© 2009-2012 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
8 July 1944:
Tokyo. Laid down at at the Fukagawa branch of Ishikawajima Zosensho K.K.
9 September 1944:
Launched and numbered CD-50.
13 October 1944:
Completed and registered in the Yokosuka Naval District. Attached to Yokosuka Naval District. Hereafter, CD-50 is probably based at Yokosuka and undergoes training in the Tokyo Bay area.
5 December 1944:
CD-50 is transferred to the 3rd Surface Escort Division, General Escort Command. Hereafter, she is based at Kushimoto, southern Wakayama Prefecture, southwest Honshu. CD-50 carries out anti-submarine patrols and escorts local convoys and single merchant ships through the Kii Strait and the Toba Sea area, Mie Prefecture.
26 February 1945:
Off Owase Bay, Mie Prefecture. CD-50 depth charges and claims to have sunk a submarine. [1]
15 April 1945:
CD-50 joins the 4th “Special Attack (Kamikaze) Squadron”, Yokosuka Naval District.
1 May 1945:
Kii Suido. Morning. CD-50 departs Kushimoto and heads westward to meet a convoy. Enroute, while off Susami, Wakamiya Prefecture she detects a submarine. As she prepares to attack, she suddenly comes under torpedo attack.
At 0821, LtCdr (later Cdr) George E. Porter’s (USNA ’32) USS SENNET (SS-408) sound man picks up a target identified as an ASASHIO-class destroyer. At 0831, Porter fires five torpedoes at 1,900 yards, but the target maneuvers and avoids the torpedoes tracks. At 0848, the destroyer drops three depth charges, then turns the hunt over to three patrol-boats and departs.
At about 0930, Porter fires a Mark-27 “Cutie” acoustic homing-torpedo that breaks 8 meters off CD-50's stern at 34-15N, 135-05E, leaving her immobile. The PCs drop depth charges until 1100. Later, another warship takes CD-50 in tow. She is beached nearby to prevent sinking. Nine of CD-50's crew are KIA in the incident.
May 1945:
CD-50 is re-floated and towed to the Fujinagata shipyard at Osaka where she is drydocked.
15 August 1945:
Tokyo. Japan accepts the Allies “Potsdam Declaration” (of unconditional surrender) and hostilities cease. CD-50 is still in drydock at Osaka. Repairs are not continued.
September 1945:
Osaka. Undergoes repairs, but is surrendered to the Allies before completion.
20 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
5 May 1948:
Osaka. Scrapped.
Authors' Note:
[1] The 26 February date may be incorrect as USS TREPANG (SS-412) was depth charged twice off Owase during the afternoon of the 24 February at 33-58N, 136-18E. The submarine counted 14 DCs, but USS TREPANG was undamaged.
Special thanks for assistance in developing this TROM go to Bill Somerville of the UK and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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