SOKURYOSEN

© 2010-2016 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

Revision 5

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7 October 1912:
Sasebo Navy Yard. Laid down as 1,125-ton cargo ship KOMAHASHI MARU.

21 May 1913:
Launched.

20 January 1914:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District.

23 May 1914:
Rated a submarine tender.

16 August 1914:
Rerated a 2nd class coast defense vessel (kaibokan). Renamed KOMAHASHI. Attached to the 4th Torpedo Division. LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Kumashiro Moritsugu (28) is appointed Commanding Officer.

1 April 1915:
LtCdr Kumashiro is posted ComSubDiv 3 as an additional duty.

13 December 1915:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Fukuda Ichiro (26) is appointed CO, with additional duty as ComSubDiv 3.

1 December 1916:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Otawara Toru (26) is appointed CO as an additional duty.

1 December 1917:
Cdr (later Captain) Taguchi Shigeki (29) is appointed CO.

10 November 1918:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Mashiko Rokuya (30) is appointed CO.

1 December 1918:
LtCdr Mashiko is promoted Cdr.

15 February 1919:
Captain Fukuda is appointed CO as an additional duty for a second time.

10 July 1919:
Cdr Mashiko is appointed CO as an additional duty for a second time.

1 October 1919:
LtCdr (later Captain) Yoshiyama Hyakuri (32) is appointed CO.

1 November 1919:
Cdr. Mashiko is appointed CO as an additional duty for the third time.

1 December 1919:
Cdr Kiuchi Tatsuzo (31) is appointed CO.

1 April 1920:
KOMAHASHI is rerated a destroyer tender.

6 September 1920:
Cdr (later Captain) Furukawa Ryoichi (31) is appointed CO.

1 December 1920:
Cdr (later Captain) Kamimoto Kunitaro (31) (former CEO/CO of SAWAKAZE) is appointed CO.

20 December 1921:
Cdr (later Vice Admiral) Kawamura Giichiro (32) is appointed CO.

8 April 1922:
Cdr (later Vice Admiral) Wanami Hoichi (32) is appointed CO.

1 December 1922:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Uematsu Toma (33) (former CO of YAKAZE) is posted CO.

1 December 1923:
Cdr Mori Shigeji (33) (former CEO/CO of TACHIKAZE) is appointed CO.

1 December 1924:
KOMAHASHI is rerated a submarine tender. Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Chiya Sadae (34) (former CO of MINEKAZE) is appointed CO.

16 December 1924:
Cdr (later Vice Admiral) Hoshino Shuichi (35) is appointed CO.

21 September 1925:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Watanabe Tsutomu (34) is appointed CO.

1 December 1926:
Cdr Hatano Jiro (34) is appointed CO.

1 December 1927:
Cdr (later Captain) Inoue Katsuzumi (34) is appointed CO.

10 August 1928:
Cdr Kashii Tetsujiro (34) is appointed CO.

10 December 1928:
Cdr (later Captain) Matsuda Genjiro (34) is appointed CO.

30 November 1929:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Sato Koichi (35) (former XO of OI) is appointed CO.

15 January 1930:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Suzuki Kozo (36) (former CO of ATAKA) is appointed CO.

1 December 1930:
Cdr Nomi Tometoshi (36) is appointed CO.

1 October 1931:
Reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.

15 April 1932:
Begins reconstruction as a survey ship. Two 76.2 mm L/40 AA guns are landed. Her main machinery is replaced with two Ikegai diesels and two Kampon coal/oil fired boilers. Power is increased to 1,800 bhp and maximum speed is 14 knots. Modern sea survey sounding equipment is installed.

20 June 1932:
Cdr Yamada is appointed CO of ISUZU as an additional duty.

November 1932:
Completes reconstruction.

1 December 1932:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Shitabo Sadakichi (39) (former Chief Navigator, FUSO) is appointed CO.

1933:
Performs hydrographic surveys in Luzon Strait, Mandate Islands, Kurile Islands and off the Kamchatka (Siberia) Peninsula.

15 November 1934:
Cdr Shitabo is promoted Captain.

15 November 1935:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kishindo Saburo (40) is appointed CO.

19 August 1937:
Reassigned to the 3rd Fleet.

10 October 1937:
Reassigned to the China Area Fleet.

22 November 1937:
Cdr (later Captain) Yamazaki Sadanao (42) is appointed CO.

10 November 1938:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Soma Shinshiro (42) (former Chief Navigator, FUSO) is appointed CO.

