© 2009-2019 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 4
10 May 1944:
Laid down at Niigata Iron Works, Ltd.
15 August 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-205.
30 October 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN.
23 December 1944:
CD-60 departs Moji for Takao with kaibokan CD-26 and CD-205 escorting convoy MOTA-29 consisting of MELBOURNE and DAIKO MARUs carrying elements of the IJA 19th Infantry Division. Enroute, CD-26 is detached and heads back to Sasebo. [1]
31 December 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
3 January 1945:
At 1300 CD-41, CD-60 and CD-205 join 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.
4 January 1945:
At 1700 anchors at Nanao Tao.
5 January 1945:
At 1600 departs Nanao Tao.
8 January 1945:
At 1600 arrives at Takao.
10 January 1945:
At 1700, CD-205 departs Takao for Mako with destroyer SHIGURE and kaibokan KANJU, KURAHASHI, NOMI, SHINNAN, YASHIRO, MIYAKE, CD-13, CD-41 and CD-60 escorting reorganized convoy HI-87 consisting of fleet oiler KAMOI, tankers SARAWAK, MATSUSHIMA, MITSUSHIMA and HASHIDATE MARUs.
12 January 1945:
The convoy receives a radio report that Kirun is under air attack and the ships are ordered to head for Hong Kong, not Mako.
13 January 1945:
At 1100, convoy HI-87 enters Hong Kong.
15 January 1945:
At 0915, there is an air attack on Hong Kong. Over the next two days, all of HI-87's merchants except SARAWAK MARU suffer varying degrees of battle damage.
17 January 1945:
At 1700 departs Hong Kong.
20 January 1945:
At 1000, convoy HI-88A consisting of tanker SERIA MARU departs Singapore for Moji carrying a cargo of 17,000-tons of gasoline. She is unescorted.
23 January 1945:
CD-41 and kaibokan CD-205 join SERIA MARU as escorts. At 2300, SERIA MARU arrives at Cape St. Jacques, Indochina.
24 January 1944:
At 2300 convoy HI-88A departs Cape St. Jacques.
26 January 1945:
The convoy is attacked by a four-engined bomber, identified as B-24. During the second low-level pass the aircraft is targeted by CD-41 and SERIA MARU, receives several 25-mm hits and crashes near the coast in shallow water; the crew escapes in an inflatable. CD-205 lowers a whaleboat to intercept it, but the enemy pilots manage to reach the shore first.
27 January 1945:
Off Halu Island, Indochina. At about 0700, an unknown submarine fires three torpedoes at SERIA MARU, but they all miss. The convoy briefly stops at Yulin.
28 January 1945:
Departs Yulin.
30 January 1945:
S of Hong Kong. The convoy is attacked by a lone B-24 heavy bomber, but suffers no damage.
2 February 1945:
At 0500 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan, E of Shanghai and depart at 1200. Destroyers SUGI and KASHI join the escort of convoy HI-88A. CD-205 is detached soon after.
4 February 1945:
At 1400 arrives at Shanghai and undergoes repairs.
11 February 1945:
At 1558 departs Shanghai.
12 February 1945:
At 1150 arrives at the mouth of the Yangtze and undertakes patrols.
14 February 1945:
Departs the area on a submarine hunt.
15 February 1945:
At 1800 arrives at "Qizhou Dao" (unidentified location- could be Korean).
16 February 1945:
At 0700 departs the anchorage.
17 February 1945:
At 0945 arrives at Mutsure. At 1745 departs.
18 February 1945:
At 0900 arrives at Kure. Undergoes repairs.
11 March 1945:
At 1030 departs Kure.
12 March 1945:
At 0703 arrives at Moji.
14 March 1945:
At 1035 CD-205 departs Moji with kaibokan KURAHASHI and CD-60 escorting convoy MOTA-42 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships. At 1125 arrives at Mutsure and at 1200 departs.
18 March 1945:
At 1930 anchors at Ta Changtu Shan, north of the Chusan Islands group.
20 March 1945:
Departs Ta Changtu Shan.
23 March 1945:
Arrives at Wenchow.
26 March 1945:
Departs Wenchow.
27 March 1945:
At 1700 arrives at Kirun.
31 March 1945:
At 0300 CD-205 departs Kirun with kaibokan KURAHASHI and CD-60 escorting convoy TAMO-52 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships possibly PEKING and SANJIN MARUs.
Early April 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
9 May 1945:
Departs Maizuru.
10 May 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
13 May 1945:
Departs Ominato.
14 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
15 May 1945:
Departs Otaru with CD-47 escorting "He" convoy consisting of SHICHIYO, KOGA and TETSUYO MARUs.
19 May 1945:
Arrived at Kataoka Wan.
26 May 1945:
At 2000, CD-205 departs Paramushiro, Kuriles for Otaru, Hokkaido with kaibokan HACHIJO, CD-47, SHIMUSHU and CD-112 and fleet supply ship SHIRASAKI escorting the Chi convoy consisting of KURETAKE, TENRYO and KASUGAYAMA MARUs.
28 May 1945:
At 2000, at 50-00N 146-00E, in dense fog HACHIJO loses contact with the convoy.
