© 2006-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 13
27 February 1942:
Tokyo. Laid down at the Uraga Dockyard as kaibokan No. 313.
20 August 1942:
No. 313 is named OKI.
20 October 1942:
Launched.
28 March 1943:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District. Cdr Aoki Kyuji (50)(former CO of AKATSUKI) is the Commanding Officer.
20 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3420 consisting of SHINKO and SHINYUBARI MARUs and possibly others.
E 24 April 1943:
Auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3 joins the convoy.
E 25 April 1943:
SEKI MARU No. 3 returns to Saipan.
30 April 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
2 May 1943:
Departs Truk escorting convoy No. 4502 consisting of AMAGISAN and KIKUKAWA MARUs and TENYO MARU No. 2 GO. The convoy sails at 9 knots.
10 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 May 1943:
Arrives at Yokohama and later that day transfers back to Yokosuka.
14 May 1943:
At 1300, OKI departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3514A consisting of HAKOZAKI, KAMIKAWA, and TONEI MARUs.
21 May 1943:
Destroyer ASANAGI meets the convoy N of Truk.
22 May 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Truk. OKI is detached from convoy No. 3514 and joins convoy No. 3415 that departed Yokosuka for Rabaul on 14 May consisting of KAMIKAWA, HAKOZAKI and TONEI MARUs.
23 May 1943:
At about 1400 (JST), convoy No. 3415 arrives at Truk. OKI is detached and replaced by subchasers CH-12 and CH-37.
26 May 1943:
OKI departs Truk for Yokosuka with minesweeper W-8, minelayer TOKIWA and an unidentified auxiliary gunboat escorting convoy No. 4526 consisting of NOTO MARU and repair ship HAKKAI MARU. Soon after leaving Truk W-8 is detached and returns there. Enroute, the ships are joined by aircraft transport MOGAMIGAWA MARU.
3 June 1943:
In the late afternoon, LtCdr Nicholas J. Nicholas' (USNA ’32) USS SALMON (SS-182) attacks the convoy. He
fires seven torpedoes and claims hits on MOGAMIGAWA MARU and the auxiliary gunboat, but his attacks are
unsuccessful. OKI counter-attacks with DCs, results unknown, then discovers a floating torpedo air chamber
and sinks it with mg-fire.
5 June 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
13 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy 3613A consisting of auxiliary MANJU (ex SANTOS) MARU, transport MITAKESAN MARU and fleet storeship MAMIYA.
22 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
25 June 1943:
Departs Truk escorting convoy 4625 consisting of ammunition ships NICHII and SEIA MARUs.
1 July 1943:
LtCdr Kobayashi Hinomoto assumes command as the CO.
4 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
9 July 1943:
Departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3709 consisting of BOKUYO (MUTSUYO) MARU and either KEMBU or TATEBE MARUs (6816 and 4519 grt respectively) and one unidentified merchant ship.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
24 July 1943:
Departs Truk escorting convoy No. No. 4724 consisting of CHIHAYA (ex Dutch TJISAROEA) and OKITSU MARUs also escorted by destroyer YUGIRI. The convoy sails at 10 knots.
27 July 1943:
Off Saipan KENSHO MARU joins the convoy. Auxiliary netlayer SHUKO MARU and auxiliary submarine chaser KYO MARU No. 8 escort the ship from Saipan to meet the convoy.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
3 August 1943:
OKI departs Yokosuka for Truk escorting convoy No. 3803A consisting of TATSUURA, TAIAN and SHIGANOURA MARUs.
14 August 1943:
The convoy arrives at Saipan. Later that same day, convoy No. 3803A departs Saipan for Truk now escorted by OKI and kaibokans CH-25, CH-33 and auxiliary patrol boat TOSHI MARU No. 3.
19 August 1943:
Convoy No. 3803A arrives at Truk.
27 August 1943:
OKI departs Truk with auxiliary submarine chaser KYO MARU No. 10 for Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 4827 consisting of TAGONOURA, NAGOYA and NICHII MARUs. The convoy sails at 11 knots.
