© 2007-2019 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 6
20 March 1944:
Osaka. Laid down at Fujinagata Shipbuilding.
16 September 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-36.
30 September 1944:
Reserve Lt Hinokio Tadakazu (former navigating officer of AKITSUSHIMA) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
21 October 1944:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Kure Naval District. Assigned to Kure Guard Force. Reserve Lt Hinokio Tadakazu is the CO.
28 December 1944:
Reassigned to First Escort Fleet, 1st Surface Escort Division.
1 January 1945:
At 0715, CD-36 departs Moji for Takao with kaibokan CD-26 and CD-67 escorting convoy MOTA-30 consisting of ANYO, HISAGAWA, MEIHO, RASHIN, SANYO, HIKOSHIMA, DAIGA, TATSUYO and MANJU MARUs.
4 January 1945:
At 2000 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
7 January 1945:
At 0000 departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
8 January 1945:
At 1830, Cdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH) Eugene B. Fluckey's (USNA ’35) USS BARB (SS-220) torpedoes TATSUYO MARU. Loaded with munitions, she explodes and sinks instantly with the loss of all 63 crewmen. At 2020, LtCdr (later Cdr) Evan T. Shepard's (USNA ’35) USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoes and sinks ANYO MARU with the loss of 138 crewmen and many troops. At 2120, Fluckey's USS BARB torpedoes and damages SANYO MARU. At 2230, while avoiding numerous torpedoes, HIKOSHIMA MARU runs aground in Tunghsiao Bay and is abandoned apparently without casualties. At 2315, Cdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Charles E. Loughlin's (USNA ’33) USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) torpedoes and damages MANJU MARU. At 2330, SANYO MARU runs aground. CD-39 is despatched from Kirun to aid the stricken convoy.
9 January 1945:
At 2040, MANJU MARU is deliberately run aground. 13 armed guards and 30 crew and an unknown number of passengers are killed. At 0430, SANYO MARU breaks in two and sinks. 12 Armed Guards, two Instructors, three Watchmen and 29 out of 46 of the crew are killed during the attack. HISAGAWA MARU and two escorts head south. At about 0600, they join RASHIN MARU and another escort and head for Takao. MEIHO and DAIGA MARUs head for Keelung. At 0915, HISAGAWA and RASHIN MARUs are attacked by aircraft. HISAGAWA MARU is damaged severely and lags behind. The group heads for Mako, Pescadores, but at about 1255, HISAGAWA MARU sinks taking down 2117 men of the IJA's 19th Infantry Division's 3rd Transport Unit, together with 84 gunners and all 86 crewmen. [1]
10 January 1945:
CD-26 and CD-36 arrive at Mako. CD-36 is docked for repairs.
14 January 1945:
At 1100 CD-1 together with kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-130, CD 134 and CD-36, minesweeper W-21 and destroyer ASAGAO depart Takao in convoy TAMO-37 consisting of DAIKO, DAII, BRAZIL, DAIHO, 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 at Nayo. BRAZIL MARU sets up a towline with DAII MARU and when the convoy resumes its journey tows DAII MARU. CD-36 escorts the ships.
18 January 1945:
YASHIRO and CD-36 arrives at Heiniu Wan, N of Wenchow, with DAIKO MARU and DAII MARU.
19 January 1945:
At 1400 TAMO-37 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
20 January 1945:
At 0708 the main convoy departs Ssu Chiao Shan. At 1020 YASHIRO, CD-36, DAIHO and DAII MARUs depart Heiniu Wan as new convoy TAMO-37B. On this day CD-36 is assigned to the 3rd Coast Defense Group.
22 January 1945:
At 0530 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan and departs at 1400 the same day.
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 main convoy arrives at Mutsure.
24 January 1945:
Arrives at Maro-Hae, Chosen.
25 January 1945:
Departs Maro-Hae.
26 January 1945:
Arrives at Chinkai.
28 January 1945:
At 0500 departs Chinkai.
29 January 1945:
At 0400 arrives at Moji. At 1400 departs Moji and at 2300 arrives at Kure. Undergoes repairs.
1 February 1945:
Reassigned to 11th Surface Escort Division.
3 February 1945:
Transfers from Kure to Innoshima for more repairs.
11 February 1945:
At 0800 departs Innoshima and at 1010 arrives at Kure. Undergoes further repairs.
18 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Kure and at 1700 arrives at Moji.
20 February 1945:
At 0800 convoy MOYU-01 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships escorted by kaibokan YASHIRO and CD-84 departs Moji. At 1800 CD-36 departs Moji.
