KUSENTEI!

© 2005-2008 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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1941:
Tamano. Laid down at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding.

30 January 1942:
Launched and numbered CH-30.

13 May 1942:
Completed. Registered in the Yokosuka Naval District. Assigned directly to the Combined Fleet. Attached to Subchaser Div 32.

June 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

8 July 1942:
30 miles W of Rabaul. CH-30 is escorting TENZAN MARU when LtCdr James R. Reynold’s USS S-37 (SS-142) torpedoes and sinks the transport at 04-00S, 151-50E. CH-30 depth-charges S-37, but without success.

14 July 1942:
Reassigned to the 1st Base Force.

July 1942:
Arrives at Shortland, Bougainville. Conducts patrols and escorts convoys.

6 August 1942:
CH-30 and CH-23 depart Rabaul for Buna with CruDiv 18's light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU, destroyers YUZUKI and UZUKI escorting transports KINAI, KANYO and NANKAI MARUs carrying the 15th Base Force.

7 August 1942: American Operation "Watchtower" - The Invasion of Guadalcanal, British Solomons:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K. Turner's Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher's Task Force 61 and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task Force 63's land-based aircraft, lands MajGen (later Gen/MOH/Commandant) Alexander A. Vandegrift's 1st Marine Division on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and Guadalcanal opening the campaign to take the island.

12 August 1942:
CH-30 and CH-23 depart Rabaul for Basabua, New Guinea with CruDiv 18's light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU, destroyers YUZUKI and UZUKI escorting transports KINAI and NANKAI MARUs carrying elements of the 14th and 15th Base Forces and 70-tons of supplies.

13 August 1942:
Arrives at Basabua.

18 April 1943:
At 1435, CH-30 and CH-29 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.

22 April 1943:
At 1435, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of UJIGAWA, TAKUEI and YOSHIHIME MARUs and WAKAMATSU MARU No. 1.

24 April 1943:
At 0930, arrives at Shortland.

May 1943:
Truk. Assigned to the 4th Base Force.

1 May 1943:
At noon, CH-30 departs Shortland for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of SHINTOKU, TAKUEI and SUMIYOSHI MARUs.

3 May 1943:
At 0520, arrives at Rabaul.

7 May 1943:
At 1600, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of TAKUEI and KARIMO MARUs.

9 May 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Shortland.

12 May 1943:
At 1700, CH-30 departs Shortland for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of HEIWA, TAKUEI, KARIMO and KISARAGI MARUs and KUREHA MARU No. 3.

14 May 1943:
At 0545, arrives at Rabaul.

15 May 1943:
At 1600, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of SUMIYOSHI, KYOSEI and SHINTOKU MARUs and WAKAMATSU MARU No. 1. Enroute, SUMIYOSHI MARU and WAKAMATSU MARU No. 1 are detached for Buka Island, N of Bougainville.

17 May 1943:
At 1030, arrives at Shortland.

20 May 1943:
At 1700, CH-30 departs Shortland for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of SHINTOKU, SUMIYOSHI, KYOSEI and ATSU MARUs.

22 May 1943:
At 0545, arrives at Rabaul.

5 June 1943:
At 1720, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of SHINSEI MARU and KUREHA MARU No. 3 and MITSU MARU No. 3.

7 June 1943:
At 0930, arrives at Shortland.

18 June 1943:
At noon, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of SUMIYOSHI, KISARAGI and KAISHU MARUs and NISSEN MARU No. 3.

20 June 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Shortland. At 1700, departs for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of YOSHINO MARU and MIKAGE MARU No. 2

22 June 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Rabaul.

24 June 1943:
At 1430, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of KOSHU MARU No. 2, RYOYU MARU No. 21 and MITSU MARU No. 3.

25 June 1943:
At 1900, arrives at Buka.

26 June 1943:
At noon, departs Buka.

27 June 1943:
Arrives at Shortland.

30 June 1943:
CH-30 departs Shortland for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of TAKUEI and KARIMO MARUs.

2 July 1943:
At 0930, arrives at Rabaul.

3 July 1943:
At 1100, CH-30 departs Rabaul for Shortland escorting a convoy consisting of YOSHINO MARU and KIRI MARU No. 2 and five unidentified fishing boats.

5 July 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Shortland.

14 July 1943:
At 1800, CH-30 departs Shortland for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of KYOSEI MARU and KOSHU MARU No. 2.

