KUSENTEI!

© 2005-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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1941:
Tsurumi. Laid down at the Nippon Kokan K.K shipyard.

22 May 1942:
Launched and numbered CH-32.

19 August 1942:
Completed. Registered in the Yokosuka Naval District. Attached to the Yokosuka Guard Unit. Conducts patrols in Tokyo Bay and escorts convoys off the Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. At 1640 arrives at Nagaura.

23 August 1942:
At 0900 departs Nagaura.

2 September 1942:
At 0750 CH-32 and CH-33 arrive at Nagaura.

4 September 1942:
At 0500 CH-32 departs Nagaura.

5 September 1942:
At 1445 arrives at Nagaura.

8 September 1942:
At 1630 departs Nagaura.

12 September 1942:
At 1210 arrives at Nagaura.

21 September 1942:
At 1030 departs Nagaura and at 1130 arrives at Yokosuka.

23 October 1942:
Rabaul. CH-32 and CH-31 are bombed and damaged by USAAF B-17s.

6 December 1942:
CH-32 departs Tokyo Bay escorting West Convoy No.59 consisting of HOZAN, TOKAI, SHANGHAI, YAMAZURU and MISHIMA MARUs destined for Nagoya, Shimizu and various Inland Sea ports.

15 December 1942:
CH-32 departs Tokyo Bay escorting a south bound convoy consisting of SHIBAZONO and HYUGA MARUs. Later, off Hachijo Jima, CH-32 detaches from convoy and returns to Yokosuka.

17 January 1943:
At 1000 CH-32 departs from off Futtsu, Tokyo Bay escorting convoy No. 7117 consisting of MIYO, HOKUTO, EIAN, MATSU, NIKKIN and OHA MARUs. The convoy heads west towards the Inland Sea.

18 January 1943:
CH-32 detaches from the convoy probably and returns to Yokosuka.

11 February 1943:
At 1200 CH-32 departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 7211 consisting of the two sail training ships NIPPON and KAIO MARUs and the liner GINYO MARU.

13 February 1943:
At 1200 off Owase CH-32 is detached from the convoy.

1 March 1943:
Reassigned to the Fourth Fleet’s 4th Base Force at Truk. Returns to Yokosuka.

14 March 1943:
At 1600 departs Rabaul with torpedo boat OTORI escorting a convoy consisting of KAIFUKU, ATSU, SHINSEI, KARIMO MARUs and KOSOKU MARU No. 3. The convoy sails at 7.5 knots.

15 March 1943:
Arrives at Buka.

13 April 1943:
At 0800 departs Yokosuka.

22 April 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Truk.

23 April 1943:
At 1000 departs Truk on an anti submarine patrol.

26 April 1943:
At 0717 arrives at Truk.

28 April 1943:
At 0800, departs Truk escorting SEIA MARU and an unidentified ship for Kwajalein.

2 May 1943:
At 1425 arrives at Kwajalein.

5 May 1943:
At 0400 departs Kwajalein on an escort mission.

9 May 1943:
At 1233 arrives at Truk.

13 May 1943:
At 0700 departs Truk but returns shortly after, arriving back at 1115.

16 May 1943:
At 1130 departs Truk on an escort mission.

20 May 1943:
At 1335 arrives at Rabaul.

21 May 1943:
At 1200 departs Rabaul escorting convoy 2212 consisting of NARUTO and HAKKAI MARUs.

24 May 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Truk.

28 May 1943:
At 1200 departs Truk escorting convoy 5283 consisting of SOYO and FUKUYAMA MARUs.

29 May 1943:
KENSHO MARU joined from Wotje as well as destroyer IKAZUCHI at 09.47N 160.58E. Auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 11 joins the convoy at some point.

31 May 1943:
Arrives at Jaluit. Auxiliary collier/oiler SOYO MARU detaches.

2 June 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Kwajalein with KENSHO and FUKUYAMA MARUs also escorted by auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 11.

