Japanese Subchasers

KUSENTEI!

(Subchaser No. 46 by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN Subchaser CH-2: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 10

9 June 1933:
Tokyo. Laid down at Ishikawajima Ship Building.
20 December 1933: Launched and numbered CH-2.
25 March 1934:
Completed and registered in the IJN.

7 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Invasion of the Northern Philippines:
CH-2 is in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji’s (38) (former CO of KAGA) 1st Base Force of Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo’s (35)(former CO of YAMASHIRO) Third Fleet. CH-2 is attached to Takahashi's Philippines Seizure Force in LtCdr Okawara’s SubChasDiv 1 with CH-1 and CH-3.
10 December 1941:
Beginning at 0550, participates in the landings at Aparri, Philippines.
At 1800 CH-1, CH-2, CH-3 and CH-13, CH-14 and CH-15 all depart Aparri for Takao.
14 December 1941:
At 1330 arrives at Takao.
18 December 1941:
At 1600 CH-1, CH-2, CH-3 and CH-13, CH-14 and CH-15 all depart Takao for Lamon Bay.
24 December 1941:
At 0330 CH-1, CH-2, CH-3 and CH-13, CH-14 and CH-15 all arrive Lamon Bay.
27 December 1941:
At 1000 CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3 depart Lamon Bay.
31 December 1941:
At 0800 arrives at Davao.

6 January 1942:
At 1200 departs Davao.
7 January 1942:
Arrives at Magunaga Bay.
9 January 1942: Operation "H" - The Invasion of Celebes, Netherlands East Indies:
SubChasDiv 1's CH-2, CH-1 and CH-3 depart Davao with light cruiser NAGARA, patrol boats P-1, P-2, P-34 and MineSweepDiv 21's W-7, W-8, W-9, W-11 and W-12 escorting eight transports carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo's (40) (former CO of AO SATA) Sasebo No. 1 Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) and Rear Admiral Kubo Kyuji's (38) 1st Base Force.
11 January 1942: The Invasion of Menado, Celebes Dutch East Indies:
SubChasDiv 1’s CH-2, CH-1 and CH-3 and Rear Admiral Kubo’s 1st Base Force with NAGARA, MineSweepDiv 21 and patrol boats provides escort for the Menado invasion force of eight transports carrying Sasebo No. 1 Combined SNLF.
At 0300, the SNLF lands on Kema, Celebes. At 0400, they land on Menado. Later, 334 men of Cdr (later Captain) Horiuchi Toyoaki's (50) (later XO of TAKAO) Yokosuka No. 1 SNLF (Air) are dropped successfully from Mitsubishi G3M1-L "Nell" converted transport aircraft in the Menado-Kema area. The paratroops seize Langoan airfield.
14 January 1942:
At 2230 CH-1 and CH-2 depart Menado.
19 January 1942:
At 1800 CH-2 arrives at Davao.
23-24 January 1942: The Invasion of Kendari, Celebes:
Subchaser Div 1’s CH-2 and CH-1 with DesRon 10’s light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 16’s TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE, Minesweeper Div 21’s W-7, W-8, W-9, W-11 and W-12 escort Rear Admiral Kubo Kyuji’s (38) Kendari Invasion Force consisting of six troop transports carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo’s (40) Sasebo Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF). Seaplane Tender Division 11’s CHITOSE and MIZUHO provide distant support.
27 January 1942:
At 1240 departs Davao.
29 January 1942:
Departs Staring Bay (Kendari), Celebes. Escorts the Ambon, Moluccas Seizure convoy.
31 January 1942: The Invasion of Ambon Island, Netherlands East Indies The invasion convoy includes ten transports carrying 820 men of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hatakeyama Kouichiro's (39) (former CO of KINUGASA) Kure No. 1 SNLF, elements of the Sasebo SNLF and the 228th Infantry Regiment.
