© 2007-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 10
20 October 1943:
Nagasaki. Laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ shipyard.
11 January 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-8.
15 January 1944:
Reserve LtCdr Kawamoto Genzo (former CO of CH-6) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
29 February 1944:
CD-8 is commissioned and registered in the IJN. Attached to Sasebo Naval District. Assigned to Kure Guard Force. Reserve LtCdr Kawamoto Genzo is the Commanding Officer. [1]
1-6 March 1944:
Works up in Saeki Bay while still based in Sasebo.
25 March 1944:
Assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
27 March 1944:
At 0700 CD-8, CD-9 and CD-10 depart Saeki. At 1400 CD-8 and CD-9 arrive at Moji (CD-10 goes to Kure).
1 April 1944:
CD-8 departs Moji with escort carrier KAIYO, kaibokan IKI, ETOFORU, CD-9 and torpedo boat SAGI escorting convoy HI-57, consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, OTOWASAN, RYOEI and OMUROSAN MARUs, IJA landing craft depot ships SHINSHU and MAYASAN MARUs transports SEIA and KINUGASA MARU, and probably one of tankers SHINCHO and ZUIHO MARUs.
2 April 1944:
The convoy encounters extremely severe weather and returns to Moji.
3 April 1944:
At 0600, the unchanged convoy departs Moji.
7 April 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Takao. HOKKAI MARU joins the convoy.
8 April 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
9 April 1944:
Auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU departs St. Jacques escorting convoy SATA-17 consisting of MANTAI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
10 April 1944:
Convoy SATA-17 arrives at Cam Ranh. Convoy SATA-17 merges with convoy SATA-14, consisting of six unidentified merchant ships escorted by subchaser CH-19. TOTTORI MARU also joins the expanded convoy.
11 April 1944:
The merged convoy departs Cam Ranh. Subchaser CH-41 joins the escort. At 1515, kaibokan CD-8 meets up with the convoy
13 April 1944:
Subchaser CH-41 detaches and returns to Cam Ranh.
16 April 1944:
Second Class destroyer ASAGAO meets up with the convoy and starts escorting. At 1800, torpedo boat HATSUKARI meets up with the convoy and starts escorting.
17 April 1944:
At 0200, torpedo boat HATSUKARI ends escort and heads towards Takao.
18 April 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Takao.
20 April 1944:
At 1100 departs Takao with old destroyers ASAGAO and HASU, and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, escorting convoy TAMO-17, consisting of TOTTORI, SUGIYAMA, KYOKUZAN, KENEI, TOKUSHIMA, HIROTA, IWATO and HIDA MARUs, EIYO MARU No. 2 (NB unconfirmed) and fifteen unidentified merchant ships.
That same day, CD-8 is reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Moji. Meanwhile at 0630 CD-8 and ASAGAO are detached from the convoy, and at 1645 arrive at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
2 May 1944:
CD-8 departs Sasebo and joins up with kaibokan CD-20 and auxiliary netlayer KAINAN MARU escorting convoy TE-05 from Moji, consisting of YAMADORI, HIYORI, HIOKI, KOKUSEI, HIKACHI, NICHIWA, SHONAN MARUs and KYOEI MARU
No.2.
7 May 1944:
At 1015 arrives at Keelung.
9 May 1944:
At 0500 CD-8 departs Keelung.
10 May 1944:
At 1040 arrives at Takao and at 1800 departs Takao. Destroyer ASAGAO and CD-1 have joined the convoy.
13 May 1944:
YAMADORI MARU is detached for Hong Kong. ASAGAO is also detached at an unknown point.
14 May 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Yulin.
19 May 1944:
At 1700 CD-8 departs Yulin with kaibokan CD-1 and CD-20 and auxiliary netlayer KAINAN MARU escorting convoy HO-01, consisting of the 5,401-ton SHONAN MARU, HIYORI MARU and four unidentified merchant ships.