3 June 1943:
At 1126 departs Kwajalein.

7 June 1943:
At 0932 arrives at Wake Island.

10 June 1943:
At 1500, CH-32 departs Wake Island for Kwajalein with auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 3 escorting a convoy consisting of YAMAKUNI MARU.

15 June 1943:
Stops at Jaluit and at 0420 departs Jaluit for Truk.

21 June 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Truk.

28 June 1943:
At 0440 departs Truk on an escort mission to Emidj.

3 July 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Emidj.

5 July 1943:
Arrives at Jaluit.

6 July 1943:
With picket boat CHOYO MARU No. 5 and auxiliary netlayer UJI MARU undertakes a sweep around the eastern and southern half of Jaluit Atoll.

7 July 1943:
With auxiliary netlayer UJI MARU lauches a series of attacks on an enemy submarine off Jaluit.

10 July 1943:
At 0400 departs Jaluit on an escort mission to Truk.

14 July 1943:
At 1715 arrives at Truk.

17 July 1943:
At 1730 departs Truk on an anti submarine sweep.

18 July 1943:
At 1330 arrives back at Truk.

22 July 1943:
At 0500 departs Truk on an escort mission.

27 July 1943:
At 0700 arrives at Kwajalein.

28 July 1943:
At 1200 departs Kwajalein for Emidj.

30 July 1943:
At 1615 arrives at Emidj.

1 August 1943:
Departs Emidj.

E 2 August 1943:
Arrives at Kwajalein.

4 August 1943:
Departs Kwajalein.

5 August 1943:
Arrives at Mille.

7 August 1943:
Departs Mille on an escort mission to Truk.

13 August 1943:
Arrives off Truk then proceeds to escorrt SHINYUBARI MARU.

14 August 1943:
CH-32 is escorting SHINYUBARI MARU when an unidentified submarine attacks SHINYUBARI MARU three times at 19-40N 147-21E. CH-32 counterattacks, but without success.[1]

17 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

20 August 1943:
Departs Truk escorting convoy No. 1201 consisting only of ASAHISAN MARU.

24 August 1943:
Arrives at Kavieng. ASAHISAN MARU proceeds on to Rabaul without CH-32, arriving later that day.

25 August 1943:
Departs Kavieng escorting SHINSEI MARU No. 18, presumably bound for Palau.

27 August 1943:
At 0830, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-32 that reads: "At approximately 0620 one enemy B-24 attacked dropping several large bombs. The (No. 18 SHINSEI MARU) suffered considerable damage. Position 02 South, ------ 55 East.”

31 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

1 September 1943:
Departs Truk on an anti submarine sweep.

5 September 1943:
CH-32 and CH-30 depart Truk for Rabaul escorting convoy No. 1055 consisting of YAMAFUKU, SHOUN, SAN FRANCISCO, KYOWA and CHIYO MARUs.

11 September 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.

17 September 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

19 September 1943:
CH-32 and CH-26 depart Palau escorting convoy "Wewak No. 9" consisting of ADEN, TAISEI and YASUKUNI MARUs.

23 September 1943:
Arrives at Wewak. The convoy unloads its cargo.

24 September 1943:
Departs Wewak.

27 September 1943:
Convoy Wewak No. 9 on the return journey to Palau is attacked by American aircraft that sink TAISEI MARU. Seven crewmen and six gunners are killed. Later that day, the convoy is intercepted by minelayer SHIRATAKA and CH-34 that provide escort back to Palau. CH-26 and CH-32 take over the escort of convoy "Wewak No. 10" consisting of MAYA, BENGAL and YAMAGATA MARUs.

28 September 1943:
CH-26 and CH-32 and convoy "Wewak No. 10"arrive at Wewak.

29 September 1943:
CH-26 and CH-32 depart Wewak with Wewak No.10 convoy.

4 October 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

21 October 1943:
Departs Palau with minelayer SHIRATAKA escorting Wewak Hollandia Tandoku Yuso No. 2 Convoy consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.

