KUSENTEI!

© 2005-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall:
Revision 6

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1938:
Yokohama. Laid down at Tsurumi Ironworks shipyard.

1939:
Launched and numbered CH-11.

15 June 1939:
Completed and registered in the Maizuru Naval District.

7 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Invasion of the Northern Philippines:
CH-10 is assigned to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (39) (former CO of AOBA) 2nd Base Force of Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet and attached to the Philippines Seizure Force in Cdr Sawamura Seiji's (49) SubChasDiv 31 with CH-10 and CH-12. At 1630, departs Mako, Pescadores.

10 December 1941:
Luzon, Philippines. Six transports, carrying 2,000 men of the Kanno Detachment of the 48th Infantry Division, land troops near Vigan, but are bombed and strafed by five Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" and escorting Seversky P-35A "Guardsman" and Curtiss P-40B "Kittyhawk" fighters of the U. S. Army's Far East Air Force. During the action, a minesweeper is sunk and two transports are so damaged they have to be beached.

7 January 1942: The Invasion of Dutch Borneo:
CH-11 departs Davao with CH-10 and CH-12, patrol boats PB-36, PB-37 and PB-38, Minesweeper Division 11’s W-13, W-14, W-15 and W-16, 30th Minesweeper Division’s W-17 and W-18 and other auxiliary ships escorting Rear Admiral Hirose’s Tarakan Occupation Force. Hirose's Force includes Army transports TSURUGA, LIVERPOOL, HAVANA, KURETAKE, NICHIAI, HITERU, TEIRYU, HANKOW and EHIME MARUs carrying MajGen Sakaguchi Shizuo’s 56th Mixed Infantry Group and the Kure No. 2 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) and Navy transports KUNIKAWA, KANO, KAGU, KOKUYO and RAKUTO MARUs.

Rear Admiral Hirose's Force is provided close cover by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji’s (39) DesRon 4’s light cruiser NAKA with DesDiv 2’s HARUSAME, SAMIDARE, YUDACHI and MURUSAME, DesDiv 9’s ASAGUMO and MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24’s UMIKAZE, KAWASKAZE, YAMAKAZE and SUZUKAZE. The 21st Air Flotilla’s tenders SANUKI and SANYO MARUs provide air cover.

10 January 1942:
Borneo, Netherland East Indies (NEI). At 1000, CH-11 captures British inter-island vessel BAYNAIN (659 grt) that departed Tarakan earlier that day for Surabaya with a cargo of steel pipes and military stores. [1] At 1405, CH-11 and CH-12 also capture the Dutch 60-ton tug PARSIFAL, that had been sent to assist the lightvessel TARAKAN (ex ZWALUW) based 15 miles east of Tarakan and acting as an air warning vessel. At 2000, they anchor in Tarakan Bay, NE Borneo.

11 January 1942:
Rear Admiral Hirose's Force invades Tarakan.

21 January 1942:
CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 depart Tarakan with patrol boats PB-36, PB-37 and PB-38, minesweepers W-16, W-17 and W-18 escorting 16 transports carrying the Balikpapan Invasion Force consisting of the Sakaguchi Brigade. Light cruiser NAKA provides cover with DesDiv 2's YUDACHI, SAMIDARE, HARUSAME, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MURASAME, MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, YAMAKAZE and UMIKAZE.

23 January 1942: The Invasion of Balikpapan, Borneo:
Storms protect the invasion force until it is almost to Balikpapan, Borneo. At 1525, nine Dutch Martin Model 166 (B-10) bombers from Samarinda attack and hit transports TATSUGAMI and NANA MARU. The latter has to be abandoned and later sinks. TATSUGAMI MARU continues on to Balikpapan. At 2130, the transports begin disembarking their troops.

24 January 1942:
Dutch Navy LtCdr C. A. J. van Well Groeneveld's (former CO of K-XIV) submarine HMNS K-XVIII, operating on the surface due to the weather, fires four bow torpedoes at NAKA, but they all miss. At 0045, Groeneveld attacks and sinks transport TSURUGA MARU at 00-10N, 118-0E. One crewman and 38 troops are KIA.

