Japanese Subchasers

KUSENTEI!

IJN Subchaser CH-38: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 10

1941:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Nippon Kokan K. K.’s shipyard.
31 August 1942:
Launched and numbered CH-38.
10 December 1942:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District. Attached to the Sasebo Guard Unit. Conducts patrols in the Goto archipelago.
2 January 1943:
At 0910 arrives at Sasebo.
7 January 1943:
At 0940 departs Sasebo.
14 January 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Sasebo.
18 January 1943:
At 0900 departs Sasebo.
22 January 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Seso, Amami-Oshima.
24 January 1943:
At 1000 departs Seso.
26 January 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Sasebo.
27 January 1943:
At 0800 departs Sasebo.
28 January 1943:
At 1725 arrives back at Sasebo.
2 February 1943:
At 0900 departs Sasebo.
13 February 1943:
At 1135 arrives at Sasebo.
14 February 1943:
At 0800 departs Sasebo.
15 February 1943:
At 1330 arrives back at Sasebo.
1 March 1943:
Rabaul. Reassigned to the Eighth Fleet's 8th Base Force. Escorts convoys between Rabaul and Palau.
16 March 1943:
At 0630 departs Sasebo,
30 March 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Rabaul.
1 April 1943:
At 0730 CH-37, CH-38 and CH-39 depart Rabaul escorting a convoy. This was likely an Army ship convoy consisting of INDUS, SEKKO, HORAI, TOYO and KYODO MARUs bound for Palau.
E 4 April 1943:
CH-37 and CH-39 apparently detach and return to Rabaul.
11 April 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
16 April 1943:
CH-38 departs Palau escorting a convoy consisting of NISSHUN, TEIKAI (ex German FULDA), KURAMASAN and NIKKI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 3.
18 April 1943:
At 1230, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Bernard F. McMahon's (USNA ’31) USS DRUM (SS-228) torpedoes and sinks NISSHUN MARU at 02-02N, 148-27E. 35 men are KIA. Loaded with foodstuffs and general cargo, the ship takes down 35 crewmen. CH-18 rescues the survivors that include a number of impressed Korean "comfort" women.
24 April 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
29 April 1943:
At 1550 departs Rabaul on escort mission
9 May 1943:
CH-38 and CH-23 depart Rabaul for Palau escorting convoy R-09 consisting of YODOGAWA, CHOKO, YAMABUKI, FUKKO, NIKKI, TATEISHI MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 15.

11 May 1943:
NE of Manus. At 0730, that same day, YODOGAWA MARU is hit by two torpedoes fired by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Edward C. Stephan's (USNA ’29) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) at 00-40N, 148-55E. YODOGAWA MARU is set afire and sinks. Two men are KIA.

17 May 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
20 May 1943:
CH-38 and CH-23 departs Palau escorting a convoy consisting of KOYU, TAISHO and MACASSAR MARUs.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
3 June 1943:
At 0930 CH-22 and CH-38 depart Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of NAGANO, DAINICHI, GLASGOW, GENMEI, SAMARANG and KENRYU MARUs.
11 June 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
18 June 1943:
CH-38 and CH-24 departs Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of HIBI, MATSUE and TAGA MARUs and SHINTO MARU No.1. HIBI MARU is carrying 3000 Indian POWs on board. MATTSUE MARU is also believed to be carrying Indian POWs.
26 June 1943:
At 0925 CH-38 arrives at Rabaul. The vessel had apparently detached from the convoy that arrived at Rabaul the previous day.
29 June 1943:
At 1650 departs Rabaul on an escort mission.
1 July 1943:
At 1025 arrives back at Rabaul.
6 July 1943:
At 1200 CH-38 and CH-39 depart Rabaul on an escort mission, escorting HIBI, ADEN, KAMOI (SHINI), YURI and MATSUE MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships to Palau.
13 July 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
24 July 1943:
At 1450 CH-37, CH-38 and CH-39 arrives at Rabaul likely from Palau escorting convoy consisting of HAVRE, MEXICO, KAYO, HOZUGAWA MARUs and Army landing craft depot ship NIGITSU MARU.
