KUCHIKUKAN!

(HASU)

IJN Second Class Destroyer HASU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2008-2019 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 17


24 January 1918:
Designated HASU, destroyer No. 2.

2 March 1921:
Laid down at Uraga Dock Co.

8 December 1921:
Launched.

1 March 1922:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Saito Jiro (36)(former CO of SUMIDA) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).

31 July 1922:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Assigned to DesRon 28. LtCdr Saito is the CO.

1 December 1923:
Lt (later Rear Admiral) Naotsuka Hachiro (38) assumes acting command.

1 December 1924:
Lt Naotsuka is promoted LtCdr and is appointed CO.

1 May 1925:
Lt (later Captain) Ito Akira (39)(former CO of MIKAZUKI) is appointed CO.

1 November 1927:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Ihara Mikio (40)(former CO of MOMI) is appointed CO.

5 September 1929:
LtCdr (Vice Admiral, posthumously), the Baron, Ijuin Matsuji (43) (former division officer of YAKUMO) is appointed CO.

1 November 1929:
LtCdr Ijuin is appointed CO of destroyer YOMOGI "on paper" as an additional duty.

30 November 1929:
LtCdr Ijuin is relieved of duties for YOMOGI.

1 December 1931:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Takeuchi Kaoru (46) (former division officer of ISE) is appointed CO.

23 April 1932:
Lt (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Yamada Yusuke (48)(former CO of W-1) is appointed CO.

1 December 1932:
Lt Yamada is promoted LtCdr.

25 May 1933:
Lt (later Cdr) Tomura Kiyoshi (49) is appointed CO.

1 December 1933:
Lt Kawai Hideo (49) is appointed the CO.

10 October 1935:
Following Lt Kawai’s death on 8 October, LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Suzuki Masakane (50) is appointed CO.

6 January 1936:
LtCdr Tomura Kiyoshi is appointed the CO for his second tenure aboard HASU.

1 June 1937:
LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Tsukamoto Moritaro (50) is appointed the CO.

7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The"First China Incident") Incident:
Hun River, Lukuokiao, China. Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops on night maneuvers at the Marco Polo Bridge fire blank cartridges. Chinese troops across the river think they are under attack. They fire live rounds back, but do not cause injuries. At morning roll call, the Japanese discover Private Shimura Kikujiro missing and assume the Chinese have captured him. The Japanese demand entry to the Peiping (Beijing) suburb of Wanping to look for the soldier, but the Chinese refuse. Major (later MajGen, posthumously) Ichiki Kiyonao orders an immediate attack on Wanping, The Japanese then shell the city. An undeclared war on China begins.

12 November 1937:
Shanghai is captured.

1 December 1937:
LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Matsumoto Hideshi (52) is appointed CO.

13 June 1938 - The Battle of Wuhan:
Yangtze River. The Japanese make a naval landing at Anqing supported by 100 vessels, including more than 40 destroyers, mine sweepers, naval and river gunboats and blockade boats. HASU is in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kondo Eijiro’s (36) 11th Sentai with second-class destroyers TSUGA and KURI. The landing force totals about 12,000 men and 80 to 90 guns. The Japanese begin the Battle of Wuhan to annihilate the Chinese Army and force them to surrender. The battle rages over for four months and ends in a stalemate.

2 October 1938:
At Shizi mountain, China, at 1110, comes alongside to port of destroyer tender NIPPONKAI MARU and retroffits gun barrel. At 1615, retrofitting gun barrel is completed.

10 October 1938:
At Qichun, China, at 1705, SHINYU MARU No. 1 comes alongside to port of NIPPONKAI MARU and transfers the main anchor for HASU.

11 October 1938:
NIPPONKAI MARU delivers the main anchor.

1 December 1938:
LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Seo Noboru (51)(former CO of WAKATAKE) is appointed CO.

25 September 1939:
LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Sasakawa Hiroshi (50) is appointed CO.

15 October 1940:
LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Matsuda Koru (55) is appointed the CO.

20 August 1941:
Lt (Cdr, posthumously) Iuchi Gisaburo (58) is appointed CO.

November 1941:
HASU is in Vice Admiral (Fleet Admiral, postumously) Koga Mineichi’s (34)(former CO of ISE) China Area Fleet in Vice Admiral Makita Kakusaburo's (38)(former CO of KIRISHIMA) Shanghai Area Base Force with second-class destroyers KURI and TSUGA.

