© 2007-2009 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
26 February 1921:
Laid down as a MOMI-class destroyer at Ishikawajima Shipbuilding.
14 March 1922:
Launched and named YOMOGI.
9 August 1922:
Registered in the IJN.
1 November 1929:
LtCdr (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Baron Ijuin Matsuji (43) assumes command.
30 November 1929:
An unknown officer assumes command.
1 December 1930:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Matsubara Hiroshi (45) assumes command.
2 November 1931:
Lt (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Amano Shigetaka (47) assumes command.
1 December 1931:
Lt Amano is promoted LtCdr.
17 May 1933:
An unknown officer assumes command.
1937:
YOMOGI's funnels are raised and capped.
1939:
One of three Kampon boilers is removed reducing speed to 18 knots. Additionally, her torpedo tubes, aft 4.7-inch/45 cal main gun and minesweeping gear are removed. 25mm AA guns and depth charge racks and throwers are fitted for 60 DCs. Extra ballast is added to compensate for the loss of topside weight and to increase stability. The changes increase her displacement to 935-tons.
1 April 1940:
Reclassified as a patrol boat and renumbered 38.
1941:
PB-38 undergoes reconstruction. Her aft funnel is removed and her stem cut down to form a ramp, She is fitted to carry and launch a 46-ft Daihatsu landing craft. Her forward interior spaces are modified to accommodate up to 150 troops. The number of DCs carried is reduced to 18. Her 25mm AA suite is increased.
10 February 1941:
Designated flagship of the Sasebo Guard Unit.
7 January 1942: The Invasion of Dutch Borneo:
Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (former CO of AOBA) Tarakan Occupation Force departs Davao, Philippines carrying MajGen Sakaguchi Shizuo’s 56th Mixed Infantry Group (Sakaguchi Brigade) and the Kure No. 2 SNLF. The invasion force includes Army transports TSURUGA, LIVERPOOL, HAVANA, KURETAKE, NICHIAI, HITERU, TEIRYU, HANKOW and EHIME MARUs, Navy transports KUNIKAWA, KANO, KAGU and RAKUTO MARUs and tanker KOKUYU MARU.
The convoy’s escort is provided by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji’s DesRon 4’s light cruiser NAKA with DesDiv 2’s HARUSAME, SAMIDARE, YUDACHI and MURUSAME, DesDiv 9’s ASAGUMO and MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24’s UMIKAZE, KAWAKAZE, YAMAKAZE and the SUZUKAZE. The 21st Air Flotilla’s tenders SANYO and SANUKI MARUs provide air cover.
Rear-Admiral Hirose’s No. 2 Base Force includes patrol boats PB-38, PB-36 and PB-37 MineSweepDiv 11’s W-13, W-14, W-15, W-16, MineSweepDiv 30’s W-17, W-18 and SubChasDiv 31’s CH-10, CH-11, CH-12 and other auxiliary ships.
8 January 1942:
P-38, P-37 and SANYO MARU rendezvous with units of No. 2 Base Force (Central Force) and proceed to Tarakan, Borneo.
11 January 1942:
Hirose's Force invades Tarakan. That night, NE of the island, Dutch minelayer PRINS VAN ORANJE attempts to escape, but is sunk by gunfire from PB-38 and destroyer YAMAKAZE with heavy loss of life.
21 January 1942:
PB-38 departs Tarakan with P-36 and P-37, minesweepers W-16, W-17 and W-18 and subchasers CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 escorting 16 transports carrying the Balikpapan Invasion Force consisting of the Sakaguchi Brigade. Light cruiser NAKA provides cover with DesDiv 2's YUDACHI, SAMIDARE, HARUSAME, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MURASAME, MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, YAMAKAZE and UMIKAZE.
ABDA (American-British-Dutch-Australian) forces air reconnaissance is hampered by poor weather, but ABDA Air locates the IJN invasion force. ABDA deploys submarines USS S-40, PORPOISE (SS-172), PICKEREL (SS-177), STURGEON (SS-187), SAURY (SS-189) and SPEARFISH (SS-190) and the Dutch submarines K-XIV
and the K-XVIII to intercept the IJN force.
