© 2006-2020 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 16
30 October 1942:
Tokyo. Laid down at the Uraga Dock K. K. shipyard.
2 April 1943:
Launched and named FUKUE.
28 June 1943:
Completed and assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District. LtCdr Okabe Tsuyoshi is the Commanding Officer.
15 July 1943:
Reassigned to the Fourth Fleet’s Second Surface Escort Division.
24 July 1943:
FUKUE departs Yokosuka for Truk escorting convoy No. 3724 consisting of MOGAMIGAWA, SEIKO and YAMAGIRI MARUs.
31 July 1943:
At 2307, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) George H. Wales’s (USNA ’29) USS POGY (SS-266) torpedoes and sinks MOGAMIGAWA MARU transporting 700 troops, torpedoes, rice and assorted goods. 130 troops and one crewman are KIA. FUKUE briefly counter-attacks, dropping only three depth charges. A few hours later, FUKUE and SEIKO MARU return to the scene of the sinking and rescue about 600 survivors.
At 0610, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) David L. Whelchel's (USNA ’30) USS STEELHEAD (SS-280) torpedoes SEIKO MARU. The rescue ship is carrying a cargo of timber and does not sink. FUKUE again counter-attacks, this time dropping 13 depth charges, but without result.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
4 August 1943:
Departs Truk.
6 August 1943:
Arrives back at Truk.
10 August 1943:
FUKUE departs Truk for Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 4810 consisting of GOSHU, KEISHO and MOMOKAWA MARUs.
18 August 1943:
Arrives at first Tateyama then Yokosuka.
27 August 1943:
FUKUE departs Yokosuka for Truk escorting convoy No. 3827A consisting of NIKKO and KOSEI MARUs.
6 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
8 September 1943:
FUKUE departs Truk for Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 4908 consisting of KENSHIN, HOKO MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 18.
19 September 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
21 September 1943:
At 1300, FUKUE departs Tokyo Bay for Truk with kaibokan OKI escorting convoy No. 3921 consisting of KIKUKAWA, HIYOSHI, HAKKAI and TAIAN MARUs, NANKAI MARU No. 2 and MIKAGE MARU No. 18. The convoy stops briefly at Tateyama before departing the following day.
22 September 1943:
At 0430 the convoy departs Tateyama with minesweeper W-27 as an additional escort.
E 23 September 1943:
Minesweeper W-27 is detached and returns to Tateyama.
E September 1943:
At some point, NANKAI MARU No. 2 probably encounters some mechanical trouble and returns back to Japan.
27 September 1943:
Requisitioned (B-AK) YAMAKUNI MARU departs Saipan to join the convoy escorted by auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3.
28 September 1943:
SW of Anatahan Island, Marianas. At 0715, TAIAN MARU is detached for Saipan escorted by auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 that steamed out to meet her. At 1422, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) William S. Post's (USNA ’30) USS GUDGEON (SS-211) torpedoes and sinks TAIAN MARU transporting 106 passengers, 2,867-tons of cargo and 1.4 tons of mail parcels. 46 passengers and 14 crewmen are KIA. The two escorts drop 17 depth charges unsuccessfully.
1 October 1943:
Convoy No. 3921 arrives at Truk.
5 October 1943:
FUKUE joins oiler HOYO MARU early that day. At 1000, FUKUE and HOYO MARU arrive at Truk.
8 October 1943:
FUKUE departs Truk for Yokosuka with auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 and auxiliary TAKUNAN MARU No. 10 escorting convoy No. 4008 consisting of MANJU, TAIAN, SANKO and TATEBE MARUs.
13 October 1943:
The convoy is joined by TSUNESHIMA, MUKO and CHIYO MARUs from Saipan.
19 October 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
26 October 1943:
FUKUE departs Yokosuka for Truk with auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 escorting convoy No. 3026 consisting of SOYO, AWA and SANKISAN MARUs.
9 November 1943:
Convoy No. 3026 arrives at Truk.
