© 2008-2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 3
15 March 1921:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki Heavy Industries as a second-class WAKATAKE-class destroyer named YURI.
21 October 1922:
Launched.
30 October 1922:
LtCdr Sano Tetsu (36) is posted Chief Equipping Officer.
21 November 1922:
LtCdr Sano is appointed Commanding Officer.
21 December 1922:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
13 August 23:
LtCdr Tsuga Senori (36) assumes command.
1 April 1924:
Designated destroyer No. 4.
1 December 1924:
LtCdr Morigu Shigekazu (38) assumes command.
1 December 1925:
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Fukuda Ryozo (38) assumes command.
1 December 1926:
YURI is put on the Reserve List.
1 August 1928:
Renamed KURETAKE.
10-12 November 1928:
Kure. Placed on the First Reserve List. Undergoes for repairs and refit.
30 November 1929:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Komura Keizo (45) assumes command.
15 November 1930:
KURETAKE is put on the Reserve List.
1 April 1931:
LtCdr Ichitsubo Masao (46) assumes command.
12 October 1931:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Kitamura Masayuki (45) assumes command.
1 June 1932:
N of Shanghai. KURETAKE is briefly grounded during a storm, but manages to escape and proceed to Kure for repairs which last until August.
22 October 1934:
LtCdr Shintani Kuchi (50) assumes command.
31 October 1935:
LtCdr Katsumi Motoi (49) assumes command.
1 December 1936:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Kotaki Hisao (50) assumes command.
9 December 1937:
LtCdr Yoshii Goro (50), CO of SANAE, assumes command of KURETAKE "on paper" as an additional duty.
2 January 1938:
LtCdr Ide Motoo (51) assumes command.
1 June 1938:
LtCdr Hashimoto Kanematsu (55) assumes command.
21 June 1939:
KURETAKE is put on the Reserve List.
15 October 1940:
Lt Fujita Jun (57) assumes command.
15 November 1940:
Lt Fujita is promoted to LtCdr.
15 January 1941:
Redesignated as escort/training vessel.
10 September 1941:
LtCdr Kashima Masanori’s (58) assumes command.
8 December 1941:
Kure Naval District. KURETAKE is in Cdr Otani’s DesDiv 13 with SANAE and WAKATAKE. Patrols in the Inland Sea, Bungo Suido and off Western Kyushu.
10 April 1942:
KURETAKE is assigned to Cdr Amaya Yoshishige’s (47) DesDiv 32 of Rear Admiral Inoue Yasuo’s (38) 1st Surface Escort Division organized this day as a unit of the Southwest Area Fleet.
3 May 1942:
Departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 107 consisting of TAIEI and TAIGEN MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
6 May 1942:
At 0621, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles C. Kirkpatrick's USS TRITON (SS-201) torpedoes and sinks TAIEI MARU at 28-25N 123-37E. At 0800, TRITON torpedoes and sinks TAIGEN MARU at at 28-40N, 123-38E.
8 May 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
27 May 1942:
At 1700, departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 119 consisting of ATSUTA MARU.
30 May 1942:
At 1728, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Lewis E. Parks' USS POMPANO (SS-181) torpedoes ATSUTA MARU at 26-08N, 128-48E. At 2400, ATSUTA MARU sinks. The convoy is dissolved.
4 June 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 219 consisting of KOTO MARU No. 2 Go and four unidentified merchant ships.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
24 June 1942:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 128 consisting of ADEN MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
7 July 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 231 consisting of TATSUWA MARU and eight unidentified merchant ships.
12 July 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
18 July 1942:
Departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 140 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships. The convoy encounters a severe typhoon enroute south.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
29 July 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 241 consisting of SHIROGANE MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
3 August 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
9 August 1942:
Departs Mutsure with auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU escorting convoy No. 147 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships
13 August 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
16 August 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 250 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
29 August 1942:
Departs Mutsure escorting convoy No. 156 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
2 September 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
5 September 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 259 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.
E 7 September 1942:
KURETAKE is detached.
10 September 1942:
The rest of the convoy arrives at Mutsure.
11 September 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 334 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques.
19 September 1942:
Departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 522 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
22 September 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
28 September 1942:
Departs Singapore escorting convoy No. 633 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques.
6 October 1942:
Departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 441 consisting of 10 unidentified merchant ships.
