© 2006-2019 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 9
5 October 1943:
Tokyo Bay. Laid down at Yokosuka Navy Yard.
30 December 1943:
Launched and numbered CD-6.
20 January 1944:
Completed.
30 January 1944:
Reserve Lt (later LtCdr) Nishibe Sadamitsu (former navigating officer of RIO DE JANEIRO MARU) is appointed CEO.
15 March 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Yokosuka Naval District. Assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force. Reserve Lt Nishibe Sadamitsu is the CO.
5 April 1944:
CD-6 is assigned to the General Escort Command's 2nd Escort Division.
15 April 1944:
At 0600, CD-6 departs Tokyo escorting convoy "Higashi-Matsu No. 6" consisting of AWAJI, HAKUBA, KATSUKAWA, TAKAOKA, BATAVIA, NITCHO, AWA and HOKUSHIN MARUs bound for Saipan, CHOAN MARU No. 2 and MIKAGE MARU No. 1 bound for Truk, JOKUJA, BISAN and JINSAN MARUs bound for Palau, KAMISHIMA and
SHOZAN MARUs bound for Woleai, INARI and TONEGAWA MARUs bound for Guam and TATSUAKI and TAMAHOKO MARUs bound for Chichi-Jima. The convoy is also escorted by destroyers HOKAZE, YUNAGI, UZUKI, kaibokan MIYAKE, minelayers SARUSHIMA, KYOSAI and YURISHIMA, minesweepers W-20 and W-28 and subchasers CH-10 and CH-12.
23 April 1944:
At 0300, TONEGAWA and INARI MARUs together with W-20 are detached from the convoy and at 1735 arrive at Guam. The others arrive at Saipan that same day.
27 April 1944:
At 1140, CD-6 departs Saipan with kaibokan AMAKUSA, MIYAKE, destroyer HOKAZE, minelayer SARUSHIMA, submarine chaser CH-10, and minesweeper W-20 escorting Higashi Matsu No. 6 (return) convoy, consisting of AZUCHISAN, AWAJI, SHOUN, TOAN, SHOZUI, KATSUKAWA, TAKAOKA, TONEGAWA, AWA, HOKUSHIN and TATEBE MARUs and three unidentified ships.
4 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokyo.
14 May 1944:
At 0430, CD-6 departs Tateyama with destroyer SATSUKI, kaibokan AMAKUSA and CD-4 escorting convoy Higashi Matsu No. 8, carrying elements of the IJA's 43rd Infantry Division including the 135th and 136th Infantry Regiments. The convoy consists of MANJU MARU (Ex-SANTOS MARU) and army transports TOSAN and NOTO MARUs. The convoy steams in a wide arc in bad weather.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Saipan at 1030. Disembarks troops.
26 May 1944:
CD-6 departs Guam for Truk escorting MOJI, IMIZU and KOJUN MARUs.
30 May 1944:
Arrives safely at Truk.
3 June 1944:
At 1600, CD-6 departs Truk with subchasers CH-20, CH-31, CH-32 and CH-51 escorting a convoy consisting of MOJI, IMIZU, TATSUTAGAWA, KOJUN MARUs, oilers NITCHO, KYOEI and NANKO MARU No. 1, and 13 other unidentified ships.
7 June 1944:
At 1140, arrives at Saipan.
11 June 1944:
At 0440 anticipating an attack by American carrier aircraft, CD-6 departs Saipan and heads SW to Palau with CD-16, auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 11 and an unidentified naval transport escorting a convoy consisting of KOJUN and AKISHIMA MARUs.
13 June 1944:
At 1220, the convoy is bombed and SHONAN MARU No. 11 is disabled and taken in tow by KOJUN MARU.
18 June 1944:
At 0850, arrives at Palau. Departs the same day still escorting the convoy.
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Cebu. AKISHIMA and KOJUN MARUs are detached.
26 June 1944:
At 0600 departs Manila escorting convoy TAPA-09, consisting of TAMA, OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-16 and CD-19 and subchasers CH-12, CH-35.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
30 June 1944:
At 1000, CD-6 departs Cebu with kaibokan CD-16 and CD-19 and subchasers CH-12 and CH-35 escorting convoy SEPA-01/SEDA-01, consisting of TAMA, OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs.