14 November 1943:
At 1200, FUKUE departs Truk for Yokosuka with destroyer YUZUKI and patrol boat PB-46 escorting convoy No. 4114 consisting of transports HOKKO and UDO MARUs and NIKKO and CHIYO MARUs. HOKKO MARU is towing subchaser CH-10 been damaged in an air attack two months earlier.
15 November 1943:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command’s Second Surface Escort Division.
19 November 1943:
Northern Marianas. In the early morning hours, Cdr (MOH, posthumously) Samuel Dealey's (USNA ’30) USS HARDER (SS-257) makes radar contact off the port quarter of the convoy. Dealey makes an "end around" then submerges 15,000 yards ahead of the convoy. He waits until YUZUKI passes 800 yards across his stern then fires his six bow torpedoes at two large transports and gets five hits. At 0415, HOKKO MARU sinks at 0415 at 22-27N, 147-15E. 21 passengers and 24 crewmen are KIA. Dealey swings HARDER around and fires his four stern tubes. At 0435, UDO MARU is hit and badly damaged. Five crewmen are KIA.
YUZUKI takes UDO MARU in tow, but at 1040, the transport's hull splits and the aft part of the ship sinks. CHIYO MARU takes up towing subchaser CH-10 and heads for Chichi-Jima with FUKUE. Later, NIKKO MARU is ordered back to assist in the tow of UDO MARU. At 1850, NIKKO MARU arrives back on the scene, but experiences great difficulty trying to tow UDO MARU. Finally, the wreck is abandoned and sinks a few hours later.
The escorts counterattack and drive HARDER deep under a thermocline layer of cold water. Dealey's crew counts 64 depth depth charges dropped over the next five hours during which they reload all tubes. HARDER surfaces early in the afternoon and takes up the chase again. That night, Dealey closes to 1,000 yards of the convoy and fires four Mark 14-3A steam torpedoes at a transport, but they all run deep and pass under the target. Dealey makes another "end around" and submerges 12,000 yards ahead of the convoy. He sets up and at 2355, fires three bow torpedoes and gets one hit in NIKKO MARU's stern.
20 November 1943:
NE of the Marianas. The Japanese get NIKKO MARU's pumps running and efficiently control the flooding. In the early morning hours, HARDER fires three more stern torpedoes at her, but they all miss. Out of torpedoes, a frustrated Sam Dealey departs the area, but NIKKO MARU later loses her battle with the sea and sinks at 23-20N, 147-30E. 45 crewmen and 50 troops and gunners are KIA.
26 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 November 1943:
FUKUE departs Yokosuka for Truk with auxiliary gunboat CHOUN MARU and initially auxiliary subchaser CHa-61 escorting convoy No. 3128 consisting of REIYO, SHOHO, NAGISAN, auxiliary storeship HARUNA and KENRYU MARUs.
At some point, auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO detaches from convoy No. 3123 and joins convoy No. 3128.
29 November 1943:
S of Hachjo-Jima. At 0905, LtCdr Merrill K. Clementson’s (USNA ’33) old USS SNAPPER (SS-185) torpedoes and sinks KENRYU MARU. Four men are KIA.
1 December 1943:
At some point, auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO detaches to meet up with minesweepers W-17 and W-21 and auxiliary transport TATSUTAGAWA MARU, being the sole merchant survivor of convoy No. 3123. They arrive at Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins) later that day.
Convoy No. 3128 arrives at Chichi-Jima.
3 December 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima still escorting convoy no. 3128.
6 December 1942:
The convoy departs Saipan with destroyer OITE as an additional escort.
12 December 1943:
Convoy No. 3128 arrives at Truk.
22 December 1943:
At 1000 FUKUE Departs Truk for Yokosuka with an unidentified subchaser escorting fleet convoy No. 4222 consisting of NAGOYA MARU and transports KOKAI and REIYO MARUs. Destroyer IKAZUCHI also joins the escort.