24 May 1944:
At 1900, convoy MISHI-02 departs Miri for Singapore consisting of MEXICO, IMAHARU and IIDA MARUs and NANSHIN MARU No. 2 and NANSHIN MARU No. 6 escorted by minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary Minesweeper CHOUN MARU No. 7. En route, CD-8, CD-1, and CD-20 join the escort.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Departs almost immediately with CD-1 and CD-20 and some time after joins up with convoy MISHI-02, consisting of MEXICO, IMAHARU and IIDA MARUs and NANSHIN MARU No. 2 and NANSHIN MARU No. 6 also escorted by minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary minesweeper CHOUN MARU No. 7.
29 May 1944:
At 1252, arrives at Singapore.
3 June 1944:
At 1000, CD-8 departs Singapore for Moji with kaibokan CD-1, CD-15 and CD-20 escorting bauxite convoy HO-02, consisting of TAMAHOKO, TAINAN (NB likely from Kirun only), KENNICHI, SHONAN, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), HIYORI (NICHIWA) and HIOKI, HONAN (ex British WAR SIRDAR), CELEBES, KOKUSEI, HOZAN MARUs and KONAN MARU No. 1, tanker HONAN MARU and nine unidentified ships. [2]
6 June 1944:
160 miles off Cape St. Jacques, Indochina. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) James W. Davis' (USNA '30) USS RATON (SS-270) attacks the convoy. At 2225, Davis torpedoes CD-15. She breaks in two and sinks S of Nishino-Torishima Island at 08-57N, 109-17E. 104 crewmen are KIA. CD-8 and CD-20 rescue 34 survivors. The escorts counter-attack. USS RATON is damaged by depth charges, but remains on patrol. [3][4]
11 June 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Manila. HOZAN and SEISHIN MARUs are detached and NASUSAN MARU joins. CD-8 detaches from the convoy. (Minelayer AOTAKA joins as a replacement escort).
24 June 1944:
At 0630 CD-8, CD-17 and ETOROFU depart Manila in convoy MATA-23, consisting of SAN PEDRO, MEDAN, KONSAN, RIKKO, KAMO, USSURI, NICHIZUI, TASMANIA, TOUN and DAITEN MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
25 June 1944:
At 0430 SAN PEDRO MARU is torpedoed by LtCdr Arthur E. Krapf's (USNA '34) USS JACK (SS-259) and sunk in position 16-09N 119-41E with the loss of 25 passengers, eight crewmen and two of her guard force. NICHIZUI MARU rescues the survivors.
26 June 1944:
The destroyer ASAGAO departs Manila with kaibokan CD-2, auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 escorting convoy MATA-24, consisting of AKANE, AOBASAN, GENKAI, FUKUYO, MIIKESSAN and ATSUTA MARUs.
27 June 1944:
At 0517 in position 21-10N 120-31E, MEDAN MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Slade D. Cutter's (USNA '35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) with no survivors. CD-17 unsuccessfully searches for survivors. Later that day USS SEAHORSE attacks again and USSURI MARU is torpedoed in the bows and damaged. CD-8 is shortly after ordered to detach and join MATA-24.
28 June 1944:
At 1330 CD-8 joins the convoy. At 2320, from within MATA-24 a submarine is sighted at 18-00N, 119-40E. CD-8 and probably ASAGAO and CD-2 are detached to hunt the submarine. The convoy presumably sheltered for a period of time.
4 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
12 July 1944:
At 1445 CD-8 departs Takao with CD-14, patrol boat P-38, auxiliary patrol boat TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and minesweeper W-18 escorting convoy MI-06, consisting of tankers ATAGO, TACHIBANA, TOKUWA, JUKO, RIKKO and ZUIHO MARUs, UNKAI MARU No. 5, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and OGURA MARU No. 2 and transports TSUYAMA, AKAGISAN, KANKYO, HIROTA, AOBASAN, GENKAI, IWATO and YAGI MARUs.
E 14 July 1944:
TEIKA MARU (ex-French CAP VARELLA) joins the convoy from Kirun.
17 July 1944:
At 1450 arrives at Moji. Later sails to Sasebo.
1 August 1944:
Departs Sasebo and at 1800 arrives at Moji.
4 August 1944:
At 1600 CD-8 departs Moji for Takao with kaibokan HIBURI, FUKUE, ETOROFU, CD-10, CD-25, CD-32 and CH-49, minelayer TAKASHIMA and gunboat UJI, escorting convoy MOTA-22, consisting of KENJO, GASSAN, HAKUSAN, TEIKO, TERUKUNI, TACHIBANA, NANREI, GENKAI, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), HIOKI, MANSHU, SHIRANESAN, SHONAN, RAKUTO and KOSHIN MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, DAIBOSHI MARU No. 6 and five other unidentified ships.
