KUSENTEI!

IJN Subchaser CH-35:
Tabular Record of Movement


© 2005-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 12


1942:
Hokkaido. Laid down at Hakodate Dock K. K.'s shipyard.

31 December 1942:
Launched and numbered CH-35.

28 February 1943:
Completed and registered in the IJN.

March 1943:
Attached to the Kure Guard Unit.

1 March 1943:
Departs Hakodate and later that day arrives at Ominato.

4 March 1943:
Departs Ominato.

5 March 1943:
Arrives at Iida Wan.

6 March 1943:
Departs Iida Wan.

7 March 1943:
Arrives off Mutsure Jima.

8 March 1943:
Departs Mutsure Jima and later that day arrives at Kobe. Remains at Kure fitting out for the remainder of the month.

4 April 1943:
Departs Kure but returns to port later that day.

5 April 1943:
Departs Kure.

6 April 1943:
Arrives at Saiki.

7 April 1943:
Departs Saiki.

8 April 1943:
CH-35 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 join an unescorted convoy from Palau consisting of DAINICHI, TOFUKU, ENGLAND and ZUISHO MARUs until 31-00N, 132-05E.

9 April 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.

11 April 1943:
CH-35 joins ammunition ship ARATAMA MARU at 29-00N, 131-00E and escorts her north.

12 April 1943:
CH-35 is detached off Fukajima. Later that day both CH-35 and CH-36 arrive at Saiki.

13 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Saiki.

14 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 support light cruiser KASHIMA and destroyer HATSUKAZE transiting the Bungo Straits and later arrive at Saiki.

16 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Saiki.

17 April 1943:
CH-35, CH-36 and patrol boat PB-31 support light cruiser OYODO transiting the Bungo Straits.

18 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 arrive back at Saiki.

19 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Saiki to support light cruiser NAKA transiting the Bungo Straits and later return to Saiki.

22 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Saiki and undertake advance patrols ahead of storeships MAMIYA and SOYO MARU heading north as part of a naval operation.

23 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 arrive back at Saiki.

25 April 1943:
CH-35 departs Saiki but returns to port later that day.

27 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 support fleet tanker SHINKOKU MARU transiting the Bungo Straits return to Saiki and then depart again.

28 April 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 support battleship HYUGA and destroyers NIIZUKI and HAMAKAZE transiting the Bungo Straits.

30 April 1943:
CH-35 and minesweeper W-17 join tanker ITSUKUSHIMA MARU at 30-20N, 132-05E and escort her to Fukajima. CH-35 and CH-36 then arrive at Saiki.

3 May 1943:
Departs Saiki.

4 May 1943:
CH-35 joins store ship IRAKO at 30-40N, 133-40E.

E 5 May 1943:
CH-35 is detached off Fukajima and arrives back at Saiki.

8 May 1943:
Departs Saiki.

9 May 1943:
Arrives at Kure.

15 May 1943:
Attached to the Fifth Fleet. Conducts patrols and escorts convoys in the Kuriles.

1 June 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.

2 June 1943:
Arrives back at Musashi Wan.

3 June 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.

4 June 1943:
Arrives at north mouth of Paramushiro Strait.

8 June 1943:
Transfers to Kataoka Wan.

11 June 1943:
Transfers back to north mouth of Paramushiro Strait.

13 June 1943:
Departs Paramushiro Strait.

14 June 1943:
Arrives back at the North mouth of Paramushiro Strait.

15 June 1943:
Reassigned to the Osaka Naval Guard District. Throughout the rest of this month and July however undertakes patrols off Paramushiro Island. Later that day arrives at and then departs Musahi Wan.

16 June 1943:
Arrives back at Musashi Wan.

17 June 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan but arrives back there later that day.

18 June 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan.

19 June 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.

30 June 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan/Paramushiro Strait on patrol.

1 July 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.

4 July 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan on patrol.

5 July 1943:
Arrives back at Musashi Wan.

6 July 1943:
CH-35 depart Musashi Wan on an anti submarine sweep and later joins up with CH-36. That evening both ships anchor off Paramushiro.

