© 2006-2020 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 9
1 March 1939:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Nippon Kokan K. K.’s shipyard as kaibokan No. 10.
6 May 1940:
Launched and named KUNASHIRI. Cdr (Rear Admiral posthumously) Shimizu Toshio (46) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
3 October 1940:
Completed and registered in the Maizuru Naval District. Cdr Shimizu is the Commanding Officer. Based at Muroran. Patrols the Ominato area and the Tsugaru Strait.
15 October 1940:
Cdr (Rear Admiral posthumously) Kubota Toshi (46) assumes command.
11 August 1941:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kitamura Fumio (47) assumes command.
1 December 1941:
At Ominato.
7 December 1941:
Departs Ominato on patrol. Remains on patrol throughout the rest of December.
7 January 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
16 January 1942:
At 0820 departs Ominato and later that day arrives at Muroran.
17 January 1942:
Departs Muroran.
20 January 1942:
At 1650 arrives at Otomae Wan, Paramushiro.
29 January 1942:
At 1800 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
31 January 1942:
Arrives at Kashiwabara Wan, Paramushiro.
1 February 1942:
At 1655 arrives at Otomae Wan.
5 February 1942:
At 1800 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
9 February 1942:
Arrives back at Otomae Wan.
17 February 1942:
At 0900 KUNASHIRI and ISHIGAKI depart Otomae Wan.
20 February 1942:
At 1230 both arrive at Akkeshi.
22 February 1942:
Both KUNASHIRI and ISHIGAKI depart Akkeshi.
23 February 1942:
At 1230 KUNASHIRI arrives at Muroran.
24 February 1942:
At 2100 KUNASH1RI departs Muroran towing an unidentified warship.
25 February 1942:
At 1100 arrives at Akkeshi.
26 February 1942:
Briefly departs Akkeshi but at 1220 returns to Akkeshi. Later that day departs the port and an unknown time later arrives at Muroran.
2 March 1942:
At 1300 departs Muroran.
6 March 1942:
At 0210 arrives at Otomae Wan.
12 March 1942:
At 0800 departs Otomae Wan and at 1750 returns to port.
13 March 1942:
At 0900 departs Otomae Wan and at 1130 arrives at Musashi Wan. Takes on stores from KAIKO MARU (3548 gt) At 1530 departs Musashi Wan and at 1625 arrives back at Otomae Wan.
15 March 1942:
At 0530 departs Otomae Wan and at 1120 arrives at Kashiwabara Wan.
16 March 1942:
At 1255 departs Kashiwabara Wan on patrol and at 1715 arrives at Otomae Wan.
19 March 1942:
At 0735 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
26 March 1942:
At 1150 arrives at Ominato.
29 March 1942:
At 0800 departs Ominato and at 1600 arrives at Muroran.
31 March 1942:
At 1545 departs Muroran on patrol.
1 April 1942:
At 0815 arrives at Akkeshi and departs at 1800.
4 April 1942:
At 0600 arrives at Otomae Wan.
7 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Otomae Wan on patrol and arrives back there at 1415.
10 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Otomae Wan on patrol, returning late that evening.
13 April 1942:
At 0600 departs Otomae Wan on patrol.
14 April 1942:
At 1130 arrives at Otomae Wan.
18 April 1942:
At 1830 departs Otomae Wan for Akkeshi, but returns at 2135.
19 April 1942:
At 0300 departs Otomae Wan.
24 April 1942:
At 0900 arrives at Ominato.
30 April 1942:
At 0830 departs Ominato and at 1515 arrives at Muroran.
June 1942:
Participates in the capture of Attu and Kiska, Aleutians. Later, based at Kataoka Bay, Shimushu, Kuriles.
14 July 1942:
KUNASHIRI is reassigned to the Ominato Guard District.
1 October 1942:
At Ominato.
21 October 1942:
Departs Ominato on patrol.
23 October 1942:
Arrives back at Ominato.
25 October 1942:
Departs Ominato on patrol.
28 October 1942:
Arrives back at Ominato.
29 October 1942:
Departs Ominato on patrol.
1 November 1942:
Cdr Kitamura is promoted Captain.
16 November 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
19 November 1942:
Captain Kitamura is reassigned. Cdr Ota Haruo (49) assumes command.
20 November 1942:
Departs Ominato on patrol.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Otaru.
