Japanese Subchasers

KUSENTEI!

IJN Subchaser CH-19:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2005-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 16

1941:
Aioi. Laid down at Harima Zosensho's yard.

25 February 1941:
Numbered prior to launch CH-19.

3 June 1941:
Launched.

20 September 1941:
Completed and registered in the Kure Naval District.

8 December 1941:
Assigned to the Kure Guard Unit.

9 December 1941:
Escorts tanker SAN DIEGO MARU through the Bungo Straits that is accidentally mined later that day.
10 December 1941:
CH-19 and minelayer NATSUSHIMA join armed merchant cruiser KINJOSAN MARU and minelayer NASAMI that were dispatched to aid crippled SAN DIEGO MARU.
11 December 1941:
CH-19 and minelayer NATSUSHIMA assist SAN DIEGO MARU back through the Bungo Straits.
7 February 1942:
At 1100 CH-19, CH-20 and CH-21 depart Kure.
8 February 1942:
At 1725 arrives at Amami Oshima.
9 February 1942:
At 1642 all three escorts depart Amami Oshima.
13 February 1942:
At 1500 all three ships arrive at Davao.
15 February 1942:
At 1700 CH-19, CH-20 and CH-21 depart Davao.
19 February 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay.
February 1942:
Celebes (now Sulawasei), Netherlands East Indies. CH-19 is reassigned to the Third Fleet’s First Base Force. Conducts patrols out of Staring Bay and later out of Kendari.
10 March 1942:
Makassar, Celebes. Reassigned to the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet in Captain (later Vice Admiral)(40) (former XO of ATAGO) Mori Kunizo's 23rd Special Base Force with CH-20 and CH-21.
August 1942:
Reassigned to the 11th Base Force at Saigon, Indochina in Vice Admiral (37)(former CO of HIEI) Okawachi Denshichi 's 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
10 August 1942:
Departs Dili, Timor.
13 August 1942:
Arrives at Macassar.
15 August 1942:
Departs Macassar.
17 August 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
18 August 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
25 August 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
27 August 1942:
Departs Saigon.
28 August 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
29 August 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns later that day.
1 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
2 September 1942:
Arrives at Pulo Condore and departs later that day.
3 September 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques and departs later that day.
7 September 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
15 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns to port later that day.
16 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns to port later that day.
20 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
21 September 1942:
Arrives At St Jacques and departs later that day.
27 September 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
28 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
3 October 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
23 October 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
27 October 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
6 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
10 November 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
12 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay with Auxiliary gunboat EIFUKU MARU.
19 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns later that day still with EIFUKU MARU.
21 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Cana anchorage.
23 November 1942:
Departs Cana anchorage but anchors there again that evening.
24 November 1942:
Departs Cana anchorage and later that day arrives at Camranh Bay.
26 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay and later that day arrives at St Jacques.
27 November 1942:
Departs St Jacques.
28 November 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
3 December 1942:
CH-19 and Auxiliary gunboat EIFUKU MARU depart Saigon.
4 December 1942:
Both ships arrive at Camranh Bay.
24 December 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay and later that day arrives at Saigon.
28 December 1942:
Departs Saigon and arrives later that day at St Jacques.
1 January 1943:
Arrives at Poulo Cecil de Mer.
3 January 1943:
Departs Poulo Cecil de Mer.
4 January 1943:
Arrives at Poulo Condore and departs later that day.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Poulo Cecil de Mer.
8 January 1943:
CH-19 and minesweeper W-7 depart Poulo Cecil de Mer.
9 January 1943:
Both arrive at Poulo Obi.
10 January 1943:
Departs Poulo Obi.
12 January 1943:
Arrives back at Poulo Obi and departs later that day.
15 January 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
16 January 1943:
Departs Miri.
17 January 1943:
Arrives at Miri and departs later that day.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Miri and departs later that day.
19 January 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
20 January 1943:
Departs Miri.
23 January 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay and departs later that day.
26 January 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay and departs later that day, later arriving at Phan Rang.
29 January 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay and departs later that day, later arriving at St Jacques.

4 April 1943:
CH-19 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 485 consisting of KAIKO, TEIREN (ex French GOUVENEUR GENERAL A. VARENNE), NICHIRAN MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
11 April 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
13 April 1943:
At 1400, departs Saigon escorting convoy No. 572 consisting of tanker NICHINAN MARU (5175 grt) and tanker HAKKO MARU.
16 April 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. The two tankers have detached to Palembang and arrive the following day.
27 April 1943:
At 1800 CH-9 and CH-19 depart Camranh Bay.
28 April 1943:
At 1410 both escorts meet up with convoy No. 387 consisting of HAKUROKU (HAKUSHIKA) MARU and six unidentified merchant ships, then without escort.