The convoy's escort is provided by SubChasDiv 1’s CH-2, CH-1 and CH-3 with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo 41) DesRon 2’s light cruiser JINTSU with DesDiv 8's ASASHIO, MICHISHIO, ARASHIO and OSHIO, DesDiv 15 HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 16 TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE, MineSweepDiv 21 W-9, W-7, W-8, W-11 and W-12 and patrol boats PB-34 and PB-39. Air cover is provided by CarDiv 11's MIZUHO and CHITOSE. CruDiv 5's NACHI and HAGURO, DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 7's USHIO and SAZANAMI provide the covering force.
1 February 1942:
At 1200 CH-2 and CH-3 arrive at Banka.
2 February 1942:
At 1400 CH-2 and CH-3 depart Banka.
5-10 February 1942: The Invasion of Makassar, Celebes:
SubChasDiv 1’s CH-2, CH-1 and CH-3 and Rear Admiral Kubo’s 1st Base Force with NAGARA, MineSweepDiv 21 and SubchasDiv 2 provide escort for the Makassar invasion force of six transports carrying Mori's Sasebo Combined SNLF.
11 February 1942:
At 1130 CH-2 and CH-3 arrive at Davao.
12 February 1942:
At 2330 CH-2 and CH-3 depart Davao.
16 February 1942:
CH-2 and CH-3 arrive back in the Kendari area where they remain for the remainder of the month.
10 March 1942:
Assigned to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) Southwest Area Fleet's newly formed Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet in Special Base Force 21's SubChasDiv 1 organized at Surabaya.
11 April 1942:
At 1017 departs Kupang.
16 April 1942:
At 0851 arrives at Surabaya.
1 May 1942:
SubChasDiv 1 is disbanded. CH-2 is reassigned to SubChasDiv 2 in the Yokosuka Naval District with CH-1 and CH-3.
6 September 1942:
Early am arrives at Dili escorting unknown vessel/s.
8 September 1942:
Departs Dili on an escort mission.
13 September 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
29 September 1942:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Macassar.
7 October 1942:
Departs Macassar on an escort mission.
8 October 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
17 October 1942:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
29 October 1942:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
19 November 1942:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
21 November 1942:
At 1500 minelayer AOTAKA and CH-2 arrive at Kupang on an escort mission.
23 November 1942:
At 0200 AOTAKA and submarine chaser CH-2 arrive at Dili on a transport mission.
25 November 1942:
Late in the evening departs Dili with minelayer AOTAKA on an escort mission.
29 November 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
8 December 1942:
CH-2 departs Surabaya with minesweeper W-11 and auxiliary gunboat OKUYO MARU escorting the Oki convoy consisting of of KOYU, TACOMA, DELAGOA and HEIMEI MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
13 December 1942:
Minesweeper W-11 is detached.
14 December 1942:
Subchaser CH-2 is detached.
15 December 1942:
Subchaser CH-20 joins convoy.
18 December 1942:
Subchaser CH-18 joins convoy and CH-20 is detached.
22 December 1942:
An unknown submarine attacks the convoy. OKUYO MARU drops three depth charges. Later that day the convoy arrives at Rabaul.
9 January 1943:
Departs Surabaya escorting tanker NICHIEI MARU bound for Balikpapan.
11 January 1944:
At 0000 off the southern tip of Laut Island meets up with oiler KAMOI. At 1445 the convoy arrives at Balikpapan. Prior to this CH-2 meets up with outbound cargo ship ASAKA MARU and escorts the ship to Surabaya.
13 January 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
14 January 1943:
Departs Surabaya and outside Surabaya port attacks and hunts an enemy submarine.
17 January 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
21 January 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission and a enemy submarine hunt.
28 January 1943:
Arrives at Ambon.
29 January 1943:
Departs Ambon on an escort mission.
3 February 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
10 February 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
11 February 1943:
Arrives back At Surabaya.
12 February 1943:
Departs Surabaya on sweep of main shipping route.
13 February 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
14 February 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
17 February 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
20 February 1943:
Departs Surabaya and conducts an anti submarine sweep outside the port. The ship is sent to the sinking site of KUWAYAMA MARU (07-54S 119-13E) to search for the enemy submarine (USS THRESHER) that sank the vessel.
