© 2006 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
20 July 1943:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Nihon Kokan’s shipyard.
30 November1943:
Launched and named CHIBURI.
13 May 1944:
Completed and registered in the Kure Naval District. Assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division. Cdr Ishiyama Taizo is the Commanding Officer. Departs Saeki.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
24 May 1944:
Departs Kure.
29 May 1944:
At 0600, CHIBURI departs Moji with escort carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII, kaibokans AWAJI and CD-11 and subchasers CH-19 and CH-60 escorting convoy HI-65 consisting of oilers SHIRETOKO, ITSUKUSHIMA, OMUROSAN, ZUIHO and TOHO MARUs, cargo liners ARIMASAN, MANILA, KASHII and TATSUWA MARUs and troop transport SHINSHU MARU. Light minelayer TSUBAME
departs Moji later, catches up with the convoy, and joins the escort.
2 June 1944:
Bashi Strait. AWAJI is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins' new USS GUITARRO (SS-363) and sinks near Yasho Island at 22-34N, 121-15E. CHIBURI and CD-19 rescue the survivors, but several die of their wounds.
LtCdr Albert L. Raborn's USS PICUDA (SS-382) fires two torpedoes at ARIMASAN MARU that cause her to collide with SHINSHU MARU's stern. This causes a depth charge explosion that kills about 70 men and causes rudder damage. KASHII takes SHINSHU MARU in tow. ARIMASAN MARU is lightly damaged in the attack and heads for Keelung, Formosa with KASHII and SHINSHU MARU.
3 June 1944:
Arrives at Keelung, Formosa.
4 June 1944:
Departs Keelung. Later that day, arrives at Takao, Formosa. KAIYO rejoins the convoy after brief stop at Saei (Tsoying) Formosa. Oiler JINEI MARU joins the convoy at sea. ARIMASAN, MANILA, KASHII, TATSUWA and SHINSHU MARUs are all detached for Manila.
8 June 1944:
Off Indochina. At 0906(H), KAIYO is sighted by Cdr (later Admiral/CINCPACFLT) John S. McCain Jr.’s USS GUNNEL (SS-253) at 11-59N, 112-29E. GUNNEL’s SJ radar picks up an aircraft at 24 miles. The Officer of the Deck (OOD) dives prematurely and contact with the convoy is lost and never regained.
12 June 1944:
At 1350, arrives at Singapore.
17 June 1944:
At 0400, CHIBURI departs Singapore with light cruiser KASHII and kaibokans CD-7 and CD-11 escorting fast convoy HI-66 consisting of transport/cargo liners SANUKI, HOKKAI and AWA MARUs and tanker OMUROSAN MARU. The convoy hugs the continental coast avoiding deep water as much as possible.
26 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Moji.
27 June 1944:
Hitachi's shipyard, Innoshima. Dry-docked.
2 July 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
13 July 1944:
At 1600, CHIBURI departs Mutsure for Manila with Rear
Admiral Sato Tsutomu (former ComSubRon 1) Eighth Escort Convoy Command’s escort
carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokans SADO, CD-7 and CD-17
escorting convoy HI-69 consisting of escort carriers KAIYO and TAIYO each loaded
with aircraft, KIMIKAWA, AKI, ASAMA, SAIGON, HAKKO, KACHIDOKI (ex-PRESIDENT HARRISON), MANKO MARUs and possibly MANJU MARU and tankers KOEI, OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN, KUROSHIO, HARIMA, SERIA, TENEI MARUs.
18 July 1944:
Near Takao, Formosa. About 0600, LtCdr John J. Flachsenhar's USS ROCK (SS-274) fires four torpedoes at HARIMA MARU, but misses. Cdr Alan Banister's USS SAWFISH (USS 276) then fires nine torpedoes at the convoy. HARIMA MARU is hit by a single torpedo, but remains able to steam. At 1055, LtCdr Roger M. Keithy's USS TILEFISH (SS-307) torpedoes and heavily damages CD-17. The convoy continues to Manila without stopping at Takao as originally planned (less MANKO MARU detached the day before and damaged HARIMA MARU and CD-17 that put into Takao).
20 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila at 2100. KAIYO and TAIYO begin unloading aircraft.
25 July 1944:
At 0530, CHIBURI departs Manila for Singapore with escort carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokans SADO, CD-7, CD-9,
CD-13 and CD-17 escorting convoy HI-69 that now consists of KIMIKAWA, HAKKO, OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN, KUROSHIO, SERIA, KACHIDOKI and TENEI MARUs.