E 8 October 1943:
KURETAKE is detached and returns to St Jacques.
10 October 1942:
Departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 442 consisting of nine unidentified merchant ships. The convoy split into two parts shortly after departing port.
12 October 1942:
No. 441 convoy arrives Mako.
16 October 1942:
The first part of convoy No. 442 arrives Mako.
17 October 1942:
The second part of convoy No. 442 arrives Mako.
20 October 1942:
LtCdr Furuya Takuo (57) assumes command.
7 November 1942:
Departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 449 consisting of 11 unidentified merchant ships.
15 November 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
23 November 1942:
Departs Mako escorting convoy No. 349 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
28 November 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques.
1 December 1942:
Departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 454 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
8 December 1942:
KURETAKE is detached near Mako and joins convoy No. 204 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
9 December 1942:
The rest of convoy No. 454 arrives at Mako.
10 December 1942:
DesDiv 32 is disbanded. KURETAKE is reassigned to the 1st Surface Escort Division, Southwest Area Fleet.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Mutsure.
18 January 1943:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 119 consisting of tanker SHINSHU MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
13 January 1943:
Lt Tanaka Hirokuni (60) assumes command.
23 January 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
1 March 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 250 consisting of TATSUWA MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
6 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
17 March 1943:
Departs Moji escorting the B convoy consisting of TOKUWA MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
20 March 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
128 March 1943:
Departs Takao in convoy No. 743 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
30 March 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
31 March 1943:
Departs Manila escorting convoy No. 840 consisting of KOYO, TAIHEI, KAMO and NANKING MARUs.
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
10 April 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy No. 3203 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
15 April 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
19 April 1943:
Departs Manila escorting convoy No. 843 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.
23 April 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
25 April 1943 departs Takao escorting the "L" convoy consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
28 April 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
1 May 1943:
Departs Manila escorting convoy No. 3104 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
6 May 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
11 May 1943:
Departs Palau for Balikpapan escorting fleet convoy No. 2501 consisting of YASUKUNI, HAKUSAN, DAIGEN, KENKOKU, HOKO and SANYO MARUs and small tanker KYOEI MARU.
18 May 1943:
At 1600, arrives at Balikpapan where the convoy is dispersed.
1 June 1943:
Departs Manila escorting convoy No. 851 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
4 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
11 June 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 271 consisting of SHOKEI MARU and seven unidentified merchant ships.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
20 June 1943:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 168 consisting of three unidentified merchant ships.
23 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
2 July 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 278 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.
6 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
13 July 1943:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 176 consisting of tanker KYOKUYO MARU and eight unidentified merchant ships.
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
23 July 1943:
Departs Takao escorting the LO-2 convoy consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
26 July 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
18 August 1943:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 188 consisting of TARUSHIMA MARU and 10 unidentified merchant ships.
23 August 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
26 August 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 296 consisting of oiler KYOKUYO MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
3 September 1943:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 193 consisting of SHOKEI MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
9 September 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
11 September 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 203 consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships.
17 September 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
1 October 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 208 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.
8 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
15 October 1943:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 106 consisting of 12 unidentified merchant ships.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
24 October 1943:
Departs Takao with torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy No. 774 consisting of 13 unidentified merchant ships.
28 October 1943:
Arrives at Manila.
1 November 1943:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 216 consisting of KOSHIN MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
7 November 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
11 November 1943:
At 1600, KURETAKE departs Moji for Takao escorting convoy No. 113-MA-07 consisting of ARABIA, TAMAHOKO, RYUYO, DAKAR, CHIYO, TOSEI, ANYO, SYDNEY, NANEI, HIDA, NITTETSU and NACHISAN MARUs.
13 November 1943:
At 0556, LtCdr Robert E. Dorin's USS TRIGGER (SS-237) torpedoes and sinks NACHISAN MARU at 32-55N, 125-09E. KURETAKE drops five depth charges that damage TRIGGER slightly.
15 November 1943:
KURETAKE's 1st Surface Escort Division is reassigned from the Southwest Area Fleet to the General Escort Command.
21 November 1943:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores at 1140.
E 23 November 1943:
KURETAKE arrives at Manila.