21 February 1945:
At 1100 CD-36 arrives at Reisui. At 1200 CD-36 joins the convoy which then departs.
25 February 1945:
At 0100 arrives at Pei Ta Liehtao and departs at 1500.
1 March 1945:
At 1441 arrives at Nauchow Tao (Nouzhou Dao), Liuchow Peninsula.
2 March 1945:
At 1330 departs Nauchow Tao.
3 March 1945:
At 1325 arrives at Yulin.
8 March 1945:
At 0900 CD-36 departs Yulin, Hainan Island for Moji with kaibokan MIKURA, CD-33, CD-69 and subchaser CH-21 escorting convoy YUMO-01 consisting of TATSUMIYA MARU as the only merchant ship.. Later that day, the convoy is attacked at sea by USAAF 14th Air Force B-24 “Liberator” heavy bombers that severely damage CD-69 at 19-02, 111-50E. CD-69 is hit by bombs and disabled. She lists to port and her stern sinks about 1/2 foot below the sea's surface. 26 men are KIA, 30 injured. CD-69 drifts during the night.
9 March 1945:
At 0806, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CD-36 that reads: “At 1959 [on the 8th], Coast Defense Vessel No. 69 was bombed by enemy aircraft in position 19-02N, 110-56E. -----. Killed on Coast Defense Vessel No. 69: 3 (warrant officers and above?) and 23 ratings. Severely wounded ------. No damage to this vessel.”
At 1050 the convoy arrives and anchors at Ta Sha Tao (Island) (Pratas Reef). Meanwhile at 0900 CD-36 arrives at Hong Kong.
11 March 1945:
At 2200 the convoy departs Ta Sha Tao.
13 March 1945:
After temporary repairs to reinforce the hull, CD-69 is towed at five knots to Hong Kong to undergo repairs. Meanwhile at 1035 the convoy arrives at Mirs Bay (Tai Pang Wan) and departs there at 1120 arriving at Hong Kong at 1300.
14 March 1945:
At 1900 the convoy departs Hong Kong. Escort by now consists of MIKURA, CD-36 and CH-21.
15 March 1945:
USAAF B-24s attack convoy YUMO-01 still consisting of TATSUMIYA MARU that departed Hong Kong the day before escorted by CD-36, MIKURA and CH-21 with CD-69 under tow. They bomb and damage CD-36 at 23-03N, 116-52E.
16 March 1945:
Eight miles off Hong Kong. CD-69 sinks while in tow at 22-00N, 113-40E.
At 1136, codebreakers decrypt a message from the CO of CD-69 that reads: Because of heavy seas the engine room was cut off and at 0714 we sank quickly in position bearing 1300 [sic], 8 miles distant from Mawei------.”
18 March 1945:
At 1815 the convoy arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
21 March 1945:
At 1600 departs Ssu Chiao Shan and at 2030 arrives at Peipan Shu Channel(North Bunji Channel) (NB: Unconfirmed).
22 March 1945:
At 0600 departs Peipan Shu Channel.
23 March 1945:
Arrives at Maro Sea, Chosen.
24 March 1945:
Departs Maro Sea, Chosen. Later arrives at Chinkai.
25 March 1945:
Departs Chinkai and at 2130 arrives at Mutsure.
26 March 1945:
At 0630 departs Mutsure and at 0800 arrives at Moji. At 1800 departs Moji.
27 March 1945:
At 1240 arrives at Sasebo.
28 March 1945:
At 0910 drydocked at Sasebo.
17 April 1945:
At 0500 departs Sasebo and at 2100 arrives at Kyobun (Komun) Island, Chosen.
22 April 1945:
At 1030 departs Kyobun To.
23 April 1945:
aT 2130 arrives at Seito (Tsingtao).
21 May 1945:
CD-36, CD-55 and CD-57 arrive at Ominato.
2 June 1945:
At 0400 SHIMUSHU, CD-36, CD-55 and CD-57 depart Otaru escorting combined Ru Convoy consisting of HAKUAI, KANATO, HIRANO MARUs and KYODO MARU No. 13 and Wa Convoy consisting of KOJO, EIHO MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 15. At some point the convoy is joined by kaibokan ETOROFU.
25 July 1945:
At 1800, CD-36 departs Otaru, Hokkaido for Kefuta on the southern Kamchatka Peninsula with kaibokan CD-57 escorting a convoy consisting of KASADO MARU (ex-Russian KAZAN) and RYUHO MARU No. 2. [3]
31 July 1945:
The convoy arrives at the Kefuta Sea. KASADO MARU and RYUHO MARU No. 2 proceed separately to different ports. CD-36 and CD-57 remain just outside Soviet territorial waters.
