© 2006-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 6
15 October 1943:
Kobe. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' shipyard as kaibokan No. 2406.
15 January 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-11.
10 February 1944:
Reserve Lt Nagahashi Kimata (former CO of the auxiliary minesweeper OTOWA MARU) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
15 March 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Maizuru Naval District. Assigned to Maizuru Guard Force. Reserve Lt (promoted LtCdr 1 May) Nagahashi Kimata is the CO.
16 March 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
5 April 1944:
Assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
15 April 1944:
Departs Kure.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
20 April 1944:
At 0600, CD-11 departs Moji-Mutsure for Singapore with kaibokan CD-10, escorting convoy HI-59, consisting of tankers OKIKAWA, NIPPO, EIHO, OTORISAN, MANEI and NIYO MARUs and NICHINAN MARU No. 2. and transports MANKO, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE) and AOBASAN MARU.
26 April 1944:
NIYO MARU suffers an engine breakdown and is towed by MANKO MARU to Woosung with CD-11 as escort.
30 April 1944:
At 2310 arrives at Woosung, China.
2 May 1944:
At 1200, HI-59 arrives at Manila and is dissolved. CD-11 arrives later at 2145.
5 May 1944:
At 1800 CD-10 and CD-11 depart Manila escorting Rinji Convoy consisting of OKIKAWA, NIPPO, EIHO and MANEI MARUs.
7 May 1944:
CD-11 separates from the convoy and later that day joins with destroyers ASAKAZE and HARUKAZE, escorting convoy MAMI-09, consisting of SEISHIN, SAN LUIS, TAKETOYO, OMINE and TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE) MARUs.
9 May 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Miri.
13 May 1944:
At 1800 departs Miri in convoy MIMA-10, consisting of SAN LUIS, FUKUJU, CHINA, DURBAN, SHINEI, TAKETOYO MARUs and five unidentified ships, likely including CHIHAYA and EIYO MARUs, escorted by destroyers ASAKAZE and HARUKAZE, submarine chaser CH-19 and kaibokan CD-11. CD-11 at some point detaches and proceeds ahead.
19 May 1944:
At 1700 arrives at Manila.
21 May 1944:
At 1500 CD-11 departs Manila alone.
22 May 1944:
CD-11 meets up with destroyers HARUKAZE and TSUGA, auxiliary subchaser CHa-75, auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU, auxiliary minesweeper MISAGO MARU No. 8 and auxiliary minelayer CHOAN MARU. Departs
Takao, Formosa escorting convoy TAMA-18, consisting of TETSUYO, NICHIZUI, MAYASAN, SHINNO and ASO MARUs.
23 May 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Manila.
24 May 1944:
At 0630 CD-11, destroyers HARUKAZE, ASAKAZE, auxiliary gunboats CHOHAKUSAN and TOMITSU MARUs depart Manila in convoy MATA-20, consisting of TENSHIN, CHINA, TAKETOYO, FUKUJU, KUNIYAMA, CHIHAYA, EIYO, SAN LUIS and SHINEI MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
28 May 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Takao. Immediately upon arrival CD-11 joins destroyer KURETAKE and departs Takao at 1500, escorting convoy TAMA-20, consisting of TATEBE, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), HAKUBASAN, KENZUI, KOSHIN, TATSUHATO, HIBI, JUNPO, HOKUSHIN, MACASSAR, YAMAGIKU, HOSEN, TEIKA, TEIFU MARUs, Navy transport T-101, tanker NANSHIN MARU No. 14 and three unidentified merchant ships.
31 May 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Manila.
3 June 1944:
At 0830 CD-11, destroyer KURETAKE, auxiliary minelayer CHOAN MARU and an unidentified warship depart Manila in convoy MATA-22, consisting of DAISEI, NORWAY, MIIKESAN and KINREI MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
4 June 1944:
Convoy HI-65 departs Kirun, Formosa with escort carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII, kaibokan CD-4, CD-19, CHIBURI and subchaser CH-60. The convoy consists of tankers JINEI, ITSUKUSHIMA, OMUROSAN, ZUIHO and TOHO MARUs, naval tanker SHIRETOKO, cargo liners ARIMASAN, MANILA, KASHII and TATSUWA MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship SHINSHU MARU. ARIMASAN, MANILA, KASHII, TATSUWA and SHINSHU MARUs are all detached for Manila.