E 22 October 1943:
SHIRATAKA is detached and returns to Palau.

25 October 1943:
Arrives at Hollandia.

28 October 1943:
Departs Hollandia still escorting the same convoy.

7 November 1943:
CH-32 joins CH-26 escorting convoy "Hollandia No. 2" consisting of ASO, RYUWA and KIZUGAWA MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 5.

10 November 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

16 November 1943:
Arrives at Wewak.

21 November 1943:
CH-32 departs Wewak with auxiliary subchaser CHa-3 escorting convoy Wewak No. 13 consisting of KAMOI, MAYA, TAIYU and YASAKUNI MARUs.

26 November 1943:
At 0932, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Lawrence R. Daspit's (USNA ’27) USS TINOSA (SS-283) torpedoes and sinks KAMOI MARU carrying 515 men of the IJA 27th Aviation Corps, at 06-22N, 134-48E. 46 of those on board are killed. Daspit also hits and heavily damages TAIYU MARU at about the same time and location. Later that day, the remainder of the convoy arrives at Palau.

1 December 1943:
At 1400 departs Palau with CH-35 escorting convoy Hollandia No. 3 consisting of ASO, KAYO and TAIEI MARUs.

5 December 1943:
At 1700 arrives at Hollandia.

7 December 1943:
At 0230 the convoy departs Hollandia.

11 December 1943:
At 1000 arrives back at Palau.

13 December 1943:
At 1030 departs Palau.

14 December 1943:
At 1730 arrives back at Palau.

17 December 1943:
At 0730 CH-32 departs Palau with minelayer SHIRATAKA and auxiliary subchaser CHa-3 escorting convoy Wewak No. 15 consisting of KAYO, SAMARANG, UMEGAWA and YAMAGIKU MARUs.

21 December 1943:
At 2000 arrives at Wewak.

22 December 1943:
At 1600 the convoy departs Wewak.

27 December 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Palau.

1 January 1944:
Truk. Lt Shioda Ryohei’s CH-32 is in the 4th Fleet’s 4th Base Force.

2 January 1944:
At 0000 departs Palau but arrives back at 1900.

3 January 1944:
At 1500 CH-32 departs Palau for Hollandia and Wewak with auxiliary subchaser CHa-10 escorting convoy "Hollandia /Wewak No. 7" consisting of IKOMA, YASUKUNI and KAYO MARUs. Enroute, IKOMA and YASUKUNI MARUs are detached and escorted by CHa-10 to Hollandia.

9 January 1944:
At 1400 CH-32 and KAYO MARU arrive at Wewak.

10 January 1944:
CH-32 and KAYO MARU depart Wewak.

15 January 1944:
At 1130 arrives at Palau.

20 January 1944:
At 0800, CH-32 departs Palau for Hollandia with auxiliary subchaser CHa-47 escorting convoy "Hollandia-Wewak No. 8" consisting of IKOMA and YASUKUNI MARUs.

21 January 1944:
At 2137, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and sinks IKOMA MARU, and at 2142, USS SEAHORSE torpedoes and sinks YASUKUNI MARU. Both ships sink at 03-25N, 137-06E. IKOMA MARU is carrying a section of a Mixed Brigade and 418 out of 611 men as well as 43 crewmen are KIA. The ship is also loaded with ammunition, gasoline, foodstuffs and mail for the Brigade. YASUKUNI MARU sinks with 62 troops and 6 crewmen killed.

23 January 1944:
At 1800 CH-32 arrives at Palau with survivors.

24 January 1944:
At 0800 CH-32 departs Palau.

25 January 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Palau.

31 January 1944:
At 0700, a convoy consisting of DAIHO and SANKISAN MARUs departs Yokosuka for Truk escorted by auxiliary submarine chasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and CHa-64. At some point enroute in February, CH-32 and CH-24 join the escort.

