© 2007 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
15 December 1943:
Tsurumi, Yokohama. Laid down at Nippon Kokan, K. K.’s shipyard.
28 February 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-19.
28 April 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
29 May 1944:
At 0600, CD-19 departs Moji with escort carrier SHINYO,
light cruiser KASHII, kaibokan AWAJI, CHIBURI, minelayer TSUBAME and subchaser
CH-60 escorting convoy HI-65 consisting of oilers SHIRETOKO, ITSUKUSHIMA,
OMUROSAN, ZUIHO and TOHO MARUs, cargo liners ARIMASAN, MANILA, KASHII and
TATSUWA MARUs and troop transport SHINSHU MARU.
2 June 1944:
Formosa Straits. AWAJI is torpedoed by LtCdr Albert L.
Raborn's USS PICUDA (SS-382) and sinks near Yasho Island at 22-34N, 121-51E.
Raborn fires two torpedoes at ARIMASAN MARU that cause her to collide with
SHINSHU MARU's stern. This causes a depth charge explosion that kills about 70
men and causes rudder damage. KASHII takes SHINSHU MARU in tow. ARIMASAN MARU is
lightly damaged in the attack and heads for Kirun with KASHII and SHINSHU MARU.
[1]
11 June 1944:
HI-65 arrives at Singapore.
30 June 1944:
At 1000, CD-19 departs Cebu, Philippines with kaibokans
CD-6 and CD-16 and subchasers CH-12 and CH-35 escorting convoy SEPA-01/SEDA- 01
consisting of TAMA, OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs.
1 July 1944:
TAMA MARU separates with CD-16, CD-6, CH-12 and CH-35 and
heads for Palau. OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs and CD-19 head for Davao.
4 July 1944:
At 0230, a friendly aircraft crash lands in the sea.
CH-35 is detached to rescue its crew and falls behind. At 0352, LtCdr Carl
Tiedeman's USS GUAVINA (SS-362), in the second of two attacks, torpedoes and
sinks TAMA MARU at 07-50N 133-40E.
5 July 1944:
The escorts arrive at Palau alone.
25 July 1944:
CD-19 departs Manila with escort carrier SHINYO, light
cruiser KASHII, kaibokan SADO, CHIBURI, CD-7, CD-9 and CD-13 escorting the final
leg of convoy HI-69 consisting of tankers OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, KUROSHIO, SERIA,
TENEI and HAKKO MARUs and transports KACHIDOKI and KIMIKAWA MARUs.
31 July 1944:
At 1745, arrives at Singapore.
4 August 1944:
At 2100, CD-19 departs Singapore for Moji with escort
carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII, destroyer SHIMOTSUKI and kaibokan
CHIBURI, SADO and CD-13 and escorting convoy HI-70 consisting of MANJU,
KINUGASA, ARIMASAN MARUs and oilers SERIA, KUROSHIO, HAKKO, OMUROSAN and
OTOWASAN MARUs.
12 August 1944:
SADO is detached to hunt an enemy submarine. Later,
she proceeds to Kirun separately.
15 August 1944:
HI-70 arrives at Moji at 1430.
25 August 1944:
CD-19 departs Moji for Singapore with escort carrier
UNYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-1, CD-13, CD-21 and CD-27
escorting convoy HI-73 consisting of transport/cargo liner KIBITSU MARU,
ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU, ex-seaplane tenders KAGU and SANUKI
MARUs, tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN, HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and
KUROSHIO MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO. Later that day, the convoy is joined
briefly by transports MIZUHO, ARABIYA and KOKURYU MARUs and tanker MANEI MARU
that all depart the following day.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, MIZUHO, ARABIYA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered
away because of excessive smoke. MANEI MARU remains at Kyushu because of engine
problems.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. Departs that same day and
arrives at Tsoying (near Takao).
1 September 1944:
Off Saei. The convoy splits. KIBITSU, GOKOKU and
KAGU MARUs (and probably IRAKO) head for Manila. The remaining ships head for
Singapore.
3 September 1944:
TOA MARU strikes a mine S of Saigon and is lightly
damaged, but able to continue.
5 September 1944:
At 0954, arrives at Seletar, Singapore.
11 September 1944:
CD-19 departs Seletar for Moji with Rear Admiral
Yoshitomi Setsuzo's (former CO of KAGA and ComSubRon 7) 5th Guard Fleet's escort
carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII (F) and kaibokan CHIBURI, CD-13, CD-21 and
CD-27 escorting convoy HI-74 consisting of tankers AZUSA, OTOWASAN, HARIMA,
OMUROSAN and HAKKO MARUs.
