KUSENTEI!

© 2005-2009 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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1941:
Tsurumi. Laid down at the Nippon Kokan, K.K shipyard.

23 April 1941:
Launched and numbered CH-18

31 July 1941:
Completed and registered in the IJN.

8 December 1941:
Takao, Formosa. Assigned to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (former CO of AOBA) 2nd Base Force of Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet. Attached to the Philippines Seizure Force in Cdr Ota's SubChasDiv 21 with CH-4, CH-5, CH-6, CH-16 and CH-17.

22 December 1941: The Invasion of the Philippines:
Lingayen Gulf. Three echelons of 76 transports carrying the main part of LtGen Homma Masaharu's Fourteenth Army land at Lingayen. SubChasDiv 21 escorts Rear Admiral Hirose's third echelon of 22 transports from Keelung, Formosa.

24 February 1942: Operation "J" - The Invasion of Java, Netherlands East Indies:
Participates in the landings at Bantam Bay, near Batavia (Jakarta), Java.

8-12 March 1942:
Participates in the capture of Surabaya, Java.

1 May 1942:
Reassigned to SubChasDiv 21 attached directly to HQ, Combined Fleet.

May 1942: Operation “MI” – The Battle of Midway:
CH-18 is attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake’s (former CO of KONGO) Midway Invasion Force in Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Miyamoto Sadachika's (39)(former CO of YAEYAMA) 16th Minesweeper Unit consisting of auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No. 3, SHONAN MARUs No. 7 and No 8, subchasers CH-16 and CH-17. Departs Saipan for Wake, enroute to Midway.

4 June 1942:
At 0843, a PBY "Catalina" flying boat discovers Captain Miyamoto's minesweeper group heading towards Midway.

5 June 1942:
At 0255, after receiving word that the occupation of Midway has been canceled, retires north.

14 July 1942:
Reassigned to Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's 8th Fleet with the 8th Base Force's SubChasDiv 21 at Rabaul with CH-4, CH-5, CH-6, CH-16 and CH-17.

August 1942:
Escorts convoys between Rabaul and the Solomon Islands. Provides support for the capture of Gizo Island.

20 January 1943:
At 1500, CH-18 and CH-22 depart Rabaul for Truk escorting a convoy consisting of KAIHEI, TAIFUKU and NANKAI MARUs.

22 January 1943:
Steffen Straits near Kavieng, New Ireland. CH-18 and CH-22 rendezvous with convoy "D" inbound from Truk consisting of TAIMEI, KAMO, MACASSAR, SHINRYU and SHICHISEI MARUs and an unidentified ship escorted by CH-12 and CHOKO MARU No. 2. CH-18 and CH-22 escort convoy "D" to Rabaul. CH-12 and CHOKO MARU No. 2. detach to escort an outbound convoy. [1]

25 January 1943:
At 1400, departs Rabaul escorting KIKUGAWA MARU en route to Saipan.

27 January 1943:
At 1700, at 02-15N, 149-00E, CH-18 breaks off escorting KIKUGAWA MARU, then makes a rendezvous at 00-30N, 149-40E with inbound convoy "U" consisting of YAMATO, MEIKAI, MAMOHA and INDUS MARUs and relieves destroyer YUNAGI. CH-18 escorts the convoy to Rabaul.

31 January 1943:
Convoy "U" arrives at Rabaul.

16 February 1943:
Off Cape St. George, New Britain. At 1528, CH-18 and torpedo boat HIYODORI are escorting converted transport NOSHIRO MARU enroute from Rabaul to Kolombangara, when four torpedo tracks are sighted off the starboard beam, 4,000 meters away. All ships execute evasive maneuvers and no hits are scored.

Six minutes later, a floatplane of the 958th Naval Air Group providing air cover, probably an Aichi E13A1 "Jake”, locates the attacking submarine and drops several depth charges. At 1540, HIYODORI starts another attack, dropping nine DCs. Six minutes later, CH-18 locates the target and attacks it with six DCs. An oil slick appears and the upper section of a submarine conning tower surfaces for a few moments, disappearing before it can be targeted. Four minutes later, CH-18 starts another run-in, dropping three DCs in the middle of the steadily expanding oil slick.