29 April 1943:
At 1054 both escorts separate from the convoy.
30 April 1943:
At 2020 CH-9 and CH-19 meet up with inbound convoy No.388 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships, then without escort.
1 May 1943:
CH-19 is reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet’s Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 21st Subchaser Division with CH-20 and CH-21.

2 May 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
16 June 1943:
At 1805 in position an unsuccessful torpedo attack is made against OGURA MARU No. 2 in convoy No. 398 at 10-48N 111-06E. Shortly after, at 1850 a further attack against tanker RIKKO MARU in the same convoy at 10-50N 111-00E is also unsuccessful. Submarine chaser CH-19 departs Camranh Bay at 2300 to hunt the enemy submarine.
1 July 1943:
At 1050 arrives at Saigon with CH-9.
5 July 1943:
At 1200 CH-9 and CH-19 depart Saigon.
7 July 1943:
At 1725 CH-19 only arrives at Sana.
8 July 1943:
At 1800 departs Sana.
10 July 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Camranh Bay.
11 July 1943:
At 1700 departs Camranh Bay.
14 July 1943:
At 1145 arrives at Saigon.
16 July 1943:
At 1400 departs Saigon and at 1822 arrives at St Jacques.
17 July 1943:
At 1118 CH-19 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 411 consisting of CHIYODA, GOYO, HAKUSHIKA, SEINAN, BISAN and SUZAN MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
20 July 1943:
At 0730 CH-19 detaches from the convoy.
22 July 1943:
At 1540 CH-19 that has detached from the convoy arrives back at Camranh Bay. At 1700, BISAN and SUZAN MARUs are detached from convoy at 22-42N, 119-11E for Amoy. At 2359, the convoy arrives at Takao.
26 July 1943:
At 1210 departs Camranh Bay.
28 July 1943:
At 2245 arrives at Camranh Bay.
5 August 1943:
At 1925 departs Camranh Bay.
6 August 1943:
At 1730 arrives at Saigon.
7 August 1943:
At 1200 departs Saigon and at 1710 arrives at St Jacques.
8 August 1943:
At 1300 departs St Jacques escorting Rinji convoy.
13 August 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Saigon.
20 August 1943:
CH-19 is reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet’s First Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 11th Special Base Force with CH-20 and CH-21.
24 August 1943:
At 1300 departs Saigon.
25 August 1943:
At 1050 arrives at Camranh Bay.
30 August 1943:
At 2205 departs Camranh Bay and joins up as only escort of convoy No. 422 consisting of KONSAN, TAINAN (5407 grt), TAIRIN and NIKKO MARUs and twelve unidentified merchant ships. Later returns to Camranh Bay.
2 September 1943:
CH-19 arrives back at Camranh Bay.
3 September 1943:
CH-9 and CH-19 depart Camranh Bay on an anti submarine sweep.
7 September 1943:
CH-9 and CH-19 arrive back at Camranh Bay.
8 September 1943:
Both CH-9 and CH-19 depart Camranh Bay on another anti submarine sweep.
11 September 1943:
CH-19 arrives at Saigon.
20 September 1943:
Departs Saigon escorting convoy No. 427 for Mako consisting of NORFOLK MARU and possibly others. At an unknown point CH-19 is detached.
22 September 1943:
CH-19 departs Singapore with fleet oiler ASHIZURI escorting convoy SA-12 consisting of transports TEIKO and USSURI MARUs and tankers SEISHIN and KIRISHIMA MARUs.
24 September 1943:
CH-19 arrives at Camranh Bay.
25 September 1943:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Joseph H. Willingham's (USNA ’26) USS BOWFIN (SS-287), on her first war patrol, torpedoes and sinks KIRISHIMA MARU at 09-53N 112-10E. 14 crewmen and 11 passengers are KIA. [1]
CH-19 is ordered to depart Camranh Bay. At 1403, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-19 that reads: “At 1030, arrived at the scene. At 1233 (10-02 N, 122-01 E) sighted crew [of KIRISHIMA MARU] and at 1330 picked up a total of 53 men including the Captain. Continuing the search for the others.”
26 September 1943:
At 1600, USN codebreakers decrypt another message from CH-19 that reads: “At 1425 picked up 9 more men. Above makes total of 62 of 87 (including passengers) rescued from KIRISHIMA MARU ----- heading for Saigon.”
27 September 1943:
Arrives at Saigon and departs later that day.
29 September 1943:
Returns to Saigon.
2 October 1943:
Departs Saigon and then St Jacques in convoy No. 514 consisting of MANSHU, ZUIYO, SAINAN, TOFUKU, HITORA MARUs, JUNGEN GO, WAKO GO, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3 and four unidentified merchant ships escorted by Submarine Chaser CH-19.
