2 was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District as an auxiliary transport ship on 26 November 1941, but it almost immediately sailed for Indochina to take part in the invasion of Borneo.

[1] The naval forces, commanded by Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō, escorted the army group under General Hisaichi Terauchi.

2, carrying equipment and supplies for the naval force, arrived at Lutong on 15 December and stayed there for the remainder of the invasion, which succeeded without much resistance from the British defenders.

[1] The convoy arrived off Kuching two days later and supported the attack on the town, all the while being harassed by Dutch bombers and submarines.

[1] During one such attack, a bombing raid by three Dutch Air Force Martin B-10 bombers on 26 December, Unyo Maru No.