KUSENTEI!

© 2005-2016 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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1941:
Harima. Laid down at the Harima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co.'s yard.

10 December 1941:
Launched and numbered CH-29.

30 April 1942:
Completed and registered in the Maizuru Naval District. Assigned directly to the Combined Fleet and attached to SubChasDiv 32.

4 May 1942:
100 miles S of Guadalcanal. Task Force 17's Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher (USNA ’06) receives a signal that IJN transports are disembarking troops and equipment at Tulagi. At 0701, USS YORKTOWN launches her first surprise strike on Shima's Invasion Force. The strike consists of 18 Grumman F4F-3 "Wildcats" fighters of VF-42, 12 Grumman TBD-1 “Devastator” torpedo-bombers of VT-5 and 28 Douglas SBD-3 “Dauntless” dive-bombers from VS-5 and BY-5.

Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomons. Minelayer OKINOSHIMA is moored alongside destroyer KIKUZUKI. TBDs torpedo and sink KIKUZUKI with the loss of 12 sailors. The auxiliary minesweepers Wa-1 and Wa-2 and four barges are also sunk. YORKTOWN's planes also damage destroyer YUZUKI, transport AZUMASAN MARU, cargo ship KOEI MARU and five floatplanes. TAMA MARU is damaged and sinks two days later (unknown casualties). YUZUKI is strafed.

OKINOSHIMA is damaged by near misses. Later, she is towed by KINRYU MARU to Rabaul where she undergoes repairs.

1 July 1942:
CH-28, CH-29 and CH-30 depart Lae.

3 July 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

14 July 1942:
Reassigned to Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's newly organized 8th Fleet with the 7th Base Force's SubChasDiv 32 at Lae, New Guinea.

20 July 1942: Operation "RI" - The Invasion of Buna, New Guinea:
At 2000, CH-29 departs Rabaul for Buna with CH-28 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.

1 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

8 August 1942:
Departs Rabaul.

15 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

18 August 1942:
Departs Rabaul with CH-28.

19 August 1942:
Arrives back at Rabaul with CH-28 and departs later that day with CH-28 and CH-30.

25 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

26 August 1942:
Departs Rabaul.

31 August 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

October 1942:
Reassigned to the 1st Base Force. Arrives at Shortland, Bougainville. Thereafter, engages in convoy escort and patrol duties.

5 November 1942:
At 0930 arrives at Shortland after patrolling the southern approaches since at least 1 November 1942.

6 November 1942:
Departs Shortland on an escort mission.

9 November 1942:
At 0526 arrives at Rabaul.

11 November 1942:
At 1010 departs Rabaul on an escort mission.

12 November 1942:
At 1418 arrives at Shortland.

13 November 1942:
At 0454 departs Shortland on an escort mission. At 1723 arrives back at Shortland.

15 November 1942:
At 0548 departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

18 November 1942:
At 1108 arrives back at Shortland.

19 November 1942:
At 0730 departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

20 November 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Shortland.

21 November 1942:
At 0808 departs Shortland and conducts an anti submarine sweep and then patrols the southern approaches.

24 November 1942:
At 1058 arrives back at Shortland.

25 November 1942:
At 0730 departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

26 November 1942:
At 1526 arrives at Shortland.

28 November 1942:
At 0600 departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

1 December 1942:
At 0629 arrives at Shortland.

2 December 1942:
At 0720 departs Shortland and patrols the northern approaches

10 December 1942:
At 1715 arrives at Shortland.

11 December 1942:
At 1556 departs Shortland on an escort mission.

13 December 1942:
At 1650 arrives at Rabaul.

16 December 1942:
At 1655, CH-29 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of IJA passenger-cargo ship BANDOENG and SORACHI MARUs.

17 December 1942:
15 miles NW of Cape Henpan, Buka Island, Bougainville. At 1150, at 04-54S, 154-17E, LtCdr (later Cdr) Rob R. McGregor's (USNA ’29) USS GROUPER (SS-214) sinks BANDOENG MARU (13 crewmen KIA) that was steaming for the Solomon Islands loaded with troop reinforcements. CH-29 carries out an unsuccessful counterattack.

