© 2006-2020 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 7
3 August 1939:
Laid down at Sasebo Navy Yard.
10 April 1940:
Launched and named HACHIJO.
10 December 1940:
Cdr (later Captain) Fujimaki Yoshinori (46)(former CO of SUMIDA) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
31 March 1941:
Completed and assigned to the Ominato Guard District. Cdr Fujimaki is the Commanding Officer. Based at Akkeshi, Hokkaido with kaibokan KUNASHIRI.
2 December 1941:
Arrives at Ominato.
7 December 1941:
Departs Ominato.
8 December 1941:
Arrives at Akkeshi and departs later that day.
9 December 1941:
Arrives at Muroran.
10 December 1941:
Departs Muroran.
11 December 1941:
Arrives at Akkeshi.
13 December 1941:
Departs Akkeshi.
15 December 1941:
Arrives at Hitokappu Bay, Etorofu Island.
4 January 1942:
Departs Hitokappu Bay.
5 January 1942:
Returns to Hitokappu Bay.
8 January 1942:
At 0900 at Hitokappu Bay, successfully refloats the auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 that had run aground there on 13 December 1941.
10 January 1942:
At 1800 HACHIJO and SHINKO MARU No.2 depart Hitokappu Bay.
12 January 1942:
At 1016 HACHIJO arrives at Ominato after escorting auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 to Hakodate.
16 January 1942:
At 1438 departs Ominato.
19 January 1942:
At 1119 arrives at Otomae Wan, Paramushiro.
22 January 1942:
At 1800 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
25 January 1942:
At 1017 arrives back at Otomae Wan.
30 January 1942:
At 0830 departs Otomae Wan and at 1217 arrives at Kataoka Wan. Departs there at 1359 and at 1420 arrives at Kashiwabara Wan.
31 January 1942:
At 0930 departs Kashiwabara Wan. At 1348 arrives at Otomae Wan.
1 February 1942:
At 2000 departs Otomae Wan.
3 February 1942:
At 1607 arrives at Otomae Wan.
6 February 1942:
At 1202 departs Otomae Wan.
9 February 1942:
At 0954 arrives at Muroran.
12 February 1942:
At 1602 departs Muroran.
13 February 1942:
At 1157 arrives at Akkeshi.
14 February 1942:
At 0600 departs Akkeshi on patrol.
16 February 1942:
At 1055 arrives at Otomae Wan.
23 February 1942:
At 0900 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
26 February 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Akkeshi.
27 February 1942:
At 0729 departs Akkeshi but returns at 0751. Departs again and 1100 and returns at 1731. During this time the ship covers destroyer OKIKAZE towing destroyer NUMAKAZE.
28 February 1942:
At 1700 departs Akkeshi on patrol.
3 March 1942:
At 0835 arrives at Otomae Wan.
5 March 1942:
Cdr (promoted Captain 1 May 1943; Rear Admiral, posthumously) Isohisa Kenma (48)(former ComDesDiv 11) is appointed CO. At 1200 departs Otomae Wan.
8 March 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Muroran.
12 March 1942:
At 1255 departs Muroran.
13 March 1942:
At 0803 arrives at Akkeshi. At 1655 departs Akkeshi.
16 March 1942:
At 0802 arrives at Otomae Wan.
19 March 1942:
At 1508 departs Otomae Wan.
20 March 1942:
At 0532 returns to Otomae Wan.
24 March 1942:
At 1325 departs Otomae Wan.
25 March 1942:
At 0655 arrives back at Otomae Wan.
27 March 1942:
At 1645 departs Otomae Wan.
29 March 1942:
At 1042 arrives back at Otomae Wan.
5 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
8 April 1942:
At 0827 arrives at Ominato.
10 April 1942:
At 0751 departs Ominato and at 1552 arrives at Muroran.
12 April 1942:
At 1700 departs Muroran but returns at 1718 because of heavy seas.
