© 2006-2008 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
15 September 1943:
Kobe.
Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' shipyard.
29 December 1943:
Launched and numbered CD-3.
29 February 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
1 April 1944:
At 1100, CD-3 departs Tokyo Bay as part of the escort of 26-ship convoy “Higashi-Matsu” No. 4. The ships and their destinations are: Saipan: SHOUN, TOKO, TAKASAN, AKIKAWA, KOKO, SHIRAMINE, TAIKAI, KAKOGAWA and MACASSAR MARUs. Guam: MIMASAKA, TOAN, AZUCHISAN and NISSHU MARU s and UNYO MARU No. 8 Truk: Fleet supply ship KINESAKI, SHOZUI, KEMBU (TATEBE), SHIMA, SHINYO and HAVRE MARUs. Palau: Fleet supply ship MAMIYA, TENRYUGAWA, TAIAN and TOSEI MARU s and SHINSEI MARU No. 5 Yap: SHINSEI MARU.
CD-3 and her crew undergo their workup and training while escorting this large, important convoy. The convoy commander is Rear Admiral Kiyota Takahiko (former CO of NACHI) in destroyer SAMIDARE. The other escorts include destroyer ASANAGI, torpedo-boat HIYODORI, kaibokan AMAKUSA, MIKURA, FUKUE, OKI, CD-2 and subchaser CH-50.
3 April 1944:
5 miles S of Tori-Shima. At about 1457, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Bafford E. Lewellen's USS POLLACK torpedoes and sinks TOSEI MARU at 30-14N, 139-45E. The escorts counter-attack POLLACK and drop 55 depth-charges unsuccessfully.
8 April 1944:
N of Saipan. At 0228 (JST), LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Frederick J. Harlfinger's USS TRIGGER (SS-237) fires four torpedoes at the convoy, but fails to get any hits. While the troopships are diverted to the west, OKI and SAMIDARE counter-attack with depth-charges. Harlfinger runs at 300 feet or more for 17 hours as six escorts dog his trail and rain down numerous depth charges. Six DCs explode extremely close by and damage TRIGGER.
9 April 1944:
62 miles WNW of Saipan. At 1625, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and hits MIMASAKA MARU at 15-30N, 145-00E. MIMASAKA MARU is taken in tow by TOAN MARU. The escorts counterattack SEAHORSE unsuccessfully. Later that day, the convoy arrives at Saipan where it is split into four echelons bound for Truk, Guam, Yap and Palau.
10 April 1944:
At about 0100 (JST), MIMASAKA MARU founders. She is carrying over 1,000 Naval personnel, most of whom are rescued. The convoy arrives at Saipan, then is split into separate groups that continue on to their
respective destinations.
E 18 July 1944:
CD-3 departs Miri with destroyer ASAKAZE, minelayer MAEJIMA, kaibokan YASHIRO and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs escorting convoy MI-10 consisting of DAIZEN, HIDA, HINAGA and FUYUKAWA MARUs and tankers HAKUBASAN, SHUNTEN, TAKETSU (BUTSU), CHIYODA and SHIMOTSU
MARUs plus 19 unidentified ships. [1]
E 23 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila where convoy MI-10 is joined by tankers OEI MARU and KYOEI MARU No. 6 and KAKOGAWA, TSUKUBASAN, ROKKO, RASHIN, KUROGANE, FRANCE, MYOGI MARUs and UNYO MARU No.7.
27 July 1944:
At 1100, reconstituted convoy MI-10 departs Manila.
28 July 1944:
At 1040, HAKUBASAN MARU is torpedoed by LtCdr Francis D. Walker's USS CREVALLE (SS-291) and sinks at 1305 at 16-28N, 119-38E.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao. ASAKAZE and YASHIRO are detached. KUROGANE, FRANCE and RASHIN MARUs are probably also detached.
4 August 1944:
Departs Takao.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
31 August 1944:
At 0400, CD-3 departs the Terajima Strait, NW Kyushu with CD-1 and C-5 escorting convoy MOTA-25 consisting of MIZUHO, KOKURYU and ARABIA MARUs.
3 September 1944:
At 1630, the convoy arrives at Keelung, Formosa.
