© 2010-2016 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 4
17 May 1944:
Osaka. Laid down at Naniwa Dock Co., Ltd.
22 August 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-207.
15 October 1944:
Completed. Attached to Maizuru Naval District.
23 November 1944:
At 0700 departs Kure and at 1900 arrives at Moji.
25 November 1944:
CD-207 is assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
At 2000, CD-207 departs Moji for Singapore with escort carrier KAIYO, destroyers YUZUKI and KAMIKAZE and kaibokan CD-25, CD-35, CD-63 and CD-64 escorting convoy HI-83 consisting of transport/cargo liners SANUKI, TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE), ORYOKU and NISSHO MARUs for Manila and tankers KYOKUUN, SEISHIN, HARIMA, TOA and EISHO MARUs. Another tanker AKASHI MARU in the convoy is bound for Takao.
30 November 1944:
At 0600, convoy HI-83 arrives at Takao. TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE) and AKASHI MARUs are detached. The Manila contingent is also detached from the convoy. KAIYO stops at nearby Saei.
1 December 1944:
The convoy departs Takao joined by tanker MIRI MARU and patrol boat PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224). KAIYO rejoins the convoy from Saei.
3 December 1944:
At 0522, MIRI MARU opens fire on a surfaced enemy submarine sighted between MIRI and SEISHIN MARUs. One hour later, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Frank W. Fenno's (USNA ‘25) USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) torpedoes and damages SEISHIN MARU. CD-207 escorts SEISHIN MARU to Yulin, Hainan Island.
25 December 1944:
CD-207 is reassigned to 31st Escort Division, 31st Coast Defense Group, with kaibokan OKINAWA and CD-63.
26 December 1944:
At 1158, PB-102 departs Singapore for Moji with escort carrier KAIYO, minelayer NIIZAKI, kaibokan OKINAWA, CD-207, CD-25 and CD-63 escorting convoy HI-84 consisting of transports IKUTAGAWA and AWA MARUs, oilers AKASHI, TOA, RYOEI, AMATO and MIRI MARUs and one unidentified ship. AWA MARU carries about 525 British, American and Australian POWs.
29 December 1944:
At 1157, HI-84 arrives at Cape St. Jacques (near Saigon) and departs at 1625 the same day. AKASHI and IKUTAGAWA MARUs remauin behind. CD-27 and CD-34 join the convoy at this point.
30 December 1944:
South China Sea. HI-84 passes CarDiv 4's hybrid battleship/carriers ISE and HYUGA, cruisers OYODO and ASHIGARA, DesDiv 2's ASASHIMO and DesDiv 18's KASUMI that are enroute south from Camranh Bay. Later that day at 1157, HI-84 arrives at Binhoang Bay, Indochina.
31 December 1944:
At 0745, HI-84 departs Binhoang Bay. Soon after departure, LtCdr Otis R. Cole's (USNA ’36) USS DACE (SS-247) fires three torpedoes at KAIYO, but gets no hits. There is no counterattack, as the convoy seems unaware of the attack. At 1804, HI-84 arrives at Quinhon, Indochina.
1 January 1945:
At 0057 departs Quinhon.
2 January 1945:
At 0105 arrives at Tourane.
3 January 1945:
At 0755 departs Tourane. Later S of Hainan Island. MIRI MARU strikes a mine and her engine room floods. She is left behind, but manages to reach Hong Kong.
5 January 1945:
At 1840, convoy HI-84 arrives at the Hong Kong area and departs at 1937.
9 January 1945:
At 1120 arrives at Chusan Retto, E of Shanghai.
10 January 1945:
At 0720 departs Chusan Retto.
13 January 1945:
At 1725, arrives at Moji.
14 January 1945:
Departs Moji.
15 January 1945:
At 0745 arrives at Kure. Undergoes repairs.
26 January 1945:
At 0700 CD-61, CD-63 and CD-207 depart Kure and at 1600 arrive at Moji.
29 January 1945:
At 0730, CD-207 departs Moji in fleet convoy HI-93 consisting of KIYOKAWA MARU and oilers TOA and TOHO MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-61 and CD-63. The convoy hugs the continental coast stopping each night at a different anchorage.
1 February 1945:
Arrives at Kuroushi Bay.
2 February 1945:
Arrives at Taiseiyo Santo.
4 February 1945:
Kaibokan CD-53 joins HI-93 as an additional escort.
5 February 1945:
KIYOKAWA MARU is detached for Yulin with CD-61, CD-63 and CD-207. The escorts arrive at 1830 and depart at 1930.
6 February 1945:
At 2000, HI-93 arrives at Van Phong Bay, Indochina.