6 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
12 October 1943:
CH-19 departs Singapore escorting convoy No. 627 consisting of KOSHIN MARU and tanker KYUEI MARU and an unidentified merchant ship.
14 October 1943:
KYUEI MARU is hit by two dud torpedoes at 06-00N, 104-10E.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
18 October 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques as escort for convoy No. 329.
19 October 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Saigon.
21 October 1943:
Departs Saigon.
22 October 1943:
Arrives at Ban Lo Bay.
23 October 1943:
Departs Ban Lo Bay.
24 October 1943:
Arrived at Grande Condore (?) and departs later that day. Probably escorts convoy No. 331.
25 October 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
28 October 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay on patrol.
31 October 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
1 November 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay and returns to port later that day.
4 November 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay on convoy escort mission.
5 November 1943:
Returns to Camranh Bay.
8 November 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay on a convoy escort mission.
9 November 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
13 November 1943:
CH-19 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 441 consisting of URAL, HAWAII and GYOKO MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
15 November 1943:
CH-19 detaches froom the convoy and arrives at Camranh Bay.
16 November 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay.
18 November 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
21 November 1943:
Convoy No. 441 arrives at Takao.
26 November 1943:
Departs Saigon.
27 November 1943:
Arrives off Camranh Bay and undertakes anti submarine patrols.
28 November 1943:
Departs from off Camranh Bay and undertakes a convoy escort mission, then an anti submarine sweep.
1 December 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
4 December 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay on a convoy escort mission.
7 December 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
14 December 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay escorting convoy No. 441 (2 sections) enroute to either Hong Kong or Takao. (NB number appears error see 13 November)
15 December 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
21 December 1943:
Departs Saigon on a convoy escort mission.
23 December 1943:
Arrives Camranh Bay then departed on a further convoy escort mission.
24 December 1943:
Arrives St Jacques.
25 December 1943:
Departs St Jacques on a convoy escort mission.
29 December 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
3 January 1944:
Departs Saigon on a convoy escort mission and anti submarine sweep.
8 January 1944:
Arrives Tourane.
9 January 1944:
Departs Tourane on a convoy escort mission.
12 January 1944:
Arrives at Saigon.
16 January 1944:
CH-19 and auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU depart St Jacques escorting convoy No. 457 consisting of tankers KONSAN and KIKUSUI MARUs and cargo ship TAIRYU MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
17 January 1944:
CH-19 and the convoy arrives at Camranh Bay.
18 January 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay with the convoy. At some point is detached on an anti submarine sweep.
22 January 1944:
Arrives back at Camranh Bay.
23 January 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay and meets up with damaged destroyer AMATSUKAZE being towed by destoyer ASAGAO and escorts ships.
26 January 1944:
Convoy No. 457 arrives at Takao.
29 January 1944:
CH-19 arrives at St Jacques.
30 January 1944:
Departs St Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon.
2 February 1944:
Departs Saigon.
3 February 1944:
Arrives at Pulo Condore and departs later that day.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Saigon. Undertakes hull and engine repairs throughout the month.
3 March 1944:
Departs Saigon and later that day arrives at St Jacques.
4 March 1944:
Departs St Jacques escorting a convoy consisting of BENGAL MARU and possibly others.
9 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
12 March 1944:
Departs Manila escorting a convoy.
16 March 1944:
Arrives at St Jacques.
17 March 1944:
Departs St Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon.
24 March 1944:
Departs Takao with kaibokan AWAJI and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU escorting convoy TASA-13 consisting of NICHIAN, CHINA, SHOEI (1986 gt), FUKUJU, TASMANIA, SETSUZAN, SHONAN, KYOKUZAN, HIDA, TEIRITSU (ex French LECONTE DE LISLE), DURBAN MARUs and five other unidentified merchant ships.
That same day CH-19 departs Saigon and arrives at St Jacques.
25 March 1944:
CH-19 departs St Jacques.
26 March 1944:
CH-19 arrives at Camranh Bay
27 March 1944:
CH-19 departs Camranh Bay and late that day arrives at Qui Nhon.
29 March 1944:
HIDA MARU is detached and arrives at Yulin. KYOKUZAN MARU is also detached and arrives at Sana the following day. At about 0500, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Chester W. Nimitz Jr's (USNA ’36) USS HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes and damages NICHIAN MARU at 17-42N, 109-57E. The convoy seeks shelter in Baie de Kiquik.
CH-19 departs Qui Nhon that day and meets up with the convoy.
30 March 1944:
Departs Baie de Kiquik.
31 March 1944:
CH-19 arrives at Camranh Bay.
1 April 1944:
The convoy arrives at St Jacques.
4 April 1944:
CH-19 departs Camranh Bay escorting a convoy.