29 May 1945:
At 1300, at 47-32N 143-31E, CD-112 departs and starts searching for HACHIJO. At 2055, LtCdr Hugh H. Lewis' (USNR) USS STERLET (SS-392) torpedoes KURETAKE and TENRYO MARUs. KURETAKE MARU's crew struggles to control flooding, but TENRYO MARU sinks soon after being hit taking down 773 men of the 23rd Air Defense Battalion and 26 gunners and 47 crewmen.
30 May 1945:
At 0600, KURETAKE MARU sinks. 372 troops and six crewmen are KIA. SHIMUSHU rescues hundreds of survivors. This ship heads towards Otaru towing two large Daihatsus. At 1200, both Daihatsus flood and sink.
31 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
16 June 1945:
At 1800 arrives at Otaru escorting WA convoy from Musashi Wan, Paramushiro consisting of KOJO MARU, UNKAI MARU No. 15 and storeship SHIRASAKI.
10 July 1945:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's 105th Escort Squadron.
15 August 1945:
Japan accepts the Allies “Potsdam Declaration” (of unconditional surrender) and hostilities cease.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
13 October 1945:
Departs Maizuru.
17 October 1945:
Arrives at Sasebo and departs later that day on her first repatriation voyage.
23 October 1945:
Arrives at Davao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
24 October 1945:
Departs Davao.
25 October 1945:
Arrives at Tacloban. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
31 October 1945:
Departs Tacloban.
6 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 November 1945:
Departs Kure.
29 November 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
1 December 1945:
Departs Manila. That same day, CD-205 is officially assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service. [2]
6 December 1945:
Arrives at Otaka. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 December 1945:
Enters dockyard at Tamano for repairs.
10 January 1946:
Repairs are completed.
15 January 1946:
Departs Ujina.
17 January 1946:
Arrives at Takao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
18 January 1946:
Departs Takao.
21 January 1946:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
22 January 1946:
Departs Manila.
29 January 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
30 January 1946:
Departs Kure.
3 February 1946:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
5 February 1946:
Arrives at Takao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
6 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
12 February 1946:
Enters dockyard at Tamano for repairs.
28 February 1946:
Repairs are completed.
5 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
7 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
10 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
17 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
19 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
22 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
24 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
26 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
28 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
2 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren (Hua Lien). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
6 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
8 April 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
10 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
12 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
22 April 1946:
Enters dockyard at Maizuru for repairs.
20 May 1946:
Repairs are completed.
23 May 1946:
Departs Maizuru.
26 May 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day
28 May 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 June 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
4 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
6 June 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
10 June 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
12 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
13 June 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
16 June 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
3 July 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
6 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima near Tsientsin. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
8 July 1946:
Departs Korojima.
10 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 July 1946:
Departs Hakata.
17 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
20 July 1946:
Departs Korojima.
24 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 August 1946:
Enters dockyard at Maizuru for repairs.
16 August 1946:
Repairs are completed.
30 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
31 August 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima and arrives and departs Naze.
3 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
5 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
6 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
8 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima.Disembarks troops and passengers.
12 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
13 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze and departs later that day arriving back at Kagoshima that evening.
20 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
21 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
23 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
26 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
27 September 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 September 1946:
Departs Naze.
29 September 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
3 October 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
6 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
10 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
11 October 1946:
Arrives at Naze. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
12 October 1946:
Departs Naze.
13 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
17 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
18 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
20 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 October 1946:
Enters dockyard at Maizuru for repairs.
10 November 1946:
Repairs are completed.
17 November 1946:
Departs Kure.
18 November 1946:
Arrives at Naha. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
21 November 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 December 1946:
Departs Ujina.
9 December 1946:
Arrives at Naha, Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
10 December 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima and departs later that day.
13 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 December 1946 :
Departs Okinawa.
16 December 1946:
Arrives at Ujina. Disembarks troops and passengers.
31 July 1947:
Shanghai. Ceded to the Republic of China as a war reparation. Renamed
CHANG AN.
26 September 1954:
Damaged by unknown causes.
1960:
Discarded.
Authors' Note:
[1] Some sources indicate CD-112 was in the escort, not CD-26.
[2] Allied occupation forces were responsible for the return of six million Japanese military personnel and civilians from Japan's defunct far-flung Empire. In addition, there were over a million Korean and about 40,000 Chinese prisoners and conscript laborers and approximately 7,000 Formosans and 15,000 Ryukyu Islanders to be repatriated.
Some Allied and many former IJN warships, from aircraft carriers to kaibokan, were used to facilitate the enormous repatriation effort. Japanese vessels and crews were used to the fullest extent possible to conserve Allied manpower and accelerate demobilization. Each ex-IJN ship first had to be demilitarized; guns removed or, in the case of large warships, barrels severed, ammunition landed, and radar and catapults removed, if fitted. Repatriation of the Chinese on Japanese ships began early in October from Hakata, but U.S. guard detachments had to be placed on many ships to prevent disorder because the Japanese crews could not control the returnees.
Japanese-run repatriation centers were established at Kagoshima, Hario near Sasebo, and Hakata near Fukuoka. Other reception centers were established and operated at Maizuru, Shimonoseki, Sasebo, Senzaki, Kure, Uraga, Yokohama, Moji and Hakodate. Allied line and medical personnel supervised the centers. Incoming Japanese were sprayed with DDT, examined and inoculated for typhus and smallpox, provided with food, and transported to his final destination in Japan.
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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