13 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Muroran on patrol.
17 April 1942:
At 0415 arrives at Otomae Wan.
20 April 1942:
At 2152 departs Otomae Wan.
21 April 1942:
At 0416 returns to Otomae Wan. At 1408 departs Otomae Wan and at 1806 returns to port.
22 April 1942:
At 1125 departs Otomae Wan on an anti-submarine hunt.
24 April 1942:
At 0642 arrives at Musashi Wan and departs at 0740. At 0925 arrives at Otomae Wan but departs at 1100, before returning at 1357.
26 April 1942:
At 1310 ISHIGAKI and HACHIJO depart Otomae Wan.
27 April 1942:
At 1521 ISHIGAKI arrives back at Otomae Wan.
29 April 1942:
At 1046 departs Otomae Wan to Suribachi Wan where takes on supplies from KAIHO MARU and departs at 1604.
1 May 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro Strait.
2 May 1942:
Departs Paramushiro Strait and later that day arrives at Otomae Wan.
4 May 1942:
Departs Otomae Wan.
5 May 1942:
Returns to Otomae Wan.
9 May 1942:
Departs Otomae Wan and later that day arrives at Paramushiro Strait.
14 May 1942:
Departs Paramushiro Strait.
18 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
23 May 1942:
Departs Ominato and later that day arrives at Muroran.
25 May 1942:
Departs Muroran.
26 May 1942:
Arrives at Kobui and later that day departs port.
27 May 1942:
Returns to Kobui.
28 May 1942:
Departs Kobui.
30 May 1942:
Arrives at Todohokke Wan, Hokkaido.
1 June 1942:
Departs Todohokke Wan.
2 June 1942:
Arrives at Hachinohe.
3 June 1942:
Departs Hachinohe.
4 June 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
6 June 1942:
Departs Muroran to assist the 1,053-ton auxiliary transport vessel KOTO MARU, grounded off Iwatsuki harbor, Urup Island.
9 June 1942:
Arrives at Iwatsuki harbor, but does not participate in salvage works conducted by harbor vessel YODOBASHI.
22 June 1942:
Departs Iwatsuki.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Todohokke Wan.
25 June 1942:
Departs Todohokke Wan.
27 June 1942:
Arrives at Todohokke Wan.
28 June 1942:
Departs Todohokke Wan.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
1 July 1942:
Departs Ominato.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
4 July 1942:
Departs Muroran.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Kobui harbor, Hokkaido.
10 July 1942:
Departs Kobui harbor and later that day arrives at Muroran.
11 July 1942:
Departs Muroran and later that day arrives at Kobui.
12 July 1942:
Departs Kobui.
13 July 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
14 July 1942:
HACHIJO is in the Ominato Guard District's Local Defense Squadron. Departs Ominato.
15 July 1942:
Returns to Ominato.
16 July 1942:
Departs Ominato.
17 July 1942:
Arrives at Todohokke Wan.
19 July 1942:
Departs Todohokke Wan.
20 July 1942:
Arrives at Hachinohe.
21 July 1942:
Departs Hachinohe.
22 July 1942:
Arrives at Kobui.
23 July 1942:
Departs Kobui.
24 July 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
25 July 1942:
Departs Hakodate.
3 August 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
5 August 1942:
Departs Muroran and late that day arrives at Hachinohe.
6 August 1942:
Departs Hachinohe but returns to port later that day.
7 August 1942:
Departs Hachinohe.
13 August 1942:
Arrives at Hachinohe and later that day departs port.
14 August 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
15 August 1942:
Departs Muroran and later that day arrives back at Muroran.
17 August 1942:
Departs Muroran.
18 August 1942:
Arrives at Hachinohe.
19 August 1942:
Departs Hachinohe and later that day arrives at Todohokke Wan.
20 August 1942:
Departs Todohokke Wan and later that day arrives at Hachinohe.
