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| IJN Refrigeration Transport Ship 9,570 Tons (standard) 475' 9" x 470' 10" x 19' 10" 145m x 19m x 605m 4 x 120mm AA guns 10 x Type 96 AA guns Depth Charges   Peter Ording 2002 |
Ship History Built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation at Kobe at a cost of 4 million Yen. Laid down May 30, 1940 as transport No. 74. On February 5, 1941 named Irako and attached to the Sasebo Naval District. On August 11, 1941 launched with Captain Tsuji Eisaku as chief equipping officer. Commissioned December 5, 1941 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) with Captain Tsuji Eisaku in command for use as a food supply ship. Wartime History On December 5, 1941 departs Kobe to the Inland Sea and six days later begins loading a cargo of food stores. On December 23, 1941 arrives at Hashirajima and is inspected by Rear Admiral Matome Ugaki, Chief of Staff, Combined Fleet. On January 14, 1942 departs Hashirajima with 500 tons of cargo including vegetables and food stores and made stops at Davao and Staring Bay, Celebes, Truk, and Saipan where it loads 80 tons of sugar then returns to Hashirajima on February 7, 1942. On March 8, 1942 provisions Patrol Boat PB-1 at Kendari. Two days later provisions Asahi Maru with food and 250 tons of coal at Staring Bay. On April 9, 1942 provisions Auxiliary Gunboat Okuyo Maru at Macassar. The next day, Captain Tomizawa Fujihiko is appointed commanding officer of Irako. On May 6, 1942 departs Singapore escorted by Hatakaze bound for Yokosuka arriving nine days later. On August 9, 1942 transits Bungo Straits and again on September 28, 1942. On November 3, 1942 Irako is escorted by Nasami off Fukajima southward 32° North Latitude before departing and Irako proceeded to Truk. On November 9, at 10° North Latitude escorted by Asanagi to Truk arriving the next day. On November 24, 1942 departs Truk escorted by Oite, the next day proceeds alone towards Japan. On November 30, escorted by Nasami through the Bungo Straits to Fukajima. On December 13, 1942 escorted by Nuwajima off Mizunoko lighthouse until reaching Toi Misaki the next day. During 1943, Irako made twelve round trips from Japan to Truk. On January 12, 1943 departs Truk traveling via Bungo Straits with Zuikaku, Suzuya, Ariake, Yugure and Amagiri and Jingei. On January 23, 1943 joined by torpedo boat Hato and CH-39 off Mizunoko Lighthouse, with CH-39 detached the next day before arriving at Truk. On February 2, 1943 provisions Sanyo Maru and seven days later again provisions the same vessel then departs for Japan. Afterwards, departs Truk and on March 5, 1943 escorted by torpedo boat Hato south through the Bungo Straits. On March 5, 1943 escorted by torpedo boat Hato off Fukajima and was escorted via the Bungo Straits. The next day, Hato is detached off Toi Misaki. On March 10, 1943 rendezvoused with destroyer Oite and escorted southeast and three days later arrives at Truk. On March 15, 1943 Captain Okano Keizaburo assumes command. 30 March 1943: Joined by patrol boat PB-46 at 29-05N, 134-04E and escorted north through the Bungo Straits. 31 March 1943: PB-46 is detached off Fukajima. 14 April 1943: Joined by minelayer Yurijima off Fukajima and escorted south through the Bungo Straits. 15 April 1943: Yurijima is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki. 28 April 1943: Departs Truk for Iwo Jima escorted by destroyer TANIKAZE. 1 May 1943: Arrives at Iwo Jima. 4 May 1943: Joined by subchaser CH-35 at 30-40N, 133-40E. 5 May 1943: CH-35 is detached off Fukajima. 24 May 1943: Departs Kure for Truk with armed merchant cruiser AIKOKU MARU. At sea, joins a convoy from Yokosuka consisting of escort carriers UNYO and CHUYO escorted by Umikaze. 