16 July 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Rabaul.

26 July 1943:
At 0500, departs Rabaul for Saipan with torpedo boat OTORI escorting convoy No. 2262 consisting of NARUTO and KEISHO MARUs.

29 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

3 August 1943:
At about 1700, arrives at Saipan.

5 September 1943:
CH-30 and CH-32 depart Truk probably for Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of YAMAFUKU, SHOUN, SAN FRANCISCO, KYOWA and CHIYO MARUs.

17 September 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Truk with CHOKO MARU.

September 1943:
CH-30 departs Truk to meet an inbound convoy from Rabaul consisting of KOSEI and CHIYO MARUs escorted by destroyer TACHIKAZE and auxiliary subchasers CHa-9, CHa-16, CHa-17 and CHa-31.

21 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

27 September 1943:
At 0600, CH-30 departs Rabaul with auxiliary subchaser CHa-12 escorting convoy No. 2272 consisting of OKITSU, TATSUURA, TAKUNAN MARUs and fleet supply ship SOYA.

28 September 1943:
TAKUNAN MARU has engine trouble and straggles from the convoy.

29 September 1943:
TAKUNAN MARU rejoins convoy.

30 September 1943:
At 0530, TATSUURA MARU loses power and is left behind with CHa-12 in attendance.

1 October 1943:
At 1200, both TATSUURA MARU and CHa-12 rejoin convoy

2 October 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Truk.

9 October 1943:
At 1800, CH-30 departs Truk for Rabaul escorting convoy No. 1092 consisting of OKITSU and TENNAN MARUs.

13 October 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.

1 November 1943:
At 1000, CH-30 and CH-29 depart Kwajalein escorting convoy No. 6011 consisting of SHOTAN MARU.

7 November 1943:
At 0600, arrives at Truk.

10 November 1943: BR> At 1500, CH-30 and CH-29 depart Truk for Rabaul via the South Channel escorting SUWA MARU.

15 November 1943:
CH-30 and CH-29 depart Rabaul for Truk escorting convoy No. 2152 consisting of NAGOYA MARU, auxiliary submarine depot ship HIE MARU and transport TAMASHIMA MARU.

17 November 1943:
385 miles SW of Truk. At 1245, HIE MARU is torpedoed in hold No. 3 in a submerged attack by LtCdr Delbert F. Williamson’s USS DRUM (SS-228) at 01-45N, 148-45E. The escorts mount a heavy counter-attack that almost sinks DRUM. Depth-charges knock paint off her bulkheads, but DRUM slips away. HIE MARU sinks about 1730.

19 November 1943:
Convoy No. 2152 arrives at Truk.

23 November 1943:
At 1400, CH-30 departs Truk with cable ship TATEISHI escorting convoy No. 5233 consisting of CHOKO, NIPPO MARUs and NANKAI MARU No. 2. [1]

1 December 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Kwajalein less NIPPO MARU that detached for Ponape.

4 December 1943:
At 0700, CH-30 departs Kwajalein escorting convoy No. 6042 consisting of KENSHIN and KITAKAMI (HOKUJO) MARUs.

9 December 1943:
At 1530, arrives at Truk.

15 December 1943:
At 1100, CH-30 and CH-31 depart Truk escorting convoy No. 1152 consisting of JUZAN and HARUNA MARUs.

20 December 1943:
At 1500, arrives at Rabaul.

28 December 1943:
At 1500, CH-30 and CH-31 depart Truk for Kwajalein escorting convoy No. 5282 consisting of SHOHO and KITAKAMI (HOKUJO) MARUs.

31 December 1943:
Eastern Carolines. At about noon, LtCdr James D. Grant's USS GREENLING (SS-213) torpedoes and sinks transport SHOHO MARU at 05-18N, 160-20E. GREENLING evades counterattacks by CH-30.

1 January 1944:
At 0940, arrives at Kusaie.

2 January 1944:
At 0745, departs Kusaie.

4 January 1944:
Arrives at Kwajalein.

20 January 1944:
CH-30 departs Truk for Palau with destroyer HAMANAMI, CH-24, CH-33 and CH-39 escorting a convoy consisting of tankers OGURA MARU No. 3 and KYOEI MARU.

26 January 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Palau. 7 February 1944 Arrives at Truk from Palau escorting fleet oiler SATA.

12 February 1944:
Departs Truk with destroyer HAMANAMI and auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 2 and SHONAN MARU No. 5 escorting convoy No. 7125 consisting of fleet oiler SATA, tanker HISHI MARU No. 2, ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU and cargo ships KAMIKAZE and KITAGAMI MARUs.