21 August 1942:
Departs Hachinohe and late that day arrives at Ominato.
31 August 1942:
Departs Ominato.
2 September 1942:
Arrives in the Kuriles, at Kataoka Wan.
3 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
4 September 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
6 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan but arrives back later that day.
9 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
10 September 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
14 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
18 September 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
21 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
24 September 1942:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu.
25 September 1942:
Departs Kakumabetsu.
26 September 1942:
Arrives at Shimushu.
27 September 1942:
Transfers to Kataoka Wan.
29 September 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
2 November 1942:
At 1500, departs Paramushiro, Kuriles for Attu, Aleutians with destroyer USUGUMO escorting seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Kiska, Aleutians, then moves to Attu arriving at 1800 the same day. KIMIKAWA MARU begins off-loading her cargo of five Nakajima A6M2-N “Rufes” and three Aichi E13A “Jakes”.
7 November 1942:
At 2250, departs Attu for Parumushiro.
9 November 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
11 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan and later that day arrives at Musashi Wan.
12 November 1942:
Departs Musashi Wan.
13 November 1942:
Arrives at Kashiwabara Bay, Paramushiro with KIMIKAWA MARU and USUGUMO. Later, conducts anti-submarine patrols along the Kurile Islands chain.
17 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
18 November 1942:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
19 November 1942:
Departs Musashi Wan and later that day arrives at Kataoka Wan.
21 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Musashi Wan.
23 November 1942:
Departs Musashi Wan.
24 November 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
29 November 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Kashiwabara.
1 December 1942:
Reassigned to the Kuriles Area Special Base Force.
3 December 1942:
Transfers from Kashiwabara to Kataoka Wan.
6 December 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
8 December 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
9 December 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol and anti-submarine sweep.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Ominato and drydocked.
25 January 1943:
Departs Ominato.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
31 January 1943:
Departs Paramushiro escorting YAMAYURI MARU bound for Attu.
2 February 1943:
Oiler TEIYO MARU refuels HACHIJO.
4 February 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
9 February 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan. HACHIJO is refueled by oiler TEIYO MARU.
11 February 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
14 February 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan. At 1400, departs Paramushiro for Attu escorting convoy No. 16 consisting of AKAGANE MARU as far as the 173 degree longitude line.
16 February 1943:
Cdr Isohisa receives a radio warning of the presence of American naval forces off Attu. He decides to delay the arrival of the convoy until the danger passes.
19 February 1943:
The convoy reaches the 173 degree longitude line. At 1600 (JST), HACHIJO is detached to return to Paramushiro.
120 miles SW of Attu. That evening, AKAGANE MARU runs into a scouting line consisting of Captain Nicholas Vytlacil's (USNA '17) USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35) and two destroyers. When challenged by the Americans, she feigns a reply, but is shelled by USS INDIANAPOLIS' 8-inch guns. Hit by the cruiser's third salvo, AKAGANE MARU, laden with ammunition, explodes. The destroyers attempt to finish her off with torpedoes fails, so they use gunfire. AKAGANE MARU sinks with all 140 hands (66 crewmen, 36 gunners and 38 passengers) at 53-00N, 173E.
22 February 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan. Oiler TEIYO MARU refuels HACHIJO.
24 February 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
26 February 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
7 March 1943:
Departs Paamushiro for Attu Island escorting a convoy.
13 March 1943:
Arrives back at Paramushiro.
14 March 1943:
HACHIJO is refueled by oiler TEIYO MARU.
15 March 1943:
Departs Paramushiro on patrol.
17 March 1943:
Arrives back at Paramushiro.
22 March 1943:
Departs Paramushiro.
29 March 1943:
Arrives back at Paramushiro.
1 April 1943:
Departs Paramushiro on patrol.
15 April 1943:
Ceases patrol.
18 April 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
20 April 1943:
Departs Muroran and later that day arrives at Ominato.
1 May 1943:
Cdr Isohisa is promoted to Captain.
10 May 1943:
Departs Ominato and later that day arrives at Muroran.
12 May 1943:
Departs Muroran on patrol.
1 June 1943:
Undertaking patrols off Paramushiro Island.
2 June 1943:
Joins ISHGAKI and later KUNASHIRI in patrolling the Paramushiro Straits area.
5 June 1943:
At 1800 departs Kashiwabara escorting SAKITO MARU.
6 June 1943:
Detaches from escort and undertakes guard watch duties in north Pacific Waters (Aleutians).
8 June 1943:
Resumes patrolling off Paramushiro Island.
11 June 1943:
Undertakes an anti-submarine sweep in Kakumabetsu Wan.
12 June 1943:
Completes the sweep and resumes patrols off Paramushiro Island.
16 June 1943:
Arrives off Matsuwa Island, meets up with ISHIGAKI and undertakes patrols.
19 June 1943:
Ceases patrols off Matsuwa and with submarine chaser CH-36 undertakes an anti-submarine sweep in Kujira Wan, southern Paramushiro Island.
21 June 1943:
Ceases the sweeps and resumes patrolling Paramushiro Island.
2 July 1943:
KUNASHIRI and HACHIJO depart Paramushiro on an anti-submarine sweep.
5 July 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro Strait base.
6 July 1943:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu.
7 July 1943:
Departs Kakumabetsu on patrol.
8 July 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro Strait.
9 July 1943:
Departs Paramushiro Strait on patrol.
10 July 1943:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu.
11 July 1943:
Departs Kakumabetsu and later escorts TOZAN MARU from at sea.
12 July 1943:
TOZAN MARU arrives at Musashi Wan and HACHIJO detaches from escort. Later arrives at Kakumabetsu.
14 July 1943:
Departs Kakumabetsu on patrol.
15 July 1943:
Arrives back at Kakumabetsu.
16 July 1943:
Departs Paramushiro escorting EIKO MARU.
18 July 1943:
Detaches from EIKO MARU and meets and escorts NITTEI MARU.
19 July 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
22 July 1943:
Escorts HAKUYO MARU.
23 July 1943:
Departs from HAKUYO MARU and escorts AKIURA MARU.
24 July 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
25 July 1943:
Operates between Tennei and Suribachi Wan.
29 July 1943:
Undertakes an anti-submarine sweep.
31 July 1943:
Arrives at Kakumabetsu.
1 August 1943:
Submarine chaser CH-36 and HACHIJO depart Paramushiro Strait on an anti-submarine sweep.
2 August 1943:
Both ships return to Paramushiro Strait.
4 August 1943:
Departs Paramushiro Straits on patrol.
6 August 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
7 August 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and meets up and escorts TOEI MARU.
8 August 1943:
Undertakes a transport mission from Kataoka Wan to Musashi Wan.
12 August 1943:
Escorts AWATA MARU.
16 August 1943:
Escorts NAGATA MARU.
18 August 1943:
Escorts TAKASHIMA MARU.
20 August 1943:
Assists AKASHISAN MARU that has run aground near Shiomi Misaki, Shimushu Island.
1 September 1943:
Patrols off the west coast of Kamchatka Peninsula.
5 September 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
6 September 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and returns to patrolling the west coast of Kamchatka Peninsula.
21 September 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
26 September 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and returns to patrolling the west coast of Kamchatka Peninsula.
4 October 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro Strait.
6 October 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and returns to patrolling the west coast of Kamchatka Peninsula.
9 October 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro Strait.
10 October 1943:
Departs Paramusahiro Strait escorting KIMIKAWA MARU.
13 October 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
October 1943:
A Type 13 air-search radar is installed, probably at Ominato.
18 October 1943:
Cdr Namiki Hideo (59)(formerly attached to Kuriles Area Base Force) is appointed CO. That same day the kaibokan leaves Ominato, escorting the tanker RONSAN MARU.
