She was launched in 1918 at the Gusto Shipyard in Schiedam[2] for the benefit of the Gouvernementsmarine and named Gemma.

[5] On 28 January 1943, her repairs were completed and on 1 August 1943, she was designated as a special transport ship, and assigned to the Sasebo Naval District.

[4] On 1 March 1944, she arrived at Surabaya as part of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet.

[4] She spent most of the war ferrying supplies and men and assisting disabled ships between ports in and around Indonesia (Kota Bharu, Surabaya, Balikpapan, and Samarinda).

[4] On 24 September 1944, she assisted the gunboat Nankai and the Hokkai Maru, disabled by enemy mines[6][7] laid by the submarine USS Bowfin 15 miles west of Sebuku Island at 03°37′S 116°25′E / 3.617°S 116.417°E / -3.617; 116.417.