Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(TOYO MARU, prewar)

IJN TOYO MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2011-2012 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

8 September 1936:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima K.K. Zosensho shipyard as a 4,163-ton cargo ship for Sawayama Kisen K.K., Kobe.
24 January 1937:
Launched and named TOYO MARU.
9 April 1937:
Completed and registered at Kobe. Her Net Registered Tonnage is 2462-tons.
E April 1937:
Chartered to Osaka Shosen Kaisha on their Tokyo ~ Takao, Formosa (Kaosiung, Taiwan) route.
E 1937:
Calls at Tokyo ~ Keihin region (Tokyo – Kawasaki – Yokohama) ~ Nagoya ~ Hanshin region (Osaka – Kobe) ~ Moji ~ Kirun, (Keelung), Anping and Takao, Formosa.
E 1938:
Her Net Registered Tonnage is changed to 2,470-tons.
9 October 1939:
Requisitioned by the IJN as a transport (Ippan Choyosen). [2]
22 October 1940:
Departs Sasebo. Operates in Korean (Chosen) waters.
29 October 1940:
Arrives at Sasebo.
10 November 1940:
Departs Sasebo. Operates in southern China waters.
16 November 1940:
Arrives at Takao. Departs for Mako, Pescadores at an unknown date.
20 November 1940:
Departs Mako and operates in southern China waters.
6 December 1940:
Arrives at Takao. Departs and arrives at Sasebo at unknown dates.
20 December 1940:
Departs Sasebo. Operates in southern China waters.
25 December 1940:
Arrives at Mako. Then transfers to Takao.
28 December 1940:
Departs Takao. Operates in southern China waters.
13 January 1941:
Arrives at Takao. Departs and arrives at Sasebo at unknown dates.
2 February 1941:
Departs Sasebo. Operates in southern China waters.
7 March 1941:
Arrives at Takao. Departs and arrives at Koniya, Amami-Oshima at unknown dates.
21 March 1941:
Departs Koniya. Operates in southern China waters.
26 March 1941:
Arrives at Mako. Then transfers to Takao.
30 March 1941:
Departs Takao.
9 April 1941:
Arrives at Nagashima, Aichi Prefecture. Departs and arrives at Sasebo at unknown dates.
E May 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
28 May 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
29 June 1941:
Departs southern China waters.
E July 1941:
Arrives at Miike. Departs and arrives at Hisachi Furue, Hyuga Sea (Nada) at unknown dates.
E July 1941:
Departs Hisachi Furue.
23 July 1941:
Operates in Korean waters.
7 August 1941:
Departs Korean waters and arrives at Sasebo at an unknown date.
E August 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
15 August 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
21 August 1941:
Departs southern China waters.
E August 1941:
Arrives at Mako. Then transfers to Takao.
E August 1941:
Departs Takao.
26 August 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
18 September 1941:
Departs southern China waters and arrives at Takao at an unknown date.
E October 1941:
Departs Takao.
14 October 1941:
Operates in southern China waters.
15 October 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport under internal order No. 1256 . Her home port is Sasebo Naval Base. Attached to the Sasebo Naval District as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category. [3]
16 November 1941:
Departs southern China waters and arrives at Sasebo at an unknown date.
E November 1941:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Shanghai, China at an unknown date.
2 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai for Sasebo.
5 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo for Takao.
14 December 1941:
Arrives at Takao.
17 December 1941:
Departs Takao for Haikou, Hainan Island, China.
20 December 1941:
Arrives at Haikou.
21 December 1941:
Departs Haikou for Camranh Bay, French Indochina.
23 December 1941:
Arrives at Camranh Bay. Departs later in the day for Saint Jacques, French Indochina.
24 December 1941:
Arrives at Saint Jacques.
25 December 1941:
Departs Saint Jacques and arrives the same day at Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).
30 December 1941:
Departs Saigon for Camranh Bay.
31 December 1941:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
2 January 1942:
At 1725 departs Camranh Bay for Hong Kong.
6 January 1942:
At 1135 arrives at Hong Kong. Departs the same day at 1310 for Takao.
8 January 1942:
At 0840 arrives at Takao.
9 January 1942:
At 1005 departs Takao for Koniya, Amami-Oshima.
12 January 1942:
At 1015 arrives at Koniya.
14 January 1942:
At 0750 departs Koniya for Sasebo.
15 January 1942:
At 1655 arrives at Sasebo.
16 January 1942:
At 1350 departs Sasebo for Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
18 January 1942:
At 2225 arrives at Tokuyama.