23 October 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan, Paramushiro Strait.
25 October 1943:
Departs Paramushiro Straits on patrol in area C.
7 November 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro escorting TENRYO MARU.
9 November 1943:
HACHIJO departs Paramushiro escorting a convoy consisting of SHONAN, KOKO and RONSAN MARUs.
E 15 November 1943:
In heavy weather, the convoy separates.
17 November 1943:
At 0400, SHONAN MARU and HACHIJO arrive at Otaru.
19 November 1943:
At 2300, HACHIJO departs Otaru escorting NITTEI MARU steaming at 9.5 knots.
24 November 1943:
At 0900, arrives Musashi Wan, Paramushiro Island. Later HACHIJO sails to Kodomari Saki off Paramushiro Island to prevent the wreck of the Soviet tanker MARIUPOL being salvaged by Soviet forces. Later this wreck is equipped with about 20 70mm guns and used as a fortified wreck and guardship.
6 December 1943:
Departs Kodomari Saki and later that day arrives at Paramushiro.
11 December 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and later that day arrives at Kodomari Saki.
13 December 1943:
Departs Kodomari Saki and later that day arrives at Paramushiro.
15 December 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and later that day arrives at Kodomari Saki.
20 December 1943:
Departs Kodomari Saki and later that day arrives at Paramushiro.
21 December 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and later that day arrives at Kokutan Saki.
23 December 1943:
Transfers from Kokutan Saki to Kodomari Saki.
24 December 1943:
Transfers from Kodomari Saki to Kokutan Saki.
27 December 1943:
Transfers from Kokutan Saki to Kodomari Saki.
28 December 1943:
Departs Kodomari Saki and later that day arrives at Paramushiro.
1 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
4 January 1944:
Arrives at Ominato where the ship is drydocked for repairs.
26 January 1944:
Undocked but repairs and maintenance continued alongside repair berth at Ominato.
18 February 1944:
Departs Ominato escorting KAIKO and HAKUYO MARUs.
19 February 1944:
Arrives at Kushiro.
21 February 1944:
Departs Kushiro escorting KAIKO and HAKUYO MARUs.
23 February 1944:
Arrives at Matsuwa Island and departs later that day. KAIKO MARU sails on to Kataoka Wan. It is unclear if HAKUYO MARU detaches.
26 February 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
27 February 1944:
Departs Ominato and later that days arrives at Otaru. Departs Otaru escorting a convoy consisting of SHOJIN and RYUA MARUs.
2 March 1944:
Arrives at Shinshiru Jima. HACHIJO apparently waits offshore while the ships unload.
13 March 1944:
The ships are ordered to proceed urgently to Matsuwa Island. En route, at 1223 USS TAUTOG (SS-199) torpedoes the 1,942-ton SHOJIN MARU 7.5 km west of Rashuwa (Rashowa) Jima and sinks her with gunfire. 42 passengers and 14 crewmen are killed.
At 1450, the 1,915-ton RYUA MARU is also torpedoed and sunk by USS TAUTOG in position 47-49N 152-45E. All 58 passengers, 23 gunners and 43 crewmen on board are killed. HACHIJO unsuccessfully counterattacks but USS TAUTOG escapes.
15 March 1944:
Reassigned to the North East Area Fleet's Kuriles Area Base Force. That same day departs Matsuwa Island escorting "HA" convoy consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
19 March 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
20 March 1944:
Departs Ominato escorting the tanker TEIYO MARU.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
26 March 1944:
Departs Kure, still escorting TEIYO MARU.
31 March 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
2 April 1944:
Departs Ominato escorting "RI" convoy consisting of SHONAN, KOTO, SAMARANG and KOAN MARUs.
10 April 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
13 April 1944:
Transfers from Kataoka to Musashi Wan.
14 April 1944:
Transfers from Musashi Wan to Kataoka Wan.