30 August 1943:
At 0835 minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2 departs Saipan to assist after NAGOYA MARU reports an unsuccesful torpedo attack. Later that day the ships arrive at Saipan. (KYO MARU No.10 arrives the next day having been detached at an unknown time)
September 1943:
LtCdr Sugiyama Tadayoshi (61) assumes command.
3 September 1943:
At 1955, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Bafford E. Lewellen's (USNA ’31) old USS POLLACK (SS-180) torpedoes and sinks TAGONOURA MARU at 33-43N, 143-00E. Six passengers and one crewman are KIA. OKI counterattacks USS POLLACK and drops
17 depth charges unsuccessfully. OKI rescues a total of 149 survivors of whom 48 are crew from TAGONOURA MARU.
4 September 1943:
OKI detects and depth charges an enemy sub unsucessfully, thereafter she rescues a further 34 survivors from an unknown vessel, later this day arrives at Yokosuka.
6-9 September 1943:
OKI is dry-docked at Yokosuka for maintenanc.
21 September 1943:
At 1300, OKI, departs Tokyo Bay for Truk with kaibokan FUKUE escorting convoy No. 3921 consisting of KIKUKAWA, HIYOSHI, HAKKAI and TAIAN MARUs, NANKAI MARU No. 2 and MIKAGE MARU No. 18. The convoy stops briefly at Tateyama before departing the following day.
22 September 1943:
At 0430, the convoy departs Tateyama with minesweeper W-27 as an additional escort.
E 23 September 1943:
Minesweeper W-27 is detached and returns to Tateyama.
E September 1943:
At some point, NANKAI MARU No. 2 probably encounters some mechanical trouble and returns back to Japan.
27 September 1943:
Requisitioned (B-AK) YAMAKUNI MARU departs Saipan to join the convoy escorted by auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 and auxiliary minesweeper SEKI MARU No. 3.
28 September 1943:
SW of Anatahan Island, Marianas. At 0715, TAIAN MARU is detached for Saipan escorted by auxiliary minesweeper FUMI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary subchaser KYO MARU No. 10 that steamed out to meet her. At 1422, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) William S. Post's (USNA ’30) USS GUDGEON (SS-211) torpedoes and sinks TAIAN MARU transporting 106 passengers, 2,867-tons of cargo and 1,400kg of mail parcels. 46 passengers and 14 crewmen are KIA. The two escorts drop 17 depth charges unsuccessfully.
1 October 1943:
Convoy No. 3921 arrives at Truk.
3 October 1943:
Departs Truk in convoy 4003 consisting of CHIHAYA, HAKOZAKI, ASAHISAN and SHIGANOURA MARUs escorted by Oki.
10 October 1943:
OKI discovers one torpedo wake, drops depth charges, but results are unknown.
12 October 1943:
Convoy No. 4003 arrives at Yokosuka.
20 October 1943:
Departs Yokosuka in convoy 3020 consisting of KEMBU, UYO and AKIBASAN MARUs escorted by OKI.
21 October 1943:
OKI detects enemy sub and drops depth charges with unknown results
24 October 1943:
OKI detects enemy sub and drops depth charges with unknown results
26 October 1943:
OKI detects enemy sub and drops depth charges with unknown results
31 October 1943:
The convoy arrives at Truk.
2 November 1943:
OKI departs Truk in convoy 4102 consisting of KINUGASA MARU.
5 November 1943:
HIYOSHI MARU and destroyer IKAZUCHI join the convoy.
8 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
14 November 1943:
At 1400, OKI departs Yokosuka with destroyer YUKIKAZE escorting fleet convoy 3115 consisting of transport (ex-sub tender) HEIAN MARU, food supply ship IRAKO and aircraft transport KEIYO MARU.
15 November 1943:
OKI is reassigned to the General Escort Command's Second Surface Escort Division.
16 November 1943:
Lookouts on HEIAN MARU sight a submarine (probably USS DACE (SS-247) travelling in the opposite direction.
