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

Elizabeth Ride has sent the Naval section of a British Army Aid Group (BAAG) Waichow Intelligence Summary (WIS 18) dated 12th February 1943. This covers shipping movements in and out of Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in World War Two during late January 1943.

Apologies for the poor legibility of the report.

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 in 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.

Locations: Whampoa Docks, Kowloon Docks, Ngau Chi Wan Dockyard

Ships mentioned: Star Ferry – Electric Star, Toyo Maru, Hakuyo [?] Maru, Kicho Maru, Tenri Maru, Meisei Maru, Gyoten Maru, Ransan – destroyer, Nanjun – customs carrier, Surote Sumo – destroyer

Miscellaneous: Nam Tau ferry pier

The Star Ferry Electric Star was built in 1933 and served until 1968. This report, “sunk by the British, was salvaged on 17 Jan 1943 and is now in the [Kowloon] Docks for repairs. This ship is 120 ft long, diesel engined.”

Further information: