6 October 1938: Yokohama. Laid down at Mitsubishi's shipyard as Cruiser
No. 73.
31 March 1939: Named
KASHIMA and
provisionally attached to Kure Naval District.
25 September 1939: Launched.
25 September 1939: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Miyazato Shutoku
(40)(the currect CEO of KATORI) is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer
(CEO) of KASHIMA as additional duty.
1 November 1939: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ichioka Hisashi
(42)(former CO of YURA) is appointed the CEO of KATORI and KASHIMA as
additional duty. Captain Miyazato is reassigned as the CEO of repair ship AKASHI.
10 March 1940: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nabeshima Shunsaku
(42)(former ComSubDiv 7) is appointed the CEO. Captain Ichioka resumes
full-time duty as the CEO of KATORI.
31 May 1940: Completed and attached to Kure Naval District.
Captain Nabeshima is the Commanding Officer.
1 June 1940: Assigned to the Training Squadron with KATORI.
28 July 1940: KASHIMA and KATORI participate in the last pre-war
midshipman cruise visiting Etajima, Ominato, Dairen, Port Arthur and Shanghai.
September 1940: Returns to Yokosuka.
1 November 1940: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Takeda Isamu
(43)(former CO of OI) is appointed the CO. Captain Nabeshima is reassigned as
the CO of KINU.
15 November 1940: Reassigned to the Fourth Fleet, serving as the
flagship of CruDiv 18.
1 September 1941: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Senda Kinji (45)(former
CO of SHURI MARU) is appointed the CO. Captain Takeda is later reassigned as
the CO of ISE.
1 December 1941: KASHIMA is assigned as the flagship of Vice Admiral
(later Admiral) Inoue Shigeyoshi's (former CO of HIEI) Fourth Fleet based at
Truk, Caroline Islands.
8-23 December 1941: The Invasions of Wake Island and Guam: At Truk.
18 January 1942: Operation "R" - The Invasions of Rabaul and Kavieng:
Sorties from Truk to cover the landings.
31 January 1942: Arrives at Truk.
20 February 1942: Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr's (later President
Roosevelt's Naval Aide) Task Force 11's USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) is en route to
attack Rabaul. The task force is spotted by a Kawanishi H6K Mavis
flying boat of the Yokohama Kokutai. Since surprise is lost, the attack is
cancelled.
20 February 1942: Departs Truk in an unsuccessful pursuit of Task
Force 11.
23 February 1942: Returns to Truk.
March-April 1942: Truk. Guard ship duties.
1 May 1942: Departs Truk with Vice Admiral Inoue embarked.
4 May 1942: Operation "MO" – The Invasions of Tulagi and Port Moresby:
KASHIMA arrives at Rabaul, New Britain to direct operations.
That same day, Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka
Sadamichi's (former CO of KISO) Port Moresby Attack Force departs Rabaul towards
the Jomard Pass in the Louisiade Archipelago with DesRon 6's light cruiser
YUBARI, four destroyers and a patrol boat escorting Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) Abe Koso's (former CO of HIEI) Transport Force of 12 transports and a
minesweeper.
4 May 1942:The
Battle of the Coral Sea: Tulagi, Solomons. Rear Admiral (MOH
'14/later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher’s (former CO of VERMONT, BB-20)Task Force
17 attacks Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Shima Kiyohide's (former CO of OI)
Tulagi Invasion Force. SBD dive-bombers and TBD torpedo-bombers from USS
YORKTOWN (CV-5) sink a destroyer, three minesweepers and damage four other
ships.
5 May 1942: Fletcher's force turns north to engage Vice Admiral
(Admiral, posthumously) Takagi Takeo's (former CO of MUTSU) Carrier Strike
Force's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU. SBDs and TBDs from YORKTOWN and LEXINGTON (CV-2)
sink Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Goto Aritomo's (former CO of
MUTSU) light carrier SHOHO off Misima Island. In turn, Japanese planes damage
oiler NEOSHO (AO-23) and sink destroyer SIMS (DD-409).
8 May 1942: Planes from LEXINGTON sight Takagi's Strike Force.
SBDs from YORKTOWN and LEXINGTON damage SHOKAKU and force her retirement.
ZUIKAKU's air group suffers heavy losses. Takagi's bombers and attack planes
strike Task Force 17 and damage YORKTOWN and LEXINGTON. Gasoline vapors ignite,
triggering massive explosions that cause LEXINGTON to be abandoned. Later, she
is scuttled by destroyer PHELPS (DD-360).
