© 2007-2018 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 7
1 November 1943:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' shipyard.
11 January 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-18.
30 January 1944:
Reserve Lt Shimokata Hiromaru (former CO of CH-12) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer of CD-18 and CD-24 as an additional duty.
8 March 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Sasebo Naval District. Assigned to Sasebo Guard Force. Reserve Lt Shimokata Hiromaru is the CO.
20 April 1944:
At 1200 departs Nagasaki.
22 April 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Yokosuka. Undergoes further fitout work.
28 April 1944:
At 0600, CD-18 departs Tokyo with kaibokan NOMI, CD-12, CD-22, minesweeper W-27 and submarine chasers CH-16 and CH-18 escorting "Higashi Matsu" Convoy No. 7 (outbound), consisting of TATSUHARU, MITAKESAN, ASAHISAN, OKINAWA, YAMATAMA, BINGO, MEIRYU, MOJI and MIHO MARUs bound for Saipan; ASAKA MARU and landing ships T.128 and T.150 for Palau; KOSHIN and BOKUYO MARUs for Yap and TAITO MARU for Chichijima.
29 April 1944:
At 1230 W-27 is detached and returns to Nagaura.
May 1944:
The convoy's participants arrive safely at their destinations.
11 May 1944:
About 20 nms W of Lalo point, Saipan. LtCdr (later Captain) Malcolm E. Garrison's (USNA ’32) USS SANDLANCE (SS-381) sights MITAKESAN MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-18 and one other unidentified escort. At 1514, Garrison torpedoes and sinks MITAKESAN MARU at 14-57N, 145-30E. Only one crewman is KIA.
17 May 1944:
CD-18 departs Saipan for Tokyo with destroyer ASANAGI, kaibokan CD-24, torpedo-boat OTORI, auxiliary sub-chasers SHONAN MARU No. 8 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 10, escorting convoy No. 4517, consisting of ASAHISAN, TATSUHARU, YAMATAMA, SHOZAN, BINGO, MEIRYU, ENOSHIMA, MINO and MIHO MARUs. Soon after departure, YAMATAMA MARU runs aground and is detached from the convoy.
22 May 1944:
160 miles NW of Chichi Jima. At 0327, at 28-12N 138-50E, flagship ASANAGI, steaming about a mile ahead of the formation, is torpedoed aft by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Bafford E. Lewellen's (USNA '31) USS POLLACK (SS-180). She becomes unnavigable and goes dead in the water. Fires break out aft and she lists to starboard, before rolling over and sinking at 0405. 82 sailors are KIA.
24 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokyo at about 1730.
25 May 1944:
At 1500 departs Tokyo.
28 May 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
2 June 1944:
At 0000 departs Moji.
3 June 1944:
CD-18 departs Imari Bay for Miri, Borneo with minesweeper W-17, torpedo boat SAGI and patrol boat No. 38, auxiliary sub-chaser CHa-22 and two unidentified vessels, escorting convoy MI-05, consisting of KENEI, HINAGA, NIPPO, FUYUKAWA, SURAKARUTA, TATSUJU, IKOMASAN and SHOEI (2764 gt) MARUs, TOYO MARU No.3 and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, TOA, CERAM, SANKO (YAMAKO), AYAKIRI, AYANAMI, OEI, MARIFU, TOKUWA, TAKETSU (BUTSU), MARIFU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler NOTORO plus eleven other unidentified ships.
8 June 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Kirun, Formosa (now Keelung, Taiwan). TOYO MARU No.3 is detached.
9 June 1944:
At 1900 departs Keelung.
10 June 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Takao. SAGI, PB-38 and CD-18 detach.
11 June 1944:
The convoy is joined by cargo ships/transports ARIMASAN, MANILA, MIIKESAN and USSURI MARUs and tankers JINEI, BAIEI, SAN DIEGO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 8 from Takao. Minelayer MAESHIMA and auxiliary subchaser CHa-95 join the escort. TOA and SHOEI (2764 gt) MARUs are detached. At 0930 departs Takao. At 0945, SAGI and CD-18 join the convoy escort and at 1025, PB-38 joins the convoy escort.
