KUSENTEI!



(Subchaser No. 46 by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN Subchaser CH-4:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2005-2007 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

1 January 1938:
Osaka. Laid down at the Sakurajima Zosensho shipyard.

13 September 1938:
Launched and numbered CH-4.

28 December 1938:
Completed and registered in the IJN.

8 December 1941:
Takao, Formosa. Assigned to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (former CO of AOBA) 2nd Base Force of Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet. Attached to the Philippines Seizure Force in Cdr Ota's SubChasDiv 21 with CH-5, CH-6, CH-16, CH-17 and CH-18.

January 1942:
Conducts anti-submarine patrols from Davao, Philippines.

8-12 March 1942:
Participates in the capture of Surabaya, Java.

10 March 1942:
Assigned to Vice Admiral Takahashi's Southwest Area Fleet's newly formed Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet in Special Base Force 22 organized at Surabaya. CH-4 escorts convoys to Balikpapan, Borneo.

26 August 1943:
Off Palau. LtCdr John A. Scott's TUNNY (SS-282) unsuccessfully attacks a convoy consisting of transport AMAGISAN MARU and fleet oiler TSURUMI escorted by CH-4 at 07-30N, 134-20E. CH-4 depth charges and damages TUNNY. Scott is forced to terminate his patrol.

20 October 1943:
CH-4, destroyer WAKATAKE and auxiliary subchaser CHa-41 escort convoy 2609 of nine ships from Makassar, Celebes to Palau.

29 October 1943:
At 0600, departs Palau escorting SENKO MARU via Menado to Balikpapan.

4 January 1944:
CH-4 arrives at Kupang, Timor escorting a convoy consisting of cargo ships NICHIEI and HEIMEI MARUs.

22 March 1944:
At 0745, CH-4 and patrol boat No. 102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) depart Tarakan escorting a convoy consisting of NANSUSAN, SEITO, ANJO and SHONAN MARUs.

24 March 1944:
At 1150, arrives at Balikpapan.

18 April 1944:
Kendari, Celebes. CH-4 runs aground in Staring Bay and sustains medium damage. Later, she undergoes repairs at Surabaya.

13 June 1944:
Repairs are completed. Thereafter, escorts convoys from the Philippines to Balikpapan.

7 August 1944:
At 0630, CH-4 and patrol boat No. 2 depart Tawi Tawi escorting TATSUHARU MARU to Balikpapan, Borneo.

11 August 1944:
At 2030, arrives at Balikpapan.

8 November 1944:
At 1900, CH-4, three unidentified subchasers and patrol boat PB-2 depart Manila for Balikpapan escorting convoy B-02 consisting of MANYO MARU and oilers HISHI MARU No. 2 and KYOEI MARU.

9 November 1944:
At 1530, LtCdr Franch C. Lynch's USS HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes and sinks HISHI MARU No. 2 at 12-24N 120-45E.

2 March 1945:
Surabaya. CH-4 undergoes repairs and servicing and then returns to convoy escort duties.

13 August 1945:
Surabaya Channel. CH-4 hits a mine and is damaged.

August 1945: Cease Fire:
Bandjermasin, Borneo. CH-4 is turned over to Allied Forces. Later, she is sold to an unknown party.

3 May 1947:
Removed from the Navy List.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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