© 2007-2018 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 15
24 May 1919:
Laid down at Fujinagata Shipbuilding, Osaka.
27 November 1920:
Launched and named FUJI.
31 May 1921:
Completed. Attached to Kure Naval District.
1 June 1921:
Assigned to DesDiv 15.
15 November 1921:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Shibata Genichi (51) is appointed the CO.
14 September 1922:
Off Cape Kamui, Hokkaido. During a simulated torpedo attack in limited visibility DesDiv 15's flagship FUJI collides with the battlecruiser KIRISHIMA. At 2019, FUJI, making 27 kts, grazes the starboard side of BatDiv 2's KIRISHIMA, steaming at 16 kts. The destroyer receives minor damage: the rivets in a bulkhead between two aft crew spaces are loosened and the port propeller blades are damaged. No sailors are injured and no flooding occurrs.
1 December 1923:
LtCdr (later Capt) Iwahara Morie (36) is appointed the CO.
20 August 1924:
LtCdr (later VAdm) Fujita Ruitaro (38)(former CO of NASHI) is appointed the CO.
1 February 1926:
LtCdr Takeda Kiyogo (38) is appointed the CO.
10 December 1928:
LtCdr (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Shimazaki Toshio (44) assumes command.
15 November 1930:
LtCdr Shimazaki assumes joint command of HAGI.
1 December 1930:
An unknown officer assumes command.
1 December 1931:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Okamoto Yoshisuke (47) (former CO of RO-53) assumes command.
21 January 1932:
DesDiv 15 departs Kure for Shanghai in company of light cruiser OI and others.
24 January 1932:
Arrives at Shanghai; later patrols on Yangtze River.
10 March 1932:
An unknown officer assumes command.
30 September 1933:
Lt (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Takahashi Kameshiro (49) assumes command.
15 November 1933:
Lt Takahashi is promoted LtCdr.
15 November 1934:
An unknown officer assumes command.
15 September 1938:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Narizawa Chinao (52) is appointed the CO. [1]
1939:
One of three Kampon boilers is removed reducing speed to 18 knots. Additionally, her torpedo tubes, aft 4.7-inch/45 cal main gun and minesweeping gear are removed. 25mm AA guns and depth charge racks and throwers are fitted for 60 DCs. Extra ballast is added to compensate for the loss of topside weight and to increase stability. The changes increase her displacement to 935-tons.
1 April 1940:
Reclassified as a special duty patrol boat and renumbered PB-36.
1941:
PB-36 undergoes reconstruction to become a high speed transportation warship. Her aft funnel is removed and her stem is cut down to form a ramp. She is fitted to carry and launch a 46-ft Daihatsu landing craft. Her forward interior spaces are modified to accommodate up to 150 troops. The number of DCs carried is reduced to 18. Her 25mm AA suite is increased.
20 November 1941:
Reassigned to PatDiv 1.
22 December 1941:
At 1907 departs Davao escorting the invasion convoy consisting of EIKO and KOSHIN MARUs to Jolo.
24 December 1941:
At 2345 anchors off Jolo.
25 December 1941:
Stands off Jolo during the landings.
1 January 1942:
At 1827 departs Jolo escorting the invasion convoy back to Davao.
7 January 1942: The Invasion of Dutch Borneo:
PB-36, PB-37 and P-38 depart Davao, Philippines escorting Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (39) (former CO of AOBA) Tarakan Occupation Force carrying MajGen Sakaguchi Shizuo’s 56th Mixed Infantry Group (Sakaguchi Brigade) and the Kure No. 2 SNLF aboard Army transports TSURUGA, LIVERPOOL, HAVANA, KURETAKE, NICHIAI, HITERU, TEIRYU (ex German AUGSBURG), HANKOW and EHIME MARUs, Navy transports KUNIKAWA, KANO, KAGU, KOKUYO and RAKUTO MARUs. Other escorts include MineSweepDiv 11’s W-13, W-14, W-15, W-16, MineSweepDiv 30’s W-17, W-18 and SubChasDiv 31’s CH-10, CH-11, CH-12 and other auxiliary ships.
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji’s (39) (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 4’s light cruiser NAKA with DesDiv 2’s HARUSAME, SAMIDARE, YUDACHI and MURUSAME, DesDiv 9’s ASAGUMO and MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24’s UMIKAZE, KAWAKAZE, YAMAKAZE and SUZUKAZE provide close cover. The 21st Air Flotilla’s seaplane tenders SANYO and SANUKI MARUs provide air cover.
11 January 1942:
Hirose's Force invades Tarakan.
12 January 1942:
PB-36 assists destroyer YAMAKAZE in shelling and sinking Dutch minelayer KNS PRINS VAN ORANJE by gunfire.