13 June 1944:
At 1551 LtCdr John D. Crowley's (USNA '34) USS FLIER (SS-250) torpedoes and damages MARIFU MARU at 15-57N, 119-42E. . At 1553, PB-38 drops 31 depth charges and at 1556, W-17 drops 19 depth charges. SAt 1600, MARIFU MARU is taken in tow by MIIKESAN MARU, escorted by SAGI and PB-38. The ships later arrives at Manila and are detached from the convoy.
14 June 1944:
At 0820, CD-1 joins the convoy escort. At 1230, CD-1 ends the escort and heads towards Manila. At 1410, W-17 and CD-18 detach and head towards MARIFU MARU. At 2305 W-17 and CD-18 arrive at Manila with some of the convoy.
15 June 1944:
The rest of the convoy arrives at Manila.
18 June 1944:
At 0400 CD-18 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-14, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38, 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 and TOKUWA MARUs, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, and KYOEI MARU No. 8 and cargo/transports ARIMASAN, HINAGA, NIPPO (ex-Swedish NINGPO), TATSUJU, SURAKARUTA, TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), ROKKO, DAIZEN, MIIKESAN, NICHIYO, HIDA and SEIWA MARUs.
23 June 1944:
At 1257, arrives at Miri.
25 June 1944:
At 1915, CD-18 departs Miri for Singapore with torpedo boat SAGI, minesweeper W-17, subchaser CH-21 and auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 6 and TOSHI MARU No. 2, escorting convoy MISHI-03, consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO and SAN DIEGO, NICHIYO, HIDA, FUYUKAWA, AYANAMI, KYOEI No. 8, BAIEI, NIPPO (ex-Swedish NINGPO), DAIZEN, TEIFU (ex French BOUGAINVILLE), SEIWA, SURAKARTA, HINAGA, MANILA, ARIMASAN, ROKKO, TATSUTAMA (ex-American SS ADMIRAL Y. S. WILLIAMS), TOA, KENZUI and JINEI MARUs.
28 June 1944:
South China Sea. Off Singapore. At 2100, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's (USNA '34) USS FLASHER's (SS-249) radar picks up a convoy, consisting of 13 merchants and several escorts. Whitaker, operating in relatively shallow water (150 feet) decides to wait until after the moon sets to
make a surface attack.
29 June 1944:
At 0117, two or three torpedoes hit NIPPO MARU and two or three torpedoes hit NOTORO. NIPPO MARU carrying 628 troops and other passengers breaks in two and sinks by the bow. 87 passengers are killed. NOTORO
remains afloat, but goes dead in the water. The escorts begin blindly dropping depth charges. Whitaker, still on the surface, leaves the area on four engines.
30 June 1944:
At 1437, arrives at Singapore.
4 July 1944:
At 0900 CD-18 departs Singapore for Miri with minesweeper W-17 and torpedo boat SAGI, escorting convoy SHIMI-05, consisting of MEXICO, SAN DIEGO, ASAKA, OLYMPIA, TATSUBATO, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), RASHIN, KUROGANE MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6.
10 July 1944:
At 1550 departs Miri in convoy MI-08, consisting of MEXICO, SAN DIEGO, ASAKA, OEI, TAKETSU (BUTSU), NITTETSU, YAMAKO (SANKO), SAN LUIS, OLYMPIA, TATSUBATO, RYUSHO, CHIHAYA, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), RASHIN, KUROGANE MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6 also escorted by the torpedo boat SAGI, and minesweeper W-17.
11 July 1944:
At 1840 anchors at Kimanis Bay.
12 July 1944:
At 1015 TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARU is detached and returns to Miri. At 1300 departs Kimanis Bay.
16 July 1944:
At 0820 the torpedo boat HIYODORI and kaibokan MIKURA joins the escort but detach later the same day at 1400. At 2035 the convoy arrives at Manila.
23 July 1944:
At 1545, CD-18 departs Manila for Moji with torpedo boat SAGI, kaibokan CD-1, CD-28, minesweeper W-17, minelayer ENOSHIMA and subchaser CH-61, escorting convoy MI-08, consisting of MIZUHO, MANILA, ARABIA, TATSUBATO, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU) MARUs and tankers SAN DIEGO, SAN LUIS, NITTETSU, MIRI, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO and SANKO (YAMAKO) MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6. The convoy speed is eight knots.
