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Originally Posted by GerritJ9
The only really large Japanese convoys I am aware of were the two February-March 1942 Java invasion convoys. The convoy for East Java consisted of 42 troop transports from Balikpapan; close escort was initially only two destroyers, one to port and one to starboard, though with two light cruisers ("Jintsu" and "Naka") plus destroyers as distant escorts.
The West Java convoy departed from Camranh Bay and consisted of 54 transports, plus a much larger escorting force including at least one tanker. These convoys were definitely exceptions, however. The IJN never quite grasped the benefits of such large convoys.
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GerritJ9, Thanks for your comments. The convoy I am referring to had 16 merchant ships including the Manryu Maru (one of the hellships) and was escorted by four IJN "destroyers" , one out in front, one on each flank and one tail end charlie zigzagging from side to side. It left Taiwan (Formosa) some time in late August, 1943 bound for Osaka. According to my father in law who was on board the Manryu Maru, the convoy was subjected to repeated night attacks by US submarines and only two ships survived the journey arriving at Osaka around September 1st. None of the escorts survived.