Timor, Kupang Bay. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) William A. Glassford's Task Force 5's light cruisers USS MARBLEHEAD (CL-12), BOISE (CL-47) and Cdr Paul H. Talbot's DesDiv 59's old destroyers PARROTT (DD-218), POPE (DD-225), JOHN D. FORD (DD-228) and PAUL JONES (DD-230) are ordered by ADBA
Command to stop the IJN invasion force before it reaches Balikpapan.
Glassford heads north to find the IJN invasion force, but BOISE runs aground on an uncharted reef in the Sape Strait. She is forced to retire for repairs. Then MARBLEHEAD develops engine trouble and can make no more than 15 knots. DesDiv 59 is detached and increases speed to 27 knots so as to arrive at Balikpapan at midnight on January 23rd.
23 January 1942: The Invasion of Balikpapan, Borneo:
Storms protect the invasion force until it is almost to Balikpapan, Borneo. At 1525, nine Dutch Martin Model 166 (B-10) bombers from Samarinda attack and hit transports TATSUGAMI and NANA MARU that has to be abandoned and later sinks. TATSUGAMI MARU continues on to Balikpapan. At 2130, the transports begin disembarking their troops.
24 January 1942:
Dutch Navy LtCdr C. A. J. van Well Groeneveld's (former CO of K-XIV) submarine K-XVIII, operating on the surface due to the weather, fires four bow torpedoes at NAKA, but they all miss. At 0045, Groeneveld attacks and sinks transport TSURAGA MARU at 00-10N, 118-0E. Nishimura moves his covering force eastwards to carry out antisubmarine sweeps.
Cdr Talbot's DesDiv 59 arrives from the south. Since Nishimura's covering forces are now to the east searching for submarines, the four destroyers are virtually unopposed. At 0316, they begin their first attack firing their 4-inch guns and launching ten torpedoes at the anchored transports, but all the torpedoes miss. Talbot orders another attack. At 0330, POPE hits and sinks transport SUMANOURA MARU. At 0335, PARROTT and PAUL JONES sink already damaged transport TATSUGAMI MARU with torpedoes. At 0345, FORD sinks transport KURETAKE MARU with gunfire and torpedoes. Two other transports suffer damage from gunfire and torpedoes but remain afloat. POPE and PARROTT sink the 2nd Base Force's patrol boat PB-37 with torpedoes and gunfire.
At 0350, their torpedoes gone, DesDiv 59 departs southward. Aboard NAKA, Rear Admiral Nishimura, alerted to the ABDA surface forces attacking the transports, abandons the antisubmarine sweep and heads west at high speed in an unsuccessful pursuit of the American destroyers.
24 January 1942:
At 0300, the Japanese begin landing troops at Balikpapan. That same day, troops invade Kendari, Celebes.
29 March 1942: The Invasion of Dutch New Guinea:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Fujita Ruitaro's (former CO of FUSO) "N" Expeditionary Force assembles at Ambon Island. Fujita's Force includes CarDiv 11's seaplane carrier CHITOSE, light cruiser KINU, DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE, torpedo boats TOMOZURU, HATSUKARI, patrol boats PB-38, PB-1, PB-2 and PB-39, SubChasDiv 54's SHONAN MARU Nos. 5 and 17 and FUKUEI MARU No. 15, oiler SEIAN MARU and transport HOKURIKU MARU plus a Special Naval Landing Force. The N Expeditionary Force departs Ambon.
31 March 1942:
Arrives at Boela, Ceram Island. Moluccas.
1-21 April 1942:
The N Expeditionary Force invades Fak-Fak, Babo, Sorong, Manokwari, Moemi, Nabire, Seroei, Sarmi and Hollandia, New Guinea.
23 April 1942:
The N Expeditionary Force is dissolved. All units return to Ambon Island.
7 August 1942:
Reassigned to the 1st Marine Escort Division. Departs Sasebo for Rabaul.