6 August 1944:
Off SW Kyushu. At 0411, LtCdr (later Admiral/CINCPACFLT) Bernard A. Clarey's (USNA '34) USS PINTADO (SS-387) torpedoes and sinks SHONAN MARU at 30-53N, 129-45E. The ship was carrying elements of IJA's 25th Tank Regiment redeploying from Baotau, North China to Formosa, general cargo and four daihatsu barges. Two crew and 3 gunners are KIA.
8 August 1944:
CD-5, CD-6, CD-9 and CD-16 depart Manila with subchaser CH-58 and an unidentified warship, escorting convoy MATA-26, consisting of TAKETSU (BUTSU), IKOMASAN, ASAKA MARUs and 18 other unidentified merchant ships.
9 August 1944:
At 1310, KOSHIN MARU's ammunition cargo explodes and the ship sinks at 26-10N, 124-15E. 28 crewmen are KIA.
10 August 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Kirun (Keelung). TEIKA (ex-French CAP VARELLA) and HIOKI MARUs are detached.
11 August 1944:
At 0330 CD-8 departs Kirun with MOTA-22 convoy.
12 August 1944:
At 1430 arrives off Saei.
14 August 1944:
MATA-26 is hit by a major typhoon, and the war-built tanker TAKETSU (BUTSU) MARU breaks up, though whether a result of the weather or a drifting mine is unclear. IKOMASAN and ASAKA MARUs are both stranded on islands in the Bashi Island Group, North of Luzon. Both are later refloated.
17 August 1944:
At 1800 departs Saei with CD-25 and CD-32 to Batan Island Group to provide escort cover during refloating operations.
18 August 1944:
At 1030 arrives at Basco, Batan Island.
19 August 1944:
Departs Basco alone with CD-25.
20 August 1944:
At 1505 arrives at Takao.
22 August 1944:
At 1410, CD-8 departs Takao for Manila with torpedo boat HATO, kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-25, CD-32 and minesweepers W-38, W-39 escorting convoy TAMA-24, consisting of HIOKI, KOTOKU, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), RAKUTO, BATOPAHAT, GENKAI, YUKIKAWA and MANSHU MARUs and tankers TACHIBANA and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2.
25 August 1944:
CD-25 and GENKAI MARU are detached from the convoy and go to Pasaleng Bay to offload five MTB's from the deck of damaged HAKKO MARU No. 2 sheltering in the bay with destroyer YUNAGI. YUNAGI is detached and joins TAMA-24.
At 1024, Cdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho's (USNA '29) USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoes and sinks KOTOKU MARU at 18-42N, 120-49E with the loss of 16 of her crew. At 1026, in the same position, Donaho torpedoes and sinks YUNAGI as the destroyer attempts a counter-attack. 32 sailors are KIA, the survivors including her CO, LtCdr Iwabuchi Goro (61), are rescued by CD-25. At 1325, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's (USNA '30) USS REDFISH (SS-395) torpedoes and sinks BATOPAHAT MARU at 18-31N, 120-32E. The ship was carrying 480 troops, weapons and war supplies. 17 crewmen and an unknown number of passengers are KIA.
27 August 1944:
At 1630 arrives at Santa Cruz.
28 August 1944:
At 0930 departs Santa Cruz with CD-25 escorting GENKAI and MANSHU MARUs to Pasaleng Bay. Meanwhile at 2100, the main convoy arrives at Manila.
29 August 1944:
At 0200 arrives Pasaleng Bay.
30 August 1944:
At 0130 departs Pasaleng Bay with CD-25 and at 1900 arrives at Port San Pio Quinto.
31 August 1944:
At 0630 departs Port San Pio Quinto and at 1900 arrives at Santa Cruz still escorting the ships.
2 September 1944:
At 2040 arrives at Manila Bay.
