KUSENTEI!

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

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1941:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Nippon Kokan K.K 's yard.

30 January 1942:
Launched and numbered CH-28.

15 May 1942:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District. Assigned directly to the Combined Fleet and attached to SubChasDiv 32.

8 June 1942:
Departs Sasebo escorting a convoy to Rabaul.

14 July 1942:
Reassigned to Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's newly created Eighth Fleet in the 7th Base Force at Rabaul. Thereafter, conducts convoy escort duties.

20 July 1942: Operation "RI" - The Invasion of Buna, New Guinea:
At 2000, CH-28 departs Rabaul for Buna with CH-29 and CH-30, CruDiv 18's light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU, minelayer TSUGARU and destroyers ASANAGI, YUZUKI and UZUKI escorting troop transports AYATOSAN, KINRYU and RYOYO MARUs.

21 July 1942:
Arrives at Buna. The troops are landed.

December 1942:
Reassigned to the 1st Base Force. Arrives at Shortland, Bougainville. Performs convoy escort and patrol duties.

31 July 1942:
CH-28 and minelayer TSUGARU depart Buna for Buka, Bougainville escorting transport NANKAI MARU. The group is attacked by aircraft and forced to abandon the mission. Returns to Rabaul.

29 March 1943:
Faisi-Poporang, Shortland. A joint-service fighter sweep by led by Captain Thomas G. Lanphier with eight Lockheed P-38 “Lightnings” of the 13th AF’s 70th Fighter Squadron and eight Marine Chance-Vought F-4U-1 “Corsairs” of VMF-124 hit the seaplane base. They set fire to five to seven Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" floatplanes originally attached to KAMIKAWA and KUNIKAWA MARUs. As the fighters depart, they strafe and damage CH-28, E of Shortland. [1]

May 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo and undergoes repairs.

May 1943:
Reassigned to the 4th Base Force at Truk. Thereafter, escorts convoys between Truk and Rabaul.

24 June 1943:
At 1000, departs Truk with destroyer SHIGURE escorting the Nauru No. 3 convoy and AKIBASAN MARU to Nauru Island.

29 June 1943:
At 0430, arrives at Nauru Island. Departs that same day.

3 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

19 July 1943:
50 miles S of Wake Island. LtCdr Carter L. Bennett's old USS PORPOISE (SS-172) attacks and sinks transport MIKAGE MARU No. 20 at 18-45N, 166-04E. The transport was engaged in reinforcing Tarawa. Subchaser Div 32's CH-28, - 29 and CH-30 counterattack PORPOISE unsuccessfully. Bennett evades and slips away.

28 August 1943:
At 0800, TATSUURA MARU escorted by CH-28 departs Truk's S channel on a 195 degree course.

6 September 1943:
At 0930, CH-28 and minesweeper W-4 arrive at Kimishima Channel, Truk escorting a convoy consisting of KIYOSUMI and TOKYO MARUs.

10 September 1943:
At 1500, CH-28 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-28, and CHa-46 depart Truk's Kimishima channel escorting SHOEI MARU.

18 September 1943:
CH-28, CH-31 and auxiliary subchasers KYO MARU No. 6, TAKUNAN MARU No. 10 and torpedo boat HIYODORI depart Kwajalein escorting convoy No. 6188 consisting of KEMBU, CHIHAYA, MINATO, TSUNESHIMA, SHIGANOURA, MUKO and KENRYU MARUs.

25 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

28 September 1943:
At 1600, CH-28 departs Truk's Kimishima channel then the south channel escorting a convoy consisting of KUNIKAWA and GOSHU MARUs.

4 October 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.

5 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Truk with torpedo boat HIYODORI escorting passenger/cargo ship AMAGISAN MARU.

8 October 1943:
CH-28 and HIYODORI are escorting AMAGISAN MARU when she is attacked by LtCdr Robert J. Foley's USS GATO (SS-212). Foley hits AMAGISAN MARU with a dud Mark-14 torpedo. Although the torpedo does not explode, it causes flooding in hold No. 6. CH-28 remains behind to conduct an ASW sweep. The remainder of the convoy, escorted by HIYODORI, continues on its way.

9 October 1943:
CH-28, HIYODORI and AMAGISAN MARU arrive at Truk.

2 November 1943:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy M. Davenport's HADDOCK (SS-231) makes a surface radar-assisted attack on what Davenport takes to be one of a group of three destroyers. He fires torpedoes at CH-28 at 09-12N, 150-13E. CH-28's crew see the tracks of three torpedoes pass closeby, then CH-28 counterattacks unsuccessfully. Davenport claims sinking the "destroyer".

5 November 1943:
At 0430, arrives at Truk via N channel escorting a convoy consisting of Giyu Maru and nine fishing boats.