24 November 1942:
At 0500, departs Paramushiro, Kuriles for Attu escorting convoy No. 1 consisting of KOAN and YAMAYURI MARUs. According to some records KUNASHIRI departs Otaru this day and presumably catches up with the convoy.
28 November 1942:
In position 50-05N 155-12E transport AKIURA MARU runs aground but is refloated with help from KUNASHIRI.
29 November 1942:
At 0630, arrives at Attu.
30 November 1942:
At 1700, departs Attu for Paramushiro.
7 December 1942:
At 0700, arrives at Paramushiro.
8 December 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
10 December 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
11 December 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
13 December 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
15 December 1942:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kawashima Yoshio (48) is posted new CO. Departs Kataoka Wan.
16 December 1942:
Returns to Paramushiro Straits.
17 December 1942:
Departs Paramushiro Straits on patrol.
18 December 1942:
Returns to Kataoka Wan and departs later that day on patrol.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
23 December 1942:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol. Later that day arrives back at Paramushiro Strait.
24 December 1942:
Departs Paramushiro Strait on patrol.
30 December 1942:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
3 January 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
4 January 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
6 January 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
8 January 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
9 January 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
14 January 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan. Station tanker TEIYO MARU transfers 134 tons of L0 boiler oil and 35 tons of L1 fuel oil to destroyer WAKABA and 40 tons of L1 to KUNASHIRI.
15 January 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
16 January 1943:
Arrives at Noda-ura (now Chekhov), Karafuto.
18 January 1943:
Departs Noda-ura.
19 January 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
28 January 1943:
At 2300, departs Paramushiro for Attu with destroyer USUGUMO escorting convoy No. 10 consisting of
SAKITO and KIMIKAWA MARUs.
31 January 1943:
At 2100, arrives at Attu. The convoy unloads and departs the same day.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Kiska. The convoy unloads and departs the same day.
3 February 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Paramushiro.
12 February 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
14 February 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
19 February 1943:
At 1900 departs Kataoka Wan escorting convoy No. 18-1 consisting of DOVER MARU.
22 February 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
23 February 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan.
3 March 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
8 March 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting a convoy.
13 March 1943:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
15 March 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
18 March 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
19 March 1943:
Departs Muroran on patrol.
20 March 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
21 March 1943:
Departs Ominato escorting TAKASHIMA MARU.
23 March 1943:
Arrives back at Ominato.
27 March 1943:
Docked at Ominato.
10 April 1943:
Undocked.
15 April 1943:
Departs Ominato.
16 April 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
18 April 1943:
Departs Muroran on patrol.
21 April 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
23 April 1943:
Departs Paramushiro on patrol.
17 May 1943:
At 0500 departs Kushiro escorting NISSHO MARU No. 18 bound for Shimushu.
1 June 1943:
In the northern Pacific area, presumably on a transport or escort mission to the Aleutians.
2 June 1943:
Joins ISHIGAKI and HACHIJO in patrolling the Paramushiro Strait area.
9 June 1943:
At 1900 departs Kashiwabara to meet up with TAKASHIMA MARU.
11 June 1943:
Departs Kataoka Wan returning later that day and anchoring with HACHIJO.
16 June 1943:
Undertakes an anti submarine sweep in Suribachi Wan.
17 June 1943:
Completes the sweep and resumes patrols off Paramushiro Island.
25 June 1943:
Undertakes an anti submarine sweep in Musashi Wan.
26 June 1943:
Completes the sweep and resumes patrols.
27 June 1943:
Assists SHINRYU MARU that has run aground in 48-02N 153-17E.
29 June 1943:
Resumes patrols off Paramushiro. Later that day undertakes an anti submarine sweep in Kakumabetsu Wan.
30 June 1943:
Together with seaplane tender KIMIKAWA MARU departs Kataoka Wan on an anti submarine patrol. KIMIKAWA MARU proceeds to Ominato.
1 July 1943:
ISHIGAKI and KUNASHIRI depart Paramushiro Strait on an anti submarine sweep and return later that day.
2 July 1943:
KUNASHIRI and HACHIJO depart Paramushiro on an anti submarine sweep.
5 July 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro Strait base.
7 July 1943: Operation “KE” - The Evacuation of Kiska:
KUNASHIRI
departs Paramushiro, Kuriles with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's (41) Evacuation Task Force's light cruisers TAMA and ABUKUMA, DesDiv 10's YUGUMO, KAZAGUMO and AKIGUMO, light cruiser KISO, DesRon 9's ASAGUMO and USUGUMO, DesDiv 6's HIBIKI, Guard Unit No. 1's DesDiv 21's WAKABA and HATSUSHIMO, DesDiv 32's NAGANAMI, Guard Unit No. 2's DesDiv 11's SHIMAKAZE, DesDiv 27's SAMIDARE, Supply Force's converted cruiser AWATA MARU and oiler NIPPON MARU.