13 May 1942: The Battle of the Coral Sea halts the Japanese thrust
toward Port Moresby and they are forced to cancel Operation MO. KASHIMA departs
Rabaul.
14 May 1942: Arrives at Kavieng, New Ireland then departs.
16 May 1942: Arrives at Truk.
16 May 1942: At Truk as guard ship until July.
19 July 1942: The flag of the Fourth Fleet is moved ashore.
20 July 1942: Departs Truk for Kure.
26 July 1942: Arrives at Kure. Refit.
1-25 August 1942: Drydocked. During refit, four 5-cm saluting guns are
removed and replaced by two Type 96 twin-mount 25-mm guns.
26 August 1942: Departs Kure. Resumes duty as flagship of the Fourth
Fleet.
3 September 1942: Arrives at Truk. Guard ship duties.
7 September 1942: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Takada Sakae
(46)(former XO of MUTSU) is appointed the CO. Captain Senda is reassigned to
the Naval College as an instructor.
2 October 1942: Truk. KASHIMA moves to the fleet anchorage to
participate in antiaircraft training.
8 October 1942: A conference is held aboard KASHIMA to discuss the
construction of defenses in the Pacific. The conference is attended by Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Ugaki Matome (former CO of HYUGA), Chief of Staff,
Combined Fleet, and Army officials of the Defense Construction Department.
26 October 1942: Vice Admiral, the Baron, Samejima Tomoshige (former
CO of NAGATO) assumes command of the Fourth Fleet. Vice Admiral Inoue is
reposted as Director of the Etajima Naval Academy.
17 November 1942: Departs Truk on an inspection cruise of the Marshall
Islands, escorted by ASANAGI and YUNAGI.
20 November 1942: Arrives at Kwajalein.
22-24 November 1942: At Roi.
24 November 1942: Departs Kwajalein.
25 November 1942: Arrives at Jaluit, then at Imieji.
29 November 1942: Departs Imieji escorted by YUNAGI.
2 December 1942: Arrives back at Truk.
2 December-1 April 1943: At Truk. Guard ship.
1 April 1943: Vice Admiral Kobayashi Masami (former CO of YAMASHIRO)
assumes command of the Fourth Fleet. Vice Admiral Samejima is reposted as CinC,
Eighth Fleet.
8 April 1943: Departs Truk.
15 April 1943: Arrives at Kure. Refit.
21 April 1943: Drydocked.
27 April 1943: Undocked.
19 May 1943: Departs Kure.
21 May 1943: Arrives at Yokosuka.
24 May 1943: Departs Yokosuka.
29 May 1943: Arrives at Truk. Training thereafter.
29 May-27 August 1943: At Truk.
1 July 1943: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hayashi Shigechika
(45)(former XO of CHIKUMA) is appointed the CO. Captain Takada Sakae is
reassigned to the Naval Academy as an instructor.
27 August 1943: Departs Truk in response to the increasing American
threat to the Gilberts and the Marshalls.
30 August 1943: Arrives at Kwajalein.
13 October 1943: Departs Kwajalein. Arrives at Roi Island.
21 October 1943: Departs Roi. Arrives at Kwajalein. Captain Kajiwara
Sueyoshi (47)(former CO of SHURI MARU) is appointed the CO. Captain Hayashi is
later reassigned as CO of TAKAO.
5 November 1943: Departs Kwajalein.
8 November 1943: Arrives at Truk.
1 November 1943: Relieved as flagship, Fourth Fleet by light cruiser
NAGARA.
10 November 1943: Designated as a training ship attached to the Kure
Training Division with sister KASHII.
18 November 1943: Departs Truk with submarine tender CHOGEI,
escorted by destroyers WAKATSUKI and YAMAGUMO.
N of Truk. The same day, LtCdr Fred Connaway is on his first patrol as
USS SCULPIN's (SS-191) skipper. His mission is to intercept any IJN forces
leaving Truk to oppose the forthcoming American invasion of Tarawa in the
Gilbert Islands. Division CO, Captain John P. Cromwell is aboard to coordinate
wolfpack operations between SCULPIN, SEARAVEN (SS-196) and, if conditions
warrant, either the SPEARFISH (SS-190) or APOGON (SS-308).