15 November 1938:
Cdr Soma is promoted Captain.

15 November 1939:
Captain Shimizu Seishin (43) is appointed CO.

7 October 1940:
Captain Kato Buntaro (43) is appointed CO.

1941:
KOMAHASHI's armament is modified. Six Type 96 25-mm AA guns are installed. She is fitted with depth charge racks and a depth charge thrower.

1 April 1941:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral, posthumously) Yamagata Masaji (43) (former XO of CHITOSE) is appointed CO.

15 October 1941:
Cdr Yamagata is promoted Captain.

5 December 1941:
Attached to the Yokosuka Naval District. Escorts convoys in the Yokosuka Area.

7 December 1941:
At 0830 departs Yokosuka.

21 December 1941:
At 1110 arrives back at Yokosuka.

3 January 1942:
At 0855 departs Yokosuka.

9 January 1942:
At 0845 arrives back at Yokosuka.

10 January 1942:
At 1000 departs Yokosuka.

22 January 1942:
At 0710 arrives back at Yokosuka.

1 February 1942:
Captain Ono Amane (47) is appointed CO.

8 February 1942:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka.

1 March 1942:
At 0945 arrives at Yokosuka.

2 March 1942:
At 0930 departs Yokosuka.

26 March 1942:
At 0850 arrives at Yokosuka.

5 April 1942:
At 1150 departs Yokosuka.

26 April 1942:
At 1840 arrives at Yokosuka.

27 April 1942:
At 1610 departs Yokosuka.

30 April 1942:
At 1250 arrives at Yokosuka.

1 May 1942:
At 1610 departs Yokosuka.

12 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka escorting MUKO MARU that is bound for Rabaul. Later that day detaches and meets up with inbound ship TOYO MARU No.2 and late that day arrives back at Yokosuka.

14 May 1942:
At 1400 KOMAHASHI departs Futtsu, Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of UGO, IBURI, KATSURAGI and KINSEN MARUs. Later that day near Katsuura KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

16 May 1942:
At 1030 KOMAHASHI departs from off Minato, Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of SHOBU, KENSHIN, SETSUYO, TAIHOKU, SEIKAI, AIYO, TAIAN, BOKUYO (MUTSUYO) MARUs. KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka at unknown time.

17 May 1942:
At 0735 arrives at Yokosuka.

18 May 1942:
At 0800 departs Yokosuka. At 1030 KOMAHASHI and minelayer escort SARUSHIMA both depart from off Futtsu Zaki escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of TAISHO, CHOSEN, TAMA, TAIKAI, WOOSUNG, SHOGEN, TETSUZAN and KAIKO MARUs and possibly SHINSEI MARU No.1. Later that day off Katsuura KOMAHASHI is detached and returns to Yokosuka.

20 May 1942:
At 0930 KOMAHASHI departs from off Minato, Tokyo Bay escorting an unnunbered northbound convoy consisting of RENZAN and YUKIKAWA MARUs. At 1845 when 48 degrees off Katsuura KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

22 May 1942:
Departs from Tokyo Bay escorting KEIZAN MARU that is bound for Otaru. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

24 May 1942:
In the morning KOMAHASHI and minelayer escort UKISHIMA both depart from Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of SAPPORO, AMAHO, FUKOKU, NICHIUN, HEIWA MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No.18. Late that day when 55 degrees off Katsuura KOMAHASHI is detached and returns to Yokosuka.

26 May 1942:
At 0930 KOMAHASHI departs from off Minato, Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of SUMIDA, SHINNAN, TASMANIA, TAIZAN and TSUNESHIMA MARUs. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

28 May 1942:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of ECHIZEN, TAKAO, KOWA, KANSEISHI, JINMU, NITTEI, MOMOKAWA, KOSHIN MARUs and DAIBOSHI MARU No.6. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

30 May 1942:
At 0925 KOMAHASHI departs from off Minato, Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of SETSUYO, KAIFUKU, TATEYAMA and MEIWA MARUs. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

1 June 1942:
KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka and escorts a southbound convoy consisting of CHOKO MARU and YOSHINOGAWA MARUs. At an unknown location later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