5 June 1944:
CD-11 meets up with HI-65 and joins escort. (MATA-22 arrives at Takao that same day).
12 June 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Singapore.
17 June 1944:
At 0400, CD-11 departs Singapore with light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan CHIBURI and CD-7, escorting fast convoy HI-66, consisting of transport/cargo liners SANUKI, HOKKAI and AWA MARUs and tanker OMUROSAN MARU. The convoy hugs the continental coast avoiding deep water as much as possible.
26 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Moji.
27 June 1944:
Departs Moji.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
30 June 1944:
At 0700 departs Kure and at 1700 arrives at Moji.
3 July 1944:
At 2000 kaibokans CD-11, CD-20, CD-26, CD-28, subchaser CH-28 and destroyer HARUKAZE departs Moji, escorting convoy MOMA-01, consisting of transports KASHII, TOSAN, NISSHO, MIZUHO, NICHIRAN, ARABIA and RAKUYO MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ships TAMATSU and MAYASAN MARUs.
7 July 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
9 July 1944:
Departs Kirun.
12 July 1944:
At 0730 in position 18-50N 122-40E NICHIRAN MARU is torpedoed and sunk by USS PIRANHA. 1262 of those onboard are KIA. The convoy takes shelter in Aparri Port.
13 July 1944:
At 0800 departs Aparri Port.
15 July 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Manila.
24 July 1944:
At 0600, CD-11 departs Manila for Moji with escort carrier KAIYO, kaibokans HIRADO (F), MIKURA, ISHIGAKI, KURAHASHI, CD-20 and torpedo boat HIYODORI escorting convoy HI-68. The convoy sails in three columns, consisting of landing craft depot ship MAYASAN MARU, oilers OTORISAN MARU and NICHINAN MARU No. 2 and escort carrier TAIYO in column No. 1; landing craft depot ship TAKATSU MARU (a.k.a. KOZU MARU) [Note 1] and transports TOSAN, KASHII, NISSHO and AKI MARUs in column No. 2 and ex-seaplane tender KIYOKAWA MARU and oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, TOA, TOHO and SHIMPO MARUs in column No. 3.
A three-submarine wolf pack of Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's (USNA '34) USS FLASHER, LtCdr Franklin Hess's (USNA '35) USS ANGLER (SS-240) and LtCdr (later Captain) Francis D. Walker's (USNA ’35) USS CREVALLE (SS-291) tracks the convoy.
26 July 1944:
Off Luzon. The wolfpack attacks and sinks TOSAN, AKI and OTORISAN MARUs and damages KIYOKAWA MARU. Nine crewmen, eight gunners and 18 passengers on TOSAN MARU are KIA. 46 men aboard OTORISAN MARU are KIA. On AKI MARU some 24 passengers are killed as are 14 ship's gunners and 3 crewmen; a total of 41 dead.
27 July 1944:
At 1100, arrives at Takao.
28 July 1944:
At 1800, departs at Takao.
29 July 1944:
At 0940, at 25-08N 130-47E, carries out an anti submarine sweep.
3 August 1944:
At 0800 CD-11 detaches from convoy and at 1145 arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
6 August 1944:
Completes repairs. At 0830 departs Sasebo and at 2100 arrives at Moji.
8 August 1944:
At 0600 departs Moji with some ships to form HI-71 and arrives soon after at Imari Wan.
10 August 1944:
At 0500 CD-11 departs Imari Bay for Singapore with Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka Sadamichi's (39) (former CO of KISO) 6th Escort Convoy's destroyers FUJINAMI and YUNAGI, kaibokan HIRADO, MIKURA, KURAHASHI, SHONAN and escort carrier TAIYO escorting convoy HI-71, comprised of oilers AZUSA, TEIYO, EIYO, ZUIHO, KYOKUTO and NIYO MARUs and HAKKO MARU No. 2, fleet oiler HAYASUI, food-supply ship IRAKO, transports TEIA, AWA, NOTO, HOKKAI, NOSHIRO and IJA landing craft depot ships TAMATSU and MAYASAN MARUs and cargo ships KASHII, NISSHO and ORYOKU MARUs.
13 August 1944:
Arrives at Mako.
15 August 1944:
At 1830 HI-71 arrives at Mako, Pescadores. NIYO, HAKKO and ORYOKU MARUs and IRAKO are detached.