30 July 1943:
At 0650 departs Rabaul on an escort mission.
2 August 1943:
At 2220 arrives back at Rabaul.
5 August 1943:
At 1000 CH-38 and CH-39 depart Rabaul escorting convoy O-505 consisting of HAVRE and SHOHO MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
14 August 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
16 August 1943:
CH-38 and CH-39 depart Palau escorting convoy So-604 consisting of TAISHO, UME, SORACHI and TACOMA MARUs.
23 August 1943:
At 1550 both CH-38 and CH-39 arrive back at Rabaul.
26 August 1943:
At 1455 CH-38, CH-39 and minesweeper W-22 depart Rabaul for Palau escorting convoy O-605 consisting of ASAKAZE, YAMAGIRI, NICHIRYO, TAISHO and TACOMA MARUs.
28 August 1943:
At 2255, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr McMahon's USS DRUM. McMahon torpedoes YAMAGIRI MARU, but she makes it back to Rabaul at 1205 the following day escorted by CH-39. The escorts drop 27 depth charges on USS DRUM, but she escapes.
2 September 1943:
At 1230 the remainder of the convoy arrives at Palau.
4 September 1943:
CH-38 and CH-16 depart Palau for Rabaul escorting convoy So-404 consisting of KANSAI, AMAGISAN and KINUGASA MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship MAYASAN MARU. En route they apparently meet up with CH-18 and CH-37 who join escort.
9 September 1943:
At 2040 the convoy arrives at Rabaul. AMAGISAN and KINUGASA MARUs are detached.
13 September 1943:
At 1010 departs Rabaul on an anti submarine sweep.
14 September 1943:
At 2145 arrives back at Rabaul.
16 September 1943:
At 1600 CH-38 departs Rabaul for Palau escorting convoy O-602A consisting of KANSAI MARU and IJA landing ship carrier MAYASAN MARU.
18 September 1943:
N of Manus, Admiralty Islands. At 1700, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Walter G. Ebert's (USNA ’30) USS SCAMP (SS-277) attacks the convoy and sinks army cargo ship KANSAI MARU at 00-41N, 146-28E. 23 of 1024 IJA troops and one crewman are KIA. Although damaged by CH-38's depth charges, USS SCAMP remains on patrol. CH-16 is detached from nearby convoy O-602B to assist.[1]
19 September 1943:
At 0925, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from from Subchaser Div 24 that reads: “As a result of torpedo attacks at 1909, 2130 and 2200, KANSAI MARU sank. 265 survivors including captain taken on board Subchaser No. 38 and No. 16. At 0830 Convoy (rejoined position) 01-03 N, 146-27 E.”
21 September 1943:
Arives at Palau. CH-38 and CH-16 then depart immediately presumably to carry out an anti submarine hunt and escort slow convoy O-602B.
24 September 1943:
Both escorts arrive back at Palau.
28 September 1943:
At 1200, CH-38 and CH-16 depart Palau for Rabaul escorting convoy So-805 consisting of MAEBASHI, NISSHU, KINKASAN, TOUN and TONEI MARUs.
30 September 1943:
373 miles ESE of Palau. At 0640, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) George H. Wales' (USNA ’29) USS POGY (SS-266) torpedoes and sinks MAEBASHI MARU at 01-00N, 139-28E. She takes down 1, 389 troops and 61 crewmen and gunners.[2]
1 October 1943:
746 miles ESE of Palau. At about 1700, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) William T. Nelson's (USNA ’30) USS PETO (SS-265) torpedoes and sinks KINKASAN MARU. Three men are KIA. USS PETO also torpedoes and sinks TONEI MARU at 04-00N, 143-50E. Ten men are KIA.
6 October 1943:
The remainder of the convoy arrives at Rabaul.
9 October 1943:
CH-38 departs Rabaul for Buin, Bougainville escorting a convoy consisting of TETSUYO and YOSHINO MARUs and HINO MARU No. 5.