1 January 1944:
Off Aogashima. At 0258, LtCdr Raymond W. Johnson’s (USNA ’30) USS HERRING (SS-233) attacks the convoy. Johnson sets up for a visual attack on the surface. He fires three torpedoes at a large transport and gets a hit in NAGOYA MARU's port quarter causing flooding in holds No's 1 and 2. IKAZUCHI unsuccessfully counter-attacks USS HERRING. NAGOYA MARU’s crew abandons the ship. IKAZUCHI rescues survivors.
2 January 1944:
NAGOYA MARU becomes increasingly unstable, upends and finally sinks at 32-15N, 138-02E. 110 passengers and one crewman are KIA.
3 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
9 January 1944:
FUKUE departs Yokosuka for Truk at 9.5 knots escorting convoy No. 3109 consisting of KOSHIN (6530 grt) and GOSEI MARUs also escorted by auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU.
23 January 1944:
At 0441 auxiliary netlayer KOKKO MARU and auxiliary minesweeper NOSHIRO MARU No. 2 GO meet up with the convoy.
24 January 1944:
At 1101 arrives at Truk.
27 January 1944:
At 0545 FUKUE departs Truk for Yokosuka with minesweeper W-22, auxiliary minelayer KINJO MARU and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 escorting convoy No. 4127 consisting of MATSUE and SHINYO MARUs and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3.
30 January 1944:
At 1100, auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2 joins the escort.
Soon after KINJO MARU is detached.
3 February 1944:
At 0614, arrives at Saipan.
21 February 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Saipan escorting convoy No. 4220 consisting of KOYO and KIMISHIMA MARUs and an unidentified ship.
23 February 1944:
At about noon, LtCdr Raymond H. Bass’ (USNA ’31) USS PLUNGER (SS-179) torpedoes and sinks KIMISHIMA MARU at 30-11 N, 140-49E. Ten troops and four crewmen are KIA.
At about 2300, LtCdr Charles O. Triebel’s (USNA ’29) USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and sinks KOYO MARU at 28-49N, 141-13E. 1,046 troops and 34 crewmen are KIA.
E 1 March 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
1 April 1944:
At 1100, FUKUE departs Tokyo as part of the escort of 26-ship convoy Higashi-Matsu No. 4. The ships and their destinations are: Saipan: SHOUN, TOKO, TAKASAN, AKIKAWA KOKO, SHIRAMINE, TAIKAI, KAKOGAWA and MAKASSAR MARUs. Guam: MIMASAKA, TOAN, AZUCHISAN and NISSHU MARUs and UNYO MARU No. 8 Truk: Fleet supply ship KINESAKI, SHOZUI, TATBEI, SHIMA, SHINYO and HAVRE MARUs. Palau: Fleet supply ship MAMIYA, TENRYUGAWA, TAIAN and TOSEI MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 5 Yap: SHINSEI MARU. The convoy commander is Rear Admiral Kiyota Takahiko (42)(former CO of NACHI) in destroyer SAMIDARE. The other escorts include destroyer ASANAGI, torpedo-boat HIYODORI, kaibokans AMAKUSA, MIKURA, OKI, CD-2, CD-3 and subchaser CH-50.
3 April 1944:
5 miles S of Tori-Shima. At about 1457, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Bafford E. Lewellen's (USNA ’31) USS POLLACK torpedoes and sinks TOSEI MARU at 30-14N, 139-45E. Only one passenger is KIA. The escorts counterattack USS POLLACK and drop 55 depth charges unsuccessfully.
8 April 1944:
N of Saipan. At 0228 (JST), LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Frederick J. Harlfinger's (USNA ’37) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) fires four torpedoes at the convoy, but fails to get any hits. OKI and SAMIDARE counter-attack with depth-charges and damage USS TRIGGER.
9 April 1944:
62 miles WNW of Saipan. At 1625, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and hits MIMASAKA MARU at 15-30N, 145-00E. MIMASAKA MARU is taken in tow by TOAN MARU. The escorts counter-attack SEAHORSE unsuccessfully.
