© 2009-2012 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 2
27 June 1944:
Harima. Laid down at Harima Ship Building, Ltd.
September 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-138.
23 November 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Sasebo Naval District. Assigned to Kure Guard Force. Transferred to Saeki.
5 December 1944:
CD-138 is assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
10 December 1944:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Escort Fleet.
14 December 1944:
CD-138 departs Miike with kaibokan CD-20 escorting convoy MOTA-28 consisting of MURORAN, TEIKAI (ex German FULDA) and tankers DAINAN, SHINGI, OEI, DAIGYO, OESAN and YAMAZAWA MARUs.
22 December 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
26 December 1944:
CD-138 departs Takao with kaibokan NOMI, MIYAKE escorting convoy TAMA 38 consisting of IJA landing craft depot ships KIBITSU, HYUGA and SHINSHU MARUs and transport AOBASAN MARU escorted by kaibokan NOMI and MIYAKE. Later that day anchors at Oluanpi, southern Formosa.
27 December 1944:
Early morning. Departs Oluanpi.
29 December 1944:
At 1900, arrives at North San Fernando, Luzon.
30 December 1944:
Early morning. An air attack takes place. CD-138 is hit by a bomb and damaged. At 0700, AOBASAN MARU, carrying elements of the 19th infantry division, is bombed and sunk. The ship then breaks in two and sinks. 21 troops, one Gunner and three crewmen, a total of 25 are KIA. The other merchant ships all suffer degrees of damage.
31 December 1944:
At 1600, convoy MATA-38A arrives at North San Fernando, Luzon. CD-138 joins the escort of convoy MATA-38A consisting of MEIRYU and HISHIGATA MARU and possibly other unidentified ships with two unknown escorts.
2 January 1945:
San Fernando. At 1530, about thirty-five USAAF Fifth Air Force Douglas A-20 "Havoc" light bombers and Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" fighter-bombers strafe and start fires on HISHIGATA MARU. One crewman and 56 passengers are KIA and her cargo of war supplies, two cars, one aircraft, and foodstuffs is lost. At 1600, she is hit by a bomb and sinks instantly at at 16-37N, 120-19E. About the same time, transport MEIRYU MARU is hit by two bombs and also sinks. Approximately 400 passengers and 60 crew are killed.
The planes sink CD-138 and also badly damage CD-66. CD-138 is lost with all 82 hands, including her CO, LtCdr Takahashi Minoru. He is likely promoted Cdr posthumously.
10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks also to Mr. Matthew Jones of Ohio for help in identifying COs.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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