7 February 1945:
At 0700, departs Van Phong Bay. At 1050, LtCdr John M. Hyde’s (USNA ’34) USS BERGALL (SS-320) attacks the convoy’s starboard side. TOHO MARU is hit by two torpedoes, but manages to continue on. CD-53 is hit, breaks in two and sinks at 11-53N, 109-22E. At 1615, the remaining ships enter Camranh Bay.
8 February 1945:
At 1300, departs Camranh Bay.
9 February 1945:
At 0840, CD 61 is damaged by a mine near St Jacques. At 0930, arrives at St Jacques where TOHO MARU and CD-61 are detached. At 1130, TOA MARU and CD-63 and CD-207 depart.
12 February 1945:
At 1230, arrives at Singapore.
23 February 1945:
At 0755, CD-207 departs Singapore for Moji with kaibokan CD-63 escorting convoy HI-94 consisting of TOA MARU and HARIO.
26 February 1945:
Anchors at Obi Osland, Indochina.
28 February 1945:
At 0130, arrives at Nha Trang Bay, Indochina, then departs a few hours later. Cape Balera Sea. At 0832, that same day, the convoy encounters an unidentified enemy submarine. TOA MARU drops depth charges, but without effect.
1 March 1945:
At 2150, most of the convoy arrives at Yulin in a dense fog.
2 March 1945:
At 0900 CD-63 and CD-207 depart Yulin and patrol.
3 March 1945:
Yulinakin Bay, Hainan Island. Royal Australian Air Force Consolidated PBY "Catalina" float planes, based in the Philippines, mine the bay.
At 0800, convoy HI-94 departs Yulin, but at 0947, HARIO hits a mine and begins to flood. The convoy reverses course while HARIO’s crew tries to save their ship.
4 March 1945:
Off Cape Bastian. The flooding overwhelms HARIO’s crew’s efforts. At 1507, she sinks at 18-10N, 109-40E.
6 March 1945:
At 0800, USAAF planes attack a convoy at 20-00N, 112-30E and claim sinking a "destroyer." Their quarry, actually CD-207, is undamaged the attack.
9 March 1945:
At 0630 departs Hsing Hua Bay. At 2230, arrives at Heiniu Bay.
10 March 1945:
At 0630, departs Hei Niu Bay. Minelayer NIIZAKI and kaibokan OKINAWA join soon after.
12 March 1945:
CD-63 conducts a depth-charge attack against an unidentified submarine. The explosions wreck her sonar head and cause multiple fuel leaks. At 1935, arrives Saegil Do (Seinichi To), Korea.
13 March 1945:
At 0623, departs Saengil Do. OKINAWA is detached. At 1510, arrives Katoku Strait.
14 March 1945:
At 0600, departs Katoku Strait. At 0645, kaibokan OKI joins convoy as an additional escort.
15 March 1945:
At 0620 departs Mutsure and at 0725, arrives Moji Port.
16 March 1945:
At 0658, departs Moji Port.
17 March 1945:
At 1030, arrives Sasebo and remains there for the remainder of the month. Undergoes repairs.
4 April 1945:
At 0700 Departs Sasebo with kaibokan CD 63 and OKINAWA.
5 April 1945:
At 0800, arrives Hyongje Do (Kyotai Jima) near Cheju (Saishu) Island.
6 April 1945:
At 0603, departs port and maintain a series of patrols with CD 63, OKINAWA, TSUSHIMA, CD 41 and CD 55 and anti submarine sweeps between Hyongje Do and Ssu Chiao Shan and deep cover for convoy MOSHI-03 (KINSEN MARU)
12 April 1945:
At 1700, arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan. Departs at 1722.
16 April 1945:
At 1245, arrives Hyongje Do.
17 April 1945:
At 1615, departs Hyongje Do.
19 April 1945:
Arrives at Soan (Shoan) Port.
21 April 1945:
At 1601, departs Soan Port.
24 April 1945:
At 1824, arrives at Tsingtao (Seito).
4 May 1945:
At 0330, departs Tsingtao
6 May 1945:
At 2000, joins convoy and begins escorting liner KOTOBUKI (ex-Italian CONTE VERDE) MARU with CD-63 and four unidentified kaibokan.
7-9 May 1945:
Beats off air attacks by Martin PBM "Mariners" and Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" heavy bombers.
9 May 1945:
At 1315, arrives at Mokpo (Moppo), Korea. CD-63 is detached.
20 May 1945:
At 0900 convoy CO-01 consisting of tanker JAKARUTA MARU escorted by Kaibokan CD-63, CD-192 and KANAWA departs Tsingtao.
22 May 1945:
At 2053, kaibokan CD-207 arrives and CD-63 is detached.
