© 2007 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
22 August 1917:
New York. Laid down at Standard Shipbuilding Co's shipyard as a Lapwing Class minesweeper.
30 March 1918:
Launched, named and numbered USS FINCH Minesweeper No. 9.
10 September 1918:
Commissioned in the USN.
9 August 1919:
Departs New York for Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland.
August-October 1919:
FINCH sweeps mines laid in the North Sea during World War I.
23 December 1918 -19 July 1919:
After World War I, USN minesweepers sweep one-mile wide channels into the principal ports serving troops returning from Europe. FINCH, in the approach to New York harbor, is one of seven Lapwing Class minesweepers temporarily stationed as Navy lightships at the five approaches to the ports of disembarkation. Each ship is equipped with illumination, fog signal, and submarine bell signal apparatus.
17 July 1920:
Redesignated AM-9.
29 November 1920:
Arrives at Charleston, SC.
3 January 1920:
Departs Charleston for San Pedro, CA.
1 March 1920-29 August 1920:
Arrives at San Pedro. Undergoes modernization.
29 August 1921:
Departs San Francisco for duty with the U. S. Asiatic Fleet. She serves in the Philippines in the winter months and at Chefoo, China in the summer months. Her duties include towing and salvage work, fleet exercises and patrols on the Yangtze River.
September 1921:
Manila Bay. FINCH arrives at Cavite Naval Base, Philippines.
December 1921:
Cavite. Assigned as tender to the newly arrived Submarine Division 18 comprised of S-boats 2, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
23 April 1923:
FINCH and submarine tender USS RAINBOW (AS-7) steam with the Asiatic Fleet's submarine divisions to serve at Shanghai, Chefoo, Chinwangtao, Woosung and Amoy along the China Coast.
10 September 1923:
FINCH departs China with RAINBOW for Olongapo, Philippines, serving there and at Cavite.
24 June 1924:
FINCH departs Cavite with RAINBOW and the S-boats of Divisions 12 and 18 to serve at Tsingtao, Chefoo and Amoy.
20 September 1924:
FINCH departs China for Olongapo.
23 September 1924:
Arrives at Olongapo.
June 1937:
China. LtCdr (later Admiral) Hyman G. Rickover assumes command of FINCH, but is reassigned within three months.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The"First China Incident") Incident:
Hun River, Lukuokiao, China. Japanese troops at the bridge fire blank cartridges during night maneuvers. Chinese troops fire back. Later, the Japanese discover a soldier missing. They demand entry to the Beijing suburb of Wanping to look for him, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese shell the city and an undeclared war on China begins.
10 January 1939:
FINCH is at Tsingtao.
1 October 1939:
Tsingtao. FINCH tows submarine salvage ship USS PIGEON (ASR-6) free after she ran aground during a typhoon in September.
November 1941:
Cavite Naval Station, Manila. FINCH is flagship of Lt Thurlow W. Davison's Mine Div 8 with USS BITTERN (AM-36).
18 November 1941:
In response to deteriorating political conditions in China, Admiral (later Senator) Thomas C. Hart, CINC, U. S. Asiatic Fleet orders Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) William A. Glassford, CO of the Yangtze River Patrol, to return to Manila with five of his larger gunboats.
29 November 1941:
River gunboats LUZON (PR-7), carrying Admiral Glassford, and OAHU (PR-6) depart Shanghai for Manila.
30 November -1 December 1941:
About midnight, FINCH and submarine rescue vessel PIGEON (ASR-6) rendezvous with LUZON and OAHU.
1 December 1941:
Formosa Straits. FINCH, PIGEON, LUZON and OAHU encounter a large Japanese convoy headed southward.
A floatplane circles the Americans, followed by seven Japanese warships of various types.
2 December 1941:
As Glassford's flat-bottomed river boats attempt to cross the Formosa Straits they encounter a Typhoon. Admiral Hart, concerned for the gunboats' safety, directs FINCH and PIGEON to tow them, or if necessary, take off their crews.
3 December 1941:
PIGEON's rudder is damaged by mountainous seas and she loses an anchor. FINCH loses both of her anchors, but manages to take the unnavigable PIGEON under tow. LUZON and OAHU are detached.
4-10 December 1941:
LUZON and OAHU reach Manila followed by FINCH and PIGEON. All the other gunboats arrive over the next few days.
8 December 1941:
At about 1220, nine hours after their attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese, delayed by bad weather, bomb LtGen Douglas MacArthur's air bases in the Philippines and destroy many bombers and fighters on the ground.