3 September 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Manila.
5 September 1944:
At 1200 CD-8 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-25 and CD-32 escorting convoy MAMI-10 consisting of FUKUJU, TEIHOKU (ex-French PERSEE), TACHIBANA and ZUIYO MARUs, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and two unidentified merchant ships.
7 September 1944:
At 2300 arrives at Eran Bay, Palawan.
8 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Eran Bay. At 1600 anchors in 08-22N 117-08E.
9 September 1944:
At 0500 departs anchorage point.
11 September 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Miri.
15 September 1944:
At 1500, CD-8 departs Miri for Manila with kaibokan CD-25, and CD-32 and sub-chaser CH-28 escorting convoy MIMA-11, consisting of TACHIBANA, URAL, YAMAMIZU No. 2, KYOKUHO, SHIKISAN, HOKKI, ZUIYO, TATSUHARU, TENSHIN, SHOEI (2764 gt), OMINE, KYOEI and IMAHARU MARUs (ex-Dutch De KLERK) and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and KYOEI MARU No. 6. The convoy hugs the coast calling at various small anchorages.
17 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Kimanis Bay. That same day at 1830, arrives at
White Rocks Bay, NW Borneo, British Malaya (now Sabah, Malaysia).
18 September 1944:
At 0100 departs White Rocks Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives off
Tarahican Island (Darahikan/Dalahican) between Palawan Island and Balabac Island.
19 September 1944:
At 0100 departs Tarahican Island. That same day at 0850, arrives at
Eran Bay, Palawan island.
20 September 1944:
At 0400 departs Eran Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives at Saint Paul’s Bay, Palawan Island, Philippines.
21 September 1944:
At 0700 departs St Paul’s Bay. That same day at 1800, arrives at
Bacuit Bay, Palawan Island.
24 September 1944:
At 0700 departs Bacuit Bay, but later returns at 1830.
25 September 1944:
The convoy at 0845 now consisting of TACHIBANA, URAL, KYOKUHO, HOKKI, OMINE, ZUIYO MARUs, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 and likely SHOEI MARU (2764 gt), departs Bacuit Bay. Due to fears of air attacks on Manila KYOEI, SHIKISAN, TATSUHARU and TENSHIN MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and KYOEI MARU No. 6 all detach, escorted by kaibokan CD-32. After escorting these MARUs to a safe zone CD-32 departs and joins the escort of convoy SHIMA-11.
26 September 1944:
At 0400 the detachment arrives back at Bacuit Bay. TATSUHARU MARU supplies coal for cooking to KYOEI MARU. Meanwhile the main convoy steams on.
27 September 1944:
At 0807, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker's USS FLASHER (USNA '34) (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks URAL MARU at 15-32N, 117-16E. 40 crewmen, five gunners and 144 passengers are KIA. Two hours later, LtCdr Donald G. Baer's USS LAPON (USNA '33) (SS-260) torpedoes and sinks HOKKI MARU at 15-50N, 117-41E with the loss of two crewmen.
28 September 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Santa Cruz.
30 September 1944:
At 0710 the convoy departs Santa Cruz.
1 October 1944:
At 0700, convoy MIMA-11 departs Santa Cruz. At 1100, LtCdr William C. Thompson's (USNA '35) USS CABRILLA (SS-288 )torpedoes and sinks ZUIYO MARU at 16-07N, 119-43E. 19 crewmen, two passengers and 45 survivors of URAL MARU are KIA. At 1155, Thompson torpedoes and sinks KYOKUHO MARU at 16-11N, 119-44E. The large auxiliary oiler was loaded with crude oil and carrying 112
troops. 66 crewmen, nine gunners and 43 soldiers are KIA.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at North San Feranando.
6 October 1944:
At 0618, CD-8 departs N San Fernando as part of escort of combined MATA-28 and MIMA-11 convoys consisting of KOHOKU, HOKUREI, BUNZAN, SHOEI (2764 gt), HOKUSEN, TERUKUNI, HISHIGATA and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 with oilers KAMOI and TACHIBANA MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan CD-25, CD-32, minesweeper W-20 and subchasers CH-28, CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41.