6 April 1944:
Arrives at Saigon.
10 April 1944:
Departs Saigon.
11 April 1944:
Camranh Bay. Joins convoy SATA-14 consisting of KENEI, BISAN, CHEFOO, SAINAN MARUs, EIYO MARU No.2, and six unidentified merchant ships and departs port. En route CH-19 detaches possibly with a contingent bound for Manila or meets up with convoy SAMA-04 consisting of transports RAKUYO, TASMANIA MARUs and tanker SEISHIN MARU escorted by Submarine chaser CH-21.
16 April 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
18 April 1944:
SATA-14 convoy arrives at Takao.
19 April 1944:
Convoy MASA-04 departs Manila. The convoy consists of NORWAY and HOZAN MARUs escorted by submarine chaser CH-21 and CH-19.
24 April 1944:
Arrives at St Jacques and at 1700 arrives at Saigon.
28 April 1944:
CH-19 departs Saigon escorting a convoy.
5 May 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
7 May 1944 :
At 1900, CH-19 departs Singapore with minesweeper W-18 escorting convoy SHIMI-02 consisting of DURBAN, CHINA, FUKUJU and KUNIYAMA MARUs and tankers EIYO, CHIHAYA, SHINEI and NICHINAN (5175 grt) MARUs and TONAN MARU No. 2
11 May 1944:
Anchors briefly at Cape Kidurang.
12 May 1944:
At 1005, arrives at Miri, Borneo.
13 May 1944:
CH-19 departs Miri with kaibokan CD-11 and destroyers ASAKAZE and HARUKAZE escorting convoy MIMA-10 consisting of of SAN LUIS, FUKUJU, CHINA, DURBAN, SHINEI and TAKETOYO MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships likely including CHIHAYA and EIYO MARUs.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
20 May 1944:
Departs Manila escorting a convoy.
23 May 1944:
Arrives at Saigon.
30 May 1944:
CH-19 departs Saigon escorting EIKO MARU (3011 grt).
3 June 1944: CH-19 arrives back at Saigon.
6 June 1944:
CH-19 departs Saigon on an anti submarine sweep.
9 June 1944:
CH-19 arrives at Camranh Bay.
13 June 1944:
CH-19 departs Camranh Bay with convoy MASA-06 consisting of HAKUSHIKA, HAKUBASAN, BEIJU, TENSHIN, TATSUBATO, KAIJUN, KUROGANE, MAYA MARUs, and JUNGEN GO.
20 June 1944:
Convoy MASA-06 arrives at Singapore. CH-19 has detached en route and arrives back at Saigon later this day.
25 June 1944:
At 1240, CH-19 and CH-43 departs Saigon escorting convoy SAMA-08 consisting of MAYA, MATSUKAWA and YAMABUKI MARUs.
26 June 1944:
Off Nha Trang Bay, TSURUSHIMA MARU joins the convoy.
30 June 1944:
Off Manila Bay. At 0312, LtCdr (later Captain) Arthur E. Krapf's (USNA ’34) USS JACK (SS-259) torpedoes and sinks TSURUSHIMA MARU at 14-15N, 119-40E. 44 crewmen, 18 gunners and 15 of her 330 passengers are KIA. The convoy scatters, but at 0422, USS JACK torpedoes and sinks MATSUKAWA MARU at 14-25N, 119-45E. Two crewmen, five gunners, 15 soldiers and nine passengers are KIA. Later that day, the remaining ships arrive at Manila.
7 July 1944:
CH-19 and CH-43 depart Manila escorting an unidentified convoy.
13 July 1944:
Arrives at St Jacques.
14 July 1944:
CH-19 departs St Jacques with minelayer HATSUTAKA escorting convoy SASHI-29B consisting of tanker SEISHIN MARU.
17 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Singapore. CH-19 has detached en route and arrives back at Saigon this day.
26 July 1944:
Departs Saigon and later that day arrives at St Jacques.
28 July 1944:
Departs St Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon.
2 August 1944:
CH-19 departs Saigon escorting convoy SAMA-10 consisting of SHIROGANESAN, CHINZEI MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
E 5 August 1944:
Submarine chaser CH-41 meets up with convoy.
6 August 1944:
At 0312, LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson’s (USNA ’32) USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks SHIROGANESAN MARU at 14-10N, 117-02E. She was loaded with 500 tons of ammunition and 5,720 tons of rice. Because of bad weather no boats could be launched. 22 crewmen, 14 gunners and 15 passengers are KIA.
7 August 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
12 August 1944:
At 0600, CH-19 departs Manila with CH-32, minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs escorting convoy MASA-10 consisting of DURBAN, TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE), RISSHUN and YAMABUKI MARUs. At 2000, anchors at Lucanin, Bataan Peninsula.