8 December 1941:
Shanghai. Captain Otani Inaho (51) and a detachment of Special Naval Landing Force troops arrive and board British river gunboat HMS PETEREL moored nearby. Otani informs her CO, Lt Stephen Polkinghorn, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, that their countries are at war and demands the surrender of the ship. Polkinghorn refuses and orders the Japanese off at gunpoint. Illuminated by coast defense ship (ex-armored cruiser) IZUMO’s searchlights, HASU, gunboats TOBA, SETA and ATAMI and IJA artillery pieces ashore sink HMS PETEREL by gunfire. Six of HMS PETEREL’s crew of 21 men are lost, but Polkinghorn, although wounded, and the others survive and are made POWs.

Later that day HASU departs Shanghai and patrols off Bell Buoy.

15 December 1941:
At 1530 departs Shanghai escorting a convoy consisting of TEIYO, CALCUTTA and HIBURI MARUs bound for Takao. The ships clear Woosing at 1940 and sail at 10 knots, later adjusted to 9 knots.

23 December 1941:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

26 December 1941:
Departs Shanghai on patrol. Escorts SHOZAN MARU to Hua Niao Shan.

31 December 1941:
Together with destroyer KURI meets up with liner NITTA MARU that has left Shanghai and is en route to Wake Island. Escvorts the liner for an unknown duration.

1942:
HASU’s midships 4.7 mount is landed and replaced with two triple 25mm Type 96 AA mounts.

9 January 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

11 January 1942:
Departs Shanghai.

22 January 1942:
Auxiliary gunboat NISSHO MARU No. 12 joins a six ship convoy in 30-51N, 122-21E escorted by destroyer HASU and KITANO MARU.

23 January 1942:
Off Tongyin Island Lighthouse. At 1645, NISSHO MARU No. 12 is detached from the convoy.

25 January 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

27 January 1942:
Departs Shanghai on an escort mission.

28 January 1942:
Off Ssu Chiao Shan. At 1000, auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 joins an 8 ship convoy headed south escorted by HASU and KOFUKU MARU. At 2300, one of the ships, NICHIREN MARU suffers engine problems. At 2350, the convoy is dissolved and FUYO MARU tows NICHIREN MARU towards Chiu Shan Liehtao.

29 January 1942:
SE of Taichow Liehtao. At 0730, auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO joins the convoy heading north consisting of unidentified merchant ships escorted by the destroyer HASU. At 1630, minelayer SOKUTEN also joins the convoy.

30 January 1942:
Off Taichow Liehtao. SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO is detached.

6 February 1942:
At 1200 HASU ceases escort duties and undertakes patrols.

8 February 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Shanghai.

15 February 1942:
At 1200 departs Shanghai on patrol.

20 February 1942:
At 0820 arrives at Shanghai.

21 February 1942:
At 1500 departs Shanghai with destroyer KURI escorting No.1 Convoy consisting of HAWAII, MEIU, SHINGO, HAKUSAN (2197 gt) and MURORAN MARUs.

24 February 1942:
At 1500 arrives at Kirun.

26 February 1942:
At 1300 departs Kirun on patrol.

10 March 1942:
Ceases patrolling and undertakes an escort mission of a convoy from off Bell Buoy to Tungting Tao. The convoy consisted of HAWAII, MEIU and KOFUKU MARUs bound for Lingayen Gulf.

18 March 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.

23 March 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

26 March 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

27 March 1942:
Departs Shanghai on an escort mission.

4 April 1942:
At 0300 meets up with convoy No.3 Contingent of No.4 convoy off Bell Buoy consisting of HAWAII, MEIU and MURORAN MARUs. The convoy sails at 10 knots bound for the Lingayen Gulf.

5 April 1942:
Completes escort mission and begins patrolling.

15 April 1942:
At 2100 meets up with a convoy off Jiuduan.

16 April 1942:
At 1100 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.

18 April 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.

23 April 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

29 April 1942:
Ceases patrol and begins an escort mission of HOTEN MARU.

1 May 1942:
Auxiliary gunboat UNKAI MARU No. 10 joins escort off Jigujiao. Arrives at Jiuduan vicinity later that day. Later departs SSu Chiao Shan still escorting HOTEN MARU with auxiliary gunboats UNKAI MARU No. 10 and HYAKUFUKU MARU.