31 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
4 August 1944:
At 2100, CHIBURI, departs Singapore for Moji with
escort carrier SHINYO, light cruiser KASHII, destroyer SHIMOTSUKI and kaibokans
SADO and CD-13 and CD-19 escorting convoy HI-70 consisting of MANJU, KINUGASA,
ARIMASAN MARUs and oilers SERIA, KUROSHIO, HAKKO, OMUROSAN and OTOWASAN MARUs.
12 August 1944:
SADO is detached to hunt an enemy submarine. Later,
she proceeds to Kirun separately.
15 August 1944:
HI-70 arrives at Moji at 1430.
25 August 1944:
CHIBURI departs Moji for Singapore with escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII and kaibokans CD-1, CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27 escorting convoy HI-73 consisting of transport/cargo liner KIBITSU MARU, ex-armed merchant cruiser GOKOKU MARU, ex-seaplane tenders KAGU and SANUKI MARUs, tankers TOHO, OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TAIHO, FUJISAN, HAKKO, AMATO, TOA and KUROSHIO MARUs and fleet storeship IRAKO. Later that day, the convoy is joined briefly by transports MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs and tanker MANEI MARU that all depart the following day.
26 August 1944:
At 0900, MIZUHO, ARABIA and KOKURYU MARUs are ordered away because of excessive smoke. The MANEI MARU remains at Kyushu because of engine problems.
29 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa. Departs that same day and arrives at Tsoying (near Takao).
1 September 1944:
Off Saei. The convoy splits. KIBITSU, GOKOKU and KAGU MARUs (and probably IRAKO) head for Manila. The remaining ships head for Singapore.
3 September 1944:
TOA MARU strikes a mine S of Saigon and is lightly damaged, but able to continue.
5 September 1944:
At 0954, arrives at Seletar, Singapore.
11 September 1944:
CHIBURI departs Seletar for Moji with Rear Admiral Yoshitomi Setsuzo's (former CO of KAGA and ComSubRon 7) 5th Guard Fleet's escort carrier UNYO, light cruiser KASHII (F) and kaibokans CD-13, CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27 escorting convoy HI-74 consisting of tankers AZUSA, OTAWASAN, HARIMA, OMUROSAN and HAKKO MARUs.
16 September 1944:
At 2231, OMUROYAMA MARU is hit by a torpedo fired by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's USS QUEENFISH (SS-393). KASHII fires a red flare signalling a submarine attack, but at 2334, 11,177-ton oiler AZUSA MARU is hit starboard side by two of a salvo of six bow torpedoes fired by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Eugene B. Fluckey's BARB (SS-220) at the overlapping targets. AZUSA MARU blows up and sinks with all hands. UNYO is hit starboard side by the other three torpedoes in Fluckey's salvo; one in the stern in the steering compartment, the other in the engine room. UNYO settles aft.
17 September 1944:
By 0730, UNYO is listing heavily to starboard, and the order is given to abandon ship. At 0755, UNYO sinks by the stern at 19-10N, 116-35E. More than 900 crewmen and passengers are lost as are 48 aircraft, including a cargo of 36 Imperial Army planes UNYO was carrying back to Japan for overhaul and repairs. CHIBURI and CD-27 rescue 55 officers and 706 men.
23 September 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Moji.
1 October 1944:
At 0800 CHIBURI, departs Moji with kaibokans CD-19,
CD-21 and CD-27 escorting convoy HI-77 consisting of transports MANJU (ex-SANTOS),
KINUGASA, ORYOKU MARUs, oilers OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, ARITA, ITSUKUSHIMA, AKANE,
TAIHO and KAIHO MARUs, German U-boat supply ship QUITO and two unidentified
ships. Arrives at Arikawa Bay that same day.
2 October 1944:
Departs Arikawa Bay for Singapore.
5 October 1944:
ORYOKU MARU detaches for Kirun. The rest of HI-77
arrives at Takao. Before departing later that day, kaibokans ETOROFU and SHONAN
join the escort.
6 October 1944:
About 1410, LtCdr (later Captain) James B. Grady's USS WHALE (SS-239)
fires five torpedoes at AKANE MARU. They all hit and the 10,000-ton oiler
capsizes and sinks. 765 passengers and crew are killed. Kaibokan CD-21 rescues
her survivors and searches for the attacking submarine. At 1547, Cdr (later Rear
Admiral) Charles W. Wilkins' USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) dives and begins an approach
on the frigate from 16,900 yards. At 1757, Wilkins, now at 700 yards, fires a
full bow spread of six torpedoes. One hits CD-21 that breaks in half and takes
down 170 men.