15 April 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting MELBOURNE MARU.
18 April 1944:
Arrives at Matsuwa Island.
26 April 1944:
Departs Matsuwa Island escorting MELBOURNE MARU.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
2 May 1944:
HACHIJO departs Ominato, Honshu with kaibokan KUNASHIRI escorting the "YO" convoy consisting of KOAN, SAMARANG, UMIKAWA and HAKUSHIN MARUs. The convoy splits into two parts YO-A and YO-B with the constituency of each unknown but HACHIJO escorting the faster YO-A element.
8 May 1944:
YO-A convoy arrives at Kataoka Wan.
10 May 1944:
The rest of the convoy arrives at Kashiwabara Bay, Paramushiro. Later that day HACHIJO departs Kataoka and later that day arrives at Kakumabetsu Wan.
12 May 1944:
Departs Kakumabetsu and later that day arrives at Kataoka.
14 May 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting YO-A convoy return consisting of KOAN MARU and unidentified ships but likely the same ships as in the outbound convoy.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
26 May 1944:
Departs Ominato.
27 May 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
29 May 1944:
Departs Otaru escorting the civilian icebreaking cargo ship HAKUYO MARU.
10 June 1944:
Departs Paramushiro Strait on an anti-submarine sweep.
15 June 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
19 June 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting convoy O-903 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
24 June 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
26 June 1944:
Departs Otaru with destroyer NOKAZE escorting convoy KI-606 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
1 July 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
2 July 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting TAIHOKU and SHINMEI MARUs to Kamchatka. At some point for reasons unknown TAIHOKU MARU apparently returns to Kataoka Wan.
3 July 1944:
HACHIJO arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
4 July 1944:
At 1920 departs Kataoka Wan with destroyer NOKAZE escorting convoy O-405 consisting of KOJO, SANTO, KOAN and MUROTSU MARUs.
7 July 1944:
Kataoka Bay, Kuriles. HACHIJO is heavily damaged by an air attack. She suffers damage to her hull and her auxiliary engine room floods.[1]
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
14 July 1944:
At 1330 departs Ominato.
15 July 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Otaru.
16 July 1944:
At 1000 departs Otaru escorting convoy Kaki-602 consisting of KOAN (884 gross tons) and TOEI MARUs bound for northern Chishima and Kamchatka.
21 July 1944:
HACHIJO returns to Otaru.
24 July 1944:
Departs Otaru with destroyer NOKAZE escorting convoy KI-404 consisting of KASUGSAN, MUROTSU, KOJO and SANTO MARUs.
29 July 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
5 August 1944:
HACHIJO and destroyer NOKAZE depart Kataoka escorting convoy RA-503 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
10 August 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
15 August 1944:
Departs Otaru.
16 August 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
22 August 1944:
Departs Ominato and later that day arrives at Otaru.
24 August 1944:
Departs Otaru.
30 August 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
3 September 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan and later arrives at Musashi Wan.
4 September 1944:
Departs Musashi Wan and later that day arrives at Paramushiro Strait.
5 September 1944:
Departs Paramushiro Strait escorting a convoy consisting of HAKUYO, NITTEI and UMEKAWA MARUs.
13 September 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
23 September 1944:
Departs Otaru in convoy KI-405 consisting of SAMARANG, TENRYO and UMEKAWA MARUs also escorted by destroyer NOKAZE and bound for the northern Kuriles.
25 September 1944:
The convoy arrives at Wakkanai. HACHIJO shelters in nearby Chimo Wan.
27 September 1944:
At 1300 the convoy departs Wakkanai reinforced by kaibokan FUKUE.
1 October 1944:
Convoy KI-405 arrives at Kataoka Wan.
15 November 1944:
At 0930 departs Kataoka with destroyer NOKAZE and auxiliary gunboat SHINKO MARU No. 2 GO escorting convoy O-503 consisting of SHINANO, KOJO ands KASUGASAN MARUs. At some point HACHIJO is detached and returns to Kataoka Wan.
