© 2006-2009 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
23 October 1943:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Nihon Kokan, K. K.’s shipyard.
18 January 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-7.
10 March 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
3 May 1944:
A 0445, CD-7 departs Moji for Singapore via Manila with
escort carrier TAIYO, destroyers ASAGAO, HIBIKI and INAZUMA, kaibokan KURAHASHI,
SADO, CD-5, CD-13 escorting convy HI-61 consisting of empty tankers AKANE,
TATEKAWA, NICHIEI, AZUSA, JINEI, EIYO, OTORISAN, SARAWAK and ASANAGI MARUs,
transport MIZUHO MARU and fleet oiler HAYASUI.
7 May 1944:
JINEI MARU develops engine troubles and is detached for
Takao.
8 May 1944:
LtCdr Victor B. McCrea's USS HOE (SS-258) attacks convoy
HI-61. AKANE MARU suffers minor damage.
9 May 1944:
At 2055, HI-61 arrives at Manila. TATEKAWA, NICHIEI and
AZUSA MARUs are detached.
12 May 1944:
HI-61 departs Manila for Singapore.
18 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
23 May 1944:
A 0700, CD-7 departs Singapore for Moji with escort
carrier TAIYO and kaibokans KURAHASHI, SADO, CD-5 and CD-13 escorting convoy
HI-62 consisting of transports KINUGASA, NOSHIRO, NISSHO, TAMATSU and TEIRITSU
(ex-French LeCONTE de LISLE) MARUs and tankers OTORISAN, SARAWAK and NICHINAN
MARUs.
29 May 1944:
HI-62 arrives at Manila.
1 June 1944:
At 0400, HI-62 departs Manila.
June 1944:
CD-7 detaches from HI-62 and joins escort carrier KAIYO at
sea off Saei as escort to convoy HI-65 consisting of fleet tanker SHIRETOKO,
KASHII, TATSUWA and MANILA MARUs and tankers ITSUKUSHIMA, OMUROSAN, JINEI, ZUIHO
and TOHO MARU with light cruiser KASHII, kaibokans CHIBURI and CD-11, subchasers
CH-19 and CH-60 and minelayer TSUBAME.
Later, convoy HI-65 splits. Only ITSUKUSHIMA, OMUROSAN, ZUIHO and TOHO
MARUs are left in the Singapore-bound contingent. CD-7, KAIYO, KASHII, CD-11,
CHIBURI remain with the Singapore contingent. The rest of the convoy heads to
Manila.
11 June 1944:
At 1350, arrives at Singapore.
17 June 1944:
At 0400, CD-7 departs Singapore with light cruiser
KASHII and kaibokans CHIBURI and CD-11 escorting fast convoy HI-66 consisting of
transport/cargo liners SANUKI, HOKKAI and AWA MARUs and tanker OMUROSAN MARU.
The convoy hugs the continental coast avoiding deep water as much as possible.
26 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Moji.
13 July 1944:
At 1600, CD-7 departs Mutsure for Manila with Rear
Admiral Sato Tsutomu (former ComSubRon 1) Eighth Escort Convoy Command’s escort
carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokans CHIBURI, SADO, and CD-17
escorting convoy HI-69 consisting of escort carriers KAIYO and TAIYO each loaded
with aircraft, KIMIKAWA, AKI, ASAMA, SAIGON, HAKKO, KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT
HARRISON), MANKO MARUs and possibly MANJU MARU and tankers KOEI, OTOWASAN,
OMUROSAN, KUROSHIO, HARIMA, SERIA, TENEI MARUs.
18 July 1944:
Near Takao, Formosa. About 0600, LtCdr John J.
Flachsenhar's USS ROCK (SS-274) fires four torpedoes at HARIMA MARU, but misses.
Cdr Alan Banister's USS SAWFISH (USS 276) then fires nine torpedoes at the
convoy. HARIMA MARU is hit by a single torpedo, but remains able to steam.
At 1055, LtCdr Roger M. Keithy's USS TILEFISH (SS-307) torpedoes and
heavily damages CD-17. The convoy continues to Manila without stopping at Takao
as originally planned (less MANKO MARU detached the day before and damaged
HARIMA MARU and CD-17 that put into Takao). At 2317, HAKKO MARU is swamped by
huge wave that washes a barge overboard, kills one man instantly and washes five
other men overboard. They are not recovered.
20 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila at 2100. KAIYO and TAIYO begin
unloading aircraft.
25 July 1944:
At 0530, CD-7 departs Manila for Singapore with escort
carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokans SADO, CHIBURI, CD-9, CD-13
and CD-17 escorting convoy HI-69 that consists of KIMIKAWA, HAKKO, OTOWASAN,
OMUROSAN, KUROSHIO, SERIA, KACHIDOKI and TENEI MARUs.
31 July 1944:
At 1745, arrives at Singapore.
27 August 1944:
At 0900, CD-7 departs Manila with kaikobans SHIMUSHU,
ETOROFU, SHONAN and CD-28, 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-7, CD-28, subchaser CH-41 and
patrol boat P-102 are detached.
5 September 1944:
At 1900, CD-7 with destroyers HATSUHARU and HIBIKI,
kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-8, torpedo-boat HIYODORI, minesweeper W-20, subchaser
CH-63 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-67 depart Takao for Manila 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, the convoy 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,
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:
A 0800, CD-7 departs Manila for Cebu, Philippines
with kaibokan SADO, CD-1, CD-3, CD-5 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-7 departs Takao for Moji with kaibokan
CD-1, CD-3, auxiliary patrol boat OSEI MARU and auxiliary minesweeper TAISEI
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-7 departs Moji for Manila with kaibokan
CD-1, CD-3 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, tanker SHIMOTSU, ASOKAWA, TOTTORI, EIWA, ATLAS, DAITOKU, SHINSHO,
KAKOGAWA, SEKIHO and SEIWA MARUs escorted by old destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan
CD-7, CD-1, CD-3, 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-7 departs Manila for Takao with destroyer KURETAKE and kaibokans CD-1 and CD-3 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 with heavy loss
of life at 17-46N, 117-57E.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List
Authors' Note:
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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