10 April 1944:
At about 0100 (JST), MIMASAKA MARU founders. She is carrying over 1,000 Naval personnel, most of whom are rescued, but seven troops and 11 crewmen are KIA. The convoy arrives at Saipan, then is split into separate groups that continue on to their respective destinations.
19 April 1944:
At 1200 FUKUE and kaibokan CD-2 depart Palau for Takao escorting convoy PATA-09 consisting of TAIAN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
27 April 1944:
Early that morning arrives at Takao. At 0930 FUKUE depart Takao with kaibokan CD-2 and gunboat UJI escorting convoy TAMO-18 consisting of TAINAN, TOYOURA MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No. 5 and fleet supply ship MAMIYA and three unidentified ships.
28 April 1944:
At 1300 the convoy arrives at Kirun.
2 May 1944:
At 1500, FUKUE departs Keelung, Formosa for Moji with CD-2 escorting convoy TAMO-18 consisting of TOYOURA, RYUKO (5626 GRT), TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), TAINAN, KONEI, TOZAN, BISAN, CHEFOO, SAINAN, NEIHA (NINGPO) MARUs, SHINSEI MARU No.5, ANNETTE FRITZEN GO and Storeship MAMIYA and two unidentified merchant ships.
Est 3 May 1944:
ANNETTE FRITZEN GO, KONEI, TOZAN, BISAN, CHEFOO, SAINAN, NEIHA (NINGPO) MARUs are detached for Shanghai.
6 May 1944:
E China Sea. At 0325, LtCdr Robert R. Williams' (USNA ’34) USS SPEARFISH (SS-190) torpedoes and sinks TOYOURA MARU. 35 men are KIA.
USS SPEARFISH also torpedoes and damages MAMIYA at 32-16N, 127-08E. Later that day, Williams attempts unsuccessfully to finish off MAMIYA. The escorts counter-attack USS SPEARFISH and inflict minor damage. UJI probably tows MAMIYA.
7 May 1944:
At 1352 minesweeper W-15 meets up with MAMIYA. At 1530 submarine chaser KAII commences towing MAMIYA and kaibokan FUKUE, CD-2, minelayer TAKASHIMA, submarine chaser CH-58 and auxiliary submarine chaser CHOUN MARU No. 16 all escort ship.
8 May 1944:
At 1225 arrives at Sasebo.
18 May 1944:
At 1030 departs Sasebo.
19 May 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Moji.
20 May 1944:
At 1600 FUKUE (TE-07) departs Moji with destroyer KURETAKE (MOTA-20) and kaibokan SHIMUSHU escorting convoys MOTA-20 and TE-07 consisting of TATEBE (KEMBU), HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), KAIKO (851 GRT), KOSHIN, TATSUHATO, HIBI, JUNPO, HOKUSHIN, MACASSAR, YAMAGIKU, TEIFU (Ex French BOUGAINVILLE) and HOSEN MARUs, fast Navy transport T-101 and three unidentified merchant ships (MOTA-20) and TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), MIYAJIMA, HIDA MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships (TE-07).
25 May 1944:
At 1300 convoy TE-07 is detached for Keelung, arriving later that day.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
1 June 1944:
FUKUE departs Takao with kaibokan SHIMUSHU escorting convoy TE-07 (part 2) consisting of DAIZEN, MIYAJIMA, HIDA MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
6 June 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Manila.
9 June 1944:
At 0600 FUKUE departs Manila with kaibokan SHIMUSHU and subchasers CH-43 and CH-19 escorting convoy MASA-06 consisting of HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), HAKUBASAN, BEIJU, TENSHIN, TATSUHATO, KAIJUN, KUROGANE, MAYA MARUs, and JUNGEN GO.
13 June 1944:
At 2000 SHIMUSHU and FUKUE are detached from the convoy outside Camranh Bay and return towards Manila.
E 15 June 1944:
SHIMUSHU and kaibokan FUKUE meet up and begin escorting convoy MAYU-03 from Manila consisting of MIYAJIMA MARU and four unidentified merchant ships, previously escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU, but which had lost contact with the convoy.
