BAAG Naval Section Intelligence Summary, early September 1942, ship repair, maintenance and movements

Elizabeth Ride has sent the Naval section of a British Army Aid Group (BAAG) Waichow Intelligence Summary (WIS No. 5) dated 1st September 1942. This covers shipping movements in and out of Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in World War Two during August 1942.

These reports also describes 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 always 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: Taikoo Dock, Naval Dock, Kowloon & Whampoa Dock, Special Naval Dock HQ, Naval Gendarmerie

Ships mentioned: Japanese transport Hsian Yiar Maru, Maya Maru, Hospital Ship America Maru (1897-1944 – see the ship’s biography below)

Nam Hoi Maru, Hoi Chu Maru, Kong Tao Maru, Wan Yang Maru
Between Hong Kong and Macao – Ling Nam Maru
Between Canton – Hong Kong – Swatow – Amoy – Formosa – Canton Maru
Between Hong Kong and Swatow – Min Kong Maru
Between Hong Kong and Kwongchauwan – Shirogane Maru, Nam Dau Maru, Tak Ching Maru

Miscellaneous: Most Japanese merchant ships have a red cross on their funnels, all petrol stcoks have been removed from Kowloon & Whampoa Docks

 

See: http://www.combinedfleet.com/America_t.htm – a biography of the America Maru

Further information: