Japanese Subchasers

KUSENTEI!

IJN Subchaser CH-9: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2013 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 7

10 May 1938:
Yokohama. Laid down at at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. shipyard.
15 October 1938:
Launched and numbered CH-9.
9 May 1939:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
1 December 1941:
At 1400 departs Sana.
5 December 1941:
At 0105 arrives at Pulo Condore Island, FIC. Departs from there at 2350.
8 December 1941:
Camranh Bay, Indochina. CH-9 is in Cdr Hayashi Risaku’s (50) SubChasDiv 11 with CH-7 and CH-8 of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hiraoka Kumeichi's (39) (former CO of HIEI) 9th Base Force in Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo’s (37) Southern Fleet.
At 0200 arrives off Kota Bharu, Malaya. That same day, Japanese forces land on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. RAF Lockheed "Hudson" light bombers attack the invasion shipping and set IJA cargo ships AWAJISAN and AYATOSAN MARUs afire. Several Hudsons are shot down. CH-9 and destroyers AYANAMI and SHIKINAMI take off AWAJISAN MARU's crew. Later, RAF Bristol "Blenheim" medium bombers sink AWAJISAN MARU, but several Blenheims are also shot down. One crewman is killed.
At 0831 CH-9 departs Kota Bharu and at 1430 arrives at Pattani. At 1730 departs Pattani.
9 December 1941:
At 0300 arrives back at Kota Bharu and at 1100 departs there. At 2300 arrives at Singora.
12 December 1941:
At 2000 departs Singora.
15 December 1941:
At 0100 arrives at Kota Bharu.
18 December 1941:
At 0745 departs Kota Bharu. At 1630 arrives at Singora.
19 December 1941:
At 0800 departs Singora. At 1800 arrives at Kota Bharu.
20 December 1941:
At 2300 departs Kota Bharu.
22 December 1941:
At 1500 arrives at Singora.
11 January 1942:
At 1810 departs Singora.
13 January 1942:
At 1906 arrives at Pulo Condore, FIC.
22 January 1942:
At 1300 CH-7, CH-8 and CH-9 depart Pulo Condore.
26 January 1942:
At 0400 CH-8 and CH-9 arrives at Anambas.
29 January 1942:
At 0630 CH-9 departs Anambas.
31 January 1942:
At 1252 arrives at Camranh Bay.
15 February 1942: Operation "T" - The Invasions of Northern Sumatra and Sabang:
CH-9 participates in the landings at Banka and Palembang, Sumatra of the IJA's 229th Infantry Regiment and a battalion of the 230th Infantry Regiment.
23 March 1942: Operation "D" - The Invasion of the Andaman Islands:
CH-9 participates in the unopposed landing of a battalion of the IJA's 18th Infantry Division at Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
22 May 1942:
CH-9 departs Singapore for Kure escorting repair ship (ex-battleship) ASAHI.
25 May 1942:
100 miles SW of Cape Paderan, Indochina. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B. McKinney's (USNA ’27) USS SALMON (SS-182) makes a night submerged approach on a large warship. McKinney misidentifies his target as the light cruiser YUBARI. He fires four torpedoes of which two hit ASAHI. At 0103, moments after being hit, ASAHI is abandoned and sinks at 09-37N, 109-50E. CH-9 rescues 583 crewmen, but 16 are KIA and several go MIA.
10 June 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
12 June 1942:
Departs Saigon.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
19 June 1942:
Departs Singapore.
22 June 1942:
Arrives off Miri.
24 June 1942:
Departs Miri and later that day arrives at Labuan.
25 June 1942:
Departs Labuan.
26 June 1942:
Arrives at Miri.
27 June 1942:
Departs Miri.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
4 July 1942:
CH-8 and CH-9 depart Singapore.
9 July 1942:
CH-8 and CH-9 arrive back at Singapore.
13 July 1942:
Departs Singapore.
14 July 1942:
CH-9 is assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet's 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet in the 10th Special Base Force's SubChasDiv 11 with CH-7 and CH-8. [2]
16 July 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
17 July 1942:
Departs Singapore.
20 July 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
23 July 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay and later that day arrives at Qui Nhon.
24 July 1942:
Departs Qui Nhon.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
1 August 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
2 August 1942:
Arrives at Nha Trang.
3 August 1942:
Departs Nha Trang and later that day arrives at Camranh Bay.
8 August 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
13 August 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
16 August 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
20 August 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
26 August 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
31 August 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
4 September 1942:
Departs Singapore.
7 September 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
9 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
10 September 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
15 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
16 September 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
20 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
21 September 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques and departs later the same day.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
29 September 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Qui Nhon.
7 October 1942:
Departs Qui Nhon and later that day arrives at Camranh Bay.
12 October 1942:
Arrives at Hon Heo.
13 October 1942:
Departs Hon Heo.
15 October 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
23 October 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
26 October 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
27 October 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
5 November 1942:
Departs Saigon.
10 November 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
12 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
17 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay and later that day arrives at Phan Rang.
18 November 1942:
Departs Phan Rang.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
26 November 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay and later that day arrives at St Jacques.
27 November 1942:
Departs St Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon.
1 December 1942:
Departs Saigon.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
13 December 1942:
Departs Camranh Bay.
14 December 1942:
Arrives at Saigon and enters drydock.
12 January 1943:
Undocked.
21 January 1943:
Departs Saigon.
25 January 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques and departs later that day.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Phan Rang.
28 January 1943:
Departs Phan Rang.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Saigon and departs later the same day.
4 February 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
7 February 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
9 February 1943:
Departs St Jacques and later that day arrives at Saigon.
10 February 1943:
Departs Saigon and late that day arrives at St Jacques.
11 February 1943:
Departs St Jacques.
13 February 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
18 February 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns later that day.
21 February 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
25 February 1943:
At 2400 departs Camranh Bay.
26 February 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
27 February 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay but returns later that day.

