© 2006-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 8
8 April 1943:
Tokyo. Laid down at Uraga Dock Co.’s shipyard.
7 August 1943:
Launched and named KANJU.
30 October 1943:
Completed and registered in the IJN. LtCdr Hijoka Torajiro is the Commanding Officer. At Yokosuka.
9 November 1943:
At 0900 departs Yokosuka alone.
10 November 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Kure.
13 November 1943:
At 0900 departs Kure and at 1600 arrives at Moji.
15 November 1943:
Assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division. That same day at 1500 departs Moji escorting convoy No. 114 consisting of SHOHEI, YASUKUNI (5794 GRT), BIZEN, SHINNO, TONAN, NORWAY, ZUIYO, SYDNEY MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
20 November 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Takao.
24 November 1943:
At 0830 departs Takao.
25 November 1943:
At 0230 arrives off Fuyan Island, East China Sea. At 1230, KANJU arrives to take up the escort of convoy HI-21 that departed Moji on 20 November. HI-21 consists of oilers GOYO and ICHIYO MARUs and cargo-passenger ship NEKKA MARU. On 23 November, NEKKA MARU with 985 passengers and 410 military personnel and HI-21's sole escort kaibokan WAKAMIYA were sunk by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) William S. Post’s (USNA ’30) USS GUDGEON (SS-212). 308 troops and passengers and 79 of NEKKA MARU's crew are KIA. Only four of WAKAMIYA’s 135 crewmen survive. Her loss left the convoy temporarily unescorted.
26 November 1943:
At 1230, arrives at Kirun (Keelung).
27 November 1943:
At 1430, departs Kirun still in convoy.
28 November 1943:
At 1421, arrives at Takao.
29 November 1943:
At 1700, KANJU departs Takao with destroyer FUYO escorting convoy No. 780 consisting of TOSEI, BIZEN, RYUYO, RYUUN, NORWAY, YAMAHAGI, NICHIWA, KINSHU, NIPPONKAI, BENGAL, CHUKA, MITSUKI, KENWA, SHOGEN, TONEGAWA and CHIYO MARUs and tankers ICHIYO MARU, SAN DIEGO MARU and OGURA MARU No. 1.
3 December 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Manila. Prior to arrival at 1230 KANJU is detached and meets special convoy I consisting of MAYASAN and NIGITSU MARUs.
5 December 1943:
At 1230 arrives at Takao.
7 December 1943:
At 1200 KANJU departs Takao with destroyer NAMIKAZE escorting convoy HI-23 consisting of tankers OMUROSAN, ICHIU, ITSUKUSHIMA, TATEKAWA, RYUEI, BOKUEI MARUs, fleet oilers TAKASAKI, SUNOSAKI and OSE (ex Dutch GENOTA) and cargo passenger ships NOSHIRO and AKI MARUs.
10 December 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques, Indochina.
14 December 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Singapore.
18 December 1943:
At 1300 departs Singapore on a sub sweep.
19 December 1943:
At 1200, KANJU departs from near Singapore roadstead for Moji escorting fleet convoy HI-24 consisting of passenger/cargo ship ASAHI MARU, cargo liners ASAHISAN and ARABIA MARUs and oilers GOYO, RYUEI, BOKUEI and ASASHIO MARUs.
28 December 1943:
At 0930 arrives at Takao. GOYO, RYUEI and ASAHISAN MARUs are detached.
29 December 1943:
At 1800 departs Takao.
E 30 December 1943:
Passenger/cargo ship TERUKUNI MARU joins the convoy from Kirun.
4 January 1944:
Near Moji, at 34-04N, 130-32E, BOKUEI MARU collides with TERUKUNI MARU and sinks. Later that day at 1000, the rest of the convoy, less ASAHI MARU that was detached for Sasebo, arrives at Moji. ASAHI MARU arrives at Sasebo later the same day.
5 January 1944:
At 0800 departs Moji and at 1530 arrives at Kure. Drydocked.
14 January 1944:
At 0900 departs Kure and at 2040 arrives at Moji.
20 January 1944:
At 1200, KANJU departs Moji with kaibokan MIYAKE escorting convoy HI-37 consisting of passenger cargo ships MIIKE, NOTO MARUs, IJA landing craft depot ships KIBITSU and MAYASAN MARUs and tankers OMINESAN and AMATSU MARUS and an unidentified ship.