18 June 1944:
At 1300 arrives at Yulin.
19 June 1944:
FUKUE departs Yulin escorting ETAJIMA MARU and later that day arrives at Peitong (Beidong) (NB suffix unclear).
21 June 1944:
At 1800 departs Peitong escorting ETAJIMA MARU.
22 June 1944:
At 1300 arrives at Yulin.
24 June 1944:
At 1700 FUKUE departs Yulin with kaibokan SHIMUSHU and torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy YUTA-07 consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships.
1 July 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Kirun.
4 July 1944:
At 1800 FUKUE departs Kirun with kaibokan SHIMUSHU and torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy TAMO-21 consisting of DAITEN MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
9 July 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Moji.
18 July 1944:
Reassigned to the Ominato Naval Guard District.
19 July 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
20 July 1944:
At 1227 departs Ominato on patrol.
21 July 1944:
At 1130 arrives at Wakkanai.
22 July 1944:
At 1500 departs Wakkanai.
25 July 1944:
FUKUE departs Oha, NE Karafuto (Sakhalin) Island escorting MANJU MARU.
28 July 1944:
At 2257 arrives at Wakkanai, N Hokkaido.
29 July 1944:
At 1155 departs Wakkanai and at 1756 arrives at Odomari.
10 August 1944:
At 1804, FUKUE departs Wakkanai for Oha with minesweeper W-24 escorting convoy KIRA-003 consisting of MANJU, KOSHO and MAYACHI MARUs.
12 August 1944:
At about 2300, LtCdr (later Captain) Stephen H. Gimber‘s (USNA ’35) USS POMPON (SS-267) torpedoes and sinks MAYACHI MARU at 50-35N, 144-02E. Nine passengers and 10 crewmen are KIA.
At 2323 kaibokan FUKUE discovers a surfaced enemy submarine and spots 3 torpedo wakes coming at her. She is able to evade these torpedoes.
14 August 1944:
Convoy KIRA-003 arrives at Oha. FUKUE and the convoy departs Oha at 2315.
22 August 1944:
Convoy No. KIRA-003 arrives at Wakkanai.
27 August 1944:
Departs Wakkanai on patrol.
29 August 1944:
Arrives back at Wakkanai.
September 1944:
LtCdr Watanuki Yuji assumes command.
2 September 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
7 September 1944:
Departs Ominato but returns to port later that day.
8 September 1944:
Departs Ominato.
9 September 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
19 September 1944:
At 0800, FUKUE departs Otaru, W Hokkaido for Kashiwabara, Paramushiro Island with destroyer KAMIKAZE and fleet supply ship SHIRASAKI escorting convoy KIRA-803 consisting of RIZAN MARU (ex British MUNLOCK) and HANASAKI and SENZAN MARUs.
21 September 1944:
At about 2200, in poor weather, LtCdr (later Captain) Melvin H. Dry’s USNA ’34) USS SEARAVEN (SS-196) torpedoes and sinks RIZAN MARU at 49-36N, 145-30E. 172 troops and passengers, 33 gunners and 87 crewmen are KIA. FUKUE rescues survivors and sails to Wakkanai.
24 September 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
27 September 1944:
At 1300 FUKUE departs Wakkanai and hurries north to reinforce convoy KI-405 consisting of SAMARANG, TENRYO and UMEKAWA MARUs escorted by kaibokan HACHIJO and destroyer NOKAZE and bound for the northern Kuriles.
29 September 1944:
Convoy No. KIRA-803 arrives back at Otaru.
1 October 1944:
Convoy KI-405 arrives at Kataoka Wan.
4 October 1944:
FUKUE departs Kataoka Wan, Paramushiro Island with minesweeper W-24 and destroyer KAMIKAZE escorting convoy KI-404 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
9 October 1944:
The convoy arrives at Wakkanai.
11 October 1944:
The convoy arrives at Otaru now only escorted by FUKUE.
14 October 1944:
Departs Otaru escorting a convoy.
