© 2007-2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
1 November 1943:
Nagasaki. CD-22 is laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’
shipyard as kaibokan No. 596.
27 January 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-22.
24 March 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Assigned to the
Kure Guard Unit.
25 March 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo.
30 March 1944:
Departs Sasebo.
21 April 1944:
CD-22 departs Tungchiaoshan (near Shanghai) with
minelayer SHIRATAKA, destroyers ASAKAZE, SHIRATSUYU and FUJINAMI, kaibokan
CD-20, KURAHASHI, minesweeper W-22, subchasers CH-37, CH-38, gunboats UJI, ATAKA
and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7 escorting the Take ("Bamboo") convoy
consisting of transports transports KAZUURA, MITSUKI, BRAZIL, TENSHINZAN
(AMATSUSAN), ADEN, TAJIMA, YOZAN, MANSHU, FUKUYO, TEIKAI, KANAN, TEIKAI, TEIKO
and UNKAI MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 and an unidentified ship.
E 25 April 1944:
CD-22 is detached from the convoy, probably off
Takao.
28 April 1944:
At 0600, CD-22 departs Tokyo Bay with kaibokan NOMI,
CD-12, CD-18 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 Chichi-jima.
4 June 1944:
At Davao. CD-22 receives bunker fuel from oiler NICHIEI MARU.
5 June 1944: The Battle of the Marianas:
Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s
(former CO of HARUNA) 2nd Supply Force oilers AZUSA and GENYO MARUs escorted by
kaibokans CD-22, KANJU, MANJU and MIYAKE are ordered to proceed to Surigao
Strait, Philippines.
6 July 1944:
At 1245, CD-22 departs Miike, Kyushu for Takao, Formosa
with destroyer HATSUSHIMO, kaibokan CD-1 and minesweeper W-34 escorting convoy
MOMA-02 consisting of SEATTLE, SHOZAN, JINZAN, TOKUSHIMA, HIZAN (HIYAMA), KOKKA,
YASUKUNI and RYOFU MARUs.
12 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
14 July 1944:
At 1900, CD-22 departs Takao for Manila with kaibokan
KUSAGAKI, CD-1 and minelayers MAESHIMA, ENTO and minesweeper W-34 escorting
convoy TAMA-21C consisting of MANTAI, MITSUKI, JINSAN, SEATTLE, YASUKUNI,
TENSHIN, YAMATAMA, SAINEI, HIZAN (HIYAMA), KOKKA, SHOZAN and SHOEI MARUs and
tankers SHONAN, MITSU, AYAGIRI and AYAZONO MARUs. [1]
16 July 1944:
At 0946, LtCdr Harold E. Ruble's USS PIRANHA (SS-389)
torpedoes and sinks SEATTLE MARU at 19-17N, 120-15E. The ship was carrying 4,
285 IJNAF personnel. HIYAMA and SHOZAN MARUs rescue all but 286 of the airmen.
Over the next six hours, Captain William V. O'Regan’s wolf pack, nicknamed the
"Mickey Finns", consisting of LtCdr Duncan C. MacMillian's USS THRESHER
(SS-200), LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Novell G. Ward's GUARDFISH (SS-217) and
Ruble's PIRANHA closes in and decimates the convoy.
At 2300, MacMillian's THRESHER torpedoes and sinks SAINEI MARU at 18-53N,
119-32E. At 2350, Ward's GUARDFISH torpedoes and sinks JINZAN MARU. Two minutes
later, Ward torpedoes and sinks MANTAI MARU.
17 July 1944:
The attacks continue. At 0034,Ward's GUARDFISH torpedoes
and sinks HIYAMA MARU. W-34 and CD-1 rescue survivors. At 0345, MacMillian's
THRESHER torpedoes and sinks SHOZAN MARU at 18-50N, 119-43E. CD-1 and W-34
rescue the survivors.
19 July 1944:
At 1920, convoy TAMA-21C arrives at Manila.
20 August 1944:
CD-22 is assigned to the 31st Escort Squadron, Combined Fleet.