24 July 1944:
The convoy stops because of mine danger. CH-61 and W-17 sweep the route.
26 July 1944:
At 0625 aircraft from aircover bomb a submarine 10 km away. At 0900 W-17 executes an anti-submarine sweep at the bombing site. At 0945 W -17 ends the anti-submarine sweep and returns to the convoy. At 1700 second class destroyer KURETAKE joins the convoy and starts escorting.
27 July 1944:
At 0920, auxiliary subchaser CHa-74 and auxiliary transport OYO MARU join the escort. At 1605, the convoy arrives at Takao and is again reorganized.
30 July 1944:
At 1800, CD-18 departs Takao with torpedo boat SAGI, kaibokan CD-1, minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU escort the convoy that now consists of ZUIHO, CHIHAYA, SAN DIEGO, SAN LUIS, BOKO (ex-British SAGRES), MANILA, SANKO, TSUYAMA, ARABIA, RYUSHO, MIRI, TATSUBATO, NITTETSU, YAGI, TOUN and EIHO MARUs. The convoy speed is 7 knots.
1 August 1944:
At 1400, the convoy arrives at Keelung after it is suspected that enemy submarines had gained contact.
4 August 1944:
At 1600, the convoy departs Keelung and heads up the Ryukyu Islands bound for the Kyushu.
8 August 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Naha.
9 August 1944:
At 0530 departs Naha. Later N of Okinoshima. LtCdr (later Cdr) Robert A. Keating's (USNA '33) USS BARBEL (SS-316) torpedoes and sinks IJA cargo ship YAGI MARU with three Gunners and 31 crewmen KIA and merchant cargo ship BOKO MARU (ex-British SAGRES) with unknown casualties at 27-56N, 128-47E. W-17 and CD-1 carry out an anti-submarine sweep and drop 21 depth charges that cause some damage to USS BARBEL. Afterwards, the convoy heads out of the area at full speed, making evasive movements. At 1200, the convoy
arrives at Koniya, Amami-O-Shima.
11 August 1944:
At 0400, the convoy departs Amami-O-Shima.
13 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji. CD-18 continues on alone, stopping briefly at Imari Wan.
14 August 1944:
At 0900 CD-18 arrives at Sasebo.
23 August 1944:
At 0900 departs Sasebo and at 1800 arrives at Moji.
27 August 1944:
At 0800, CD-18 departs Moji for Miri, Borneo with destroyers SHIOKAZE and KURETAKE, minesweeper W-17 and minelayer YURISHIMA escorting convoy MI-17, consisting of tankers NITTETSU and SHIMOTSU MARUs and
cargo ships BAIKAL, AMAHI, DAITEN, NORWAY, ARAOSAN, NICHIZUI, HOKUREI, SHUYO, SORACHI MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 and possibly YOZAN MARU, and two unidentified ships.
1 September 1944:
At 1130 arrives at Mako, Pescadores. SORACHI, NITTETSU MARUs and one unidentified ship are detached. An unidentified ship joins the convoy. The minelayer AOTAKA and minesweepers W-20 and W-41 join the
escort.
4 September 1944:
At 1000 departs Mako.
6 September 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Aparri, Luzon. W-17, W-20 and CH-41 are detached. At 2310 the convoy departs Aparri.
7 September 1944:
At 2100 arrives at Laoag.
8 September 1944:
At 0600 departs Laoag. At 1600 arrives at North San Fernando.
9 September 1944:
At 0600 departs North San Fernando and at 1830 arrives at Masinloc.
10 September 1944:
At 0600 departs Masinloc and at 2000 arrives at Manila. CD-18 and YURIJIMA are detached as well as many of the merchant ships including NORWAY, AMAHI, HOKUREI, BAIKAL, DAITEN, ARAOSAN MARUs and likely SHUYO
and YOZAN MARUs.
12 September 1944:
At 1240 CD-18 departs Manila to rescue survivors from HI-72.