16 September 1944:
At 2231, OMUROSAN MARU is hit by a torpedo fired by
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's USS QUEENFISH (SS-393). KASHII
fires a red flare signalling a submarine attack, but at 2334, 11,177-ton oiler
AZUSA MARU is hit starboard side by two of a salvo of six bow torpedoes fired by
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B. Fluckey's BARB (SS-220) at the overlapping
targets. AZUSA MARU blows up and sinks with all hands. UNYO is hit starboard
side by the other three torpedoes in Fluckey's salvo; one in the stern in the
steering compartment, the other in the engine room. UNYO settles aft.
17 September 1944:
By 0730, UNYO is listing heavily to starboard, and
the order is given to abandon ship. At 0755, UNYO sinks by the stern at 19-10N,
116-35E. More than 900 crewmen and passengers are lost as are 48 aircraft,
including a cargo of 36 Imperial Army planes UNYO was carrying back to Japan for
overhaul and repairs. CHIBURI and CD-27 rescue 55 officers and 706 men.
23 September 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
1 October 1944:
At 0800, CD-19 departs Moji with kaibokan CHIBURI,
CD-21 and CD-27 escorting convoy HI-77 consisting of transports MANJU
(ex-SANTOS), KINUGASA, ORYOKU MARUs, oilers OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, ARITA,
ITSUKUSHIMA, AKANE, TAIHO and KAIHO MARUs, German U-boat supply ship QUITO and
two unidentified ships. Arrives at Arikawa Bay that same day.
2 October 1944:
Departs Arikawa Bay for Singapore.
5 October 1944:
ORYOKU MARU detaches for Kirun. The rest of HI-77
arrives at Takao. Before departing later that day, kaibokan ETOROFU and SHONAN
join the escort.
6 October 1944:
About 1410, LtCdr (later Captain) James B. Grady's USS
WHALE (SS-239) fires five torpedoes at AKANE MARU. They all hit and the
10,000-ton oiler capsizes and sinks. 765 passengers and crew are killed.
Kaibokan CD-21 rescues her survivors and searches for the attacking submarine.
At 1547, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles W. Wilkins' USS SEAHORSE (SS-304)
dives and begins an approach on the frigate from 16,900 yards. At 1757, Wilkins,
now at 700 yards, fires a full bow spread of six torpedoes. One hits CD-21 that
breaks in half and takes down 170 men.
7 October 1944:
W of Manila. A wolf pack consisting of LtCdr (later
Captain) Arnold H. Holtz’s USS BAYA (SS-318), LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s BECUNA and
LtCdr Francis W. Scanland, Jr’s HAWKBILL (SS-366) attacks convoy HI-77. At 2200,
KINUGASA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by either BAYA or HAWKBILL. MANJU MARU drops
depth charges to prevent further attack.
12 October 1944:
At 1500, the remainder of HI-77 arrives at
Singapore.
16 October 1944:
Keio University, Yokohama. From the Combined Fleet's
headquarters, Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Kusaka Ryunosuke (41)(former CO of
AKAGI) releases a dispatch that assigns CD-19, minelayer YURISHIMA, kaibokan
CHIBURI, CD-27 and minesweeper W-34 with oiler ITSUKUSHIMA MARU to Vice Admiral
Kurita Takeo's (38)(former CO of KONGO) First Striking Force's 1st Supply Force
with oilers NICHEI, YUHO, OMUROSAN, RYOEI and BANEI MARUs. Later, IJA oilers
HAKKO and NIPPO MARUs are also assigned to Kurita's force.
17 October 1944:
Vice Admiral Kurita orders CHIBURI and CD-19 to
proceed to Brunei Bay, Borneo with ITSUKUSHIMA and BANEI MARUs. Later, he also
orders minelayer YURISHIMA and CD-27 to proceed to Brunei with NIPPO and
OMUROSAN MARUs.
19 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
22 October 1944:
Arrives at Brunei. At 0800, Kurita's Striking Force
steams for Leyte Gulf via the Sibuyan Sea and San Bernardino Strait. Kurita
orders Vice Admiral Nishimura Shoji's (39)(former CO of HARUNA) BatDiv 2,
cruiser MOGAMI and four destroyers to sortie through Surigao Strait to Leyte
Gulf to envelop the U.S. invasion forces. Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide's
(39)(former CO of OI) Fifth Fleet from the Pescadores is also to sortie through
Surigao Strait to Leyte Gulf.