That night, SCULPIN makes radar contact with the CHOGEI group. Connaway
makes an "end run" on the surface to attack the next morning.
19 November 1943: Cdr Connaway prepares to attack the convoy. At 0640
(JST), YAMAGUMO's port bridge watch reports a surfacing submarine at port beam
at 8,000 meters. The submarine then crash-dives. YAMAGUMO closes the range at 26
knots and drops three depth charges without effect. At 0703, she drops three
more DCs, also without effect.
At 0706, YAMAGUMO commences a sonar search. At 0743, she acquires an echo
off the starboard bow at 2,400 meters. At 0752, YAMAGUMO charges and drops 10
DCs. This salvo knocks out SCULPIN's depth gauge. SCULPIN remains submerged for
several hours.
At 1109, Connaway attempts to come to periscope depth, but the damaged
depth gauge sticks. SCULPIN broaches and is spotted by YAMAGUMO off the
starboard bow, only 1000 meters away. Connaway crash dives. At 1125, YAMAGUMO
drops four 4 DCs on the submarine's assumed position. At 1131, she drops three
more DCs at the same position.
The CHOGEI group steams away leaving the YAMAGUMO behind to deal with the
submarine. YAMAGUMO resumes sonar search and at 1143, acquires the target off
the port beam at 1,850 meters. YAMAGUMO charges and drops 10 DCs. At 1243,
YAMAGUMO drops 10 more DCs
. This attack knocks out SCULPIN's sound heads and she takes on water.
Connaway receives reports that cracks have appeared around the torpedo tubes
fore and aft and that SCULPIN's batteries are nearly depleted. Connaway decides
to surface and fight it out with his deck gun to give the rest of his crew time
to Abandon Ship.
At 1256, SCULPIN surfaces 2000 meters off YAMAGUMO's starboard bow. Her
conning tower shows signs of pressure damage and both periscopes are bent. At
1300, YAMAGUMO main armament and her 25 mm AA guns prepare for engagement.
SCULPIN lies motionless on the surface. At 1301, YAMAGUMO fires her first gun
salvo and scores several hits along the hull of the submarine now off her
starboard beam. At 1302, the destroyer's 25-mm AA guns take SCULPIN's conning
tower under fire and score several hits.
SCULPIN's gunners man both the deck gun and the AA guns, but their return
fire is wildly erratic. A shell hits the conning tower and kills Connaway, the
bridge watch and the gun crew. Several AA gunners are cut down, but the rest
continue to return fire, but SCULPIN's gunners prove no match against YAMAGUMO's
quick firing main battery. Dense black smoke billows from the hull area abaft
the conning tower. The Engineering Officer assumes command and orders Abandon
Ship and SCULPIN scuttled.
Captain Cromwell possesses secret intelligence information about "Ultra"
code-breaking and the forthcoming invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Fearing he
might reveal this information under torture, Cromwell decides to go down with
SCULPIN to escape capture. He is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
At 1307, SCULPIN is listing and incapable of fighting back. YAMAGUMO
checks fire. At 1317, YAMAGUMO lowers her boats to pick up survivors, but the
sea is heavy and several submariners drown before they can be rescued.
Forty-two of SCULPIN's crew are picked up. One badly wounded sailor is thrown
back into the sea because of his condition. YAMAGUMO detaches for Truk. [1]
KASHIMA proceeds to Japan with the CHOGEI group.
20 November 1943: American Operation "Galvanic" - The Invasion of the
Gilbert Islands: Forces under Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Raymond A.
Spruance (former CO of MISSISSIPPI, BB-41), Commander, Central Pacific, invade
Tarawa and Makin Islands. The invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13
battleships and 11 carriers.
25 November 1943: KASHIMA arrives at Kure. She begins refit and
reorganization as a training ship.
3 December 1943: Kure. Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nagai Mitsuru
(45)(the current CO of JUNYO in drydock) is appointed the CO of KASHIMA as
additional duty. Captain Kajiwara is reassigned as CO of NOSHIRO.
9 December 1943: Captain Yamazumi Chusaburo (48)(former CoS, 12th
Air Fleet) is appointed the CO.
16 December 1943: Drydocked.
21 December 1943: Undocked.
6 January 1944: Drydocked.
12 January 1944: Undocked.
23 January-15 April 1944: Training ship for the Etajima Naval Academy.
Makes cruises in the western Inland Sea, staging from Etajima and Kure.
