© 2007-2010 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
1 November 1943:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’
shipyard.
11 January 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-20.
11 March 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
13 April 1944:
At 2355, departs Moji in convoy MOTA-17 consisting of
MANSHU, FUKUYO, TEIKAI, KANAN and TEIKO MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE,
minesweeper W-22 and kaibokan CD-20.
14 April 1944:
At 1748, arrives Chinkai (Chinhae), Chosen where convoy
is dissolved. These ships subsequently formed part of the "Take" convoy.
20 April 1944:
At 0600, CD-20 departs Moji-Mutsure for Singapore with
kaibokans KURAHASHI, CD-10 and CD-11 escorting convoy HI-59 consisting of
tankers OKIKAWA, NIPPPO, EIHO, MANEI (BANEI), OTORISAN and NIYO MARUs and
probably KINUGASA, NOSHIRO and TEIRITSU MARUs and tanker NICHINAN MARU No. 2.
21 April 1944:
CD-20 is detached from convoy HI-59 with KURAHASHI and
steams to Tungchiaoshan (Tangjiqiozshan) near Shanghai, where they join the
"Take" convoy consisting of transports KAZUURA, MITSUKI, BRAZIL, TENSHINZAN
(AMATSUSAN), ADEN, TAJIMA, YOZAN, MANSHU, FUKUYO, TEIKAI, KANAN, TEIKO and UNKAI
MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 and two unidentified escorted by minelayer
SHIRATAKA, destroyers ASAKAZE, SHIRATSUYU and FUJINAMI, kaibokan CD-22,
KURAHASHI, minesweeper W-22, subchasers CH-37, CH-38, gunboats UJI, ATAKA and
auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7.
26 April 1944:
Off NW Luzon, Philippines. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral)
Thomas M. Dykers’ USS JACK (SS-259) intercepts the convoy. Dykers makes three
separate attacks and fires 18 torpedoes at the convoy. At about 0600, from two
to four torpedoes hit YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 portside. She breaks in two and sinks
quickly at 18-06N, 119-40E taking down an IJA regiment of 3,189 men including
its commander.
Tokyo. Prime Minister and Army General Tojo Hideki learns of the losses
inflicted upon convoy Take No. 1. Fearing further attacks by American
skip-bombers, like those suffered earlier in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea,
Tojo orders the convoy diverted from Manokwari, New Guinea to Halmahera,
Moluccas.
28 April 1944:
Arrives Manila and detaches from Take. Both KURAHASHI
and CD-20 leave Manila to meet up with HI-59 then in the South China Sea.
2 May 1944:
At 1200, HI-59 arrives at Singapore.
4 May 1944:
CD-20 departs Manila with kaibokan KURAHASHI and KURI, minesweeper W17 and auxiliary subchaser Takunan Maru No. 3 escorting convoy MATA-19 consisting of nine unidentified merchant ships.
9 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
3 June 1944:
At 1000, CD-20 departs Singapore with kaibokan CD-1,
CD-8, CD-15 and minelayer AOTAKA escorting convoy HO-02 consisting of NASUSAN,
TAMAHOKO, TAINAN, KENNICHI, SHONAN, TEIHOKU, HIOKI, NICHIWA MARUs and KONAN MARU
No. 1 and ten unidentified ships. TAMAHOKO MARU is carrying 772 Allied POWs from
camps at Batavia, Java, including 42 American POWs.
6 June 1944:
160 miles off Cape St. Jacques, Indochina. LtCdr James W.
Davis' USS RATON (SS-270) attacks the convoy. At 2225, Davis torpedoes CD-15.
She breaks in two and sinks S of Nishinotorishima Island at 08-57N, 109-17E.
CD-20 and CD-8 rescue 34 survivors. The escorts counter attack. RATON is damaged
by depth charges, but remains on patrol
11 June 1944:
At 1600 arrives Manila. CD-8 is detached.
14 June 1944:
At 1330, departs Manila.
19 June 1944:
At 0915, arrives Takao.
20 June 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
21 June 1944:
Arrives and departs Kirun (Keelung). Eight of the
convoy's ships are detached and a further 11 join, all unidentified. It is
probable CD-20 was detached.
24 June 1944:
Koshiki Straits, 40 miles SW of Nagasaki, Kyushu. At
2350, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Richard H. O’Kane’s TANG (SS-306) attacks
the convoy. At 2354, Kane torpedoes and sinks NASUZAN, TAMAHOKO, KENNICHI and
TAINAN MARUs at 32-24N, 129-38E. The whaling ship picks up some survivors, but
560 POWs are lost including 15 American soldiers and sailors.
26 June 1944:
At 1400, the remainder of convoy HO-02 arrives at Moji.