15 September 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Yulin.
16 September 1944:
At 2000 CD-18 departs Yulin for Moji with kaibokan MIKURA, ETOROFU, CD-10 and CD-26, escorting the 1st echelon of reorganized convoy HI-72, consisting of ASAKA, KIBITSU, GOKOKU and KAGU MARUs.
20 September 1944:
Off Formosa. At 0110, USAAF B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers attack the convoy's first (Moji-bound) echelon at 23-20N, 119-12E. GOKOKU MARU is damaged by a direct hit and ASAKA MARU suffers a near miss aft. Both are towed into nearby Mako for repairs. The bombers also damage tanker SHINCHO MARU and cargo vessel KAGU MARU. She heads for Kirun (some sources say Takao) for repairs escorted by CD-10, CD-11 and CD-20. Kaibokan MIKURA is damaged and towed to Mako by CD-18, assisted by CD 26. The ships arrive at 1350.
21 September 1944:
At 1010 departs Mako to assist ASAKA MARU.
22 September 1944:
CD-18 arrives at Takao.
23 September 1944:
CD-26 departs Takao and meets up with CD-18 towing damaged MIKURA.
24 September 1944:
CD-18 departs Takao with damaged tanker SHINCHO MARU.
25 September 1944:
At 1922 the ships arrive at Mako.
26 September 1944:
At 0900 CD-18 departs Mako and at 1430 arrives at Takao.
30 September 1944:
At 1200 MI-19, then consisting of IWAKUNI, YULIN, HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), MITSU, DAIMEI, ARISAN, TEIFU (ex French BOUGAINVILLE), TASMANIA, SHINSEI, EIHO and DAIA MARUs, departs Takao with HIDA, KENEI, SAN LUIS and KOKURYU MARUs having additionally joined the convoy for Manila. The escort consists of kaibokan ETOROFU, CD-18 and CD-26 and sub-chaser CH-19 and possibly the kaibokan SHONAN.
2 October 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Aparri. Later, at 2300, departs.
3 October 1944:
At 1514 arrives at Lapoc.
4 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Lapoc. At 1700 arrives at North San Fernando.
5 October 1944:
At 0600 departs North San Fernando.
6 October 1944:
At 0600 arrives at Manila.
8 October 1944:
At 0700, CD-18 departs Manila for Miri, Borneo with kaikoban CD-18 and CD-26, patrol boat PB-105, subchaser CH-19 and auxiliary subchaser Cha-56, escorting reorganized convoy MI-19, consisting of NITTETSU, SAN LUIS, DAIZEN, HIDA, SAN DIEGO, EIKYO, TOKUWA, SHUNTEN, TATSUBATO, DAISHU and YOSHU MARUs.
9 October 1944:
About 1700, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr's (USNA '33) USS BECUNA (SS-319) torpedoes and damages SAN LUIS MARU, but she is able to continue. LtCdr Francis W. Scanland's (USNA '34) USS HAWKBILL (SS-366) also
torpedoes SAN LUIS MARU about the same time. At 1804, Sturr's USS BECUNA torpedoes and sinks TOKUWA MARU with the loss of ten crewmen.
10 October 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU and two of the escorts are detached with damaged SAN LUIS MARU and head for Sandakan, Borneo. At 2200 the rest of the convoy arrives at Pagdanan Bay.
11 October 1944:
At 0300 departs Pagdanan Bay.
12 October 1944:
Palawan Passage. LtCdr (later Captain) David H. McClintock's (USNA '35) USS DARTER (SS-227) fires four torpedoes at two ships in the convoy, but inflicts no damage. At 1340 arrives at Dalahuan Bay, Balabac
Island.
13 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Dalahuan Bay.
14 October 1944:
At 0208, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen D. Claggett's (USNA '35) USS DACE (SS-247) torpedoes and sinks NITTETSU MARU with 12 crewmen KIA and damages DAIZEN and EIKYO MARUs. At 0630 the convoy arrives at Kimanis and departs at 1130. Later that day arrives at Brunei Bay.
15 October 1944:
Departs Brunei Bay and at 1530 arrives at Labuan.
16 October 1944:
At 1300 departs Labuan and at 1900 arrives at Victoria.
17 October 1944:
At 0630 departs Victoria and at 1700 arrives at Miri.