13 August 1944:
At 2000 departs Lucanin, but the weather worsens and late that day the convoy returns to Lucanin.
14 August 1944:
At 1700, departs Lucanin. In poor weather, the four auxiliary patrol boats lose contact with the convoy.
20 August 1944:
At 1810, arrives Camranh Bay.
21 August 1944:
At 0800, departs Camranh Bay. At 0951, LtCdr Michael P. Russillo's (USNA ’27) USS MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) torpedoes DURBAN MARU. Although DURBAN MARU is taken under tow by new arrival OYO MARU, she eventually sinks at 11-45N, 109-15E. 6 crewmen and 509 troops are KIA. CH-19 assists.
22 August 1944:
At 1830 CH-19 arrives back at Camranh Bay.
23 August 1944:
At 0925 departs Camranh Bay on a submarine hunt.
25 August 1944:
At 1024 departs Camranh Bay escorting the remainder of MASA-10 convoy.
26 August 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Saigon.
2 September 1944:
At 2052, CH-19 and CH-32 depart Cape St. Jacques for Manila with minesweepers W-18 and W-101 escorting convoy SAMA-12 consisting of RISSHUN and YAMABUKI MARUs.
7 September 1944:
At 2000 arrives at Manila. The convoy arrives early the following day.
10 September 1944:
Manila. CH-19 is reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet’s Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 31st Special Base Force. That same day at 0525, departs Manila in convoy MAMO-03 with minesweeper W-21 consisting of IJA landing craft depot ship KIBITSU MARU, ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU and ex-seaplane tender KAGU MARU.
11 September 1944:
At 0918, meets up with HI-72 convoy consisting of ASAKA, NANKAI, KIMIKAWA, RAKUYO, ZUIHO, KIBITSU and KACHIDOKI MARU (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON). RAKUYO MARU carries 1,317 POWs and KACHIDOKI MARU carries 900 POWs.
12 September 1944:
At 0200, Cdr Thomas B. Oakey’s (USNA ’34) USS GROWLER (SS-215), torpedoes HIRADO. She blows up and sinks at 17-54N, 114-49E. Cdr Segawa and 106 sailors are KIA. LtCdr Segawa posthumously promoted Cdr. Rear Admiral Kajioka, victor of Wake Island, is also KIA. He is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously.
At 0531, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli Reich’s (USNA ’35) USS SEALION II (SS-315) torpedoes RAKUYO MARU but she stays afloat for another 13 hours, sinking at 1830 that evening. She is carrying 1,318 Allied POWs (601 British, 716 Australian and several US POWs), of whom 1,159 are lost. At about 0700, SHIKINAMI is torpedoed by GROWLER and sinks 240 miles S of Hong Kong at 18-16 N, 114-40 E. MIKURA rescues eight officers and 120 men. At 2254, KACHIDOKI MARU with 950 Allied POWs aboard is hit by LtCdr Paul E. Summers’ (USNA ’36) USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) at 19-25N, 112-23E. At 2337, she founders and 12 sailors and 476 passengers (including 431 POWs) are lost with her. USS PAMPANITO also sinks ZUIHO MARU with no survivors. The Japanese rescue a few POWs from the two prison ships. The survivors are transferred to KIBITSU MARU.
The Japanese rescue a few POWs who are transferred to KIBITSU MARU and taken to Japan. American submarines later return to the scene and rescue 159 survivors of whom seven die enroute to Saipan. In all, 92 Australian and 60 British ex-POWs survive.
At 0840, USN codebreakers intercept a message from unknown Japanese station that says, “Have rescued survivors of HIRADO (survivors include the staff and 26 men plus 74 crew members. Captain of HIRADO killed in action ---.”
13 September 1944:
At 1000 CH-19 arrives at Yulin.
16 September 1944:
At 2000 CH-19 departs Yulin, Hainan Island for Takao with auxiliary netlayer KAINAN MARU escorting the second echelon of convoy HI-72/MAMO-03 consisting of tanker SHINCHO MARU.
21 September 1944:
At 0159, USAAF aircraft bomb and damage SHINCHO MARU at 22-40N, 119-29E. Kaibokan CD-21 from nearby convoy HI-74 takes the ship in tow.
22 September 1944:
HI-72/MAMO-03 reaches Takao.
30 September 1944:
At 1200, CH-19 departs Takao with kaibokan CD-18, CD-26 escorting convoy MI-19 consisting of HIDA, KENEI, IWAKUNI, YULIN, HAKUROKU, MITSU, DAIMEI, ARISAN, TEIFU (ex-French BOUGAINVILLE), TASMANIA, DAIA, KOKURYU and SHINSEI MARUs.
2 October 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Aparri and departs same day at 2300.
3 October 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Lapoc.
4 October 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc. At 1700, arrives at North San Fernando.
5 October 1944:
At 0600, departs North San Fernando.