1 July 1944:
TAMA MARU separates with CD-6, CD-16, CH-12 and CH-35 and heads for Palau. OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs and CD-19 head for Davao.
4 July 1944:
At 0230, a friendly aircraft crash-lands in the sea. CH-35 is detached to rescue its crew and falls behind. At 0352, LtCdr Carl Tiedeman's (USNA '33) USS GUAVINA (SS-362), in the second of two attacks, torpedoes and sinks TAMA MARU at 07-50N 133-40E. The ship is carrying 544 troops, 321 of whom as well as 2 gunners and 11 crewmen are killed.
5 July 1944:
The escorts arrive at Palau alone.
18 July 1944:
CD-6 is reassigned to the General Escort Command's 1st Escort Division.
25 July 1944:
At 0155, CD-6 departs Davao for Zamboanga, Philippines with kaibokan CD-16, minesweeper W-30, subchasers CH-49, CH-58, auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 12, auxiliary netlayer TOKACHI MARU, auxiliaries TOKO
MARU and HIYODORI MARU No. 2, escorting convoy Z-258, consisting of AZUCHISAN, OYO, TATSUHARU, RYUKA and KITAGAMI MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 2, KYOEI MARU No. 2 and LST T.127. The convoy is provided air cover.
27 July 1944:
At about 0100, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen D. Claggett's (USNA '35) USS DACE (SS-247) attacks the convoy and sinks tanker KYOEI MARU No. 2. Five crewmen are KIA. At about 1400, the convoy is attacked by aircraft in the Pilas Channel, but suffers no damage. At 1830, the convoy arrives at Zamboanga.
28 July 1944:
CD-6 departs Zamboanga with kaibokan CD-16 and subchasers CH-49 and CH-58 escorting convoy C-294, consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
31 July 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
1 August 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Manila.
2 August 1944:
At 2200 departs Manila with CD-16.
3 August 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Pagdanan Bay.
4 August 1944:
Departs Pagdanan Bay escorting convoy SHIMA-02, consisting of HINAGA, KENEI and SIBERIA MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No. 17 and six unidentified merchant ships also escorted by kaibokan CD-9, CD-16 and torpedo
boat HATO.
5 August 1944:
At 2130 arrives at Manila.
8 August 1944:
At 0915 CD-5 and CD-6 depart Manila and sail to the mouth of Manila Bay on a submarine hunt. Both remain on patrol until MATA-26 leaves Manila the following day.
9 August 1944:
At 0200 CD-6 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-5, CD-9, CD-16, YASHIRO, MATSUWA and subchaser CH-58 escorting convoy MATA-26, consisting of TAKETSU (BUTSU), IKOMASAN, SHINEI, HINAGA, ASAKA, KACHOSAN, KENEI, AKISHIMA, RASHIN and ASAKA MARUs and twelve other unidentified merchant ships.
10 August 1944:
At 1029 SHINEI MARU is torpedoed and sunk off Cape Bolinao in 16-15N 119-45E by USS GUITARRO. Soon after Minesweepers W-38 and W-39 arrived to bolster the escort.
12 August 1944:
YASHIRO assists KACHOSAN MARU from the convoy.
14 August 1944:
In the eye of a major typhoon, the war-built tanker TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARU breaks up, although as a result of weather or a drifting mine is unclear. 8 crewmen are KIA. IKOMASAN and ASAKA MARUs are both stranded on islands in the Bashi Islands Group, north of Luzon. Both are later refloated.
17 August 1944:
At 1900 CD-6 arrives at Kirun.
20 August 1944:
At 0600 CD-6 departs Keelung with kaibokan CD-5, CD-9 and CD-16, subchaser CH-58 and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU escorting convoy TAMO-23, consisting of HORAI (tanker), TETSUYO, SHINFUKU, NIKKO, MATSUMOTO, KIYOKAWA MARUs and TONAN MARU No. 2 and seven unidentified merchant ships.
22 August 1944:
South China Sea. At about 1900, LtCdr (later Admiral/CINCPACFLT) Bernard A. Clarey's (USNA '34) USS PINTADO (SS-387) picks up the convoy. After dark, Clarey moves past a nearby escort and into the center of the convoy. He fires two spreads of 10 torpedoes at TONAN MARU NO. 2 and gets at least two hits. Set ablaze, TONAN MARU No. 2 burns for about three hours, then sinks at 29-53N, 125-19E. Four crewmen are KIA.