23 August 1944:
Cdr Samuel D. Dealey’s USS HARDER (SS-257) and LtCdr
(later Rear Admiral-Ret) Chester W. Nimitz' HADDO (SS-255) are trailing JINYO
MARU, a straggler from convoy TAMA-24A from Takao to Manila, that is towing old
destroyer ASAKAZE towards Dasol Bay. About 0700. HADDO torpedoes and sinks
ASAKAZE at 16-6N, 119-44 E. Nimitz' HADDO, out of torpedoes, is detached and
heads for Biak. JINYO MARU radios Manila of her situation. That evening,
headquarters, Third Expeditonary Fleet dispatches CD-22 and Lt Yoshima
Tomoyoshi's patrol boat PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART) from Cavite to intercept her. At
1757, both depart Cavite. PB-102, steaming at 13 knots, first finds JINYO MARU.
CD-22 joins them later.
24 August 1944:
At 0630, as HARDER and LtCdr Frank E. Haylor’s USS
HAKE (SS-256) close Dasol Bay, Haylor makes out a three-stack ship and a smaller
one coming out of the bay. Haylor consults his ONI 41-42 naval-intelligence
warship recognition booklet. He incorrectly identifies three-stack ship patrol
boat PB-102 as old Thai destroyer PHRA RUANG and also mis-identifies CD-22 as a
minesweeper. The ships turn and seem to be coming in for a depth-charge run. As
they come out of the harbor, the crews of PB-102 and CD-22 see the two
submarines' periscopes. PB-102's captain turns about and heads back into Dasol
Bay, but CD-22 comes straight on. [2]
LtCdr Haylor does not like the setup, so HAKE breaks off, but HARDER
continues in towards the bay. While PB-102 is escorting JINYO MARU, CD-22
suddenly comes under a torpedo attack. Cdr Dealey fires three torpedoes at CD-22
in a "down-the-throat" attack, but misses. Two torpedoes pass off CD-22's port
side and one off her starboard side. After evading the torpedoes, CD-22 picks up
HARDER with her Type 3 sonar. At 0728, CD-22 commences a a series of depth
charge runs with her Type 94 DC throwers with each charge set to detonate deeper
than the last. The fifth salvo sinks HARDER and her entire crew. A large amount
of oil, pieces of cork and wood surface thereafter. CD-22 soon departs the area
to catch up with PB-102 and JINYO MARU. At 1948, all three arrive at Manila. [3]
20 October 1944: Operation SHO-I-GO ("Victory") – The Battle of Leyte
Gulf:
LtCdr Haneba Ryo's CD-22 departs Yashima anchorage with kaibokan CD-29,
CD-31, CD-33, CD-43 and CD-132 escorting oilers TAKANE and JINEI MARUs of Vice
Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) Northern "decoy" Mobile Force’s
Second Supply Force. The Supply Force supports Ozawa's CarDiv 3's ZUIKAKU,
ZUIHO, CHITOSE and CHIYODA and CarDiv 4's battleship-carrier hybrids HYUGA and
ISE.
21 October 1944:
CD-22 and two other kaibokans depart Tokuyama Fuel
Depot for Koniya, Kakaroma-Jima, Ryukyus with TAKANE MARU.
22 October 1944:
Ozawa's force refuels at sea. Sound contact is made
with a submarine. At 2010, ZUIKAKU and light cruiser TAMA spot torpedo tracks
and make a sharp turn to port. Destroyer WAKATSUKI is detached to repel the
submarine. Ozawa is forced to cancel the refueling after receiving only one
third of the required amount.
24 October 1944:
Destroyer AKIKAZE departs Kure to lead the escort of
the Second Supply Force.
25 October 1944: The Battle off Cape Engano:
Ozawa's force is attacked
by planes from Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc Mitscher's Task Force 38’s
ENTERPRISE (CV-6), ESSEX (CV-9), INTREPID (CV-11), FRANKLIN (CV-13), LEXINGTON
(CV-16), INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22), BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24), LANGLEY (CVL-27), CABOT
(CVL-28) and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30).
TF 38 launches 527 sorties in five strikes against Ozawa’s Northern
Force. During the day's action, carriers ZUIKAKU, ZUIHO and CHITOSE and
destroyer AKIZUKI are sunk.
That same day, S of Yaku Jima, LtCdr Orme C. Robbins’ USS STERLET
(SS-392) torpedoes and sinks oiler JINEI MARU at 30-15N, 129-45E. Destroyer
AKIKAZE helps rescue JINEI MARU's survivors and takes them to Mako, Pescadore
Islands.