At about 0800, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA '30) USS ASPRO (SS-309) attacks the convoy. Stevenson fires three torpedoes by periscope at a tanker and claims one hit, but actually achieves no results. At 1530, USS CABRILLA torpedoes HOKUREI MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2. YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 sinks, taking down 56 of her 58 crewmen. HOKUREI MARU is badly damaged and beached off Vigan. At 1830, the convoy retires to Lapoc Bay, Philippines.
7 October 1944:
At 0030, the rest of convoy departs except for TERUKUNI and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8. At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI accompanied by kaibokan CD-8 split off and forge ahead.
8 October 1944:
At 1630, the air raid warning for Takao is cancelled. At 1800, the convoy reverses course for Takao. At 2325, KOHOKU MARU is torpedoed and sunk in a night surface radar attack by LtCdr Victor B. McCrae's (USNA '32) USS HOE (SS-258). 41 crewmen, 15 gunners and 361 of 417 civilian passengers are KIA. Earlier that night, in a similar attack, McCrae allegedly also torpedoes and heavily damages CD-8. [5]
9 October 1944:
At 0142, Cdr Alan B. Banister's (USNA '28) USS SAWFISH (SS-276) makes a night surface radar attack on TACHIBANA MARU. Banister fires 10 torpedoes and gets three hits that sink TACHIBANA MARU loaded with 8,616-tons of oil at 19-33N, 116-38E. CD-8 rescues survivors. 20 passengers are KIA. At 1600, convoy MATA-28 is diverted from Takao to Hong Kong.
11 October 1944:
At 1013 arrives at Hong Kong.
E 15 October 1944:
CD-8 joins the escort of convoy HI-76 off Samah. The convoy at this point consists of tankers TENEI, TOHO and KUROSHIO MARUs escorted by escort carrier SHINYO and kaibokan KANJU, KURAHASHI and CD-130.
18 October 1944:
CD-25 and CD-32 join the convoy off Samah.
22 October 1944:
CD-8 departs Mako for Moji escorting the remnants of convoy HI-76, now probably consisting of tanker TENEI MARU and possibly TEIHOKU MARU (ex-French PERSEE) escorted by kaibokan YASHIRO, KANJU, KURAHASHI, CD-25, CD-130 and escort carrier SHINYO.
24 October 1944:
TENEI MARU has an engine breakdown and falls behind, but later rejoins the convoy.
26 October 1944:
SHINYO is detached to Kure. At 1130, the convoy arrives at Moji.
27 October 1944:
At 0630 CD-8 departs Mutsure and at 1700 arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
8 November 1944:
At 0000 CD-8 and CD-9 depart Sasebo and at 1830 arrive at Miike.
10 November 1944:
At 1530 CD-8 departs Miike, Kyushu for Manila with kaibokan CD-9, CD-28, CD-54, auxiliary subchaser CHa-24 and an unidentified warship, escorting convoy MOMA-07, consisting of KENJO, NARUO, GYOKUYO, JINYO, FUKUYO, TATSUAKI (TATSUSHO), MIHO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA), WAYO and SHINFUKU MARUs and MINO MARU No. 1 and KONAN MARU No. 1.
11 November 1944:
Near Cape Ose Sea, Goto Archipelago. At 0906, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Charles E. Loughlin's (USNA '33) 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 USS QUEENFISH, but she remains undamaged.
12 November 1944:
248 miles SW of Nagasaki. At 0420, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene B. Fluckey's (USNA '35) 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. These 470 passengers, 131 gunners and all 72 of the crew are killed.
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 transfered to other ships. The escorts
drop seven depth-charges on USS BARB and inflict slight damage. CD-8 escorts JINYO MARU.
At about 0620, LtCdr Robert H. Caldwell's (USNA '36) USS PETO (SS-265) torpedoes TATSUAKI MARU at 31-46N, 125-40E. One strikes No. 2 hold, a huge explosion occurs. She lists over, then explodes. The ship is carrying 18 corps of Naval Volunteers and a total of 125 of them as well as 20 gunners and 65 crewmen are killed. JINYO MARU rushes to the area from where the attack came and drops depth-charges.
13 November 1944:
At 0950, arrives at the Ssu Chiao Shan Shushan (Chusan) Islands, E of Shanghai. JINYO MARU and CD-8 arrive later at 1600. At 1651 CD-8 departs and joins CD-9 in an anti-submarine sweep.