24 November 1943:
At 1518, KURETAKE departs Manila for Moji escorting convoy HI-18 consisting of OMUROSAN, TATEKAWA and ITSUKUSHIMA MARUs and two unidentified ships.
28 November 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
1 December 1943:
Attached directly to HQ, 1st Surface Escort Division.
E 10 December 1943:
Departs Moji for Takao escorting convoy No. 120 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
E 21 December 1944:
Departs Takao to Moji escorting convoy No. 228 consisting of 10 unidentified merchant ships.
3 January 1944:
Departs Moji escorting convoy No. 126 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships at 9.5 knots.
7 January 1944:
Departs Naha after brief stopover.
9 January 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
16 January 1944:
Departs Takao escorting convoy No. 235 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.
23 January 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
27 January 1944:
At 1200, departs Moji for Takao escorting convoy No. 132 consisting of NAGATA MARU and 11 unidentified ships at 9 knots.
1 February 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
6 February 1944:
Departs Takao escorting convoy TASA-02 consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships.
E 8 February 1944:
KURETAKE is detached at latitude 20N.
10 February 1944:
Departs Takao with auxiliary gunboat PEKING MARU escorting convoy TAMA-03 consisting of 15 unidentified merchant ships.
12 February 1944:
The TASA-02 convoy arrives St Jacques.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
16 February 1944:
At 0730, KURETAKE departs Manila for Miri, Borneo escorting convoy MAMI-02 consisting of TEIKO and KIKUSUI MARUs, tanker SAN DIEGO MARU and five unidentified ships.
21 February 1944:
Arrives at Miri. TEIKO and KIKUSUI MARU are detached before arrival and headed for Singapore. Later that day, LtCdr Frank G. Selby's USS PUFFER (SS-268) torpedoes and sinks TEIKO MARU at 03-12N, 109-18E.
29 February 1944:
Departs Manila with minesweeper W-17 and an unidentified auxiliary warship escorting convoy MAMI-03 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
E 4 March 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
9 March 1944:
Departs Miri escorting convoy MIMA-04 consisting solely of ZUIYO MARU.
10 March 1944:
Reserve Lt Yoshida Ieo (former CO of TOMOZURU) assumes command.
13 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
15 March 1944:
Departs Manila with auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-24 escorting convoy MATA-12 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.
18 March 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
21 March 1944:
Departs Takao escorting convoy TAMA-12 consisting of TAKETOYO and SAN LUIS MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
27 March 1944:
Departs Manila escorting convoy MAMI-06 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.
31 March 1944:
Arrives at Miri.
6 April 1944:
Departs Miri escorting convoy MIMA-07 consisting of SAN LUIS and TAKETOYO MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
10 April 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
14 April 1944:
Departs Manila with light cruiser KISO and auxiliary subchaser CHa-9 escorting convoy MATA-18 consisting of SAN LUIS and TAKETOYO MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
18 April 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
19 April 1944:
KURETAKE joins the escort of convoy HI-56, enroute from Moji to Singapore, consisting of TOKUSHIMA MARU, tankers ASANAGI, OTORISAN and SARAWAK MARUs and two other unidentified ships escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and torpedo boat HATO.
24 April 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Moji.
20 May 1944:
Departs Moji escorting convoys MOTA-20 and TE-07. MOTA-20 consists of TATEBE (KEMBU), and HAKUSHIKA MARUs and 14 unidentified merchant ships (and TE-07 of seven unidentified merchant ships). KURETAKE escorts MOTA-20 and kaibokan SHIMUSHU and FUKUE escort TE-07.
25 May 1944:
Convoy TE-07 is detached for Kirun, arriving later that day.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
28 May 1944:
Departs Takao with kaibokan CD-11 escorting convoy TAMA-20 consisting of TATEBE (KEMBU) and HAKUSHIKA MARUs and 17 unidentified merchant ships.
E 1 June 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
3 June 1944:
Departs Manila with kaibokan CD-11, auxiliary minelayer CHOAN MARU and an unknown warship (probably an auxiliary subchaser) escorting convoy MATA-22 consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships.
6 June 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
11 June 1944:
Departs Kirun with kaibokan CD-6, CD-16 and subchasers CH-12 and CH-35 escorting convoy TAPA-09 consisting of TAMA, OYO and AZUCHISAN MARUs and two unidentified ships.
13 June 1944:
Arrives at Takao. KURETAKE is detached.