3 July 1944:
At 2000, CD-20 departs Moji with destroyer HARUKAZE and kaibokan CD-11, CD-26, CD-28 and subchaser CH-28 escorting convoy MOMA-01 consisting of KASHII, TAMATSU, TOSAN, NISSHO, MAYASAN, MIZUHO, NICHIRAN and MARUs. The convoy is transporting the IJA's 5th Field Heavy Artillery and 58th Independent Mixed Brigade.
7 July 1944:
Formosa Straits. Convoy MOMA-01 is ordered to turn back to Keelung, Formosa.
9 July 1944:
Departs Keelung escorting MOMA-01. ARABIA MARU may have joined the convoy at this point.
12 July 1944:
Bashi Strait. At 0330, LtCdr Walter P. Schoeni's APOGON (SS-308) fires a full bow spread of torpedoes at MAYASAN MARU. Schoeni fails to damage her, but APOGON is rammed during the attack. At 0720, LtCdr Harold E. Rubles' USS PIRANHA (SS- 389) torpedoes and sinks NICHIRAN MARU at 18-50N, 122-40E. KASHII MARU rescues survivors, but 1262 troops are KIA. The convoy seeks shelter in Aparri Harbor, Philippines.
13 July 1944:
At 0800, departs Aparri.
15 July 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Manila.
24 July 1944:
At 0600, CD-20 departs Manila for Moji with escort
carrier KAIYO, kaibokan CD-11, HIRADO (F), MIKURA, ISHIGAKI, KURAHASHI,
KUSAGAKI and torpedo boat HIYODORI escorting convoy HI-68. The convoy sails in
three columns consisting of landing ship MAYASAN MARU, oilers OTORISAN MARU and
NICHINAN MARU No. 2 and escort carrier TAIYO in column No. 1; landing ship
TAMATSU MARU 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) Rueben T.
Whitaker’s FLASHER, LtCdr Franklin Hess’s ANGLER (SS-240) and LtCdr (later
Captain) Francis D. Walker’s 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.
27 July 1944:
At 1100, arrives at Takao.
28 July 1944:
At 1800, departs Takao.
3 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
15 August 1944:
At 0600, CD-20 departs Moji for Takao with destroyer
HATSUSHIMO, kaibokan CD-10, torpedo boat HIYODORI, minesweeper W-20 and
subchaser CH-63 escorting convoy MOTA-23 consisting of FUKUREI, EDOGAWA, DAIJO,
EIJI, MANSHU, ATSUTA, CHINA, ROZAN, EIMAN, TOYOOKA, KOGYO, AWAJI MARUs, YOSHIDA
MARU No. 3, TOYO MARU No. 3 and an unidentified ship.
24 August 1944:
At about 0700, LtCdr Henry S. Monroe's USS RONQUIL
(SS-396) torpedoes and sinks YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 with all hands. At about the
same time, Monroe torpedoes and damages FUKUREI MARU. She floods and drifts
ashore where she is abandoned about three months later.
25 August 1944:
At 1400, the convoy arrives at Keelung.
30 August 1944:
At 1500, CD-20 departs Takao for Manila with minelayer
SHIRATAKA, minesweeper W-21, and kaibokan CD-10 escorting reorganized convoy
MI-15 that now consists of RIKKO, TAISHO, OKUNI (TAIKOKU) Maru, EIKYU, SHINYO,
NANSEI, HOSEN and CHIYODA MARUs with UNKAI MARU No. 5, OKINOYAMA MARU No. 5 and
KYOEI MARU No. 10.
31 August 1944:
Luzon Strait, S of Formosa. At about 0220, LtCdr
(later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's QUEENFISH (SS-393) hits CHIYODA MARU
with four torpedoes and sets her afire. At 0240, as the moon sets, CHIYODA MARU
sinks. Loughlin also damages oiler RIKKO MARU steaming in ballast.
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich's USS SEALION (SS-315), a member
of "Ben's Busters" with GROWLER (SS-215) and PAMPANITO, enters the Bashi Strait.
SEALION’s SJ radar picks up the convoy and Reich makes a night surface approach.
He sets up and fires six torpedoes, but they all run erratically. About 0500,
Reich swings SEALION and fires his four stern torpedoes at a large tanker. He
claims two hits.
Alerted by code-breaker's "Ultra" signals, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral)
Eugene B. Fluckey's USS BARB (SS-220) intercepts the convoy. At about 0700,
Fluckey torpedoes OKUNI MARU. She sinks stern first. Fluckey also sinks the 45th
Minesweeper Squadron's HINODE MARU No. 20 that was patrolling in the area.