7 November 1943:
At 1500, CH-28, and probably netlayer KATSURA MARU, depart Truk via S channel escorting convoy No. 5075 consisting of ASAKAZE, KEMBU, KENSHIN, KITAGAMI MARUs and oiler No. 6010.

13 November 1943:
At 1520, arrives at Kwajalein.

22 November 1943:
At 1800, CH-28 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 5 arrive at Truk's south channel escorting convoy a convoy consisting of HASSHU and KAIKO MARUs.

24 November 1943:
At 1200, CH-28 departs Truk escorting convoy No. 7242 consisting of oilers OGURA MARU No. 3 and HAKUBASAN MARU.

29 November 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Palau.

7 December 1943:
At 2210, arrives at Truk's north channel escorting a convoy consisting of oilers SHINSHU MARU and HISHI MARU No. 2.

18 December 1943:
At 1600, departs Truk with torpedo boat OTORI escorting convoy No. 1182 consisting of transports TSUNESHIMA and NAGISAN MARUs to Rabaul.

20 December 1943:
NE of Manus Island, Admiralties. At 1537, LtCdr Robert J. Foley's USS GATO (SS-212) attacks and sinks troop transport TSUNESHIMA MARU at 01-26N, 148-36E. All of her crewmembers are rescued. CH-28 and OTORI conduct a counterattack, dropping a total of 19 depth-charges.

22 December 1943:
The convoy is attacked by USAAF bombers. The NAGISAN MARU suffers minor damage.

23 December 1943:
At 1100, arrives at Rabaul.

30 December 1943:
Departs Truk with destroyer UMIKAZE escorting a troop convoy to Ponape, then to Eniwetok and Kwajalein.

31 December 1943:
Truk. CH-28 is assigned to guardship duties with destroyer TACHIKAZE, minesweeper W-22, SHONAN MARU No. 11 and GENYO MARU.

14 January 1944:
CH-28 and an unidentified escort depart Saipan for Truk escorting convoy 3231B consisting of NIKKO, AWAJI and TAINAN MARUs and another unidentified ship.

16 January 1944:
375 miles NNW of Truk. At 2010, LtCdr (later Captain-Ret) Slade D. Cutter's USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) attacks and sinks NIKKO MARU at 12-48N, 150-18E.

19 January 1944:
Arrives at Truk.

15 February 1944:
At 2200, CH-28 and destroyer OITE depart Truk for Japan escorting damaged light cruiser AGANO running on only two of her four screws.

16 February 1944:
160 miles N of Truk. At 1644, LtCdr William P. Gruner, on his first war patrol as skipper of USS SKATE (SS-305), torpedoes AGANO and sets her afire. Between 2000 and 2330, OITE rescues 461 survivors and CH-28 rescues 125 men.

17 February 1944:
At 0517, the AGANO sinks at 10-11N, 151-42 E.

22 February 1944:
CH-28 departs Truk escorting CHOUN MARU and KOKUKU MARU to Mortlock Island.

10 March 1944:
At 0528, CH-28, CH-31 and auxiliary minesweepers No. 2 FUMI MARU and SEKI MARU depart Saipan for Truk escorting convoy 3310 consisting of TOYOKAWA and SEITON MARUs. After departure, the convoy's destination is changed to Palau.

15 March 1944:
Arrives at Palau.

26 April 1944:
SubChasDiv 32 is disbanded.

May 1944:
Arrives at Maizuru. Undergoes repairs.

3 July 1944:
At 2000, CH-28 departs Moji with with destroyer HARUKAZE and kaibokan CD-11, CD-20, CD-26 and CD-28 escorting convoy MOMA-01 consisting of KASHII, TAMATSU, TOZAN, NISSHO, MAYASAN, MIZUHO and NICHIRAN MARUs. The convoy is transporting the IJA's 5th Field Heavy Artillery and 58th Independent Mixed Brigade.

7 July 1944:
Formosa Straits. Convoy MOMA-01 is ordered to turn back to Keelung, Formosa.

9 July 1944:
Departs Keelung escorting MOMA-01. ARABIA MARU may have joined the convoy at this point.

12 July 1944:
Bashi Strait. At 0330, LtCdr Walter P. Schoeni's APOGON (SS-308) fires a full bow spread of torpedoes MAYASAN MARU. Schoeni fails to damage her, but APOGON is rammed during the attack. At 0720, LtCdr Harold E. Rubles' USS PIRANHA (SS- 389) torpedoes and sinks NICHIRAN MARU at 18-50N, 122-40E. KASHII MARU rescues survivors, but 1262 troops are KIA. The convoy seeks shelter in Aparri Harbor, Philippines.