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 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.
At 1900 CD-8 and CD-9 arrive back at Ssu Chiao Shan.
16 November 1944:
At 0630 the convoy departs Ssu Chiao Shan and at 2300 arrives at Sanmen Wan.
17 November 1944:
At 0900 the convoy departs Sanmen Wan.
19 November 1944:
At 1200, the convoy arrives at Takao and is dissolved.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, CD-8 departs Takao for Manila with destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-28, CD-54, subchasers CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and CH-38 escorting convoy TAMA-32A consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI, JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI (2764 gt), WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 and SS No. 6 (KIDOTEI). Anchors along the coast soon off Fangliao after leaving.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Fangliao, southern 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.
8 December 1944:
Departs St Jacques in convoy MI-26, consisting of two unidentified merchant ships, escorted by kaibokans CD-33, CD-8, CD-52 and CD-61 and the auxiliary gunboat KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARU.
9 December 1944:
At 1922 arrives at Camranh Bay.
10 December 1944:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Escort Fleet.
11 December 1944:
At 0803 departs Camranh Bay and at 1754 arrives at Ban Lon.
12 December 1944:
At 0605 departs Ban Long and at 1820 arrives at Qui Sande Bay.
13 December 1944:
At 0830 departs Qui Sande Bay.
15 December 1944:
At 2332 arrives at Yulin.
18 December 1944:
At 1737 departs Yulin.
23 December 1944:
At 1708 arrives at Saei, Formosa.
24 December 1944:
At 0151 departs Saei.
28 December 1944:
At 0921 arrives Ssu Chiao Shan and departs from there at 1815.
1 January 1945:
At 1800 arrives at Futaoi Jima near Moji.
2 January 1945:
At 1000 arrives at Moji.
3 January 1945:
At 1600 departs Moji.
4 January 1945:
At 0800 arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
5 January 1945:
Reassigned to 22nd Surface Escort Division with CD-32, CD-52 and CD-66.
10 January 1945:
At 0900 departs Moji with CD-52 and CD-61 escorting MOTA-31. At 1800 arrives at Karatsu Wan.
11 January 1945:
At 0600 departs Karatsu Wan but soon after the convoy is stopped and at 1700 the three escorts arrive at Sasebo.
12 January 1945:
At 1300 CD-8 and CD-61 depart Sasebo escorting TATSUHARU MARU.
13 January 1945:
At 0800 arrives at Mutsure. Later both escorts depart separately for Saiki. At 1800 CD-8 arrives at Saiki. Undertakes training.
17 January 1945:
At 1830 departs Saiki.
18 January 1945:
At 0900 arrives at Moji.
24 January 1945:
At 0700 CD-8 departs Moji for Singapore with kaibokan CD-32 and CD-52 escorting convoy HI-89, consisting of NICHINAN MARU, and TATEKAWA MARU No. 2 and fleet oiler HARIO.
25 January 1945:
At 0100, the convoy anchors in Gako Bay, southern Korea.
26 January 1945:
At 0700, the convoy departs Gako Bay.
28 January 1945:
At 0800, arrives at Nayo, China coast and departs at midnight.
30 January 1945:
At about 0050, the convoy is attacked by a large bomber, but it does no damage to the convoy. During the evening the convoy arrives at Hunghai Bay (NE of Hong Kong).
31 January 1945:
At 0300, departs Hunghai Bay.
1 February 1945:
At 1900, the convoy arrives at Yulin, Hainan Island.
2 February 1945:
At 1700, departs Yulin.
3 February 1945:
At 2000 arrives at Saigon.
4 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Saigon.
7 February 1945:
At 2000, HARIO develops engine trouble. HARIO and CD-8 are detached.
8 February 1945:
At 1530, the convoy arrives at Singapore. HARIO and CD-8 arrive about that time or somewhat later.
15 February 1945:
At 0100, CD-8 departs Singapore for Moji, Japan with kaibokan CD-32 and CD-52 escorting convoy HI-90 consisting of EIYO and NICHINAN MARUs.
19 February 1945:
At 2200, the convoy anchors at Ca Na, southern Indo-China.