25 March 1944: KASHIMA is temporarily attached to the General Escort
Command.
25 April 1944: Redesignated as training and patrol vessel.
15 May 1944: At Kure. Captain Koma Masayoshi (49)(former chief of the
Navy Ministry Education Bureau's 2nd Section) is appointed the CO. Captain
Yamazumi is later reassigned as the CO of AOBA. KASHIMA begins a refit.
26 May 1944: The refit is completed.
26 May-11 July 1944: Makes four transport runs from Shimonoseki to
Okinawa carrying army reinforcements and supplies.
11 July 1944: Operation "RO-GO" - Emergency Transport of Second Air Fleet
Personnel to Formosa: KASHIMA is assigned to the operation.
10 August 1944: Arrives at Naha, Okinawa. Lands 662 personnel and 50
tons of cargo.
16 August 1944: Arrives at Naha. Lands 594 personnel and 200 tons of
cargo.
13 August 1944: Captain Hiraoka Yoshitaka (47)(former CO of HAKUSA)
is appointed the CO.
18 September 1944: Departs Kure.
20 September 1944: Arrives at Kagoshima. Embarks elements of the
Second Air Fleet.
22 September 1944: Departs Kagoshima.
25 September 1944: Arrives at Keelung, Formosa. Disembarks personnel.
1 October 1944: Arrives at Kure.
12 October 1944: Departs Kure for Kagoshima.
14 October 1944: Arrives at Kagoshima.
16 October 1944: Departs Kagoshima on another transport run.
19 October 1944: Arrives at Keelung.
20 October 1944: Formosa Strait. At 0330, LtCdr (later Rear
Admiral/MOH) Richard H. O'Kane's (former XO of WAHOO) USS TANG's (SS-306) SJ
radar makes contact with a warship at 30,000 yards. O'Kane tracks the target
until at 10,000 yards TANG's crew is able to identify the targets as a
zigzagging cruiser escorted by two destroyers.
TANG closes to within 2,000 yards of the cruiser's port quarter. From his
ONI-41-42 Recognition Manual, O'Kane identifies her as a KATORI-class light
cruiser making 20 knots. He sets up at 1,650 yards, but TANG carries only the
new Mark 18-1 electric torpedoes. O'Kane realizes that in a stern attack the
batteries of the slow 27-knot torpedoes will be exhausted before the torpedoes
reach the cruiser. Over the next two hours, O'Kane makes repeated attempts, but
fails to close to within the 600 yards spitting distance required for a
successful stern shot.[2]
Suddenly, the TANG is illuminated by a destroyer's searchlights. O'Kane
crash dives, breaks off his attack on KASHIMA and evades an expected
counterattack that does not materialize.
28 October 1944: KASHIMA arrives at Kure. Resumes training duties in
the western Inland Sea.
20 December 1944: Kure Navy Yard. Begins modifications. KASHIMA's
torpedo tubes are replaced by two unshielded twin 40-cal Type 89 127-mm HA-gun
mounts. Four triple mount Type 96 25-mm. AA guns and ten single mount guns are
also fitted. A Type 22 surface-search radar is fitted. Two Type 2 infra-red
communication devices are installed. KASHIMA's aft compartments are modified
into concrete-protected magazines for up to 100 depth charges. Four DC throwers,
and two DC rails are installed on the quarterdeck. Hydrophones and sonar are
also installed.
1 January 1945: Assigned as the flagship of No. 102 Escort Squadron of
the First Escort Fleet. The No. 102 Escort Squadron also includes escort ships
(kaibokan) YASHIRO, MIKURA, CD Nos. 2, 33, 34 and 35.
23 January 1945: Modifications are completed.
6-10 Febuary 1945: Kure. Eight Type 96 single mount 25-mm AA guns are
added bringing her total suite to 38 barrels. A Type 13 air-search radar is
installed.
12 February 1945: Departs Moji escorting a convoy.
18 February 1945: Arrives at Shanghai.
22 February 1945: Departs Shanghai for antisubmarine patrols in the
Chrisan Island area.