25 January 1942:
At 1350 departs Tokuyama for Sasebo.
26 January 1942:
At 1415 arrives at Sasebo.
30 January 1942:
At 1225 departs Sasebo for Amoy (Xiamen), China.
2 February 1942:
At 1945 arrives at Amoy.
3 February 1942:
At 1350 departs Amoy for Takao.
4 February 1942:
At 0920 arrives at Takao.
7 February 1942:
At 1310 departs Takao for Samah, Hainan Island, China.
10 February 1942:
At 0910 arrives at Samah.
13 February 1942:
At 1755 departs Samah for Camranh Bay.
15 February 1942:
At 1745 arrives at Camranh Bay.
16 February 1942:
At 1555 departs Camranh Bay for Saint Jacques.
17 February 1942:
At 1710 arrives at Saint Jacques. Departs later in the day for Port Nha Be.
18 February 1942:
Arrives at Port Nha Be. Departs and arrives the same the day at Saigon.
27 February 1942:
At 1245 departs Saigon for Samah.
2 March 1942:
At 1815 arrives at Samah.
3 March 1942:
At 1205 departs Samah for Mako.
6 March 1942:
At 1510 arrives at Mako.
7 March 1942:
At 1030 departs Mako and arrives at 1850 the same day at Anping.
8 March 1942:
At 0835 departs Anping for Sasebo.
11 March 1942:
At 1900 arrives at Sasebo.
12 March 1942:
At 1425 departs Sasebo for Moji.
13 March 1942:
At 1035 arrives at Moji.
15 March 1942:
At 2030 departs Moji for Yobuko, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
16 March 1942:
At 0635 arrives at Yobuko.
17 March 1942:
At 0305 departs Yobuko and arrives at 1400 the same day at Sasebo.
21 March 1942:
At 1350 Departs Sasebo for Shanghai.
23 March 1942:
At 1310 arrives at Shanghai.
27 March 1942:
At 1020 departs Shanghai for Sasebo.
29 March 1942:
At 1335 arrives at Sasebo.
2 April 1942:
At 1155 departs Sasebo for Chinnampo, Korea (Chosen).
4 April 1942:
At 1620 arrives at Chinnampo.
7 April 1942:
At 1400 departs Chinnampo for Kure.
10 April 1942:
At 1330 arrives at Kure.
19 April 1942:
At 2000 departs Kure for Hirohata, Hyogo Prefecture.
20 April 1942:
At 1700 arrives at Hirohata.
23 April 1942:
At 1820 departs Hirohata for Chinnampo.
26 April 1942:
At 1520 arrives at Chinnampo.
4 May 1942:
At 0815 departs Chinnampo for Yokosuka.
9 May 1942:
At 1025 arrives at Yokosuka.
10 May 1942:
Assigned to a transport mission by Navy Ministry.
16 May 1942:
At 0950 departs Yokosuka for Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. Anchors awaiting convoy.
17 May 1942:
At 1040 departs from off Minato, Tokyo Bay in an unnumbered convoy also consisting of NANMAN, TOUN, and SHORYU MARUs escorted by the destroyer SAWAKAZE. Later that day, SAWAKAZE is detached S of Tenryugawa River.
19 May 1942:
At 1410 arrives at Tsukumi.
24 May 1942:
At 1105 departs Tsukumi for Kobe.
25 May 1942:
At 0830 arrives at Kobe.
28 May 1942:
At 0755 departs Kobe and arrives at 0920 the same day at Osaka.
31 May 1942:
At 1740 departs Osaka for Miike.
2 June 1942:
At 1830 arrives at Miike.
4 June 1942:
At 1520 departs Miike for Tokuyama.
6 June 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Tokuyama.
9 June 1942:
At 0700 departs Tokuyama and arrives at 1440 the same day at Mutsure.
11 June 1942:
At 1820 departs Mutsure for Mako in convoy No.123 also consisting of COLUMBIA, TOEI, CHOWA MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU.
17 June 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Mako.
19 June 1942:
At 1010 departs Mako for Manila, Luzon, Philippines in convoy No. 706 also consisting of RYUUN MARU and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer FUMIZUKI.
23 June 1942:
At 2300 arrives at Manila.
24 June 1942:
At 1110 departs Manila for Balikpapan, Borneo in convoy No. 902 also consisting of one unidentified merchant ship escorted by subchaser CH-3.
29 June 1942:
At 2130 arrives at Balikpapan.
30 June 1942:
At 2300 departs Balikpapan for Makassar, Celebes.