5 September 1944:
At 1900, CD-3 departs Takao for Manila with destroyers HATSUHARU and HIBIKI, kaibokan CD-1, CD-7, CD-8, torpedo-boat HIYODORI, minesweeper W-20, subchaser CH-63 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-67 escorting convoy TAMA-25 consisting of KOGYO, EIJI, MANSHU, EIMAN, ATSUTA, EKKAI, NANREI, ROZAN, TERUKUNI, TOYOOKA and HOKUSEN MARUs. Previously known as MOTA-23, this convoy was enroute to Takao before being diverted to Keelung. The
convoy is carrying reinforcements, equipment and ammunition for the defense of the Philippine Islands.
6 September 1944:
At 0230, KOGYO MARU develops engine troubles and turns back. At about 0423, EIJI MARU carrying units of the Kwantung Army's 8th Infantry Division and 2nd Tank Division, strikes a mine at 22-19N, 120-30E. HIBIKI comes alongside to assist, but also strikes a mine that severely damages her bow. She returns to Takao. At about 0500, EIJI MARU is ordered abandoned. At 0800, there is another explosion and EIJI MARU sinks. The convoy withdraws to nearby Tungchiang. EIMAN MARU suffers engine troubles and also returns to Takao.
9 September 1944:
43 miles NW of Calayan Island. At about 0315, TOYOOKA MARU is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's USS QUEENFISH (SS-393). She sinks five minutes later at 19-45N, 120-55E. 1,036 soldiers and nine crewmen are killed. At 0319, MANSHU MARU is hit by a torpedo from QUEENFISH and sinks by the stern. She was carrying 1,492 men of the 42nd Infantry Regiment, plus her crew. 900 are killed. At 2120, the convoy seeks temporary shelter at Aparri. At 2250, the convoy departs hugging the coast.
12 September 1944:
At 1930, convoy TAMA-25 anchors at Santa Cruz.
13 September 1944:
At 1940, the convoy arrives in Subic Bay. It is learned the Americans have been attacking the Visayas in the Central Philippine Islands since 12 September.
14 September 1944:
At 0325, because of the danger of attacks in Manila, the convoy raises anchors and heads back north. At 1500, it arrives back at Santa Cruz. For the next two days the convoy remains on standby, < P>
17 September 1944:
At 0655, the convoy departs. At 1850, it arrives again at Subic Bay.
18 September 1944:
At 0610, the convoy departs and arrives at Manila at 1610.
19 September 1944:
At 0800, CD-3 departs Manila for Cebu, Philippines with kaibokan SADO, CD-1, CD-5 and CD-7 and minelayer ENOSHIMA escorting convoy MATA-27 consisting of SURAKARUTA, YUKI, HOFUKU, SHICHIYO and NANSEI MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1. That evening, the convoy arrives and anchors at Subic Bay.
21 September 1944:
Departs Subic Bay. At 1028, N of the Masinloc Sea, about 40 carrier-based aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s Task Force 38 attack the convoy and sink HOFUKU MARU. At 1056, a second raid begins. OGURA MARU No. 1 is bombed about 1130 and later abandoned.
At 1515, a third raid by 40 aircraft begins. YUKI, SHICHIYO and NANSEI MARUs are bombed and set afire and later sink. At 1634, a fourth raid begins. SURAKARUTA MARU is bombed and sunk. At 1650, CD-5 is bombed and set afire and later explodes and sinks at 15-30N, 119-50E.
27 September 1944:
At 1700, CD-3 departs Takao for Moji with kaibokan CD-1, CD-7, auxiliary minesweeper TAISEI MARU and auxiliary patrol boat OSEI MARU escorting convoy TAMO-26 that consists of NIKKO, SEISHIN, CLYDE, HAKUSAN, MATSUURA, TAIJO, GASSAN, YOKO and BIYO MARUs and SS No. 6 (Kidotei).
28 September 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Keelung. Auxiliary patrol boat OSEI MARU is detached.
30 September 1944:
At 0730, departs Keelung.
6 October 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
22 October 1944:
At 1400, CD-3 departs Moji for Manila with kaibokan CD-1, CD-7 escorting convoy MOMA-06 that consists of GASSAN, ATLAS, DAITOKU, SHINSHO, KAKOGAWA, SEKIHO, DAIKEN, SEIWA, SHINFUKU and MIKAGE MARUs and an unidentified ship.
