© 2007-2010 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
1 February 1944:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ shipyard.
11 April 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-26.
31 May 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
3 July 1944:
CD-26 departs Moji for Manila with with destroyer HARUKAZE and kaibokan CD-11, CD-20 and CD-28 and subchaser CH-28 escorting convoy MOMA-01 consisting of KASHII, TAMATSU, TOZAN, NISSHO, MAYASAN, MIZUHO and NICHIRAN 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 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.
28 July 1944:
At 1132, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “CD-26 and HARUKAZE [DD] - proceed immediately to 16-23 N., 119-40 E. HAKUBASAN MARU (of Convoy MI-10) was attacked at 1030 -----.”
7 August 1944:
At 1900, CD-26 departs Manila for Miri, Borneo with
kaibokan SHIMUSHU, minesweeper W-28 and subchaser CH-55 escorting reconstituted
convoy MI-11 that consists of TAKETOYO, MIHO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, SHICHIYO,
AYAYUKI, AYAKUMO and TEIRITSU MARU(ex-French Liner LECONTE DE LISLE) joined by MISAKI MARU.
10 August 1944:
CD-26, destroyer HARUKAZE and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU depart Manila escorting convoy MAYU-06 consisting of SHOKEI and YASUKUNI MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
12 August 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
14 August 1944:
Arrives at Yulin.
18 August 1944:
At 1800, CD-26, destroyer HARUKAZE and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU depart Yulin, Hainan Island escorting convoy YUTA-10 consisting of YASUKUNI MARU and six unidentified merchant ships (ore carriers)
19 August 1944:
At 0047, an enemy sub is sighted at 18-03N, 116-16E. At 0107, a sub is sighted again.
20 August 1944:
At 2120, another sub is sighted at 20-37N, 113-17E.
22 August 1944:
HARUKAZE carries out an anti-submarine sweep in the vicinity of the convoy.
At 0931, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from the captain of HARUKAZE that reads:
"CD-26, when visibility was confined to ----- kilometers, at 0505 collided with YASUKUNI MARU-- (blanks) ---. There was no obstacle to (blank) ---- duties and the damage to YASUKUNI MARU was very slight."
23 August 1944:
At 0105, codebreakers decrypt a message from the captain of HARUKAZE that says "in position 21-14N, 116-53E, was attacked by enemy bomber aircraft. CD-26 (blank)--- damage to echo ranging gear (sound oscillating not operating) Otherwise, no damage."
At 1130, arrives at Takao, southern Formosa.
26 August 1944:
At 1000, CD-26, HARUKAZE and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN MARU depart Takao escorting convoy TAMO-24 consisting of TEIKA (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA) and YASUKUNI MARUs and eight unidentified merchant ships.
1 September 1944:
At 1130, arrives at Moji. HARUKAZE departs there the same day.
11 September 1944:
At 1500, CD-26 departs Moji for Takao with destroyer HARUKAZE, kaibokans CD-9 and subchaser CH-56 escorting convoy MOTA-26 consisting of GASSAN, SEIZAN, HAKUSAN, HOTEN, MURORAN, MANILA, MACASSAR, DAIKU, DAIKYO, NANKING, FUYUKAWA, PEKING, DAIZEN, HIDA and JUNHO MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No.2, and tanker DAISHO MARU.
16 September 1944:
CD-26 departs Yulin for Moji with kaibokan MIKURA,
ETOROFU, CD-10, CD-11 and CD-18 escorting the 1st echelon of reorganized convoy
HI-72 consisting of ASAMA, KIBITSU, GOKOKU and KAGU MARUs. GASSAN, SEIZAN and
HAKUSAN MARUs split from the convoy and later that day arrive at Keelung.
17 September 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao.
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. The bombers also damage cargo
vessels ASAKA and SHINCHO MARUs. KAGU MARU suffers hull damage by near-misses.
She heads for Takao for repairs escorted by CD-10, CD-11 and CD-20. Kaibokan
MIKURA is damaged and towed to Mako by CD-18 escorted by CD-26.
30 September 1944:
Departs Takao in reorganised convoy MI-19
consisting of KENEI, IWAKUNI, DAIMEI, YULIN, HAKUROKU, MITSU, DAIBIN, ARISAN,
TEIFU(ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), TASMANIA, DAIA and SHINSEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan ETOROFU, CD-18,
CD-26 and subchaser CH-19.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at Aparri. At 2300, departs.
3 October 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Lapoc. ETOROFU is probably
detached for Takao.
4 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Lapoc. At 1700 arrives 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-26 departs Manila for Miri, Borneo with
kaikoban CD-18, patrol boat PB-105, subchaser CH-19 and auxiliary subchaser
Cha-56 escorting reorganized convoy MI-19 consisting of NITTETSU, SAN LUIS,
DAIZEN, NITTA, SAN DIEGO, EIKYO, TOKUWA, SHUNTEN, TATSUBATO, DAISHU and YOSHU
MARUs.
