Attacked by B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers.
23 October 1944:
Attacked by B-24 bombers.
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 Island, Borneo.
27 October 1944:
At 1045, departs Labuan.
28 October 1944:
At 1650, arrives Miri. Only TEIFU, MANILA, SHINSEI and KENEI MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6 are in the convoy at this point.
30 October 1944:
At 0600, TEIFU MARU departs Miri in convoy MISHI-12 also consisting of MANILA, SHINSEI, EIMAN and DAIIKU MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and tankers SAN LUIS MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and three unidentified ships escorted by patrol boat PB-104 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
3 November 1944:
At 1030, arrives at Singapore.
3 January 1945:
Departs Takao, Formosa for the Philippines carrying 3,500 tons of rice and maize and materiel.
21 January 1945:
Takao. Vice Admiral John S. McCain’s Task Force 38 carrier planes attack TEIFU MARU. Hit by two bombs, she sinks at 22-37N, 121-15E.
Authors' Note:
[1] Also known as TAIHU MARU.
- Bob Hackett, Gilbert Casse and Peter Cundall.
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Ex-French Transports in Japanese Service