7 October 1944:
W of Manila. A wolf pack consisting of LtCdr (later Captain) Arnold H.
Holtz’s USS BAYA (SS-318), LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s BECUNA and LtCdr Francis W. Scanland, Jr’s HAWKBILL (SS-366) attacks convoy HI-77. At 2200, KINUGASA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by either BAYA or HAWKBILL. She is carrying about 1,000 IJN personnel, but amazingly only 10 are lost plus 32 crewmen. MANJU MARU drops depth charges to prevent further attack.
12 October 1944:
At 1500, the remainder of HI-77 arrives at Singapore.
16 October 1944:
Keio University, Yokohama. From the Combined Fleet's
headquarters, Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Kusaka Ryunosuke (41)(former CO of
AKAGI) releases a dispatch that assigns CHIBURI, minelayer YURISHIMA, kaibokans
CD-19 and CD-27 and minesweeper W-34 with oiler ITSUKUSHIMA MARU to Vice Admiral
Kurita Takeo's (38)(former CO of KONGO) First Striking Force's 1st Supply Force
with oilers NICHEI, YUHO, OMUROSAN, RYOEI and BANEI MARUs. Later, IJA oilers
HAKKO and NIPPO MARUs are also assigned to Kurita's force.
17 October 1944:
Vice Admiral Kurita orders CHIBURI and CD-19 to
proceed to Brunei Bay, Borneo with ITSUKUSHIMA and BANEI MARUs. Later, he also
orders minelayer YURISHIMA and CD-27 to proceed to Brunei with NIPPO and
OMUROSAN MARUs.
19 October 1944:
Departs Singapore.
22 October 1944:
Arrives at Brunei. At 0800, Kurita's Striking Force
steams for Leyte Gulf via the Sibuyan Sea and San Bernardino Strait. Kurita
orders Vice Admiral Nishimura Shoji's (39)(former CO of HARUNA) BatDiv 2,
cruiser MOGAMI and four destroyers to sortie through Surigao Strait to Leyte
Gulf to envelop the U.S. invasion forces. Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide's
(39)(former CO of OI) Fifth Fleet from the Pescadores is also to sortie through
Surigao Strait to Leyte Gulf.
24 October 1944:
Brunei. ITSUKUSHIMA MARU loads 13,000-tons of oil.
CHIBURI departs with kaibokans CD-17, CD-19 and CD-27 escorting oiler NIPPO MARU
to refuel Shima's force.
25 October 1944:Operation "SHO-I-GO" (Victory)
- The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
In the course of battle, Kurita loses superbattleship MUSASHI, cruisers ATAGO, MAYA, CHOKAI, CHIKUMA and SUZUYA with KUMANO and TAKAO damaged severely. Several destroyers are also lost and damaged. Nishimura loses old battleships FUSO and YAMASHIRO and cruiser MOGAMI. Shima arrives behind Nishimura's force and wisely reverses course away from certain destruction.
8 November 1944:
Off Mindoro, Philippines. CHIBURI, destroyer SHIGURE and kaibokan CD-19 are escorting a convoy consisting of tanker MANEI MARU and possibly others. The convoy is attacked by a wolfpack of Cdr Thomas B. Oakley, Jr’s USS GROWLER (SS-215)(F), LtCdr Frank E. Haylor's HAKE (SS-256) and LtCdr Francis A. Greenup's HARDHEAD (SS-365). During the action, at about 0400, HARDHEAD sinks MANEI MARU at 13-30N, 119-25E. The escorts launch a heavy depth charge counter-attack and possibly sink GROWLER that goes MIA after this attack.
20 December 1944:
Destroyers KASUMI and HATSUSHIMO are towing heavy cruiser MYOKO, torpedoed by USS BERGALL (SS-320) on 13 December, towards Singapore. CHIBURI arrives and replaces KASUMI that is detached for Saigon
to become flagship of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's (former CO of SUZUYA) Operation "REI-GO" force in the bombardment of the American beachhead at San Jose on Mindoro Island, Philippines.
25 December 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
4 January 1945:
Departs Singapore.
10 January 1945:
Arrives at Cap St. Jacques, Indochina.
12 January 1945:
Off Cape St. Jacques. Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain, Sr.’s Task Force 38's attacks shipping, airfields and other shore installations in the Saigon area. Planes from USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), HANCOCK (CV-19) and HORNET (CV-12) sink kaibokan CD-17 and CD-19. CHIBURI
is also sunk with the loss of 88 crewmen at 10-20N, 107-50E. Her wounded CO, Cdr Ishiyama survives.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa for help in identifying kaibokan COs.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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