19 November 1943:
The convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Captain/victor over SHINANO) Joseph Enright's (USNA ’33) USS DACE on her first patrol. Enright targets HEIAN MARU. A torpedo barely misses the bow of OKI. She counter-attacks with three depth-charges. At 0724, a periscope is sighted 800 meters off the port beam. OKI attacks the submarine and drops four DCs; then contact is lost. After 1130, she detects a submarine and drops two DCs. Even HEIAN MARU drops a DC, but USS DACE escapes undamaged.
23 November 1943:
OKI detects enemy sub and drops depth charges with unknown results, later this day, at 1550, arrives at Truk.
25 November 1943:
At 1400, departs Truk escorting convoy No. 4125 consisting of TAMASHIMA MARU.
3 December 1943:
OKI and the convoy arrive at Yokosuka.
11 December 1943:
At 1000, convoy 3211A departs Yokosuka consisting of auxiliary storeship SHINYO, MITAKESAN and HAKOZAKI MARUs escorted by OKI, patrol boat PB-46 and submarine chaser CH-31.
14 December 1943:
HAKOZAKI MARU is detached for Chichi-Jima with engine trouble, together with auxiliary storeship SHINYO MARU.
20 December 1943:
MITAKESAN MARU escorted by OKI and possibly CH-31 arrives at Truk.
21 December 1943:
OKI departs Truk with destroyer MICHISHIO for an anti-sub sweep.
24 December 1943:
At 0800, the rest of convoy 3211A arrives at Truk. That same day OKI arrives back at Truk.
27 December 1943:
At 0535, OKI departs Truk with patrol boat PB-46 escorting convoy 4226 onsisting of ammunition carrier KOGYO MARU.
30 December 1943:
OKI catches sonar echo from enemy submarine and drops depth charges, but results are unknown.
2 January 1944:
Arrives Chichi-Jima and departs later that day.
5 January 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
8 January 1944:
LtCdr Ouchi Shigefumi is appointed CO.
11 January 1944:
LtCdr Ouchi arrives on board OKI and assumes command.
20 January 1944:
OKI departs Yokosuka for Truk escorting convoy No. 3120 consisting of HOKI, SAN FRANCISCO and KOWA MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 6. The convoy stops at Tateyama.
21 January 1944:
Kaibokan MANJU joins the escort. The convoy departs Tateyama.
22 January 1944:
An enemy submarine is detected and MANJU drops 20 depth charges with unknown results.
29 January 1944:
After several submarine contacts the convoy diverts to Saipan and arrives there and shelters.
31 January 1944:
Departs Saipan.
1 February 1944:
In response to a submarine contact MANJU drops depth charges.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Truk.
13 February 1944:
OKI departs Truk for Yokosuka with kaibokan MANJU and subchaser CH-31 escorting convoy 4212 consisting of fleet oiler NOTORO, stores supply ship IRAKO and TATSUURA and HIBI MARUs.
27 February 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 March 1944:
Departs Yokohama with kaibokan MANJU and auxiliary submarine chaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 escorting No. 3301A convoy consisting of TATSUHARU, BINGO and KEIYO MARUs
4 March 1944:
Arrives at Futami, Chichi-Jima.
5 March 1944:
At 0800, departs Chichi-Jima with kaibokan MANJU and auxiliary submarine chaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 escorting "Higashi Matsu 1A" convoy consisting of TATSUHARU, BINGO and KEIYO MARUs.
12 March 1944:
At 1400, the convoy arrives at Truk.
17 March 1944:
OKI departs Truk escorting a convoy consisting of sub tender TSUKUSHI MARU and transports KAZUURA, IMIZU MARUs and minelayer YURISHIMA.
