© 2007-2011 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2
1 February 1944:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’
shipyard.
11 April 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-28.
31 May 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
3 July 1944:
CD-28 departs Moji for Manila with with destroyer HARUKAZE and kaibokan CD-11, CD-20 and CD-26 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:
MOMA-01 departs Keelung. 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.
23 July 1944:
At 1545, CD-28 departs Manila for Moji with torpedo boat
SAGI, kaibokan CD-1, CD-18, minesweeper W-17, minelayer ENOSHIMA and subchaser
CH-61 escorting convoy MI-08 consisting of TANSUI, MANILA, ARABIA, TATSUBATO,
RYUSHO, HAKUROKU and MIRI MARUs and tankers SAN DIEGO, SAN LUIS, NITTETSU,
TAKETSU (BUTSU), CHIHAYA, RYUSHO and SANKO (YAMAKO) MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 6.
The convoy speed is eight knots.
27 July 1944:
At 0920, auxiliary subchaser CHa-74 and auxiliary
transport OYO MARU join the escort. At 1605, the convoy arrives at Takao.
28 July 1944:
Takao. CD-28 joins convoy MI-11 consisting of cargo
ships EIKYU, MANKO, MIHO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, DAKAR and, FUKUJU MARUs and BANSHU
MARU No. 16, transports YOSHINO, FUSO and TEIRITSU MARUs and tankers KOEI,
TAKETOYO, AYAYUKI, SHIICHIYO, HARIMA, AYAKUMO MARUs escorted by kaibokan
SHIMUSHU, minesweepers W-28, W-38, W-39, auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU and
subchaser CH-55.
29 July 1944:
Departs Takao. Soon after leaving, EIKYU MARU develops
engine problems and returns to Takao.
31 July 1944:
Luzon Strait. Eighteen-ship convoy MI-11 that departed
Takao, Formosa on 29 July for Miri, Borneo with six escorts is intercepted by a
wolfpack under Captain (later Rear Admiral) Lewis S. Parks. The pack consists of
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH/COMSUBLANT) Lawson P. Ramage's USS PARCHE
(SS-384)(F), LtCdr (later Captain) David L. Whelchel's STEELHEAD (SS-280) and
LtCdr John C. Martin's HAMMERHEAD (SS-364). In the ensuing action, PARCHE sinks
KOEI, YOSHINO and MANKO MARUs. STEELHEAD sinks transport (ex-hospital ship) FUSO
MARU. STEELHEAD also torpedoes DAKAR MARU, but she does not sink. All together,
the sunken ships take down several thousand military personnel, crewmen and
their cargoes of ammunition and other supplies. Thousands of troops are left
floating in the waters of Balintang Channel.
CD-28 is ordered out of Takao to find DAKAR MARU by Rear Admiral (Vice
Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka Sadamichi, CO of the 6th Convoy Squadron of the
First Surface Escort Division. Kajioka also orders AYAKUMO, TEIRITSU and
TAKETOYO MARUs to pick up survivors. The three ships pull over 3,000 men out of
the water. CD-28 also finds more survivors. Somehow, the small vessel takes
aboard 2,000 men. Finally, CD-28 locates the drifting DAKAR MARU and transfers
the survivors to her, then the kaibokan is ordered to tow DAKAR MARU, carrying a
cargo of badly needed construction supplies, to Calayan Island, 35 miles to the
east. Kajioka also orders a pair of flying boats to provide air cover.
16 August 1944:
At 0700, CD-28 departs Miri with kaibokan SHIMUSHU,
CD-16, minesweeper W-7 and subchasers CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41 escorting convoy
MI-12 consisting of NORFOLK, UGA, KINRYU, JINEI, GYOKUYO or possibly OYO, JUNGEN GO and
GYOSAN MARUs and unknown KAITO MARU and tankers ZUIYO, TAKETOYO, SEISHIN and
NANSEI MARUs.
17 August 1944:
GYOSAN MARU is detached.
18 August 1944:
At 1352, LtCdr William T. Kinsella's USS RAY (SS-271)
torpedoes and sinks NANSEI MARU at 08-39N, 116-39E. The convoy is ordered to
seek shelter.
20 August 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro.
21 August 1944:
At 0556, departs Paluan Bay. Soon after, CD-28 attacks
an enemy submarine contact. At 0720, a wolfpack consisting of USS GUITARRO
(SS-363), HADDO (SS-255), HARDER (SS-257), RAY and MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) make the
first of a series of successful attacks. Kinsella's RAY torpedoes and sinks
TAKETOYO MARU at 13-23N 120-19E.