6 May 1942:
Arrives Shanghai.

11 May 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

21 May 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

23 May 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

25 May 1942:
At 1210 arrives at Chinkai (location near Shanghai, not Chinhae). At 1415 departs Chinkai.

27 May 1942:
At 1940 departs Putoushan.

31 May 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.

5 June 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

26 June 1942:
Arrives at Kirun.

28 June 1942:
Departs Kirun.

29 June 1942:
Arrives At Shanghai.

2 July 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

4 July 1942:
At 1630 returns to Shanghai.

7 July 1942:
At 1000 departs Shanghai on patrol in Chikuo Yang area.

8 July 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Yuet Ching Wan.

26 July 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

3 August 1942:
At 0918 departs Shanghai. At 1630 arrives at Tinghai.

4 August 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Chinkai, China Coast.

5 August 1942:
Returns to Shanghai and remains there throughout September.

12 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

15 October 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

16 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

18 October 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

19 October 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

20 October 1942:
Lt (later LtCdr) Horie Hiroshi (59) is appointed CO.

21 October 1942:
Meets up with a convoy consisting of MEIU and NISSHU MARUs at the mouth of the Yangtse River. The ships are bound for Mako and had left Shanghai earlier that day. The ships are escorted to the evening when HASU is detached.

22 October 1942:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

24 October 1942:
At 1100 departs Shanghai on an escort mission.

27 October 1942:
At 0850 arrives at Mako.

29 October 1942:
At 1715 departs Mako escorting MYOHO MARU. Undertakes patrols throughout November.

31 October 1942:
At 1100 arrives at Heiniu Wan where HASU is detached.

4 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Heiniu Wan. At 1800 arrives at Fuyan Tao.

5 November 1942:
At 1730 departs Fuyan Tao.

6 November 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Taichow Liehtao and departs there at 1200. At 1815 arrives at Chiushan Liehtao.

7 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Chiushan Liehtao and at 1200 arrives at Tinghai (Dinghai).

8 November 1942:
Undergoes repairs.

10 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Tinghai and at 1730 arrives at Taichow Liehtao.

11 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Taichow Liehtao. At 1300 arrives at Yuet Ching Wan.

17 November 1942:
At 1000 departs Yuet Ching Wan. At 1710 meets up and begins escorting MYOKO MARU off Taichow Islands, China Coast.

18 November 1942:
At 0830 arrives at Shihpu.

22 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Shihpu and at 1700 arrives at Heiniu Wan.

23 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Heiniu Wan and at 1400 arrives at Fuyan Tao.

25 November 1942:
Undertakes patrols in B and C patrol areas.

26 November 1942:
At 0730 deparets Fuyan Tao and at 1330 arrives at Yuet Ching Wan.

27 November 1942:
Resupplied by SUMIYOSHI MARU and takes bunkers from tanker KORYU MARU. At 0830 departs Yuet Ching Wan and at 1230 arrives at Taichow Liehtao.

28 November 1942:
At 0830 departs Taichow Liehtao.

29 November 1942:
At 1030 arrives at Tinghai.

30 November 1942:
At 0700 departs Tinghai and at 1530 arrives at Shanghai.

30 November 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.

4 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

7 December 1942:
Arrives at Shanghai.

10 December 1942:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

16 December 1942:
Begins escorting a convoy.

19 December 1942:
At 1400 arrives at Shanghai.

21 December 1942: No. 6 Go Transportation Operation:
Convoy No. 35 assembles at Shanghai to transport the IJA’s 6th Infantry Division via Truk to Guadalcanal (after the decision is made to evacuate Guadalcanal, the convoy’s destination is changed to New Guinea).

The convoy consists of troop convoy Parts A, B and C. Part A consists of TEIYO, MYOHO MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1; Part B consists of OIGAWA, KENKON, KYOKUSEI and PANAMA MARUs and Part C consists of MEIU, SOMEDOMO, SOURABAYA and SHINAI MARUs. HASU departs Shanghai for New Guinea escorting Part A and second-class destroyer KURI departs escorting Part B.

24 December 1942:
At 1000 Part A arrives at Mako and HASU is detached.

25 December 1942:
Part C departs Shanghai consisting of MEIU, SOMEDONO, SURABAYA and SHINAI MARUs escorted by second-class destroyer TSUGA. HASU departs Mako on patrol.

3 January 1943:
HASU arrives at Shanghai.

5 January 1943:
Parts A and B arrive at Mako, Pescadores. The old China Area Fleet second-class destroyers are detached and replaced by the Southwest Area Fleet’s destroyers HOKAZE and NAGATSUKI tasked to escort the convoy to 136E longitude. The escort is further augmented by destroyer SHIRAYUKI, subchasers CH-2 and CH-11 and auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2.