18 December 1942:
At 1534, arrives at Shortland Harbor.

20 December 1942:
At 0541 departs Shortland and patrols the western approaches.

24 December 1942:
At 0855 arrives at Shortland.

25 December 1942:
At 0705 departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

4 January 1943:
Arrives back at Shortland.

6 January 1943:
At 1730 departs Shortland on a transport mission.

8 January 1943:
At 0410 arrives at Rabaul.

12 January 1943:
Departs Rabaul on an escort mission, possibly of transport YAMAFUKU MARU.

14 January 1943:
Off Shortland breaks off and patrols the southern approaches.

26 January 1943:
Arrives back at Shortland but departs later that day and resumes patrols of the southern approaches.

5 February 1943:
Arrives back at Shortland.

6 February 1943:
At 1730 departs Shortland on an escort mission.

8 February 1943:
At 1430 arrives at Rabaul.

11 February 1943:
Departs Rabaul on an escort mission.

13 February 1943:
At 0830 arrives at Shortland.

14 February 1943:
Departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

16 February 1943:
Arrives back at Shortland.

18 February 1943:
At 1100 departs Shortland on an escort mission.

19 February 1943:
At 1943 takes over escort of another convoy.

20 February 1943:
At 0800 arrives off Shortland and commences patrols off the northern approaches.

6 March 1943:
At 1530 arrives back at Shortland.

8 March 1943:
At 1730 departs Shortland escorting TOYU MARU.

10 March 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Rabaul.

14 March 1943:
At 1600 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy.

16 March 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Shortland.

17 March 1943:
Departs Shortland and patrols the western approaches.

19 March 1943:
At 1400 breaks off patrols and joins with CH-30 escorting a convoy consisting of KUREHA MARU No.3 and SHINSEI MARU.

20 March 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Rabaul. Then departs and resumes patrolling the western approaches.

28 March 1943:
At 1620 changes patrol location.

29 March 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Shortland. At 1407 departs Shortland and patrols the southern approaches.

31 March 1943:
Begins escorting auxiliary seaplane carrier KUNIKAWA MARU.

1 April 1943:
At 1200 detaches from KUNIKAWA MARU.

3 April 1943:
At 0500 arrives at Rabaul.

9 April 1943:
At 1100, CH-29 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of TOMIOKA and KISARAGI MARUs.

11 April 1943:
At 0730, arrives at Shortland.

12 April 1943:
Departs Shortland and patrols off the western approaches.

13 April 1943:
At 0700 arrives back at Shortland.

18 April 1943:
At 1435, CH-29 and CH-30 depart Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of KYOSEI, KISARAGI, KARIMO and TOMIOKA MARUs and KOSOKU MARU No. 3.

20 April 1943:
At 0200, arrives at Rabaul.

25 April 1943:
At 1400, CH-29 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of KASHI, HEIWA and SUMIYOSHI MARUs and KOSOKU MARU No. 3.

27 April 1943:
SUMIYOSHI MARU is detached at Buka. At 0800, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Shortland.

29 April 1943:
At 0300 departs shortland to meet up with UJIGAWA MARU, and the two ships arrive at Shortland at 0530.

30 April 1943:
CH-29 departs Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of KAISHU, UJIGAWA, HEIWA MARUs and KOSOKU MARU No. 3.

May 1943:
Reassigned to the 4th Base Force at Truk.

2 May 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Rabaul.

6 May 1943:
At 1700 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of NISSEN MARU No. 5 and HEIWA MARU.

8 May 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Shortland.

12 May 1943:
At 0340 departs Shortland and meets up with incoming KYOSEI MARU, arriving back at Shortland at 0600. At 1700 departs with CH-30 and meets up and escorts KISARAGI MARU.

13 May 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Shortland.

14 May 1943:
At 1200 departs Shortland escorting KISARAGI MARU that is bound for Kolmbangara.

15 May 1943:
At 0400 arrives at Shortland.

16 May 1943:
Departs Shortland on an escort mission.

17 May 1943:
At 0600 arrives back at Shortland.

18 May 1943:
At 1600 departs Shortland escorting KISARAGI MARU.

19 May 1943:
At 0200 arrives at Rabaul.

25 May 1943:
At 0545 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of KAISHU and KASHI MARUs.

27 May 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Shortland.

28 May 1943:
At 1300 departs Shortland escorting KASHI MARU to Kolombangara as far as Horaniu.

29 May 1943:
At 0700 arrives back at Shortland.

30 May 1943:
At 1430 departs Shortland escorting SHINSEI MARU No.18.

1 June 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Rabaul.

3 June 1943:
At 1300, CH-29 and CH-12 depart Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of MITSU MARU No. 3, KOSHU MARU No. 2, TAKUEI and SHINTOKU MARUs.

5 June 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Shortland. At 1218 departs with CH-12 on an escort mission escorting an unknown vessel.