27 February 1945: South China Sea. 50 miles E of Ningpo. At 0855, a
lookout aboard LtCdr (later Captain) Benjamin E. Adam's (former XO of ALBACORE,
SS-218) USS RASHER (SS-310) sights KASHIMA at a distance of 10 miles. The
cruiser is dropping depth charges and firing her guns. A floatplane, probably a
Nakajima E8N2 Dave
biplane, is circling over her.
Adams is unsure whether she is attacking a fellow Allied submariner or
conducting some sort of trials or ASW exercise. He tracks KASHIMA through his
high periscope all day, but does not attack, probably because of the shallow
water in the target's area. That night, he loses contact.
13 March 1945: KASHIMA returns to the Shanghai area.
March-April 1945: Resumes antisubmarine patrols around the Chrisan
Island.
28 April 1945: Captain Takahashi Chojuro (49)(former CO of RYUHO) is
appointed the CO.
May 1945: Korean waters. Assigned to convoy-escort and
submarine-hunting duties.
18 May 1945: At 2200, KASHIMA departs Chinkai (Chinhae), Korea for
the Umajima Channel escorted by kaibokan CD-2 and CD-34.
19 May 1945: W half of the Tsushima Strait. At 0127 (JST), KASHIMA
collides with and sinks cargo ship DAISHIN MARU. A gasoline tank at KASHIMA's
port bow is damaged in the collision and a fire ensues. At 0805, she arrives at
Chinkai (Chinhae), Korea.
At 0830, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “At
2200 18th, KASHIMA, CD-2 and CD-34 departed Chinkai for Umajima Channel.
Enroute, at 0118, 19th, at position bearing 183 degrees distance 4000 meters
from Tenchozan at the southern extremity of --- KASHIMA rammed the DAISHIN MARU
which subsequently sank at -----. KASHIMA suffered slight damage to her (bow ?)
but will probably be able to carry out present operations. No casualties or
damage was suffered to personnel or material. Arrived Chinkai at 0800.”
5 June 1945: American Operation "Barney": Tsushima Strait, Japan. Cdr
George E. Pierce's USS TUNNY (SS-282) with LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Richard B.
Lynch's SKATE (SS-305) and LtCdr Lawrence L. Edge's BONEFISH (SS-223) are
organized as the “Polecats” and equipped with FM Sonar gear to detect mines.
Once the minefields are detected by the new gear and charted, shipping in the
Sea of Japan will be open to predation by American subs.
Japanese passive sonar detects one or more of the Polecats and the alarm
is raised. Aboard KASHIMA, the CO of the No. 102 Escort Squadron orders five
subchasers to investigate. Aircraft are also called in from the 901st NAG
equipped with Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 Nell
and G4M Type 1 Betty
bombers.
Japanese ASW forces achieve no results. The "Polecats" then foray in
the Sea of Japan for the next several weeks sinking several ships, but
BONEFISH is sunk on 19 June by the kaibokan OKINAWA.
30 June 1945: Southern Korea. Arrives at Chinkai (Chinhae). Makes
antisubmarine sweeps in the Tsushima Strait.
5 July 1945: The No. 102 Escort Squadron is deactivated. KASHIMA is
attached to Vice Admiral Kishi Fukuji's (former CO of FUSO) First Escort Fleet.
10 July 1945: Departs Korea for Maizuru. Operates in the Maizuru area
and the Sea of Japan.
15 August 1945: End of Hostilities: At Nanao at war's end.
20 August 1945: Departs Nanao.
22 August 1945: Arrives at Kure.
21 September 1945: KASHIMA is employed as a repatriation transport.
A deck house is constructed around her main mast and the barrels of her main
armament are sawn off.
27 September 1945: Captain Iura Shojiro (51)(former commandant of
Kure submarine base) is appointed the CO.
2 October 1945: Captain Yokota Minoru (51)(former commandant of
Kure submarine base) is appointed the CO.
5 October 1945: Removed from the Navy List.
10 October 1945: First Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure with the
Repatriation Service's carrier HOSHO on a mission to repatriate former Japanese
troops in the Pacific.
22 October 1945: KASHIMA arrives at Jaluit, Marshalls and takes
Japanese POWs aboard for repatriation to the homeland.
23 October 1945: Departs Jaluit.
2 November 1945: Arrives at Uraga, near Tokyo.
13 November 1945: Second Repatriation Trip: Departs Uraga, near Tokyo.
23 November 1945: Arrives at Hollandia, New Guinea. Departs the same
day.
