© 2006-2009 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 4
23 March 1942:
Osaka. Laid down at Hitachi Zosen’s Sakurajima shipyard as kaibokan No. 310.
29 January 1943:
Launched and named ETOROFU.
15 May 1943:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District.
1 June 1943:
Assigned to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Takasu Shiro's (35)(former CO of IZUSU) Southwest Area Fleet's First Surface Escort Division.
7 June 1943:
ETOROFU departs Moji escorting convoy No. 164 consisting of KIRISHIMA MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
15 June 1943:
ETOROFU departs Takao escorting convoy No. 272 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
20 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
2 July 1943:
Departs Sasebo escorting fleet convoy "G"consisting of transport KAGU MARU, armed merchant cruiser KIYOSUMI MARU and oiler KENYO MARU.
10 July 1943:
At 1500, arrives at Singapore.
17 July 1943:
ETOROFU departs Singapore escorting the “L” convoy consisting of KIYOKAWA and OTOWASAN MARUs.
23 July 1943:
At 1240, arrives at Takao.
25 July 1943:
Convoy HI-03 consisting of NANKAI, AWA, ASAMA and tanker OMUROSAN MARU arrives at Takao. At Takao, the convoy is joined by cargo ship ARIMASAN MARU and ETOROFU.
26 July 1943:
At 1600, the convoy departs Takao.
29 July 1943:
At 1650, surfaced German U-511 inbound from France encounters Singapore-bound convoy HI-03. The sight of a strange-looking submarine causes confusion aboard OMUROSAN MARU and her gunners fire three shells at U-511, before the mistake is cleared up. The skipper of ETOROFU inspects U-511 and personally apologizes for the attack.
1 August 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Singapore.
5 August 1943:
At 1400, ETOROFU departs Singapore escorting convoy HI-04 consisting of oiler ITSUKUSHIMA MARU and four unidentified fast ships, probably including cargo ship NICHIRAN MARU.
10 August 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
11 August 1943:
At 1700, departs Manila. At 2030, ETOROFU discovers a surfaced submarine 5,000 yards ahead and opens fire with her forward gun forcing the submarine to submerge. ETOROFU drops depth charges for no visible results. For the next two days, ETOROFU continues to hunt in the area without success
while the convoy steams ahead unescorted. [1]
E 14 August 1943:
ETOROFU returns to Manila. The convoy arrives at Moji the next day.
17 August 1943:
Arrives at Tokuyama.
15 August 1943:
ETOROFU departs Manila in the "Rin S" convoy consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
19 August 1943:
Shelters at an unidentified location because of heavy weather
20 August 1943:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Oka Iwao (50) assumes command.
23 August 1943:
Departs and later that day arrives at Moji, then Tokuyama.
25 August 1943:
At 0900, departs Moji escorting convoy HI-07 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, GOYO (ex cargo), NAMPO, OMUROSAN and NANEI MARUs (ex-MANATAWNY) and cargo-passenger ship USSURI MARU.
29 August 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Mako. ETOROFU is detached and replaced by kaibokan SADO.
2 September 1943:
ETOROFU departs Moji escorting convoy SA-12 consisting of RYUEI MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
4 September 1943:
East China Sea. LtCdr Ian C. Eddy’s USS PARGO (264) torpedoes and damages RYUEI MARU at 30-06N, 128-02E, but she is able to continue.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
25 September 1943:
At 1200, departs Moji escorting high speed convoy HI-11 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA and KYUEI MARUs, ex-seaplane tender KAGU MARU and two other ships.
29 September 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Takao and departs that same day.
4 October 1943:
At 1835, arrives at Singapore.
10 October 1943:
At 1358, departs Singapore escorting convoy HI-12 consisting of MIIKE MARU and two unidentified merchants possibly including oiler ITSUKUSHIMA MARU.
16 October 1943:
At 1422, arrives at Takao.
17 October 1943:
At 1306, departs Takao.
20 October 1943:
ETOROFU is detached from the convoy. Later that day, arrives at Sasebo, possibly to undergo routine maintenance.