18 October 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
23 October 1944:
At 1600, FUKUE departs Kataoka Bay, Shimushu Island, Kuriles for Otaru, Hokkaido with destroyer KAMIKAZE and auxiliary gunboat HOKOKU MARU escorting convoy WO-303 consisting of HOKOKU, HAKUYO and UMEGAWA MARU. Shimushu and Paramushiro Islands are being closed for the winter and the personnel of the naval base and a fishery company are embarked aboard the ships.
25 October 1944:
A surfacing enemy submarine detected by the radio detector. At 0745, USS SEAL (SS-183) torpedoes HAKUYO MARU at 50-21N, 150-20E. HAKUYO MARU was carrying 1,320 passengers most being naval personel engaged in repatriation duties, and 150 crewmen and a cargo that included drummed gasoline, foodstuffs and stores. HAKUYO MARU sinks in about one minute. 113 crewmen, 26 gunners and 1,312 passengers die in the explosion, fire or freezing water. USS SEAL evades depth charging by the escorts. The convoy proceeds to Otaru.
27 October 1944:
HOKOKU MARU loses contact with UMEKAWA MARU and destroyer KAMIKAZE. FUKUE may have remained behind hunting for the submarine and rescuing survivors.
28 October 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
29 October 1944:
Departs Wakkanai.
30 October 1944:
The convoy arrives at Otaru.
10 November 1944:
FUKUE departs Otaru escorting a convoy.
12 November 1944:
Arrives at Odomari.
15 November 1944:
Departs Odomari escorting convoy KI-502.
21 November 1944:
At 1520 arrives at Kataoka Wan.
29 November 1944:
At 0600 (ETD) departs Kataoka Wan with destroyer KAMIKAZE escorting convoy O-904 consisting of KOAN, CHOWA, NITTEI and INARI MARUs.
5 December 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
6 December 1944:
Departs Otaru.
7 December 1944:
Arrives at Ominato. Docked.
27 January 1945:
Undocked and departs Ominato on trials before returning to port.
28 January 1945:
Departs Ominato for completion of trials. Heads south.
31 January 1945:
At Sasebo.
26 February 1945:
FUKUE departs Tomie, Goto Retto with minelayers NUWAJIMA and TSUBAME, subchaser CH-49 and auxiliary submarine chaser SANKYO MARU escorting convoy SAI-1 consisting of DAIKEN, NICHIRIN, TOYOSAKA and EDOGAWA MARUs.
1 March 1945:
Off Miyako Jima. Aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s Task Force 58 sink DAIKEN, TOYOSAKA and damage EDOGAWA MARU. NICHIRIN MARU escapes south but is sunk the following day.
Off Ishigaki Shima. Task Force 58 aircraft damage FUKUE and minelayer NUWAJIMA and sink minelayer TSUBAME at 24-23N, 124-12E.
5 March 1945:
At 1730 arrives at Sasebo and undergoes battle damage repairs.
2 April 1945:
At 0900 departs Sasebo.
5 April 1945:
At 0845 arrives at Ominato.
13 April 1945:
Departs Ominato on an anti submarine sweep.
14 April 1945:
Arrives at Hakodate.
15 April 1945:
Departs Hakodate and apparently meets up with convoy consisting of HOKUSHIN MARU escorted by kaibokan SHIMUSHU that then returns to port. At an unknown date and time FUKUE is detached.
19 April 1945:
Arrives back at Hakodate.
20 April 1945:
At 0800 departs Hakodate with kaibokan SHIMUSHU escorting KI convoy consisting only of TENRYO MARU.
22 April 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
23 April 1945:
At 0500 departs Ominato escorting convoy KI-301 convoy consisting only of transport UKISHIMA MARU bound for Mori Jima, Kataoka Wan. At an unknown date and time FUKUE is detached.
25 April 1945:
Arrives back at Ominato.
6 May 1945:
FUKUE and KASADO depart Ominato and later that day arrive at Otaru.