7 January 1943:
HASU departs Shanghai on patrol.

14 January 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

16 January 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

23 January 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

25 January 1943:
At 0800 departs Mako in convoy consisting of two unidentified merchant ships to Kyuryu (Kowloon). Sails at 9 knots.

E 29 January 1943:
Meets up with convoy from Shanghai consisting of HIMALAYA, HAMBURG, TAMAHOKO and TOYAMA MARUs.

31 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.

6 February 1943:
Departs Takao with torpedo boat KASASAGI escorting NANMAN, TACOMA and HANKOW MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships to Hong Kong.

8 February 1943:
Returns to Takao.

13 February 1943:
Departs Takao on an escort mission.

16 February 1943:
Arrives at Lei Chow Bay on military mission.

23 February 1943:
At 1400 departs Woosung with destroyer KURETAKE escorting Army convoy consisting of DAINICHI, TOFUKU, ZUISHO, ENGLAND, SHONAN, NAGATO, RYUYO and BENGAL MARUs bound for Takao. The convoy sails at 9 knots. At an unknown date and time HASU is detached.

25 February 1943:
Arrives at Hong Kong.

26 February 1943:
Departs Hong Kong.

1 March 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

6 March 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

24 March 1943:
Assisted TAIAN MARU, after latter sighted an enemy submarine, and dropped depth charges.

30 March 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

31 March 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

1 April 1943:
Arrives back at Shanghai.

11 April 1943:
HASU is damaged in a collision.

April-May 1943:
Undergoes repairs, probably at Shanghai.

8 May 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

9 May 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Taichow Islands.

10 May 1943:
At 0815 departs Taichow Islands. At 1900 arrives at Fuyao Tao.

18 May 1943:
At 0800 departs Fuyao Tao. At 1530 arrives at Heiniu Wan.

19 May 1943:
At 0800 departs Heiniu Wan. At 1249 arrives at Taichow Islands.

20 May 1943:
At 0700 departs Taichow Islands. At 1600 arrives at Shipu.

21 May 1943:
At 0700 departs Shipu. At 1800 arrives at Heiniu Wan.

24 May 1943:
At 1145 arrives at Yuet Ching Wan.

25 May 1943:
At 1700 departs Yuet Ching Wan. At 1900 arrives at Heiniu Wan.

27 May 1943:
At 1300 engages in an anti submarine sweep.

28 May 1943:
At 2230 arrives at Heiniu Wan. Later departs.

29 May 1943:
At 1645 arrives at Heiniu Wan.

30 May 1943:
Meets up with Naval tug KASASHIMA at Ssu Chiao Shan. At 1900 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.

31 May 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Heiniu Wan.

11 June 1943:
At 0900 departs Heiniu Wan.

18 June 1943:
HASU and KASASHIMA arrive off Kanmen and join SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO that lands a raiding party.

20 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

22 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

24 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

25 June 1943:
Departs Shanghai for Yuet Ching Wan to meet destroyer KURI which was damaged after a collision and grounding the previous day. Then escorts TA-302 convoy.

28 June 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

16 August 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

18 August 1943:
Departs Shanghai escorting a convoy (presumably TA-808 below).

E 19 August 1943:
Destroyer TSUGA joins convoy off Nanji Shan and detaches later that day.

21 August 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Mako escorting convoy TA-808 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships. Later that day, departs Takao in convoy No. 295 consisting of PANAMA, TAMAHIME and BATAVIA MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.

22 August 1943:
Arrives at Kirun.

27 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji. HASU may have detached at Kirun.

30 August 1943:
At 1520 departs Ssu Chiao Shan. At 1700 arrives at Kiungchang and departs there at 1750 to hunt an enemy submarine. Joins with auxiliary gunboats HOKOKU and SHOSEI MARUs. The ships continue the hunt over the next two days.

31 August 1943:
The ships are joined by the minelayer TAKASHIMA.

3 September 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

7 September 1943:
Departs Shanghai escorting convoy TA-705 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.

8 September 1943:
Off Taichow Islands after 0900 auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO joins the convoy.