2 July 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Makassar.
4 July 1942:
At 1100 departs Makassar for Surabaya, Java.
6 July 1942:
At 1210 arrives at Surabaya.
14 July 1942:
At 1430 departs Surabaya for Singapore.
18 July 1942:
At 1800 arrives at Singapore.
19 July 1942:
At 1300 departs Singapore for Bintang Island, S of Singapore.
20 July 1942:
At 1120 arrives at Bintang and loads bauxite.
21 July 1942:
At 1600 departs Bintang for Singapore.
22 July 1942:
At 1500 arrives at Singapore.
25 July 1942:
At 1000 departs Singapore for Saint Jacques in convoy No. 619 also consisting of five unidentified merchant ships without escort.
28 July 1942:
At 1020 arrives at Saint Jacques.
30 July 1942:
At 1500 departs Saint Jacques for Kirun in convoy No. 424 initially bound for Mako, also consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships without escort.
E 4 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako. Departs later for Kirun.
5 August 1942:
At 1825 arrives at Kirun.
7 August 1942:
At 0620 departs Kirun for Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture.
12 August 1942:
At 1055 arrives at Fushiki.
14 August 1942:
At 0735 departs Fushiki for Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture.
17 August 1942:
At 0805 arrives at Aioi. Enters Harima Shipyard for maintenance and repairs.
10 September 1942:
Repairs are completed. At 1000 departs Aioi for Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
11 September 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Shimonoseki. Departs later at 1600 and arrives at 1640 the same day at Moji.
12 September 1942:
At 0640 departs Moji to Chirikoro, Karafuto (now Nerpichye, Sakhalin).
16 September 1942:
At 1100 arrives at Chirikoro.
25 September 1942:
At 1000 departs Chirikoro and arrives at 1300 the same day at Nishi Nokoro, Karafuto (now Vladmirovo, Sakhalin).
27 September 1942:
At 1740 departs Nishi Nokoro.
28 September 1942:
At 1015 arrives at Chirikoro.
2 October 1942:
At 0700 departs Chirikoro for Otaru, Hokkaido.
4 October 1942:
At 0600 arrives at Otaru.
5 October 1942:
At 1020 departs Otaru for Osaka.
9 October 1942:
At 0630 arrives at Osaka.
12 October 1942:
At 0610 departs Osaka for Wakamatsu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
13 October 1942:
At 0815 arrives at Wakamatsu.
14 October 1942:
At 0700 departs Wakamatsu and arrives at 0840 the same day at Moji.
17 October 1942:
At 1300 departs Moji for Yokohama.
18 October 1942:
At 1915 arrives at Yokohama.
24 October 1942:
At 0700 departs Yokohama and arrives at 0850 the same day at Yokosuka.
28 October 1942:
At 1350 departs Yokosuka for Chichi Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
31 October 1942:
At 0710 arrives at Chichi Jima.
8 November 1942:
At 1645 departs Chichi Jima for Marcus Island (Minami Torishima).
11 November 1942:
At 0850 arrives at Marcus.
24 November 1942:
At 1600 departs Marcus for Tinian, Marianas.
27 November 1942:
At 0600 arrives at Tinian.
30 November 1942:
At 1030 departs Tinian and arrives at 1230 the same day at Saipan, Marianas.
1 December 1942:
At 1610 departs Saipan for Guam (renamed Omiya Jima after its capture by the Japanese).
2 December 1942:
At 0620 arrives at Guam.
6 December 1942:
At 1600 departs Guam for Moji, unescorted.
9 December 1942:
About 640 nms NNW of Guam. Sights an unidentified surfaced submarine at 22-10N, 139-10E. Resumes her course to Moji.
E 12 December 1942:
Passes through Bungo Suido (Strait) heading north.
13 December 1942:
At 1045 arrives at Moji.
15 December 1942:
At 0700 departs Moji for Sasebo.
16 December 1942:
At 1120 arrives at Sasebo.
22 December 1942:
At 0800 departs Sasebo for Shanghai.
24 December 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Shanghai.
29 December 1942:
At 0900 departs Shanghai for Hong Kong.
1 January 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Hong Kong.
4 January 1943:
At 1000 departs Hong Kong for Saigon.
7 January 1943:
At 1800 arrives at Saigon.
11 January 1943:
At 0700 departs Saigon for Singapore.
13 January 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Singapore.
20 January 1943:
At 0830 departs Singapore for Camranh Bay.
23 January 1943:
At 0500 arrives at Camranh Bay.
