Japanese Supply Ships To East Africa

[UMachine]

I once read of some Japanese ships bringing supplies to the Italians early in the war,Italian Somalia area I believe.Can anyone point me to some info on these events?Any help is appreciated.

[Davide Pastore]

I find it very difficult to believe. Any Japanese ships willing to reach AOI should have crossed one ocean and half, most of it closely patrolled by Royal Navy. And even if it had reached destination, the only outcome would have been to dangerously irritate Great Britain, in exchange for nothing.

Davide

[UMachine]

Davide,I just found a reference to it,Japan At War 1895-1945,Italian Japanese Relations,a single Japanese ship to East Africa,but no actual info,other than it was early 1941.I believe it carried tires,which turned out to be the wrong size.

[Davide Pastore]

I believe you, but I found it strange nevertheless.

Davide

[Martti]

Cargo ship Yamayuri Maru carried 2500 tons of fuel, 6000 tires, 1000 tons of rice, 500 tons of sugar and 200 tons of olive oil to Kismayu harbour in Italian Somaliland. It arrived at the end of february, when the british had already captured Kismayu.

Source: Bauer, Eddy: Toinen maailmansota osa 2, page 115.

[Davide Pastore]

It arrived at the end of february, when the british had already captured Kismayu.

I guess the Brits said "thank you very much".

Davide

[Jon G.]

The political implications would have been interesting. The British were going to extreme lengths to avoid war with Japan in the Far East at the time, even agreeing to closing down the Burma Road during the monsoon season.

[UMachine]

Cargo ship Yamayuri Maru carried 2500 tons of fuel, 6000 tires, 1000 tons of rice, 500 tons of sugar and 200 tons of olive oil to Kismayu harbour in Italian Somaliland. It arrived at the end of february, when the british had already captured Kismayu.

Source: Bauer, Eddy: Toinen maailmansota osa 2, page 115.

Martti,this was a few years back,but I believe the cargo,or some cargo,was delivered to the Italians.There was some contact between Italians and Japanese,at some point in this area.

[UMachine]

A quick search of Yamayuri Maru took me to The Official Chronology Of The U.S Navy in World War II.It states that the Yamayuri Maru was sunk Jan 24,1944,position 04.13S,152.22E,by USMC TBF's,supported by USN,USMC,USAAF,and RNZAF,at Rabaul in the Bismark archipelago.So,not captured at Kismayu(Chisimaio).I'm going from memory,I think it was offloaded to smaller boats.

[Davide Pastore]

So,not captured at Kismayu(Chisimaio)

Japan not being at war with Britain at the time, I suppose there was not much reason to "capture" her. She could have just unloaded her cargo, taken a "thank you" as payment, and then depart.

Davide

[Martti]

Just to clarify: I don't know if Yamayuri Maru actually entered Kismayu port, only that it was her intended destination; maybe she just turned around when the word reached her.

[UMachine]

My father-in-law met them,I'm sure they offloaded somewhere else.Britain would have a record of it if they had temporarily seized the ship,and I doubt they would have released it under the circumstances.
Sept 27,1940 Tripartite Alliance Germany Italy Japan.

[UMachine]

Stone&Stone Second World War Books,on their history page,The Invasion of British Somaliland.

"Similarly,only a single vessel arrived in Italian Somaliland with supplies during the East African Campaign---a Japanese cargo ship with tires(All of which proved to be the wrong size)and fuel(Which could not be transported inland and later had to be burned to prevent it's capture)."

Just a small insight on the problems faced by the Italians in that large region I suppose.Anyone have any idea where a record of the ship's log book might accessed?Looking for some record of an altercation that occured with crew of that ship.

[UMachine]

One ship or two?Mr.Cernuschi tells me that a ship arrived at Kysumaiu(Kismayu) on Nov 7,1940,and unloaded 1800 tons of aircraft fuel,and 6000 tires,of the wrong size.And that the British,deceived by a phony wireless message which stated that the ship carried salt as payment,was seized by HMS Dorsetshire off Ras Dante,Nov18.1940.

A further Japanese freighter voyage was either turned back or cancelled,or offloaded to smaller boats as Kismayu was going to be occupied by the British by Feb 41.

The Japanese would have had more chances to get into trouble in port.Time for more books.Start of another minor war.

[UMachine]

Small language difficulty.The ship was searched for,not seized.Log from Nov 18,1940,HMS Dorsetshire,from Kew National Archives,shows bombardement of Ras Dante,no seizure of any Japanese ship.