28 October 1944:
CarDiv 4’s HYUGA and ISE refuel from oilers at
Amami-Oshima. CarDiv 4 and destroyers depart for the Inland Sea. At 2120, LtCdr
(later Vice Admiral) Vernon L. Lowrance’s USS SEA DOG (SS-401) attacks CarDiv 4.
He misses with six Mark 18 electric torpedoes.
That same day, TAKANE MARU is ordered to steam to Takao, but she has a
faulty boiler that limits her speed to 12 knots and prevents her from complying.
29 October 1944:
CarDiv 4 and its destroyers depart Amami-Oshima for
the Inland Sea. At 0415, the group is picked up on radar at 24,000 yards and
tracked by LtCdr Robbins’ STERLET. Robbins goes to full emergency power and
closes to 12,000 yards but CarDiv 4, making 22 knots, outruns STERLET. CarDiv 4
arrives safely at Kure.
TAKANE MARU receives new orders to proceed to Kure for repairs. At 1500,
she departs with CD-22, CD-29 and CD-33 as a separate group.
30 October 1944:
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Frederick J. Harlfinger’s
TRIGGER (SS-237) picks up oiler TAKANE MARU with her escorts and attacks. One
torpedo broaches alerting the oiler that avoids the other torpedoes. At 1620,
Harlfinger fires again and hits TAKANE MARU starboard aft in the engine room One
torpedo heads for CD-22, but she dodges it. CD-29 counter-attacks TRIGGER with
depth charges. Later, Harlfinger surfaces and notifies his wolf pack mates.
130 nm SW of Toizaki, Kyushu. CD-22, CD-29 and CD-33 are guarding the
immobilized TAKANE MARU. At about 2100 that night, LtCdr Harley K. Nauman’s
SALMON (SS-182) fires four torpedoes for two hits. The escorts counter-attack.
SALMON crash dives, but is damaged badly by a severe depth charging. Her
pressure hull is dished in, an engine is knocked off its base plate, radio and
radar equipment damaged and she begins leaking heavily. SALMON sinks to 500 feet
out of control. Her diving officer finally checks her descent, but cannot hold
her. Nauman decides to battle surface and engage the escorts with SALMON’s deck
guns.
SALMON surfaces in the midst of a heavy squall. Nauman’s crew quickly
begins to correct a 15-degree list, puts two of SALMON’s diesel engines on line
and stops some leaks. At about 2200, CD-29 sights a surfaced submarine off her
starboard bow, 500 meters away. CD-29 switches on her searchlight and opens fire
with her 120-mm bow gun, but loses the target after the first salvo. At 2235,
CD-22 and CD-33 arrive and attack SALMON from different directions. CD-22
charges the submarine intent on ramming. Nauman, in turn, charges the kaibokan.
The two vessels pass each other just 50 yards apart. CD-22 opens fire on the
submarine with her 25-mm AA gun. SALMON’s machine-guns, 20-mm AA and deck guns
return fire and kill four of CD-22's sailors and wound another 14. CD-22 is also
hit in the bow by a dud shell that causes a temporary leak. Her speed drops to
11 knots.
31 October 1944:
SW of Kyushu. At about 0100, LtCdr Robbins’ STERLET
finds TAKANE MARU dead in the water and down by the stern. No escorts are in
sight. Robbins fires six torpedoes by radar bearings and gets four hits that
finish off the oiler. TAKANE MARU sinks at 30-09N, 132-45E. CD-29 briefly chases
STERLET but soon loses contact.
1 November 1944:
CD-22 arrives at Kure and is dry-docked for battle
damage repairs.
20 November 1944:
CD-22 is reassigned to the Fifth Fleet.
18 December 1944:
Departs Keelung to provide distant anti-submarine
cover for new carrier UNRYU that is en route to the Philippines.
25 December 1944:
CD-22 is reassigned to the General Escort Command’s
First Escort Fleet.
18 January 1945:
Departs Sasebo with subchaser CH-58, escorting
auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU en route to Ishigaki-Jima to deliver "Shinyo"
type explosive motorboats of the 38th Attack Unit.
24 January 1945:
SW of Kyushu. At 0740, CD-22 detects LtCdr James D.
Grant's USS GREENLING (SS-213) with her sonar and attacks the submarine with
depth charges until 1030, when contact is lost. Later that night, CD-22 picks up
submarine radio traffic at 4235 kilocycles, probably originating from GREENLING.