21 August 1942:
PB-38, PB-36 and PB-39 arrive at Rabaul. Participates in operations in western new Guinea.
30 November 1942:
At 1100, arrives at Shortland escorting tanker SAN CLEMENTE MARU.
7 February 1944:
At 1230, PB-38 departs Moji for Takao with torpedo boat SAGI escorting convoy MOTA-02 consisting of LIMA, RAKUYO, SHIRANESAN, OYO, NANREI, UCHIDE, TAIKEI, TOSHIN, FUYO, FUJIKAWA, CHINKAI and TESHIO MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 3 and KYOEI MARU No. 5.
8 February 1944:
Off the W coast of Kyushu. At about 1600, USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and damages army cargo ship SHIRANESAN MARU. She is detached with torpedo boat SAGI and proceeds to Sasebo.
30 miles SE of the Goto Archipelago. At 2200, SNOOK again attacks the convoy, sinks troop transport LIMA MARU at 31-05N, 127-37E with 2700 troops lost. SNOOK survives depth-charging by one or more of the convoy's escorts. The convoy heads to Kagoshima, Kyushu.
22 February 1944:
At 0300, PB-38 departs Takao with old destroyer KURI escorting convoy TAMO-12 consisting of HAKOZAKI, FUSO, KUROGANE, YOZAN, SEATTLE, CLYDE, CHINZEI, SHINYO, MISAKI, SHINKOKU (cargo), KAIKO, TSUKUBA, SAINEI, SHONAN and YAMAHAGI MARUs. [1]
23 February 1944:
KAMO MARU and an unidentified ship joins from Keelung and KAIKO MARU and six other unidentified ships split away from the convoy and depart escorted by KURI.
28 February 1944:
At 0845, arrives Reisui Bay, Korea and anchors.
29 February 1944:
At 0140, departs Reisui Bay and later that day arrives at Tomie.
9 March 1944:
Convoy MOTA-09 departs Tomie, Goto Retto consisting of liner TEIRITSU MARU and cargo ships MATSUE, DAIZEN, TAKETOYO, HAMBURG, KYOKUZAN, MURORAN, BATOPAHAT, CHUYO, BUNZAN, TAIYU, SHOEI MARUs, HINO MARU No.1 and tankers OGURA MARU No. 2 and SAN LUIS MARU escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE.
E 10 March 1944:
PB-38 joins the escort of MOTA-09.
11 March 1944:
CHUYO MARU No. 2 develops engine trouble. At 0950, PB-38 is detached to find her, but is unsuccessful and later rejoins the convoy.
13 March 1944:
Aat 1844, an enemy submarine is detected at 25-58N, 121-34E. but the escorts drop 50 depth charges and drive it off.
14 March 1944:
PB-38 detects another enemy submarine and drives it away by dropping three depth charges.
15 March 1944:
At 1845, arrives at Takao.
5 April 1944:
At 0240, PB-38 and minesweeper W-18 depart Imari Bay for Takao escorting convoy MOTA-16 consisting of OGURA MARU No. 1, TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, SANKO, HIROTA, TENSHIN and MITSU MARUs.
11 April 1944:
At 1050, convoy MOTA-16 arrives safely at Takao.
22 April 1944:
At 0615, PB-38 departs Manila with fleet tanker ASHIZURI escorting convoy MI-02 outward consisting of tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, SANKO (YAMAKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), MATSUMOTO MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No.2 and OGURA MARU No. 1.
23 April 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Pagdanan Bay, Palawan.
25 April 1944:
At 1925, arrives at Marudu Bay, North Borneo.
26 April 1944:
At 800, departs Marudu Bay and at 1755, arrives at Jesselton.
27 April 1944:
At 0915, departs Jesselton.
28 April 1944:
At 0045, arrives Brunei Bay, Borneo. Later that day at 1325, arrives at Miri.
4 May 1944:
PB-38 departs Miri with kaibokan AWAJI and torpedo boat SAGI escorting convoy MI-02 (return journey) consisting of tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, HAKUBASAN, SANKO (YAMAKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU), TENSHIN, NISSHIN, SHINCHO and MATSUMOTO MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and OGURA MARU No.1 and cargo ships KENSEI, TAIHEI, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU. At 2100, anchors in Imuruan Bay, NW Borneo.
