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The Moji Maru and Nichimei Maru departed Penang on the 10th January in convoy S-23 escorted by an auxiliary net layer Chuko Maru and Submarine Chaser CH8.
On the 15th January Burma the convoy was attacked by B24 Liberators at the Gulf of Martaban, 50 NM south of Moulmein. The Nishimei Maru was sunk with the loss of 40 Dutch prisoners, 97 Japanese soldiers were also killed, which included Railway Engineers, plus five gunners and crewmen. Railway supplies lost included rails, hundreds picks and shovels and a locomotive.
On the Moji Maru 25 prisoners were killed but the ship was not severely damaged and it kept afloat, circling the nearby waters for three hours to rescue all the survivors.
On reaching Thanbyuzayat this group worked in the 18-kilo, 80-kilo and 100 Kilo camps. The death rate of 24% for the group was made up of 322 Dutch, 28%, 98 Americans 22%, 54 Australians 14%.
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