9 September 1943:
At 0200 SHINKO MARU No. 1 GO, having detached from the convoy, arrives at Heiniu Wan.

10 September 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Mako escorting convoy TA-705.

12 September 1943:
Departs Mako on patrol.

25 September 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

29 September 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

2 October 1943:
Arrives at Mako.

5 October 1943:
Departs Mako.

8 October 1943:
HASU and patrol boat PB-36 depart Takao at 1400 escorting convoy No. 210 consisting of MALTA, HOKKO, NORWAY, KOKKO, YULIN, TOKUSHIMA, SHINNO, YAMABATO and KOSHIN MARUs. The convoy sails at 8 knots.

E 11 October 1943:
Off Niu Shan Islands HASU is detached.

17 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

21 October 1943:
Meets up and begins escorting a convoy.

22 October 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

25 October 1943:
Lt Horinouchi Yoshiro (62) assumes command.

12 November 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

15 November 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

18 November 1943:
Departs Shanghai escorting convoy Ta-704 consisting of BISAN MARU (ex MING SANG) and three unidentified merchant ships. At 0800 Naval tug KASASHIMA departs Shipu and begins escorting convoy TA-704.

19 November 1943:
At 1545 BISAN MARU (ex British MING SANG), which is in the convoy suffers a machinery breakdown off Yushan. The convoy stops at Tinghai. At 1758 auxiliary gunboat DAIGEN MARU No. 7 departs Heiniu Bay to escort convoy Ta-704.

20 November 1943:
At 0200 DAIGEN MARU No. 7 ends escort of convoy TA-704.

21 November 1943:
Arrives at Mako.

24 November 1943:
Departs Mako escorting a convoy.

26 November 1943:
Separates from the convoy and undertakes patrols.

28 November 1943:
Departs Woosung escorting TA-904 convoy consiting of ROZAN, NITTO, GYOYU 9ex British JOAN MOLLER) and TOZAN (ex British SOOCHOW) MARUs.

1 December 1943:
At 1600 the convoy is due to arrive at Mako.

2 December 1943:
Arrives at Takao escorting the convoy.

4 December 1943:
Departs Takao on patrol.

27 December 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.

31 December 1943:
Departs Shanghai on patrol.

3 January 1944:
Meets up and begins escorting a convoy.

7 January 1944:
Arrives at Takao.

11 January 1944:
At 1100 HASU departs Takao escorting convoy No. 234 consisting of SHINYO MARU No. 8 and three unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.

14 January 1944:
The convoy arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan and later departs. HASU detaches at this point and undertakes patrols.

19 January 1944:
No. 234 convoy arrives at Moji.

23 January 1944:
HASU meets up and begins escorting a convoy.

24 January 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.

26 January 1944:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy.

28 January 1944:
Detached from convoy escort and commences patrolling.

30 January 1944:
Ceases patrolling and meets up and begins escorting a convoy (possibly convoy No. 132).

1 February 1944:
Arrives at Takao.

4 February 1944 :
At 0900 departs Kirun escorting convoy TAMO-01 consisting of TENRYUGAWA MARU and eight unidentified merchant ships.

5 February 1944:
Returns to Kirun.

6 February 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol.

7 February 1944:
Commences escorting Yulin Maru convoy consisting of YULIN and KANSHU MARUs. Then escorts MUROTO to Kirun.

8 February 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.

11 February 1944:
Departs Kirun on patrol.

13 February 1944:
TAMO-01 arrives at Moji.

18 February 1944:
At 1650 a Taichow Liehtao reports sighting 2 B-25 bombers.

24 February 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.

28 February 1944:
Departs Shanghai escorting a convoy.

2 March 1944:
HASU and TSUGA arrive at Kirun escorting a convoy (likely TA-202).

3 March 1944:
HASU and TSUGA depart Kirun escorting a convoy.

4 March 1944:
Arrive at Takao.

7 March 1944:
At 0900 HASU departs Takao with destroyer TSUGA and minelayer NIIZAKI and one unidentified warship, possibly minelayer MAESHIMA, escorting convoy TAMO-08 consisting of SEIAN, WAZAN, MEXICO, MIZUHO, TONEGAWA, ADEN, MITSUKI MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sails at 8 knots.

8 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.

13 March 1944 :
Departs Kirun. The convoy splits into two parts after departing port. HASU and TSUGA detach and arrive at Shanghai.

17 March 1944:
The first part arrives at Moji.

18 March 1944:
The second part arrives at Moji.

20 March 1944:
HASU departs Shanghai escorting a convoy.

23 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.

24 March 1944:
Departs Kirun escorting a convoy (probably TA-904).

25 March 1944:
Detached from convoy, probably off Takao and later that day arrives at Mako.

31 March 1944:
Departs Mako.

3 April 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.

11 April 1944:
Departs Shanghai escorting a convoy.

14 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao.