29 December 1941:
IJNAF land attack planes bomb Corregidor for the first time. Off shore, bombs set fire to Philippine freighter DON JOSE and the hulk of American freighter CAPILLO. FINCH puts out the fires on both ships.
9 April 1942:
3 miles off N shore of Corregidor. FINCH is anchored next to minesweeper USS QUAIL (AM-15 ) with many of the Asiatic Fleet's minesweepers, gunboats and tugs. At about 1600, Japanese shore batteries open fire on the gathering. All the ships up anchor and zigzag to the center of Manila Bay, but the shore batteries continue firing and sink two tugs. Finally, the other ships get out of range of the guns, only to be attacked by nine dive-bombers. FINCH and minesweeper TANAGER (AM-5) claim shooting down one dive-bomber.
During the action, FINCH is damaged by the near-miss of a bomb and fragments pierce her hull. Her seams open causing flooding and FINCH has to be abandoned, but her entire crew is safely landed. The Japanese continue bombing and strafing unit about 1700, but their aim is off and they score no hits, just near-misses. As darkness closes in, the planes withdraw.
10 April 1942:
Off Corregidor. FINCH is grounded in shallow water at 14-22N, 120-35E.
6 May 1942:
Corregidor falls.
8 May 1942:
The Japanese begin to salvage FINCH.
1 April 1943:
Registered in the IJN as patrol boat PB-103. Attached to the Maizuru Naval Base. Assigned to the South West Area Fleet's Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet at Manila while being repaired at the IJN's No. 103 Repair Facility at Cavite.
9 April 1943:
Lt (Reserve) Imazato Shichiro is appointed the CO.
1 to 17 May 1943:
Transferred to No. 103 Repair Facility for hull repairs and reinforcement.
17 May 1943:
Departs for engine trials, returns on that same day. Later, a 1-meter Barr & Stroud rangefinder is installed on the rebuilt bridge.
19 May 1943:
Transferred to the IJN. The armament consists of one 3-in/40 Armstrong gun in the bow, two 0.5-in American machine guns abreast the mainmast, two Type 92 7.7-mm machine guns abreast the foremast and one Type 91 Mk. 1 depth-charge thrower.
27 May 1943:
Hull repairs are completed.
19-20 June 1943:
Weapons trials. A Japanese-style galley is fitted.
12 October 1943:
At 1250, PB-103 departs Manila escorting convoy H-2 to Kau, Halmahera consisting of HAMBURG, SUEZ, KIBITSU and YUBAE MARUs.
14 October 1943:
At 1620, convoy H-2 arrives at Cebu and partially unloads. PB-103 is detached and replaced as escort by minelayer WAKATAKA.
31 October 1943:
At 1200, PB-103 departs Manila escorting convoy No. 1 consisting of TEIKAI, TOHO, NICHINAN, SHINSHU and SHIRANESAN MARUs.
2 November 1943:
While nearing Cebu Port, TEIKAI MARU runs aground and NICHINAN MARU is detached to assist. At 2305, TEIKAI MARU is refloated and they arrived at Cebu the following day.
6 November 1943:
At 0900, PB-103 departs Cebu escorting convoy H-3 consisting of TEIKAI, NICHINAN, TATSUHA, TOHO and FUZAN MARUs.
10 November 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Kau.
11 November 1943:
At 0530, PB-103 departs Kau escorting a convoy consisting of MINRYO and HINODE MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3.
14 November 1943:
Arrives Zamboanga. CHOJO MARU joins the convoy.
15 November 1943:
At 1000, arrives at Cebu.
16 November 1943:
At 0800, departs Cebu.
18 November 1943:
At 0830, arrives at Manila.
22 November 1943:
At 1745, PB-103 departs Manila escorting convoy H-6 consisting of TATSUHARU, CHINKAI, RYUSEI, FUJIKAWA and NANREI MARUs.
E 24 November 1943:
Off Legaspi, NANREI MARU detaches from the convoy.
26 November 1943:
HAMBURG MARU joins the convoy.
29 November 1943:
At 0815, arrives at Kau.
1 December 1943:
At 0500, PB-103 departs Kau escorting convoy M-3 consisting of AKAGISAN MARU and FUKUEI MARU No. 8.
4 December 1943:
FUKUEI MARU No. 8 is detached from the convoy because of her slow speed.
5 December 1943:
Near Cebu. AKAGISAN MARU suffers rudder problems and stops for temporary repairs. PB-103 proceeds independently and both arrive at Cebu that day.
9 December 1943:
At 0850, PB-103 departs Cebu escorting convoy M-092 consisting of DAISOKU MARU No. 13 and SHINSEI MARU No. 17.