28 October 1943:
At 1607, departs Moji with kaibokan MATSUWA escorting convoy HI-17 consisting of passenger ships ASAMA, AKITSU, tankers OMUROSAN, TATEKAWA and ITSUKUSHIMA MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
1 November 1943:
At 1115, arrives at Takao. Passenger ship KACHIDOKI MARUs (ex-USS PRESIDENT HARRISON), tankers TAKASAKI and TARAKAN join the convoy. ETOROFU is detached from the convoy.
11 November 1943:
ETOROFU departs Miri escorting the TOKU special convoy consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
15 November 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
19 November 1943:
ETOROFU departs Manila escorting convoy No. 874 consisting of nine unidentified merchant ships.
24 November 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
29 November 1943:
ETOROFU departs Takao with auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU escorting convoy No. 223 consisting of 10 unidentified merchant ships.
6 December 1943:
Arrives at Sasebo. Departs the same day and arrives at Moji.
10 January 1944:
At 1600, departs Moji for Singapore escorting convoy HI-33 consisting of AOBASAN MARU and tankers YUHO, TARAKAN, ASASHIO and ASANAGI MARU and an unidentified ship.
14 January 1944:
At 1933 arrives at Takao.
16 January 1944:
At 1400, departs Takao.
23 January 1944:
At 1030, the convoy arrives at Singapore
27 January 1944:
At 1000, departs Singapore escorting convoy HI-34 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
1 February 1944:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Ikeda Akira (50) is posted as Commanding Officer.
4 February 1944:
At 1035, arrives at Takao.
6 February 1944:
At 1030, departs Takao.
10 February 1944:
At 1000, arrives at Moji.
21 February 1944:
At 0700, ETOROFU and kaibokan SADO depart Moji for Singapore escorting convoy HI-47 consisting of oilers AMATSU, OMINESAN, OTOWASAN and KYOKUHO MARUs and NOSHIRO MARU.
26 February 1944:
At 0850, the convoy arrives at Takao.
27 February 1944:
At midnight, the convoy departs Takao, its number swelled by five unidentified merchants and kaibokan IKI.
4 March 1944:
LtCdr Charles M. Henderson's USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) torpedoes and sinks OMINESAN MARU at 05-29N, 108-46E.
5 March 1944:
At 1100, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Singapore.
11 March 1944:
At 0730, departs Singapore with kaibokans MIYAKE, SHIMUSHU and IKI escorting convoy HI-48 consisting of transport/cargo liners AWA, SANUKI, TEIA and HOKURIKU MARUs, oilers OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TATEKAWA, ITSUKUSHIMA, SEIYO, NICHIEI and KUROSHIO MARUs and two unidentified ships.
14 March 1944:
Gulf of Thailand. SANUKI MARU is damaged by a mine or torpedo. The damage causes her to drop out of the convoy on the coast. At 1700, ETOROFU arrives at Van Phong Bay, French Indochina.
15 March 1944:
At 1100, departs Van Phong Bay.
18 March 1944:
At 0114, HOKURIKU MARU is hit by three torpedoes fired by LtCdr Lowell T. Stone's USS LAPON (SS-260). One hit causes an induced explosion. HOKURIKU MARU sinks with 6,700-tons of bauxite and 600-tons of crude oil at 19-24N, 116-50E. TEIA MARU sends off a report of the attack. Later that day, KASHII MARU joins the
convoy.
19 March 1944:
At 0600, kaibokan SHIMUSHU runs aground, but later that day is refloated. At 1600, the convoy arrives at Takao.
20 March 1944:
At 1300, departs Takao.
25 March 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Moji.
1 April 1944:
Departs Moji with escort carrier KAIYO and kaibokans IKI, SHIMUSHU, CD-8, CD-9 and torpedo boat SAGI escorting convoy HI-57 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, OTOWASAN, RYOEI and OMUROSAN MARUs, troop transports SHINSHU and MAYASAN MARUs and three unidentified ships.
2 April 1944:
The convoy encounters extremely severe weather and returns to Moji.
3 April 1944:
At 0600, the unchanged convoy departs Moji.
7 April 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Takao.
8 April 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
12 April 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Camranh Bay.
13 April 1944:
At 1200, departs Camranh Bay.
16 April 1944:
At 1240, arrives at Singapore.
