BAAG Naval Section Intelligence Summary, March 1943, ship repair, maintenance and movements

Elizabeth Ride has sent the Naval section of a British Army Aid Group (BAAG) Waichow Intelligence Summary (WIS No.25) dated 27th March 1943. This covers shipping movements in and out of Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in World War Two during February/March 1943.

The reports also describe time spent by vessels undergoing repairs and maintenance in a number of Hong Kong shipyards.

They also offer a wide range of other information including that concerning the Japanese Army and Air Force and other aspects of life in Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in which you may be interested. This is not usually included here. To see the full reports please refer to Further Information below.

HF: To aid research I have attempted to summarize and list the most salient points covered above each sheet of the report under three sections:-

Firstly, Locations mentioned – both shipyards in HK and ports vessels have come from or are going to in South and East Asia.

Secondly, the names of Ships mentioned. This has not been easy. My inability to read Chinese or Japanese is a clear hindrance. Plus even when in English whether typed or handwritten they are sometimes semi-legible. Any corrections or clarification would be helpful.

Thirdly, under Miscellaneous I have noted any items that I think might be of interest.

Further information regarding subjects mentioned in this report including images of the ships would be very welcome.

Sheet One
Locations: Kowloon Dock

Ships mentioned: Ryoyo Maru

Miscellaneous: fishing boats, iron trawlers, British armaments and ammunition

Locations: Shanghai, Hainan Island, Canton, Tsingtao

Ships mentioned: Luzon Maru, Hong Kong Maru, Chu Kot Maru, Shing Tin Maru, Khoon Shing Maru, Ke Kut Maru, Muk Yi Maru, Kwei Ching Maru

Miscellaneous: custom cruiser, cross river boats, scrap iron, explosives, wooden fishing boats / vessels

Locations:  Taikoo Dockyard, Tai Koo Godowns, Hainan Island, Canton

Ships mentioned: Riyo [?], Asia Maru, Gyo [?]

Miscellaneous: armed cutter, aerodrome (Hainan Island), customs cruiser

Locations: Formosa, Tsingtao, Kwangchowwan

Ships mentioned: No.2 Minato, Destroyer Goten [?], Kwang Si Maru, Gyo El [?]

Locations: Formosa, Tsingtao, Kwangchowwan

Ships mentioned: No.2 Minato, Destroyer Goten [?], Kwang Si Maru, Gyo El [?]

Locations: Naval Dock, Tsingtao, Formosa

Ships mentioned: On Lee Maru, Wo Sing (Customs Cruiser), Hoi Ping

Locations: Singapore, Hainan, Formosa, Tsingtao, Shanghai

Ships mentioned: Destroyer Tokusei [?]

Miscellaneous:Mitsui Company, Japanese Army, foodstuff, scrap iron, military supplies, small gunboat, scrap copper, explosives

Locations: Singapore, Tsingtao, Hainan Island, Shanghai, Formosa

Ships mentioned: Destroyer Tugai / Togai [?]

Miscellaneous: Mitsui Company, Naval Police Guards

Locations: Royal Navy Dockyard, Kowloon Wharves, Kowloon Dock, Indo-China

Miscellaneous: destroyer, cruiser, merchantman

Locations: Manila, Indo-China, Canton, Naval Dockyard, Japan

Ships mentioned: Neu [?] Tin Maru, Dairen [?] Maru, Nam Lee Maru, Kong Tai Maru

Miscellaneous: Dockyard Labour – recruitment, empire ship, rice, railway trucks, Moller ships

Locations: Naval Dockyard, Kowloon Government Department Direct Controlled Shipyard, Tai Kok Tsui Dock, To Kwa Wan Shipyard

Miscellaneous: dockyard workers, Naval Firing Practice, Pearl River mouth, ship flags, ferries, tug boats, river boats

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