26 August 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Moji.
27 August 1944:
At 0905 departs Moji and later that day arrives at Sasebo.
6 September 1944:
At 0900 departs Sasebo and at 1830 arrives at Moji.
9 September 1944:
At 1200, CD-6 departs Moji for Miri, Borneo with kaikoban ETOROFU, SHONAN and CD-16, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU escorting convoy MI-19, consisting of tankers CHIHAYA, SAN DIEGO, IWAKUNI, DAIMEI, EIHO and MITSU MARUs and cargo ships DAIBIN, KENZUI, ENOURA, MATSUURA, YULIN, HAKUROKU, ARISAN, TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), TASMANIA, SHINSEI, DAIA, NIKKO and SHUNSHO MARUs.
10 September 1944:
At 1212, CHIHAYA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr's Edward E. Shelby's (USNA '33) USS SUNFISH (SS-281) at 33-49N, 127-41E. Nine crewmen and 76 troops are KIA. The convoy immediately retires to Chinto (Chin Hajo Island) where it regroups. The escorts launch a concerted, but unsuccessful, attempt to find the submarine.
12 September 1944:
At 1500 the escorts arrive back and at 2300 convoy MI-19 departs Chinto.
16 September 1944:
MI-19 splits. SHONAN and SHUNSHO, NIKKO, EIHO, MITSU, MATSUURA, ENOURA and KENZUI MARUs with CD-6, CD-16 and SHONAN head for Keelung.
17 September 1944:
At 0800 CD-6 and CD-16 departs Kirun and meets up with the convoy.
18 September 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Takao. DAIBIN and SAN DIEGO MARUs are detached, but later SAN DIEGO MARU rejoins the convoy after it sails. KENEI MARU also joins the convoy but CD-5, CD-16, SHONAN, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU are all detached.
25 September 1944:
At 1400, CD-6 departs Takao with kaibokan CD-9, CD-16, destroyer HARUKAZE, subchaser CH-56 and stores ship KURASAKI escorting convoy TAMA-27, consisting of DAIBIN, MANILA, DAIKYO, SAN DIEGO MARUs, very
likely DAIIKU, SHUNSHO MARUs and NICHIYU MARU No. 2 and four unidentified merchant ships.
26 September 1944:
At 2000 arrives in the Sabtang Channel.
27 September 1944:
At 0300 departs and at 1900 arrives at Aparri.
28 September 1944:
At 0100 departs Aparri and at 1800 arrives at Lapoc Bay.
29 September 1944:
At 0600 departs Lapoc Bay and at 1600 arrives at San Fernando.
30 September 1944:
At 0600 departs San Fernando. Later an enemy submarine contact is made. At 1600 arrives back at San Fernando.
2 October 1944:
Departs San Fernando.
3 October 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Masinloc.
4 October 1944:
At 0630, departs Masinloc. Shortly thereafter, DAIBIN and SAN DIEGO MARUs are detached. At 0855, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben Whitaker's (USNA '34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks DAIBIN MARU at 15-15N, 119-50E. The ship is carrying 3 large corps of 612 base construction men of whom 68, as well as 8 out of 33 passengers and 34 of the crew are KIA. Later that day the remaining ships arrive at Manila. CD-6 and CD-16 detach before arrival and head back north to join the next Manila bound convoy.
6 October 1944:
CD-6 and CD-16 joins convoy TAMA-29 then consisting of EJIRI, TOKO, RYUEI, KOSHO, URATO, TOYOKAWA, PEKING, NANKING, JOGU and EIKO MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships and at 1900 departs San Vicente.
8 October 1944:
At 0250 arrives at San Fernando. PEKING and NANKING MARUs are detached.
10 October 1944:
Departs North San Fernando. Later, near the Cape Rena Sea. At 1335, LtCdr Donald G. Baer’s (USNA '37) USS LAPON (SS-260) torpedoes EJIRI MARU with 1589 troops and tanks of 2nd Division at 16-10N, 119-45E. Fires break out and become uncontrollable. Abandon Ship is ordered. Unmanned, the ship
drifts away. At 1700 it runs aground on a reef and a violent explosion occurs. At 1800, EJIRI MARU sinks. 191 troops onboard and eight crewmen are killed in the attack. The escorts drop 28 depth-charges, but USS LAPON is not damaged. At 1937 the convoy shelters at Masinloc.