7 July 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Paramushiro Strait on an anti submarine sweep. That evening they both anchor off Kataoka Wan.

8 July 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Kataoka Wan on an anti submarine sweep. That evening they both anchor off Paramushiro Strait.

9 July 1943:
CH-35 and CH-36 depart Paramushiro Strait on an anti submarine sweep. That evening they both anchor off Paramushiro Strait.

10 July 1943:
Arrive back at Kataoka Wan.

12 July 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan.

13 July 1943:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.

16 July 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan on an anti submarine sweep.

18 July 1943:
Arrives back at Musashi Wan.

21 July 1943:
Departs Musashi Wan on an anti submarine sweep and arrives at Nodaura later that day.

22 July 1943:
Departs Nodaura and later arrives at Kataoka Wan. Departs later that day and arrives off Hinode.

24 July 1943:
Departs from off Hinode and arrives at Musashi Wan later that day. Later departs Musashi Wan.

25 July 1943:
Arrives back at Musashi Wan on an anti submarine sweep.

28 July 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.

30 July 1943:
Transfers to Paramushiro Strait.

31 July 1943:
Departs Paramushiro Strait area.

4 August 1943:
Conducts an anti submarine sweep ahead of the arrival of ASAKA MARU.

5 August 1943:
Completes the sweep and returns to base.

8 August 1943:
Rabaul. Reassigned to the Eighth Fleet's 2nd Special Base Force. Escorts convoys between Rabaul, Palau and Wewak, New Guinea.

17 August 1943:
Departs Paramushiro escorting NITTEI MARU.

20 August 1943:
CH-35 detaches from NITTEI MARU and proceeds independently, probably to Yokosuka initially.

1 September 1943:
At Kure.

16 September 1943:
Enters dockyard at Kure.

21 September 1943:
Undocked.

22 September 1943:
Departs Kure on trials.

23 September 1943:
Returns to Kure.

5 October 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

9 October 1943:
CH-35 departs Palau to meet up with convoy "Hollandia No. 1" consisting of TONEGAWA, NAGANO, KAMOI, UCHIDE MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 5 escorted by CH-34.

11 October 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.

17 October 1943:
CH-35 and CH-26 depart Palau escorting convoy "Wewak No. 11" consisting of MAYA, YASUKUNI, ASO and NISSHIN MARUs.

22 October 1943:
Arrives at Wewak less NISSHIN MARU that detached for Hollandia the previous day. The convoy unloads its cargo.

23 October 1943:
Departs Wewak for Palau.

28 October 1943:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) William B. Sieglaff's (USNA ’31) USS TAUTOG (SS-199) attacks the convoy. Sieglaff fires six unreliable Mark XIV torpedoes and fails to get any hits. CH-26 and CH-35 counterattack and drop eight depth charges, but without damage to USS TAUTOG. That same day, at 1800, convoy "Wewak No. 11"arrives at Palau.

1 November 1943:
CH-35 and CH-26 depart Palau with minelayer SHIRATAKA escorting convoy "Hollandia No. 2" consisting of ASO, RYUWA, FUKOKU and KIZUGAWA MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 5.

E 3 November 1943:
SHIRATAKA detaches from convoy and returns alone to Palau. That same day FUKOKU MARU develops engine trouble and returns to Palau escorted by CH-35.

15 November 1943:
Reassigned to the Ninth Fleet's 2nd Special Base Force with CH-26 and CH-34.

19 November 1943:
Departs Palau.

23 November 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.

24 November 1943:
Departs Palau with Wewak No. 14 convoy consisting of KANKYO, KANTO, FUKKAI, UMEKAWA and HOZAN MARUs escorted by SHIRATAKA and CH-35.

27 November 1943:
KANKYO MARU detaches from the convoy for Hollandia, arriving there later that day.

28 November 1943:
Arrives at Wewak.

30 November 1943:
KANTO and KANKYO MARU (the latter having arrived from Hollandia earlier) depart for Hollandia probably escorted by CH-35. The remaining ships depart back to Palau (arriving 4 December)

1 December 1943:
At 1400 departs Palau with CH-32 escorting convoy Hollandia No. 3 consisting of ASO, KAYO and TAIEI MARUs.