At 1642, debris is sighted at 05-05S, 152-37E. HIYODORI's crew recovers several items, including a life raft with "Philadelphia Navy Yard" printed on it. Possibly, the submarine was LtCdr John A. Bole’s USS AMBERJACK (SS-219), lost with all 73 hands at about this time and place. [2]

9 March 1943:
At 1530, CH-18 and CH-22 depart Rabaul escorting Wewak No. 1 convoy consisting of TAISEI, NISSHU, TOHO, TAIYU, KOSEI and TOKOHIME MARUs.

14 March 1943:
At 1113, arrives at Wewak.

7 April 1943:
CH-18 and CH-39 depart Rabaul for Palau escorting TOYU, KOKUKKU, AKAGISAN and OYAMA (YUZAN) MARUs.

9 April 1943:
250 miles NNW of Kavieng, New Ireland. At about noon, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr Bernard F. McMahon's USS DRUM (SS-228) at 00-38N, 150-17E. McMahon fires three torpedoes at OYAMA MARU and gets one hit that sinks her.

10 April 1943:
In the morning, McMahon attacks the convoy again. He torpedoes and damages AKAGISAN MARU, but she does not sink. The convoy diverts from Palau to Truk.

13 April 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

18 April 1943:
200 miles NNW of Mussau Island, Bismarcks. At about 1230, LtCdr McMahon's DRUM torpedoes ammunition ship NISSHUN MARU that sinks about 1300 at 01-55N, 148-24E. CH-18 rescues the survivors that include a number of impressed Korean "comfort" women. [2]

20 November 1943:
CH-18 departs Rabaul with CH-17 escorting a convoy consisting of two unidentified ships and 5,824 GRT cargo ship NAPLES MARU carrying 517 troops of the IJA 51st Division and of the 4th Air Group.

N of New Ireland. Later that day, the convoy is attacked by a PBY "Catalina" that bombs and sinks NAPLES MARU at 03-21S, 151-41E. CH-18 and CH-17 rescue the survivors.

8 January 1944:
CH-18 departs Rabaul with CH-17 escorting convoy O-805 consisting of KOYO, PACIFIC, MEXICO, CEYLON and NAGISAN MARUs.

15 January 1944:
At 1230, the convoy arrives at Palau.

19 January 1944:
At 1200, CH-17 and CH-18 depart Palau for Rabaul escorting convoy SO-903 consisting of TONEI and NIPPONKAI MARUs and TAKATORI MARU No. 2 towing a target barge.

26 January 1944:
Arrives at Rabaul.

February 1944:
Reassigned to the 5th Base Force. Escorts convoys between Saipan and the mainland.

14 March 1944:
At 1540, CH-18 and CH-17 and minesweeper W-21 depart Saipan escorting convoy No. 4313-B consisting of JUZAN and SHIRANE MARUs and SEIKAI MARU No. 1. JUZAN MARU is towing damaged SANTO MARU.

17 March 1944:
At 1200, CH-18 and CH-17 are detached from convoy 4313-B that arrives safely at Chichi-Jima on 20 Mar '44.

April 1944:
Returns for Yokosuka for repairs and maintenance.

28 April 1944:
CH-18 and CH-16 depart Tokyo escorting 15-ship convoy Higashi-Matsu No. 7 consisting of TATSUHARU, MITAKESAN, ASAHISAN, OKINAWA, SANJU, BINGO, MEIRYU, MOJI and MIHO MARUs bound for Saipan, ASAKA MARU and LST No. 128 and No. 150 bound for Palau, KOSHIN and MUTSUYO MARUs bound for Yap Island and TAITO MARU bound for Chichi-Jima. The convoy is also escorted by kaibokan CD-12, CD-18, CD-22 and NOMI.

May 1944:
The convoy's participants arrive safely at their destinations.

6 June 1944:
CH-18, destroyer MATSUKAZE, kaibokan AMAKUSA, NOMI, OKI, subchaser CH-16 and auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No. 8 depart Yokohama for Saipan escorting convoy No. 3606 consisting of KANSEISHI, SUGIYAMA, SHINROKU, KAIKO and HAKUYO MARUs. Soon after leaving SUGIYAMA MARU is attacked and damaged by LtCdr (later Captain) James B. Grady's USS WHALE (SS-239) at 31-06N, 142-24E, but the ship is taken in tow.