17 February 1944:
150 miles NE of Palau. At about 2200, LtCdr Philip W. Garnett's USS SARGO (SS-188) intercepts the convoy. He fires eight torpedoes at SATA by moonlight in a surface attack at 08-50N, 135-50E. Garnett gets one hit and disables the oiler. At 2206, he fires two torpedoes that hit ammunition ship NICHIRO MARU. She explodes and sinks immediately.

29 March 1944: CH-30 departs Palau with destroyers MINAZUKI, YUZUKI, auxiliary subchasers KYO MARU No. 7 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 2 escorting a convoy consisting of ammunition ship ARATAMA MURU and MATSUE, KYOEI, KIZUGAWA MARUs and an unidentified ship.

5 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.

7 April 1944:
Departs Saipan with destroyers MINAZUKI, YUZUKI and ASAKAZE, auxiliary subchasers KYO MARU No. 7 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 2 escorting a convoy consisting of ammunition ship ARATAMA MURU and MATSUE and KIZUGAWA MARUs.

8 April 1944:
Marianas, near Guam. LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cuter’s USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) intercepts the convoy. After nightfall, Cuter fires four torpedoes at overlapping targets, damaging ammunition ship ARATAMA MARU. A cargo of gasoline catches fires. The explosion also damages destroyer ASAKAZE. Shortly thereafter, SEAHORSE’s second spread of torpedoes damages cargo ship, KIZUGAWA MARU at 13-16N, 145-11E. A counter-attack by CH-30 and destroyer MINAZUKI proves unsuccessful, but drives SEAHORSE from the vicinity. MINAZUKI tows KIZUGAWA MARU to Guam.

Abandoned by its crew, burning ARATAMA MARU drifts for three days before ending up in Talafofo Bay. Guam and settling on the shallow reef shelf.

20 May 1944:
At 1800, CH-30 departs Saipan with kaibokan OKI and NOMI escorting convoy "Higashi Matsu No. 8" consisting of MANJU, TOSAN and NOTO MARUs,

26 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokyo. Undergoes repairs at Yokosuka.

July 1944:
Departs Yokosuka. Reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet.

11 August 1944:
At 2100, CH-30 and CH-33 depart Manila for Miri, Borneo with kaibokan CD-14 and patrol boat PB-38 escorting convoy MI-13 consisting of tankers SHINCHO, TEIKON, TOKUWA, KYOEI, ATAGO, SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 2 and cargo ships HIYORI, URAL, KOKUSEI, HIGANE, RISSHUN and SHOEI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1.

12 August 1944:
At 0730, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s USS PUFFER (SS-268) attacks the convoy. Selby torpedoes and damages SHIMPO MARU. She is taken under tow by SHOEI and KYOEI MARUs and beached, then abandoned. Selby also torpedoes and sinks TEIKON MARU.

CH-30 and CH-33 escort the convoy to Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro, Philippines. Meanwhile, kaibokan CD-14 and patrol boat PB-38 counter-attack PUFFER with 37 depth charges, but Selby slips away with PUFFER unscathed.

14 August 1944:
At 0700, the convoy departs Paluan Bay. [2]

16 August 1944:
At 0700, CH-30, CH-33 and CH-41 depart Miri, Borneo with kaibokan SHIMUSHU, CD-16, CD-28, minesweeper W-7 escorting convoy MI-12 consisting of NORFOLK, UGA, KINRYU, GYOKUYO or possibly OYO, JUNGEN GO and GYOSAN MARUs, unknown KAITO MARU and tankers ZUIYO, TAIEI, TAKETOYO, SEISHIN and NANSEI MARUs.

17 August 1944:
GYOSAN MARU is detached.

18 August 1944:
At 1352, LtCdr William T. Kinsella's USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks NANSEI MARU at 08-39N, 116-39E. The convoy is ordered to seek shelter.

20 August 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro, Philippines.

21 August 1944:
At 0556, CH-30 and the convoy depart Paluan Bay. Soon thereafter, CD-28 attacks an enemy submarine contact. At 0720, a wolfpack consisting of USS GUITARRO (SS-363), HADDO (SS-255), HARDER (SS-257), RAY and MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) make the first of a series of successful attacks. Kinsella's RAY torpedoes and sinks TAKETOYO MARU at 13-23N 120-19E.