24 March 1944:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs later that day.
27 March 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 April 1944:
At 1100, OKI, departs Tokyo Bay as part of the escort of convoy Higashi-Matsu No. 4. The ships and their destinations are: Saipan: SHOUN, TOKO, TAKASAN, AKIKAWA KOKO, SHIRAMINE, TAIKAI, KAKOGAWA and MAKASSAR MARUS. Guam: MIMASAKA, TOAN, AZUCHISAN and NISSU MARU s and UNYO MARU No. 8 Truk: Fleet supply ship KINESAKI, SHOZUI, TATBEI, SHIMA, SHINYO and HAVRE MARU s. Palau: Fleet supply ship MAMIYA, TENRYUGAWA, TAIAN and TOSEI MARU s and SHINSEI MARU No. 5 Yap: SHINSEI MARU. The convoy commander is Rear Admiral Kiyota Takahiko (42)(former CO of NACHI) in destroyer SAMIDARE. The other escorts include destroyer ASANAGI, torpedo-boat HIYODORI, kaibokan AMAKUSA, MIKURA, FUKUE, CD-2, CD-3 and subchaser CH-50.
3 April 1944:
5 miles S of Tori-Shima. At about 1457, LtCdr Lewellen's (USNA ’31) USS POLLACK torpedoes and sinks TOSEI MARU at 30-14N, 139-45E. Only one passenger is KIA. The escorts counterattack USS POLLACK and drop 55 depth charges unsuccessfully.
8 April 1944:
N of Saipan. At 0228 (JST), LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Frederick J. Harlfinger's (USNA ’37) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) fires four torpedoes at the convoy, but fails to get any hits. While the troopships are diverted to the west, OKI and SAMIDARE counter-attack with depth-charges. Harlfinger runs at 300 feet or more for 17 hours as six escorts dog his trail and rain down numerous depth charges. Six DCs explode extremely close by and damage USS TRIGGER.
9 April 1944:
62 miles WNW of Saipan. At 1625, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter's (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and hits MIMASAKA MARU at 15-30N, 145-00E. MIMASAKA MARU is taken in tow by TOAN MARU. The escorts counterattack USS SEAHORSE unsuccessfully.
10 April 1944:
At about 0100 (JST), MIMASAKA MARU founders. She is carrying over 1,000 Naval personnel, most of whom are rescued, but seven troops and 11 crewmen are KIA. The convoy arrives at Saipan, then is split into separate groups that continue on to their respective destinations.
15 April 1944:
At 1400, OKI departs Saipan with destroyer ASANAGI, torpedo-boat HIYODORI, and subchaser CH-50 escorting the return of convoy "Higashi-Matsu No. 4" consisting of MAKASSAR, SHIRAMINE, TAKASAN, TOKO, KAKOGAWA, NISSHU and TAIKAI MARUs and UNYO MARU No. 8.
23 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokyo.
4 May 1944:
At 1400, OKI departs Tateyama, Tokyo Bay for Saipan with destroyers ASANAGI, MINAZUKI, torpedo boat OTORI, kaibokan CD-24, subchasers CH-31, CH-32 and CH-52 and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 escorting convoy No. 3503 consisting of KEIYO, HAKOZAKI, NICHIWA, ENOSHIMA, MINO, OSAKA, TAIKOKU, FUKKO, TATSUTAGAWA. SHINFUKU, FUKOKU, KOHO, KOJUN and SHUNSEN MARUs.
10 May 1944:
WSW of Iwo Jima. At 1743, LtCdr Russell Kefauver’s (USNA ’33) USS TAMBOR (SS-198) torpedoes and damages KEIYO MARU, but she is able to continue. The escorts drop 57 depth charges on USS TAMBOR, but she evades and escapes.
14 May 1944:
W of Tinian. At 0515, OKI, torpedo boat OTORI, and auxiliary subchaser SHONAN MARU No. 8 are detached to escort KOHO and SHUNSEN MARUs to Guam.
SW of Apra harbor, Guam. At 1431, LtCdr Malcolm E. Garrison’s (USNA ’32) USS SAND LANCE (SS-381) torpedoes and sinks KOHO MARU at 13-43N, 144-42E. Seven gunners and 43 crewmen are KIA. The escorts depth charge USS SAND LANCE, but she survives and escapes. Later that day, the escorts and SHUNSEN MARU arrive at Guam.