5 December 1943:
At 1700 arrives at Hollandia.

6 December 1943:
10m E of Cape Moen, 5 miles E of Wewak. HINOKI MARU is disabled by an internal explosion. CH-35 provides assistance.

7 December 1943:
At 0230 the convoy departs Hollandia.

11 December 1943:
At 1000 arrives back at Palau.

16 December 1943:
At 1600 departs Palau.

17 December 1943:
At 1305 arrives back at Palau.

23 December 1943:
CH-35 departs Palau for Wewak with minelayer SHIRATAKA and auxiliary subchaser CHa-61 escorting convoy "Wewak No. 16" consisting of ASO, SHOHO, CHINZEI and KURAMASAN MARUs. Enroute, SHIRATAKA detaches from convoy Wewak No. 15 convoy and escorts KURAMASAN MARU towards Hollandia.

27 December 1943:
At 1030 CH-35 arrives at Hollandia.

28 December 1943:
The convoy departs Wewak.

29 December 1943:
At 0900 CH-35 departs Hollandia.

30 December 1943:
Reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet's 4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 25th Special Base Force.

2 January 1944:
At 0900 arrives at Palau.

5 January 1944:
CH-26 arrives at Palau escorting Wewak-Hollandia Tandoku Yuso No. 6 convoy consisting of TAIEI and KIBI MARUs. CH-35 and Auxiliary sub chaser CHa-10 depart from Palau and assist in the final escort.

11 January 1944:
At 1500 CH-35 departs Palau for Sarmi, New Guinea with auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-61 escorting convoy "Independent Sarmi No. 7" consisting of KOYU, BRAZIL, SHIROGANESAN, KANKYO and MUTSUYO MARUs.

14 January 1944:
KOYU and BRAZIL MARUs are detached from the convoy and head to Sarmi.

15 January 1944:
SHIROGANSAN MARU is detached for Hollandia.

16 January 1944:
At 1630 arrives at Wewak.

17 January 1944:
At 1715 departs Wewak.

24 January 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Palau. At 1545 departs Palau but arrives back at 1900.

28 January 1944:
At 1600, CH-35 departs Palau for Rabaul with CH-16, CH-34 and CH-40 and auxiliary submarine chasers CHa-47 and CHa-61 escorting convoy SO-805 consisting of TOEI and HOKKAI MARUs, tanker TAKATORI MARU No. 2, TAIEI and TOKO MARUs. In addition, the convoy is given air cover.

30 January 1944:
At 0150, IJA freighter TOKO MARU, carrying troops of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 51st Division and the 4th Field Hospital to Manus Island in the Admiralties, is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) at 06-20N, 138-08E. TOKO MARU sinks by the stern taking down 457 troops, seven gunners and 15 crewmen.

1 February 1944:
IJN transport TOEI MARU, carrying drummed gasoline and ammunition, is sunk by USS SEAHORSE's last torpedoes at 04-24N, 143-15E. 56 crewmen are KIA. LtCdr Cutter makes for Pearl Harbor.

E 4 February 1944:
CH-35 arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.

13 February 1944:
CH-35 departs Palau for Wewak and Hollandia escorting convoy "Wewak Transportation Yoto No. 2" consisting of TASMANIA and YASHIMA MARUs.

14 February 1944:
CH-35 is detached and returns to Palau. The convoy continues to its destinations unescorted.

23 February 1944:
At 1155, CH-35 departs Palau for Hollandia with auxiliary subchasers CHa-3 and CHa-63 escorting convoy "Wewak No. 20" consisting of KIBI, NARITA and TAIEI MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 3.

26 February 1944:
At 1833, Cdr (later Captain) Robert J. Foley's (USNA ’27) USS GATO (SS-212) torpedoes and sinks DAIGEN MARU No. 3 at 01-51N, 115-15E. She takes down 554 troops of the IJA's 66th Infantry Regiment and 23 crewmen. The subchasers drop 26 depth-charges, but USS GATO slips away undamaged.