24 November 1945: Arrives at Wewak, New Guinea. Departs the same day.
26 November 1945: Arrives at Mushu, New Guinea. Departs the same day.
5 December 1945: Arrives at Okinawa. Departs the same day.
8 December 1945: Arrives at Otaka, Japan.
31 December 1945: Third Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
8 January 1946: Arrives at Wewak, New Guinea. Departs the same day.
9 January 1946: Arrives at Mushu, New Guinea. Departs the same day.
16 January 1946: Arrives at Otaka. Departs the same day.
17 January 1946: Arrives at Kure.
25 January 1946: Fourth Repatriation Trip: Departs Saeki, Japan.
3 February 1946: Arrives at Rabaul. Departs the same day.
5 February 1946: Arrives at Fauro Island (collection point for part of
Bougainville). Departs the same day.
14 February 1946: Arrives at Otaka.
2 March 1946: Fifth Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
11 March 1946: Arrives at Singapore. Departs the same day.
13 March 1946: Arrives at Saigon, French Indochina.
15 March 1946: Departs Saigon.
29 March 1946: Arrives at Kure.
3 April 1946: Sixth Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
6 April 1946: Arrives at Hua Lien, Formosa. Departs the same day.
12 April 1946: Arrives at Saigon. Departs the same day.
20 April 1946: Arrives at Otaka.
15 May 1946: Seventh Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
22 May 1946: Arrives at Singapore. Departs the same day.
25 May 1946: Arrives at Rembang, Indonesia. Departs the same day.
30 May 1946: Arrives at Otaka.
3 June 1946: Eighth Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
9 June 1946: Arrives at St Jacques, French Indochina. Departs the
same day.
15 June 1946: Arrives at Bangkok, Thailand.
18 June 1946: Departs Bangkok.
28 June 1946: Arrives at Uraga.
7 July 1946: Ninth Repatriation Trip: Departs Uraga.
11 July 1946: Arrives at Korojima. [3]
14 July 1946: Departs Korojima.
17 July 1946: Arrives at Otaka.
22 July 1946: Tenth Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
25 July 1946: Arrives at Korojima.
3 August 1946: Departs Korojima.
6 August 1946: Arrives at Uraga.
15 August 1946: Eleventh Repatriation Trip: Departs Uraga.
19 August 1946: Arrives at Korojima.
25 August 1946: Departs Korojima.
29 August 1946: Arrives at the port of Hakata, Fukuoka, Kyushu.
26 September 1946: Twelfth Repatriation Trip: Departs Kure.
30 September 1946: Arrives at Singapore.
3 October 1946 Departs Singapore.
5 October 1946 Arrives at Hong Kong, British Crown Colony. Drydocked.
7 November 1946: Undocked. Departs Hong Kong.
12 November 1946: Arrives at Sasebo. During her career as a
repatriation vessel, KASHIMA completes transporting some 5,800 former troops to
the homeland.
15 November 1946-15 June 1947: KASHIMA is transferred from the
Repatriation Service to the Home Ministry for scrapping.
Near Nagasaki. Broken up at the Kawanami Heavy Industries Koyagishima
Yard.
Authors' Notes: [1] After reaching Truk, 21 of SCULPIN's survivors were
placed aboard the escort carrier CHUYO for transport to a POW camp in Japan. The
other 20 SCULPIN survivors were put aboard the escort carrier UNYO also bound for
a POW camp in Japan.
On 4 Dec 1943, SCULPIN's sister, USS SAILFISH (SS-192) torpedoed CHUYO.
When CHUYO sank, all but one of the 21 SCULPIN crewmen were lost. The other 20
SCULPIN crewmen aboard UNYO made Yokosuka safely.
[2] A few days later, on 24 Oct 1944, during another attack on Japanese
shipping in the Formosa Strait, one of TANG's poorly designed and poorly tested
Mark 18-1 torpedoes makes a circular run and sinks the submarine. O'Kane and
eight other topside crewmen are the only survivors and become POWs.
[3] Chinese name unknown. This small island is near Tangku (now Tanggu)
near Tientsin. It appears to have been the main loading port for the remnants of
the Kwangtung Army.
Thanks go to Peter Cundall of Australia for repatriation data. Thanks
also go Jean-François Masson of Canada for assistance in researching IJN
officers. Thanks to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of
Japanese messages. Thanks also go to "Adm. Gurita" of the Netherlands and to
Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.