At 0730, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Chester W. Nimitz' HADDO torpedoes and sinks NORFOLK MARU in the same position. At 0800, Nimitz torpedoes and sinks KINRYU MARU, and at 0825, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins GUITARRO torpedoes and sinks UGA MARU, both at 13-27N 120-17E.

22 August 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Manila.

6 September 1944:
At 0748, CH-30 and CH-33 depart Singapore with destroyer SATSUKI escorting a convoy consisting of fleet oiler KAMOI and oilers KYOKUTO and OKIGAWA MARUs .

8 September 1944:
At 1030, CH-30 and OKIGAWA MARU steam ahead for Miri, Borneo. At 1858, the rest of the convoy arrives at Miri.

9 September 1944:
At 0722, CH-30 departs Miri with destroyer SATSUKI and subchasers CH-28 and CH-33 escorting a convoy consisting of tankers KYOKUHO and KYOKUTO MARUs. Shortly after leaving port, KYOKUHO MARU has engine problems and returns. At 1117, CH-28 also returns to port. At 1903, the convoy anchors at Brunei Bay, Borneo.

10 September 1944:
Departs Brunei Bay.

11 September 1944:
At 1947, arrives at Culasian Bay.

12 September 1944:
At 0640, departs Culasian Bay. At 1842, arrives at Boayan Island anchorage. With a carrier attack expected on Manila, the convoy anchors and waits.

19 September 1944:
At 0652, departs Boayan Island. At 1845, arrives at Talampulan Island.

20 September 1944:
At 0617, departs Talampulan Island. At 2122, arrives at Manila.

6 October 1944:
At 0618, CH-30 departs N San Fernando, Philippines as part of the escort of combined convoys MATA-28 and MIMA-11 consisting of KOHOKU, HOKUREI, BUNZAN, SHOEI, HOKUSEN, TERUKUNI, HISHIGATA and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 with fleet oiler KAMOI and tankers TACHIBANA MARU and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2 escorted by kaibokan CD-8, CD-25, CD-32, minesweeper W-20 and subchasers CH-28, CH-33 and CH-41.

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 for Yulin, Hainan Island, except for TERUKUNI and OMINE MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8. At 0600, TACHIBANA MARU and KAMOI accompanied by kaibokan CD-8 and probably CH-28 are detached.

9 October 1944:
Air raids on Takao are considered imminent. At 1600, the convoy is ordered to Hong Kong and departs soon thereafter.

11 October 1944:
At 1013, the convoy arrives Hong Kong.

27 October 1944:
At 1958, CH-30 departs Hong Kong with minesweeper W-20, subchaser CH 33 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-41 escorting convoy HOMA-01 consisting of HAMBURG, YASUKUNI, EIWA, SHINETSU and KANSHU MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 18.

30 October 1944:
At 1358, convoy HOMA-01 arrives at Takao except for SHINETSU MARU and CH-3 which arrive later that day.

4 December 1944:
At 0800, CH-30 and CH-31 depart Singapore for Manila with kaibokan CD-43 and patrol boat PB-103 (Ex-USS FINCH, AM-9) escorting convoy SHIMA (RINJI) consisting of SHOEI, KOSHIN and EIHO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 3.

8 December 1944:
NNE of Kuching, Borneo. At 0104, either LtCdr John C. Martin's USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) or LtCdr Joseph P. FitzPatrick's PADDLE (SS-263) torpedoes and sinks SHOEI MARU with a cargo of 5,000-tons of gasoline at 04-02N, 111-12E.

12 December 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Kuching.

13 December 1944:
At 1200, departs Kuching.

16 December 1944:
KOSHIN MARU suffers engine trouble and has to be towed to Miri.

18 December 1944:
Arrives at Cape Paloh.

19 December 1944:
Arrives at Pentengu.

23 December 1944:
At 1400, departs Pentengu. At about 2300, that same day, off Kuching, LtCdr Irvin S. Hartman's BARBERO (SS-317) torpedoes and sinks subchaser CH-30 at 02-42N, 111-05E.

30 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors’ Notes:
[1] Sources differ on the composition of the escort. One source says CH-30 another say CH-40.

[2] Accounts conflict regarding CH-30 and convoys MI-12 and MI-13. One account has CH-30 and MI-13 arriving at Miri from Manila on 18 Aug 44, but another account has CH-30 and MI-12 departing Miri for Manila on 16 Aug 44. It is possible CH-30 and CH-33 joined MI-12 at Paluan Bay on 20 Aug 44.

Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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