At 0730, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Chester W. Nimitz' HADDO
torpedoes and sinks NORFOLK MARU in the same position. At 0800, Nimitz torpedoes
and sinks KINRYU MARU, and at 0825, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins
GUITARRO torpedoes and sinks UGA MARU, both at 13-27N 120-17E.
22 August 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Manila.
27 August 1944:
At 0900, CD-28 departs Manila with kaikoban SHIMUSHU,
ETOROFU, SHONAN and CD-7, subchaser CH-41 and patrol boat P-102 (ex-USS STEWART,
DD-224) escorting convoy MAMO-02 consisting of KASHI, MAYASAN, NISSHO and NOTO
MARUs. At 1548, anchors in Subic Bay.
28 August 1944:
At 0600, departs Subic Bay.
30 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao. CD-28, CD-7, subchaser CH-41 and
patrol boat P-102 are detached.
14 September 1944:
CD-28 departs Takao for Singapore with kaibokan
MANJU, KANJU and MIYAKE, torpedo boat HIYODORI and escort carrier SHINYO
escorting convoy HI-75 consisting of oilers AMATO, YUHO, NICHIEI, RYOEI, TOHO
(1944 built), SERIA and MANEI MARUs, FUJISAN MARU (1944), KUROSHIO and TAIHO
MARUs, passenger liner ASAMA MARU, transport SAIGON MARU and flying boat carrier
AKITSUSHIMA. Soon after leaving, AMATO and YUHO MARUS each develop engine
problems and return to Takao.
18 September 1944:
At 1040, kaibokan KURAHASHI joins the escort of
convoy HI-75.
19 September 1944:
At 1500, AMATO MARU rejoins the convoy.
20 September 1944:
During the day, NICHIEI, KUROSHIO, TAIHO and
FUJISAN MARUs and carrier SHINYO all suffer engine or rudder problems, but the
convoy remains intact.
22 September 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Singapore.
2 October 1944:
At 1700, CD-28 departs Singapore for Moji with escort
carrier SHINYO and kaibokan MANJU, KANJU, MIYAKE, KURAHASHI and torpedo boat
HIYODORI escorting convoy HI-76 consisting of oilers NICHIEI, NICHINAN, RYOEI,
FUJISAN, KUROSHIO, TARAKAN and TOHO MARUs, ex-seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU and cargo ship TEIHOKU MARU (ex-French PERSEE).
8 October 1944:
South China Sea. At 0100, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s USS
BECUNA (SS-319) attacks the convoy at 14-12N, 115-53E. Sturr fires four
torpedoes and claims two hits on KIMIKAWA MARU. She is detached from the convoy
and heads for Manila escorted by CD-28 and HIYODORI.
E 16 October 1944:
Samah, Hainan Island. Convoy TAMA-28 joins convoy
HI-76. The new convoy consists of oilers NICHIEI, NICHINAN, RYOEI, FUJISAN
(1944), KUROSHIO, TARAKAN and TOHO (1944) MARUs and cargo ship TEIHOKU MARU
escorted by DAITO, escort carrier SHINYO and kaibokan CD-28, KANJU, MANJU,
MIYAKE, KURAHASHI and torpedo boat HIYODORI. At 0745, the convoy, delayed
because of an enemy task force near Formosa, departs port.
17 October 1944:
Early in the morning, MANJU and MIYAKE are detached
with RYOEI MARU and head for Mako. Later that day, after news of increased enemy
task force activity, the rest of the convoy turns back to Samah.
18 October 1944:
Off Samah. Kaibokan CD-25 and CD-32 join the escort
of convoy HI-76. Tankers FUJISAN, NICHIEI and NICHINAN MARUs are detached and
remain at Samah. Tanker TENEI MARU joins the convoy.
20 October 1944:
KURAHASHI and CD-25 are detached to escort NICHIEI
MARU to Coron Bay.
22 October 1944:
At 1200, arrives Mako. KUROSHIO and TOHO MARUs and
kaibokan CD-32 are detached. Kaibokan YASHIRO joins.
24 October 1944:
One of TENEI MARU's engines breaks down. She falls
behind, but later catches up.
26 October 1944:
At 1130, arrives at Moji. SHINYO is detached to Kure
prior to the convoy's arrival.
10 November 1944:
At 1530, CD-28 departs Miike for Manila with
kaibokan CD-8, CD-9, CD-54, auxiliary subchasers CHa-24 and an unidentified
warship escorting convoy MOMA-07 consisting of KENJO, NARUO, GYOKUKO, JINYO,
FUKUYO, TATSUAKI (TATSUSHO), MINO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA), MIHO and SHINFUKU MARUs
and KONAN MARU No. 1.
