© 2007-2015 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
3 July 1944:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki Ship Building’s yard.
30 Septenber 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-68.
1 November 1944:
Reserve LtCdr Ishii Tomekichi (former CO of the converted gunboat KAZAN MARU) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
20 November 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Reserve LtCdr Ishii Tomekichi is the Commanding Officer.
24 January 1945:
W-15, kaibokan CD-44, CD-68, torpedo boat MANAZURU, minelayer NUWAJIMA, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, CHOUN MARU No. 8 and HIMESHIMA and SEKI MARUs depart Kagoshima escorting convoy KATA-407 consisting of tanker KINYU MARU No. 7 and probably other ships.
27 January 1945:
At 1858 arrives at Naha.
30 January 1945:
At 0722 departs Naha still escorting KATA-407 for Kirun.
1 February 1945:
Arrives at Kirun.
13 March 1945:
At 2200, CD-68 departs Kagoshima, Kyushu for Naha,
Okinawa with torpedo boat TOMOZURU, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI and CHITOSE
MARUs and SHONAN MARU No. 16 escorting convoy KANA-304 consisting of KOSHU, SOKA
and KAIJO MARUs and TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3. Soon after leaving port, the convoy
changes course for Koniya, Amami O-Shima because of Allied air activity in the
Ryukyus.
16 March 1945:
At 2200, KANA-304 departs Amami O-Shima for Naha.
18 March 1945:
At about 1700, Cdr David R. Connole’s USS TRIGGER
(SS-237) attacks the convoy from the port side. Connole torpedoes and sinks
TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3.
20 March 1945:
At 1300, KANA-304 arrives at Shushan anchorage, E of
Shanghai.
22 March 1945:
At 1700, KANA-304 departs Shushan for Naha.
23 March 1945:
At midnight, KANA-304 changes course north towards
Amami O-Shima.
24 March 1945:
East China Sea. At 0830, two B-24 (possibly USN PB4Ys)
“Liberator” heavy bombers attack KANA-304 and sink auxiliary minesweeper SEKI
MARU off Tokara Gunto at 29-12N, 125-13E.
200 miles NW of Okinawa, near Amami O-Shima. Carrier planes from TG
58.1’s USS BENNINGTON (CV-20), USS HORNET (CV-12), USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) and USS SAN
JACINTO (CVL-30) attack KANA-304 and sink CD-68 at 30N, 126-36E and torpedo boat
TOMOZURU, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI and CHITOSE MARUs and SHONAN MARU No. 16,
cargo ships KOSHU, SOKA and KAIJO MARUs at 28-25N, 124-32E.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
-Bob Hackettand Peter Cundall
Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France and Mr. Sander Kingsepp of Estonia.
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