11 December 1943:
At 1300, arrives Manila.
January 1944:
An order is received to fit PB-103 with a larger depth-charge magazine.
20 January 1944:
At 0900, PB-103 and subchaser CH-46 depart Manila escorting convoy H-14 to Kau, Halmahera consisting of TONEGAWA, KUROGANE, MOJI, MITSUKI, ADEN, KENWA, UGO and RYOCHI MARUs.
22 January 1944:
At 1150, arrives at Cebu, Philippines.
23 January 1944:
At 0900, departs Cebu.
27 January 1944:
At 1456, arrives at Kau.
30 January 1944:
At 0800, PB-103 departs Kau for Manila with subchaser CH-46 and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 13 escorting the "M" convoy consisting of KAZUURA, YAMAMIYA, TSUKIKAWA and ODATSUKI MARUs.
31 January 1944:
Arrives at Cebu.
2 February 1944:
Departs Cebu.
5 February 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
E 10 February 1944:
Joins convoy MO-72 consiting of MINRYO and SEKINO MARUs that sailed unescorted from Palau on 7 February.
14 February 1944:
W of Batangas. At 0505, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Rueben T. Whitaker's USS FLASHER (SS-249) torpedoes and sinks MINRYO MARU at 13-44N, 120-37E. The convoy probably arrives at Manila later that day.
25 February 1944:
At 1500, PB-103 departs Manila for Kau, Halmahera Island escorting convoy H-19 consisting of NITTAI, YAMAGATA, SHOGEN, SHINYU and TENCHO MARUs.
28 February 1944:
At 1000, arrives at Cebu, Philippines. The convoy is joined by KANTO MARU and auxiliary subchaser CHa-24 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa-8.
1 March 1944:
The escorts detect a submarine. CHa-24 drops depth charges, but without effect.
3 March 1944:
Celebes Sea, 290 miles NW of Wasili, Halmahera. At 2347, LtCdr Willard R. Laughon’s USS RASHER (SS-269) attacks convoy H-19. Laughon torpedoes and sinks army transport NITTAI MARU carrying a cargo of white rice at 03-8N, 123-56E. The escorts drop seven depth charges that slightly damage RASHER.
4 March 1944:
At 1825, the convoy's escort is joined by auxiliary NITTO MARU No. 17. At 2300, the escorts detect a surfaced submarine and attack, but without success.
5 March 1944:
At 0405, Laughon's RASHER fires torpedoes at the convoy at 02-49N, 126-40E. SHINYU MARU barely manages to evade a hit.
6 March 1944:
At 0237, arrives at Wasili, Halmahera, then departs for Kau.
9 March 1944:
At 0600, PB-103 departs Wasili, Halmahera with auxiliary subchaser CHa-12 and auxiliary NITTO MARU No. 17 escorting convoy M-14 consisting of NORWAY, TATSUJU and CELEBES MARUs. PB-103 experiences some malfunctions and the convoy anchors off Kau.
11 March 1944:
At 0715, after repairs to PB-103, the convoy departs Kau for Wasili, Halmahera. The convoy's escort is joined by auxiliary netlayer TOKO MARU No. 1.
14 March 1944:
Cebu Sea. TEIYU MARU joins the convoy.
15 March 1944:
At 1230, arrives at Zamboanga, Mindanao. Departs at 1850.
19 March 1944:
At 0400, off Cape Santiago, Luzon, the convoy is attacked by an unidentified submarine, but no damage is incurred. Later that day, arrives at Manila.
31 March 1944:
At 0358, PB-103 departs Manila for Kau, Halmahera Island with PB-105 escorting convoy H-23 consisting of
BUNZAN, TATSUJU and TAIYU MARUs and HINODE MARU No. 1.
6 April 1944:
At 0733, departs Cebu. Enroute, the convoy is joined by KURAMASAN and MITO MARUS from Davao.
11 April 1944:
At 1753, arrives at Kau.
12 April 1944:
At 1500, PB-103 departs Kau for Manila with with PB-105, auxiliary subchasers YATSUSHIRO MARU and KYO MARU No. 2 escorting convoy M-27 consisting of YAMAGATA, SHOGEN and SHINYU MARUs and NIKKO MARU No. 1 and Army LST BANRYU (later SS-2).
15 April 1944:
At 2340, LtCdr Marshall H. Austin's USS REDFIN (SS-272) torpedoes and damages SHINYU MARU, but she is able to continue.
16 April 1944:
At 0240, REDFIN torpedoes and damages YAMAGATA MARU and later she sinks.
17 April 1944:
Arrives at Zamboanga and departs at 2040 the same day.