29 January 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Singapore.
2 February 1944:
At 1300, KANJU departs Singapore with fleet oiler ASHIZURI escorting convoy HI-38 consisting of transports KAGU, KACHIDOKI (ex American PRESIDENT HARRISON), tankers AMATSU, OTOWASAN, OMINESAN, NICHINAN and OKIKAWA MARUs.
8 February 1944:
Arrives at Takao at 1700.
9 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
13 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji at 1430.
14 February 1944:
At 0830 departs Moji and at 1600 arrives at Kure. Drydocked.
27 February 1944:
At 0900 departs Kure and at 1600 arrives at Moji.
2 March 1944:
At 1810 departs Moji and at 2030 arrives at Pusan.
3 March 1944:
At 0600 departs Pusan escorting an army convoy. At 1930 arrives at Mutsure.
8 March 1944:
At 0900 departs Moji escorting convoy HI-53. The convoy probably consists of tankers MIRI and GENYO MARUs and an unidentified ship.
11 March 1944:
At 1900, convoy HI-53 arrives at Takao from Moji. Destroyer AMAGIRI joins the escort.
13 March 1944:
At 1000 departs Singapore.
18 March 1944:
At 1730, arrives at Singapore.
20 March 1944:
Reassigned directly to the Combined Fleet.
29 March 1944:
At 1840 departs Balikpapan escorting convoy bound for Palau via Davao consisting of tankers GENYO and KOKUYO MARUs together with destroyers HAYANAMI and HAMANAMI, and initially patrol boat PB-102.
1 April 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
8 April 1944:
Departs Davao, Philippines in convoy consisting of tankers GENYO and KOKUYO MARUs together with destroyers HAMAKAZE, TANIKAZE, URAKAZE, HAYANAMI and HAMANAMI.
10 April 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo.
12 April 1944:
Departs Tarakan still in convoy.
14 April 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
17 April 1944:
KANJU departs Balikpapan with destroyers OKINAMI, TANIKAZE and URAKAZE escorting a convoy consisting of tankers YUHO, GENYO and KOKUYO MARUs and fleet oiler SUNOSAKI.
26 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
29 April 1944:
Departs Saipan in convoy consisting of tankers GENYO, KOKUYO and YUHO MARUs, and gasoline tanker SUNOSAKI also escorted by destroyers OKINAMI, TANIKAZE and URAKAZE.
7 May 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Loads fuel oil.
28 May 1944:
KANJU departs Saipan for Yap with kaibokan MIYAKE and destroyer MINAZUKI escorting TAKASAKI-convoy consisting of gasoline tankers ASHIZURI (#1 ship) and TAKASAKI (#2 ship). Both tankers are carrying a remaining quantity of aviation gasoline (the larger part had been discharged at Saipan), and, by order of the 31st Army, the 3rd Battalion of the 10th Infantry Regiment as future part of the 1st Yap Garrison Detachment. MIYAKE has also embarked about 60 soldiers.
29 May 1944:
While heading south-westward, the ships pass through an area covered with very much floating debris and countless drifting corpses of army soldiers. These were the gruesome remnants of former convoy No. 3503 consisting of NICHIWA, FUKKO, TAIKOKU and OSAKA MARUs escorted by destroyer MINAZUKI and sub-chasers CH-31 and CH-32. This convoy had departed Tateyama on 14 May 1944 and after stopping at Saipan had departed from here to Yap, carrying soldiers for the 9th Yap Garrison Detachment. On 17 May 1944, the convoy lost TAIKOKU, NICHIWA and FUKKO MARUs to USS SAND LANCE (SS-381) and USS TUNNY (SS-282). The only surviving ship OSAKA MARU turned back to Saipan on 19 May 1944 after having rescued about 2,000 survivors.
30 May 1944:
TAKASAKI-convoy arrives at Yap and lands troops and avgas.
1 June 1944:
TAKASAKI-convoy departs Yap for Balikpapan via Surigao Strait.
5 June 1944:
Sulu Sea. On the morning, the convoy arrives near the northern entrance to Pangutaran Passage. MIYAKE recognizes oiler OKIKAWA MARU and her escort, destroyer SATSUKI, which are just entering the passage. OKIKAWA MARU is assigned to the 3rd Replenishment Unit of the 1st Mobile Fleet for Operation A-GO and is to supply ships in Palau area.
At 1045, LtCdr Frank G. Selby’s (USNA ’33) USS PUFFER (SS-268) attacks the convoy at 06-32-12N, 120-40E.At 1050, suddenly a big explosion occurs and a huge water column is seen ascending from #2 ship TAKASAKI.