18 July 1943:
The mission is aborted due to weather. Returns to Paramushiro.
22 July 1943:
Departs Paramushiro with the Evacuation Task Force on the second run to Kiska.
26 July 1943:
At 1745, while steaming in column, KUNASHIRI collides with ABUKUMA, hitting her starboard quarter. WAKABA veers starboard and is hit by HATSUSHIMO on her starboard quarter. HATSUSHIMO ricochets against NAGANAMI.
KUNASHIRI and WAKABA are sent back to Paramushiro.
E 30 July 1943:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan, Paramushiro.
1 August 1943:
Reassigned to the Kuriles Area Base Force. Remains at Kataoka Wan.
10 August 1943:
Undertakes a transport run between Kataoka Wan and Musashi Wan.
13 August 1943:
Undertakes transport runs in the Kataoka-Tennei-Musashi Wan area.
1 September 1943:
Patrols on the west side of Kamchatka Peninsula.
3 September 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
4 September 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and resumes patrolling off west coast of Kamchatka Peninsula.
16 September 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
18 September 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and resumes patrolling off west coast of Kamchatka Peninsula.
27 September 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
6 October 1943:
Departs Paramushiro escorting a convoy consisting of SHINANO and KAMISHIMA MARUs and SHINYO MARU No. 8.
11 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
13 October 1943:
Departs Otaru escorting a convoy consisting of TAIHEI and KAIKO MARUs.
17 October 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro Strait.
20 October 1943:
Departs Paramushiro Strait escorting HOKUYO MARU to waters near Petropavlovsk.
23 October 1943:
Arrives back at Paramushiro Strait.
25 October 1943:
Cdr Kawashima is reassigned. LtCdr (reserve) Ota Osamu is appointed the Commanding Officer.
Departs Paramushiro escorting a convoy consisting of NITTEI and TAIHEI MARUs.
29 October 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
30 October 1943:
Departs Otaru and later that day arrives at Ominato. Spends the whole of November in drydock at Ominato undergoing repairs and maintenance.
8 December 1943:
Departs Ominato escorting SANKO MARU.
11 December 1943:
Arrives Tankan Wan, Etorofu Jima.
15 December 1943:
Departs Etorofu escorting FUSHIMI MARU.
17 December 1943:
Arrives at Tennei still with FUSHIMI MARU.
18 December 1943:
Both ships depart at 1000.
20 December 1943:
At 0030 arrives at Otaru.
23 December 1943:
Departs Otaru.
26 December 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
31 December 1943:
Departs Paramushiro and arrives at Kodomari Saki, Shimushu Jima, presumably to inspect or assist in equipping wreck of Soviet tanker MARIUPOL, being converted to a guardship. Remains off Kodomari for the next two weeks.
17 January 1944:
Departs Kodomari and later that day arrives at Kataoka Wan.
19 January 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan and arrives at Kodomari. Carries out anti submarine sweeps in area.
23 January 1944:
Patrols off Musashi Wan, Paramushiro prior to KAIKO MARU arriving.
25 January 1944:
At 1400 arrives back at Kodomari.
28 January 1944:
Departs Kodomari and later that day arrives at Kataoka Wan.
8 February 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan and later that day arrives at Musashi Wan.
10 February 1944:
Departs Musashi Wan.
13 February 1944:
Arrives at Ominato and enters drydock. Remains there under repair for the rest of the month.
8 March 1944:
Departs Ominato and conducts an anti submarine sweep.
11 March 1944:
Arrives at Shinshiru Jima.
12 March 1944:
Departs Shinshiru Jima escorting MELBOURNE MARU.
14 March 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
15 March 1944:
Departs Ominato escorting NICHIRAN MARU.
18 March 1944:
Arrives at Akkeshi. From there conducts anti submarine sweeps.
24 March 1944:
At 0800 transfers from Akkeshi to Kushiro escorting HOKUSHIN and SHIRAGI MARUs, arriving at 1400.
27 March 1944:
Departs Kushiro escorting He-B convoy consisting of UMEKAWA, KEIAN and YAMAGIKU MARUs also escorted by destroyers WAKABA, NAMIKAZE and KAMIKAZE.