10 October 1943:
At 1430, the convoy is attacked by USN aircraft. HINO MARU No. 5. takes three direct hits that set her deck cargo of bombs and ammunition afire. The crew abandons ship. Thereafter, HINO MARU No. 5 explodes and sinks, apparently without casualties.
11 October 1943:
The remainder of the convoy arrives at Buin.
15 October 1943:
CH-37 and CH-38 depart Rabaul escorting convoy O-504 consisting of YAHIKO, NISSHU, MEXICO and PACIFIC MARUs.
23 October 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
29 October 1943:
CH-37 and CH-38 depart Palau escorting convoy So-904 consisting of TAISHO, NAPLES, KURAMASAN and MACASSAR MARUs.
6 November 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
19 November 1943:
CH-37 and CH-38 depart Palau escorting convoy SO-904 consisting of TASMANIA, HOZU, KENZAN MARUs and RYUKO MARU towing a midget supply submarine. During the voyage south the convoy is plagued by submarine attacks.
25 November 1943:
At 1025, KENZAN MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Oscar Hagberg's (USNA ’31) USS ALBACORE (SS-218) at 00-51N, 146-00E. Seven crewmen are KIA.
28 November 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
30 November 1943:
At 0300, CH-37 and CH-38 depart Rabaul escorting a convoy consisting of WALES, SHINYU, NIKKI, SHOHO, AWA and HIMALAYA MARUs. At 2310, the convoy is attacked by Consolidated PBY "Catalina" seaplanes. HIMALAYA MARU is hit and sinks at 02-47S, 150-25E. 27 out of 1200 troops on board, and seven crewmen are killed.
8 December 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
12 December 1943:
At 1200, CH-37 and CH-38 depart Palau escorting convoy N-206 consisting of ALASKA, RYUA, CEYLON, PACIFIC, KAITO and KAIKA MARUs.
19 December 1943:
At 1910, the convoy is attacked by PBY Catalinas, but they are driven off. At 2040, a second attack develops. KAITO MARU, carrying troops and coal is hit set on fire and later sinks at 04-35N. 151-21E the following day. 262 troops and 26 crewmen are KIA. At 2132, in another attack ALASKA and PACIFIC MARUs are both hit. PACIFIC MARU is damaged, but ALASKA MARU has to be abandoned. The survivors are rescued by CH- 37. ALASKA MARU sinks the following day at 03-45N, 151-30E. At the time the ship was loaded with 12000 m3 of food rations, clothing, arms and general goods. One crewman is killed in the action.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
5 January 1944:
CH-38 and CH-37 depart Palau for Rabaul escorting convoy SO-504 consisting of NICHIAI, LYONS, YAMAYURI and CHIBURI MARUs.
10 January 1944:
Off New Hanover, Bismarcks. At about 1500, a submarine is sighted on the surface and engaged with gunfire.
11 January 1944:
At 2109, a B-24 attacks the convoy unsucessfully.
12 January 1944:
At 0032, other aircraft attack the convoy and one plane is shot down. Later that day, the convoy arrives at Rabaul.
20 February 1944:
CH-38 and CH-37 depart Rabaul for Palau escorting convoy O-003 consisting of gunboat KOWA MARU and transport KOKAI MARU and fleet tug NAGAURA evacuating 751st Naval Air Group (Mitsubishi G4M Betty bomber) maintenance personnel to Japan, escorted by subchasers CH-37 and CH-38 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-48.
21 February 1944:
N of New Hanover. At 1320, the convoy is attacked by 15 North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers of the 5th Air Force's 345th Bomb Group's 500th and 501st Bomb Squadrons that bomb, strafe and sink KOKAI (7 passengers and 19 of the crew dead) and KOWA MARUs (22 crewmen KIA) and CHa-48 and damage CH-38 heavily at 02-30S, 150-15E. NAGAURA effects repairs, then rescues some of the survivors and continues on her voyage north.
Eight of the B-25s are damaged by AA fire and one has to ditch off Finschafen, New Guinea. All five crewmembers escape. Some 19 hours later, they are picked up from their life rafts by Australian auxiliary patrol boat HMAS PALUMA.