1 August 1945:
At 0800, the Russian authorities arrive to discuss procedures and prepare the paperwork for the Japanese ships’ entry into Soviet Union Far East waters. RYUHO MARU No. 2’s mission is to quickly load 50,000 cans of salmon and trout, salted salmon and salmon roe, but the Soviet authorities cause endless delays.
9 August 1945:
At 1300, as RYUHO MARU No. 2 prepares to get underway, she is boarded by ten Russian soldiers. The senior Russian warns of numerous United States submarines operating in the Sea of Okhotsk. He says that the return journey is not to be undertaken at the request of the Japanese Government. About that time, the Japanese realize their communications are being jammed. At 2200, all onboard RYUHO MARU No. 2 leave the ship under guard.
That same day, KASADO MARU is at Utka. At 1030, after being boarded by Russian soldiers, her crew is ordered to leave the ship. About an hour later, a Russian officer informs them that Russia and Japan are at war. Unmanned KASADO MARU remains at anchor. At 1355, four Russian aircraft bomb the ship. She sinks in shallow water. Her crew is interned.
The ComCortDiv 11 aboard CD-57 issues the order to form a landing party armed with Type 99 rifles and hand grenades in order to liberate the Japanese prisoners and recapture at least one of the vessels. After the appearance of the Soviet aircraft he decides to withdraw however. [4]
15 August 1945:
CD-36’s crew is notified of the termination of the war.
17 August 1945:
CD-36 and CD-57 return to Otaru, Hokkaido.
2 October 1945:
Departs Maizuru on her first repatriation trip.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
11 October 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
20 October 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
1 November 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
6 November 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
9 November 1945:
Departs Manila.
12 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 December 1945:
Formally designated a special cargo ship in the Allied Repatriation Service. [5]
2 October 1945:
Departs Maizuru.
11 October 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
20 October 1945:
Arrives at Kure.
1 November 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
6 November 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
9 November 1945:
Departs Manila.
12 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
14 December 1945:
Departs Saiki.
19 December 1945:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
21 December 1945:
Arrives at Palau. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
22 December 1945:
Departs Palau.
30 December 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
5 January 1946:
Undergoes repair at Ishikawajima.
31 January 1946:
Repairs are completed.
3 February 1946:
Departs Uraga.
10 February 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
14 February 1946:
Arrives at Palau. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
22 February 1946:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 March 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Kobe.
21 March 1946:
Repairs are completed.
28 March 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
30 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
1 April 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
2 April 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
5 April 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
7 April 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
11 April 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
14 April 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
22 April 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
24 April 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
2 May 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
5 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
19 May 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
21 May 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
23 May 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
24 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 May 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
1 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriatedand departs later that day.
5 June 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 June 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
10 June 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
12 June 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
14 June 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
26 June 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Kure.
12 July 1946:
Repairs are completed.
25 September 1946:
Departs Kure.
30 September 1946:
Arrives at Korojima near Tsientsin. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
2 October 1946:
Departs Korojima.
6 October 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
16 October 1946:
Departs Hakata.
19 October 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
20 October 1946:
Departs Korojima.
24 October 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 November 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Sasebo.
5 December 1946:
Repairs are completred.
19 July 1947:
At Yokosuka ceded to the United States as a war reparation.
1 February 1948:
Commences scrapping at Tsurumi shipyard.
1 March 1948:
Completes scrapping.
Authors’ Notes
[1] On 20 Jan '45, MANJU MARU was sunk by aircraft in the
location of her grounding.
[2] CD-36's involvement in TAMO-40 is unconfirmed and escort may have been submarine chaser CH-58.
[3] KASADO MARU was a former Russian ship. Under her original name KAZAN, she was attached to the Russian Baltic Fleet and captured in 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War.
[4] RYUHO MARU’s crew remained interned the following two years. On 8 December 1947, the forty-nine men were landed at Hakodate, southern Hokkaido. RYUHO MARU No. 2's seizure was disclosed by her returning captain. Until then, the Japanese believed the ship had been sunk by aircraft attack.
KASADO MARU was evidently sunk by two Beriev MBR-2 flying boats from the 2nd Independent Coastal Air Regiment (OMBAPP), dispatched to intercept the "escaping" Japanese fishing vessels; Senior Lt. A. Larionov's MBR-2 is credited with the sinking.
[5] 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. Thanks also go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages and to Mr Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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