31 March 1944:
At 1400 the convoy less KEIAN MARU that arrived earlier that day arrives at Hitokappu Wan, Uruppu Jima.
4 April 1944:
Arrives at Matsuwa Jima.
5 April 1944:
Departs Matsuwa Jima still escorting the convoy.
8 April 1944:
Arrives at Uruppu Jima.
9 April 1944:
Departs Uruppu Jima escorting a convoy.
12 April 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
13 April 1944:
Departs Ominato with destroyers AKEBONO and USHIO escorting Ru convoy consisting of TENRYO, TAIHEI, RIZAN and MADRAS MARUs.
18 April 1944:
Arrives at Matsuwa Jima.
25 April 1944:
Departs Matsuwa Jima escorting MADRAS MARU.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
2 May 1944:
KUNASHIRI departs Ominato with kaibokan HACHIJO escorting the "YO" convoy consisting of KOAN, SAMARANG, UMEKAWA 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, Paramushiro Island. KUNASHIRI sails on to Kataoka Wan.
14 May 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting HOKUSHIN MARU.
19 May 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
20 May 1944:
Departs Hakodate escorting KI-004 convoy consisting of unidentified ships.
27 May 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
29 May 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting KI-303 convoy consisting of unidentified ships. At an unknown date and time detaches.
30 May 1944:
KUNASHIRI arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
1 June 1944:
Departs Paramushiro Strait escorting a convoy consisting only of HAKUYO MARU.
5 June 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Otaru.
10 June 1944:
At 1300 departs Otaru with destroyer NOKAZE escorting Mu convoy consisting of TAIHEI, UMEKAWA and HAKUAI MARUs.
14 June 1944:
Arrives at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro Island.
22 June 1944:
Departs Suribachi Wan and later arrives at Kataoka Wan.
23 June 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan and later arrives at Suribachi Wan.
25 June 1944:
Departs Suribachi Wan escorting a convoy and later arrives at Paramushiro Strait.
29 June 1944:
Departs Paramushiro Strait escorting convoy O-902 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
3 July 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
7 July 1944:
Departs Otaru escorting convoy KI-803 consisting of NITTEI, HOKUSHIN and TAKAKURASAN MARUs.
9 July 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
11 July 1944:
At 0500 departs Wakkanai with destroyer KAMIKAZE escorting convoy KAKI-803 (or KI-803) consisting of NITTEI, HOKUSHIN and TAKAKURASAN MARUs bound for the Kuriles.
15 July 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
17 July 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting TAKAKURASAN and KASADO MARUs to Yavina, Kamchatka. At the Soviet maritime border KUNASHIRI turns back.
21 July 1944:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
26 July 1944:
Departs Kataoka escorting convoy O-604 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
27 July 1944:
W of Paramushiro, Kuriles. KUNASHIRI is damaged by an unknown cause, possibly a mine.
1 August 1944:
Departed Otaru.
2 August 1944:
Arrives at Ominato. Drydocked.
30 August 1944:
Departs Ominato.
31 August 1944:
Arrives Ominato.
2 September 1944:
Departs Otaru escorting a convoy of unidentified merchant ships.
6 September 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka.
9 September 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting a convoy of unidentified merchant ships.
11 September 1944:
Arrives at Shikika, Karafuto.
15 September 1944:
Departs Shikika escorting a convoy consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
22 September 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
24 September 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan very probably escorting convoy RA-403 (see entry 28 September below).
28 September 1944:
At 0700 KUNASHIRI reports from position 47-07N 151-25E while escorting convoy RA-403 consisting of HACHIROGATA and HAKUAI MARUs. Later that day arrives at Wakkanai.
29 September 1944:
At 2000 kaibokan KUNASHIRI and NOMI are scheduled to depart Wakkanai escorting a convoy.
13 October 1944:
KUNASHIRI departs Kataoka Wan escorting convoy Wo-103 consisting of storeship SHIRASAKI and two unidentified ships. Picket boats SHOWA and HYUGA MARUes escort the convoy part way.
3 November 1944:
Arrives at Otaru escorting a convoy.
26 November 1944:
Departs Otaru.
28 November 1944:
Arrives at Nemuro.
29 November 1944:
Departs Nemuro escorting a convoy.
2 December 1944:
Arrives at Matsuwa Jima.