22 February 1944:
160 miles NW of Kavieng, New Ireland. Captain (later Admiral/CNO) Arleigh A. Burke's (USNA ’23) DesRron 23's USS CHARLES AUSBURNE (DD-570)(F), DYSON (DD-572), STANLY (DD-478), CONWAY (DD-507) and SPENCE (DD-512) engage and sink tug NAGAURA at 00-54S, 148-38E. CH-38 is heavily damaged by gunfire, but escapes to Truk. Convoy O-003 is the last convoy to leave Rabaul.
27 February 1944:
Truk. CH-38 and CH-37 complete battle-damage repairs.
6 March 1944:
CH-38 and CH-37 depart Palau for Takao, Formosa with destroyers SHIGURE and SHIRANUHI escorting convoy PATA-04 consisting of TASMANIA, KENNICHI, BRAZIL, HIYAMA, ASAHISAN, KENZAN, YOZAN, CHINZEI and CLYDE MARUs.
13 March 1944:
At 1000, arrives at Takao.
15 March 1944:
At 1200, CH-38 and CH-37 depart Takao with destroyers SHIGURE and NOKAZE and minesweeper W-17 escorting convoy TAMO-11 consisting of TAITO, MUTSU, HINODE, MANILA, MANKO, ASAHI, BELGIUM, SORACHI, KOHO, TARUYASU, KENWA, KENZUI, BRAZIL, KENNICHI, SHINNO and KOAN MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 12 and tankers TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, SAN DIEGO, TAKETSU (BUTSU) and SANKO (YAMAKO) MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1.
16 March 1944:
At 1600, TOYO and TEIKO MARUs join the convoy from Kirun. CH-38 probably is detached.
19 March 1944:
The minelayer TAKASHIMA joins the convoy as an additional escort.
21 March 1944:
At 0430, MANKO, ASAHI, and TOYO MARUs are detached from the convoy. At 1200, the convoy arrives at Nagasaki. TAKASHIMA is detached for Sasebo.
22 March 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
20 March 1944:
At 0200, CH-38 departs Tateyama with destroyers KISHINAMI, OKINAMI and ASASHIMO escorting Marianas troop reinforcement convoy Higashi-Matsu ("East Pine") No. 3 Special ("Toku") consisting of transports MANJU, ASAKA and SANYO MARUs. These are the fast elements of the No. 3 reinforcement movement. [3]
28 March 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
21 April 1944:
CH-38 and CH-37 depart Tungchiaoshan (Tangjiqiozshan) near Shanghai for New Guinea via Manila with destroyers ASAKAZE, SHIRATSUYU and FUJINAMI, kaibokan KURAHASHI, CD-20, CD-22, minelayer SHIRATAKA, gunboats UJI, ATAKA, minesweeper W-22 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7 escorting the "Take" ("Bamboo") convoy consisting transports KAZUURA, MITSUKI, BRAZIL, TENSHINZAN (AMATSUSAN), ADEN, TAJIMA, YOZAN, MANSHU, FUKUYO, KANAN, TEIKAI (ex German FULDA), TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA) MARUs and UNKAI MARU No.12 and YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 and an unidentified ship.
26 April 1944:
At about 0600, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Thomas M. Dykers' (USNA ’27) USS JACK (SS-259) makes a radar-assisted surface attack on the convoy. Dykers torpedoes and sinks YOSHIDA MARU No. 1 at 18-06N, 119-40E. She takes down 2,588 troops of the IJA's 210th Infantry Regiment of the 3800 men on board and 63 crewmen.
April 1944:
Arrives at Manila. KURI, UJI and ATAKA have detached prior to arrival.
28 April 1944:
Manila. Reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet's 3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet's 32nd Special Base Force.
1 May 1944:
The remaining ships of the convoy (ADEN, TAJIMA, AMATSUSAN, YOZAN, TEIKAI, KAZUURA, BRAZIL and MITSUKI MARUs) less KANAN, MANSHU and FUKUYO MARUs, depart Manila for Wasile, Halmahera, Moluccas, but CH-37, CD-20, CD-22, KURAHASHI are detached. Patrol Boat PB-102 joins the escort.
