© 2008-2016 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 6
26 May 1944:
Harima. Laid down at Harima Ship Building, Ltd.
29 July 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-134.
30 September 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
11 November 1944:
CD-134 is assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
15 November 1944:
At 1600, CD-134 departs Moji for Miri, Borneo with kaibokan CD-61, minesweeper W-101 and auxiliary subchasers CHa-156 and CHa-157 escorting convoy MI-27 consisting of AWAGAWA, EDOGAWA, MATSUURA, SEISHO, KYOKUUN, OSAKASAN, KOSHU, ENKEI and CHINKAI MARUs. The convoy detours along the Korean coast to avoid American submarines. Immediately after departing ENKEI MARU drops out with rudder problems.
16 November 1944:
Tanker KYOKUUN MARU suffers engine problems and drops out.
17 November 1944:
Yellow Sea. Off Cheju Island. The convoy encounters a three-submarine wolf pack. At 2205, LtCdr (later Cdr) Edward E. Shelby's (USNA '33) USS SUNFISH (SS-281) torpedoes EDOGAWA MARU carrying 2,173 troops including the IJA 19th Sea Raiding Battalion and its base battalion, other units, 200 recent young graduates of the Army’s weapons, tank, signal, and artillery schools, 150 horses and 200 war dogs. Her cargo includes supplies, fuel, 60 vehicles, 16 landing craft, 50 depth charges and munitions. A torpedo explodes in her No. 2 hold and sets the ship afire. At about 2300, EDOGAWA MARU is abandoned.
At 2340, LtCdr Robert H. Caldwell's (USNA '36) USS PETO (SS-265) torpedoes OSAKASAN MARU. Hit by two torpedoes, the new ship steaming in ballast on her maiden voyage, explodes in a ball of flame, lists to starboard and sinks at 33-30N, 124-30E. 62 crewmen and 80 passengers are KIA.
About 2207, USS SUNFISH torpedoes and damages SEISHO MARU. Minesweeper W-101 attempts to assist.
18 November 1944:
At 0130, a gun battle erupts between a surfaced submarine and SEISHO MARU. At 0317, Shelby's USS SUNFISH torpedoes and sinks damaged SEISHO MARU. 412 passengers and 36 crewmen are KIA. At about the same time, Shelby torpedoes EDOGAWA MARU again and she sinks. 1,998 troops and 116 crewmen are KIA. The rest of the convoy heads towards Shanghai for shelter. After escorting convoy to Shanghai, CD-61 is detached to join convoy HI-81.
At 0220, convoy HI-81's CD-61 and convoy MI-27's W-101 are ordered to locate and assist convoy HI-81's escort carrier SHINYO, torpedoed nearby by LtCdr (later Captain) (USNA '32) Gordon W. Underwood's USS SPADEFISH (SS-411). About 0430, Caldwell's USS PETO torpedoes MI-27's CHINKAI MARU carrying troops and ammunition. She sinks at 33-35N, 124-34E with the loss of 22 crewmen and 17 gunners.
19 November 1944:
At 1430 the surviving ships arrive at Ssu Chiao Shan.
20 November 1944:
At 0900 CD-61 rejoins the convoy at anchor. W-101 and CD-134 leave the anchorage and at 1700 arrive at Shanghai to remunition and land survivors. That same day CD-134 is reassigned to the 11th Coast Defense Group. CD-61 is detached and joins HI-81 convoy.
22 November 1944:
At 0830 CD-134 and W-101 depart Shanghai and at 1500 arrive back at Ssu Chiao Shan.
23 November 1944:
The convoy splits into two sections, one heads for Singapore via Mako and the other for Luzon via Takao. At 1620 the Takao section consisting only of ENKI and MATSUURA MARUs escorted by CD-134 and W-101 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
25 November 1944:
At 1330 MATSUURA MARU is detached for Kirun.
26 November 1944:
At 1300 the contingent arrives at Takao where the convoy is dissolved.
30 November 1944:
At 2104, CD-134 departs Takao for Manila with kaibokan TSUSHIMA, DAITO, CD-14, CD-16 and CD-46 and minesweeper W-101 escorting convoy TAMA-33 consisting of SHINSHU and KIBITSU MARUs.