Cdr Paul H. Talbot's DesDiv 59's old destroyers USS PARROTT (DD-218), USS POPE (DD-225), USS JOHN D. FORD (DD-228) and USS PAUL JONES (DD-230) arrive from the south. At 0316, they begin their first attack firing their main 4-inch guns and launching ten torpedoes at the anchored transports, but all the torpedoes miss. Talbot orders another attack. At 0330, USS POPE hits and sinks transport SUMANOURA MARU with a large number of troops KIA. At 0335, USS PARROTT and USS PAUL JONES sink already damaged transport TATSUGAMI MARU with torpedoes. Four crewmen are KIA. At 0345, USS JOHN D. FORD sinks transport KURETAKE MARU with gunfire and torpedoes. 188 troops are KIA. Two other transports suffer damage from gunfire and torpedoes, but remain afloat. USS POPE and USS PARROTT sink patrol boat PB-37 with torpedoes and gunfire.

At 0350, DesDiv 59 departs southward. Aboard NAKA, Rear Admiral Nishimura, alerted to the ABDA surface forces attacking the transports, heads west at high speed in an unsuccessful pursuit of the American destroyers.

10 March 1942:
Manila. CH-11 is reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet’s Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet’s 31st Special Base Force. Patrols Manila Bay.

2 April 1942:
CH-11 and CH-12 both arrive at Olongapo.

3 April 1942:
Both submarine chasers depart Olongapo and return to the blockade. CH-11 patrols from the Nasugbu Bay side.

2 May 1942:
At 1200 arrives at Olongapo.

3 May 1942:
At 1000 departs Olongapo and undertakes patrols off the port.

9 May 1942:
With the fall of Corregidor three days previous, at 0600 CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 all depart Olongapo and at 1312 enter Manila Bay.

11 May 1942:
At 1517 CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 all depart Manila Bay.

May 1942:
Saeki. CH-11 is reassigned to the Kure Guard Unit (nominally from 1 May). Patrols the Bungo Straits.

1 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 and auxiliary cruiser BANGKOK MARU depart Saiki on patrol.

4 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 return to Saiki.

8 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 depart Saiki on patrol.

9 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 return to Sukumo.

11 June 1942:
CH-11 departs Sukumo on patrol.

13 June 1942:
Arrives back at Sukumo.

14 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 transfer from Sukumo to Saiki.

19 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 transfer from Saiki to Sukumo.

22 June 1942:
CH-11 departs Sukumo on patrol.

23 June 1942:
Arrives back at Sukumo.

24 June 1942:
Transfers from Sukumo to Saiki.

25 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 depart Saiki.

28 June 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 arrive at Maizuru.

10 July 1942:
An unknown officer assumes command. Reserve Lt Takane Kaneji is posted CO of MANAZURU.

6 August 1942:
CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 all depart Maizuru.

8 August 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 arrive at Saiki after conducting an anti submarine sweep in the Saiki area.

11 August 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 depart Saiki on an anti submarine sweep. They join up with CH-12 which has been on a training exercise.

12 August 1942:
CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 all arrive back at Saiki.

13 August 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 depart Saiki on an anti submarine. Over the following few days both ships conduct a series of sweeps and patrols of the Bungo Suido returning to Sukumo to resupply as necessary.

17 August 1942:
CH-11 arrives back at Saiki.

19 August 1942:
CH-11 departs Saiki and resumes patrolling.

24 August 1942:
CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 arrive at Saiki.

29 August 1942:
CH-10 alone departs Saiki and later that day arrives at Sukumo.

31 August 1942:
CH-11 departs Sukumo and later that day arrives at Saiki.

2 September 1942:
Departs Saiki and later that day arrives at Sukumo.

7 September 1942:
Departs Sukumo and later that day arrives at Saiki.

9 September 1942:
Departs Saiki on patrol.

11 September 1942:
Arrives at Nagahama.

12 September 1942:
Departs Nagahama with CH-12 and later that day arrives at Saiki.

22 September 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 depart Saiki on patrol.

24 September 1942:
Both CH-10 and CH-11 arrive at Sukumo and depart later that day. CH-11 later arrives at Saiki.

26 September 1942:
Departs Saiki on patrol.

30 September 1942:
CH-10 and CH-11 arrive back at Saiki.

2 October 1942:
CH-11 departs Saeki for Rabaul, New Britain with subchasers CH-10 and CH-12 escorting convoy Oki-6 consisting of HAVANA, TOYO, EHIME, YASUKUNI and SUMIYOSHI MARUs.