MIYAKE immediately goes to battle stations. Shortly afterwards, another water columns also ascends from #1 ship ASHIZURI. At the same time, one of MIYAKE´s lookouts discovers a torpedo starboard side 10 degrees heading straight toward MIYAKE. On MIYAKE´s bridge signalman WO Kasakura shouts [helm a´ port at once!]. On board all eyes are staring at the torpedo which can be clearly seen. Soon, MIYAKE answers her rudder and swing around. With great relief the torpedo
is seen passing very close off the port side bow, a very narrow escape! Thereafter, MIYAKE restores rudder and makes up No. 1 battle speed preparing for depth charge attack. Her sonar catch sub screw noises 20 degrees to starboard.
Her Captain orders firing of depth charges and about a dozen DCs are fired from port and starboard sides. Heavy explosion erupt the sea and soon afterwards a large amount of oil bubbles up while sonar room reports unspecified noises, probably racking of sub hull. Nearby, the KANJU also drops depth charges while SATSUKI and OKIKAWA MARU escapes into the passage at high speed.
At 1310, TAKASAKI sinks stern first taking with her 14 crewmen, while ASHIZURI has completely rolled over exposing her crimson painted belly. All around survivors of both ships are drifting in the water. KANJU orders MIYAKE to pick up survivors. KANJU then follows SATSUKI and OKIKAWA MARU. MIYAKE lowers her cutter and all life boats. During daytime rescue work makes good progress and after a while all survivors incl. both captains are picked up. Seeing the belly of his ship, ASHIZURI´s captain makes his decision to scuttle the wreck by gunfire. MIYAKE´s skipper orders #1 gun ready. Then gunnery chief Amamiya orders [fire two rounds!] and WO Yamamoto Yorimitsu pulls the trigger. Two shots later ASHIZURI goes down to the bottom of the Sulu Sea. Later, MIYAKE moves through the passage at low speed heading for Tawi Tawi.
10 July 1944:
Departs Balikpapan in convoy with tankers MANEI, YUHO and EIHO MARUs, and TSURUMI also escorted by kaibokan MIYAKE and submarine chasers CH-38, CH-49 and CH-58.
11 July 1944:
Arrives at the Berouw River mouth.
ANKO and TATSUMATSU MARUs and tanker HISHI MARU No. 2 join the convoy.
12 July 1944:
Departs the Berouw River mouth. Later that day, anchors off Tarakan.
13 July 1944:
Departs Tarakan. Arrives at the Ligitan Channel. [2]
14 July 1944:
Departs the Ligitan Channel. Later that day, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
15 July 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi. Later that day, arrives at Jolo, Philippines.
TSURUMI, TATSUMATSU and ANKO MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 2 are detached.
16 July 1944:
Departs Jolo. Later that day, arrives at Zamboanga, Philippines.
6 September 1944:
KANJU departs Kure to conduct all day long squadron training and anti-sub exercises with her squadron mates MANJU, MIYAKE, KASADO and CD-22 in Western Inland Sea together with DesDiv 30 (UZUKI, YUZUKI, AKIKAZE, SATSUKI and YUNAGI) and DesDiv 43 (TAKE, UME, MATSU and MOMO). At night, the 31st Squadron anchors off Murozumi (southeast of Hikari), Yamaguchi Prefecture.
7 September 1944:
KANJU, MANJU and MIYAKE depart Murozumi and later that day arrive at Moji.
8 September 1944:
KANJU (F) departs Mutsure-jima for Singapore with kaibokan MANJU, MIYAKE and DesDiv 30’s YUZUKI, UZUKI and escort carrier SHINYO (with 14 Nakajima B5N2 Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bombers of the 931st Air Group, the planes are equipped with Jijitanchiki magnetic airborne submarine detection devices (MAD)) escorting convoy HI-75 consisting of flying boat tender AKITSUSHIMA, transports ASAMA and SAIGON MARU, oilers YUHO, RYOEI, NICHIEI, MANEI, AMATO, TOHO (1944 built) and SERIA MARUs. Later this day arrives at Imari Bay (NB: several of these ships joins the convoy at Imari Bay).
11 September 1944:
Central part of East China Sea. Ca. 0900, a plane from SHINYO, patrolling sea lane ahead of convoy, detects an enemy submarine. YUZUKI is detached to attack sub. In co-operation with the aircraft, YUZUKI drops a total of 40 depth charge and claims sinking of sub. At dusk, the last patrol plane for the day approaches flight deck of SHINYO. While landing on the deck the brakes fail and the plane has to start through but regains not enough speed. The plane shoots over the end of the flight deck and makes an emergency landing into the sea. MIYAKE is immediately detached to rescue the plane crew. When arriving on the spot, MIYAKE lowers her port side cutter with a rescue crew. Rescue operation proves to be very difficult because of the rough sea but, finally, succeeds in picking up safely the entire plane crew.