17 August 1944: Operation "SHO-1-GO" (Victory) - The Defense of the Philippines:
At 0800, in typhoon weather, HI-71 sorties from Mako for Manila. To strengthen HI-71's escort forces, old destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokan SADO, MATSUWA and HIBURI arrive from Takao and kaibokan ETOROFU arrives from Saei (Tsoying), on orders of 1st Surface Escort Division.
18 August 1944:
At 0524, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's USS REDFISH (USNA '30) (SS-395) torpedoes and damages EIYO MARU. ASAKAZE and YUNAGI are detached to escort her back to Takao.
Off Cape Bolinao, Luzon. At 2210, LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's (USNA '32) USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks oiler TEIYO MARU in a surface radar attack. 41 crewmen and 58 passengers are KIA. At 2222, Munson torpedoes and sinks carrier TAIYO at the rear of the convoy. Because of the fire and speed of sinking, most of her crew are lost and about 790 passengers perish. By some miracle, Captain Sugino Shuichi (46) is among the just over 400 surviving crew and passengers. At 2310, USS RASHER, still on the surface, hits transport TEIA MARU (ex-French ARAMIS) with three torpedoes using radar bearings. The liner is set afire and sinks. TEIA MARU was carrying 4,795 Army and 427 civilians. 2,316 troops, 275 passengers, six guards, four gunners, 10 special lookouts, and 54 crewmen are KIA.
19 August 1944:
The convoy splits into two groups. Just past midnight, USS RASHER, still running on the surface, closes on an eastbound group of three large ships and one escort. At 0033, LtCdr Munson puts two radar-directed torpedoes into the port sides of AWA and NOSHIRO MARUs. Both ships beach themselves near Port Currimao. LtCdr (later Cdr) Charles M. Henderson's (USNA '34) USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) and LtCdr (later Captain) Gordon W. Underwood's (USNA '32) USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) join in the attack on HI-71. At 0320, USS BLUEFISH hits and sinks HAYASUI. Captain Sugiura Keizaburo (49) is KIA. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously. The number of survivors is unknown. USS SPADEFISH hits TAMATSU MARU with two torpedoes and the big landing craft depot ship rolls over and takes down 4,755 troops and 135 crewmen. HI-71 makes for San Fernando.
20 August 1944:
At 1850 the battered convoy arrives at Santa Cruz.
21 August 1944:
At 0637 the convoy departs Santa Cruz. At 1919 KURAHASHI, YUNAGI, ASAKAZE, HIRADO, MIKURA, SHONAN, CD-11 and ZUIHO, KASHII, AWA, HOKKAI, AZUSA, KYOKUTO, MAYASAN and NISSHO MARUs arrive at Manila. CD-11
leaves to assist NOSHIRO MARU and arrives at San Fernando later this day. Departs and arrives at Cape Bolinao later that day.
22 August 1944:
Departs Cape Bolinao and arrives at Santa Cruz later this day.
23 August 1944:
Departs Santa Cruz.
24 August 1944:
At 0130 goes to assist destroyer ASAKAZE. At 1400 CD-11 arrives at Manila.
26 August 1944:
At 1650, CD-11 departs Manila for Singapore with destroyer FUJINAMI, kaibokan HIRADO, MIKURA, KURAHASHI, and subchaser CH-28, escorting convoy HI-71, consisting of AZUSA, KYOKUTO, HOKKAI, ZUIHO, KYOKUHO and AWA MARUs. At 1845, KYOKUHO MARU develops engine trouble and drops behind escorted by FUJINAMI. Later, they catch up with the convoy.
1 September 1944:
At 1356, arrives at Singapore.
6 September 1944:
At 0630, CD-11 departs Singapore for Moji with Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi's (victor of Wake Island and former CO of KISO) 6th Escort Convoy Command’s destroyer SHIKINAMI, kaibokan HIRADO (F), KURAHASHI, MIKURA, CD-10 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-19, escorting fleet convoy HI-72, consisting of ASAMA, NANKAI, RAKUYO, ZUIHO, SHINCHO and KACHIDOKI MARUs
(ex-American PRESIDENT HARRISON).
11 September 1944:
S China Sea. 100 miles NE of the Paracel Islands. At 0910, convoy HI-72 is joined by unescorted convoy MAMO-03, consisting of IJA landing craft depot ship KIBITSU MARU, armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU and ex-seaplane tender KAGU MARU.