SEALION evades the convoy's escorts. Still surfaced, LtCdr Reich makes an
“end-around” approach and works his way ahead of the convoy. At 0715 (JST),
SHIRATAKA's lookouts spot a submarine on the surface at at 21-05N, 121-26E.
Reich misidentifies SHIRATAKA as a destroyer. He begins a submerged approach. At
0730, Reich hits SHIRATAKA with two of three torpedoes. At 1115, SHIRATAKA sinks
at 20-55N, 121-07E.
7 September 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Manila.
10 September 1944:
CD-20 departs Manila for Moji with CD-10 and minesweeper W-21 escorting
fleet convoy MAMO-03 consisting of GOKOKU, KAGU and KIBITSU MARUs.
11 September 1944:
S China Sea. 100 miles NE of the Paracel Islands.
Convoy MAMO-03 joins fleet convoy HI-72 that departed Singapore on 6 September
for Moji. HI-72 includes ASAKA, NANKAI, KIMIKAWA, RAKUYO, ZUIHO, KIBITSU
and KACHIDOKI MARUs (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON). HI-72 carries oil, drummed aviation
gasoline, bauxite, mercury and rubber. RAKUYO MARU also carries 1,317 Allied
POWs and KACHIDOKI MARU carries another 950 POWs. Destroyer SHIKANAMI
and kaibokan MIKURA and KURAHASHI are in the escort.
12 September 1944:
At 0200, HIRADO is torpedoed by Cdr Thomas B. Oakey’s GROWLER (SS-215). The frigate blows up and sinks. Rear Admiral Kajioka, victor of Wake Island, now CO of the 6th Escort Convoy Command is killed. He is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously.
At 0500, RAKUYO MARU is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich's USS SEALION and hit in the No. 1 hold and engine room. RAKUYO MARU takes down 1,159 POWs. About the same time, SEALION also torpedoes NANKAI MARU. She is hit in Hold Nos. 3 and 6 and sinks about 0800. [2]
240 miles south of Hong Kong. Just before 0700, SHIKANAMI is torpedoed by GROWLER and sinks at 18-16 N, 114-40 E. Eight officers and 120 men rescued by the MIKURA. At 2300, KACHIDOKI MARU is hit by USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) and sinks. More than 400 POWs perish. [2]
15 September 1944:
The remainder of the convoy arrives at Yulin,
Hainan Island.
16 September 1944:
CD-10 departs Yulin for Moji with kaibokan MIKURA,
ETOROFU, CD-18 and CD-26 escorting the 1st echelon of reorganized convoy HI-72
consisting of ASAMA, KIBITSU MARU, GOKOKU and KAGU MARUs.
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. 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 Takao for
repairs escorted by CD-20, CD-10 and CD-11.
25 September 1944:
At 1300, CD-20 departs Takao for Moji with
kaibokan CD-10 and CD-11 escorting modified convoy HI-72 (partial) consisting
of KIBITSU and KAGU MARUs.
27 September 1944:
East China Sea, 100 miles NNW of Amami-O-Shima.
LtCdr Clyde B. Stevens Jr's USS PLAICE (SS-390) torpedoes and sinks CD-10 at
29-26N, 128-50E. CD-11 rescues rescues survivors.
1 October 1944:
At 1300, CD-20 departs Takao for Manila, Philippines
with torpedo boat HIYODORI, kaibokan CD-6, CD-16, minesweeper W-38 and W-39 and
three unidentified warships escorting convoy TAMA-29 consisting of EJIRI, TOKO,
RYUEI, KOSHO, URADO and TEIFU MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships.
3 October 1944:
At 1703, the convoy arrives at Camiguin Island. At
1910, TEIFU MARU escorted by minesweeper W-39 are detached for Aparri, northern
Luzon. At 2357, they arrive at Aparri and begin unloading. They arrive back at
Camiguin Island at 1935 the next day.
6 October 1944:
At 1900, the convoy departs Camiguin Island.
10 October 1944:
Near the Cape Rena Sea. At 1335, LtCdr Donald G.
Baer’s USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes EJIRI MARU at 16-10N, 119-45E. Fires break
out and become uncontrollable. Abandon Ship is ordered. Unmanned, the ship
drifts away. At 1700 it runs aground on a reef and a violent explosion occurs.
At 1800, EJIRI MARU sinks. The escorts drop 28 depth-charges, but LAPON is not
damaged.