12 September 1944:
In the morning, SAIGON MARU, YUZUKI and KANJU are detached for the China coast. They later rejoin at Takao. At 1730, ASAMA MARU is detached and later that day arrives at Kirun (Keelung). During that day the MIZUHO MARU-convoy, consisting of IJA hospital ship MIZUHO MARU and two others, had departed Kirun for a scheduled rendezvous with HI-75 off Hakusha (Peisha) Point, north coast of Taiwan. However, the rendezvous fails because MIZUHO MARU-convoy is
delayed and the three ships have to return to Kirun.
13 September 1944:
At 1400, HI-75 arrives at Takao. Off northern breakwater lighthouse, MIYAKE goes alongside NICHIEI MARU to be replenished.
14 September 1944:
The convoy is increased by the addition of oilers DAIHO (1944 built), FUJISAN (1944 built) and KUROSHIO MARUs, torpedo boat HIYODORI and kaibokan CD-28. At 1630, the convoy departs Takao. At time of departure, AMATO MARU develops engine troubles and has to be detached (NB: after repair departs Takao and finally catches up with the convoy on 19 September). At 1900, YUHO MARU develops engine problems and straggles. She soon recovers and rejoins the convoy.
16 September 1944:
At 1400, weather deteriorates with heavy rain and poor visibility. Off the Paracel Islands at 2330, in dark night and heavy rain, KANJU suffers rudder problems and collides with SERIA MARU. KANJU sustains light damages to her bridge and some other parts, but one crewman is killed. SERIA MARU sustains only superficial damage.
17 September 1944:
At 1000, SAIGON MARU and AKITSUSHIMA with escorts YUZUKI and UZUKI are detached from HI-75 and head for Manila. Enroute, SAIGON MARU is sunk by Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Rueben T. Whitaker's (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249). Six crewmen are KIA. The other ships arrive at Manila at 1810, on 19 September.
18 September 1944:
At 1040, kaibokan KURAHASHI joins the escort.
19 September 1944:
At 1500, AMATO MARU rejoins the convoy.
19-29 September 1944:
The convoy is continuously hampered by mechanical problems. During these two days, in succession KUROSHIO, DAIHO, NICHIEI and FUJISAN MARUs and carrier SHINYO all suffer engine or rudder problems. It is extremely difficult to maintain formation, but the convoy remains intact.
20 September 1944:
During the day, NICHIEI, KUROSHIO, TAIHO and FUJISAN MARUs and carrier SHINYO all suffer engine or rudder problems, but the convoy remains intact. At 1700, kaibokan CD-18 joins as escort. In the evening the weather deteriorates again, but the convoy continues without serious problems.
22 September 1944:
At 1300, convoy passes Horsburgh Lighthouse, eastern approaches to Singapore.
At 1600, arrives at Singapore.
October 1944:
LtCdr Kuwahara Tetsuo (62)(former CO of CHIDORI) is appointed CO.
2 October 1944:
At 1700, KANJU departs Singapore for Moji with escort carrier SHINYO and kaibokan MANJU, MIYAKE, KURAHASHI, CD-28 and torpedo boat HIYODORI escorting convoy HI-76 consisting of oilers NICHIEI, NICHINAN (5175 gt), RYOEI, FUJISAN, KUROSHIO, TARAKAN (fitted with a temporary bow) and TOHO MARUs, ex-seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU and cargo ship TEIHOKU MARU (ex-Vichy French PERSEE). NB: When convoy HI-76 is assembled in Singapore Strait, tanker AMATO MARU develops engine troubles while tanker DAIHO MARU suffers problems with her steering gear. Both tankers have to be excluded from the convoy.
8 October 1944:
South China Sea. At 0100, LtCdr Henry D. Sturr’s (USNA ’33) USS BECUNA (SS-319) attacks the convoy at 14-12N, 115-53E. Sturr fires four torpedoes and claims two hits on KIMIKAWA MARU. She is detached from the convoy and heads for Manila escorted by HIYODORI and CD-28.
15 October 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Samah.
16 October 1944:
At 0745 departs Samah.
17 October 1944:
Early in the morning, MANJU and MIYAKE are detached with RYOEI MARU and head for Mako.