21 April 1944:
At 0700, departs Singapore with escort carrier KAIYO and kaibokans IKI, SHIMUSHU, CD-8 and CD-9 escorting convoy HI-58 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, RYOEI, OMUROSAN, and OTOWASAN MARUs, troop transport SHINSHU MARU, and probably ZUIHO and MAYASAN MARUs.
24 April 1944:
E of Saigon. USS ROBALO (SS-273) under LtCdr Manning M. Kimmel (son of Admiral H. E. Kimmel, former CINCPACFLT at Pearl Harbor) attempts to attack the convoy but is sighted by a Nakajima B5N2 "Kate” of the 931st NAG detachment from KAIYO. The B5N2 drops one 250-kg depth-charge on the submerged submarine and causes medium damage.
3 May 1944:
HI-58 arrives at Moji. ITSUKUSHIMA MARU and ETOROFU are detached to Sasebo arriving later that day.
13 May 1944:
ETOROFU departs Moji with kaibokan CD-2 and CD-17 escorting convoy MOTA-19 consisting of 23 unidentified merchant ships.
20 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
22 May 1944:
ETOROFU departs Takao with kaibokan CD-2 and CD-17 and auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU escorting convoy TAMA-19 consisting of 22 unidentified merchant ships.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
29 May 1944:
ETOROFU departs Manila with kaibokan CD-17 escorting convoy MASHI-01 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.
6 June 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
13 June 1944:
ETOROFU departs Singapore escorting convoy SHIMA-01 consisting of tankers SAN PEDRO and MEDAN MARUs and five unidentified ships. [2]
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
24 June 1944:
At 0630, ETOROFU departs Manila with kaibokans CD-8 and CD-17 escorting convoy MATA-23 consisting of tankers SAN PEDRO, MEDAN and RIKKO MARUs and cargo ships KAMO, USSURI, NICHIZUI, TASMANIA, KAZAN and TOUN MARUs and six unidentified ships.
25 June 1944:
At 0430, SAN PEDRO MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Arthur E. Krapf's USS JACK (SS-259) at 16-09N, 119-41E. NICHIZUI MARU rescues survivors. Convoy leader ETOROFU orders evasive manoevres.
27 June 1944:
At 0517, MEDAN MARU is torpedoed and sunk with no survivors by LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) at 21-10N, 120-31E. Later that day, at 1518, SEAHORSE again attacks. USSURI MARU is hit on the port bow and damaged. At 2245, a B-24 "Liberator" bombs USSURI MARU, but misses.
28 June 1944:
At 0315, straggler USSURI MARU is bombed and sunk at 23-45N, 119-57E. Shortly after, at 0335, RIKKO MARU is slightly damaged by air attack.
29 June 1944:
At 0900, the convoy arrives at Keelung.
30 June 1944:
At 0600, ETOROFU departs Keelung with minesweeper NUWAJIMA and kaibokan CD-17 escorting convoy TAMO 20B consisting of KAMO, MANSHU, KONZAN, YAMAHAGI, SHIROTAE, TOUN and TASMANIA MARUs.
1 July 1944:
Cdr Ikeda is posted for reassignment. An unknown captain is posted as Commanding Officer.
3 July 1944:
At 2300, KAMO and KONZAN MARUs are torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Donald F. Weiss' USS TINOSA (SS-283) at 32-25N, 128-.50E.
4 July 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Moji.
July 1944:
An unknown Cdr assumes command.
4 August 1944:
Departs Moji for Takao with kaibokans HIBURI, CD-25, CD-32 escorting convoy MOTA-22 consisting of KENJO, GETSUZAN, HAKUSAN, TEIKO, TERUKUNI, TACHIBANA, NANREI, GENKAI, TEIHOKU, HIDA, MANSHU, SHIRANESAN, SHONAN and KOSHIN MARUs and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, DAIBOSHI MARU No. 6 and six other unidentified ships.
6 August 1944:
Off SW Kyushu. At 0411, LtCdr (later Admiral/CINCPACFLT) Bernard A. Clarey’s USS PINTADO (SS-387) torpedoes and sinks SHONAN MARU at 30-53N, 129-45E.