6 June 1943:
At 1400 arrives back at Shortland.

7 June 1943:
At 1530, CH-29 and CH-12 depart Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of KOSHU MARU No. 2 and KASHI, TAKUNAN and KISARAGI MARUs.

9 June 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Rabaul.

19 June 1943:
At 1440 departs Kavieng on an escort mission.

25 June 1943:
At 0915 arrives at Truk and transfers to Truk Base command.

4 July 1943:
At 1640 departs Truk on an escort mission to Nauru.

10 July 1943:
At 0330 arrives at Nauru. Later that day at 1700 departs Nauru on an escort mission to Kwajalein.

19 July 1943:
50 miles S of Wake Island. LtCdr (later Cdr) Carter L. Bennett's (USNA ’33) old USS PORPOISE (SS-172) attacks and sinks transport MIKAGE MARU No. 20 at 18-45N, 166-04E. Three crewmen are KIA. The transport was engaged in reinforcing Tarawa. SubChasDiv 32's CH-29, CH-28 and CH-30 counterattack USS PORPOISE unsuccessfully. Bennett evades and slips away.

21 July 1943:
At 1700 arrives at Kwajalein.

25 July 1943:
At 0500 departs Kwajalein escorting MIKAGE MARU No. 18 and transfers to nearby Roi (Ruotto), arriving there at 0900.

31 July 1943:
At 0600 departs Roi on an escort mission.

5 August 1943:
Arrives at Wake Island and departs later that day on an escort mission to Truk.

11 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

13 August 1943:
CH-29 and CH-33 depart Truk escorting convoy No. 1133 consisting of TOKYO and TOYU MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.

17 August 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.

18 August 1943:
CH-29 and CH-33 depart Rabaul escorting convoy No. 2194 connsisting of the tanker GENYO MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.

23 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

25 August 1943:
Begins to undergo repairs at Truk.

9 September 1943:
At 0630, CH-29 departs Truk by the South Channel escorting a convoy consisting of fleet oiler TSURUMI, KYOEI MARU and cargo ship TAIKOKU MARU. The vessel then steams to Palau, then Balikpapan via Tarakan, Borneo.

14 September 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

16 September 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy No. 8162 escorting fleet oiler NOTORO and tanker KENYO MARU.

21 September 1943:
At 0000, CH-29 escorting fleet oiler NOTORO arrives at the S Channel, Truk.

Later that day NOTORO departs Truk for Japan in a convoy 4920 that includes SHINYUBARI MARU escorted by destroyer OITE and auxiliary submarine chaser TAKUNAN MARU. About 2300 that same day W of Truk, in a radar attack on the surface, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy M. Davenport’s USS HADDOCK (SS-231) fires a spread of six bow torpedoes. One hits and damages NOTORO. She makes for Truk and is assisted by CH-29.

23 September 1943:
Departs Truk escorting convoy 5231 consisting of MOMOKAWA MARU to Kwajalein.

28 September 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein.

1 October 1943:
Departs Kwajalein escorting convoy No. 6011 consisting of SHOEI MARU.

6 October 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

11 October 1943:
CH-28 and CH-29 depart Truk on an anti submarine sweep.

21 October 1943:
Arrives back at Truk.

23 October 1943:
CH-29 and CH-30 and auxiliary sub-chaser SHONAN MARU No. 11 depart Truk escorting convoy No. 5233 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships on an escort mission to Ponape (and from there for the ships to sail on to Kwajalein).

25 October 1943:
CH-29 and CH-30 arrive back at Truk.

26 October 1943:
CH-29 and CH-30 depart Truk on an escort mission to Kwajalein.

31 October 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein. Later CH-29 departs Kwajalein on an escort mission.

4 November 1943:
Meets up with light cruiser KASHIMA and destroyer YUZUKI.

8 November 1943:
At 0800, CH-29 escorts light cruiser KASHIMA and destroyer YUZUKI into Truk via the North Channel.

10 November 1943:
At 1500, CH-29 and CH-30 depart Truk via the South Channel escorting AWA MARU to Rabaul.

15 November 1943:
CH-29 and CH-30 depart Rabaul escorting convoy 2152 consisting of ex-auxiliary submarine depot ships HIE and NAGOYA MARUs.

16 November 1943:
Transport TAMASHIMA MARU departs Kavieng and joins at some point convoy No. 2152.

17 November 1943:
385 miles SW of Truk. At 1245, HIE MARU is torpedoed in a submerged attack by LtCdr Delbert F. Williamson's (USNA ’27) USS DRUM (SS-228). CH-29 and CH-30 counter-attack, but DRUM escapes. HIE MARU sinks taking down her CO, Captain (Rear Admiral posthumously) Harada Bunichi (35).