6 October 1944:
At 0600, arrives Manila.
8 October 1944:
At 0700, CH-19 departs Manila for Miri, Borneo with kaikoban CD-18 and CD-26, patrol boat PB-105 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-56 escorting reorganized convoy MI-19 consisting of NITTETSU, SAN LUIS, DAIZEN, HIDA, SAN DIEGO, EIKYO, TOKUWA, SHUNTEN, TATSUBATO, DAISHU and YOSHU MARUs.
9 October 1944:
About 1700, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s (USNA ’33) USS BECUNA (SS-319) torpedoes and damages SAN LUIS MARU, but she is able to continue. LtCdr Francis W. Scanland’s (USNA ’34) USS HAWKBILL (SS-366) also torpedoes SAN LUIS MARU about the same time. At 1804, USS BECUNA torpedoes and sinks TOKUWA MARU at 12-43N, 118-05E. 10 crewmen are KIA.
10 October 1944:
SHUNTEN MARU and two of the escorts are detached with damaged SAN LUIS MARU and head for Sandakan, Borneo. [3] At 2200 the rest of the convoy arrives at Pagdanan Bay.
11 October 1944:
At 0300 departs Pagdanan Bay.
12 October 1944:
Palawan Passage. LtCdr (later Captain) David H. McClintock’s (USNA ’35) USS DARTER (SS-227) fires four torpedoes at two ships in the convoy, but inflicts no damage. At 1340 arrives at Dalahuan Bay, Balabac Island.
13 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Dalahuan Bay.
14 October 1944:
At 0208, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen D. Claggett’s (USNA ’35) USS DACE (SS-247) torpedoes and sinks NITTETSU MARU at 06-00N, 115-55E. 12 crewmen are KIA. USS DACE also torpedoes and damages DAIZEN and EIKYO MARUs. At 0630 the convoy arrives at Kimanis and departs at 1130. Later that day arrives at Brunei Bay.
15 October 1944:
Departs Brunei Bay and at 1530 arrives at Labuan.
16 October 1944:
At 1300 departs Labuan and at 1900 arrives at Victoria.
17 October 1944:
At 0630 departs Victoria and at 1700 arrives at Miri.
19 October 1944:
At 1600 CH-19 departs Miri with submarine chasers CH-3, CH-63 and auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 6 and CHOUN MARU No. 7 in convoy MISHI-11 consisting of HIDA, KAZAN, ARAOSAN, NICHINAN (1945 grt) and HACHIJIN MARUs together with eleven unidentified merchant ships. That same day at 1600 CH-1 departs Surabaya.

E 21 October 1944:
CH-1 joins the convoy.
23 October 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Singapore.
1 November 1944:
Ar 0800 CH-19, CH-1, CH-26 and CH-36 depart Singapore for Manila escorting convoy SHIMA-04 consisting of HACHIJIN, AYAGIRI, ATSUTA and TOYO (YUTAKA) MARUs.
2 November 1944:
225 miles E of Singapore. At 1717, in heavy weather, Lt (later Vice Admiral Sir) Hugh "Rufus" MacKenzie's British submarine HMS TANTALUS attacks the convoy. MacKenzie torpedoes and sinks cargo ship HACHIJIN MARU and damages CH-1 at at 00-45N, 107-41E. 6 crewmen are KIA.
11 November 1944:
Arrives at Bacuit Bay.
12 November 1944:
At 1215 arrives at Malampaya Bay.
13 November 1944:
At 0630 departs Malampaya Bay and at 1930 arrives at Coron Island.
14 November 1944:
At 0300 departs Coron Bay. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Frederick C. Sherman (USNA ’10), in temporary command of Task Force 38, launches air strikes against Japanese shipping. Off Sablayan Island, Mindoro, convoy SHIMA-04 is attacked by F6F “Hellcat” fighter-bombers from USS YORKTOWN (CV-10). The Hellcats sink merchant tanker AYAGIRI MARU, loaded with 4,879-tons of aviation gasoline at 12-40N, 120-41E. Four crewmen and 57 passengers are KIA. In the same attack IJA cargo ship TOYO MARU and CH-19, CH-1, CH-26 and CH-36 are all damaged. CH-1 is beached but later refloated.
15 November 1944:
At 1320 arrives at Manila.
17 November 1944:
At 1600, CH-19 and CH-26 depart Manila for Takao escorting convoy MATA-33 consisting of ESASHI MARU.
N San Fernando. That same day, the convoy is joined by DORYO MARU from Manila. Later that day, the convoy is attacked by eight American aircraft. ESASHI MARU is set afire, beached and abandoned. CH-26 and DORYO MARU head for Takao, but because of air raids there, they are diverted to Hong Kong.