27 February 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
1 March 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep and then undertakes an escort mission.
9 March 1943:
Arrives back at Balikpapan.
16 March 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep and then undertakes an escort mission.
22 March 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
23 March 1943:
CH-2 departs Surabaya for Balikpapan escorting fast tanker AKATSUKI MARU.
E 25 March 1943:
Arrives at Balikpapan, then departs for Surabaya.
27 March 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
31 March 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
6 April 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
12 April 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
18 April 1943:
Undertakes an anti submarine sweep.
22 April 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
29 April 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
30 April 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
4 June 1943:
At 0900, CH-2 departs Surabaya escorting fleet oiler TSURUMI.
8 June 1943:
At 0800, arrives at Balikpapan.
July 1943:
In dockyard the whole month at Surabaya under repair.
9 August 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep.
18 August 1943:
At 1125 arrives back at Surabaya.
26 August 1943:
At 0700 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
29 August 1943:
At 2030 arrives at Jakarta.
1 September 1943:
At 0800 departs Jakarta on an escort mission.
4 September 1943:
Arrives at Padang.
11 September 1943:
At 0825 departs Padang on an escort mission.
14 September 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Jakarta.
18 September 1943:
At 1300 departs Jakarta on an escort mission.
23 September 1943:
At 0800 arrives at Balikpapan.
26 September 1943:
At 1135 arrives at Surabaya.
1 October 1943:
At 0900 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
5 October 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Macassar. At 1200 departs Macassar on an anti submarine sweep.
9 October 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Macassar.
10 October 1943:
At 0800 departs Macassar and later arrives at Balikpapan.
12 October 1943:
At 1200 departs Balikpapan.
14 October 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Surabaya.
20 October 1943:
At 1430 departs Balikpapan on an escort mission.
25 October 1943:
At 1700 arrives at Ambon.
28 October 1943:
Departs Ambon on an escort mission.
2 November 1943:
At 1140 arrives at Surabaya.
9 November 1943:
At 0730 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
15 November 1943:
At 1800 arrives at Ambon.
17 November 1943:
At 0830 departs Ambon alone.
20 November 1943:
At 1140 arrives at Surabaya.
25 November 1943:
At 1000 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
29 November 1943:
At 0040 arrives at Jakarta.
5 December 1943:
At 0800 arrives at Surabaya.
7 December 1943:
At 0945, CH-2 departs Surabaya, Java for Lautem, east Timor, escorting convoy KAI-13 consisting of GENMEI and WAKATSU MARUs.
13 December 1943:
Arrives at Maumere.
14 December 1943:
Early am departs Maumere.
15 December 1943:
Timor. The convoy arrives, but at 1810 is attacked by Allied light bombers. GENMEI MARU is hit by six bombs and set afire. Eight crewmen, 10 gunners and four passengers are KIA.
16 December 1943:
Still burning, GENMEI MARU is scuttled by shore artillery.
17 December 1943:
WAKATSU MARU is attacked by Allied bombers. At 0750, she blows up and sinks. Six crewmen and 14 soldiers are KIA.
19 December 1943:
At 1900 arrives back at Surabaya.
30 December 1943:
Departs Surabaya on a convoy escort mission.
4 January 1944:
At 1230 arrives at Surabaya.
6 January 1944:
At 1230 departs Surabaya alone.
8 January 1944:
At 1520 arrives back at Surabaya.
9 January 1944:
At 1020 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
15 January 1944:
At 1440 arrives back at Surabaya and remains there for the rest of the month and most of February, possibly under repair.
26 February 1944:
At 1020 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep, joining CH-1.
1 March 1944:
At 1517 arrives back at Surabaya.
5 March 1944:
At 0900 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep.
18 March 1944:
At 1900 arrives back at Surabaya.
19 March 1944:
At 1507 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
26 March 1944:
At 0800, CH-2 and minesweeper W-12 depart Surabaya escorting a convoy consisting of NICHINAN (2732 gt), HEIAN and KUNIYAMA MARUs.