19 November 1943:
Convoy 2152 arrives at Truk.

20 November 1943:
CH-29 departs on an escort mission.

24 November 1943:
CH-29 and CH-31 and destroyer URAKAZE arrive at Truk's South Channel escorting a convoy of four unidentified ships.

27 November 1943:
At 1800, CH-29 arrives at Truk's South Channel escorting SUMIYOSHI MARU.

1 December 1943:
At 0700, CH-29, CH-16, CH-20 and CH-40 depart Truk escorting convoy 1013 consisting of KEIYO, NAGOYA and YAMAKUNI MARUs.

5 December 1943:
At 1510, arrives at Rabaul.

6 December 1943:
At midnight, CH-29 and CH-33 depart Rabaul escorting convoy 2063 consisting of HAKUSAN, KOKAI and TETSUYO MARUs.

9 December 1943:
At 0945, TETSUYO MARU develops engine trouble and falls behind. CH-33 is detached to escort.

10 December 1943:
At 0650, the convoy arrives at Truk.

14 December 1943:
At 1220, CH-29 departs Truk escorting convoy 5142 consisting of KENSHO and SHOEI MARUs.

19 December 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Kwajalein. At 2244, SHOEI MARU is hit and badly damaged in a major air attack on Kwajalein.

20 December 1943:
SHOEI MARU sinks with the loss of five crewmen. Later that day, in another attack, KENSHO MARU is hit and badly damaged.

24 December 1943:
Departs Kwajalein with auxiliary submarine chasers SHONAN MARU No. 3, SHONAN MARU No. 11 and KYO MARU No. 7 escorting convoy No. 6242 consisting of MIKAGE MARU No. 18 and TATEBE MARU towing the damaged aircraft transport FUJIKAWA MARU.

31 December 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Truk.

1 January 1944:
SW of Truk, Carolines. At 2345, LtCdr Cyrus C. Cole's (USNA ’35) USS BALAO (SS-285) fires six bow torpedoes at armed merchant cruiser KIYOSUMI MARU at 04-35N, 147-15E. Three hit and disable the ship and flood her forward hold. Light cruiser NAKA arrives from Truk the same day and takes KIYOSUMI MARU under tow.

2 January 1944:
CH-29 and destroyer TANIKAZE depart Truk to assist the NAKA in towing KIYOSUMI MARU to Truk. Light cruiser OYODO and destroyer AKIZUKI also arrive and provide escort.

4 January 1944:
OYODO and AKIZUKI detach and return to Truk.

8 January 1944:
KIYOSUMI MARU and attending vessels arrive at Truk.

11 January 1944:
At 0500, CH-29 and destroyer SHIRATSUYU and kaibokan HIRADO depart Truk escorting convoy 4111 consisting of HAKUSAN, HAKOZAKI, KIMISHIMA and MITAKESAN MARUs.

21 January 1944:
At 1630, arrives at Yokosuka.

31 January 1944:
CH-29, auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and CHa-64 and auxiliary minesweeper KEINAN MARU depart Yokosuka escorting convoy 3131 consisting of SANKISAN, ZUIKAI, RYUKO and TAIHO MARUs. At some point in February the convoy is reinforced at an unknown location by submarine chasers CH-24 and CH-32

3 February 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.

4 February 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima.

13 February 1944:
Arrives at Truk.

15 February 1944:
Leaves Truk on a short escort mission.

17 February 1944: American Operation "Hailstone" - The Attack on Truk:
At 0531 (I), CH-29 is ordered to rendezvous with convoy 3206 then at sea. Shortly thereafter, Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s Task Force 58's five fleet carriers and four light carriers, supported by six battleships, ten cruisers and 28 destroyers, launch air attacks on airfields, shore installations and ships in the lagoon. Mitscher launches 30 strikes of at least 150 aircraft each. The strikes are launched about every hour for two days.

18 February 1944:
CH-29 is attacked and sunk at 07-25N, 151-45E during TF 58's attacks on Truk, but the exact time of her demise is unknown.

Task Force 58 sinks 31 transports and 10 naval vessels (two cruisers, four destroyers and four auxiliary vessels), destroys nearly 200 aircraft and damages severely about 100 more. Truk is eliminated as a major fleet anchorage for the IJN.

30 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

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-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.

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