13 July 1944:
At 0800, departs Aparri.

15 July 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Manila.

25 August 1944:
At 1650, CH-28 departs Manila escorting convoy HI-71 consisting of AZUSA, KYOKUTO, HOKKAI, ZUIHO, KYOKUHO and AWA MARUs also escorted by destroyer FUJINAMI, frigates HIRADO, KURAHASHI and MIKURA and CD-11. At 1845, KYOKUHO MARU develops engine trouble and drops behind escorted by FUJINAMI. Later, they catch up with the convoy.

1 September 1944:
At 1356, arrives at Singapore.

5 September 1944:
At 1900, convoy TAMA-25 departs Takao for Manila consisting of KOGYO, EIJI, MANSHU, EIMAN, ATSUTA, SHOKOKU, NANREI, ROZAN, EIMAN, TOYOOKA and HOKUSEN MARUs escorted by destroyers HATSUHARU, HIBIKI, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-7, CD-8, minesweeper W-20, subchaser CH-63, torpedo-boat HIYODORI and auxiliary subchaser CHa-67. The convoy is carrying reinforcements, equipment and ammunition for the defense of the Philippine Islands.

6 September 1944:
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.

At 2050, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: "Am having personnel rescued [from EIJI MARU] by Coast Defense Ship #28 transferred to HATSUHARU and HATSUHARU return to Takao as escort ship for HIBIKI. There are about 500 rescued survivors aboard HIBIKI."

9 September 1944:
At 0722, CH-28, CH-30 and CH-33 depart Miri, Borneo escorting a convoy consisting of KYOKUTO and KYOKUHO MARUs also escorted by destroyer SATSUKI. about 30 minutes after leaving port, KYOKUHO MARU suffers engine problems and returns to Miri. At 1117, CH-28 also reverses course and heads back to Miri.

6 October 1944:
At 0618, CH-28, CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41 depart N San Fernando as part of escort of combined MATA-28 and MIMA-11 convoys consisting of KOHOKU, HOKUREI, BUNZAN, SHOEI, 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-8, CD-32 and CD-25, and minesweeper W-20.

At about 0800, LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's 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, LtCdr William C. Thompson's USS CABRILLA (SS-288) torpedoes HOKUREI MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2. YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 sinks. 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 TERUKUN and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8. CH-30 and CH-31 probably remain behind at Lapoc Bay. At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI accompanied by kaibokan CD-8 split off and forge ahead.

9 October 1944:
At 0142, Cdr Alan B. Banister's 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 at 19-33N, 116-38E. CD-8 rescues survivors. KAMOI is detached and proceeds to Hong Kong. At 1600, the rest of convoy MATA-28 is diverted from Takao to Hong Kong.

10 October 1944:
At 0600, convoy MOMA-05 departs Moji for Imari Bay consisting of TAIHAKU, KOMEI, TENSHO, TAISHO, TATSUURA, TAIYO, ESAHI, DORYU, PACIFIC, AOKI and SUGIYAMA MARUs and an unidentified ship. The escort, if any, on this leg is unclear. The convoy is carrying about 10,000 reinforcements for the Philippines.

16 October 1944:
At 1820, convoy MOMA-05 departs Imari Bay escorted by CH-28, CH-17, CH-18, CH-23 and kaibolan KASADO.

21 October 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Takao, Formosa.

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.

November 1944:
Reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet. Escorts convoys between Formosa and the Philippines.

30 November 1944:
At 0900, CH-28, kaibokans IKUNA, KANJU, SHINNAN, CD-41, CD-66, destroyer ASAGAO and auxiliary subchaser CHa-223 depart Moji escorting a convoy consisting of CLYDE, BRAZIL, MEIRYU, HAWAII, ENOURA, TAII, KAMOI, ENGEN, ENCHO, AKIKAWA, KONAN and WAHOO MARUs and HOSHI MARU No. 11 and KONAN MARU No. 1.

2 December 1944:
At 0400, LtCdr Ralph C. Styles' USS SEA DEVIL (SS-400) torpedoes HAWAII MARU. Her cargo of ammunition and gasoline explodes and she sinks immediately carring down all 1,843 troops aboard. About 0430, Styles attacks AKIKAWA MARU, hitting her with two torpedoes. At 0607, she sinks claiming about 300 lives. The convoy dissolves at sea with its ships making for various ports in the Ryukyus and Formosa.

1 February 1945:
Luzon Strait, Balintang Channel. CH-28 is escorting landing ship T-115 when they are attacked by USAAF North American P-51 "Mustang" fighters. Both CH-28 and T-115 are sunk at 20-00N, 121-00E.

30 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors' notes:
[1] The following month, Captain Lanphier is credited with downing Admiral Yamamoto's GM4 "Betty" over Bougainville. Later, the kill is also credited to Captain Rex T. Barber.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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