11 October 1944:
Early in the morning the convoy departs Masinloc. Torpedo boat HIYODORI, which had departed Manila the previous day joins the escort.
12 October 1944:
At dawn, the convoy reaches the Manila Bay area, but the convoy commander is reluctant to enter because of the danger of air attack, so the convoy continues southward.
N of Calavite Strait. At 1410, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's (USNA '37) USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks TOKO MARU at 13-32N 128-2IE. The escorts drop 30 depth-charges, but USS RAY is not damaged. All 29 of the crew are KIA and it is not clear if any of the 120 passengers onboard survive.
13 October 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
17 October 1944:
At 1700 CD-6 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-16 and minesweeper W-41 escorting the "Taihi" (Refugee) convoy consisting of TOYOKAWA and SHUNSHO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
21 October 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Yulin.
24 October 1944:
At 1200 CD-6 and minesweeper W-41 depart Sana, escorting convoy YUTA-13, consisting of TOYOKAWA, SHUNSHO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
26 October 1944:
At 1625, an enemy submarine is sighted at 18-00N, 113-24E.
27 October 1944:
At 1346, an enemy submarine is sighted at 21-00N, 114-04E.
29 October 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Takao.
1 November 1944:
CD-6 is reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
4 November 1944:
CD-6 departs Takao on an anti-submarine sweep.
6 November 1944:
At sea CD-6 meets with kaibokan MIKURA escorting convoy TAMO-28, consisting of TAISHO, JUZAN, SHUNSHO and TOYOKAWA MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
12 November 1944:
At 1800 the convoy arrives at Fukuoka Bay.
13 November 1944:
At 0300 departs Fukuoka Bay and at 0530 arrives at Mutsure.
10 December 1944:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Escort Fleet.
11 December 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
12 December 1944:
At 1415, CD-6 departs Tateyama for Chichi Jima with CD-12, minesweeper W-29 and subchaser CH-42 escorting convoy No. 3209, consisting of JUZAN, YAEI, KAIKO and SHOTO MARUs.
13 December 1944:
The convoy encounters bad weather and at 1136 puts into Hachijo-Jima. At 1653, the same day, it departs.
16 December 1944:
44 miles W of Chichi Jima. At 0229, in a night surface radar attack, LtCdr Robert R. Williams' (USNA '34) USS FINBACK (SS-230) torpedoes and sinks JUZAN MARU at 27-24N, 141-44E. 33 crewmen are KIA. Williams also fires torpedoes at minesweeper W-29 and subchaser CH-42 for no results, but the escorts do not counter-attack. At 1249, the convoy enters Futami Harbor, Chichi-Jima. Unloading is begun immediately.
17 December 1944:
Unloading is finished by mid-morning. At about 1530, the same ships, now renumbered as convoy No. 4217, depart Chichi Jima for Tateyama.
20 December 1944:
Enroute stormy weather is encountered. The convoy again shelters at Hachijo Jima.
21 December 1944:
At 0700, departs Hachijo Jima.
22 December 1944:
At 0314, arrives at Tateyama.
23 December 1944:
At 0600 CD-6 departs Tateyama with submarine chasers CH-44 and CH-52, auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No. 7 and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 8, escorting convoy No.3222, consisting of DAISHO, NAGATSU, KYUSHU MARUs, SEIKAI MARU No. 2.
27 December 1944:
At 0530 arrives at Chichi Jima.
28 December 1944:
At 0200, CD-6 departs Chichi Jima for Yokohama with subchasers CH-44 and CH-52 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 escorting convoy No. 4228, consisting of DAISHO, NAGATSU and KYUSHU MARUs.
1 January 1945:
At 0400, arrives at Tateyama, then the convoy departs for Yokohama and arrives safely. CD-6 is detached at Yokosuka.
5 January 1945:
Reassigned to the 21st Coast Defense Group. That day CD-6 transfers from Yokosuka to Yokohama.