18 June 1944:
Departs Takao with subchaser CH-19 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-94 escorting convoy TAMA-21 consisting of oiler SHIMPO and TOSHU MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships.
23 June 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
E 26 June 1944:
KURETAKE, CD-2 and destroyer ASAGAO join convoy HI-67.
29 June 1944:
LtCdr Anton W. Gallaher's USS BANG (SS-385) torpedoes and damages MIRI and SARAWAK MARUs. Both tankers are hit in the bow, but each manages to proceed to Manila.
30 June 1944:
The main convoy arrives at Manila. SARAWAK, MIRI, GOKOKU and ASAHISAN MARUs are detached.
3 July 1944:
At 0600, KURETAKE departs Manila for Yulin with destroyer ASAGAO and kaibokan HIRADO, KURAHASHI, CD-2 (latter from about 5 July) escorting convoy MAYU-04 consisting of HOKUSHIN MARU and five unidentified merchant ships.
7 July 1944:
Arrives at Yulin.
15 July 1944:
At 0400, departs Sana with auxiliary gunboats PEKING and HUASHAN (KAZAN) MARUs escorting convoy YUTA-9 consisting of TEIRYU MARU and seven unidentified merchant ships.
19 July 1944:
At 0945, LtCdr Norvell G. Ward's USS GUARDFISH (SS-217) torpedoes and sinks TEIRYU MARU at 19-08N, 116-13E. At 1808, the convoy arrives at North San Fernando.
21 July 1944:
Departs North San Fernando. At 2255, PEKING MARU runs aground at 17-31N, 120-22E. [1]
28 July 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
27 August 1944:
At 0800, KURETAKE departs Moji for Miri, Borneo with destroyer SHIOKAZE, kaibokan CD-18, minesweeper W-17 and minelayer YURIJIMA escorting convoy MI-17 consisting of tankers NITTETSU and SHIMOTSU MARUs and cargo ships BAIKAL, AMAHI, DAITEN, NORWAY, ARAOSAN, NICHIZUI, HOKUREI, and SORACHI MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8 and four unidentified ships.
1 September 1944:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. SORACHI MARU and two unidentified ships are detached. An unidentified ship joins the convoy. W-20 and subchaser CH-41 join the escort.
4 September 1944:
Departs Mako.
6 September 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Aparri, Luzon. W-17, W-20 and CH-41 are detached.
10 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila. CD-18 is detached.
14 September 1944:
The convoy leaves Manila because of an anticipated air attack and arrives that evening at Santa Cruz.
15 September 1944:
Arrives at Masinloc.
18 September 1944:
Arrives at Manila Bay.
20 September 1944:
At 0500, departs Manila Bay.
21 September 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Imuruan Bay, Palawan Island.
22 September 1944:
At 0600, departs Imuruan Bay. Anchors that evening at Palangan, Palawan.
23 September 1944:
At 0700, departs Palangan.
24 September 1944:
At 0200 arrives at Kimanis, North Borneo. At 0700, departs. At 1900, arrives at Victoria Harbor, Labuan.
25 September 1944:
At 0700, departs Victoria. At 1736, arrives at Miri.
30 September 1944:
At 0800, KURETAKE departs Singapore for Miri, Borneo with destroyer SHIOKAZE escorting convoy MI-08
consisting of KOKUSEI, KIKUSUI, RYOFU, HIGANE, HIYORI, KAISOKU MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 5 and NANSHIN MARU NO. 18 that departed Singapore unescorted on 22 September.
26 September 1944:
Arrives at Miri. The convoy begins loading.
30 September 1944:
At 0630, the convoy departs Miri for Manila hugging the coast.
2 October 1944:
Off Gaya Bay, NW Borneo. At 0030, LtCdr John C. Martin's USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) attacks the convoy. Martin torpedoes and sinks bauxite ore-carriers HIYORI, HIGANE and KOKUSEI MARUs. The destroyers do not counter-attack.
10 October 1944:
At 2308, arrives at Manila.
11 October 1944:
Still with the convoy, departs Manila to seek refuge from anticipated air raids.
13 October 1944:
At 2200, arrives Bacuit Bay, Palawan Island where the convoy is dissolved.