18 October 1944:
Off Samah. At 0800, HI-76 and KANJU are joined by kaibokan CD-25 and CD-32. Tankers FUJISAN, NICHINAN and NICHIEI MARUs are detached and remain at Samah. Tanker TENEI MARU joins the convoy. KANJU is now flagship. At 1700 departs.
At 1133, C-in-C Combined Fleet radio message orders NICHIEI MARU to depart Samah for Coron, Busuanga Island, Philippines to replenish 1st Control Force, escorted by KURAHASHI and CD-25.At 1554, chief-of-staff General Sea Escort Force radio message orders NICHINAN (5175 gt) and FUJISAN MARUs to detach from convoy HI-76 and to stay in readiness at Samah.
At 1705, CO 1st Sea Escort Force radio message instructs NICHIEI MARU to sail to Ulugan Bay (10-03N, 118-46E), west coast of Palawan, because Coron had recently been under severe attack.At 1730, convoy HI-76, now consisting of TEIHOKU, TOHO and KUROSHIO MARUs depart Samah for Mako, escorted by SHINYO, KANJU (F) and CD-32. (NB: both tankers are excluded from fleet replenishing operation because they have no equipment for refuelling warships). SHINYO has continuously several planes flying anti-sub and CAP patrols.
At 1830, NICHIEI MARU, escorted KURAHASHI and CD-25, departs Samah for Ulugan Bay, Palawan. In the late afternoon, RYOEI MARU, MIYAKE and MANJU arrive at Takao
20 October 1944:
KURAHASHI and CD-25 are detached to escort NICHIEI MARU to Coron Bay. At 0835, the captain of CD-25 radios that port side fuel pump is restored and ship is recovering now to original speed. CD-25 is ordered to chase after convoy HI-75
and to schedule a rendez-vous time. At 0830, Vice Admiral Shima´s 2nd Control Force (5th Fleet) arrives at Mako from Satsukawa Bay, Amami-O-Shima. The 2nd Control Force consists of CruDiv 21’s NACHI and ASHIGARA and Rear Admiral
(later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's (41) (former CO of SUZUYA) DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and DesDiv 7's AKEBONO, KASUMI and USHIO, DesDiv 18's SHIRANUI and Des21's WAKABA, HATSUSHIMO and HATSUHARU. At 0930, after a difficult
journey, RYOEI MARU, escorted by MIYAKE and MANJU, arrives at Mako, impatiently awaited by Shima. RYOEI MARU immediately starts to refuel Shima´s fleet.Later that day, KASADO, MANJU and MIYAKE are attached to 21st Sea Defense Force.
At night, KANJU (F) receives message that KUROSHIO and TOHO MARUs are scheduled to be detached from HI-76 and attached to control of Combined Fleet.
Both tankers are to discharge their oil cargo at Mako Harbor.
22 October 1944:
In the morning, CD-25 is detached from convoy HI-76 and proceeds to Takao (NB: CD-25 departs Takao, 24 October, for Port San Pio Quinto, Camiguin Island, Luzon Strait with emergency food and clothing for the about 150 survivors of the sunken TERUKUNI MARU (3588gt). At 1200, convoy HI-76, now consisting of TEIHOKU, KUROSHIO and TOHO MARUs and escorted by KANJU, CD-8 and CD-130 arrive off Mako. KUROSHIO and TOHO MARUs are detached from convoy HI-76. Both tankers are now guarded by kaibokan KASADO arriving from Takao after being detached from convoy MOMA-05 (NB: KASADO had arrived Takao with convoy MOMA-05, at 1600 on 21 October). Later that day, TEIHOKU MARU, now the final remaining ship from original convoy HI-76, continues to Moji, escorted by KANJU, CD-8, CD-130 and YASHIRO, the latter joining off Mako that day. At 1030, 25 October, convoy arrives off Sasebo. YASHIRO is detached and proceeds to Sasebo. Finally, at 1130, 26 October, TEIHOKU MARU, KANJU, CD-8 and CD-130 arrive off Mutsure-jima.
24 October 1944:
TENEI MARU has an engine breakdown and falls behind, but later rejoins. TEIHOKU MARU develops engine troubles. She is drifts for a while but finally recovers and continues to Moji.
25 October 1944:
At 1030, the convoy arrives off Sasebo. YASHIRO is detached and proceeds to Sasebo.
26 October 1944:
At 1130, TEIHOKU MARU, KANJU, CD-8 and CD-130 arrive off Mutsure-jima. SHINYO was detached to Kure prior to arrival.
27 October 1944:
At 0710 departs Moji and at 1200 arrives at Kure.