June 1945: American Operation “Barney”:
Tsushima Strait, Japan. Cdr George E. Pierce's (USNA ‘32) USS TUNNY (SS-282) with LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Richard B. Lynch’s (USNA ‘35) USS SKATE (SS-305) and LtCdr Lawrence L. Edge’s (USNA ‘35) USS BONEFISH (SS-223) are organized as the “Polecats” and equipped with FM Sonar gear to detect mines. Once the minefields are detected and charted, shipping in the Sea of Japan will be open to predation by American subs. The Polecats foray into the Sea of Japan for the next several weeks and sink several ships.
15 June 1945:
Kaibokan of the 31st Escort Division conduct defensive anti-submarine sweeps in the Toyama Bay area.
19 June 1945:
Nanao Bay. At 0615, BONEFISH torpedoes KONZAN MARU at 37-13N, 137-18E. One crewman is KIA.
The 31st Escort Division is immediately alerted and OKINAWA (F), CD-63 and CD-207 arrive at the scene of sinking. OKINAWA makes sonar contact with a submerged submarine and drops a series of depth charges set to a depth of 295 to 390 feet. Next, CD-207 and CD-63 attack. CD-158 and CD-75 are also dispatched to the same location. After another attack, sonar contact is lost. Oil and pieces of cork are sighted at 37-18N, 137-55E. USS BONEFISH is lost with all 85 hands.
10 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
10 August 1945:
Towards the evening CD-207 departs Nanao Bay in company of CD-63 and CD-81 for Genzan (now Wonsan), Korea. Soon after departing the anchorage, CD-63 strikes a mine, probably laid by a 20th Air Force B-29. Her bow is blown off and a heavy flooding occurs, but there are no casualties.
CD-207 and CD-81 take the heavily damaged escort in tow and beach her in shallow water. The Genzan sortie is canceled.
15 August 1945:
Tokyo. Japan accepts the Allies “Potsdam Declaration” (of unconditional surrender) and hostilities cease.
1 December 1945:
Formally assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service. [1]
31 October 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
4 November 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
8 November 1946:
Departs Manila.
13 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
20 November 1945:
Enters dockyard at Tamano for repairs.
29 November 1945:
Repairs are completed.
4 December 1945:
Departs Kure.
11 December 1945:
Arrives at Tacloban. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
17 December 1945:
Departs Tacloban.
24 December 1945:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
25 December 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 January 1946:
Enters dockyard at Maizuru for repairs.
24 January 1946:
Repairs are completed.
31 January 1946:
Departs Hakata.
1 February 1946:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
4 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
8 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
11 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
12 February 1946:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
14 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
16 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
21 February 1946:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
23 February 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
26 February 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
28 February 1946:
Departs Hakata.
1 March 1946:
Arrives at Pusan and departs later that day.
4 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.
7 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
9 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
11 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
12 March 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
14 March 1946:
Arrives at at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
17 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
18 March 1946:
Arrives at Pusan and departs later that day.
20 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai and departs later that day.
24 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
26 March 1946:
Departs Hakata.
28 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
31 March 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 April 1946:
Enters dockyard at Kobe for repairs.
25 April 1946:
Repairs are completed.
1 May 1946:
Departs Hakata.
4 May 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 May 1946:
Departs Korojima.
17 May 1946:
Arrives at Hakata.
23 May 1946:
Departs Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
27 May 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. and departs later the same day.
30 May 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
3 June 1946:
Departs Hakata.
6 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. and departs later the same day.
9 June 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
13 June 1946:
Departs Hakata.
15 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 June 1946:
Departs Korojima.
18 June 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
24 June 1946:
Departs Hakata.
27 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 June 1946:
Departs Korojima.
30 June 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 July 1946:
Enters dockyard at Kobe for repairs.
22 July 1946:
Repairs are completed.
15 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
16 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa.
18 August 1946:
Departs Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
21 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
23 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
25 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
27 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
30 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
31 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
3 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima
4 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
5 September 1946 :
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
7 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa.
8 September 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
9 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
13 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
14 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
15 September 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
16 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
22 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
24 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
27 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima, later that day arrives at Okinawa.
30 September 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
2 October 1943:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
3 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
5 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
6 October 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
7 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
10 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
12 October 1946:
Arrives at Naha. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
14 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
18 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
20 October 1946:
Arrives at Naha. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
23 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
24 October 1946:
Enters dockyard at Kure for repairs.
25 November 1946:
Repairs are completed.
7 December 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
8 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
9 December 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
11 December 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
14 December 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
15 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 December 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
17 December 1946 :
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 July 1947:
Ceded to the USA as a war reparation.
13 August 1947:
Sunk as target in 35-20N, 122-41E.
Authors' Note:
[1] 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 to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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