20 May 1944:
At 1800, OKI departs Saipan with kaibokan NOMI and subchaser CH-30 escorting convoy Higashi Matsu No. 8 consisting of MANJU, TOSAN and NOTO MARUs,
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Tokyo.
June 1944:
Yokosuka. A Type 13 air search radar is installed.
6 June 1944:
OKI departs Yokosuka for Saipan with kaibokan AMAKUSA and NOMI, destroyer MATSUKAZE, torpedo boat CHIDORI (part way only), auxiliary minesweepers SHOWA MARU No. 7 and SHOWA MARU No. 8and subchasers CH-16 and CH-18 escorting convoy No. 3606 consisting of SUGIYAMA, SHINROKU, KANSEISHI, KAIKO, AWAJI, YAMATAMA, DAITEN, RYUKO, TOYOKAWA, TOKO, SHOZUI, MIHO and HAKUYO MARUs. Soon after leaving SUGIYAMA MARU is attacked and damaged by LtCdr (later Captain) James B. Grady's (USNA ’33) USS WHALE (SS-239) at 31-06N, 142-24E, but the ship is taken in tow.
9 June 1944:
NE of Chichi-Jima. LtCdr Edmund K. Montross' (USNA ’35) USS SWORDFISH (SS-193) torpedoes and sinks MATSUKAZE at 26-59N, 143-13E. The convoy steams to Chichi-Jima arriving later that day. It is decided to unload the convoy and return to Yokosuka.
14 June 1944:
At 0100, OKI departs Chichi-Jima with destroyer SATSUKI, kaibokan AMAKUSA and NOMI and auxiliary minesweepers SHOWA MARU Nos.7 and No. 8 escorting the "Miho Maru" convoy consisting of MIHO, KANSEISHI, TOYOKAWA and AWAJI MARUs.
15 June 1944:
About 150 km SE of Tori Shima. At 0103, LtCdr Montross' (USNA ’35) USS SWORDFISH torpedoes and sinks KANSEISHI MARU at 29-30N, 141-14E. Only two men are KIA. The convoy puts into Yaene Wan, Hachijo Jima for safety departing later that day at 1800.
17 June 1944:
At 1400, arrives at Nagaura near Yokosuka abnd remains there for the rest of the month.
2 July 1944:
At 1800, OKI departs Yokosuka for Chichi-Jima with light-cruiser YASOJIMA, kaibokan AMAKUSA, minesweeper W-20, auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No.7, auxiliary subchaser CHa-9 and an unknown warship escorting convoy No. 3702 consisting of SHIBAZONO, EIKO, DAIJI, RYUKO and YAEI MARUs, UNKAI MARU No.7 and Oil Tanker No. 3995. The convoy first stops at Tateyama.
3 July 1944:
Departs Tateyama.
4 July 1944:
After receiving reports of an enemy carrier task force conducting raids on Chichi-Jima, the convoy reverses course for the homeland and later is dissolved. OKI and the other ships arrive at Hachijo Jima later that day.
5 July 1944:
The convoy is reorganized and renumbered 3706. It now consists of SHIBAZONO and YAEI MARUs, UNKAI MARU No.7 and Oil Tanker No. 3995 escorted by YASOJIMA, OKI, auxiliary subchaser SEKI MARU No. 2 and subchaser CH-52.
6 July 1944:
At 0645, convoy No. 3706 departs Hachijo-Jima.
7 July 1944:
At 0700, arrives at Chichi-Jima.
10 July 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
14 July 1944:
Arrives at Nagaura.
18 July 1944:
Reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
21 July 1944:
Departs Nagaura and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
22 July 1944:
At 1500, OKI departs Tateyama with ex Chinese cruisers (re-rated Coast Defense ships) YASOJIMA and IOJIMA, auxiliary submarine chaser SEKI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No. 7 escorting convoy No. 3720 consisting of SHIBAZONO MARU and NANYO MARU No. 1.