27 February 1944:
Arrives at Hollandia.

12 March 1944:
At 0700, CH-35 departs Palau for Hollandia with auxiliary subchasers CHa-10, CHa-47 and CHa-49 escorting convoy "Wewak Transportation Convoy No. 21" consisting of YAKUMO and TAIEI MARUs, an unidentified ship and a small sea truck.

16 March 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Hollandia.

17 March 1944:
At 1400, departs Hollandia.

18 March 1944:
Arrives at Wewak. Begins unloading that evening, but Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kenmore M. McManes' five destroyers of Task Group 74.5 bombard Wewak. The unloading is curtailed and the convoy moves to another part of the anchorage called Mushu Island where USS DALY (DD-519) sinks auxiliary subchaser CHa-10 at 03-33S, 143-38E.

19 March 1944:
The convoy is ordered to return to Palau. 50 miles N of Wewak, the convoy is attacked several times by waves of Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers, North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers of the 345th Bomb Wing, Douglas A-20 "Havocs" of the 3rd Bomb Group and P-38 "Lighning" fighers. The planes bomb, strafe and sink YAKUMO and TAIEI MARUs and auxiliary subchasers CHa-47 and CHa-49. Several A-20's are shot down during the attacks. In retaliation, the American's strafe the stuggling Japanese sailors in water. A total of 48 troops and 62 crew on YAKUMO MARU and 50 soldiers and 78 crewmen on TAIEI MARU are killed.

20 March 1944:
Reassigned to the Central Pacific Area Fleet's 30th Base Force in Subchaser Division 31.

E 23 March 1944:
CH-35 arrives at Palau, the only survivor of the convoy.

25 March 1944:
CH-35 is attached to the Ninth Fleet.

30-31 March 1944: American Operation “Desecrate One”:
Palau. The anchorage is attacked by F6F "Hellcats", SBD "Dauntless", TBF "Avenger" and SB2C "Helldiver" carrier aircraft of Task Group 58. 1's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) and USS COWPENS (CVL-25), TG 58. 2's USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17), USS HORNET (CV-12), USS MONTEREY (CV-26) and USS CABOT (CVL-28) and TG 58. 3's USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), USS PRINCETON (CVL-23) and USS LANGLEY (CVL-27). TF 58’s planes sink many ships and damage CH-35, among others, at 07-30N, 134-30E.

5 May 1944:
Reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet's 4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 28th Special Base Force with CH-26 and CH-34. Escorts convoys to Davao and Cebu, Philippines.

10 June 1944:
Departs Palau with auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-64 escorting NIPPONKAI MARU.

11 June 1944:
At 1730 arrives at Yap.

14 June 1944:
Departs Yap escorting NIPPONKAI MARU with auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-64.

17 June 1944:
At 06.36N 127.55E NIPPONKAI MARU is torpedoed and sunk by USS FLOUNDER. CHa-64 rescues survivors.

30 June 1944:
At 1000, CH-35, CH-12 and kaibokan CD-16 and CD-19 depart Cebu escorting convoy SEPA-01/SEDA- 01 consisting of TAMA, OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs.

1 July 1944:
CH-35, CH-12, kaibokan CD-16, CD-19 and TAMA MARU separate and head for Palau.

4 July 1944:
At 0230, a friendly aircraft crash lands in the sea. CH-35 is detached to rescue its crew and falls behind. At 0352, TAMA MARU carrying 544 troops, is torpedoed and sunk at 07-50N 133-40E in the second of two attacks by LtCdr Carl Tiedeman's (USNA ’33) USS GUAVINA (SS-362). 11 crewmen, two gunners and 321 troops are KIA.

6 July 1944:
At 1051 the escorts arrive at Palau alone.

8 July 1944:
Reassigned to the 4th Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 25th Special Base Force at Ambon, Moluccas. At 1158 departs Palau.