9 October 1944:
About 1700, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s BECUNA (SS-319)
torpedoes and damages SAN LUIS MARU, but she is able to continue. LtCdr Francis
W. Scanland’s HAWKBILL (SS-366) also torpedoes SAN LUIS MARU about the same
time. At 1804, Sturr’s BECUNA torpedoes and sinks TOKUWA MARU.
10 October 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU and two of the escorts are detached with
damaged SAN LUIS MARU and head for Sandakan, Borneo,
12 October 1944:
Palawan Passage. LtCdr (later Captain) David H.
McClintock’s DARTER (SS-227) fires four torpedoes at two ships in the convoy,
but inflicts no damage.
14 October 1944:
At 0208, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen D. Claggett’s
DACE (SS-247) torpedoes and sinks NITTETSU MARU and damages DAIZEN and EIKYO
MARUs.
17 October 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
5 November 1944:
CD-26, with kaibokan CD-18 and subchasers CH-15, CH-17, CH-23, CH-37 and CH-38, departs Manila escorting convoy MATA-31 consisting of TATSUHARU MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
6 November 1944:
At 1055, an enemy submarine is sighted at 16-11N, 109-06E.
12 November 1944:
Departs Subic Bay.
15 November 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
17 November 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
23 December 1944:
CD-26 departs Moji for Takao with kaibokan CD-60 and
CD-205 escorting convoy MOTA-29 consisting of MELBOURNE and DAIKO MARUs.
Enroute, CD-26 is detached and heads back to Sasebo. [1]
1 January 1945:
At 0715, CD-26 departs Moji for Takao with kaibokan
CD-36, CD-67 and probably CD-39 and CD-112 escorting convoy MOTA-30 consisting of ANYO,
HISAGAWA, MEIHO, RASHIN, SANYO, HIKOSHIMA, DAIGA, TATSUYO and MANJU MARUs.
8 January 1945:
At 1830, Cdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene B.
Fluckey's USS BARB (SS-220) torpedoes TATSUYO MARU. Loaded with munitions, she
explodes and sinks instantly. At 2020, LtCdr Evan T. Shepard's USS PICUDA
(SS-382) torpedoes and sinks ANYO MARU. At 2120, Fluckey's BARB torpedoes and
damages SANYO MARU. At 2230, while avoiding numerous torpedoes, HIKOSHIMA MARU
runs aground in Tunghsiao Bay and is abandoned. At 2315, Cdr Charles E.
Loughlin's QUEENFISH (SS-393) torpedoes and damages MANJU MARU. At 2330, SANYO
MARU runs aground.
9 January 1945:
At 2040, MANJU MARU is deliberately run aground. At
0430, SANYO MARU breaks in two and sinks. HISAGAWA MARU and two escorts head
south. At about 0600, they join RASHIN MARU and another escort and head for
Takao. MEIHO and DAIGA MARUs head for Keelung. At 0915, HISAGAWA and RASHIN
MARUs are attacked by aircraft. HISAGAWA MARU is damaged severely and lags
behind. The group heads for Mako, Pescadores, but at about 1255, HISAGAWA MARU
sinks taking down 2283 men of the IJA's 19th Infantry Division's 3rd Transport
Unit. [2]
19 January 1945:
At 0600, CD-26 departs Takao for Moji with kaibokan
IKUNA, CD-39 and CD-112 escorting convoy TAMO-38 consisting of DAINAN, BINGO,
TOYOKAWA, RASHIN, SHINNO and TATSUWA MARUs and NICHIYU No. 2.
22 January 1945:
Early in the morning, convoy MOTA-32 departs Sanmen
Bay, China. At 1600, arrives at Namkwan (now Namquan) Bay and joins convoy
TAMO-38 sheltering there.
23 January 1945:
At 0402, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B.
Fluckey's USS BARB (SS-220) discovers the anchored ships and skillfully enters
the bay. At 0402, Fluckey fires a full salvo of torpedoes. DAIKYO MARU carrying
ammunition spectacularly explodes and sinks. Minor damage, probably from falling
debris, is also inflicted on SAMARANG, AIZAN, DAISHUN and SHUNSHO MARUs and
TAMON MARU No. 16. [3]
At 0600, the remainder of the convoy departs the anchorage.
28 January 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
1 March 1945:
At 0800, CD-26 departs Mutsure for Keelung with
kaibokans IKUNA, CD-41, minesweepers W-15 and W-17 and subchaser CH-19 escorting
convoy MOTA-40 consisting of IKOMASAN, AIZAN, DAIKI, TOYOGAWA, KITAKATA, ANKO
and DOSHI MARUs.
5 March 1945:
Off Akuke Jima, Ryukyu Islands. At 1042, LtCdr Walter F.
Schlech's USS TILEFISH (SS-307) torpedoes and damages W-15's stern at 29-36N,
129-45E. W-15 is beached on Suwasi Island and later abandoned, a constructive
total loss. [4]
9 March 1945:
At 2010, convoy MOTA-40 arrives at Keelung.
