© 2008-2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
3 July 1934:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding as a 6,843-ton
cargo ship for Toyo Kisen K.K., Tokyo.
22 January 1935:
Launched and named TENYO MARU.
28 March 1935:
Completed.
1935-1940:
Chartered to Mitsui Ltd. In service on Mitsui’s New York
route.
9 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
15 September 1941:
Arrives at Harima shipyard.
20 September 1941:
Begins conversion to a large specially installed
minelayer. Registered in the Kure Naval District. Captain (later Rear Admiral) Ishido Yuzo (36)(former CO of FUBUKI) is appointed Commanding Officer.
31 October 1941:
The conversion is completed. Assigned to Vice
Admiral (later Admiral) Inouye Shigeyoshi's Fourth Fleet in Rear Admiral (later
Vice Admiral) Shima Kiyohide's Mine Division 19 with minelayer OKINOSHIMA and
auxiliary minelayer TOKIWA.
15 November 1941:
Departs Kure.
2 December 1941:
TENYO MARU receives the signal "Niitakayama nobore
(Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. This signifies that X-Day
hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time).
6 December 1941:
Jaluit. Embarks troops and departs with OKINOSHIMA and NAGATA MARU.
8 December 1941: Operation "Gi”:
Assigned to the Gilbert Islands
Invasion Force that includes minelayers TSUGARU and TOKIWA carrying the 51st
Guards Unit escorted by DesDiv 29/Section 1's ASANAGI and YUNAGI. The CHITOSE
Naval Air Group provides air cover.
10 December 1941:
At 0045, TENYO MARU and OKINOSHIMA arrive at Makin
and disembark SNLF troops. By 0515, the island is secured. At 0841, auxiliary gunboat NAGATA MARU
enters the Makin lagoon and unloads seaplane construction materials. Within two days a flying boat facility is completed.
14 December 1941:
Makin. Auxiliary gunboat NAGATA MARU comes alongside TENYO MARU at Makin and loads aviation fuel.
16 December 1941:
Arrives at Roi, Kwajalein.
21 December 1941: The Second Invasion of Wake Island:
The greatly reinforced Attack Force consisting of two fleet carriers, a seaplane tender, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and 11 destroyers sorties from Roi in support of the second invasion's troop transports.
23 December 1941:
After a magnificent, but hopeless stand, Wake's grossly outnumbered American garrison is overwhelmed and forced to surrender.
24 December 1941:
TENYO MARU departs Roi for Wake Island.
29 December 1941:
Arrives back at Roi.
7 January 1942: Operation "R" - The Invasions of Rabaul, New Britain and
Kavieng, New Ireland:
TENYO MARU is assigned to the main body for the capture of Rabaul.
20 January 1942:
TENYO MARU participate in the invasion of Rabaul
with Mine Division 19's auxiliary minelayers MOGAMIGAWA MARU and TOKIWA and
minelayers TSUGARU, OKINOSHIMA escorted by DesRon 6's light cruiser YUBARI,
DesDiv 30's MUTSUKI, MOCHIZUKI, YAYOI, DesDiv 29's OITE, ASANAGI and YUNAGI and
auxiliary seaplane tender KIYOKAWA MARU.
TENYO MARU transports air base construction materials.
23 January 1942:
The invasion forces swiftly overcome light
Australian opposition and occupy both Rabaul and Kavieng.
28 January 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
1 February 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
25 February 1942: Operation “SR” – The Invasion of Lae and Salamuana, New
Guinea:
Arrives at Rabaul. Loads troops for landings at Salamaua, New
Guinea. The convoy consists of TENYO MARU and transports KONGO and KOKAI MARUs
to Lae and YOKOHAMA and CHINA MARUs for Salamaua. Armed merchant cruiser KINRYU
MARU is part of the escort providing support.
5 March 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
8 March 1942:
Arrives at Lae-Salamaua. The invasion force unloads
troops and cargo.
10 March 1942:
The Invasion force is attacked by Vice Admiral Wilson
Brown's Task Force 11, including ships of Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J.
Fletcher's TF 17. Ninety aircraft (SBDs, TBDs and F4Fs) of USS LEXINGTON (CV-2)
and YORKTOWN (CV-5) from the Coral Sea fly over New Guinea's Owen Stanley
mountain range to make the attack.
Off Lae. TENYO MARU suffers two direct bomb hits and breaks in two. The
forward section sinks, but the rear section remains afloat. KONGO MARU and
transport YOKOHAMA MARU are also sunk. Light cruiser YUBARI, seaplane carrier
KIYOKAWA MARU, destroyers YUNAGI, ASANAGI, minelayers OKINOSHIMA and
TSUGARU, minesweepers W-2 and TAMA MARU and transport KOKAI MARU are damaged.
10 March 1942:
The rear section sinks from the smokestack back. TENYO
MARU is abandoned at 06-49S, 147-02E.
1 April 1942:
Removed from the Navy List.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