18 October 1944:
At 1700 departs Miri with CD-26.
20 October 1944:
At 2030 arrives at Bacuit Bay.
21 October 1944:
At 1920 departs Bacuit Bay with CD-26.
23 October 1944:
At 1200 arrives back at Miri.
25 October 1944:
At 0630 CD-18 together with kaibokan CD-26 and patrol boat PB-105 depart Miri escorting a convoy consisting of MYOGI, HEIAN, TEIYU (ex-Italian CARIGNANO) and MIKASA MARUs. At 1820 arrives at Labuan.
26 October 1944:
At 0630 departs Labuan and at 1800 arrives at Gaya Bay.
27 October 1944:
At 0620 departs Gaya Bay and at 1900 arrives at Balambangan.
28 October 1944:
At 0630 departs Balambangan and at 1900 anchors at 18-23N 117-10E.
29 October 1944:
At 0630 departs anchorage location.
30 October 1944:
At 1030 arrives at Bacuit Bay.
31 October 1944:
At 0400 departs Bacuit Bay and at 1600 arrives at Coron.
2 November 1944:
At 2000 arrives at Manila.
5 November 1944:
At 0500 CD-18 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-26 and subchasers CH-18, CH-17, CH-23, CH-37 and CH-38 escorting convoy MATA-31 consisting of TATSUHARU, KASAGISAN and DORYO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships. In addition heavy cruisers KUMANO and already damaged AOBA sail with the convoy.
At 10,000-yards, convoy MATA-31 (15-ships with air cover) is spotted by lookouts aboard Cdr (later Rear Admiral) John K. Fyfe's USS BATFISH (SS-310). Fyfe makes a submerged approach on AOBA under the escorts, but when he comes to periscope depth, USS BATFISH is almost rammed by a destroyer. Fyfe aborts his approach and crash dives. Later, he fires six torpedoes at a large cargo ship, but they all miss.
6 November 1944:
At 1055, an enemy submarine is sighted at 16-11N, 109-06E. Soon after the convoy comes under sustained submarine attack off Cape Bolinao, Luzon. The convoy is attacked by a wolf pack of composed of LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins' USS GUITARRO (SS-363), LtCdr W. G. Chapple's USS BREAM (SS-243), LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's USS RATON (SS-270) and LtCdr William T. Kinsella's USS RAY (SS-271).
The four submarines fire 23 torpedoes at KUMANO. At 1052, she is hit by two torpedoes. One blows off her repaired bow section. The second hits near her starboard engine room. All four engine rooms flood. She takes on an 11 degree list to starboard and becomes unnavigable. At 1930, KUMANO is taken under tow by DORYO MARU to Dasol Bay escorted by submarine chasers CH-18 and CH-37.
7 November 1944:
At 1715 the convoy puts in to Santa Cruz for shelter with KUMANO still under tow by DORYO MARU.
8 November 1944:
At 0730 CD-26 and CH-18 detach from the convoy and depart Santa Cruz.
9 November 1944:
At 0130 departs Santa Cruz and later that day at 1600 arrives at North San Fernando. DORYO MARU is detached at Santa Cruz.
10 November 1944:
At 0900 the convoy departs San Fernando.
11 November 1944:
At 2100 arrives at Lapoc Bay.
12 November 1944:
At 0600 departs Lapoc Bay. Later that day arrives Musa.
13 November 1944:
At 0700 departs Musa and at 2100 arrives at Sabtang.
14 November 1944:
CH-18 rejoins the convoy at 0530. Later that day the convoy departs Sabtang.
15 November 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Takao.
18 November 1944:
At 1600 CD-18 departs Takao and later joins convoy HOTA-01 consisting of KENZUI MARU and likely TAMON MARU No. 15 and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by destroyer HASU and kaibokan CD-26.
21 November 1944:
At 1250 arrives at Takao.
23 November 1944:
At 1030 CD-18 and CD-26 depart Takao.
24 November 1944:
At 0730 arrives at Kirun.
26 November 1944:
At 0200 CD-18 and kaibokan CD-26 and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU depart Kirun, escorting convoy TAMO-30, consisting of BANSHU MARU No. 32, HAKOZAKI MARU and three unidentified merchant ships. At 2230 arrives and anchors in the Hsiao An channel, S of Wenchow.