16 November 1944:
Departs Kataoka escorting convoy O-103 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
20 November 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
21 November 1944:
Departs Otaru.
22 November 1944:
Arrives at Ominato. Drydocked for repairs throughout the whole of December.
5 December 1944:
Reassigned to the 12th Air Fleet.
8 January 1945:
Departs Ominato.
11 January 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
14 January 1945:
At 0900 departs Otaru escorting convoy Ki-401 consisting of CHOWA MARU.
21 January 1945:
Arrives at Yamato Wan, Matsuwa Jima.
28 January 1945:
Departs Yamato Wan and later arrives at A-I-Su Wan (Bukhta Ayunu?).
30 January 1945:
Departs Aisu Wan escorting a convoy.
8 February 1945:
At 0800 departs Otaru escorting convoy KI-801 consisting of TENRYO MARU for Paramushiro. The ships sail at 9 knots.
26 February 1945:
At 1000 departs Kataoka Wan esxcorting convoy Tsu-601 consisting of TENRYO MARU for Otaru.
4 March 1945:
Arrives at Ominato escorting the convoy.
5 March 1945:
Departs Ominato.
10 March 1945:
Arrives at Tennei.
13 March 1945:
Departs Tennei.
15 March 1945:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
20 March 1945:
At 1200 departs Kataoka Wan with patrol boat KAIHO MARU escorting convoy consisting of KOKAI and MEISEI MARUs.
27 March 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
5 April 1945:
Departs Ominato escorting a convoy.
10 April 1945:
Reassigned to the Ominato Naval Guard District’s 104th Escort Squadron. At Ominato.
25 April 1945:
At 1800, HACHIJO departs Ominato, Honshu for Kashiwabara, Paramushiro Island, Kuriles with kaibokan SHIMUSHU and CD-47 and fleet supply ship SHIRASAKI escorting convoy KI-503 consisting of AITOKU, KURETAKE and TENRYO MARUs.
2 May 1945:
Arrives at Kashiwabara then transfers to Kataoka Wan.
9 May 1945:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting a convoy.
11 May 1945:
Arrives back at Kataoka Bay, Shimushu Island, Kuriles. At 1619, seven 11th Air Force B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers bomb and strafe shipping in the anchorage. They sink AITOKU MARU at anchor on ballast with the loss of 21 crewmen, and damage HACHIJO.
26 May 1945:
At 2000, departs Paramushiro, Kuriles for Otaru, Hokkaido with kaibokan SHIMUSHU, CD-47, CD-205 and CD-112 and fleet supply ship SHIRASAKI escorting the "CHI" convoy consisting of KURETAKE, TENRYO and KASUGASAN MARUs.
29 May 1945:
At 2055, LtCdr Hugh H. Lewis' (USNR) USS STERLET (SS-392) torpedoes both KURETAKE and TENRYO MARUs. KURETAKE MARU's crew struggles to control flooding, but soon after being hit TENRYO MARU sinks taking down 57 crewmen 26 gunners and 773 out of 947 men of the 23rd Air Defense Battalion.
30 May 1945:
At 0600, KURETAKE MARU sinks with the loss of six crewmen and 272 troops. SHIMUSHU rescues hundreds of survivors.
31 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
18 June 1945:
Reassigned to the 12th Air Fleet's 104th Escort Squadron.
15 August 1945:
Maizuru. HACHIJO is reassigned to Ominato Naval District.
30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
30 April 1948:
Maizuru. HACHIJO's scrapping is completed at Iino Kaiun K. K.'s Yard (former Maizuru Navy Yard).
Authors' Notes:
[1] The date appears wrong.
Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa, Mr. Aki of Japan and Matthew Jones of Ohio for help in identifying some kaibokan COs. Grateful thanks also go to Mr. Gilbert Casse of
France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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