3 May 1943:
CH-9 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 492 consisting of KYOKKO, SEINAN, ARGUN MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
9 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
23 May 1943:
CH-9 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 497 consisting of tanker SAN PEDRO MARU, cargo ships TOUN and SAINEI MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships.
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Mako.
4 June 1943:
CH-9 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 401 consisting of AMAGI, RAKUYO, LIVERPOOL MARUs and tankers KOKUEI, SEIAN and KOSHIN MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships. The convoy split into two shortly after departing port.
9 June 1943:
The first section arrives at Takao.
10 June 1943:
The second section arrives at Takao.
10 July 1943:
CH-9 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 409 consisting of MACASSAR, TATSUNO, KOZUI, NORWAY, ARGUN, FUKUYO, HITORA (ex Panamanian RAMONA), NORFOLK and KASHU MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
16 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
17 July 1943:
At 1800, CH-9 and torpedo boat SAGI depart Moji escorting a convoy consisting of HAKONE, ARIMASAN, DURBAN and TACHIBANA MARUs, tankers HOYO and TAKESTSU (BUTSU), YAMAKO (SANKO) MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.

22 July 1943:
At 1320, arrives at Takao, Formosa. Later that day, arrives at Mako, Pescadores. Still later, departs for Singapore.

2 October 1943:
CH-9 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 430 consisting of JUYO MARU and four unidentified merchant ships.
12 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
12 October 1943:
CH-9 departs Takao with destroyer ASAGAO and torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy No. 329 consisting of tanker KIYO MARU, transport MANKO MARU and eighteen unidentified merchant ships.
15 October 1943:
MANKO MARU is detached from the convoy.
18 October 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques, Indochina.

20 November 1943 :
CH-9 departs St Jacques with unidentified warships escorting convoy No. 443 consisting of AMERICA and RAKUYO MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships. The convoy splits into two sections after departing port.
26 November 1943:
The first section arrives at Takao.
28 November 1943:
The second section arrives at Takao.
25 December 1943:
CH-9 departs St Jacques escorting the Rin convoy consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
29 December 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
4 March 1944:
At 0600 departs Singapore.
5 March 1944:
At 1305 arrives at Labuan.
7 March 1944:
At 1719 departs Labuan.
11 March 1944:
At 1318 arrives at Singapore.
15 March 1944:
At 1017 departs Singapore.
17 March 1944:
At 1704 arrives at Sabang and departs at 1835. At 2113 anchors in Aru Bay.
19 March 1944:
At 0746 departs Aru Bay and at 2158 arrives off Sungai Panai.
20 March 1944:
At 0720 departs Sungai Panai.
22 March 1944:
At 0945 arrives at Sabang.
23 March 1944:
At 1600 departs Sabang.
24 March 1944:
At 1925 arrives at Penang. Undergoes engine repairs.
28 March 1944:
At 1619 departs Penang.
29 March 1944:
At 1945 arrives at Sabang.
30 March 1944:
At 1211 departs Sabang.
2 April 1944:
At 1110 arrives at Padang.
4 April 1944:
At 1923 departs Padang.
5 April 1944:
At 0915 arrives at Sikakap and departs soon after.
8 April 1944:
At 1913 arrives at Singapore.
9 April 1944:
At 1210 departs Singapore on M Sakusen operation.
16 April 1944:
At 1800 departs patrol off Penang. At 2135 arrives at Singapore.
19 April 1944:
At 0800 CH-9 departs Singapore for Saigon escorting convoy SHISA-17 consisting of cargo ship LONDON MARU, transport NAGATA MARU, oilers KORYU and NISSHIN MARUs and merchant oiler YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3.