14 October 1942:
LtCdr Lucius H. Chappell's (USNA ’27) USS SCULPIN (SS-190) torpedoes and sinks SUMIYOSHI MARU at 03-15S, 149-50E. Eight crewmen are KIA.

15 October 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

16 October 1942:
Truk. Reassigned to the 4th Base Force. Escorts convoys near Truk.

2 November 1942:
At 0600 CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 depart Truk on an anti submarine sweep.

4 November 1942:
At 1820 CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 arrive back at Truk.

6 November 1942:
At 1225 CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 depart Truk on a further anti submarine sweep.

9 November 1942:
At 1604 CH-10 and CH-11 return to Truk.

12 November 1942:
At 1940 CH-10 and CH-11 depart Truk on an anri submarine sweep.

15 November 1942:
At 1325 CH-10 and CH-11 arrive back at Truk.

17 November 1942:
At 1244 CH-10 and CH-11 depart Truk on an anti submarine sweep.

18 November 1942:
At 1700 CH-10 and CH-11 arrive back at Truk.

19 November 1942:
At 1020 CH-10 and CH-11 depart Truk on an anti submarine patrol.

20 November 1942:
At 1500 CH-11 arrives back at Truk.

21 November 1942:
At 1300 departs Truk.

22 November 1942:
At 1315 CH-11 arrives back at Truk.

23 November 1942:
At 0400 CH-10 and CH-11 depart Truk on an anti submarine patrol.

26 November 1942:
At 1900 CH-10 and CH-11 anchors at Namonuito.

27 November 1942:
At 0500 CH-10 amnd CH-11 departs Namonuito.

28 November 1942:
At 1045 CH-10 and CH-11 arrive at Palau. Throughout the month of December CH-11 remains based in the Palau area.

21 December 1942: No. 6 Go Transportation Operation:
Convoy No. 35 assembles at Shanghai to transport the IJA’s 6th Infantry Division via Truk to Guadalcanal (after the decision is made to evacuate Guadalcanal, the convoy’s destination is changed to New Guinea). The convoy consists of troop convoy Parts A, B and C. Part A consists of TEIYO, MYOHO MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1; Part B consists of OIGAWA, KENKON, KYOKUSEI and PANAMA MARUs and Part C consists of MEIU, SOMEDOMO, SOURABAYA and SHINAI MARUs. Second-class destroyer HASU departs Shanghai for New Guinea escorting Part A and second-class destroyer KURI departs escorting Part B.

25 December 1942:
Part C departs Shanghai consisting of MEIU, SOMEDONO, SURABAYA and SHINAI MARUs escorted by second-class destroyer TSUGA.

5 January 1943:
Parts A and B arrive at Mako, Pescadores. The China Area Fleet's second-class destroyers are detached and replaced by the Southwest Area Fleet’s destroyers HOKAZE and NAGATSUKI tasked to escort the convoy to 136 degrees E longitude. CH-11 and CH-2, destroyer SHIRAYUKI and auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 further augment the escort at Mako and at different points in the convoy route.