4 December 1944:
Departs Matsuwa Jima escorting a convoy.
8 December 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
16 December 1944:
At 1500 departs Otaru escorting convoy KI-601 consisting of INARI MARU.
19 December 1944:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
25 December 1944:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting a convoy.
31 December 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
6 January 1945:
At 1000 departs Otaru with storeship SHIRASAKI escorting convoy KI-603 consisting of HOKUSHIN, TENRYO MARUs and BANSHU MARU No. 65.
12 January 1945:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
17 January 1945:
Departs Kataoka Wan with storeship SHIRASAKI escorting convoy RA-702 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
24 January 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
March 1945:
Spends the whole month at Ominato undergoing repairs.
7 April 1945:
KASADO and KUNASHIRI depart Ominato escorting convoy KI-602 consisting of CHOWA and KOKAI MARUs.
10 April 1945:
Reassigned to the 104th Escort Squadron.
13 April 1945:
At 0200 the convoy arrives at Kataoka Wan.
27 April 1945:
Departs Kataoka Wan escorting convoy TSU-701 consisting only of CHOWA MARU.
1 May 1945:
At 0438 in 21-02N 144-36E about 100 Ri east of Erimo Misaki CHOWA MARU is torpedooed by USS BOWFIN, and sinks 10 minutes later with the loss of 41 crewmen.
3 May 1945:
Arrives at Ominato after completing an anti-submarine sweep after sinking of CHOWA MARU.
5 May 1945:
Departs Ominato.
6 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
8 May 1945:
At 1530 departs Otaru escorting convoy Ki-801 consisting only of HOKUSHIN MARU.
12 May 1945:
Arrives at Matsuwa Jima.
17 May 1945:
At 1600 departs Matsuwa Jima escorting convoy O-701 consisting only of HOKUSHIN MARU.
21 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
24 May 1945:
At 2230, KUNASHIRI departs Otaru, Hokkaido for Paramushiro with kaibokan CD-65 escorting the "NU" convoy consisting of HOKUYU, TAISHO and SANTO MARUs.
25 May 1945:
TAISHO MARU's poorly loaded cargo begins to shift. As a result, the convoy returns to Otaru.
26 May 1945:
Redeparts Otaru.
31 May 1945:
At 1403, arrives at Paramushiro.
15 August 1945:
KUNASHIRI is with the Hokkaido Naval Guard when her crew receives notification of the termination of the war.
1 October 1945:
Departs Maizuru.
5 October 1945:
Arrives at Sasebo and departs later that day on her first repatriation voyage. That same day she is removed from the Navy List.
14 October 1945:
Arrives at Eniwetok. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 October 1945:
Departs Eniwetok.
18 October 1945:
Arrives at Maloelap. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
20 October 1945:
Departs Maloelap.
28 October 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 December 1945:
Assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service as a
special cargo ship. [1]
31 October 1945-30 November 1945:
Undergoes repairs at Tsurumi shipyard.
3 December 1945:
Departs Uraga.
9 December 1945:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated. and departs later that day.
11 December 1945:
Arrives at Yap. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
17 December 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 December 1945-17 January 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tsurumi shipyard.
22 January 1946:
Transfers to Uraga shipyard. Undergoes repairs.
15 February 1946:
Repairs are completed.
24 February 1946:
Departs Uraga.
28 February 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
1 March 1946:
Departs Guam.
3 March 1946:
Arrives at Saipan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
4 March 1946:
Departs Saipan.
8 March 1946:
Arrives at Chichijima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs again the same day.
10 March 1946:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
28 March 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
30 March 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
2 April 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
3 April 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Maizuru dockyard.
5 May 1946:
Repairs are completed.
13 May 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
19 May 1946:
Arrives at Saigon. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
21 May 1946:
Arrives at St Jacques (Vung Tau) and departs later that day.
24 May 1946:
Arrives at Bangkok. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
4 June 1946:
Off Omaezaki. Enroute to Uraga, and due to arrive that evening, KUNASHIRI runs aground at 34-35N, 138-5E.
7 June 1946:
Ex-destroyer KAMIKAZE attempts to assist stranded KUNASHIRI,
but also runs aground. Later, KAMIKAZE is deemed a constructive total loss. KUNASHIRI is
abandoned.
August 1946 to July 1947:
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 of Japan. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa, Matthew Jones of Ohio and Aki-san of Japan for help in identifying kaibokan COs.
Grateful thanks also to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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