29 May 1943: Arrives at Truk. 28 June 1943: At 1730, IRAKO departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3628 consisting of HAKUSAN MARU escorted by destroyer Ikazuchi. 6 July 1943: Arrives at Truk. 25 July 1943: IRAKO departs Truk for Kure with cruiser AOBA in an unidentified convoy escorted by destroyers Amatsukaze and URAKAZE. 1 August 1943: IRAKO enters the Bungo Straits with AOBA, Amatsukaze and URAKAZE. Later that day, arrives at Kure. 12 September 1943: Departs Truk escorted by minelayer TSUGARU and destroyer HAMAKAZE. 18 September 1943: Arrives at Yokosuka. 19 September 1943: Captain Miyamoto Yasozo (40)(former CO of NOJIMA) is appointed CO. 4 October 1943: IRAKO departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3002 consisting of TOKYO MARU escorted by destroyer SHIRATSUYU. 12 October 1943: Arrives at Truk at 0500. 14 November 1943: At 1400, IRAKO, departs Yokosuka in fleet convoy No. 3115 with transport (ex-sub tender) HEIAN MARU and aircraft transport KEIYO MARU escorted by destroyer YUKIKAZE and kaibokan OKI. 16 November 1943: Lookouts on HEIAN MARU sight an enemy submarine travelling in the opposite direction. (probably USS DACE (SS-247). 19 November 1943: LAt 0724 (JST), tCdr (later Captain/victor of SHINANO) Joseph Enright's (USNA ’33) USS DACE (SS-247), on her first patrol, attacks the convoy unsuccessfully. Enright targets HEIAN MARU. A torpedo barely misses the bow of OKI. The kaibokan counter-attacks with depth-charges. Even HEIAN MARU drops a DC, but the USS DACE escapes undamaged. On November 23, 1943 at 3:50pm arrives Truk. On December 5, 1943 departs Truk as part of convoy No. 4205A with submarine tender Yasukuni Maru escorted by kaibokan Mikura. On December 7, 1943 joined by kaibokan Hirado joins the escort. 10 December 1943: 14 December 1943: On January 4, 1944 departed Yokosuka escorted by Shigure and Harusame bound for Truk arriving seven days later. On January 13, 1944 at Truk, provisions Heian Maru and again provisions her three days later. On January 20, 1944 departs Truk escorted by Satsuki, Akebono and Ushio. At roughly 8' 4" N, 152 40" E hit by a torpedo fired by USS Seadragon (SS-194) northwest of Truk. Hit in the starboard bow that causes medium damage and flooding in the bow and leaves the vessel adrift off the North Passage. Suzukaze departs Truk to assist. On January 21, 1944 Chokai tows Irako back to Truk escorted by Suzukaze and Ushio, arriving at 5:00pm. Undergoes temporary repairs, likely by Akashi until early Febraruy 1944 On February 13, 1944 departs Truk as part of convoy 4213 including Notoro, Tatsuura and Hibi Maru escorted by Manju, Oki and CH-31 arriving at Yokosuka on February 27, 1944. On March 3, 1944 Irako undergoes repairs at Yokosuka and then is transfered to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Yokohama and Sasebo Arsenal for additional repairs until August 1944. On July 5, 1944 assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet at Manila. On August 10, 1944 departs Imari Bay as part of convoy HI-71 bound for Singapore. The convoy includes oilers AZUSA, KYOKUTO, TEIYO, EIYO, ZUIHO, AMATSU and NIYO MARUs, HAKKO MARU No. 2, fleet oiler HAYASUI, transports TEIA (ex-French ARAMIS), AWA, NOTO, HOKKAI and Noshiro Maru, IJA landing craft depot ships TAMATSU and MAYASAN MARUs and cargo ships KASHII, NISSHO and ORYOKU MARUs escorted by destroyers FUJINAMI and Yūnagi, kaibokan Hirado, KURAHASHI, MIKURA, SHONAN, CD-11 and escort carrier TAIYO. The 631st NAG provides air cover with 12 BN5 “Kates”. 12 August 1944: 15 August 1944: 25 August 1944: 26 August 1944: Contribute
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