1 November 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Tama Zosen for a refit.
18 November 1944:
Undocked from No. 3 drydock.
24 November 1944:
At 0700 departs Tama and at 1500 arrives at Kure.
27 November 1944:
At 0710 departs Moji and at 1600 arrives at Moji.
30 November 1944:
At 0900, KANJU departs Moji with destroyer ASAGAO, kaibokan IKUNA, SHINNAN, CD-41, CD-66, subchaser CH-28 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-223 escorting convoy MI-29 consisting of CLYDE, BRAZIL, AKISHIMA, MEIRYU, HAWAII, ENOURA, DAII, SHINYU, AKIKAWA and KAZUURA MARUs, HOSHI MARU No. 11 (JUICHISEI MARU) and KONAN MARU No.1 and tankers ENGEN, ENCHO and ENKEI MARUs.
2 December 1944:
LtCdr (later Captain-Ret) Ralph C. Style's (USNA ’33) USS SEA DEVIL (SS-400) torpedoes and sinks HAWAII and AKIKAWA MARUs at 30-24N 128-17E. On HAWAII MARU at the time were 1843 troops of 23rd Army Division and all of these together with 60 others, 83 gunners, and 148 crew were killed. There were no survivors documented. The ship was carrying 60 small boats and 50 motor vehicles when sunk. From AKIKAWA MARU 249 troops, 7 gunners, 18 of the crew and one other man are KIA. KONAN MARU No.1 rescues survivors from AKIKAWA MARU. The convoy formation breaks up. BRAZIL MARU goes to Keelung, DAII MARU and three others go to Koniya, Amami-Oshima and CLYDE MARU, HOSHI MARU No.11 (JUICHISEI MARU) with IKUNA go to Takao. Later, the Koniya ships rejoin at Takao, but at this point the convoy is officially dissolved.
14 December 1944:
At 0500, KANJU, departs Takao with IKUNA and CD-41 escorting convoy TAMA-36 probably consisting of KENZUI, ENOSHIMA, BRAZIL, ENOURA and DAII MARUs and JUICHISEI MARU (HOSHI MARU No. 11). ENOSHIMA MARU and JUICHISEI MARUs are bound for Aparri.
22 December 1944:
KENZUI MARU suffers an engine breakdown. At 1130, after KENZUI MARU resumes her position, she is torpedoed by LtCdr (later Cdr) William H. Hazzard's USS BLENNY (SS-324) nine miles N of North San Fernando. Even though the seas are calm, KENZUI MARU sinks rapidly taking down 1,470 of the 2,643 men of the No. 10 Tetsu Infantry Regiment and No. 32 Shipping Construction Regiment that she was carrying, 32 crewmen, 29 gunners and three guards. Later that day, the rest of the convoy reaches North San Fernando where the convoy is dissolved.
29 December 1944:
At 2400 IKUNA and KANJU, possibly CD-66, and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 11 depart Manila escorting convoy MATA-38A consisting of HISHIGATA (ex Philippine BISAYAS) and MEIRYU MARUs.
31 December 1944:
At 1600 arrives at North San Fernando. The escorts are detached. (Both merchant ships are sunk two days later by air attack still at North San Fernando).
1 January 1945:
At 0345, KANJU departs North San Fernando with kaibokan NOMI, MIYAKE, IKUNA, CD-112 and CD-39 escorting convoy MATA-40 consisting of IJA landing ship SHINSHU MARU and IJA landing craft depot ships KIBITSU and HYUGA MARUs. At 1800 arrives at Musa.
2 January 1945:
At 0700 departs Musa.
3 January 1945:
At 0115 arrives off Takao. At 1105 (JST), 50 carrier aircraft attack the ships. SHINSHU MARU is hit by several bombs and explodes. 283 passengers, 66 ship’s gunners and 33 crewmen are KIA. Later that night, SHINSHU MARU's burning wreck is torpedoed and sunk by LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's USS ASPRO (SS-309). KIBITSU MARU is heavily damaged and HYUGA MARU suffers medium damage. MIYAKE and CD-112 both suffer light damage. The surviving ships put into Takao for repairs. KANJU stands by KIBITSU MARU. At 2045 KANJU arrives at Takao and departs at 2230.
4 January 1945:
At 0315 IKUNA, NOMI and KANJU (the latter from off Takao) depart Takao to meet convoy TAMO-35 [?? convoy did not leave Kirun until 12 January]. In the Formosa Strait IKUNA is also damaged by aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task Force 38. At 1600 KANJU, NOMI and IKUNA arrive at Nanao Tao.