27 November 1944:
At 1730 departs Hsiao An channel.
3 December 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
22 January 1945:
At 1700 CD-18 departs Moji with kaibokan AGUNI and minelayer NIIZAKI, escorting convoy MOHO-01, consisting of SHINTON and TAIKYU MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
23 January 1945:
Arrives at Jinsen.
24 January 1945:
At 0600 departs Jinsen.
2 February 1945:
At 1030 arrives at Hong Kong.
3 February 1945:
At 1700 CD-18 and kaibokan CD-9 and AGUNI depart Hong Kong, escorting convoy HOMO-01, consisting of HASHIDATE MARU and four unidentified merchant ships.
5 February 1945:
At 2100 arrives at Nanao Tao.
6 February 1945:
At 0600 departs Nanao Tao.
9 February 1945:
At 2400 arrives at Heiniu Wan. CD-9 has apparently detached for Takao.
10 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Heiniu Wan.
11 February 1945:
CD-18 detaches at this point.
20 February 1945:
Kaibokan CD-18 and CD-69 depart St Jacques escorting convoy SASHI-42, consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
24 February 1945:
Arrives at Singapore.
1 March 1945:
Off Hainan Island near Yulin, CD-18 joins escort of HI-94 and searches for tanker TOA MARU lost in dense fog. The tanker is eventually located and escorted to Yulin. CD-18 likely detaches and returns to Singapore after this.
7 March 1945:
At 0900 CD-18 and CD-84 depart Yulin for Saigon.
12 March 1945:
At 1800 CD-18 and CD-84 are scheduled to arrive at Singapore.
19 March 1945:
At 0730 CD-18 departs Singapore with CD-84, CD-130, CD-134 and probably CD-33, subchasers CH-8, CH-9, CH-33 escorting convoy HI-88-J, consisting of HONAN, KAIKO, ASOKAWA, SARAWAK, ARAOSAN, TENCHO MARUs and KITAKAMI MARU. At 1310, while leaving the Singapore straits, SARAWAK MARU is mined and badly damaged and eventually sinks on 27 March. There are no casualties.
22 March 1945:
Arrives at Cape Camau.
23 March 1945:
At 0800 departs Cape Camau. Off St Jacques ARAOSAN, KITAKAMI and TENCHO MARUs are detached.
26 March 1945:
Departs St Jacques. During the day CD-26 and submarine chaser CH-20 join the convoy.
27 March 1945:
At 1000 arrives at Nha Trang Bay. Convoy HI- 88I is absorbed into new convoy HI-88J. Additional escorts are added. HI-88J now consists of tankers HONAN, ASOKAWA, KAIKO MARUs and probably NANSHIN MARU No. 30, escorted by CD-18, destroyer AMATSUKAZE (with a temporary bow fitted) and kaibokans MANJU, CD-1, CD-26, CD-84, CD-130, CD-134, and probably subchasers CH-9 and CH-20.
28 March 1945:
At 0800, departs Nha Trang Bay. At 1040, an air attack begins; ASOKAWA MARU is hit in the engine room and sinks. 92 passengers, eight gunners and 34 crewmen are killed. MANJU and CD-84 rescue survivors. At 1220, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's (USNA '34) USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) torpedoes HONAN MARU (ex-British RFA WAR SIRDAR). Five ship's gunners and 44 crewmen are killed. Her captain runs her aground. NANSHIN MARU No. 30 is probably detached.
29 March 1945:
At 0710, LtCdr Frank M. Smith's (USNA '35) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) torpedoes and sinks CD-84 at 14-40N, 109-16E. MANJU rescues some survivors. At 1130, another submarine attack coincides with an air attack and tanker KAIKO MARU, loaded with fuel oil, is bombed and sunk. 12 passengers, four Ship's gunners and 19 crewmen are KIA. After 1300 the convoy is attacked by Fifth Air Force B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers. CD-18 receives several direct hits and sinks with 184 sailors at 15-10N, 109-26E. CD-130 is lost in the same attack. At 2230, a further air attack damages CD-134.
25 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Back to
Escort Page