15 April 1944 :
At 1550, HASU departs Takao with patrol boat PB-38, torpedo boat SAGI and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 escorting convoy TAMA-16 consisting of BIZEN, HAKUBASAN, MATSUMOTO, YAMAKO (SANKO), TAKETSU (BUTSU) and OMINE, NITTETSU, TOSHO, TACHIBANA, SORACHI, SHIRAHAMA, SHONAN MARUs, OGURA MARU No. 1, YOSHIDA MARU No. 3, YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2, and fleet tanker ASHIZURI and possibly JOGU MARU.

16 April 1944:
At 0930, ends the escort with TAKUNAN MARU No. 3.

17 April 1944:
At 0725 torpedo boat HAYABUSA joins as an additional escort.

18 April 1944:
HASU and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 having detached arrive back at Takao.

19 April 1944:
At 1312 TAMA-16 arrives at Manila.

20 April 1944:
HASU departs Kirun with destroyer ASAGAO, coast defence ship CD-8, and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 escorting convoy TAMO-17 consisting of SUGIYAMA, KYOKUZAN, HIDA, KENEI, TOTTORI, TOKUSHIMA, HIROTA, IWATO MARUs, EIYO MARU No. 2 (NB unconfirmed) and fifteen unidentified merchant ships.

23 April 1944:
HASU having detached arrives at Shanghai.

26 April 1944:
HASU departs Shanghai escorting a convoy.

27 April 1944:
TAMO-17 arrives at Moji.

30 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao.

2 May 1944:
At 0800 departs Takao escorting convoy No.84 for Hong Kong.

4 May 1944:
Arrives at Kirun.

6 May 1944:
At 1000 departs Kirun escorting Rin-Toku Convoy for Mako.

8 May 1944:
Arrives at Shanghai.

10 May 1944:
Departs Shanghai escorting TA-007 convoy.

16 May 1944:
Detaches from convoy.

18 May 1944:
At 1520 HASU departs Keelung for Moji with kaibokan AWAJI, torpedo boat SAGI, patrol boat PB-38 and auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU escorting convoy MI-02 consisting of TACHIBANA, NITTETSU, KENSEI, SANKO, TAKETSU (BUTSU), SHINCHO, KAMO, CHIKUZEN and CHOSAN MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1 and YAMAMIZU MARU No. 2.

20 May 1944:
HASU is detached en route and arrives at Shanghai.

23 May 1944:
At 1700, convoy MI-02 arrives at Moji. That same day HASU departs Shanghai escorting convoy TA-306.

27 May 1944:
At 0900 arrives at Takao.

16 June 1944:
At 1703 departs Takao with torpedo boat HATSUKARI escrting a convoy consisting of KOTO MARU No. 2 GO, CHOZAN and KINE MARUs and possibly others.

20 June 1944:
At 1054 arrives at Hong Kong.

24 June 1944:
At 1924 HASU departs Hong Kong with torpedo boat HATSUKARI escorting a convoy consisting of CHOZAN, DAIKYU and SHINTO MARUs and possibly others.

28 June 1944:
At 0100 a B-24 attacks DAIKYU MARU in 21-23N 119-09E with two bombs dropped on the ship's starboard side with only minor damage. At 1658 the convoy arrives at Takao.

3 July 1944:
At 1025, HASU departs Saei, Formosa with gunboat OKITSU escorting convoy No. 3311 (or Shi-310) consisting of CHOHAKUSAN, KORYU, SETSUZAN, SHOZAN, DAIICHI, FUKUEI, KAIKO, NICHIZUI, PEKING, YOKO, DAIKYU and SHOHO MARUs and TOYO MARU No. 5.

4 July 1944:
At 0700, YOKO MARU is detached for Keelung. Later that day, SHOHO MARU develops engine trouble and falls behind.

6 July 1944:
At 0545, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli T. Reich's (USNA ’35) USS SEALION (SS-315) torpedoes and sinks SETSUZAN (ex-Norwegian HELIOS) MARU at 29-57N, 122-51E. One crewman is KIA. HASU and OKITSU both undertake a hunt for the submarine.