3 June 1942:
Departs Yokosuka escorting TOMIURA MARU as far as Owase where KOMAHASHI detaches.

4 June 1942:
Off Owase meets up with tanker NISSHIN MARU No.2 bound for Yokohama and escorts the ship to Tokyo Bay.

7 June 1942:
At 0940 KOMAHASHI departs from off Minato, Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of ASAMA (4891 GRT), YUZAN, TSUNESHIMA and HEIWA MARUs. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

9 June 1942:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of CHOSEN, MEIWA, TAIZAN, AKAGANE and BOKUYO (MUTSUYO) MARUs. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

11 June 1942:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting an unnumbered northbound convoy consisting of KATSURAGISAN, TAKUSAN, FUKOKU, OTORI, KOWA, SEIKAI, KIKUKAWA and YUKIKAWA MARUs. Later that day KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.

E 13 June 1942:
Departs Yokosuka and heads west. Likely off Owase meets up with tanker NISSHIN MARU No.2 that is bound for Tokyo Bay.

14 June 1942:
At 1045 arrives at Tokyo Bay. For the rest of June no movements are reported. Probably undergoes maintenance.

1 July 1942:
At 0830 KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka escorting a westbound convoy consisting of KURETAKE, GOSEI, MATSUYAMA MARUs and TOYO MARU No.2. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

5 July 1942:
Departs Yokosuka escorting tanker KYOKUYO MARU.

8 July 1942:
KOMAHASHI attends wreck of liner HARUNA MARU that has stranded the previous day at Omaezaki and remains in attendance while salvage tugs unsuccessfully attempt to refloat the ship.

18 July 1942:
At 0840 arrives back at Yokosuka.

20 July 1942:
Attached to the 5th Fleet. Rerated an auxiliary survey vessel.

August-September 1942:
Performs hydrographic surveys of the Aleutian Islands.

8 August 1942:
At 0854 arrives at Shimushu.

11 August 1942:
At 0359 departs Shimushu.

16 August 1942:
At 0254 arrives at Attu and departs at 1100.

21 August 1942:
At 1640 arrives at Onnekotan Kaikyo and conducts survey work.

3 September 1942:
At 1455 arrives at Shimushu.

12 September 1942:
At 1445 departs Shimushu.

16 September 1942:
At 0523 arrives at Kitakai Wan.

17 September 1942:
At 0852 departs Kitakai Wan.

18 September 1942:
At 1013 arrives at Kiska.

28 September 1942:
At 1457 departs Kiska.

29 September 1942:
Kiska. Heavy damaged by American land-based aircraft.

13 October 1942:
Undergoes battle-damage repairs at Yokosuka Navy Yard.

1 November 1942:
Reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District. Escorts 38 convoys in the Yokosuka Area.

6 December 1942:
At 1000 KOMAHASHI departs Futtsu, Tokyo Bay in West Convoy No. 60 consisting of EKISAN, JUNPO, MANSEI MARUs and three unidentified ships possibly including MIE and MISAKI MARUs.

10 December 1942:
Arrives back at Yokosuka escorting East Convoy No. 40 consisting of MURORAN, TAIRAI, TAMASHIMA, CHILE, KONEI, TORYU, SEISHU and KINREI MARUs.

15 December 1942:
KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka escorting West Convoy No. 68 consisting of SANKA, KONEI, TSUKUSHI, HORAI and NITTOKU MARUs. KOMAHASHI probably escorts the convoy as far as Owase.

19 December 1942:
KOMAHASHI arrives at Nagoya escorting East Convoy No. 49 consisting of YAMAHAGI and REIAN MARUs.

26 December 1942:
KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka escorting West Convoy No. 82 consisting of KYOTADA (SEICHU), TOYU, KINREI and MIYAZAKI MARUs. The escort likely detaches off Owase.

28 December 1942:
KOMAHASHI arrives back at Yokosuka escorting East Convoy No.59 consisting of SHINKYO, MISHIMA, ISSEI, WOOSUNG and DAISHIN MARUs.

3 January 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka escorting westbound convoy No. 7103 consisting of DAISHIN and KURETAKE MARUs. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

E 10 January 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives back at Yokosuka escorting eastbound convoy No. 8106A consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.

14 January 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka escorting westbound convoy No. 7114 consisting of MITSU, KENWA, TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE), KOSHIN, TATSUTAGAWA MARUs and probably NORFOLK MARU. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

E 21 January 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives back in Yokosuka escorting eastbound convoy No. 8118 consisting of GYOSHIN (ex British LANTAN), MALAY, DAIBOSHI and WAKATAKE MARUs.