6 May 1944:
N Celebes Sea. About 0800, lookouts aboard LtCdr Charles H. Andrews’ (USNA ’30) USS GURNARD (SS-254) spot SHIRATAKA's coal-burning smoke at 19 miles. By 1400 (JST), Andrews completes an "end-around" and gains an attack position on convoy Take No. 1. At 1402, FUJINAMI discovers a submarine. Andrews sets up carefully and fires two three-torpedo salvos at the transports. TAJIMA and ADEN MARUs are hit and sink quickly. AMATSUSAN (TENSHINZAN) MARU is set on fire but remains afloat.TAJIMA MARU takes down 58 of 2701 troops, three crewmen and nine gunners. ADEN MARU takes down 499 troops, 12 crewmen and four gunners.
The escorts launch a heavy counterattack against USS GURNARD. Andrews evades 98 depth charges, after which the escorts break off their attack. USS GURNARD surfaces and finds one of the transports burning, but still afloat. About midnight, USS GURNARD shells the transport with her four-inch deck gun, but she still does not sink. Andrews then fires another torpedo that finally sinks AMATSUSAN (TENSHINZAN) MARU. 95 out of 212 soldiers on board are killed.
7 May 1944:
At 1059 arrives at Bangka.
8 May 1944:
At 0500 departs Bangka. At 1555, PB-102 sights an enemy periscope. She starts an anti submarine attack and drops 3 depth charges.
9 May 1944:
At 1824 arrives at Wasile Bay.
10 May 1944:
At 0904 departs Wasile Bay and at 1130 arrives at Kau Bay.
13 May 1944:
At 0355, CH-38 departs Wasile Bay with minelayer SHIRATAKA, patrol boats PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224)and PB-104, and auxiliary netlayer KOREI MARU escorting the remnants of convoy Take No. 1 consisting of TEIKAI, MITSUKI, KAZUURA, BRAZIL MARUs, newly joined ATLAS MARU and another unidentified ship (possibly YOZAN MARU).
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Lembeh anchorage, Celebes.
20 May 1944:
At 2105, the convoy arrives at Manila.
28 May 1944:
At 1300, CH-38 departs Manila with destroyer TSUGA, patrol boats PB-102, PB-104 and auxiliary netlayer KOREI MARU escorting convoy H-27 consisting of SHINNO, KOHOKU, KOSEI, MURORAN, SHIROGANESAN, TAIYU, TEIYU and JUZAN MARUs.
3 June 1944:
At 2044, arrives Banka anchorage, NE Celebes.
4 June 1944:
At 0555, departs Banka anchorage.
8 June 1944:
At 1617, arrives Wasile, Halmahera.
11 June 1944:
CH-38 departs Kau Bay, Halmahera with destroyer TSUGA, PB-104 and auxiliary netlayer KOREI MARU escorting convoy H-27 (return) consisting of AKAGISAN, KOAN, SORACHI, SHIROGANESAN, YOZAN and TAIYU MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3.
12 June 1944:
CH-38 and TSUGA are detached for Davao.
23 June 1944:
At 0800 minesweeper W-15 and submarine chaser CH-38 departs Cebu escorting YUHO MARU convoy consisting of tanker YUHO MARU. At 2150 arrives at Guimaras where tanker MANEI MARU joins and W-15 is detached.
26 June 1944:
Departs Guimaras for Zamboanga, Philippines.
27 June 1944:
Arrives at Zamboanga. CH-38 is apparently detached.