9 July 1944:
HASU and OKITSU break off the submarine hunt and begin patrolling.

10 July 1944:
At 0130, Convoy 3311 anchors near Shanghai.

11 July 1944:
At 0600, Convoy 3311 departs the anchorage.

12 July 1944:
HASU arrives at Shanghai and undergoes repairs for the rest of the month.

19 July 1944:
At 1040, arrives at Seito (Tsingtao).

20 July 1944:
At 1000, departs Seito.

25 July 1944:
At 1700, Convoy 3311 finally arrives at Moji.

16 August 1944:
At 1835, HASU departs Woosung, China for Naha, Okinawa with sister TSUGA and gunboat UJI escorting convoy No. 609 consisting of KAZUURA, TSUSHIMA and GYOKU MARUs. The convoy is carrying about 6,000 troops of the 62nd Infantry Division and 929 horses. KAZUURA MARU carries 2,409 soldiers and 440 horses, TSUSHIMA MARU carries 3,339 soldiers and 449 horses and GYOKU MARU carries 3,175 soldiers and 40 horses.

19 August 1944:
Arrives at Naha.

21 August 1944:
At 1835, HASU departs Naha for Moji with gunboat UJI escorting convoy NAMO-103 consisting of TSUSHIMA, GYOKU and KAZUURA MARUs. TSUSHIMA MARU is evacuating 741 school children from Okinawa and carrying another 1047 passengers and crewmen.

22 August 1944:
Ryukyu Islands. Cdr John Corbus’ (USNA ’30) USS BOWFIN (SS-287) attacks the convoy. At 2212, Corbus torpedoes and sinks TSUSHIMA MARU at 29-32N, 129-33E. Fearing submarine attack, no ships in the convoy stop to rescue survivors in the water. Later, only 59 of the children are saved. 802 general evacuees, 21 gunners and 24 crewmen are killed meaning a death toll of 1529 and only 259 survivors. [1]

Corbus makes four other attacks and fires numerous torpedoes. HASU and UJI do not counter-attack. [2]

24 August 1944:
Arrives at Nagasaki.

3 September 1944:
Off Yangtze River estuary. HASU is damaged by a mine at 31-19N, 121-43E.

September 1944:
Shanghai. Undergoes repairs.

5 October 1944:
HASU departs Hong Kong with kaibokan CD-13 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-151, CHa-163 escorting convoy TA-02 consisting of 10 unidentified merchant ships.

8 October 1944:
Arrives at Takao.

9 October 1944:
Because of pending air raids the same convoy immediately leaves Takao.

11 October 1944:
Arrives back at Hong Kong.

21 October 1944:
HASU departs Hong Kong with auxiliary subchasers CHa-176, CHa-177 escorting convoy HOTA-01 consisting of HOKUSEN, HOKUYU, HISHIGATA, SHONAN (1081 gt), ASOKAWA, KONEI, SHOEI (2764 gt) and MIYAJIMA MARUs. HASU is probably detached later this day.

22 October 1944:
At 1700, HASU departs Foochow, China for Takao, Formosa with TSUGA escorting a convoy consisting of KORI GO, TATSUJU, TOUN and WAKATAKE MARUs.

23 October 1944:
NNW of Mako, Pescadores. At 0336, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret/MOH) Richard H. O’Kane’s (USNA ’34) USS TANG (SS-306) attacks the convoy. O’Kane torpedoes and damages TOUN MARU that catches fire. At the time of attack the ship was carrying 297 Landing troops of whom 131, five passengers, 12 gunners and 16 crewmen are KIA, with the ship a total loss. Next, O’Kane torpedoes and sinks TATSUJU MARU. Two troops and five crewmen are killed. WAKATAKE MARU spots the half-surfaced TANG 400 yards ahead and tries to ram, but O’Kane goes hard to port, evades and then torpedoes and sinks WAKATAKE MARU at 24-49N, 120-26E. 128 shock (invasion) troops (out of 220), seven passengers (out of 12), 11 gunners and 30 crewmen are killed and the cargo of 14 small boats is lost.

24 October 1944:
O’Kane’s TANG torpedoes and sinks KORI GO at 24-42N, 120-21E. One crewman is KIA.

25 October 1944:
While attacking another convoy, USS TANG is sunk in shallow water by a circular run of the last of her Mark-18 torpedoes. LtCdr O'Kane and eight of his crew survive and are captured and transported as POWs to Formosa and then to Japan.

30 October 1944:
HASU departs Kirun with destroyer TSUGA, kaibokan DAITO, CD-25, and cable ship TSURUSHIMA escorting convoy TAMO-27 consisting of DAIKO, TEIKA (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA), DAIKO, UNZEN and EIYO MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.