23 November 1944:
At 1115 arrives at Hong Kong.
26 November 1944:
At 1000 departs Hong Kong.
28 November 1944:
At 1700 arrives at Takao.
30 November 1944:
At 2300 CH-19 departs Takao with destroyer SHIOKAZE escorting MI-20 convoy consisting of SAN DIEGO and DAIMEI MARUs.
1 December 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.
13 January 1945:
At 0000 departs Kure after undergoing extensive repairs. At 1200 arrives at Moji.
14 January 1945:
At 0700, CH-19 and CH-57 depart Moji escorting convoy MOTA-32 consisting of DAIKYO, TENSHO, SAMARANG, TATSUHARU, MASASHIMA, AIZAN, SHUNSHO and DAISHUN MARUs, TAMON MARU No. 16 and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan CD-31, CD-132, CD-144, MANJU and destroyer SHIOKAZE.
20 January 1945:
Arrives at Heiniu Wan.
21 January 1945:
At 0700 departs Heiniu Wan and later that evening, anchors at Sanmen Inlet, China coast.
22 January 1945:
At dawn, departs Sanmen Inlet. In late afternoon, arrives at Namkwan (Namquan) Bay. At 1600, convoy TAMO-38 heading north arrives consisting of DAINAN, BINGO, TOYOKAWA, RASHIN, SHINNO, TATSUWA and NICHIYU No. 7 escorted by kaibokan IKUNA, CD-26, CD-39 and CD-112. The two convoys merge at anchor.
23 January 1945:
At 0402, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B. Fluckey's (USNA ’35) USS BARB (SS-220), running on the surface, penetrates the outer escort screen and enters the harbor. An unbroken line of ships at anchor, 4200 yards in length, is clearly visible. Fluckey fires a total of eight torpedoes into the target line. DAIKYO MARU is hit and her cargo of munitions detonates in a massive explosion. 58 crewmen, 27 gunners and 360 out of 558 troops are KIA.
SAMARANG and DAISHUN MARUs, TAMON MARU No. 16 and SHUNSHO MARU are all damaged. At 0600, the rest of the convoy departs Namkwan. Later that day arrives at Niu Shan Tao.
24 January 1944:
At 0400 departs Niu Shan Tao.
25 January 1945:
At 1200 arrives at Keelung (Kirun), Formosa where the convoy is dissolved.
26 January 1945:
At 0600 departs Kirun. At 1600 arrives at Diaoyu and departs at 2000.
27 January 1945:
At 0630 arrives at Pengjia Yu.
28 January 1945:
At 0900 departs Pengjia Yu and later that day arrives back at Kirun.
29 January 1945:
At 1100 departs escorting an unidentified vessel (illegible) and at 2300 arrives back at Kirun.
31 January 1945:
At 0600, CH-19 departs Keelung for Moji with kaibokan CD-14, CD-16 and CD-46 escorting convoy TAMO-39. The convoy consists of AIZAN, SHUNSHO, DAISHUN, SAMARANG, TETSUYO and TATSUHARU MARUs.
1 February 1945:
CH-19 is detached from the convoy. At 1530 arrives at Kirun.
2 February 1945:
At 0300 CH-19 departs Kirun (Keelung) with kaibokan KURAHASHI and SHINNAN, CD-22, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU and submarine chaser CH-58 escorting convoy TAMO-40 consisting of MASASHIMA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
6 February 1945:
Arrives at the Ssu Chiao Shan anchorage, Shushan (Chusan) Archipelago.
8 February 1945:
Departs the Ssu Chiao Shan anchorage.
12 February 1945:
At 1745 arrives at Moji. At 2345 CH-19 departs Moji.
13 February 1945:
At 1000 arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
17 February 1945:
Departs Kure and later that day arrives at Muko Jima. Drydocked.
24 February 1944:
At 1000 departs Muko Jima and later that day arrives at Kure.
1 March 1945:
At 0630, CH-19 departs Mutsure for Keelung with kaibokan CD-26, CD-41, IKUNA, minesweepers W-15 and W-17 escorting convoy MOTA-40 consisting of IKOMASAN, AIZAN, DAIKI, TOYOGAWA, KITAKATA, ANKO and DOSHI MARUs.
5 March 1945:
Off Akuseki Jima, Ryukyu Islands. At 1042, LtCdr (later Captain) Walter F. Schlech's (USNA ’36) USS TILEFISH (SS-307) torpedoes and damages minesweeper W-15's stern at 29-36N, 129-45E. W-15 is beached on Suwasi Island and later abandoned, a constructive total loss.
That same day, CH-19 is reassigned to the General Escort Command’s First Escort Fleet’s 31st Subchaser Division with CH-20, CH-21, CH-26 and CH-60.