21 April 1944:
JANBI and BUGEN MARUs join the convoy.
22 April 1944:
Arrives at Cebu. TAIKO and HOKUHI MARUs join the convoy. Departs the same day.
24 April 1944:
Convoy M-27 arrives at Manila.
26 May 1944:
At 1350, PB-103 departs Wasili, Halmahera Island for Manila escorting convoys M-20 and M-21 consisting of
TSUSHIMA, MANSHU, YAMAHAGI, TATSUMA, SHIROTAE, FUKUYO, PEKING, FUYO, KENNICHI, TENSHO and KUROGANE MARUs.
30 May 1944:
At 0845, arrives at Zamboanga, Mindanao and departs later that day.
1 June 1944:
At 0740, arrives at Cebu and departs later that day.
3 June 1944:
At 2100, arrives at Manila.
6 September 1944:
At 0600, PB-103 departs Manila for Cebu with torpedo boat HAYABUSA, auxiliary subchaser MOGAMI MARU and auxiliary TERUKAZE MARU escorting convoy C-067 consisting of MIKASA, KEIAN, GENKAI, TOYO, RAKUTO, AYASONO and BANRYU (later SS-2) MARUs and FUKUEI MARU No. 17.
8 September 1944:
At 1335, arrives at Cebu.
10 September 1944:
At 1050, arrives at Loc Bay, Masbate Is.
12 September 1944:
At 1049, departs Loc Bay.
13 September 1944:
At 0430, arrives at Santa Cruz, Mindoro Island.
16 September 1944:
At 0947, departs Santa Cruz and at 1915 anchors at Batangas.
17 September 1944:
At 0555, departs Batangas and at 1600 arrives at Manila.
20 September 1944:
Departs Cavite for Kanakao. Later, docks at No. 103 Repair Facility for repairs. Type 93 sonar and a radar detector are also installed. Probably at that time, her Type 91 depth-charge thrower is replaced by a Type 94.
10 October 1944:
Completes repairs at No. 103 Repair Facility.
12 October 1944:
Undergoes hull inspection at Cavite No. 2 pier.
17 to 24 October 1944:
Docks at Kanakao for additional hull reinforcement.
November 1944:
A Type 96 twin 25-mm AA mount (abaft the mainmast) and four single mounts are fitted.
4 December 1944:
At 0800, PB-103 departs Singapore for Manila with kaibokan CD-43, subchasers CH-30 and CH-31 escorting convoy SHIMA consisting of SHOEI, KOSHIN and EIHO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 3.
8 December 1944:
NNE of Kuchin, Borneo. At 0104, either LtCdr John C. Martin's USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) or LtCdr Joseph P. FitzPatrick's PADDLE (SS-263) torpedoes and sinks SHOEI MARU with a cargo of 5,000-tons of gasoline at 04-02N, 111-12E.
12 December 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Kuching.
13 December 1944:
At 1200, departs Kuching.
16 December 1944:
KOSHIN MARU suffers engine trouble and has to be towed to Miri.
23 December 1944:
LtCdr Irvin S. Hartman's BARBERO (SS-317) torpedoes and sinks subchaser CH-30 at 02-42N, 111-05E.
24 December 1944:
The convoy anchors off Cape Paloh. The convoy's destination is changed to Cape St Jacques, Indochina.
25 December 1944:
At 1200, departs Cape Paloh.
1 January 1945:
At 1100, the convoy arrives at Cape St Jacques.
11 January 1945:
At 1100, PB-103 departs Cape St Jacques with kaibokan CD-35, CD-43, minesweeper W-101 and subchaser CH-31 escorting convoy SATA-05 consisting of KENSEI and TOYU MARUs, landing ship transport T. 149 and tankers AYAYUKI, KOSHIN and EIHO MARUs. In the evening, T. 149 finds the heavy seas too dangerous. She is detached from the convoy and returns to St Jacques.
12 January 1945: American Operation "Gratitude"- Task Force 38's Strikes on Indochina:
Off Cape Padaran, SE French Indochina. Carrier aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain’s Task Force 38 attack convoy SATA-05. PB-103 is repeatedly strafed and most of her AA armament is disabled. The depth-charges on the afterdeck catch fire. At 1515, after several successive explosions the ship sinks in 28 feet of water. Her bridge remains partially visible. Twenty three officers and men are killed, 53 wounded.
TF 38’s planes also sink merchant tanker AYAYUKI MARU, kaibokan CD-35, CD-43, subchaser CH-31 and minesweeper W-101 at 11-10N, 108-55E.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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