22 April 1944:
Off Cape St. Jacques, Indochina. At 1945, seven B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers of the 14th Air Force's 308th Bomb Group make a low-level attack on anchored convoy SHISA-17. The B-24s sink NAGATA, KORYU and LONDON MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3. They also damage NISSHIN MARU. One B-24 is damaged. Only CH-9 escapes without damage. NAGATA MARU was loaded with 101 passengers and 3110 tons nickel ore from Pomala and Sourabaya, as well as 117 articles of entrusted private property and goes down with 27 passengers, 19 guards and 7 crewmen; KORYU MARU was carrying 1600 tons fuel oil, 1300 tons gasoline and 1000 tons of coal and 38 passengers and 43 crewmen are killed; LONDON MARU was loaded with 400 troops, 1000 tons of mixed goods and 7500 tons of bauxite and two of the crew are killed; and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 3 was carrying a full cargo of light and heavy oils and sank with eight crewmen dead.

23 April 1944:
At 2010 CH-9 arrives at Saigon.
27 April 1944:
Departs Saigon escorting a convoy.
1 May 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Singapore.
3 May 1944:
At 1600 transferred to Keppel Harbour, Singapore. July 1944:
Reassigned to the 9th Special Base Force at Penang.
26 July 1944:
At 0700 CH-9, CH-26, CH-34 and CH-35 and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 17 depart Kau escorting a convoy consisting of TOSHO, KANTO and KEMBU (TATEBE) MARUs. At 1700 CH-35 is detached for Morotai.
1 August 1944:
At 1850, arrives at Ambon.
5 March 1945:
CH-9 departs Singapore for Moji with CH-20, CH-33, ASW detection vessel TATEISHI (fitted with special cable to detect submerged subs), auxiliary subchaser KAINAN MARU escorting convoy HI-88-I consisting of YAMAKUNI and HOSEN MARUs, NANSHIN MARU No. 21, FUSHIMI MARU No. 2, TAKASAGO MARU No. 6 and an unidentified ship.
15 March 1945:
Arrives at Cape St. Jacques, Indochina. The convoy is reorganized.
19 March 1945:
CH-9 departs Cape St. Jacques with CH-33, cable-layer TATEISHI, auxiliary subchaser KAINAN MARU and subchaser CH-20 escorting convoy HI-88-I consisting of HOSEN MARU, FUSHIMI MARU No. 2, MOTOYAMA MARU No. 1, NANSHIN MARU No. 21 and TAKASAGO MARU No. 6.
20 March 1945:
50 miles S of Camranh Bay, Indochina. At about 0100, convoy HI-88-I is attacked by LtCdr Benjamin C Jarvis' USS BAYA (SS-318). Jarvis torpedoes and sinks KAINAN MARU at 12-00N, 109-17E with unknown casualties. CH-9 counterattacks USS BAYA and drops 21 depth charges. Although damaged by the depth charges, USS BAYA remains on patrol.
That same afternoon, at about 1720, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Cdr) William H. Hazzard's (USNA ’35) USS BLENNY (SS-324). Hazzard torpedoes and sinks small oilers NANSHIN MARU No. 21 carrying 140 tons oil products with the loss of 14 crewmen, and HOSEN MARU, loaded with gasoline with the loss of 170 passengers, eight gunners and 18 crewmen.
21 March 1945:
Off Nha Trang, Indochina. At about 1120, convoy HI-88-I is attacked by Fifth Air Force B-25 "Mitchell" medium-bombers of the 345th Bomb Group that sink CH-33, cargo vessels MOTOYAMA MARU No. 1 and FUSHIMI MARU No. 2. MOTOYAMA MARU No. 1, also sometimes called GENZAN MARU No. 1 sinks with the loss of four crewmen; FUSHIMI MARU No. 2 carrying an estimated 1200 tons of petroleum sinks with three crewmen and 11 others KIA. The B-25's also damage CH-9, small oiler TAKASAGO MARU NO. 6 and cable-layer TATEISHI. Damaged CH-9 and CH-20 take refuge at Nha Trang. At some point during the day USS BAYA attacks again but is driven off by depth charges.
One B-25 is lost. Four crewmembers are captured. One dies of injuries. Later, the Japanese decapitate the other three crewmen.
At 1120, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-33 that reads: “Engaging 15 B-25s. CH-33 and FUSHIMI sank.”
Codebreakers decrypt another message that reads: “At 1100 in position 12-03N, 109-00E convoy HI-88I . . .” CH-33 sunk and “CH-9 is to ---anchor off Natoran at 1200----. Killed in battle: Captain and 7 others. Wounded: 222 men.” A later Japanese report amends the location of this attack to 12-30.7N., 109-14.3E.
27 March 1945:
Nha Trang. CH-9 and CH-20 join convoy HI-88-J from Singapore, the last oil convoy in Operation "Minami-Go"(South). This then consisted of tankers HONAN (ex British RFA WAR SIRDAR), ASOKAWA, KAIKO and SARAWAK MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-1, MANJU and destroyer AMATSUKAZE (with temporary bow fitted).
28 March 1945:
At 0800, departs Nha Trang Bay. At 1040, an air attack begins and ASOKAWA MARU is hit in the engine room and sinks.92 passengers, eight gunners and 34 crewmen are KIA. MANJU and CD-84 rescue survivors. At 1220, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's (USNA ’34) USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) torpedoes HONAN MARU. Her captain runs her aground and she is lost. Five Gunners and 44 crewmen are KIA. NANSHIN MARU No. 30 probably is detached.
29 March 1945:
At 0710, LtCdr Frank M. Smith's (USNA ’35) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) torpedoes and sinks CD-84 at 14-40N, 109-16E. MANJU rescues some survivors. At 1130, another submarine attack coincides with an air attack and KAIKO MARU is bombed and sunk. 12 passengers, four gunners and 19 crewmen are KIA. At 2230, a further air attack damages CD-134. During the day CH-9 is damaged by 345th Bomb Group B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers at 15-10N, 109-26E.
At 1120, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-9 that reads: “Am engaging 15 B-24s (sic) in position 15-10 N, 109-26 E.”