7 March 1945:
At 2015 arrives at Hsu Kung Tao (Morrison Island).
8 March 1945:
At 0855 CH-19 departs Hsu Kung Tao with DOSHI MARU. At 1020 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan. At 1425 CH-19 departs Ssu Chiao Shan and with kaibokan CD-39 joins convoy HI-92 consisting of tanker TOJO MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-25 and possibly CD-82.
10 March 1945:
At 1700 anchors off Pusan.
11 March 1945:
At 0600 the convoy departs Pusan. At 1630 the convoy arrives at Moji. CH-19 remains anchored off Mutsure.
12 March 1945:
At 0630 CH-19 departs Mutsure. 1700 arrives at Chinkai.
14 March 1945:
At 0900 departs Chinkai. At 1802 anchors for the night.
15 March 1945:
At 0700 departs anchorage. At 1530 arrives at Hikin Do.
17 March 1945:
At 0600 departs Hikin Do (Pigin To), Chosen escorting a five ship convoy consisting of SHINJO, YOJO, WAKAMATSU and ENKYO MARUs and YUBARI MARU No. 3.
18 March 1945:
At 2300 arrives off Seito (Tsingtao).
19 March 1945:
At 0655 departs Seito, but returns at 0830.
20 March 1945:
At 1130 departs Seito.
21 March 1945:
At 1700 arrives at unidentified location.
22 March 1945:
At 0630 departs unidentified location on an anti submarine patrol.
23 March 1945:
At 1920 arrives at Daikokusan
24 March 1945:
At 1200 departs Daikokusan
25 March 1945:
At 1930 arrives at Hikin Do.
26 March 1945:
At 0630 departs Hikin Do on an anti submarine patrol for the rest of the month.
2 April 1945:
At 1550 arrives at Hikin Do.
3 April 1945:
At 0930 departs Hikin Do and at 1100 arrives at Moppo (Mokpo).
5 April 1945:
At 0935 departs Moppo and at 1155 arrives at Hikin Do.
6 April 1945:
At 0800 departs Hikin Do and proceeds to a vessel sinking position to rescue survivors then undertakes an anti submarine sweep and from 10 April a patrol.
12 April 1945:
At 2000, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-19 that reads: “No. 3 KAIYO MARU is (hurrying north?). Other than what appears to be a fragment of a boat belonging to TAMA MARU, we found no traces. Still continuing the search.”
13 April 1945:
At 1200 arrives at Daikokusan Do. At 2120 departs on an anti submarine sweep.
15 April 1945:
At 2130 arrives at Hikin Do.
16 April 1945:
At 0945 departs Higin Do and at 1230 arrives at Moppo.
19 April 1945:
At 0830 departs Moppo and at 1130 arrives at Hikin Do.
20 April 1945:
At 0800 departs Hikin Do. At 1130 arrives at Daikokusan Do.
24 April 1945:
At 2330 departs Daikokusan Do.
25 April 1945:
At 1900 arrives at Daicho Do (Taejang To).
26 April 1945:
At 0655 departs Daicho Do. At 1952 arrives at Osei Do (Ochong To).
27 April 1945:
At 0800 departs Osei Do.
28 April 1945:
At 0545 departs Daito Wan with Kaibokan CD-67 escorting SE-1 convoy consisting of NISSHO (2284 grt) and WASHIN MARUs. At sea meets incoming SE-2 convoy consisting of TAIRI, TOKAI MARUs and RYUEI MARU No. 6 and begins escorting these ships back to Daito Wan.
29 April 1945:
At 1130 arrives at Daito Wan and departs there at 1800.
30 April 1945:
At 1930 arrives back at Daito Wan.
27 June 1945:
S of Korea. CH-19 is damaged by aircraft.
8 August 1945:
Tsushima Strait. Fourteen B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers of the 345th Bomb Group’s 499th Bomb Squadron bomb and strafe CH-19. Severely damaged by at least one bomb hit, CH-19 manages to damage six of the attacking aircraft. Later, she makes port in Tsushima harbor.
August 1945:
Arrives at Kure, probably under tow.
15 August 1945:
Japan accepts the Potsdam Declaration and hostilities cease. At an unknown later date, CH-19 arrives at Sasebo, probably under tow.
3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy List.
1948:
Sasebo. Scrapped.

Author's Notes:
[1] It is unclear whether CH-19 was detached after escorting the convoy close to Takao. The convoy then proceeded to Moji.
[2] Sources differ on the composition of the escort. One source shows either CH-19 or kaibokan CD-19 in the escort.
[3] It is unclear whether CH-19 was one of the escorts that was detached.
Thanks for assistance go to Cdr John D. Alden, USN-Ret. Thanks also go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages. Thanks also go to Gilbert Casse of France for sinking and human loss details and general review.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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