8 August 1944:
Convoy HI-71 departs Imari Bay for Singapore. HI-71 is comprised of oilers AZUSA, TEIYO, EIYO, ZUIHO, AMATSU, KYOKUTO and NIYO MARUs and HAKKO MARU No. 2, fleet oiler HAYASUI, food-supply ship IRAKO, transports TEIA, AWA, NOTO, HOKKAI, TAMATSU, NOSHIRO and MAYASAN MARUs and cargo ships KASHII, NISSHO and ORYOKU MARUs. The convoy's screen is provided by Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka Sadamichi's (former CO of KISO) 6th Escort Convoy with destroyers FUJINAMI and YUNAGI, kaibokans HIRATO, KURAHASHI, MIKURA, SHONAN and CD-11 and escort carrier TAIYO. Later that day, ETOROFU arrives at Keelung with MOTA- 22.
11 August 1944:
ETOROFU arrives alone at Saei (Tsoying), Formosa.
15 August 1944:
HI-71 arrives at Mako, Pescadores. NIYO, HAKKO and ORYOKU MARUs and IRAKO are detached.
17 August 1944: Operation "SHO-1-GO" (Victory) - The Defense of the Philippines:
At 0800, in typhoon weather, HI-71 sorties from Mako for Manila. Old destroyer ASAKAZE and kaibokans SADO, MATSUWA and HIBURI arrive from Takao and ETOROFU from Saei, on the orders of 1st Surface Escort Division to strengthen HI-71's escort forces.
18 August 1944:
At 0524, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Louis D. McGregor's USS REDFISH (SS-395) torpedoes and damages EIYO MARU. ASAKAZE and YUNAGI are detached to escort her back to Takao.
Off Cape Bolinao, Luzon. At 2210, LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks oiler TEIYO MARU in a surface radar attack. At 2222, Munson torpedoes and sinks carrier TAIYO at the rear of the convoy. At 2310, RASHER, still on the surface, hits transport TEIA MARU with three torpedoes using radar bearings. The ex-French liner is set afire and sinks.
19 August 1944:
The convoy splits into two groups. Just past midnight, RASHER, still running on the surface, closes on an eastbound group of three large ships and one escort. At 0033, LtCdr Munson puts two radar-directed torpedoes into the port sides of AWA and NOSHIRO MARUs. Both ships beach themselves near Port Currimao. LtCdr Charles M. Henderson's USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) and LtCdr (later Captain) Gordon W. Underwood's SPADEFISH (SS-411) join in the attack on HI-71. At 0320, BLUEFISH hits and sinks HAYASUI. SPADEFISH hits TAMATSU MARU with two torpedoes and the big landing craft depot ship rolls over and takes
down 4,755 men. HI-71 makes for San Fernando.
21 August 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
27 August 1944:
At 0900, ETOROFU departs Manila with kaikobans SHIMUSHU, SHONAN, CD-7 and CD-28, subchaser CH-41 and patrol boat No. 102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) escorting convoy MAMO-02 consisting of KASHI, MAYASAN, NISSHO and NOTO MARUs. At 1548, anchors in Subic Bay.
28 August 1944:
At 0600, departs Subic Bay.
30 August 1944:
Arrives at Takao. Destroyers WAKABA and HATSUSHIMO join the escort. Subchaser CH-41, patrol boat No. 102 and kaibokan CD-7 and CD-28 are detached.
31 August 1944:
Departs Takao. Later that day, ORYOKU MARU joins the convoy.
4 September 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Takao.
9 September 1944:
At 1200, ETOROFU departs Moji with kaikobans SHONAN, CD-6 and CD-16, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU escorting convoy MI-19 consisting of tankers CHIHAYA, SAN DIEGO, IWAKUNI, KENZUI and MITSU MARUs and cargo ships DAIBIN, ENOURA, MATSUURA, YULIN, HAKUSHIKA, ARISAN, TEIFU, TASMANIA , SHINSEI, DAIA, NIKKO and SHUNSHO MARU.
10 September 1944:
At 1212, CHIHAYA MARU is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr's Edward E. Shelby's USS SUNFISH (SS-281) at 33-49N, 127-41E. The convoy immediately retires to Chinto (Chin Hajo Island) where it regroups. The escorts launch a concerted, but unsuccessful attempt to find the submarine.
12 September 1944:
Convoy MI-19 departs Chinto. ETOROFU, by this time, is well ahead of the convoy.