13 February 1944:
At noon, arrives at Truk.

4 March 1944:
Departs Palau escorting a convoy to Truk.

9 March 1944:
Arrives at Truk.

10 March 1944:
Departs Truk on an escort mission.

13 March 1944:
Arrives back at Truk.

15 March 1944:
Departs Truk on an anti submarine sweep.

17 March 1944:
At 2345 CH-28, CH-31 and CH-32 and auxiliary minesweepers FUMI MARU No. 2 and SEKI MARU No. 3 depart Truk escorting a convoy to Mereyon and Saipan consisting of BINGO, TATSUHARU and IKUSHIMA MARUs and possibly others.

22 March 1944:
At 0630 arrives At Saipan.

24 March 1944:
At 0700, CH-32, CH-17 and CH-31 depart Saipan with destroyers NOWAKI and ASAKAZE, kaibokan MANJU and minelayer KYOSAI escorting convoy HIGASHI MATSU No. 2 (return) consisting of fleet supply ship SOYA and TAKUNAN, NACHI, AWA (ex-Panamanian WAWA), DAITEN, MIHO, BINGO, RYUKA, TAKAOKA, HIBI, TAMAHOKO, TATSUHARU, TAJIMA and SHINFUKU MARUs.

1 April 1944:
At 1000, the convoy arrives at Tokyo.

4 May 1944:
At 1400, CH-32, CH-31 and CH-52 depart Tateyama with destroyers ASANAGI, MINATSUKI, torpedo boat OTORI, kaibokan OKI, CD-24 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 escorting convoy 3503 consisting of KEIYO, HAKOZAKI, NICHIWA, ENOSHIMA, MINO, OSAKA, TAIKOKU, FUKKO, TATSUTAGAWA, SHINFUKU, FUKOKU, KOHO, KOJUN and SHUNSEN MARUs.

10 May 1944:
420 miles NW of Saipan. At 1743, LtCdr Russell Kefauver’s (USNA ’33) USS TAMBOR (SS-198) torpedoes and damages KEIYO MARU at 19-27N 140-00E.

14 May 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.

16 May 1944:
At 1630, destroyer MINAZUKI and CH-32 and CH-31 depart Saipan for Palau escorting a convoy consisting of FUKKO, NICHIWA, TAIKOKU and OSAKA MARUs.

17 May 1944:
At about 0030, LtCdr Malcolm E. Garrison's (USNA ’32) USS SANDLANCE (SS-381) torpedoes and sinks TAIKOKU MARU. 2 crewmen are KIA. The survivors are rescued by either CH-31 or CH-32 and later transferred to MINAZUKI. That same day, at 1840, LtCdr (later Cdr) John A. Scott's (USNA ’28) USS TUNNY (SS-282) torpedoes and sinks NICHIWA MARU. At the time the ship was carrying 2274 troops of the 14th Infantry Division and 324 of them together with one gunner and six crewmen are killed. At 2120, Garrison's USS SANDLANCE strikes again and torpedoes and sinks FUKKO MARU. The vessel is carrying 51 troops from the 15th Regiment and 14 other passengers. One passenger, one gunner and nine crewmen perish. OSAKA MARU is ordered back to Saipan.

E 18 May 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.

3 June 1944:
At 1600, CH-32 departs Truk with CH-20, CH-31 and CH-51, kaibokan CD-6 and auxiliary sub chaser CHa-66 escorting a convoy consisting of MOJI, IMIZU, TATSUTAGAWA, KOJUN MARUs, and oilers NITCHO, KYOEI and NANKO MARU No. 1 and 13 other unidentified ships.