11 November 1944:
Near Cape Ose Sea, Goto Archipelago. At 0906, Cdr
(later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin’s USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) fires four
torpedoes and hits MIHO MARU in the bow. Unable to keep up with the convoy, she
heads for Sasebo. The escorts drop 55 depth-charges on QUEENFISH, but she
remains undamaged.
12 November 1944:
400 kilometers SW of Nagasaki. At 0420, LtCdr (later
Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene B. Fluckey’s USS BARB (SS-220) torpedoes NARUO and
GYOKUYO MARUs at 31-30N 125-57E. NARUO MARU, hit by one or more torpedoes, blows
up and sinks instantly. She was carrying 20,000 shells and army troops.
GYOKUYO MARU is hit by a torpedo in the engine spaces. She goes dead in
the water and begins to drift. Later, JINYO MARU attempts to tow the cripple,
but the towline parts. The passengers are to transfered to other ships. The
escorts drop seven depth-charges on BARB and she suffers slight damage.
At about 0620, LtCdr Robert H. Caldwell’s USS PETO (SS-265) torpedoes
TATSUAKI MARU at 31-46N, 125-40E. One strikes No. 2 hold, a huge explosion
occurs and she lists over, then explodes. JINYO MARU rushes to the area where
the attack came from and drops depth-charges.
13 November 1944:
At 0950, arrives at the Shushan Islands, E of
Shanghai.
14 November 1944:
155 miles E of Shanghai. About midnight, LtCdr Gordon W. Underwood’s (USNA ‘32) USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) fires five torpedoes by radar bearings at GYOKUYO MARU being towed by kaibokan CD-8 towards Shanghai. Hit by several torpedoes, GYOKUYO MARU sinks at 31-04N, 125-58E. Casualties are unknown, but most passengers and crew had been taken off before the sinking.
19 November 1944:
At 1200, the convoy arrives at Takao and is
dissolved.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, CD-28 departs Takao with kaibokan CD-1,
CD-3, CD-8, CD-54, old destroyer KURETAKE and subchasers CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and
CH-38 escorting convoy TAMA-32A consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI,
JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU
MARU No. 63 and KIDOTEI SS No. 6. Soon after leaving, anchors along the coast.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Formosan coast.
25 November 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Musa Bay, Fuga Island.
27 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Musa Bay. At 1645, arrives at Lapoc
Bay.
28 November 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc Bay. At 1800, arrives at N
San Fernando.
29 November 1944:
At 0600, departs N San Fernando.
30 November 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Manila.
3 December 1944:
CD-28 departs Takao with destroyer KURETAKE,
kaibokan CD-54 and CH-33 and two unidentified warships escorting convoy TAMA-34
consisting of JINYO, KENJO, YAMAKUNI, FUKUYO and YASUKUNI MARUs, BANSHU MARU No.
31 and SHINPUKU MARU.
6 December 1944:
At 2147, a concerted wolfpack attack begins by Cdr
(later Rear Admiral) Roy M. Davenport's USS TREPANG (SS-412) and LtCdr James D.
Fulp's SEGUNDO (SS-398).
Davenport torpedoes and sinks JINYO MARU at 18-30N 121-57E with 1430
lives lost, mostly troops. At 2237, Fulp torpedoes YASUKUNI MARU that runs
aground and is later abandoned near 18-59N 120-56E. At 2358 Davenport hits
FUKUYO MARU with three torpedoes. She blows up and sinks nearby. BANSHU MARU No.
31 is also sunk with no survivors around this time at 18-54N, 120-49E.
7 December 1944:
At 0005, Fulp's SEGUNDO torpedoes and sinks KENJO
MARU at 18-52N, 121-57E. YAMAKUNI MARU, damaged by Davenport's TREPANG, goes no
further than N San Fernando.
9 December 1944:
SHINPUKU MARU arrives at Manila with escorts less
kaibokan CD-54 that is detached to rescue YASUKUNI MARU.
14 December 1944:
Off Dasol Bay, Luzon. At about 2200, LtCdr William
H. Hazzard’s USS BLENNY (SS-324), using radar bearings on the surface, torpedoes
and sinks CD-28 about 100 miles NW of Manila at 15-50N, 119-45E.
At 1155, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt an action summary from Lieutenant Toto (or Moto) that reads: “Coast Defense Ship #28 was torpedoed and sunk by enemy submarine at 2334 on the 14th in position 15-50 N, 119----E..” The garbled message mentions that the captain was killed.
10 February 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Back to
Escort Page