19 March 1945:
CD-26 departs Seletar Naval Harbor, Singapore with destroyer AMATSUKAZE and kaibokan MANJU MARU, CD-18, CD-84, CD-130, CD-134 escorting convoy HI-88-J consisting of HONAN, KAIKO, ASOKAWA, SARAWAK, ARAOSAN, TENCHO MARUs and SAIGON MARU. At 1310, while leaving the Singapore straits, SARAWAK MARU is mined and badly damaged and eventually sinks on 27 March.
22 March 1945:
Arrrives at Cape Camau.
23 March 1945:
Off St Jacques. ARAOSAN and TENCHO MARUs and the
unidentified ship are detached.
27 March 1945:
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-26,
destroyer AMATSUKAZE (with a temporary bow fitted) and kaibokan MANJU, CD-1,
CD-18, 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 and ASOKAWA MARU is hit in the engine room and sinks. MANJU and CD-84
rescue survivors. At 1220, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's USS BLUEGILL
(SS-242) torpedoes HONAN MARU. Her captain runs her aground. NANSHIN MARU No. 30
probably is detached.
29 March 1945:
At 0710, LtCdr Frank M. Smith's 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 by Fifth Air Force B-25s that sink CD-18, CD-130 and cargo ship KAIKO MARU at 15-10N, 109-26E.
S of Hainan. At 2230, Martin PBM “Mariner” float bombers attack the convoy and damage CD-134.
30 March 1945:
Off Yulin, Hainan Island. B-25s sink auxiliary subchaser SHINAN MARU and damage CD-26 at 18-09N, 109-42E.
At 1318, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from that reads: “At 1045 12 B-25 planes attacked Yulin concentrating on this convoy -----. Damage incurred: CD-26 is unable to navigate due to a near miss, and there is other slight damage to the hull----Desire to detach CD-26 from convoy.” A subsequent message states that CD-26 could not communicate because of bomb damage.
26 April 1945:
Coast of China. At 0755, CD-26 departs the Shusan Sea area, E of Shanghai, for Moji with destroyer ASAGAO, kaibokan UKU, patrol boat P-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224), minesweeper W-29 and subchaser CH-20 escorting convoy SHIMO-03 consisting of KASHIMA, BANSHU, ABUKUMAGAWA, SHINTON and TAIKYU MARUs and NANRYU MARU No. 9.
27 April 1945:
Yellow Sea. Off S Korea. Convoy SHIMO-03 is attacked by aircraft and unidentified submarine(s). The planes make many attacks and bomb and strafe the convoy. UKU and patrol boat P-102 are damaged at 34-52N, 124-23E.
28 April 1945:
At 1200, convoy SHIMO-03 arrives at Moji.
1 May 1945:
At 1845, arrives with convoy SHIMO-03 at Yuya Bay. (SHIMO-03 apparently did not arrive 28 April, probably because of mining)
2 May 1945:
At 0555, departs Yuya Bay. At 1325, arrives at Moji.
3 May 1945:
At 0930, departs Moji.
4 May 1945:
At 1045, arrives at Maizuru. Docked in No. 3 Drydock.
21 June 1945:
At 1006, departs Maizuru for Nanao-Hoku Bay.
22 June 1945:
At 1006, arrives at Nanao Nanao-Hoku Bay.
23 June 1945:
SE of Rokugo Zaki, NE of Noto Peninsula. At 0310, departs Nanao-Hoku Bay.
Early in the morning, a Maizuru-based Aichi E13A1 "Jake" reconnaissance floatplane of the
901st NAG fitted with a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) device detects a submerged submarine and attacks it with a 250-kg depth-charge. CD-26 and CD-22, enroute from Maizuru to Nanao Bay, are directed to the same area and attack the target at 0735. CD-22 drops 46 depth charges. [5]
24 June 1945:
At 1807, arrives at Nanao-Hoku Bay.
15 August 1945:
CD-26’s crew receives notice of the termination of the
war.
30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1 December 1945:
Assigned to minesweeping duties by the Allied
Occupation Forces. [6]
6 September 1947:
Ceded to the United States as a war reparation.
13 October 1947:
Scrapped.
Authors’ Notes:
[1] Some sources indicate that CD-112 was in the escort not
CD-26.
[2] MANJU MARU was sunk by aircraft in the same location on 20 Jan '45.
[3] Exactly why so few of BARB's torpedoes failed to hit such a perfect
overlapping target remains a mystery. Perhaps the torpedoes were defective, a
problem the U. S. Navy never got quite right during, and even after the war.
Rumors of more ships sunk persist, but they are not supported by facts.
[4] Some sources indicate that W-15 was part of the escort of MOTA-40,
but others do not.
[5] The target may have been the wreck of USS BONEFISH (SS-223) sunk in
that area earlier.
[6] 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. 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, 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 Bill Somerville for info on CD-26's movements in late Aug '44 and to John Whitman for info on intercepted messages.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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