12 October 1944:
At dawn, the convoy reaches the Manila Bay area, but
the convoy commander is reluctant to enter because of the danger of air attack,
so the convoy continues southward.
N of Calavite Strait. At 1410, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea’s USS RAY (SS-271)
torpedoes and sinks TOKO MARU at 13-32N 128-2IE. The escorts drop 30
depth-charges, but RAY is not damaged.
13 October 1944:
The convoy arrives at Manila.
18 October 1944:
At 0700, CD-20 departs Imari Bay near Sasebo via
Cape St. Jacques, Indo-China for Miri with kaibokan CD-14, CD-34, CD-39, CD-46
and patrol boats P-102 and P-38 escorting convoy MI-23 consisting of EBARA,
MUNEKATA, HIKACHI (NISSHO), MATSUMOTO, KOSHIN, EININ, RITSUEI, YAMASONO, ENREKI
(ENRYAKU), SHOEI, HIROTA, UNZEN, YOKAI and SHIROTAE MARUs and YUZAN MARU No. 2.
and survey ship HAKUSA.
20 October 1944:
Anchors in Raro 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, HIROTA,
UNZEN and YOKAI MARUs are detached for Takao escorted by P-103 and P-38.
25 October 1944:
Formosa Strait. At 0208, Cdr (later Rear
Admiral-Ret) Richard H. O’Kane’s USS TANG (SS-306), running on the surface,
torpedoes and sinks EBARA MARU at 25-04N, 119-35E.
MATSUMOTO MARU, following behind EBARA MARU, alters course intent on
ramming TANG, but one of the torpedoes fired at EBARA MARU strikes onrushing
MATSUMOTO MARU’s No. 1 hold. Her bow plunges under and she comes to a halt. Two
machine guns on her bridge open fire and drive the submarine under where the
water depth is a mere 131 feet.
The convoy speeds onward. CD-34 drops a few depth-charges. Nine American submariners are found drifting on the surface including Captain O’Kane. CD-34 rescues the survivors and later claims to have sunk TANG, but, in fact, the submarine was sunk by one of BuOrd's defective Mark-18 torpedoes. CD-34 is detached with the POWs for Takao, Formosa. At 2000, convoy MI-23 arrives at Chuanchow Bay where MATSUMOTO MARU is successfully grounded; however, she lists heavily.
26 October 1944:
MATSUMOTO MARU capsizes and becomes a total loss. At
0600, the convoy anchors outside Amoy Harbor, and departs the same day at 1800.
29 October 1944:
At 0700, the convoy departs Amoy for Cape St.
Jacques.
30-31 October 1944:
Aircraft attack the convoy, but no damage is
sustained.
4 November 1944:
At 1803, arrives at Cape St. Jacques.
9 November 1944:
At 0235, departs Cape St. Jacques.
12 November 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
16 November 1944:
At 0600, CD-20 departs Keelung for Moji with
kaibokan CD-39 and subchaser CH-61 escorting convoy TAMO-29 consisting of SHUYO,
FUKUJU, MELBOURNE and two unidentified ships.
23 November 1944:
At 0348, LtCdr Evan T. Shepard’s USS PICUDA (SS-382)
torpedoes and sinks SHUYO MARU at 34-14N, 128-28E.
At 0348, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CD-20 that reads: “Convoy attacked by enemy submarine. One vessel sunk [SHUYO MARU] in position 34-26 N, 128-20 E.”
At 0845, after tracking the convoy and making an "end-around", Shepard torpedoes and sinks FUKUJU at 34-10N, 128-58E.
At 0845, codebreakers decrypt another message from CD-20 that reads: “Positive sub contact and torpedo attack on JQFU [FUKUJU MARU] in position 34-12N, 128-57E.”
The escorts counter-attack and drop 23 depth charges on PICUDA, but she escapes undamaged.
24 November 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
14 December 1944:
CD-20 departs Miike with kaibokan CD-138 escorting
convoy MOTA-28 consisting of MAURORAN, TEIKAI and tankers DAINAN, SHINGI, OEI
and YAMAZAWA MARUs.
22 December 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
30 December 1944:
Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. USAAF Fifth Air Force North American B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers, Douglas A-20 “Havocs”and Curtiss P-40 “Warhawks” attack shipping in the approaches to the Gulf and sink CD-20 at 06-30N, 120-18E.
25 May 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).
[2] The Japanese rescue some of the POWs from these two ships. All are
transferred to KIBITSU MARU and taken to Japan. The American submarines
later return to rescue a number of British and Australian POWs.
Thanks go to John Whitman for info on USN decrypts of coded Japanese messages.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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