10 July 1944:
At 0933 arrives at Davao.

12 July 1944:
CH-34 and CH-35 are ordered to escort the KOJUN MARU (1931 gt) Convoy to Palau.

19 July 1944:
At 0555 departs Davao.

20 July 1944:
At 0633 returns to Davao. At 1155 CH-34 and CH-35 depart Davao escorting an unidentified Navy transport.

24 July 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Kau.

26 July 1944:
At 0700, CH-35 departs Kau, Halmahera with subchasers CH-9, CH-34, CH-26 and SHONAN MARU Maru No. 17 escorting a convoy consisting of KANTO, TOSHO and KEMBU MARUs. At 1700 CH-35 is detached for Morotai.

27 July 1944:
At 0615 departs Morotai and rejoins the convoy.

1 August 1944:
At 1850, arrives at Ambon.

4 August 1944:
At 1330, CH-35 departs Ambon with CH-26, CH-34 and minesweeper W-12 escorting an unnamed convoy consisting of TATSUYASU, KANTO and KURAMASAN MARUs.

5 August 1944:
CH-26 is detached and returns to Ambon.

6 August 1944:
KANTO MARU is detached for Waha, Wangiwangi Island. At 1400, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Staring Bay, Celebes.

7 August 1944:
At 1600 CH-34 and CH-35 depart Staring Bay.

8 August 1944:
At 0435 both arrive at Ambon.

14 August 1944:
At 1500 CH-34 and CH-35 depart Ambon escorting SHOEI MARU (1986 gt).

18 August 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Macassar.

23 August 1944:
At 1500, CH-35 and CH-34 depart Makassar, Celebes escorting an unnamed convoy consisting of IKUTAGAWA MARU (ex-Italian CALITEA II) and KEMBU (TATEBE) MARU.

26 August 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Surabaya, Java. Undergoes repairs by 102 Construction and Repair Section throughout most of September.

23 September 1944:
Repairs are completed.

25 September 1944:
At 1200 CH-26 and CH-35 depart Surabaya escorting a convoy consisting of KANTO and DAI MARUs.

29 September 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Macassar.

1 October 1944:
Singapore. CH-35 and CH-34 are reassigned to the 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 15th Special Base Force's Subchaser Division 11.

7 October 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Singapore.

10 October 1944:
At 0900 departs Singapore with auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-50 escorting ISHIKARI MARU.

14 October 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Nancowry, Nicobar Islands.

17 October 1944:
Nancowry is raided by British Carrier based aircraft that sink ISHIKARI MARU with the loss of 11 crew.

20 October 1944:
At 2030 the escorts depart Nancowry.

22 October 1944:
At 2030 arrives at Penang.

26 October 1944:
At 0800 departs Penang to Singapore for repairs.

7 November 1944:
At 0752 departs Singapore escorting RISUI MARU (ex British LIPIS).

12 November 1944:
At 0940 arrives at Car Nicobar.

14 November 1944:
At 2110 departs Car Nicobar escorting RISUI MARU (ex British LIPIS).

18 November 1944:
At 1713 arrives at Port Swettenham.

19 November 1944:
At 1000, minesweeper W-34 departs Singapore for Pangalanbrandan, Sumatra escorting a convoy consisting of NICHINAN (1945 gt), SHONAN, RITSUEI, SHOEI (2854 gt) and AYAYUKI MARUs.

Malacca Straits. At 1837 that same day, British Lt Clifford R. Pelly's submarine HMS STRATAGEM torpedoes and sinks NICHINAN MARU at 01-37N, 102-53E. Nine crewmen are KIA. [1]

20 November 1944:
At 0800 CH-35 departs Port Swettenham and undertakes an anti submarine sweep and escorts the convoy. At 1822, aircraft attack the convoy, but inflict no damage.

22 November 1944:
Malacca Straits. An IJN float plane sights submarine HMS STRATAGEM and alerts CH-35 that depth charges and sinks HMS STRATAGEM. CH-35 picks up the submarine's survivors and later lands them at Singapore. [1]

23 November 1944:
At 1959 CH-35 arrives at Singapore.

26 November 1944:
The rest of the convoy meanwhile arrives at Belawan, Sumatra. SHOEI MARU (2854 gt) is detached. At 1900, the convoy arrives at Pangalanbrandan.