30 March 1945:
At 1000, the escorts, now without a convoy, arrive at Yulin. Air attacks persist and at 1045, CD-26 is damaged by a bomb hit. The destruction of this convoy marks the end of the Singapore-Empire convoys.
4 April 1945:
At 1700, CH-9 departs Hong Kong en route to Shanghai with CH-20, destroyer AMATSUKAZE, kaibokan CD-1 and CD-134 escorting convoy HOMO-03 consisting of TOKAI MARU No. 2 and KINE MARU.
5 April 1945:
Pinghai Bay, China. USN Martin PBM-5 "Mariner" maritime patrol flying boats attack convoy HOMO-03 and sink TOKAI MARU No. 2 at 22-24N, 116-10E. 16 gunners and 13 crewmen are KIA. Later, 5th Air Force B-24 "Liberators", B-26 "Marauders" and P-38 "Lightnings" attack the convoy and sink KINE MARU with 500 troops aboard at 22-24N, 115-28E. 56 passengers, five gunners and 19 crewmen are killed. The convoy is dissolved. CH-9 and CH-20 return to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong. That same day, Far East Air Force B-24s bomb and damage CH-9, CH-20, fleet oiler KAMOI and kaibokan CD-1 and CD-52 at 22-45N, 116-10E.
July 1945:
Returns to the Inland Sea.
15 August 1945:
Kure. CH-9's crew is notified of the termination of hostilities with the Allied Powers.
20 December 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1945-1947:
CH-9 is used as a troop demobilization transport with the Allied Repatriation Service.
3 October 1947:
Tsingtao, China. CH-9 is handed over to the Chinese Nationalist Government. Following the repairs CH-9 is commissioned as patrol vessel HAI TA. Now armed with one 40-mm and two 25-mm AA guns, she is assigned to the First Escort Fleet.
January 1951:
Undergoes repairs at Saei. Renamed FU LING (PF-107).
1954:
Reclassified as subchaser, renamed MIN CHIANG.
16 March 1955:
Stricken from the Navy List.
1960:
Scrapped.

Author's Notes:
[1] This ship was the first Japanese ship of size sunk in the war.
[2] No data were found detailing CH-9's movements during June 1942 to June 1943. Readers with access to such data are requested to post the information on the Discussion and Questions board or at j-aircraft.org's IJN Ship Message Board
Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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