31 October 1944:
Convoy HOTA-01 arrives at Takao.

5 November 1944:
TAMO-27 arrives at Moji.

8 November 1944:
FRUMEL provides the following information:
"Destroyer HASU reported TOOUN MARU and WAKATAKE MARU (1920 tons) torpedoed in 24-57N 120-25E at 0330 on 23rd Oct."

17 November 1944:
At 1500 HASU departs Hong Kong with kaibokan CD-26 escorting convoy HOTA-01 consisting of KENZUI MARU, likely TAMON MARU No. 15 and one unidentified merchant ship.

21 November 1944:
Arrives at Takao. Kaibokan CD-18 had joined the convoy at some point.

28 November 1944:
At 1200, HASU departs Woosung, China for Mako escorting convoy TA-904 consisting of ROZAN, NITTO, GYOYU, and TOSAN MARUs.

1 December 1944:
Arrives at Mako. HASU meets up either shortly before or after with convoy HO-03 consisting of CHEFOO, YULIN and HOKOKU MARUs that left Ssu Chiao Shan on 29 November.

3 December 1944:
At 1040, off Nanao Island the second class destroyer KURI joins the convoy escort.

4 December 1944:
Arrives at Hong Kong.

9 December 1944:
At 0743 departs Hong Kong with KURI escorting convoy TA-902 consisting of HOKUYU and OKINOYAMA MARUs.

11 December 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Amoy.

16 January 1945:
Hong Kong. Carrier aircraft of Vice Admiral (Admiral posthumously) John S. McCain’s (USNA ’06) Task Force 38 attack shipping and installations. TF 38’s planes damage HASU severely. They also damage oiler KAMOI, transport HOKKAI MARU, fast transport T.108, kaibokan SHINNAN, NOMI and CD-60 and sink tankers TENEI (One passenger, two escort troops and three crewmen KIA), MATSUSHIMA (one guard, eight troops and three crewmnen KIA) and SANKO MARUs (21 crewmen KIA) and cargo ship ANRI GO No. 2.

E February 1945:
Arrives at Shanghai. Undergoes battle-damage repairs.

20 March 1945:
Completes repairs.

11 April 1945:
At 1452 departs Shanghai escorting damaged transport ex Italian liner KOTOBUKI MARU. At 1613 arrives at Woosung.

16 April 1945:
At 1002 departs Woosung escorting KOTOBUKI MARU.

17 April 1945:
At 1949 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.

20 April 1945:
At 1949 departs Ssu Chiao Shan alone.

21 April 1945:
At 1525 arrives back at Shanghai. Remains at Shanghai for the rest of the month.

6 May 1945:
Arrives at Xiamen (Amoy) to transport munitions.

15 May 1945:
LtCdr Nakamura Tomoo (60)(former CO of CHIDORI) is appointed the CO.

Late May 1945:
Tsingtao (now Qingdao), China. HASU rejoins KURI in escort and transport work until enemy airpower forces abandonment of those routes.

25 June 1945:
Arrives undamaged at Tsingtao.

15 August 1945:
Tsingtao. LtCdr Nakamura notifies HASU’s crew of the end of hostilities.

16 September 1945:
Tsingtao. HASU is surrendered.

25 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

18 November 1945:
HASU arrives at Nagasaki for repairs.

30 November 1945:
Repairs completed.

End 1945:
HASU is allocated for repatriation service.

9 January 1946:
Departs Sasebo.

13 January 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.

16 January 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.

21 January 1946:
Departs Sasebo.

22 January 1946:
Arrives at Pusan.

23 January 1946:
Departs Pusan.

27 January 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai.

28 January 1946:
Departs Shanghai.

31 January 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.

3 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.

4 February 1946:
Arrives at Pusan and departs later that day.

6 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.

10 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.

14 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.

16 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.

18 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.

22 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.

24 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.

26 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.

March 1946-1948:
Moored at Sasebo.

1948:
Sasebo. Scrapped.


Author's Notes:
[1] On 12 December 1997, TSUSHIMA MARU was positively identified by Dolphin 3K deep sea detection equipment at a depth of 2, 858 feet (871 m), 6 miles NW of Akuseki Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Portions of the vessel were video taped and the ship's name was found painted on the hull.

[2] Corbus claims four other ships sunk, but postwar, the claim is not substantiated.

Special thanks go to Hans Mcilveen of the Netherlands for info on FRUMEL intercepts. Thanks to Gilbert Casse of France for reviewing revisions.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall


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