20 October 1944:
At 2340, KURETAKE departs Manila for Takao with destroyers HARUKAZE and TAKE, and subchaser CH-20 escorting convoy MATA-30 consisting of KIMIKAWA, KOKURYU, KIKUSUI, FUYUKAWA, TENSHIN, SHIGISAN, DAITEN, EIKO, ARISAN and RYOFU MARUs, fleet supply ship KURASAKI and SHINSEI MARU No. 1.
23 October 1944:
South China Sea, WNW of Cape Bojeador, Luzon, Philippines.
About 1730 (JST), Cdr Banister’s SAWFISH attacks the last ship in the convoy, KIMIKAWA MARU. She is hit portside aft in hold No. 7 by four of five torpedoes fired. Loaded with bauxite, fuel oil, aviation gasoline and other cargo, KIMIKAWA MARU sinks in 2.5 minutes at 18-58N, 118-46E.
24 October 1944:
The convoy is attacked by two American wolf packs. The submarines’ attacks scatter the convoy. Each Maru is attacked repeatedly, from both sides. KIKUSUI, KOKURYU, SHIGISAN, TENSHIN, DAITEN, EIKO MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 are all sunk in various attacks. During the wolfpacks’ attacks on the convoy, LtCdr George H. Brown’s SNOOK (SS-279) sinks ARISAN MARU. Sadly, she is carrying 1,781 American POWs who are lost along with 204 members of the ships’ crew and 125 other Japanese passengers. Only nine POWs survive.
Cdr Edward N. Blakely’s USS SHARK (SS-314) is lost during these attacks; probably by depth charges in one of two attacks made by HARUKAZE.
26 October 1944:
At 0715, arrives at Takao.
31 October 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Takao. The convoy is reorganized. Some ships from convoy MOTA-27 join MOMA-06. The reconstitued convoy consists of KURASAKI and HAMBURG, SHIMOTSU, ASOKAWA, TOTTORI, EIWA, ATLAS, DAITOKU, SHINSHO, KAKOGAWA, SEKIHO and SEIWA MARUs escorted by KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3 and CD-7, mineweeper W-27 and subchaser CH-41.
1 November 1944:
At 1800, the convoy departs Takao for Manila.
2 November 1944:
Off Sabtang Island, Bashii Strait. At 2305, LtCdr John B. Hess’s USS POMFRET (SS-391) torpedoes and damages ATLAS MARU that is carrying a deck cargo of IJA "Shinyo" explosive motor boats and 1.325 troops and passengers.
3 November 1944:
At 0300, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from No. 1 Maritime Transport Commander to MOMA-06 convoy that reads: “CD-11 will carry out screen of ---- and at the same time will execute anti-submarine sweep. Minesweeper W-20, KURASAKI and TOYO MARU No. 3 will arrive at the scene by 0630 and engage in salvage operations. KURETAKE will carry out screen of Sabtang South entrance and subchaser CH-41 will furnish screen at North entrance….Convoy will take refuge in Sabtang Channel and will delay departure.”
Bashii Strait. At 0435, Hess attacks ATLAS MARU again, but misses. At 0500, POMFRET also torpedoes and damages HAMBURG MARU. At 1850, one of the escorts scuttles her at 20-18N, 121-51E.
4 November 1944:
KURETAKE takes ATLAS MARU under tow. About 1330, ATLAS MARU is beached and her cargo begins to be unloaded (by 18 November, a typhoon causes ATLAS MARU to be abandoned). Torpedo boat SAGI arrives from Takao and joins the escort.
At 1616, USN codebreakers decrypt another message from No. 1 Maritime Transport Commander that reads: “Will have CD-11, Minesweeper W-20, KURETAKE and TOYO MARU No. 3 investigate the situation of ATLAS MARU and take aboard survivors from 1430 on. Transfer of victuals for the troops has already begun. Weather is generally good at the vicinity of the anchorage.”
8 November 1944:
Off Cape Bolinaro, Luzon. LtCdr Guy E. O'Neil, Jr’s USS GUNNEL (SS-253) torpedoes and sinks SAGI. The convoy later arrives at Santa Cruz, Philippines. Warned of a typhoon in the area, the convoy departs the same day and arrives at Manila Bay at 2238.
9 November 1944:
At 0925, convoy MOMA-06 arrives at Manila harbor.