1 December 1944:
As a result of air raids on Manila, convoy TAMA-33 is directed to puts its troops ashore at San Fernando, Luzon. At 2205, the convoy anchors at Pamoctan.
2 December 1944:
At 0630, the convoy departs Pamoctan for Manila where it arrives at 2240.
5 December 1944:
At 1157, CD-134 departs Takao with kaibokan CD-1, CD-34 and DAITO and mibnesweepers W-39 and W-41 escorting convoy TAMA-35 consisting of NISSHO, ORYOKU, ARIMASAN and KAZUURA MARUs. Later that day, anchors at Chechung.
6 December 1944:
At 0058, departs Chechung. At 1815, anchors at Port San Pio Quinto, Camiguin Island.
8 December 1944:
At 0502, departs Port San Pio Quinto. At 1411, anchors at Calayan Island.
9 December 1944:
At 0817, departs Calayan Island.
11 December 1944:
At 2000, arrives at Manila.
19 December 1944:
At 0802 departs St Jacques in convoy SAMA-14 consisting of SHINNO, RYUSHO, BINGO MARUs and at least 3 other unidentified merchant ships escorted by Minesweeper W 21 and kaibokan CD-1, CD-3, CD-130 and CD-134.
20 December 1944:
At 1644, arrives at Cap Padaran, Indochina. Departs from there at 2003.
21 December 1944:
At 1905, arrives at Nha Trang, Indochina.
23 December 1944:
At 0807, departs Nha Trang but SHINNO MARU broke down and at 0915 convoy returned to port. At 1814 departs Nha Trang again.
24 December 1944:
At 0516, arrives at Qui Sande Bay, Indochina. At 0910 departs. At 2050, the No.6 ship in the convoy runs aground.
25 December 1944:
At 0900, the No. 6 ship is towed off and the convoy resumes its voyage. At 2126 arrives at Qui Nhon, Indochina.
26 December 1944:
At 1006, departs Qui Nhon.
27 December 1944:
At 1558, arrives at Yulin and departs at 1901.
30 December 1944:
Between 1104 and 1124, the convoy is attacked by a B-24, but without sustaining any damage.
1 January 1945:
At 1437 arrives at Saei (Tsoying), Formosa. Because of pending air raids, the convoy is ordered out of port.
3 January 1945:
At 1135, anchors outside Takao but leaves at 1255. CD-41, CD-60 and CD-205 have joined at this point or earlier.
4 January 1945:
At 1700 anchors at Nanao Tao.
5 January 1945:
At 1600 departs Nanao Tao still escorting the convoy.
7 January 1945:
At 1100 arrives at Hong Kong.
8 January 1945:
At 1710 CD-130 departs Hong Kong with kaibokan CD-1 and CD-134 escorting convoy HOTA-02 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
11 January 1945:
At 1130 arrives at Mako.
13 January 1944:
CD-1 and CD-134 depart Mako and later arrive at Takao.
14 January 1945:
At 1100 CD-1 together with kaibokan YASHIRO, CD 134 and CD-36, minesweeper W-21 and destroyer ASAGAO depart Takao in convoy TAMO-37 consisting of DAIKO, DAIHO, DAII, BRAZIL, DAIIKU and MELBOURNE MARUs and HOSHI MARU No. 11 (JUICHISEI MARU).
16 January 1945:
At 1800 DAIKO MARU suffers an engine breakdown and the ships temporarily anchor. CD-130 joins the convoy.
17 January 1945:
At 0530 departs anchorage and at 1626 anchored temporarily. BRAZIL MARU sets up a towline with DAII MARU and when the convoy resumes its journey tows DAII MARU.
19 January 1945:
At 1900 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
20 January 1945:
At 0708 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
23 January 1945:
At 1610 CD-130 drops depth charges on a suspected submarine contact without results. At 1750 CD-134 also attacks a suspected submarine contact. At 2015 the convoy arrives at Mutsure. CD-1 departs almost immediately. CD-130 and CD-134 remain behind on submarine hunts.
24 January 1945:
CD-134 arrives at Mutsure. Later departs with CD-130.