9 June 1944:
35 miles E of Chichi-Jima. At about 0400, LtCdr Edmund K. Montross' USS SWORDFISH (SS-193) torpedoes and sinks MATSUKAZE at 26-59N, 143-13E. AMAKUSA rescues nine survivors. The escorts depth charge SWORDFISH unsuccessfully. The convoy steams to Chichi-Jima arriving later that day. It is decided to unload the ships there, rather than to proceed to Truk as originally planned.

28 June 1944:
CH-18, CH-16, minesweeper W-25, minelayer SARUSHIMA and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5 depart Yokosuka for Chichi-Jima escorting convoy No. 3628 consisting of SHIMA, TATSUEI, SHOZUI, TAIKO and KAIKO MARUs and UNYO MARU No. 8.

2 July 1944:
Convoy No. 3628 arrives at Chichi-Jima and begins to unload.

4 July 1944:
Off Chichi-Jima. Convoy No. 3628 is attacked and virtually destroyed by Task Force 58's carrier planes. CH-18 is damaged in the attacks.

July 1944:
CH-18 is reassigned directly to the Combined Fleet. Undergoes battle-damage repairs.

6 August 1944:
At 0900, CH-18 and CH-17 depart Kagoshima, Kyushu for Keelung, Formosa escorting 15-ship convoy KATA-626. Other escorts include torpedo boats TOMOZURU and MANAZURU, minelayers NUWAJIMA, TSUBAME, NIIZAKI, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HAKATA MARU No. 6, TAIAN, HIMESHIMA and SEKI MARUs.

9 August 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Naha, Okinawa. CH-18 returns to Kagoshima.

11 August 1944:
At 1400, departs Naha.

15 August 1944:
At 1300, selected ships of KATA-626 arrive at Keelung.

17 August 1944:
CH-18, CH-17 and CH-49 depart Keelung with minelayers TSUBAME, NIIZAKI torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI MARU, SHONAN MARU No. 16, TOSHI MARU No. 7, TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, HIMESHIMA MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 8, auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13, TAISEI MARU No. 5 and TAIAN MARU escorting convoy TAKA-708 consisting of 23 unidentified merchant ships enroute to Koniya or Kagoshima, some direct and some via Naha.

19 August 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Naha. Most ships in the convoy stop and unload. CH-18 returns to Kagoshima

28 August 1944:
At 1200, CH-18, CH-17 and CH-49 depart Kagoshima for Keelung escorting convoy KATA-827 consisting of TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3, DOSHI, ISSHIN, KONZAN, NANYO, HAKUYO and SHOKYU MARUs and 25 other unidentified ships. Other escorts include torpedo boat MANAZURU, minelayer NIIZAKI, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, auxiliary subchaser CHIKUTO MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HOEI MARU and auxiliary HOKOKU MARI No. 3.

30 August 1944:
Departs Naha. CH-18 returns to Kagoshima.

4 September 1944:
Arrives at Keelung.

10 October 1944:
At 0600, CH-18, CH-17, CH-23, CH-28 and kaibokan KASADO depart Moji for Manila escorting convoy MOMA-05 consisting of TAIHAKU, KOMEI, TENSHO, TAISHO, TATSUURA, TAIYO, ESAHI, DORYU, PACIFIC, AOKI and SUGIYAMA MARUs and an unidentified ship. The convoy is carrying about 10,000 reinforcements for the Philippines.

16 October 1944:
At 1820 convoy MOMA-05 departs Imari Bay.

21 October 1944:
At 1600, arrives ar Takao, Formosa. KASADO is detached.

23 October 1944:
At 0900, departs Takao and sheltered in bay on S Formosa sailing at 2300.

24 October 1944:
At 1830, arrives Sabtang Island anchorage.

25 October 1944:
At 0400, departs Sabtang anchorage.

26 October 1944:
At 0403, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Maurice Rindskopf's USS DRUM (SS-228) at 19-30N, 120-44E. Rindskopf fires three torpedoes by radar bearings at TAISHO MARU and gets two hits that sink her. She takes down about 1600 men, most of whom belonged to the 57th Independent Brigade and 10th Maritime Advance Battalion.