5 January 1944:
At 1300 KANJU, NOMI and IKUNA depart Nanao Tao.
6 January 1945:
At 1140 the escorts except NOMI arrive at Takao.
10 January 1945:
At 1700, KANJU departs Takao for Mako, Pescadores with kaibokan YASHIRO, MIYAKE, KURAHASHI, NOMI, SHINNAN, CD-13, CD-41, CD-60 and CD-205 escorting convoy HI-87 consisting of KAMOI, SARAWAK, MATSUSHIMA, MITSUSHIMA and HASHIDATE MARUs. Destroyer SHIGURE rejoins the escort from Kirun. At 1830, MITSUSHIMA MARU suffers an engine breakdown and returns to Takao.
12 January 1945:
At 0600, TENEI MARU's steering breaks down. CD-60 escorts her to Hong Kong. Soon thereafter, the rest of the convoy is advised of a pending air raid on Mako and also heads for Hong Kong.
13 January 1945:
At 1100, enters the Port of Hong Kong.
15 January 1945:
At 0915, an air raid warning is sounded and soon after carrier aircraft begin attacks. Bomb and machine gun strafing attacks harry the ships all day, but they escape major damage.
16 January 1945:
Hong Kong. The air attacks continue from 0820. At 1124, KAMOI is near missed, but at 1240, KAMOI and TENEI MARU both suffer direct hits. At 1540, MATSUSHIMA MARU also suffers a direct hit and is set on fire. At 1644, NOMI suffers damage from a near miss.
17 January 1945:
At 1930, KANJU departs Hong Kong for Singapore with destroyer SHIGURE, kaibokan MIYAKE and CD-13 escorting reconstituted convoy HI-87A consisting of tanker SARAWAK MARU.
19 January 1945:
At 2000 arrives at Yulin.
20 January 1945:
At 1900 departs Yulin.
24 January 1945:
Gulf of Siam, 160 miles E of Khota Bharu, Malaya. At 0709, LtCdr (later Cdr) William L. Kitch's (USNA ’38) USS BLACKFIN (SS-322) torpedoes SHIGURE at 06-N, 103-48 E with 37 sailors KIA and 17 injured. She sinks in 10 minutes. KANJU and MIYAKE rescue 270 survivors. At 0712, CD-13 carries out an anti submarine sweep. Drops an unknown number of depthcharges. Shortly thereafter, USS BLACKFIN launches a second attack and torpedoes and damages SARAWAK MARU at 05-59N, 103-48E. MIYAKE and CD-13 assist the damaged ship. At 1910, the anti submarine sweep ends and CD-13 and MIYAKE head towards the convoy. At 2100 the ships anchor off Kuantan.
25 January 1945:
At 0200 departs Kuantan.
26 January 1945:
At 0100 arrives outside Singapore.
31 January 1945:
At 0800, KANJU departs Singapore with MIYAKE and minesweeper W-20 escorting convoy HI-88C consisting of transport OESAN MARU and tanker ENCHO MARU.
4 February 1945:
The convoy arrives at Poulo Dama, French Indo Chinsa.
5 February 1945:
At 0500 the convoy departs.
8 February 1945:
In the evening, the convoy arrives and anchors in Quinhon Bay, Indochina.
9 February 1945:
In the early morning, the convoy departs Quinhon Bay.
11 February 1945:
MIYAKE is damaged by aircraft at 19-08N, 108-15E.
12 February 1945:
At 1800, arrives at Zensui Bay, China.
13 February 1945:
At 0500, the convoy departs Zensui Bay.
16 February 1945:
The convoy arrives at Quemoy.
17 February 1945:
In the early morning, departs Quemoy. That evening, arrives at Nanji Island.
18 February 1945:
At 0700, departs Nanji Island.
21 February 1945:
At 0230 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan and departs later. The convoy arrives at the mouth of the Yangtse River. ENCHO MARU, MIYAKE and W-20 are detached and arrive at Shanghai later that day.
24 February 1945:
Arrives at Kyosai To (Koje Island).
25 February 1945:
At 0600 departs Kyosai To and at 1930 arrives at Karatsu.
26 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Karatsu and at 1430 arrives at Mutsure.
27 February 1945:
KANJU and OESAN MARU arrive at Moji. At 0900 departs Moji and at 1700 arrives at Kure. Undergoes repairs.
14 March 1945:
Departs Kure. At 1845 arrives at Hesaki.
15 March 1945:
At 0800 departs Hesaki and at 0840 arrives at Moji.
18 March 1945:
At 0625 departs Moji.