25 January 1945:
At 1500 arrives at Kure. Undergoes repairs.
5 February 1945:
CD-1, CD-130 and CD-134 depart Kure.
6 February 1945:
The escorts arrive at Moji.
7 February 1945:
At 0600, CD-134 departs Moji for Singapore with kaibokan CD-1 and CD-130 escorting convoy HI-97 consisting of empty tankers RYOEI and PALEMBANG MARUs.
15 February 1945:
At 2200, arrives at Qui Sande Bay, Indochina.
16 February 1945:
At 0700, departs Qui Sande Bay.
20 February 1945:
At 1230 arrives at Singapore.
27 February 1945:
At 1500, departs Singapore in convoy HI-98 consisting of tankers RYOEI and PALEMBANG MARUs initially escorted by CD-69 and CD-134.
3 March 1945:
Cap St. Jacques, Indochina. At 0730, convoy HI-98 arrives from Singapore enroute to Moji. The convoy consists of oilers PALEMBANG MARU and RYOEI MARUs and kaibokan CD-134, CD-69 and CD-130.
CD-1 and CD-130 join convoy HI-98's escort. At 0930, the convoy departs.
4 March 1945:
At 0930, LtCdr (later Captain) Benjamin C. Jarvis' (USNA '39) USS BAYA (SS-318) fires six torpedoes at PALEMBANG and RYOEI MARUs. Those aimed at RYOEI MARU miss, but two torpedoes hit PALEMBANG MARU loaded with gasoline, copper and crude rubber, amidships. She explodes and sinks immediately at 12-52N, 103-30E. 67 crewmen, 59 gunners and 9 passengers are KIA, with only four survivors.
CD-69 and CD-134 remain behind and drop 47 depth-charges, but do not damage USS BAYA. At 2300, the convoy anchors at Tourane.
5 March 1945:
At 0600, CD-134 and CD-69 arrive at Tourane and rejoin the convoy that departs at 0700 for Samah, Hainan Island. At 1110, RYOEI MARU loaded with fuel oil, is torpedoed by Reserve LtCdr H. S. Simpson's USS BASHAW (SS-241) at 16-46N, 108-41E and sinks within the hour. 19 crewmen, 19 gunners and nine passengers are KIA.
6 March 1945:
At 1200 CD-130 and CD-134 depart Yulin.
9 March 1945:
At 0900 CD-130 and CD-134 arrive at Hong Kong and both depart at 1930.
14 March 1945:
At 1830 CD-130 and CD-134 arrive at Singapore.
19 March 1945:
At 0730 CD-134 departs Seletar Naval Harbor, Singapore with destroyer AMATSUKAZE and kaibokan MANJU, CD-18, CD-84 and CD-130 escorting convoy HI-88-J consisting of HONAN, KAIKO, ASOKAWA, SARAWAK, ARAOSAN, KITAKAMI and TENCHO MARUs. At 1310, while leaving the Singapore straits, SARAWAK MARU loaded with 4,350-tons of heavy oil, 650-tons of raw and 120-tons of tin, is mined and badly damaged. Her captain beaches SARAWAK MARU in shallow water. She rolls over to port and sinks on 21 March with no casualties reported.
22 March 1945:
Arrives at Cape Camau.
23 March 1945:
At 0800 departs Cape Camau. Off St Jacques ARAOSAN, KITAKAMI and TENCHO MARUs are detached.
26 March 1945:
Departs St Jacques. During the day CD-26 and submarine chaser CH-20 joins the convoy.
27 March 1945:
At 1000 arrives at Nha Trang Bay. Convoy HI- 88I is absorbed into convoy HI-88J. Additional escorts are added. HI-88J now consists of tankers HONAN, SARAWAK, ASOKAWA, KAIKO MARUs and probably NANSHIN MARU No. 30 escorted by CD-134, destroyer AMATSUKAZE (with a temporary bow fitted), kaibokan MANJU, CD-1, CD-18, CD-26, CD-84, CD-130 and probably subchasers CH-9 and CH-20.
