© 2006-2014 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
27 November 1944:
Yokosuka. Laid down at Uraga Dock Co., Ltd.
28 January 1945:
Launched and named HODAKA.
30 March 1945:
Completed and registered in the IJN. LtCdr Fujimoto
Eizo is the Commanding Officer.
23 April 1945:
IWO and HODAKA arrive at Maizuru.
24 April 1945:
IWO and HODAKA depart Maizuru for Nanao.
3 June 1945:
Assigned to the General Escort Command’s First Escort
Fleet in the 102nd Escort Squadron.
5 July 1945:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command’s First Escort
Fleet’s 2nd Coast Defense Group.
8 August 1945: The Soviet Union Declares War on Japan:
Moscow declares that from 9 Aug '45, the Soviet Government will consider itself to be at war with Japan.
15 August 1945: Cessation of Hostilities:
HODAKA
departs Wonsan, Korea with kaibokan KANJU. Soon after leaving, KANJU strikes a mine, probably
laid by a B-29 "Superfortress"heavy bomber. The blast kills three crewmen and wounds 50. HODAKA takes KANJU in tow.
The Japanese receive an erroneous report about two Soviet cruisers approaching Wonsan. KANJU's captain orders her battle flag lowered and then Abandon Ship. Her crew is transferred to HODAKA. KANJU is scuttled and sinks at 39-10N, 127-27E.
That same day, LtCdr Fujimoto informs his crew of the cessation of hostilities.
1 October 1945:
Departs Yokosuka on her first repatriation trip.
5 October 1945:
Arrives at Bangka Island. Embarks troops and
passengers to be repatriated. That same day, HODAKA is removed from the Imperial
Navy List.
8 October 1945:
Departs Bangka.
12 October 1945:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Disembarks troops and
passengers.
20 October 1945:
Departs Uraga.
29 October 1945:
Arrives at Palau. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated.
1 November 1945:
Departs Palau.
8 November 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
11 November 1945:
Departs Uraga.
16 November 1945:
Arrives at Maizuru.
18 November 1945:
Undergoes repairs at Maizuru.
31 January 1946:
Repairs are completed.
1 December 1945:
Formally assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service
to perform demobilization transport duties. [1]
4 February 1946:
Departs Maizuru.
5 February 1946:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated and departs later that day.
6 February 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
9 February 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
14 February 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated and departs later that same day.
21 February 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to
be repatriated.
22 February 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
25 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and
passengers.
28 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
2 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun (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 Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated and departs later that day.
12 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
16 March 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated.
17 March 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
18 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated and departs later that day.
21 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
25 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
27 March 1946:
Arrives at Miyako Shima. Embarks troops and passengers
to be repatriated and departs later that day.
28 March 1946:
Arrives at Ishigaki Shima. Embarks troops and
passengers to be repatriated.
29 March 1946:
Departs Ishigakishima.
1 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 April 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tsurumi yard, Tokyo
.
15 May 1946:
Repairs are completed.
21 May 1946:
Departs Uraga.
29 May 1946:
Arrives at St. Jacques. Embarks troops and passengers to
be repatriated and departs later the same day
.
31 May 1946:
Arrives at Saigon. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated and departs later the same day.
5 June 1946:
Arrives at Bangkok. Embarks troops and passengers to be
repatriated and departs later the same day.
16 June 1946:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
26 June 1946 - 5 July 1946:
Tokyo. Undergoes repairs at the Tsurumi
yard.
7 July 1946:
Departs Uraga.
8 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers and
departs later that day.
12 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima near Tsientsin. Embarks troops and
passengers to be repatriated.
15 July 1946:
Departs Korojima.
18 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
5 August 1946 - 20 August 1946:
Tokyo. Undergoes repairs at the
Tsurumi yard.
19 July 1947:
Ceded to the United States as a war reparation.
1 March 1948:
Yokosuka. Dismantled and scrapped at Uraga.
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 to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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