5 May 1944:
At 0530, departs Imuruan Bay.
6 May 1944:
At 0801, LtCdr Francis D. Walker's USS CREVALLE (SS-291) torpedoes and sinks NISSHIN MARU at 07-19N, 116-25E
7 May 1944:
At 2000, anchors Ulugan Bay, Palawan.
8 May 1944:
At 1130, departs Ulugan Bay.
10 May 1944:
At 1330, arrives at Manila. KENSEI, TAIHEI, TENSHIN, AKAGISAN and TAIYU MARUs and passenger ship KURENAI MARU are detached.
13 May 1944:
At 0552, departs Manila, The convoy is reinforced by auxiliary gunboats PEKING and CHOJUSAN MARUs. Cargo ship SEISHO MARU joins.
16 May 1944:
At 1705, arrives Takao. SEISHO, HAKUBASAN and MATSUMOTO MARUs detach as well as CHOJUSAN MARU.
17 May 1944:
At 1527, departs Takao.
18 May 1944:
At 1520, arrives at Keelung. KAMO, CHIKUZEN and CHOSAN MARUs join along with old destroyer HASU.
20 May 1944:
At 1625, arrives at Shushan Islands and departs at 2357.
23 May 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
3 June 1944:
PB-38 departs Imari Bay for Miri, Borneo with kaibokan CD-18, minesweeper W-17, torpedo boat SAGI and four unidentified escorts escorting convoy MI-05 consisting of KENEI, HINAGA, NIPPO, FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU and SHOEI MARU and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, TOA, CERAM, SANKO (YAMAKO), AYAKIRI, AYANAMI, OEI, TOKUWA, TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARIFU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler NOTORO plus thirteen other unidentified ships.
11 June 1944:
At 0645, PB-38 departs Takao with minesweepers W-17, W-18, minelayer MAESHIMA, torpedo boat SAGI, auxiliary subchaser CHa-95 and four unidentified warships escorting convoy MI-05 joins consisting of KENEI, HINAGA, NIPPO, FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU and SHOEI MARU, tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, TOA, CERAM, SANKO (YAMAKO), AYAKIRI, AYANAMI, OEI, TOKUWA, TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARIFU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler NOTORO plus thirteen
other unidentified ships.
13 June 1944:
At 1555, LtCdr John D. Crowley's USS FLIER (SS-250) torpedoes and damages MARIFU MARU at 15-57N, 119-42E. The ship is taken in tow by MIIKESAN MARU and later reaches Manila.
15 June 1944:
The convoy arrives Manila. Many ships are detached.
18 June 1944:
PB-38 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-14 and CD-18, torpedo boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17, minelayer MAESHIMA, auxiliary subchasers CHa-22 and CHa-95 and two unidentified warships escorting convoy MI-05 consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO, tankers TACHIBANA, SAN DIEGO, BAIEI, KENZUI, ATAGO, JINEI, AYANAMI, CERAM, OEI and TOKUWA MARUs, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, and KYOEI MARU No. 8 and cargo/transports ARIMASAN, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Chinese NINGPO), TATSUJU, SURAKARUTA, TEIFU, ROKKO, DAIZEN, MIIKESAN, NICHIYO, HIDA and SEIWA MARUs.
23 June 1944:
At 1257, arrives at Miri.
27 June 1944:
At 1650, PB-38 departs Miri for Moji with kaibokan CD-14 and minesweeper W-18 escorting convoy MI-06 consisting of OGURA MARU No. 2, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, UNKAI MARU No. 5, MATSUMOTO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA, KOTOKU, NICHINAN, NANSEI, ATAGO, ZUIHO and BAIEI MARUs.