28 March 1945:
At 0800, departs Nha Trang Bay. At 1040, an air attack begins and ASOKAWA MARU with a load of general cargo, is hit in the engine room and sinks. 34 crewmen, eight gunners and 92 troops are KIA. MANJU and CD-84 rescue survivors. At 1220, LtCdr (later Captain) Eric L. Barr's (USNA '34) USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) torpedoes HONAN (ex-British RFA WAR SIRDAR) MARU. 44 crewmen and five gunners are KIA. Her captain runs her aground. NANSHIN MARU No. 30 probably is detached. CD-84 rescues some survivors.
29 March 1945:
At 0710, LtCdr Frank M. Smith's (USNA '35) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364) torpedoes and sinks CD-84 at 14-40N, 109-16E with all 191 crewmen and six survivors of HONAN MARU. MANJU rescues some survivors.
At 1130, another submarine attack coincides with an air attack and KAIKO MARU loaded with fuel oil, is bombed and sunk taking down 19 crewmen, four gunners and 12 passengers. At 2230, an air attack by Navy PBM Martin "Mariners" damages CD-134 south of Hainan.
At 0710, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CD-134 that reads: “Torpedo attack, slight damage, in position 14-44 N, 109-16 E.”
At 2350, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message probably from CD-134 that reads: “Action Summary: From 2320 to 2325, in position 17-17N, ---- 49E, one enemy PBY made two bombing attacks on CD-134--- we engaged the plane and shot it down. Damage: Because of near misses, the after magazine is completely flooded, but we can make 10 knots.”
30 March 1945:
At 1000, the escorts, now without a convoy, arrive at Yulin. Air attacks persist and at 1045, CD-26 is damaged by a bomb hit. The destruction of this convoy marks the end of the Singapore-Empire convoys.
31 March 1945:
Departs Yulin for Hong Kong.
2 April 1945:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
3 April 1945:
Hong Kong. USAAF Far East Air Force B-24 “Liberators” bomb the harbor and sink cargo ships HEIKAI (unknown casualties) and SHOZAN ex-British CHEKIANG) (eight crewmen KIA) MARUs and heavily damage kaibokan MANJU. She partially sinks at 22-17N, 114-10E with the loss of her CO, LtCdr Kanazawa Masanori, and 52 sailors.
4 April 1945:
At 1700, CD-134 departs Hong Kong for Shanghai en route to Moji with kaibokans CD-1, subchasers CH-20, CH-9 and destroyer AMATSUKAZE escorting convoy HOMO-03 consisting of TOKAI MARU No. 2 and KINE MARU.
5 April 1945:
Pinghai Bay, China. USN Martin PBM-5 "Mariner" maritime patrol flying boats attack convoy HOMO-03 and sink TOKAI MARU No. 2 at 22-24N, 116-10E. 13 crewmen and 16 gunners are KIA. Later, 5th Air Force B-24 "Liberators", B-26 "Marauders" and P-38 "Lightnings" attack the convoy and sink KINE MARU carrying 500 troops, at 22-24N, 115-28E. 19 crewmen, five gunners and 56 soldiers are KIA. The convoy is dissolved. CH-9, CH-20 and CD-1 return to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong. That same day, Far East Air Force B-24s heavy bombers damage fleet oiler KAMOI, CD-1, CD-52 and subchasers CH-9 and CH-20 at 22-45N, 116-10E.
6 April 1945:
SSW of Amoy, China. Twenty-four USAAF B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers of the 345th Bombardment Group attack convoy HOMO-03 and sink CD-134 and CD-1 at 23-55N, 117-40E. A total of 159 officers and sailors are lost. They also damage destroyer AMATSUKAZE at 24-30N, 118-10E. Her crew beaches the ship at the entrance to Amoy harbor, but later she sinks with the loss of 44 of her crew
8 April 1945:
At 1741, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from an unknown station regarding the event of 1200, 6 April that reads: CD-1 and CD-134, escorts of HOMO-03 convoy engaged enemy aircraft near (24?) N, (117?)-55 E. on the 6th of April at (1200?). It is not certain whether they were sunk.”
10 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors’ Notes
Thanks go to the late John Whitman of Virginia, USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages and for info on the loss of EDOGAWA MARU, and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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