29 June 1944:
At 0630 the minelayer TSUGARU with submarine chasers CH-38 and CH-45 depart Kau for Manila. Off Morotai Island, near Biak. In the early afternoon, Cdr (later Captain) David H. McClintock’s (USNA ’35) USS DARTER (SS-227) sights a large minelayer under escort by two 300-ton subchasers and an aircraft. Using an out-dated reference, McClintock misidentifies TSUGARU as the similarly configured, but somewhat older, minelayer OKINOSHIMA. At 1356, the USS DARTER's crew readies all torpedo tubes. As TSUGARU approaches from starboard, Cdr McClintock observes a floatplane on her deck. At 1425, he fires a full bow spread of six torpedoes with a run of about 2,350 yards. Two torpedoes hit and TSUGARU goes dead in the water. At 1432, the subchasers begin dropping a total of 24 depth charges, but USS DARTER goes deep and escapes undamaged.
At 1449, TSUGARU sinks at 02-19N, 127-57E. Captain Nakatsu is KIA. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
10 July 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy with tankers MANEI, YUHO and EIHO MARUs, and TSURUMI also escorted by kaibokan KANJU and MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-49 and CH-58.
11 July 1944:
Arrives at the Berouw River mouth. ANKO and TATSUMATSU MARUs and tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 join the convoy.
12 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan.
13 July 1944:
Departs Tarakan. Arrives at the Ligitan Channel.
14 July 1944:
Departs the Ligitan Channel. Later that day, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
15 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi. Later that day, arrives at Jolo, Philippines. TSURUMI, TATSUMATSU and ANKO MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 2 are detached.
16 July 1944:
Departs Jolo. Later that day, arrives at Zamboanga, Philippines.
August 1944:
Reassigned directly to the Combined Fleet and attached to Subchaser Division 21. Escorts convoys between Manila and mainland Japan.
10 October 1944:
At 0600, convoy MOMA-05 departs Moji for Imari Bay consisting of DAIHAKU, KOMEI, TENSHO, DAISHO, TATSUURA, TAIYO, ESAHI, DORYU, PACIFIC, AOKI, TAIZAN (ex British ST QUENTIN), SAIHO and SUGIYAMA MARUs. 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 kaibokan KASADO.
21 October 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Takao, Formosa. KASADO is detached.
23 October 1944:
At 0900, departs Takao and shelters in a bay on S Formosa, sailing at 2300.
24 October 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Sabtang Island anchorage.
25 October 1944:
At 0400, departs Sabtang Island.
26 October 1944:
At 0403, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Maurice Rindskopf's (USNA ’38) USS DRUM (SS-228) at 19-30N, 120-44E. Rindskopf fires three torpedoes by radar bearings at DAISHO MARU and gets two hits that sink her. She takes down 1557 men, most of whom belonged to the 57th Independent Brigade and 10th Maritime Advance Battalion and 45 of her crew.
At 0655, Rindskopf torpedoes and damages DAIHAKU MARU carrying 3150 troops of 75th Mixed Brigade, 150 horses, 35 boats and 60 military dogs at 19-07N, 120-42E. The forepart sinks, although the aft part remains afloat. She is successfully beached in Lapoc Bay and later abandoned. 1557 soldiers and three crewmen are KIA. USS DRUM also attacks TATSUURA and TAIYO MARUs with uncertain results.
W of Dalupiri Island. At about 0710, LtCdr Richard W. Peterson's (USNA ’31) 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. About 2200 troops on board together with 17 gunners and 13 crewmen are killed, and 22 landing craft, 26 horses and 21 motor vehicles lost.
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 (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins' (USNA ’33) USS GUITARRO (SS-363) at 15-18N, 119-50E. The ship was loaded with 3500 M3 of goods and 775 troops and 346 troops; three armed escort and 10 of the crew are killed. A few minutes later, at 1010, PACIFIC MARU is also torpedoed and sunk by USS GUITARRO at 15-15N, 119-56E. At the time the ship is carrying 300 Naval landing troops and war supplies. 24 soldiers, 27 gunners and 23 crewmen are killed.

1 November 1944:
At 0400, arrives at Manila.
5 November 1944:
At 0500 CH-38 departs Manila with kaibokan CD-18 and CD-26 and subchasers CH-18, CH-17, CH-23 and CH-37 escorting convoy MATA-31 consisting of TATSUHARU and DORYO MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships.