2 July 1944:
At 0845, arrives at Manila. Later that day, PB-38 departs Manila with CD-14 and W-18 escorting convoy MI-06 now consisting of tankers ATAGO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA and ZUIHO MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 5, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and OGURA MARU No. 2 and transports TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO, YAGI and probably PACIFIC and MURORAN MARUs.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao. PACIFIC and MURORAN MARUs detach and CD-8 and patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 join the convoy.
17 July 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Moji.
26 July 1944:
At 0600, PB-38 departs Imari Bay for Miri with kaibokan MATSUWA, CD-14, minesweeper W-18, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs escorting convoy MI-13 consisting of tankers SHINCHO, TEIKON, TOKUWA, KYOEI and ATAGO MARUs and cargo ships HIYORI, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, URAL, SHIROTAE, KOKUSEI, CHINA, HIGANE, MATSUURA, RISSHUN and ATLAS MARUs and
SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and OGURA MARU No. 2.
31 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao. SHIROTAE, CHINA and MATSUURAs are detached and tankers SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs and cargo ship SHINKO MARU join the convoy. TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and CHOHAKUSAN MARU are detached from the escort and replaced by kaibokan KUSAGAKI and YASHIRO and destroyer ASAKAZE. Naval Transport T-3 also joins.
4 August 1944:
At 0830, the reconstituted convoy departs Takao for Manila.
7 August 1944:
At 2205, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskin's USS GUITARRO (SS-363) torpedoes and sinks kaibokan KUSAGAKI is at 14-50N, 119-57E. 8 August 1944:
At 0900, the convoy arrives at Manila.
11 August 1944:
At 2100, PB-38 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-4, subchasers CH-33 and CH-30 escorting the Miri leg of convoy MI-13 that consists of SHOEI, HIYORI, KUNIYAMA, URAL, SHINSEI MARU No. 1, HIGANE MARUs and oilers SHINCHO, SHINPO, ZUIYO, TEIKON, OGURA MARU No. 2, TOKUWA, KYOEI and ATAGO MARUs.
12 August 1944:
At 0730, Cdr Frank G. Selby's USS PUFFER (SS-268) torpedoes and sinks SHINPO MARU at 13-18N, 120-11E. At 0733, Selby torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU at the same location. The convoy shelters in Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro.
14 August 1944:
At 0700, departs Paluan Bay.
18 August 1944:
At 1700, the convoy arrives at Miri.
19 August 1944:
PB-38 and kaibokan CD-14 depart Miri escorting convoy MISHI-07 consisting of HIYORI, NICHIWA, URAL, HIGANE and SHOEI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No.1 and tankers KYOEI and SHINCHO MARUs.
21 August 1944:
After the escorts attack an enemy submarine without loss, the convoy arrives at Kuching.
29 August 1944:
At 0830, PB-38 departs Miri, Borneo with kaibokan CD-14 and subchaser CH-20 escorting convoy MI-14 consisting of KENSEI, IIDA, JUZAN, CHUKA and SURAKARUTA MARUs and oilers ATAGO, OGURA MARU No. 2 and TOKUWA MARUs.
5 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila. The convoy is reformed to consist of TOKUSHIMA, ENOSHIMA, MIHO, KENSEI, KEISHU MARUs and oilers ATAGO, OGURA MARU No. 2, and TOKUWA MARU with THE same escorts.
9 September 1944:
At 1600, departs Manila. En route north met up with Minesweepers W-38 and W-39.
16 September 1944:
At 0440, departs Basco Bay, Batan Island, Philippines. At 1355, TOKUSHIMA MARU is torpedoed and sunk at 21-57N, 121-35E. The explosion damages nearby oiler OGURA MARU No. 2. She stops for repairs, but at 1515, is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Louis D. McGregor's USS REDFISH (SS-395) at 21-42N, 121-41E.
17 September 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. CH-20 is detached from the convoy.
19 September 1944:
At 0705, PB-38 and PB-102 depart Imari escorting an unnumbered convoy consisting of HIROTA, UNZEN and ZUIKAI MARUs.
22 September 1944:
At 1246, anchors off Taikei on the China coast.
23 September 1944:
At 0715, departs Taikei.
25 September 1944:
At 1640, arrives at Saei, SW Formosa.