NICHINAN MARU carries the 147th Infantry Regimental headquarters of the 46th Division; part of the division's medical unit, and a field artillery battalion (less one company), HEIAN MARU (5,346 tons) carries the 1st Battalion, 147th Infantry and KUNIYAMA MARU carries the 2nd Battalion, 147th Infantry.
That evening, the convoy anchors at Kangean Island.
27 March 1944:
At 0600, departs Kangean Island. At 1000, LtCdr Willard R. Laughon's USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks NICHINAN MARU at 07-27S 115-52E. 311 passengers, including the 147th Infantry Regimental Commander and 264 men below the rank of colonel, 28 crewmen and 10 shipboard gunners die. CH-2 and W-12 counter-attack dropping 35 depth-charges, but without effect. The convoy returns to Surabaya. At 1825, the convoy again departs port.
28 March 1944:
The escort is handed over to patrol boat PB-104 (ex-Dutch VALK) at 07-15S, 115-50E. CH-2 and later W-12 return to Surabaya.
29 March 1944:
At 1400 CH-2 arrives back at Surabaya.
31 March 1944:
At 0800 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
1 April 1944:
At 1200 arrives back at Surabaya.
2 April 1944:
At 1400 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
3 April 1944:
At 1230 arrives back at Surabaya.
12 April 1944:
At 1300, CH-2 and W-12 depart Surabaya escorting a convoy consisting of MIKASA MARU and SHINSEI MARU No. 17 probably carrying elements of the IJA's 123rd Infantry Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 147th Infantry Regiment.
13 April 1944:
The convoy arrives at Hertenbeest Island (now Pulau Menjangan). W-12 and CH-2 guard and patrol the anchorage.
14 April 1944:
At 0000, departs Hertenbeest Island and at 2000, arrives at Lawang anchorage, (Poelau Lawang) in Strait Soengian (now Selat Sugian).
15 April 1944:
Arrives at Bima Bay, Sumbawa Island.
16 April 1944:
At 0500 departs Bima Bay.
17 April 1944:
Arrives at Maumere, Flores Island.
18 April 1944:
Departs Maumere.
19 April 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Bima Bay.
22 April 1944:
At 0130, departs Bima Bay.
23 April 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Surabaya.
26 April 1944:
At 1245 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
29 April 1944:
At 1400 arrives back at Surabaya.
30 April 1944:
At 0700 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep.
8 May 1944:
At 0500 arrives back at Surabaya.
9 May 1944:
At 1415 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
18 May 1944:
At 0630, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-2 that reads: “Enemy submarine certain in position 07-33S, 113-16E.”
22 May 1944:
At 1220 arrives back at Surabaya.
30 May 1944:
At 1200 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
18 June 1944:
At 1300 arrives back at Surabaya.
26 June 1944:
At 0950 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
28 June 1944:
At 1300 arrives back at Surabaya.
1 July 1944:
Departs Surabaya on short patrol.
2 July 1944:
At 1600 arrives back at Surabaya.
7 July 1944:
At 0601 departs Surabaya with CH-1 and undertakes escort missions and anti submarine sweeps.
24 July 1944:
At 1155 arrives back at Surabaya. Spends the whole of August at Surabaya.
1 September 1944:
At 1255 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
8 September 1944:
At 1515 arrives back at Surabaya.
9 September 1944:
At 0010 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
14 September 1944:
At 1100 arrives back at Surabaya.
21 September 1944:
At 1630 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep.
24 September 1944:
At 1430 arrives back at Surabaya.
26 September 1944:
At 1400 departs Surabaya on an escort mission and an anti submarine sweep.
21 October 1944:
At 1400 arrives back at Surabaya.
22 October 1944:
At 1805, codebreakers decrypt a message that says: “At 1058, 17th, Subchaser No. 2 in command of Subchaser No. 26 detected and attacked the enemy submarine which attacked ITSUKUSHIMA and WAKATAKA with torpedoes. Subchasers sank the submarine definitely at 1337, 18th in position 05-22 S., 113-55 E.” [Dutch submarine HNMS ZWAARDVISCH (ex-British HMS TALENT) actually escaped - BH]
26 October 1944:
At 1845 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep. Then undertakes escort missions.