12 September 1944:
S China Sea. E of Hainan, China. At 0155, Cdr Thomas B. Oakey’s (USNA '34) USS GROWLER (SS-215) torpedoes and sinks flagship HIRADO at 17-54N, 114-59E. Rear Admiral Kajioka goes down with the ship. He is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously. MIKURA and KURAHASHI lose contact with the convoy while carrying out an anti submarine attack. At 0500, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich’s (USNA '35) USS SEALION (SS-315) torpedoes RAKUYO MARU, but she stays afloat for another 13 hours, sinking at 1820 that evening. She is carrying 1,318 Allied POWs (601 British, 716 Australian and several US), of whom 1,051 and nine crewmen are lost. Reich also torpedoes and sinks NANKAI MARU carrying 525 passengers, 6,500-tons of bauxite, 4,000 drums of gasoline, 170-tons of oil, 77 mail packages and ashes of 18 war dead. She is hit in Hold Nos. 3 and 6 and sinks about 0800. 196 passengers and three crewmen are KIA.
240 miles south of Hong Kong. At about 0700, SHIKINAMI is torpedoed by USS GROWLER and sinks at 18-16 N, 114-40 E. MIKURA rescues eight officers and 120 men. At 2300, LtCdr Paul E. Summers' USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) torpedoes and sinks KACHIDOKI MARU, carrying 487 IJA troops, 608 patients, gunners, ashes of 582 dead, 950 POWs and a cargo of 6,000-tons of bauxite. 431 POWs as well as 45 other passengers and 12 crewmen perish. USS PAMPANITO also sinks ZUIHO MARU without survivors. The Japanese rescue a few POWs from the two prison ships. The survivors are transferred to KIBITSU MARU and taken to Japan.
13 September 1944:
The convoy arrives at Samah, Hainan Island. CD-11 remains at sea rescuing survivors.
14 September 1944:
At 0400 CD-11 arrives at Sana (Samah). Departs later to rescue more victims.
15 September 1944:
CD-11 and the rest of the convoy arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island. The convoy is reorganized. KURAHASHI is detached.
16 September 1944:
At 2000 departs Yulin.
20 September 1944:
Off Formosa. At 0110, USAAF B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers attack the convoy's first echelon (Moji-bound) at 23-20N, 119-12E. GOKOKU MARU is damaged by a direct hit and ASAMA MARU suffers a near miss aft. Both are towed into nearby Mako for repairs escorted by CD-11 and arriving at 1940. KAGU MARU suffers hull damage by near-misses. Kaibokan MIKURA is damaged and towed to Mako by CD-18. The bombers also damage cargo vessels ASAKA and SHINCHO MARUs. KAGU MARU heads for Kirun (Takao in some sources) for repairs escorted by CD-11, CD-10 and CD-20.
21 September 1944:
At 0800 CD-11 departs Mako and at 2400 arrives at Kirun.
23 September 1944:
At 1200 CD-10, CD-20 and CD-11 depart Kirun to meet incoming elements of HI-72 convoy.
24 September 1944:
At 1045 they meet up with KIBITSU MARU and arrive at Kirun at 1320.
25 September 1944:
At 1300, departs Kirun escorting convoy HI-72.
27 September 1944:
At 0150, at 29-41N 128-02E CD-10 is torpedoed and sinks.
28 September 1944:
At 0530 CD-11 detaches and at 1930 arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs. Meanwhile the convoy arrives at Moji.
29 ~ 30 September 1944:
Maintenance and small repairs at Sasebo Arsenal.
2 October 1944:
At 0530 departs Sasebo and at 1600 arrives at Moji.
4 October 1944:
At 1532 departs Moji with Rear Admiral Matsuyama Mitsuharu's (former CO of KITAKAMI) 7th Convoy Escort Group's kaibokan SHIMUSHU (F), OKINAWA and CD-13 escorting convoy MOMA-04 consisting of transports NOTO, KINKA, KASHII MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship TAKATSU (KOZU) MARU.
6 October 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Woosung. The ships load the IJA's 1st Division's main body of about 10,000 men plus equipment.
10 October 1944:
At 0900 SHIMUSHU, CD-11 and CD-13 departs Woosung and at 1700 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
12 October 1944:
At 0700, the main convoy departs Woosung, E of Shanghai, for Manila, via Ssu Chiao Shan.