26 July 1944:
At 0500, arrives at Chichi-Jima.
29 July 1944:
At 1200, departs Chichi-Jima with ex Chinese cruisers (re-rated Coast Defence ships) YASOJIMA and IOJIMA, and auxiliary minesweeper SHOWA MARU No. 7 escorting convoy No. 4729 consisting of SHIBAZONO MARU and TOKAI MARU No. 4.
2 August 1944:
At 0900, arrives at Yokosuka.
August 1944:
Yokosuka. Four additional Type 93 13-mm AA machine guns are installed.
10 August 1944:
Departs Yokosuka.
13 August 1944:
Early that day arrives and at At 1647 OKI departs Chichi-Jima with auxiliary submarine chaser SEKI MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper KEINAN MARU escorting convoy No.4813 consisting of KYUSHU MARU and NANYO MARU No. 1.
14 August 1944:
At 1415, NANYO MARU No. 1 suffers a breakdown and is taken in tow by KYUSHU MARU.
18 August 1944:
At 1200, the convoy arrives off Tateyama and departs from there at 1405. At 1650 the convoy arrives at Yokosuka.
19 August 1944:
Undertakes repairs for the rest of the month.
1 September 1944:
OKI departs Yokohama for Chichi-Jima with torpedo-boat CHIDORI and subchaser CH-51 escorting convoy No. 3901 consisting of KYUSHU MARU and TOKAI MARU No. 4. Later that day arrives at Tateyama.
2 September 1944:
Departs Tateyama.
3 September 1944:
Arrives back at Tateyama.
5 September 1944:
Departs Tateyama.
6 September 1944:
Arrives at Hachijo Jima and departs later that day.
10 September 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
11 September 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima for Yokosuka with torpedo-boat CHIDORI escorting convoy No. 4910B consisting of HASSHO MARU. At 1030, that same day, the convoy is attacked by three B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers . Near-misses by bombs damage HASSHO MARU so severely that she has to be abandoned and scuttled by gunfire.
13 September 1944:
At 1150, arrives at Yokosuka.
20 September 1944:
At 1200, departs Yokohama escorting convoy No.3920 consisting of YONEYAMA MARU I GO and KAIKO MARU. The convoy stops at Tateyama.
21 September 1944:
Departs Tateyama.
26 September 1944:
At 0200, arrives and then immediately departs Chichi-Jima with destroyer HATAKAZE escorting convoy No. 4926 consisting of JUZAN MARU I GO for Yokosuka.
30 September 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 October 1944:
At 0800, OKI departs Yokosuka for Iwo Jima with subchaser CH-51 escorting convoy No. 3009 consisting of MUTSUKI MARU.
16 October 1944:
The convoy arrives at Chichi-Jima and embarks 120 troops.
18 October 1944:
At 0800, the convoy departs Chichi-Jima. At 0930, the convoy arrives at Haha-Jima, but while waiting to unlaod troops, is attacked by a force of B-24 "Liberators". MUTSUKI MARU suffers several near-misses by 500-lb bombs. She floods and, at 1200, has to be beached, a total loss.
19 October 1944:
OKI and submarine chaser CH-51 depart Chichi-Jima escorting convoy No. 4019 consisting of SHOTO MARU for Yokohama.
23 October 1944:
Arrives at Yokohama.
12 November 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and later that day arrives at Tateyama.
13 November 1944:
At 0700, departs Tateyama in convoy 3112 consisting of KISARAGI and HOKKAI MARUs escorted by OKI, auxiliary submarine chaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 8.
16 November 1944:
At 0300, LtCdr Frederick A. Gunn’s (USNA ’34) USS SCABBARDFISH (SS-397) torpedoes and sinks KISARAGI MARU at 29-03N, 142-12E. 14 men are KIA.
17 November 1944:
At 0700, arrives at Chichijima.