12 November 1944:
At 1800, KURETAKE departs Manila for Takao with fleet supply ship KURASAKI, kaibokan CD-1, CD-3 and CD-7 escorting convoy MATA-32 consisting of NANKING MARU and UNKAI MARU No. 5.
14 November 1944:
Off Cape Bolinao, Philippines. At 2218, LtCdr William T. Kinsella’s USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks
CD-7 at 17-46N, 117-57E. At 2225, LtCdr Maurice W. Shea’s USS RATON (SS-270) torpedoes and sinks
UNKAI MARU No. 5.
15 November 1944:
W of Luzon. At 0025, Shea’s RATON torpedoes and sinks KURASAKI at 17-27N, 117-43E.
At 1052, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from KURETAKE that reads: “KURASAKI was torpedoed and sank at 0025 in position 17-41N, 118-00E. Picked up Captain and 91 others at 1000 and am heading for position of CD-7. Request assistance in search and anti-sub screen.”
17 November 1944:
At 1200, arrives Takao.
23 November 1944:
At 1530, KURETAKE departs Takao with kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-8, CD-28 and CD-54, subchasers CH-17, CH-18, CH-37 and CH-38 escorting convoy TAMA-32A consisting of AKAGISAN, HAGIKAWA, SORACHI, JINYO, NICHIYO, SHOEI, WAYO, MINO, SHIROUMA and SHONAN MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 63 and kidotei SS No. 6. Soon after leaving, the convoy anchors along the coast.
24 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Formosan coast.
25 November 1944:
At 2200, arrives at Musa Bay, Fuga Island.
27 November 1944:
At 0400, departs Musa Bay. At 1645, arrives at Lapoc Bay.
28 November 1944:
At 0600, departs Lapoc Bay. At 1800, arrives at N San Fernando.
29 November 1944:
At 0600, departs N San Fernando.
30 November 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Manila.
3 December 1944:
KURETAKE departs Takao for Manila with kaibokan CD-28, CD-54 and CH-33 as well as two unidentified warships escorting convoy TAMA-34 consisting of JINYO, KENJO, YAMAKUNI, FUKUYO and YASUKUNI MARUs, BANSHU MARU No. 31 and SHINPUKU MARU.
6 December 1944:
At 2147, a concerted wolfpack attack begins by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy M. Davenport's USS TREPANG (SS-412) and LtCdr James D. Fulp's SEGUNDO (SS-398).
Davenport torpedoes and sinks JINYO MARU at 18-52N, 121-57E with 1427 passengers and 44 sailors lost. At 2237, Fulp torpedoes YASUKUNI MARU that runs aground and is later abandoned near 18-59N 120-56E. At 2358 Davenport hits FUKUYO MARU with three torpedoes. She blows up and sinks nearby. BANSHU MARU No. 31 is also sunk around this time at 18-54N, 120-49E.
7 December 1944:
At 0005, Fulp's SEGUNDO torpedoes and sinks KENJO MARU at 18-52N, 121-57E. YAMAKUNI MARU, damaged by Davenport's TREPANG, goes no further than N San Fernando.
9 December 1944:
SHINPUKU MARU arrives at Manila with escorts less kaibokan CD-54 that is detached to rescue YASUKUNI MARU .
30 December 1944:
At 0800, KURETAKE, CH-18, CH-21 and three other unidentified escorts depart North San Fernando for Takao escorting convoy MATA-38 consisting of MURORAN, TEIKAI, KAZUURA and NISSHO MARUs.
Off Santiago Island, Luzon. At 1310, the convoy undergoes a series of air attacks by 26 of Fifth Air Force's B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers, A-20 “Havoc” light bombers and P-40 “Warhawk” fighters that skip bomb at low level. CH-18 is hit and sunk as are MURORAN and TEIKAI MARUs. The planes also damage KAZUURA and NISSHO MARUs near Lingayen Gulf at 17-11N 120-45E.
Bashi Channel, 60 miles SE of Formosa. During the bombing, LtCdr Charles D. Brown's USS RAZORBACK (SS-394) sneaks in on the surface and in two attacks fires six torpedoes at KURETAKE, of which two hit and blow her bow off. She sinks at 21N, 121-24E. The number of survivors, if any, is unknown, but Lt Yoshida is KIA.
10 February 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
[1] On 28 July 1944, the wreck is torpedoed and sunk by USS ASPRO (SS-309).
Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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