18 October 1944:
At 0700, PB-38, PB-103 and CD-38 depart Imari Bay near Sasebo via Cape 8t. Jacques, Indo-China for Miri with kaibokan CD-14, CD-20 CD-34, CD-39 and CD-46 escorting convoy MI-23 consisting of EBARA, MUNEKATA, NISSHO, MATSUMOTO, KOSHIN, EININ (EIJIN), RITSUEI, YAMASONO, ENRYAKU (ENREKI), SHOEI, HIROTA, UNSEN, YOKAI and SHIROTAE MARUs and YUZAN MARU No. 2.
20 October 1944:
Anchors in a bay off South Korea.
22 October 1944:
At the Shushan anchorage, E of Shanghai.
24 October 1944:
75 miles ENE of Foochow, China. At 1000, PB-38 and PB-103 are detached for Takao escorting HIROTA, UNSEN and YOKAI MARUs.
4 November 1944:
Luzon Strait. LtCdr Robert E. Ward's USS SAILFISH (SS-192) damages destroyer HARUKAZE and landing ship T-111 at 20-08N, 121-43E. PB-38 takes HARUKAZE in tow.
5 November 1944:
At 1303, USN codebreakers intercept a message from HARUKAZE that says "... we were torpedoed by an enemy submarine in position 20-08N, 121-43E. One torpedo hit us on the after port side -----beams No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 ------aft of the mast. Cannot make way. Although about 3 tons of water per hour is coming in through the propellor shaft we are able to displace it so there is no danger of sinking. Patrol Boat 38 has us in tow and is proceeding to Takao. There are 67 persons killed or unaccounted for, 18 serioulsy wounded requiring hospitalization."
6 November 1944:
PB-38 and PB-102 departs Takao for Hong Kong escorting convoy HO-04 consisting of nine unidentified merchant ships. For unclear reasons, possibly an impending air raid, the convoy turns back to Takao at 2400.
7 November 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
12 November 1944:
At 1800, PB-38 and PB-101 depart Takao escorting convoy TAMA 31B consisting of MANJU MARU and five unidentified Navy LST's and one Army LST.
15 November 1944:
Anchors off W coast of Formosa because of fears of air attack.
19 November 1944:
At 1700, anchors Santiago Island Strait at the mouth of Lingayan Gulf. That evening, attacked by 27 Grumman carrier aircraft that inflict only slight damage.
20 November 1944:
At 1030, departs Santiago Island Strait.
21 November 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
23 November 1944:
At 1200, PB-38 departs Manila for Takao with patrol boat No. 102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) and subchaser CH-33 escorting convoy MATA-34 consisting only of transport MANJU MARU.
24 November 1944:
Luzon Strait, 100 miles N of Cape Engano. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral/COMSUBPAC) John H. Maurer’s submerged USS ATULE (SS-403) sights a transport and three escorts heading NW toward Sabtang Island. At dark, Maurer surfaces and sets course so as to intercept the transport shortly after midnight.
25 November 1944:
Bashi Strait. At about 0125, as ATULE is setting up on the transport, one of the escorts also moves into periscope view. Maurer fires his six bow tubes at the overlapping targets, then turns the boat about and fires his two stern tubes. ATULE scores two hits on each target. MANJU MARU is hit aft in hold No. 5 and goes dead in the water. At about 0516, MANJU MARU sinks by the stern at 20-14N, 121-40 E. About 700 of the 1300 military passengers on board are lost as well as 24 crewmen. PB-38 disintegrates and all aboard are KIA.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Author's Notes:
No data were found detailing PB-38's movements during December 1942-January 1944. Readers with access to such data are requested to post the information on the at Discussions and Questions board or j-aircraft.org's IJN Ship Message Board
[1] Some sources indicate PB-38 escorted convoy TAMO-5 that left Takao on 23 February and arrived Mutsure 29 February. Given there were three other escorts of this convoy, and the convoy chose a different route, this appears unlikely.
Thanks go to John Whitman for information on intercepted Japanese messages.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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