15 October 1944:
CD-11 and CD-13 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
16 October 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Woosung.
17 October 1944:
At 0700 CD-11 and CD-13 depart Woosung and later that day arrive back at Ssu Chiao Shan.
19 October 1944:
Shushan Islands (Ssu Chiao Shan). ASAMA MARU carrying 5,000 troops escorted by kaibokan OKINAWA arrive from Shanghai and join convoy MOMA-04.
20 October 1944:
At 0230, convoy MOMA-04 departs the Ssu Chiao Shan (Shushan Islands).
22 October 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Sabtang.
23 October 1944:
At 0300 departs Sabtang and at 1820 arrives at Cabugao Bay.
24 October 1944:
At 0700 departs Cabugao Bay and at 1730 arrives at Lapoc Bay.
25 October 1944:
At 0330 departs Lapoc Bay and at 2351 arrives in Lingayen Gulf.
26 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Lingayen Gulf. At 2315, the convoy arrives at Manila.
31 October 1944: Operation "TA No. 2":
CD-11 departs Manila with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's (former CO of SUZUYA) kaibokan SHIMUSHU (F), OKINAWA and CD-13 escorting transports NOTO, KINKA, KASHII MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship TAKATSU (KOZU) MARU.
2 November 1944:
Early in the morning the convoy is attacked by Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" fighter-bombers. During the attack all kaibokan stream kites loaded with explosives as an AA measure, the first time this weapon is
used in action. In the afternoon, the convoy is attacked by two dozen B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers. NOTO MARU suffers a near miss that causes her to flood and sink. Aboard was the Army's 66th Specially Established Machine Cannon Unit with its twelve Type 98 20mms. Three crewmen, one gunner, 30 troops and 50 other passengers are KIA.
4 November 1944:
The convoy arrives back in Manila Bay.
5 November 1944:
Manila Bay. Aircraft of Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frederick T. Sherman's (USNA '10)(former CO of USS LEXINGTON, CV-2) Task Group 38.3 [USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), USS ESSEX (CV-9) and USS LANGLEY (CVL-27)] attack warships and auxiliaries in the bay and damage OKINAWA.
8 November 1944: Operation "TA Go No. 4":
At 1030, TAKATSU ((a.k.a. KOZU or KOSHIN) MARU, KINKA and KASHII MARUs, carrying 10,000 men of the 26th Infantry Division and 3,500 tons of munitions, depart Manila into typhoon seas escorted by CD-11, CD-13 and Rear Admiral Matsuyama's kaibokan OKINAWA and Admiral Kimura's destroyer screen of KASUMI (F), USHIO, AKISHIMO, ASASHIMO, NAGANAMI and WAKATSUKI. All proceed under cover of the storm to Ormoc Bay, Luzon.
9 November 1944:
13th Air Force North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers and P-38 "Lightning" fighter-bombers damage kaibokan SHIMUSHU and OKINAWA. In the evening, the convoy arrives at Ormoc Bay.
10 November 1944:
N of Cebu. The convoy is attacked by P-38s from Morotai and B-25s from Leyte. About 1140, during the second attack of the day, OKINAWA is bracketed by near misses and strafed by B-25 bombers while KASHII
MARU is damaged and TAKATSU (KOZU) MARU blows up after a bomb hit. She was with Army's 72nd Specially Established Machine Cannon Unit with its twelve Type 96 25mms. 104 crewmen and 243 troops are KIA. CD-11 and CD-13 come alongside the sinking vessel and rescue a few survivors who are then disembarked in shallow water.
During the next attack of B-25 skip-bombers, the gunners from CD-11 claim one of them. Only a few minutes later the escort receives two direct hits with 500-lb bombs. Engulfed in flames and dead in the water, she drifts aground at 10-51N, 124-32E.
CD-13 rescues 59 survivors (41 of them wounded), including the CO of CD-11; 89 sailors are lost. CD-13 then scuttles the wreck of CD-11 with gunfire.
On that same day FRUMEL intercepts CD-11's report about being bombed and hit by B-25s at 1130. According to that report, 7 officers and 39 ratings were killed.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France and Mr. Berend van der Wal of the Netherlands. Special thanks also go to Hans Mcilveen of the Netherlands for research based on wartime FRUMEL intercepts.
Note 1: The specialist Landing craft depot ship TAKATSU MARU's name can also be rendered as KOZU MARU, KOTSU MARU or KOSHIN MARU.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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