6 November 1944:
At 1055, an enemy submarine is sighted at 16-11N, 109-06E. At 1650 DORYO MARU breaks down and is taken under tow.
7 November 1944:
At 1715 the convoy puts in to Santa Cruz for shelter.
8 November 1944:
At 0730 CD-26 and CH-18 detach from the convoy and depart Santa Cruz.
9 November 1944:
At 0130 departs Santa Cruz DORYO MARU still under tow and later that day at 1600 arrives at North San Fernando. DORYO MARU is detached.
10 November 1944:
At 0900 the convoy departs San Fernando.
11 November 1944:
At 2100 arrives at Lapoc Bay.
12 November 1944:
At 0600 departs Lapoc Bay. Later that day arrives Musa.
13 November 1944:
At 0700 departs Musa and at 2100 arrives at Sabtang.
14 November 1944:
CH-18 rejoins the convoy at 0530. Later that day the convoy departs Sabtang.
15 November 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Takao.
19 November 1944:
At 2038 CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and CH-38 depart Takao to sweep in advance of convoy TAMA-31B departing Currimao.
20 November 1944:
At 1203, departs with subchaser CH-18, minesweeper W-39, auxiliary subchasers CHa-176 and CHa-177 and auxiliary netlayer KIRI MARU No. 1 Saei (Tsoying), near Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung,Taiwan) escorting convoy TAMA-32B also consisting of SHOHO (1,365 GRT), CHOKI and KISHIN MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 18. At 1530 arrives back at Takao.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, CH-38, CH-17, CH-18 and CH-37 depart Takao with kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-8, CD-28, CD-54, and old destroyer KURETAKE escorting convoy TAMA-32A consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI, JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA) and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 and KIDOTEI SS No. 6. Soon after leaving, anchors along the coast.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Formosan coast.
25 November 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Musa Bay, Fuga Island.
27 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Musa Bay. At 1645, arrives at Lapoc Bay.
28 November 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc Bay. At 1800, arrives at N San Fernando.
29 November 1944:
At 0600, departs N San Fernando.
30 November 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Manila.
10 January 1945:
Departs Takao with subchasers CH-23 and CH-37 escorting convoy TAMO-36 consisting of YUKIKAWA MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.

19 January 1945:
Arrives at Moji.

16 April 1945:
At 1200 departs Sasebo for Shanghai with CH-57.
22 April 1945:
At 1000 departs Shanghai and at 2000 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
21 May 1945:
CH-38 departs Shanghai for Tsingtao with gunboat OKITSU escorting convoy SE-27 consisting of NEIHA (NINGPO), KOSHO (HSING CHANG) and KOA (HSING YA) MARUs.
22 May 1945:
Arrives at Tsingtao.
27 May 1945:
At 0500, CH-38 departs Tsingtao with gunboat OKITSU for Shanghai escorting convoy SHI-103 consisting of NEIHA, KOSHO, CHOHEI and KOA MARUs.
29 May 1945:
At 1315, arrives at Shanghai.
15 August 1945:
Tsingtao. CH-38’s crew receives notification of the termination of the war.
9 September 1945:
Japanese troops in China formally surrender.
25 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
October 1945:
CH-38 is assigned to the Allied Minesweeping Service.
3 October 1947:
Nakhodka, Siberia. Ceded to the Soviet Union as a war reparation.
Late October 1947:
Transferred to Vladivostok.

Authors' Note:
[1] According to Kimata it was CH-38 that attacked and damaged USS SCAMP.
[2] MAEBASHI MARU carried 3,200 passengers and crew, data from a captured diary.
[3] A slower section of Higashi-Matsu No. 3 Special consisting of 10 transports and supply ship HAYASAKI, escorted by light cruiser YUBARI, DesDiv 5's HATAKAZE, DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 32's TAMANAMI, torpedo boat OTORI, kaibokans HIRADO and NOMI and subchasers CH-48, CH-51 and CH-54 departed Kisarazu on 22 March 1944 in two echelons for Palau and Saipan.
Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages. Thanks also go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany for additional info about convoy SO-904 and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France for general assistance.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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