2 November 1944:
At 1130, CH-2 arrives at Surabaya escorting TAIKO MARU. At 1630, that same day, CH-2 and auxiliary minesweepers Wa-103 and Wa-106 depart Surabaya for Balikpapan, Borneo escorting a convoy consisting of SHUNSEN, KANKO, KANTO, HAKUREI and ENOSHIMA MARUs and NANSHIN MARU No. 13.
5 November 1944:
At 1615, arrives at Balikpapan.
11 November 1944:
At 1430 arrives back at Surabaya.
16 November 1944:
At 0645 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
19 November 1944:
At 1100 arrives back at Surabaya.
21 November 1944:
At 1455 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
27 November 1944:
At 1200 arrives back at Surabaya.
30 November 1944:
At 1315 CH-2 and CH-3 depart Surabaya on an escort mission.
10 December 1944:
At 1200 CH-2 arrives back at Surabaya.
15 December 1944:
At 0852, CH-2 departs Surabaya with minesweepers W-11 and W-103 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-36 escorting convoy SUBA-02 consisting of KITA, KENZAN, TOKUYAMA MARUs and NANSHIN MARUs No. 12 and No. 16.
19 December 1944:
At 0947, CH-2 and W-11 are ordered to join another convoy consisting of tug AKITSU MARU and gunboat NANKAI and are detached.
21 December 1944:
At 1700 arrives back at Surabaya.
23 December 1944:
At 0830 departs Surabaya on patrol.
24 December 1944:
At 1710 arrives back at Surabaya.
26 December 1944:
At 0700 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep, joined later by minesweeper W-11.
15 January 1945:
Java Sea. CH-2 departs an inlet near Sangkapura, Bawean Island escorting a convoy consisting of HAKUREI MARU and TORA MARU No. 1.
16 January 1945:
10 km S of Laut Island. At 1700, both merchant ships strike magnetic mines and sink.
13 March 1945:
At 1647 USN codebreakers at Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL), Australia intercept and decode a message that reads "Subchaser No. 2 is to leave Surabaya on 14th and after escorting Shuttle Boat No. 108 and No. 105 NICHINAN MARU (166 tons) as far as Batavia where she is to pick up German ship QUITO who is waiting to proceed to Kota Baru, and escort her to the south end of Laut Island and then return to Surabaya.”
14 March 1945:
At 1200 departs Surabaya.
15 March 1945:
At 1800, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from the CO of CH-2 that reads: “(Rescued?) 36 crew members (among them 6 passengers) of auxiliary powered sailing vessel RYUHO MARU which was shelled by an enemy submarine and sank off east coast of Masalembo Bisar at 1300 on the 14th.” [2]
29 March 1945:
At 1400 arrives back at Surabaya.
4 April 1945:
At 1020 CH-1, followed 10 minutes later by CH-2 depart Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep.
12 April 1945:
At 1800 arrives back at Surabaya.
28 April 1945:
At 1530 departs Surabaya on an escort mission to Macassar escorting a convoy consisting of DAI (ex Dutch DUYMAER VAN TWIST), KENZAN MARUs and SANKO MARU No. 11.
27 June 1945:
Near Lombok Island. CH-2 is escorting an unidentified convoy when at about 0200, LtCdr Merrill K. Clementson’s (USNA ’33) USS BLUEBACK (SS-326) torpedoes CH-2. Hit in the stern, she sinks at 07-30S, 116-15E. Some survivors are seen taking to a life boat.
10 August 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Author's Notes:
[1] No data were found detailing CH-2's movements during the timeframe of Apr-Nov '43. Readers with access to such data are requested to post the information on the Discussion and Questions board or at j-aircraft.org's IJN Ship Message Board
[2] British submarine HMS SPIRIT sank RYUHO MARU off Massalambo Island at 05-34S, 114-26E.
Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA and Hans Mcilveen of the Netherlands for info on intercepts of Japanese messages, and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France for general assistance.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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