21 January 1942:
PB-36 departs Tarakan with PB-37 and PB-38, minesweepers W-16, W-17 and W-18 and subchasers CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 escorting 16 transports carrying the Sakaguchi Brigade’s Balikpapan, Borneo Invasion Force. Light cruiser NAKA provides cover with DesDiv 2's YUDACHI, SAMIDARE, HARUSAME, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MURASAME, MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO and DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, YAMAKAZE and UMIKAZE.
ABDA (American-British-Dutch-Australian) forces air reconnaissance is hampered by poor weather, but ABDA Air locates the IJN invasion force. ABDA deploys submarines USS S-40, USS PORPOISE (SS-172), USS PICKEREL (SS-177), USS STURGEON (SS-187), USS SAURY (SS-189) and USS SPEARFISH (SS-190) and Dutch submarines KNS K-XIV and
KNS K-XVIII to intercept the IJN force.
Timor, Kupang Bay. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) William A. Glassford's Task Force 5's light cruisers USS MARBLEHEAD (CL-12), USS BOISE (CL-47) and Cdr Paul H. Talbot's DesDiv 59's old destroyers USS PARROTT (DD-218), USS POPE (DD-225), USS JOHN D. FORD (DD-228) and USS PAUL JONES (DD-230) are ordered by ADBA Command to stop the IJN invasion force before it reaches Balikpapan.
Glassford heads north to find the IJN invasion force, but USS BOISE runs aground on an uncharted reef in the Sape Strait. She is forced to retire for repairs. USS MARBLEHEAD develops engine trouble and can make no more than 15 knots. DesDiv 59 is detached and increases speed to 27 knots to arrive at Balikpapan at midnight on January 23rd.
23 January 1942: The Invasion of Balikpapan, Borneo:
Storms protect the IJN invasion force until it is almost to Balikpapan. At 1525, nine Dutch Martin Model 166 (B-10) bombers from Samarinda attack and hit transports TATSUGAMI and NANA MARU. The latter has to be abandoned and later sinks. TATSUGAMI MARU continues on to Balikpapan. At 2130, the transports begin disembarking troops.
24 January 1942:
Dutch Navy LtCdr C. A. J. van Well Groeneveld's (former CO of K-XIV) submarine KNS K-XVIII, operating on the surface due to the weather, fires four bow torpedoes at NAKA, but they all miss. At 0045, Groeneveld attacks and sinks transport TSURUGA MARU at 00-10N, 118-0E. 38 troops and a single crewman are killed. Nishimura moves his covering force eastwards to carry out antisubmarine sweeps.
Cdr Talbot's DesDiv 59 arrives from the south. Since Nishimura's covering forces are to the east searching for submarines, the four destroyers are virtually unopposed. At 0316, they begin their first attack firing their 4-inch guns and launching ten torpedoes at the anchored transports, but all their torpedoes miss.
Talbot orders another attack. At 0330, USS POPE hits and sinks transport SUMANOURA MARU. The ship explodes and 9 passengers, and the ship’s whole Navy crew are obliterated. At 0335, USS PARROTT and USS PAUL JONES torpedo and sink already damaged transport TATSUGAMI MARU. Four crewmen are killed. At 0345, USS JOHN D. FORD sinks transport KURETAKE MARU with gunfire and torpedoes. The ship was carrying a total of 1500 infantry of the 56th Mixed Regimental Group (Sakaguchi Brigade) of whom 180 (including some shipping engineers) are killed. Two other transports suffer damage from gunfire and torpedoes but remain afloat. USS POPE and USS PARROTT sink the 2nd Base Force's patrol boat PB-37 with torpedoes and gunfire.
At 0350, their torpedoes gone, DesDiv 59 departs southward. Aboard NAKA, Rear Admiral Nishimura, alerted to the ABDA surface forces attacking the transports, abandons the antisubmarine sweep and heads west at high speed in an unsuccessful pursuit of the American destroyers.
24 January 1942:
At 0300, Rear Admiral Hirose’s No. 2 Base Force begins landing troops at Balikpapan. SANUKI and SANYO MARUs provide air cover. That same day, troops invade Kendari, Celebes.
7 February 1942:
PB-36 and auxiliaries KAINAN MARU No. 3 and EIKO MARU No. 2 provide escort for auxiliary seaplane tender SANUKI MARU as she operates off Macassar.
24 February 1942:
At Macassar stored by storeship SENDAI MARU.
26 February 1942:
At 1015 departs Macassar.
27 February 1942:
At 1300 arrives at Balikpapan.
28 February 1942:
At 0700 departs Balikpapan.
1 March 1942:
At 0830 arrives at "Pa-ra-ba"
6 March 1942:
Auxiliary gunboat EIKO MARU No. 2 and PB-36 arrive at Awar Awar, Java (near Kragan).
18 March 1942:
PB-36 and PB-34 are assigned to the Guard Force of the Christmas Island Seizure Force with light cruiser NAKA, DesDiv 9's MINEGUMO and NATSUGUMO and transports KIMISHIMA and KUMAGAWA MARUs.