28 January 1945:
Arrives at Ishigaki.
27 February 1945:
Minelayer TOKIWA and converted minelayer KOEI MARU
lay about 1,000 mines in an area S of Yaku Shima. CD-22, CD-29 and CD-68 provide
escort. [5]
13-17 March 1945:
Participates in offensive anti-submarine sweep
"AS-2" with CD-29, CD-68 and probably CD-18 from Sasebo.
22 March 1945:
At 0400, CD-22 departs Tomie, Goto Islands for
Ishigaki-Jima with kaibokan CD-215, CD-219 and auxiliary minesweepers TOSHI and
HIMESHIMA MARUs escorting convoy SAI-05 consisting of DORYO, TAKASAKI, SEIGA and
KASHIMA MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 1.
23 March 1945:
87 miles NNW of Naha, Okinawa. At 1713, LtCdr William
J. Germershausen's USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) torpedoes and sinks DORYO MARU. She
was carrying a unit of IJA troops and 28 "Shinyo" explosive motor boats. The
kaibokan counter-attack SPADEFISH and drop 52 depth charges, but SPADEFISH
evades with only slight damage.
25 April 1945:
CD-22 is reassigned to the 31st Coast Defense Group.
23 June 1945:
SE of Rokugo Zaki, NE of Noto Peninsula. Early in the
morning, a Maizuru-based Aichi E13A1 "Jake“ reconnaissance floatplane of the
901st NAG fitted with a MAD device detects a submerged submarine and attacks it
with a 250-kg depth-charge. CD-22 and CD-26, enroute from Maizuru to Nanao Bay,
are directed to the same area and attack the target at 0735. CD-22 drops 46
depth charges. [6]
15 August 1945:
Nanao Bay. CD-22’s crew is notified of Japan’s
surrender to the Allies.
24 August 1945:
Maizuru. CD-22 is decommissioned.
30 September 1945:
CD-22 is assigned to the Allied Repatriation
Service, but never makes any voyages.
30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1 December 1945: :
Redesignated as special duty minesweeper.
20 December 1945: :
Redesignated as Minesweeper No. 20, performs
minesweeping duty off the Honshu coast.
4 February 1946:
CD-22 is formally reassigned from the Allied Repatriation
Service to minesweeping duties with the Allied Occupation Forces. [7]
1 August 1946:
CD-22 is laid up at Sasebo.
5 September 1947:
Ceded to the United States as a war reparation.
31 December 1947:
Completes scrapping at Sasebo.
Authors’ Note:
[1] Ship could be KOKKO MARU (2TM tanker), but is more likely
KOKKA MARU.
[2] Sources conflict as to the identity of ships. Some accounts include
PHRA RUANG, but Japanese accounts claim that it was patrol boat PB-102 rather
than PHRA RUANG. PB-102 escorted JINYO MARU to Dasol Bay, but took no part in
action against HARDER.
[3] Cdr Dealey, the "destroyer killer", is awarded the Medal of Honor,
posthumously.
[4] STERLET, TRIGGER and SALMON each receive 1/3 credit for sinking
TAKANE MARU.
[5] USS KETE may have struck a mine at that same place.
[6] The target may have been the wreck of USS BONEFISH (SS-223) sunk in
that area earlier.
[7] In 1945, the U. S. Army Air Force launched a five-phased campaign known as “Operation Starvation” to mine Japan’s home waters. The USAAF used 80 to 100 B-29 “Super Fortress” heavy bombers of the 21st Bomber Command based at Tinian in the Marianas. The B-29s could carry seven 2,000 lb. or twelve 1,000 lb. mines.
Beginning on 27 March 1945 and continuing until 5 August 1945, the B-29s flew 1,529 nighttime radar sorties and laid 4,900 magnetic, 3,500 acoustic, 2,900 pressure and 700 low-frequency mines for a total of more than 12,000 mines laid in Japanese waters. These mines sank 294 ships, damaged 137 beyond repair and damaged another 239 that could be repaired. The total was 1, 250,000 tons sunk or damaged or about 75 percent of Japanese shipping available in March 1945. Only 15 B-29s were lost during the mining campaign.
Postwar, removal of these mines posed a major challenge for the Allied Occupation Forces. They pressed 269 Japanese ships of various types into mine sweeping service to augment their own efforts.
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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