7 May 1945:
At 1452, FUKUE departs Otaru, Hokkaido for the Kuriles with kaibokan KASADO and ETOROFU escorting convoy KI-704 consisting of KOKAI, SHOKA, KOJO and EIHO MARUs.
14 May 1945:
At 1815, arrives at Paramushiro, Kuriles.
16 May 1945:
Transfers from Kataoka Wan to Musashi Wan.
18 May 1945:
Transfers from Musashi Wan to Kataoka Wan.
19 May 1945:
At 0130, FUKUE departs Paramushiro for Otaru with kaibokan KASADO and ETOROFU escorting convoy O-904 consisting of KOKAI, SHOKA, KOJO MARUs and tanker EIHO MARU.
24 May 1945:
At 2145, arrives at Otaru.
5 June 1945:
Departs Otaru with kaibokan ETOROFU escorting Ta convoy consisting of TOYU and SHOKA MARUs.
July 1945:
LtCdr Tanihara Junzo assumes command.
15 July 1945:
Yato, Hachinoe harbor, Honshu. Aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain Sr.’s (USNA ’06) Task Force 38 damage FUKUE, kaibokan IO and auxiliary submarine chasers CHa-81 and YARYU MARU.
15 August 1945:
At Ominato when the notice of the termination of the war is received.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
12 October 1945:
Departs Uraga on her first repatriation voyage.
19 October 1945:
Arrives at Palau. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
29 October 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 November 1945-15 December 1945:
Undergoes repairs at Maizuru.
1 December 1945:
Formally appointed a special cargo ship in the Allied Repatriation Service. [1]
31 December 1945:
Departs Uraga.
4 January 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
6 January 1946:
Departs Guam.
8 January 1946:
Arrives at Truk. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
12 January 1946:
Departs Truk.
18 January 1946:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
25 January 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tamano.
3 February 1946:
Repairs are completed.
10 February 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
15 February 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
17 February 1946:
Departs Guam.
18 February 1946:
Arrives at Tinian. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
21 February 1946:
Departs Tinian.
23 February 1946:
Arrives Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
26 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
3 March 1946:
Arrives Keelung. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
5 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
9 March 1946:
Arrives at Keelung. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
13 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
18 March 1946:
Arrives at Tokunoshima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
21 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
23 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
27 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
30 March 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
1 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren (Hua Lien). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
3 April 1946:
Departs Kwaren.
5 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 April-30 April 1946:
Under repair at Miho.
6 May 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
7 May 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
13 May 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
15 May 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
19 May 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 May 1946:
Arrives at Saigon. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
27 May 1946:
Arrives at Bangkok and departs later that day.
6 June 1946:
Arrives at Uraga.
15 June-20 June 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Uraga.
21 June 1946:
Departs Uraga.
25 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima (near Tientsin). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
26 June 1946:
Departs Korojima.
30 June 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 July 1946:
Departs Hakata.
7 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
8 July 1946:
Departs Korojima.
11 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
17 July-31 July 1946:
Under repairs at Tamano.
12 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
15 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 August 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
17 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 August 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
21 August 1946:
Arrives at Tokunoshima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
23 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
24 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
25 August 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
26 August 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
5 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
7 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
8 September 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
9 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
12 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
13 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
15 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
17 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
18 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
20 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa and departs later that day.
24 September 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
26 September 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
30 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
5 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
6 October 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
7 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
10 October 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Kure.
21 October 1946:
Repairs are completed.
24 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
26 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa and departs later that day.
27 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
31 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
2 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
3 November 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
4 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
8 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
9 November 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
11 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
16 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
17 November 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
18 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
26 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 December 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
16 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day. In late evening arrives back at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
16 July 1947:
Ceded to the United Kingdom as a war reparation. Later, scrapped.
Authors' Note:
[1] 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 and Mr. Aki of Japan and Matthew Jones of Ohio for help in identifying kaibokan COs. Thanks also go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany for new info on convoy 3921. Also thanks to Gilbert Casse of France for general editing.
- Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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