16 September 1944:
At Yulin, ETOROFU joins convoy HI-72/ MAMO-03 which after a series of devastating attacks in the South China Sea consists of ASAMA, KAGU, GOKOKU and KIBITSU MARUs. ETOROFU departs port with kaibokans MIKURA, CD-10, CD-18 and CD-26 as part of the escort.
17 September 1944:
MI-19 (without ETOROFU) splits. SHUNSHO, NIKKO, MATSUURA, ENOURA and KENZUI MARUs with kaibokan SHONAN head for Keelung.
18 September 1944:
The rest of the convoy arrives at Takao. DAIBIN MARU is detached and steams ahead. SAN DIEGO MARU remains temporarily behind, catching up later. Cargo ship KENEI MARU joins the convoy. The escorts assigned are now ETOROFU (still away escorting HI-72), CD-18, CD-26 and subchaser CH-19.
20 September 1944:
At 0110, at 23-20N, 119-12E HI-72 is attacked by B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers. GOKOKU MARU is damaged by a direct hit and ASAMA MARU suffers a near miss aft. Both are towed into nearby Mako Port for repairs. KAGU MARU and kaibokan MIKURA are damaged. KAGU MARU heads for Takao while MIKURA is towed by CD-18 to Mako. ETOROFU probably escorts the cripples and KIBITSU MARU to either Mako or Takao and arrives at one of these locations later that day. ETOROFU probably is detached from HI-72.
30 September 1944:
MI-19 departs Takao.
2 October 1944:
Arrives at Aparri. Later, at 2300, departs.
3 October 1944:
Arrives at Lapoc. ETOROFU probably detaches and returns to Takao.
5 October 1944:
Convoy HI-77 arrives at Takao consisting of transports SANTOS, MANJU and KINUGASA, MARUs, oilers OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, ARITA, ITSUKUSHIMA, AKANE, TAIHO and KAIHO MARUs, German supply ship QUITO and an unidentified vessel escorted by kaibokan CHIBURI and CD-19, CD-21 and CD-27.
Before departing later the same day, HI-77’s escort is bolstered by inclusion of kaibokans ETOROFU and SHONAN.
6 October 1944:
250 miles W of Manila. After patrolling the Luzon Strait, a wolfpack consisting of LtCdr Arnold H. Holtz’s USS BAYA (SS-318), LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s BECUNA (SS-319) and LtCdr Francis W. Scanland, Jr’s HAWKBILL (SS-366) heads through the South China Sea towards Fremantle, Australia.
About 1400, LtCdr James B. Grady's USS WHALE (SS-239) torpedoes and sinks oiler AKANE MARU. At 1757, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles W. Wilkins' SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and sinks CD-21.
7 October 1944:
At about 2200, KINUGASA MARU is hit by three more torpedoes. Abandon Ship is ordered soon thereafter. At 2224, HAWKBILL, running on the surface, attacks the same large freighter. LtCdr Scanland fires four torpedoes and gets three hits followed by an ammo explosion. LtCdr Holtz’s BAYA also fires torpedoes at KINUGASA MARU. At 2227, KINUGASA MARU sinks.
12 October 1944:
At 1500, the remainder of HI-77 arrives at Singapore.
20 October 1944:
Departs Singapore for Moji with kaibokan SHONAN escorting convoy HI-78 consisting of tankers TOHO and KUROSHIO MARU and an unidentified ship.
22 October 1944:
Kaibokan TSUSHIMA joins the escort.
9 November 1944:
HI-78 arrives at Moji
14 November 1944:
Rear Admiral Sato Tsutomu's (former CO of FUSO) Eighth Escort Convoy’s flagship ETOROFU departs Imari Bay (Moji) for Singapore with escort carrier SHINYO, destroyer KASHI and kaibokans TSUSHIMA, DAITO, KUME, SHONAN, CD-9 and CD-61 escorting convoy HI-81 consisting of SHINSHU, KIBITSU, AKITSU,
MIRI, ARITA, HASHIDATE, KIMIKAWA, MAYASAN, OTOWASAN and TOA MARUs. HI-81 makes
an overnight stop off Goto Island.
15 November 1944:
Departs Goto Island. At 1156, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) torpedoes and sinks AKITSU MARU at 33-17N, 32-00E with the loss of 2,300 men.