27 November 1944:
At 0205, CH-34 and CH-35 depart Singapore with kaibokan CD-27, minesweeper W-34 and auxiliary gunboat HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARU escorting convoy SHISA-30 consisting of EININ, TOHO, FUJISAN, HIKACHI (NISSHO), ENRYAKU, TATSUMIYA, YAMAKUNI and DAISHU MARUs.

30 November 1944:
At 1725 arrives at St Jacques. [2]

2 December 1944:
At 0808 departs Saigon.

4 December 1944:
At 1235 arrives at Singapore.

11 December 1944:
At 1200 CH-34 and CH-35 depart Singapore on an anti submarine patrol.

19 December 1944:
The escorts cease patrols.

20 December 1944:
At 1508 and 1504 respectively both CH-34 and CH-35 arrive back at Singapore.

24 December 1944:
At 1000 CH-34, CH-35 and CH-63 depart Singapore escorting UNRYU MARU (ex British WULIN).

29 December 1944:
At 1555 arrives at Port Blair.

31 December 1944:
At 0800 CH-34, CH-35 and CH-63 depart Port Blair escorting a convoy consisting of UNRYU and TESHIO MARUs.Three hours after leaving port UNRYU MARU is torpedoed and sunk by HMS SHAKESPEARE with only two watchman surviving. 149 passengers and the ship's crew are KIA.

12 January 1945:
At 2000 CH-34, CH-35 and CH-63 and minesweeper W-34 depart Sabang escorting EIFUKU MARU.

15 January 1945:
At 1930 arrives at Singapore.

22 January 1945:
At 0800 departs Singapore escorting 2A cargo ship DAIETSU MARU as part of HI-88B (also called SHISA-35) and also consisting of 2AT tanker ENKI MARU and cargo ship TATSUTAMA MARU (ex ADMIRAL Y S WILLIAMS) escorted by kaibokan NOMI, CD-60, Patrol boat PB-104 and submarine chaser CH-20.

28 January 1945:
At 0530 arrives at St Jacques and detaches from the convoy. CH-35 departs from there at 1252 and arrives at Saigon at 1650.

29 January 1945:
At 0749 departs Saigon.

31 January 1945:
At 1934 arrives at Singapore.

5 February 1945:
At 1200 CH-33 and CH-35 departs Singapore escorting EIFUKU MARU, carrying 350 Naval Marines as well as war supplies.

8 February 1945:
EIFUKU MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Paul E Summers' (USNA 36) USS PAMPANITO in position 07-05N 104-50E. 335 Naval Marines and four crewmen are KIA.

9 February 1945:
The escorts arrives at Saigon.

14 February 1945:
At 0800, CH-35, CH-20 and CH-34 depart Singapore with kaibokan CD-31 escorting convoy HI-88G consisting of small tankers YAEI MARU No. 1, TAKASAGO MARU No. 2 and NANSHIN MARU No. 30.

21 February 1945:
At 0900, arrives at St Jacques, Indochina. NANSHIN MARU No. 30 is detached and probably CH-34.

22 February 1945:
The convoy departs St Jacques.

23 February 1945:
Off Cape Paderan, Indochina. Fifth Air Force B-25 bombers of the 345th Bomb Group's 500th Bomb Squadron attack convoy HI-88-G. The B-25's come under attack by covering IJA and IJN fighters, including a Rufe float fighter. At 1714, the B-25's strafe and bomb CH-35. Bracketed by two 500-lb bombs, CH-35 sinks at 11-30N, 109-00E. One of the B-25's is shot down by a subchaser.

3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy List.


Author's Note:
[1] After sinking NICHINAN MARU, Lt Pelly took HMS STRATAGEM to lie in ambush off the port of Malacca, Malaya, but on 22 Nov '44 she was detected by an aircraft, depth-charged by a surface vessel (presumably CH-35) and sunk. Ten of her crew escaped and, suffering from the "bends", were picked by the Japanese. Seven died in captivity.

[2] One Japanese source (Komamiya) lists the destination as Saei rather than St Jacques, but this is probably an error since it is unlikely the convoy could make Formosa in three days even sailing direct and another Japanese source confirms St Jacques with an exact arrival time.

Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France for general assistance.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.


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