19 March 1945:
At 0815 arrives at Azuchi-Ura near Sasebo escorting convoy Kai-728. Assigned to AS-3 anti submarine unit.
20 March 1945:
At 2156 departs Azuchi-Ura.
21 March 1945:
At 0753 arrives at Tsutsu Wan, Tsushima.
23 March 1945:
At 2350 departs Tsutsu Wan.
24 March 1945:
Arrives at Azuchi-Ura.
28 March 1945:
At 1516 departs Azuchi-Ura.
29 March 1945:
At 1518 arrives at Kanominato-Ura near Fukuoka.
1 April 1945:
At 1730 departs Kanominato-Ura. Undertakes a submarine sweep in 33-50N 130-01E with CD-72.
3 April 1945:
Meets with kaibokan SHINNAN and proceeds to Keichi, Tsushima before returning. At 1545 arrives at Tsuyasaki, Fukuoka Ken.
5 April 1945:
At 0610 departs Tsuyasaki.
6 April 1945:
The 2A cargo ship YAMAJI MARU reports a torpedo attack. KANJU joins up with SHINNAN and patrols the Tsushima Straits area.
7 April 1945:
At 0710 anchors off Keichi. The ship is joined by kaibokan CD-21 and IKUNA. At 1630 KANJU departs.
8 April 1945:
At 0745 arrives at Azuchi-Ura.
10 April 1945:
At 0820 departs Azuchi-Ura. Patrols the Tsushima Straits area with SHINNAN and IKUNA.
11 April 1945:
KANJU detects an enemy submarine and makes a series of depth charge attacks between 1445 and 1617.
12 April 1945:
At 0930 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura.
13 April 1945:
At 0850 departs Azuchi-Ura and at 1005 arrives at Imari Wan.
14 April 1945:
At 1125 departs Imari Wan and at 1250 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura. At 1755 departs Azuchi-Ura.
15 April 1945:
At 0630 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura.
16 April 1945:
At 1755 departs Azuchi-Ura with SHINNAN on an anti submarine sweep.
17 April 1945:
At 0630 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura.
18 April 1945:
At 1800 departs Azuchi-Ura on an anti submarine sweep.
19 April 1945:
At 0745 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura.
20 April 1945:
At 1800 departs Azuchi-Ura with SHINNAN on an anti submarine sweep.
21 April 1945:
At 0705 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura.
22 April 1945:
At 1225 departs Azuchi-Ura and at 1340 arrives at Imari Wan.
23 April 1945:
At 0940 departs Imari-Wan on patrol. At 1418 sights and sinks a mine by gunfire.
24 April 1945:
At 0918 uses two rounds to sink another floating mine.
25 April 1945:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's 102nd Escort Squadon.
27 April 1945:
At 0740 arrives at Imari Wan. At 1800 kaibokan CD-76 joins the ship.
1 May 1945:
At 1150 departs Imari Wan. At 1330 arrives at Azuchi-Ura.
2 May 1945:
At 1830 departs Azuchi-Ura.
3 May 1945:
At 0710 arrives back at Azuchi-Ura.
4 May 1945:
At 1800 departs Azuchi-Ura on an anti submarine sweep with SHINNAN.
6 May 1945:
At 1340 arrives at Chinkai.
10 May 1945:
At 0700 departs Chinkai with CD-55. At 1020 the escorts meet up with SASSHU MARU, that had departed Reisui (Yosu) off Komun Island and begin escorting the ship. At 1800 arrives at Tsutsu Wan where KANJU hands over escort to CD-39.
11 May 1945:
At 1030 arrives at Kagoeiyo (unknown location probably near Sasebo) and departs at 1800.
12 May 1945:
At 1021 arrives at Azuchi-Ura and departs there at 1255. At 1940 arrives at Sasebo.
14 May 1945:
At 1025 drydocked in No.7 Dock. Remains there for the rest of May.
5 July 1945:
Reassigned to the 2nd Coast Defense Group.
1 August 1945:
Departs Maizuru for Korea.
15 August 1945:Cessation of Hostilities:
KANJU departs Wonsan, Korea with kaibokan HODAKA. Soon after leaving, KANJU strikes a mine, probably laid by a B-29 "Superfortress"heavy bomber. Three crewmen are KIA and 50 wounded by the blast. KANJU is taken in tow by HODAKA. 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.
15 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Note:
Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks for assistance in identifying kaibokan COs goes to Aki-san of Japan and Matthew Jones of Ohio. Thanks also go to Erich Muethlthaler of Germany.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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