16 November 1944:
Convoy HI-81 anchors off Korea, near Strange Island.
17 November 1944:
At 0800, HI-81 departs Strange Island for the Chusan (now Zhoushan) Islands near Shanghai. At 1815, LtCdr Evan T. Shepard's USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoes and sinks MAYASAN MARU with the loss of 3,187 soldiers, 194 naval gunners and 56 sailors.
At 2303, LtCdr Underwood's USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) torpedoes and sinks SHINYO at 32-59N, 123-38E. Destroyer KASHI counter-attacks, but with uncertain results. Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Ishii Shizue (former CO of JUNYO and CHUYO) skipper of SHINYO and more than 700 men are lost.
18 November 1944:
At 0220, CD-61 is ordered to locate and assist SHINYO. At 0315, TSUSHIMA drops 15 depth-charges on an enemy submarine, which on the basis of fuel oil and other debris, is claimed sunk in a report at 0426. At
0800, Rear Admiral Sato aboard ETOROFU orders TSUSHIMA to proceed to the scene and take aboard SHINYO’s survivors. At 1600, HI-81 arrives off Raffles Island E of Shanghai and awaits the rescue escorts to rejoin.
21 November 1944:
HI-81 departs for Mako.
23 November 1944:
The convoy splits into two sections, one heads for Singapore via Mako and the other for Luzon via Takao. That evening, ETOROFU and the Singapore contingent arrive at Mako.
27 November 1944:
HI-81’s second section departs Mako for Singapore screened by ETOROFU, KUME, CD-9, CD-61 and escort destroyer KASHI.
4 December 1944:
HI-81 arrives at Singapore.
12 December 1944:
At 1600, ETOROFU departs Singapore with kaibokans SHONAN, KUME, CD-9 and CD-19 escorting covooy HI-82 consisting of tankers OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN, ARITA, PALEMBANG and HASHIDATE MARUs.
17 December 1944:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
19 December 1944:
Departs Camranh Bay.
22 December 1944:
At 0550, OTOWASAN, OMUROSAN and ARITA MARUs are all torpedoed by LtCdr George W. Grider's USS FLASHER (SS-249). All three burst into flames and sink at 15-02N, 109-08E.
24 December 1944:
At 0900, the surviving ships arrive at Takao. HASHIDATE MARU discharges her cargo of petrol and later returns to Singapore.
E 25 December 1944:
ETOROFU and escorts depart Takao with PALEMBANG MARU. The ship steams north hugging the Chinese continental coast in shallow waters.
That same day, ETOROFU, KUNASHIRI and SHIMUSHU are reassigned to Vice Admiral Goto Eiji 's
(37)(former CO of MUTSU) 12th Air Fleet's Kuriles Area Base Fleet.
9 January 1945:
Arrives at Sasebo.
11 January 1945:
Drydocked.
24 January 1945:
Undocked.
7 February 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
10 February 1945:
ETOROFU departs Moji with OKINAWA, UKU and CD-39 escorting convoy MOTA-35 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
19 February 1945:
Arrives at Keelung.
25 February 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
March 1945:
Escorts a convoy to Shanghai, China.
10 April 1945:
Reassigned with kaibokan KASADO to the 104th Escort Squadron, Ominato Naval Guard District.
7 May 1945:
At 1452, ETOROFU departs Otaru, Hokkaido for the Kuriles with kaibokans KASADO and FUKUE escorting convoy KI-704 consisting of KOKAI, SHOKA, KOJO and EIHO MARUs.
14 May 1945:
At 1815, arrives at Paramushiro, Kuriles.
19 May 1945:
At 0130, ETOROFU departs Paramushiro with kaibokan KASADO and FUKUE escorting convoy O-904 consisting of KOKAI, SHOKA, KOJO MARUs and tanker EIHO MARU.
24 May 1945:
At 2145, arrives at Otaru.
18 June 1945:
The 104th Escort Squadron is reassigned to the 12th Air Fleet.
15 August 1945: Cessation of Hostilities:
At Wakkanai, Hokkaido.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1 December 1945:
Appointed a special cargo ship in the Allied Repatriation Service at Wakkanai, Hokkaido. Performs demobilization transport duties. [3]
9 January 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
26 October 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
5 November 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
6 November 1945:
Departs Manila.