29 January 1943:
At 0845 departs Camranh Bay. About 6.5 nms SE of Nha Trang, at 12-17N, 109-26E, TOYO MARU strikes a mine that fails to explode. No damage is sustained and she resumes her course to Kirun (Keelung).
3 February 1943:
At 0820 arrives at Kirun.
4 February 1943:
At 1610 departs Kirun for Kobe.
9 February 1943:
Arrives at Kobe. Departs the same day for Yokohama in convoy No. 8209 also consisting of YAMAZURU, TENSHIN, and DAICHO MARUs escorted by auxiliary gunboat DELHI MARU for latter part of passage north.
11 February 1943:
At 0910 arrives at Yokohama.
15 February 1943:
At 1150 departs Yokohama for Muroran.
17 February 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Muroran.
20 February 1943:
At 0630 departs Muroran for Yokosuka in convoy No. 2220 also consisting of GENBU, HANASAKI and SEINAN MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-18.
23 February 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Yokosuka.
28 February 1943:
At 0800 departs Yokosuka for Truk in a convoy consisting also of auxiliary cruisers BANGKOK and SAIGON MARUs escorted by destroyers UMIKAZE and NAMIKAZE.
8 March 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Truk.
11 March 1943:
At 1500 departs Truk for Moewe Anchorage, Kavieng New Ireland.
14 March 1943:
Arrives at Moewe Anchorage. Departs the same day for Rabaul.
15 March 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Rabaul.
26 March 1943:
TOYO MARU supplies some coal to auxiliary oiler KYOEI MARU.
1 May 1943:
At 1430 departs Rabaul for Palau, Carolines in a convoy also consisting of TOYU, TEIKAI, MILAN and TAIRIN MARUs escorted by submarine chasers CH-16 and CH-22. Midway CH-16 is detached and returns to Rabaul.
8 May 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Palau.
17 May 1943:
At 0700 departs Palau and arrives at 1120 the same day at Angaur, Palaus.
19 May 1943:
At 1100 departs Angaur and arrives at 1530 the same day at Palau.
23 May 1943:
At 0800 departs Palau for Moji in convoy P-523 also consisting of TEIRYU, CHINZEI, FUKKO, KACHOSAN and ARATAMA MARUs escorted by minelayer NUWAJIMA.
E 29 May 1943:
Minesweeper W-18, patrol boat PB-46 and an unknown minesweeper of the 31st Minesweeping Unit join the convoy at 29-50N, 132-02E and accompany the ships safely to the Tera-Shima Channel.
31 May 1943:
Passes Hayasui Seto at 1000. Later, the convoy arrives at Saeki. TOYO MARU departs later that day for Moji.
1 June 1943:
At 0800 arrives at Moji.
2 June 1943:
At 0800 departs Moji for Konan, Chosen (now Hungnam, Korea).
3 June 1943:
At 2100 arrives at Konan.
8 June 1943:
At 0700 departs Konan for Miike.
10 June 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Miike.
12 June 1943:
At 1330 departs Miike for Osaka.
15 June 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Osaka.
18 June 1943:
At 0700 departs Osaka for Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
19 June 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Yokkaichi.
21 June 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokkaichi for Yokosuka.
22 June 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Yokosuka.
25 June 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka for Truk in convoy No. 3625 also consisting of KOAN and SHOZAN MARU escorted by auxiliary gunboat HEIJO MARU.
26 June 1943:
About 20 nms W of Hachijo Jima, Izu Shoto (Izu Islands). LtCdr (later RearAdmiral-Ret) Thomas M. Dykers’ (USNA ’27) USS JACK (SS-259) sights the convoy. About 0427, Dykers torpedoes and hits TOYO MARU aft, at 33-13N, 139-30E. She sinks 30 minutes later sustaining only one casualty. Her survivors are picked up by auxiliary water carrier KOAN MARU.
Later, Dykers torpedoes and sinks Navy requisitioned passenger-cargo (5859 GRT) SHOZAN MARU about the same position. 60 crewmen are KIA. In attempting to torpedo KOAN MARU, USS JACK is shaken by a torpedo dropped by a Japanese aircraft and makes a crash-dive. Her crew manages to correct her dangerous diving angle and effects emergency repairs.
1 September 1943:
Removed from the Navy List under internal order No. 1823.

Authors Notes:
[1] Numerous ships bore the same name, among them were: IJA (2,225 GRT) wartime Std. 2D type and Government (3,718 GRT) cable-ship.
[2] See Zatsuyosen home page for full explanation.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.

-Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

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