Manyo Maru November 1944

[Berend]

On 8 November 1944 convoy B02 departs Manila for Balikpapan. The convoy consists of IJN auxiliary oilers HISHI MARU No. 2 and KYOEI MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-2 and subchaser CH-4. IJN auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU is also part of this convoy. Was she part of the escort or only used as a transport? Apparently there were 3 other vessels assigned to escort this convoy. Does someone know which vessels these were? When did this convoy arrive at Balikpapan?

On 16 November the MANYO MARU is damaged in an air attack. During this attack her CO is killed. Does someone know how many other members of her crew were killed or wounded? During this air attack IJN oiler KYOEI MARU was sunk. Was the MANYO MARU escorting her?

Regards,

Berend.

[fontessa]

Hello Berend,

On 8 November 1944 convoy B02 departs Manila for Balikpapan. The convoy consists of IJN auxiliary oilers HISHI MARU No. 2 and KYOEI MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-2 and subchaser CH-4. IJN auxiliary gunboat MANYO MARU is also part of this convoy. Was she part of the escort or only used as a transport?

Komamiya is right. Man’yo Maru was usted as a transport ship. Acctually gunboats were almost useless for convoy escorts. (Her first major job was minelaying.)
The below auxiliary gunboats were belonged to 2nd Gunboat Division. Tthey were almost used as transport ships. 2nd Gunboat Division was deactivated on 15 March 1943. The ships below were dilectry attached to 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet on the same day.
億洋丸 Okuyo Maru, 大興丸 Daiko Maru, 萬洋丸 Man’yo Maru
The picture shown below says Man’yo Maru was reclassified as Transport on 15 March 1943. But they were officially classified as gunboats until the end.

万洋丸 Man'yo Maru
昭和18年3月15日、特設砲艦から運送船に変更
15 March 1943, Changed from a Auxiliary Ggunboat to aTtransporter

萬洋丸.jpg (128.42 KiB) Viewed 2671 times

Apparently there were 3 other vessels assigned to escort this convoy. Does someone know which vessels these were?

Unfortunately No.

When did this convoy arrive at Balikpapan?

Yes. According to Man’yo Maru TROM, she departed from Balikpapan on September 22nd. I don't know the exact date, but she had arrived at Balikpapan.

On 16 November the MANYO MARU is damaged in an air attack. During this attack her CO is killed. Does someone know how many other members of her crew were killed or wounded?

Major officers LTJG (Res.) Sato Yasuhiko 佐藤安彦 (Engineer Officer) and LT (Res.) KAMIYA Masao 神谷政雄 (Engineer Officer) were alive.

During this air attack IJN oiler KYOEI MARU was sunk. Was the MANYO MARU escorting her?

No, she was on the protected side.

fontessa

[Berend]

Hello Fontessa,

thank you taking the time to sort this out.

One thing I don't understand completely:

Major officers LTJG (Res.) Sato Yasuhiko 佐藤安彦 (Engineer Officer) and LT (Res.) KAMIYA Masao 神谷政雄 (Engineer Officer) were alive.

Are you saying all other officers didn't survive this air atttack?
I assume there is no information available about the fate of rest of the crew.

Regards,

Berend.

[fontessa]

Hello Berend,

One thing I don't understand completely:

Major officers LTJG (Res.) Sato Yasuhiko 佐藤安彦 (Engineer Officer) and LT (Res.) KAMIYA Masao 神谷政雄 (Engineer Officer) were alive.

Are you saying all other officers didn't survive this air atttack?
I assume there is no information available about the fate of rest of the crew.

My source is 渡辺博史 Watanabe Hiroshi's TROM. It says only the above. It says nothing about other crew. Unfortunately It also says nothing about the situation of the death of the captain.

fontessa