23 October 1944:
At about 0400, LtCdr John E. Lee’s USS CROAKER (SS-246) torpedoes and damages GASSAN MARU. Later, she is towed to Saishu Island by SHINFUKU MARU where 3500 troops are put ashore.
24 October 1944:
At about 0400, CROAKER torpedoes and sinks MIKAGE
MARU.
27 October 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Keelung.
30 October 1944:
At 07600, departs at Keelung.
31 October 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Takao. The convoy is reorganized.
Some ships from convoy MOTA-27 join MOMA-06. The reconstitued convoy consists of HAMBURG, SHIMOTSU, ASOKAWA, TOTTORI, EIWA, ATLAS, DAITOKU, SHINSHO, KAKOGAWA,
SEKIHO and SEIWA MARUs escorted by old destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3
and CD-7, mineweeper W-27, subchaser CH-41 and fleet supply ship KURASAKI.
1 November 1944:
At 1800, the convoy departs Takao for Manila.
2 November 1944:
At 2305, LtCdr John B. Hess’s USS POMFRET (SS-391)
torpedoes and damages ATLAS MARU.
3 November 1944:
At 0435, Hess attacks ATLAS MARU again, but misses.
At 0500, POMFRET also torpedoes and damages HAMBURG MARU. At 1850, one of the
escorts scuttles her.
4 November 1944:
About 1330, ATLAS MARU finally goes aground. Torpedo
boat SAGI arrives from Takao and joins the escort.
8 November 1944:
Off Cape Bolinaro, Luzon. LtCdr Guy E. O'Neil, Jr’s
USS GUNNEL (SS-253) torpedoes and sinks SAGI.
The convoy later arrives at Santa Cruz, Philippines. Warned of a typhoon in the area, the convoy departs the same day and arrives at Manila Bay at 2238.
9 November 1944:
At 0925, convoy MOMA-06 arrives at Manila harbor.
12 November 1944:
At 1800, CD-3 departs Manila for Takao with
destroyer KURETAKE and kaibokan CD-1, and CD-7 escorting convoy MATA-32 that consists of NANKING MARU, UNKAI MARU No. 5 and fleet supply ship KURASAKI.
14 November 1944:
Off Cape Bolinao, Philippines. At 2218, LtCdr
William T. Kinsella’s USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks CD-7 at 17-46N, 117-57E. At 2225, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea’s USS RATON (SS-270) torpedoes and sinks UNKAI MARU No. 5.
15 November 1944:
At 0025, Shea’s RATON torpedoes and sinks KURASAKI at 17-27N, 117-43E.
17 November 1944:
At 1200, the remainder of the convoy arrives at
Takao.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, CD-3 departs Takao for Manila with
destroyer KURETAKE and kaibokans CD-1, CD-8, CD-28 and CD-54 and subchasers CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and CH-38 escorting convoy TAMA-32A that consists of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI, JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 and SS No.6 (Kidotei). Anchors along the coast soon after leaving.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs the 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, the convoy arrives at Manila.
5 December 1944:
At 1157, CD-1, departs Takao with kaibokan DAITO, CD-34 and CD-134 escorting convoy TAMA 35 consisting of NISSHO, ORYOKU, ARIMASAN and KAZUURA MARUs. Later that day anchors at Chechung.
6 December 1944:
At 0058, departs Chechung. At 1815, anchors at Port
San Pio Quinto, Camiguin Island.
8 December 1944:
At 0502, departs Port San Pio Quinto. At 1411,
anchors at Calayan Island.
9 December 1944:
At 0817, departs Calayan Island.
11 December 1944:
At 2000, arrives Manila.
9 January 1945:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain’s Task Force 38 launches attacks on Formosa, Ryukyus, and the Pescadores Islands in support of the invasion landings at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. N of Keelung, Formosa, TF 38's aircraft attack and sink CD-3 at 27-10N, 121-45E.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
[1] Although unconfirmed, the unidentified ships probably
included KYOKUZAN MARU from Miri and KAKOGAWA, TSUKUBASAN, ROKKO, RASHIN,
KUROGANE, FRANCE and MYOGI MARUs and UNYO MARU No. 7 and tankers OEI MARU and
KYOEI MARU No. 6 from Manila.
Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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