7 June 1944:
At 1140, arrives at Saipan.

18 July 1944:
Manila. Reassigned to the 3rd Southern Expeditionary Fleet.

19 July 1944:
CH-32 departs Manila with CH-23, CH-31, auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-24 and patrol boat PB-105 escorting convoy H-32 consisting of MIKASA, TAIYU, MIHARA, YAMABUKI, FUSAN, SAIHO, KYOKUZAN, KEIAN, NASUSAN and SHOHO MARUs.

21 July 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Cebu.

23 July 1944:
At 1830 departs Cebu with ASAHISAN MARU as additional convoy member (possibly patrol boat PB-105 only joins at this point, or may have joined between Manila and Cebu).

28 July 1944:
At 1440 arrives at Bitoeng, Halmahera Island.

12 August 1944:
At 0600, CH-32 departs Manila with CH-19, minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs escorting convoy MASA-10 consisting of DURBAN, TEIRITSU (ex-French Liner LECONTE DE LISLE), RISSHUN and YAMABUKI MARUs. At 2000, anchors at Lucanin, Bataan Peninsula.

13 August 1944:
Departs Lucanin, but the weather worsens and late that day the convoy returns to Lucanin.

14 August 1944:
At 1700, departs Lucanin. In poor weather, the four auxiliary patrol boats lose contact with the convoy.

20 August 1944:
At 1810, arrives Camranh Bay.

21 August 1944:
At 0800, departs Camranh Bay. At 0951, LtCdr Michael P. Russillo's (USNA ’27) USS MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) torpedoes DURBAN MARU. Although DURBAN MARU is taken under tow by new arrival OYO MARU, she eventually sinks at 11-45N 109-46E. 6 crewmen and 509 troops are KIA.

25 August 1944:
At 1024 departs Camranh Bay escorting the remainder of MASA-10 convoy.

26 August 1944:
At 1830 arrives at Saigon.

2 September 1944:
At 2052, CH-32 departs Cap St Jacques with CH-19 and minesweeper W-18 escorting convoy SAMA-12 consisting of RISSHUN and YAMABUKI MARUs. 11 September 1944:
At 0900, arrives at Manila.

21 September 1944:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's (USNA ’10) (former CO of HORNET, CV-8) Task Force 38 begins strikes on shipping in Manila and Subic Bays, Cavite Navy Yard and Clark and Nichols Air Fields. Task Group 38.1, TG 38.2 and TG 38.3's planes sink over 20 ships at Manila and damage many more. Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi, (38) (former CO of KIRISHIMA), CINC, Southwest Area Fleet, advises the Supreme Commander of Japanese Forces in the Southern Area, Field Marshal Count Terauchi Hisaichi, CINC, Southern Army, to transfer all supply ships from Manila to the relative security of Coron Bay off Palawan Island, Philippines. Terauchi so orders.

24 September 1944:
At 0550, 96 Grumman F6F “Hellcat” fighters and 24 Curtiss SB2C “Helldiver” dive-bombers of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s (USNA ’10) (former CO of HORNET, CV-8) Task Force 38's TG 38.3 Air Group 18 from INTREPID (CV-11), AG-31 from CABOT (CVL-28) and AG-19 based on Mitscher's flagship, LEXINGTON (CV-16) take off to attack the anchorage at Coron Bay, Busuanga Island, Palawan, 340 miles away.

S of Mindoro, Philippines. Carrier aircraft attack and sink CH-32 and minelayer YAEYAMA at 12-15N, 121-00E.

At 1710, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “Action summary:----YAEYAMA and subchaser CH-32 from 0832 24 September , engaged about 30 enemy planes for about 15 minutes-----. Off Ambuloag Island (S. Mindoro). YAEYAMA hit by over 10 bombs--- difficult to proceed, ---equipment heavily damaged--- two hours later sank. Subchaser CH-32 --- amidships ---sank."

10 November 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Author's Note:
[1] According to SORG, the submarine probably was LtCdr (later Cdr) Charles F. Brindupke's (USNA ’32) USS TULLIBEE (SS-284).

Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO 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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