20 February 1945:
At 0800, departs Ca Na. At 0902, LtCdr Ralph H. Lockwood's (USNA '38) USS GUAVINA (SS-362) torpedoes EIYO MARU. Three torpedoes hit the starboard side in the vicinity of her engine room. She floods and starts to sink by the stern. At about 0930, fires break out forward as crude oil loosed into the sea catches on fire. At 1300, EIYO MARU sinks engulfed in flames at 11-55N, 109-20E, 12 miles NE of Cape Padaran lighthouse. 20 soldiers, 27 passengers and 33 of her crew are KIA. USS GUAVINA endures a counter-attack of ninety-eight depth-charges and incurs some damage.
NICHINAN MARU, carrying 7000 tons of aviation gasoline, quickly turns about and heads back to the Ca Na anchorage. A short while later, she sets out again. At 1324, torpedo tracks are seen coming at her from starboard and she evades them. The submarine, LtCdr William H. Hazzard's (USNA '35) USS BLENNY (SS-324) had fired six torpedoes without getting any hits. CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52 counter-attack and drop forty-one depth-charges that cause some damage to USS BLENNY. At 1920, the convoy anchors in Van Phong Bay, Indo-China.
21 February 1945:
At 0950, departs Van Phong Bay. At 1900, arrives at Quinhon Bay.
22 February 1945:
At 0715, departs Quinhon Bay.
23 February 1945:
Gulf of Tonkin. At about 1950 there is a B-24 "Liberator" heavy-bomber raid, but no damage is incurred. At 2340, the convoy arrives at a Hainan Island anchorage.
24 February 1945:
At 2330, the convoy arrives at a deep anchorage at Hainan Island.
25 February 1945:
At 0730, departs Hainan.
28 February 1945:
At 0900, the convoy arrived at the Shushan (Chusan) Island anchorage.
1 March 1945:
At 2100, departs Shushan Island.
3 March 1945:
At 1734, arrives at Choshohari, Kyosai Island.
4 March 1945:
At 0400, departs Choshohari, Kyosai Island and arrives safely at Moji at 1430.
5 March 1945:
At 0800 CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52 depart Moji and at 1800 arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
19 March 1945:
At 0800 CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52 depart Sasebo.
20 March 1945:
At 1630 the escorts arrive at Moji.
21 March 1945:
At 0640 departs Moji and soon after arrives at Imari Wan. At 1500 CD-8 departs Imari Wan with kaibokan CD-32 and CD-52 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-27 in the Hosho Maru convoy consisting of tanker HOSHO MARU.
22 March 1945:
At 0800 arrives at Katoku Suido. CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52 detach at this point and kaibokan UKURU and DAITO take over.
24 March 1945:
At 0100 CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52 depart Katoku Suido escorting convoy SHIMO-01 consisting of TATSUWA, YUKIKAWA and UMEGAWA MARUs which leave nearby Chinkai at this time.
25 March 1945:
At 1550 arrives at Moji.
25 March 1945:
Reserve Lt (later LtCdr) Jinpei Jinsaku (former CO of CH-51) is appointed CO.
E 2 April 1945:
Arrives at Yulin.
5 April 1945:
Kaibokan TSUSHIMA departs Ssu Chiao Shan and at 0715 joins up with CD-8 and CD-31 on patrol.
14 April 1945: Operation "AS-3" - Anti-submarine sweeps in Tsushima Strait and Yellow Sea:
Off Chusan Archipelago. Magnetic Anomoly Detector (MAD) equipped Aichi E13A1 "Jake” and Kyushu Q1W1 "Lorna” patrol planes from the Chusan Detachment of the 951st NAG detect an Allied submarine and attack it with depth-charges. CD-8 and kaibokan OKINAWA and CD-32 are dispatched to the area and conduct several attacks between 1530 and 1558. OKINAWA makes a sonar contact with the damaged submarine and chases it for the next two hours until the contact is lost. A widening oil slick is sighted. It is possible that Cdr John F. Walling's (USNA '35) USS SNOOK (SS-279) is lost in these attacks. [6]
25 April 1945:
At 1430, CD-8 departs Shishiyosan, E of Shanghai, for Moji with kaibokan CD-32 and CD-52 escorting convoy SHIMO-01 consisting of KINSEN and KIYOKAWA MARUs.