11 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
4 December 1945:
Departs Kure.
5 December 1945:
Arrives at Saeki.
10 December 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
15 December 1945:
Departs Manila.
20 December 1945:
Arrives Pusan. Later that day departs and anchors in islands nearby.
22 December 1945:
Re-arrives at Pusan. Enters dockyard.
4 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
5 February 1946:
Arrives at Pusan and departs later that day.
7 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
10 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
13 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
14 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
16 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
19 February 1946:
Departs Hakata. Later that same day arrives and then departs from Pusan.
21 February 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo.
24 February 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
26 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
4 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
5 March 1946:
Arrives and departs Pusan and late that day arrives back at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
6 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
7 March 1946:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
8 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
30 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
2 April 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.
5 April 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 April 1946:
Departs Hakata.
8 April 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
9 April 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
10 April 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers. Undergoes repairs.
18 May 1946:
Departs Hakata.
21 May 1946:
Arrives at Korojima, China near Tientsin. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
26 May 1946:
Departs Korojima.
29 May 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
3 June 1946 :
Departs Hakata.
4 June 1946:
Arrives ats Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
7 June 1946:
Departs Korojima.
10 June 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
15 June 1946:
Departs Hakata.
18 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima and departs later that day.
21 June 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
24 June 1946:
Departs Hakata.
27 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 June 1946:
Departs Korojima.
1 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers
8 July 1946:
Departs Hakata.
13 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
16 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Undergoes repairs at Sasebo.
15 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
16 August 1946:
Arrives at Naze port on Amami-O-Shima Island. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated. Departs later that day.
18 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
22 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 August 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
24 August 1946:
Departs Naze.
25 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
30 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
31 August 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 September 1946:
Arrives at Koniya and departs later that day.
2 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
11 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
12 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
13 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
15 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
16 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day and arrives at Kure.
20 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
21 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated. Departs later that day and arrives at Koniya.
22 September 1946:
Departs Koniya and later that day arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
26 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
28 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
29 September 1946:
Departs Naze.
30 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
3 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
4 October 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
5 October 1946:
Departs Naze.
6 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
10 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
11 October 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
12 October 1946:
Departs Naze.
13 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers
17 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
18 October 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
21 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers and undergoes repairs.
20 November 1946:
Departs Ujina.
23 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
27 November 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers
12 December 1946:
Departs Kure.
15 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 December 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
19 December 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers
29 December 1946:
Relieved of repatriation duties. Ceded to the United States as a war reparation.
5 August 1947:
Handed over to the USN at Kure.
13 October 1947:
Kure. Begins scrapping.
Authors' Notes:
[1] The submarine probably was USS KINGFISH (SS-234).
[2] Some ships of MATA-23 (24 Jun '44) probably make up some of the five unidentified ships of convoy SHIMA-01.
[3] Allied occupation forces were responsible for the return of six million Japanese military personnel and civilians from Japan's defunct far-flung Empire. In addition, there were over a million Korean and about 40,000 Chinese prisoners and conscript laborers and approximately 7,000 Formosans and 15,000 Ryukyu Islanders to be repatriated.
Some Allied and many former IJN warships, from aircraft carriers to kaibokan, were used to facilitate the enormous repatriation effort. Japanese vessels and crews were used to the fullest extent possible to conserve Allied manpower and accelerate demobilization. Each ex-IJN ship first had to be demilitarized; guns removed or, in the case of large warships, barrels severed, ammunition landed, and radar and catapults removed, if fitted. Repatriation of the Chinese on Japanese ships began early in October from Hakata, but U.S. guard detachments had to be placed on many ships to prevent disorder because the Japanese crews could not control the returnees.
Japanese-run repatriation centers were established at Kagoshima, Hario near Sasebo, and Hakata near Fukuoka. Other reception centers were established and operated at Maizuru, Shimonoseki, Sasebo, Senzaki, Kure, Uraga, Yokohama, Moji and Hakodate. Allied line and medical personnel supervised the centers. Incoming Japanese were sprayed with DDT, examined and inoculated for typhus and smallpox, provided with food, and transported to his final destination in Japan.
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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