7 January 1943:
At 1525 CH-11 departs Palau escorting a convoy, possibly Parts A and B.

10 January 1943:
At 0825 arrives at Truk. Later that day at 1300 CH-11 departs Truk on an escort mission.

14 January 1943:
At 1150 arrives back at Truk.

19 January 1943:
At 0800 Part C departs Truk with CH-11 as an escort.

20 January 1943:
286 miles from Truk. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Creed C. Burlingame’s (USNA ’27) USS SILVERSIDES (SS-236) attacks Part C. USS SILVERSIDES sinks MEIU MARU carrying 2,997 men of the 23rd Regiment, 6th Division, their equipment and 40 horses, 70 ship's gunners, 200 working 'coolies' and about 100 crewmen, at 03-52N 153.26E. One crewman and about 400 soldiers are KIA. In the same attack, Burlingame damages heavily SURABAYA MARU with over 1,000 troops of IJA’s 6th Division. 36 crewmen and 463 soldiers are KIA. CH-11 and gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 rescue survivors. Later, destroyer ASAGUMO arrives from Truk and scuttles SURABAYA MARU.

24 January 1943:
Part C arrives at Rabaul. CH-11 has detached and at 0730 arrives at Truk.

25 January 1943:
At 0400 departs Truk on an escort mission.

26 January 1943:
At 0820 arrives back at Truk.

28 January 1943:
At 0800 departs Truk escorting a convoy.

2 February 1943:
At 1720 arrives at Truk.

5 February 1943:
At 0715 departs Truk.

6 February 1943:
At 0715 returns to Truk. At 1100 departs Truk again on an escort mission.

11 February 1943:
At 0900 arrives back at Truk.

12 February 1943:
At 1500 departs Truk on a short escort mission.

13 February 1943:
At 1645 arrives back at Truk.

15 February 1943:
Truk. At 1200, CH-11 escorts oiler KOKUYO MARU through the Northern channel.

17 February 1943:
At 0810 arrives back at Truk ands remains there for the rest of the month.

2 March 1943:
At 0600 departs Truk with CH-11, auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU and destroyer YUNAGI following at 0800, escorting a convoy consisting of ASAYAMA, TATSUHARU, KIRISHIMA, HOKO, YAMASHIMO MARUs, TENYO MARU No. 2 GO and MIKAGE MARU No. 20. En route CH-11 is detached and returns to Truk.

5 March 1943:
At 0800 arrives back at Truk.

8 March 1943:
At 0920 departs Truk on an escort mission.

9 March 1943:
At 1815 arrives back at Truk.

10 March 1943:
At 1500 departs Truk on an escort mission.

15 March 1943:
At 1630 arrives back at Truk.

17 March 1943:
At 1220 departs Truk on an escort mission.

20 March 1943:
At 1600 arrives back at Truk.

23 March 1943:
At 1445 departs Truk on an escort mission.

27 March 1943:
At 1615 arrives back at Truk.

April 1943:
Spends the entire month and much of May undergoing repairs at Truk.

24 May 1943:
At 1600 departs Truk on an escort mission to Saipan.

28 May 1943:
At 0630 arrives at Saipan.

29 May 1943:
At 0900 departs Saipan on an escort mission.

May 1943:
Reassigned to the Eighth Fleet’s 1st Base Force. That next month, arrives at Maizuru. Undergoes repairs and overhaul.

12 August 1943:
At 0730, CH-11 departs Saeki for Palau with patrol boat PB-46, auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU and TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 escorting convoy O-208 consisting of HIBI, MATSUE (SHOKO), YASUKUNI, MOJI, FUKKAI, YASUSHIMA, SHICHISEI and UMEKAWA MARUs. At latitude 29N, TAKUNAN MARU and TAMA MARU No. 3 are detached to return to Saeki.

21 August 1943:
At 1245 arrives at Palau.

September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Escorts convoys.

6 November 1943:
W of Buka, Bougainville, New Guinea. USAAF B-25 “Mitchell” medium bombers attack and sink CH-11, water tanker CHOZAN MARU (unknown casualties) and ASAHI MARU No. 9 (four crewmen KIA).

30 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors' Note:
[1] BAYNAIN is later renamed HEINAN MARU.

Thanks go to J-air readers Bill Somerville and "dman" for info on BAYNAIN. Thanks also to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France for general assistance, Erich Muhlthaler of Germany and Matthew Jones of Mississippi, USA for help in identifying COs.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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