18 November 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima for Yokosuka with auxiliary subchasers TAKUNAN MARU No. 6 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 escorting convoy No. 4118 consisting of HOKKAI and KYUSHU MARUs.
21 November 1944:
At 2120, LtCdr Gunn’s USS SCABBARDFISH torpedoes and sinks HOKKAI MARU at 33-20N, 142-00E. 33 men are KIA.
USS SCABBARDFISH also torpedoes and blows the bow off OKI at 33-20N, 142-01E. Engineering officer LtCdr Okabe Zempachi and 34 sailors are killed in the explosion and four wounded.
23 November 1944:
At 0930, the convoy arrives at Yokosuka without OKI.
24 November 1944:
OKI also arrives under tow by another unidentified kaibokan.
November 1944:
Tokyo. Undergoes repairs, probably at Uraga Dock yard.These are still underway throughout January 1945 and complete at an unknown date.
February 1945:
LtCdr Ishikawa Mutsuo (60) assumes command.
5 March 1945:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Escort Fleet's 103rd Escort Squadron.
9 March 1945:
At 0500 departs Yokosuka.
12 March 1945:
At 2100 arrives at Moji.
13 March 1945:
At 1805 departs Moji.
14 March 1945:
At 0500 begins escorting a convoy (possibly consisting of JAKARUTA MARU) with destroyer HARUZUKI and submarine chaser CH-19.
15 March 1945:
At 1534 arrives at Hikin Do (Pigim To), Korea.
20 March 1945:
At 1045 departs Hikin Do on an anti submarine sweep.
1 April 1945:
At 1530 arrives back at Hikin Do.
4 April 1945:
At 0830 transfers from Hikin Do to Moppo (Mokpo).
7 April 1945:
At 1427 transfers from Moppo to Hikin Do.
8 April 1945:
At 1210 departs Hikin Do on an anti submarine sweep.
11 April 1945:
At 1044 arrives back at Hikin Do.
12 April 1945:
At 0915 departs Hikin Do on patrol.
14 April 1945:
At 1350 arrives at Daito Wan and departs at 1600.
16 April 1945:
At 1950 arrives at Seito (Tsingtao).
19 April 1945:
At 0710 departs Seito with destroyer KURI, gunboat OKITSU, auxiliary submarine chasers CHa-220 and CHa-240 and submarine chaser CH-21 escorting MO-705 Part 1 convoy consisting of YAMAZONO, AWA, TOYOKAWA, SHINYO and KEIZO (KEIJO?) MARUs. Meets up with minesweeper W-20 on or soon after departure.
20 April 1945:
At 1330 the convoy arrives at Daito Wan and departs at 1500.
21 April 1945:
At 1155 CH-21 and W-20 are detached.
24 April 1945:
At 0600 TOYOKAWA MARU is detached direct for Chinkai.
25 April 1945:
At 1016 arrives at Hikin Do. The 1st part convoy departs at 2330 with CD-39 as escort. Submarine Chaser CH-21, OKI, CD-25 and CD-219 escort MO-705 Part 2 consisting of KOCHO, GYOSHI (ex Dutch REAEL), HENGSHAN, GAKUJO, KAIJUN and TOYU MARUs, YORO MARU No. 2 and tanker RYUEI MARU No. 3.
27 April 1945:
At 1440 the convoy arrives at Chinkai.
30 April 1945:
At 1000 OKI, CD-39 and submarine chaser CH-21 depart Chinkai.
5 May 1945:
Off Inchon, Korea. OKI is damaged by Consolidated PB4Y "Liberator" heavy bombers and Martin PBM "Mariner" patrol bombers of Fleet Air Wing 1 at 37-36N, 126-00E.
2 June 1945:
At 1700, departs Pusan, Korea for Tsingtao, China with kaibokan CD-13 escorting convoy FUTA-01 consisting of YAHIKO MARU.
3 June 1945:
At 1015, the convoy is attacked by aircraft, but does not sustain damage. At 1355, the convoy anchors at Kai Island, SW Korea. OKI is detached and returns to Pusan.