At 0655, Rindskopf torpedoes and damages TAIHAKU MARU at 19-07N, 120-42E. The forepart sinks, although the aft part remains afloat. She is successfully beached in Lapoc Bay and later abandoned. DRUM also attacks TATSUURA and TAIYO MARUs with uncertain results.

At about 0710, LtCdr Richard W. Peterson's USS ICEFISH (SS-367) torpedoes TAIYO MARU. A cargo of gasoline she is carrying for "kaiten" human-torpedoes ignites and sends flames hundreds of feet into the air. At 0730, TAIYO MARU sinks.

28 October 1944:
At 1230, anchors in Lapoc Bay.

29 October 1944:
At 0700, departs Lapoc Bay. At 1600, arrives at N San Fernando.

30 October 1944:
At 0700, departs N San Fernando. At 1600. arrives at Santa Cruz.

31 October 1944:
At 0500, departs Santa Cruz. At 0950, KOMEI MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Enrique D. Haskin's USS GUITARRO (SS-363) at 15-18N, 119-50E. A few minutes later, at 1010, PACIFIC MARU is also torpedoed and sunk by GUITARRO at 15-15N, 119-56E.

1 November 1944:
At 0400, arrives at Manila.

23 November 1944:
At 1530, CH-18, CH-17, CH-37 and CH-38 depart Takao escorting convoy TAMA-32A consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI, JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 6 and kidotei SS No. 6 also escorted by old destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-8, CD-28 and CD-54. Anchors along the coast soon after leaving.

24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs 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.

5 December 1944:
At 0950, SubChasDiv 21's CH-18 and CH-38 depart Manila escorting convoy TA No. 8 consisting of AKAGISAN, SHIROUMA and NICHIYO MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No. 5 and transport LST No. 11 also escorted by DesRon 31's UME, MOMO and SUGI. News of the American landings at Leyte landing causes the convoy to head for San Isidro, Leyte.

7 December 1944:
At 0900, arrives at San Isidro and commences unloading. At 0930, 70 USAAF B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers attack. All the convoy's freighters are deliberately beached. All the ships are bombed and destroyed. 350 troops are killed and the bulk of the equipment lost. UME is hit by a dud bomb in the forward engine room. SUGI is strafed and suffers minor damage. The escorts then begin the return voyage alone, but MOMO is later detached to search the landing area. On her return, she grounds on a reef and is damaged.

8 December 1944:
Arrives at Manila.

30 December 1944:
At 0800, CH-18, CH-21, destroyer KURETAKE and three unidentified escorts depart North San Fernando for Takao escorting convoy MATA-38 consisting of MURORAN, TEIKAI, KAZUURA and NISSHO MARUs.

Off Santiago Island, Luzon. At 1310, the convoy undergoes a series of air attacks by 26 of Fifth Air Force's B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers, A-20 “Havoc” light bombers and P-40 “Warhawk” fighters that skip bomb at low level. CH-18 is hit and sunk as are MURORAN and TEIKAI MARUs. The planes also damage KAZUURA and NISSHO MARUs near Lingayen Gulf at 17-11N 120-45E.

During the bombing, LtCdr Charles D. Brown's USS RAZORBACK (SS-394) sneaks in and fires six torpedoes at KURETAKE, of which two hit and sink her in the Bashi Channel.

10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Author's Notes:
[1] Convoy D was actually Part D (the equipment/baggage convoy) of Convoy No. 35 that departed Shanghai to transport the IJA’s 6th Infantry Division via Truk to Guadalcanal (after the decision is made to evacuate Guadalcanal, the convoy’s destination was changed to New Guinea). Part D departed Truk on 20 Jan '43 and arrived at Rabaul on 24 Jan '43 escorted by CH-18, CH-12 and CH-22 and CHOKO MARU No. 2 (and possibly destroyer HAMAKAZE part way). [2] No final conclusions can be drawn concerning the identity of the submarine sunk, since USS GRAMPUS (SS-207) was lost in the same area at about the same time.

The authors found no data detailing CH-18's movements during May-October 1943. Readers with access to such data are requested to post the information on the Discussion and Questions board or at the IJN Ship Message Board.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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