24 October 1944:
Brunei. ITSUKUSHIMA MARU loads 13,000-tons of oil.
CD-19 departs with kaibokans CHIBURI and CD-27 escorting oiler NIPPO MARU to
refuel Shima's force.
25 October 1944:
Operation "SHO-I-GO" (Victory)
The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
In the course of battle, Kurita loses
super-battleship MUSASHI, cruisers ATAGO, MAYA, CHOKAI, CHIKUMA and SUZUYA with
KUMANO and TAKAO damaged severely. Several destroyers are also lost and damaged.
Nishimura loses old battleships FUSO and YAMASHIRO and cruiser MOGAMI. Shima
arrives behind Nishimura's force and wisely reverses course away from certain
destruction.
8 November 1944:
Off Mindoro, Philippines. CD-19, destroyer SHIGURE
and kaibokan CHIBURI are escorting a convoy consisting of tanker MANEI MARU and
possibly others. The convoy is attacked by a wolfpack of Cdr Thomas B. Oakley,
Jr’s USS GROWLER (SS-215)(F), LtCdr Frank E. Haylor's HAKE (SS-256) and LtCdr
Francis A. Greenup's HARDHEAD (SS-365). During the action, at about 0400,
HARDHEAD sinks MANEI MARU at 13-30N, 119-25E. The escorts launch a heavy depth
charge counter-attack and possibly sink GROWLER that goes MIA after this attack.
15 November 1944:
CD-19 departs Manila with CHIBURI escorting fleet
oiler YUHO MARU, loaded with avgas. The convoy stops several times en route
south.
E 23 November 1944:
CD-17, from Saigon, joins the escort of the
convoy, probably in the area of the Palawan Passage .
26 November 1944:
Off Miri, Sarawak. LtCdr David B. Bell's USS PARGO
(SS-264) torpedoes YUHO MARU at 04-55N, 114-06'E. All three kaibokan
counterattack the submarine with depth charges, causing moderate damage. CHIBURI
takes YUHO MARU in tow to Miri, but the oiler sinks inside the port on 2
December.
12 December 1944:
At 1600, CD-19 departs Singapore with kaibokan
ETOROFU, SHONAN, KUME and CD-9 escorting convoy HI-82 consisting of tankers
OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN, ARITA, PALEMBANG and HASHIDATE MARUs.
17 December 1944:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
19 December 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay.
22 December 1944:
At 0550, OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN and ARITA MARUs are all
torpedoed by LtCdr George W. Grider's USS FLASHER (SS-249). All three burst into
flames and sink at 15-02N, 109-08E.
24 December 1944:
At 0900, the surviving ships arrive at Takao. CD-19
and CD-9 are detached.
4 January 1945:
CD-19, CD-17 and CHIBURI are reassigned to SW Area
Fleet with their division.
5 January 1945:
CD-19, CD-17 and CHIBURI depart Singapore to provide
distant cover for NICHIEI MARU that departed Singapore for Moji on 3 January
carrying 13,000 tons of oil. They all rendezvouse and the kaibokan take up the
escort.
6 January 1945:
Gulf of Thailand, 60 miles NE of Kota Bharu, Malaya.
LtCdr Thomas L. Wogan’s USS BESUGO (SS-321), patrolling the mouth of the Gulf,
picks up a target on SJ radar. In a night surface attack, LtCdr Wogan fires six
torpedoes; three strike home and sink NICHIEI MARU at 06-57N, 102-57E. CD-19,
CD-17 and CHIBURI rescue the survivors. Captain Okano and 40 of the crew are
KIA. Okano is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
10 January 1945:
CD-19, CD-17 and CHIBURI land NICHIEI MARU's
survivors at Cap St. Jacques.
12 January 1945:
Off Cape St. Jacques. Aircraft of Vice Admiral
(later Admiral) John S. McCain, Sr’s Task Force 38 attack shipping, airfields
and other shore installations in the Saigon area. Planes from USS LEXINGTON
(CV-16), HANCOCK (CV-19) and HORNET (CV-12) sink CD-19 and kaibokan CHIBURI and
CD-17 at 10-20N, 107-50E.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors’ Note:
[1] Somes sources credit AWAJI's sinking to LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins' USS GUITARRO (SS-363).
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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