20 June 1945:
OKI departs Tsingtao with kaibokan CD-72 and an unidentified minesweeper escorting convoy TAFU consisting of TAIUN MARU No. 1, KONRI GO, SHINNEISHO GO, CHOKO MARU and an unidentified ship.
1 July 1945:
Yellow Sea, near Changshan Got. At 1100, in dense fog, the convoy is ambushed by LtCdr Frank C. Lynch's (USNA ’38) USS HADDO (SS-255) on the surface in very shallow water. Lynch torpedoes and sinks TAIUN MARU No. 1. Eight men are KIA. Lynch then torpedoes and sinks KONRI GO. Six passengers, eight guards and 17 crewmen are KIA. USS HADDO also torpedoes and sinks SHINNEISHO GO, two crewmen are KIA.
The fog lifts somewhat and one of the kaibokan charges USS HADDO. The kaibokan passes USS HADDO on a reciprocal course firing all its guns. Lynch orders flank speed and dives when the water reaches a depth of only 80 feet. The two kaibokan follow. Lynch stops his engines and fires two new Mark-27 acoustic "Cutie" acoustic homing torpedoes. One hits CD-72 aft and sinks her. OKI breaks off her attack to rescue survivors.
10 July 1945:
OKI and the 103rd Squadron is reassigned to Vice Admiral Kishi Fukuji's (40)(former CO of FUSO) Seventh Fleet.
July 1945:
LtCdr Okami Kazuo assumes command.
19 August 1945:
Off Pusan harbor. OKI is damaged by a mine.
20 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1 December 1945:
Assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service. [1]
8 April 1946:
Departs Sasebo on her first repatriation voyage.
19 April 1946:
Arrives at Rabaul. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
21 April 1946:
Departs Rabaul.
25 April 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
30 April 1946 :
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
3 May 1946:
Departs Uraga.
10 May 1946:
Arrives at Saigon. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
13 May 1946:
Departs Saigon.
15 May 1946:
Arrives at Bangkok. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 May 1946:
Departs Bangkok.
22 May 1946:
Arrives at Takao. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
23 May 1946:
Departs Takao.
25 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 June 1946-20 June 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Sasebo.
2 July 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
5 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima near Tsientsin. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
6 July 1946:
Departs Korojima.
9 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
14 July 1946:
Departs Hakata.
17 July 1946:
Arrives at Koniya. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
21 July 1946:
Departs Koniya.
24 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 August-19 August 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Sasebo.
21 August 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
25 August 1946:
Arrives at Korojima.Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
29 August 1946:
Departs Korojima.
1 September 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
8 September 1946:
Departs Hakata.
11 September 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
14 September 1946:
Departs Korojima.
18 September 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
24 September 1946:
Departs Hakata.
27 September 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
29 September 1946:
Departs Korojima.
2 October 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
12 October 1946:
Departs Hakata.
15 October 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
20 October 1946:
Departs Korojima.
23 October 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
28 October 1946:
Departs Hakata.
30 October 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
31 October 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
1 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
3 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
9 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
12 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
23 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
25 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
28 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
1 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
2 December 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
4 December 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 August 1947:
Handed over to Nationalist China at Tsingtao and renamed KU AN.
1949:
Taken over by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and renamed CH' ANG PAI.
1955:
Rearmed by the PRC Navy.
1976:
Rearmed and refitted by the PRC Navy.
1982:
Stricken from the Navy List and scrapped soon thereafter.
Authors' Notes:
[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 destinatio
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks also go to Mr. Aki of Japan and Matthew Jones of Ohio for help in identifying kaibokan COs. Thanks also go to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany
for new info on convoy 3921, Bill Somerville for information on convoy 4102, and to Gengoro Toda of Japan for information on convoy 4227. Many thanks again go to Erich Muehthaler for new info on convoys in Rev 12.
of Germany for the almost complete rewrite of the TROM in in Rev 8.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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