E 28 April 1945:
Tsushima Strait. CD-34 joins the escort of convoy SHIMO-01.
29 April 1945:
At 0720, CD-32 is detached from the convoy. At 1430, the convoy arrives at Moji.
5 July 1945:
At 1710 part of the 22nd Coast Defence Group consisting of DAITO, CHIKUBU, CD-8 and CD-52 led by training cruiser KASHIMA arrive at Maizuru.
15 August 1945:
CD-8's crew receives notification of the termination of war.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
12 October 1945:
Departs Sasebo on her first repatriation voyage.
19 October 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that same day.
21 October 1945:
Arrives at Davao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that same day.
23 October 1945:
Arrives at Tacloban. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 October 1945:
Departs Tacloban.
3 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
10 November 1945:
LtCdr Tanikawa Kiyosumi is appointed CO.
17 November 1945:
Undergoes repairs at Mukaijima.
24 November 1945:
Repairs are completed.
26 November 1945:
Departs Kure.
1 December 1945:
Formally assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service. [7]
4 December 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
6 December 1945:
Departs Manila.
12 December 1945:
Arrives at Otaka. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 December 1945-20 January 1946:
At Kure undergoing repairs.
23 January 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
26 January 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 January 1946:
Departs Kirun.
30 January 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
3 February 1946:
Arrives at Miyako Shima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that same day.
4 February 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
7 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
10 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
12 February 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 February 1946:
Departs Kirun.
15 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
17 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
20 February 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
22 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
26 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
28 February 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
2 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
11 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
13 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 March 1946:
Departs Kirun.
19 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
22 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
24 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun and departs later that day.
27 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 April 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
3 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren (Hua Lien). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
4 April 1946:
Departs Kwaren.
6 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
9 April 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
12 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
14 April 1946 :
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 April 1946-20 May 1946:
Under repair at Mitsubishi Wakamatsu.
24 May 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
26 May 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 May 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
30 May 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 June 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
3 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
4 June 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
6 June 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
19 June 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
21 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
22 June 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
25 June 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
22 July 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 July 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
26 July 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
16 July 1947:
Ceded to the United Kingdom as a war reparation.
Scrapped.
Authors' Notes:
[1] From 29 February to 1 March 1944 Reserve LtCdr Kawamoto simultaneously acted as the CEO of CD-20.
[2] TAMAHOKO MARU reportedly carried 722 American and Allied POWs, of which 560 were lost.
[3] NASUSAN and KENNICHI MARUs had engines aft and were probably mistaken for tankers.
[4] Some sources say KENNICHI and TAINAN MARUs collided and sank during the attack.
[5] The fact that CD-8 continued in service strongly suggests the ship was not damaged in this attack.
[6] The cause of the loss of USS SNOOK, or even its sinking location, have never been officially determined.
[7] Allied occupation forces were responsible for the return of six million Japanese military personnel and civilians from Japan's defunct far-flung Empire. In addition, there were over a million Korean and about 40,000 Chinese prisoners and conscript laborers and approximately 7,000 Formosans and 15,000 Ryukyu Islanders to be repatriated.
Some Allied and many former IJN warships, from aircraft carriers to kaibokan, were used to facilitate the enormous repatriation effort. Japanese vessels and crews were used to the fullest extent possible to conserve Allied manpower and accelerate demobilization. Each ex-IJN ship first had to be demilitarized; guns removed or, in the case of large warships, barrels severed, ammunition landed, and radar and catapults removed, if fitted. Repatriation of the Chinese on Japanese ships began early in October from Hakata, but U.S. guard detachments had to be placed on many ships to prevent disorder because the Japanese crews could not control the returnees.
Japanese-run repatriation centers were established at Kagoshima, Hario near Sasebo, and Hakata near Fukuoka. Other reception centers were established and operated at Maizuru, Shimonoseki, Sasebo, Senzaki, Kure, Uraga, Yokohama,
Moji and Hakodate. Allied line and medical personnel supervised the centers. Incoming Japanese were sprayed with DDT, examined and inoculated for typhus and smallpox, provided with food, and transported to his final destination in Japan.
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan, Mr. Matthew Jones of Missisippi, USA and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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