22 January 1943:
At 1400 KOMAHASHI departs Yokohama escorting westbound convoy No. 7122 consisting of NANYO and ISSEI MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship (possibly THAMES MARU). At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

E 7 February 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives at Tokyo Bay escorting eastbound convoy No. 8204 consisting of KONEI, KINRYU, TATEYAMA and KASADO MARUs and possibly TATSUTAKE MARU.

9 February 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Yokosuka escorting westbound convoy No. 7209 consisting of TAIZAN, BIYO, KINSHU and KINRYU MARUs. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

21 February 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting westbound convoy No. 7221 consisting of RYUSEI, TAIKYU, NANKA, ASUKA, TEIKAI (Ex German FULDA) MARUs and TSUKUSHI MARU No.2. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

E 28 February 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives at Tokyo Bay escorting eastbound convoy No. 8225 consisting of NIIGATA, MURORAN and KINRYU MARUs.

E 5 April 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives at Tokyo Bay escorting eastbound convoy No. 8401 consisting of HOKUSAN and MUNAKATA MARUs.

9 April 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting westbound convoy No. 7408B consisting of TAIBUN and REIAN MARUs, DAIGEN MARU No.3 and TAMON MARU No.5. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

12 April 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting westbound convoy No. 7412 consisting of CHIYODA and TOZAN (TANGSHAN) MARUs. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

16 April 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting westbound convoy No. 7416A consisting of CHIYODA and TOZAN (TANGSHAN) MARUs. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

E 23 April 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives at Tokyo Bay escorting eastbound convoy 8420A consisting of KIYOTADA (SEICHU), YOZAN, WAKATAKE, HOKUSAN and KIRYUZAN MARUs and an unidentified merchant ship.

24 April 1943:
KOMAHASHI departs Tokyo Bay escorting westbound convoy 7424 consisting of SHISEN, KANZAKI, YOZAN and SEIWA MARUs. At an unknown point west, probably off Owase, KOMAHASHI detaches.

E 1 May 1943:
KOMAHASHI arrives at Tokyo Bay escorting eastbound convoy No. 8420A consisting of GOSEI, NIIGATA and DAKAR MARUs.

12 July 1943:
KOMAHASHI and sub-chaser CH-42 depart Tokyo Bay escorting westbound convoy No. 7712 consisting of NIIGATA and YAMAGIRI MARUs. The convoy sails at 13.5 knots bound for Yokkaichi and Nagoya.

January 1944:
Rerated a submarine tender. Based at Owase Bay submarine base, Mie Prefecture.

16 January 1944:
Reassigned as flagship of the 3rd Surface Escort Division, Yokosuka Naval District.

1944:
KOMAHASHI's armament is modified. Her suite of Type 96 25-mm AA guns is increased to ten barrels. Two Type 93 13.2-mm AA guns and two Type 92 7.7-mm machine guns are fitted.

2 April 1945:
Lt (later LtCdr) Mizutani Katsuji is appointed CO.

15 April 1945:
Reassigned as flagship of the 4th Special Attack (Tokko) Squadron, Yokosuka Naval District.

1 May 1945:
Lt Mizutani is promoted LtCdr.

7 May 1945:
The Fourth Special Attack (Tokko) Corps of the Yokosuka Naval District is formed at Owase harbor with 60 Shinyo explosive motor boats, 24 Kairyu midget submarines and four Kaiten human torpedoes. Rear Admiral Mito Hisashi (42) (former CO of KATORI) is appointed CO. KOMAHASHI is Mito’s flagship.

25 July 1945:
Around 0600, twelve aircraft from Task Force 38 appear over Owase to attack targets of opportunity. Subsequent attacks continue until 1455. Between 0600 and 1457, KOMAHASHI and kaibokan CD-45 are subjected to successive air attacks and finally grounded off Owase.

27 July 1945:
Off Owase. KOMAHASHI is sunk by aircraft of Admiral (later Fleet Admiral) William F. Halsey’s (USNA ’04) Third Fleet’s Task Force 38 in shallow water. LtCdr Mitzutani is one of the survivors.

30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

1949:
Salvaged and scrapped.

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Author's Notes:
Thanks go to Matthew Jones of Mississippi and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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