7 January 1945:
Departs Yokohama and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
8 January 1945:
CD-6 departs Tateyama with CD-47, submarine chaser CH-52 and auxiliary patrol boats KINJO MARU and YUTAKA MARU No. 7 escorting convoy No. 3107, consisting of DAISHO and NAGATSU MARUs bound for Chichi Jima and KYUSHU MARU bound for Haha Jima.
11 January 1945:
Arrives at Chichi Jima.
12 January 1945:
CD-6 departs Chichi Jima with CD-47, and submarine chaser CH-52 escorting convoy No. 4112, consisting of DAISHO and NAGATSU MARUs from Chichi-Jima and KYUSHU MARU from Haha Jima bound for Tateyama.
17 January 1945:
Arrives at Tateyama.
18 January 1945:
Departs Tateyama and later that day arrives at Yokosuka, where the ship undergoes repairs.
30 January 1945:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
31 January 1945:
Departs Tateyama.
5 February 1945:
CD-6 is damaged by unknown causes.
3 March 1945:
CD-6 and submarine chaser CH-51 depart Yokosuka, Tokyo escorting a convoy consisting of NIKKO MARU No. 2 and TOKO MARU, bound for Hachijo Jima.
4 March 1945:
Arrives at Hachijo Jima.
7 March 1945:
At 2138 a B-24 attacks the convoy off Hachijo Jima and damages CH-51. As a result the ships quickly discharge all troops but only some cargo.
9 March 1945:
The same convoy now restyled 4309 departs Hachijo Jima and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
11 March 1945:
Departs Tateyama and later that day arrives at Yokosuka.
17 March 1945:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
19 March 1945:
Departs Tateyama and later that day arrives at Hachijo Jima.
21 March 1945:
Departs Hachijo Jima.
22 March 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
30 March 1945:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3329, consisting of NANKO MARU and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
31 March 1945:
Departs Tateyama and later that day arrives at Hachijo Jima.
1 April 1945:
At 1900 departs Hachijo Jima escorting convoy No. 4401C, consisting of NANKO MARU bound for Tokyo Bay.
3 April 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka and drydocked for repairs.
10 April 1945:
Reserve LtCdr (Cdr, posthumously) Ando Hideo (former CO of CH-6) is appointed CO.
25 April 1945:
Departs Yokosuka, escorting RYUJIN MARU and arrives at Tateyama later that day.
26 April 1945:
Departs Tateyama, escorting RYUJIN MARU and arrives at Hachijo Jima later that day.
28 April 1945:
Departs Hachijo Jima, escorting RYUJIN MARU.
29 April 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
6 May 1945:
Departs Yokosuka.
11 May 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
14 May 1945:
CD-6 and CD-47 depart Ominato, escorting a convoy.
15 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
22 May 1945:
CD-6 and CD-49 and auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 depart Otaru escorting a convoy.
23 May 1945:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
25 May 1945:
CD-6 and CD-49 and auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 depart Wakkanai, escorting a convoy.
27 May 1945:
Arrives at Matsuwa Jima.
29 May 1945:
CD-6 and CD-49 and auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 depart Matsuwa, escorting a convoy.
2 June 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
18 June 1945:
At 1900 CD-6 and CD-49 arrive at Otaru, ready to escort a convoy.
24 June 1945:
At 0630 departs Wakkanai escorting train ferry SOYA MARU bound for Odomari.
12 August 1945:
Hokkaido. CD-6 departs Kushiro for Muroran with a cargo of gasoline, accompanied by CD-16. Cdr (later Rear Admiral/COMSUBPAC) John H. Maurer’s (USNA '35) USS ATULE (SS-403) makes contact on the two ships
steaming along the coast. Maurer decides not to attack because of poor visibility and shallow waters. Instead, he sets course to intercept them in the vicinity of Urakawa Ko.
13 August 1945:
Off Hokkaido, between Cape Erimo and Muroran. About 0100, in a night surface attack, Maurer fires six torpedoes by radar bearings at the two overlapping targets. The nearer of the two ships, CD-6 explodes with an orange flame and flying debris. She sinks with all 196 hands including the
current CO, Reserve LtCdr Ando Hideo, at 42-16N, 142-12E. CD-16 is damaged, but disappears from USS ATULE's radar and escapes.
15 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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