26 March 1942:
At 1700 KIMISHIMA MARU arrives at Macassar and departs at 1900 the same day escorted by patrol boat PB-36.
29 March 1942: Operation "X" - The Invasion of Christmas Island:
PB-36 and PB-34 depart Bantam Bay, Java with the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet's Occupation Force under ComDesRon 4 Rear Admiral Nishimura. The Occupation Force consists of flagship NAKA, CruDiv 16's light cruisers NAGARA and NATORI, DesDiv 9's MINEGUMO and NATSUGUMO, DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE, DesDiv 22's SATSUKI, MINAZUKI, FUMITSUKI and NAGATSUKI, oiler AKEBONO MARU and transports KIMISHIMA and KUMAGAWA MARUs carrying about 850 men of the 21st, 24th Special Base Forces and the 102nd Construction Unit.
31 March 1942:
At 0945, Nishimura lands men of the 21st, 24th Special Base Forces and 102nd Construction Unit and occupies the island. The small British-Indian garrison surrenders at once. The phosphate-rich island is too small on which to build a port or an airstrip.
1 April 1942:
Off Christmas Island. NAKA is torpedoed and damaged extensively by USS SEAWOLF (SS-197).
Later that day KIMISHIMA MARU departs Christmas Island for Bantam Bay, Java escorted by patrol boat PB-34.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Bantam Bay and departs the same day for Surabaya.
6 April 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
3 May 1942:
PB-36 arrives at Kure.
5 June 1942:
Departs Moji with destroyer YUNAGI, minelayer HIRASHIMA, auxiliary gunboat KAHOKU MARU escorting FS convoy consisting of OIGAWA, ARIZONA, MYOKO, BRISBANE, KAZUURA, SANKO and YASUKAWA MARUs.
10 June 1942:
PB-36 and all escorts except YUNAGI are detached and return to Japan.
7 August 1942:
At 0900 PB-36 departs Sasebo for Rabaul.
21 August 1942:
PB-36, PB-38 and PB-39 arrive at Rabaul.
25 September 1942 :
At 1800 departs Buin escorting auxiliary seaplane tender SANUKI MARU.
26 September 1942:
At 1450 arrives at Rabaul.
22 October 1942:
At 1700 departs Shortland escorting auxiliary seaplane tender SANUKI MARU.
23 October 1942:
At 1500 arrives at Rabaul.
11 November 1942:
Departs Shortland escorting auxiliary seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU towards Truk.
13 November 1942:
PB-36 arrives back at Shortland. At 1700 separts Shortland escorting auxiliary seaplane tender SANUKI MARU.
14 November 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Rabaul.
20 December 1942:
At 1930 arrives at Buin but departs at 2015.
30 December 1942:
Undertakes a transport run to Rekata with two Daihatsus.
5 January 1943:
Rekata Bay, Fauro Anchorage, Santa Isabel, Solomons. After a successful US air-raid, fire extinguishing operations on damaged auxiliary seaplane tender SANYO MARU are completed with help from destroyers KUROSHIO and OYASHIO and Patrol Boat PB-36
7 January 1943:
The fire in the crew's accommodation on SANYO MARU breaks out again, but is extinguished with help from patrol boat PB-36.
17 January 1943:
Departs Saeki escorting convoy "U "consisting of YAMATO, MEIKAI, MOMOHA, INDUS, NAGANO and KIRIHA MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-36 and subchaser CH-31.
E 19 January 1943:
At 29 degrees N, the two escorts are detached from the convoy.
22 February 1943:
At 0800 PB-36 departs Sasebo escorting convoy No. 130 that had departed Moji the night before consisting of TAGONOURA, CHOKO and KACHOSAN MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships. The convoy splits into three parts shortly after leaving port.
27 February 1943:
The first part arrives at Takao.
28 February 1943:
The second and third parts arrives at Takao, at 1530 for the seconf part.
4 March 1943:
At 0715 PB-36 departs Takao escorting convoy No. 237 consisting of IJN transport KOSEI MARU, IJN tankers HOKUAN and SHINSHU MARU and six unidentified merchant ships. At 1000 the convoy arrives at Mako.
5 March 1943:
At 1150 departs Mako still in convoy.
11 March 1943:
At 0855 arrives at Moji.
15 March 1943:
At 1000 PB-36 departs Moji escorting convoy No. 137 consisting of SHOKO (MATSUE), ROKKO, HIBI, HOKKO, HIROTA and KAYO MARUs.
19 March 1943:
HIROTA MARU is detached to Kirun.
20 March 1943 :
At 1020 arrives at Takao.
26 March 1943:
At 0900 PB-36 departs Takao escorting convoy No. 245 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
31 March 1943:
At 1800 arrives at Moji.
5 April 1943:
At 1300 departs Moji escorting convoy No. 144 consisting of TAMON, NIKKAKU, SHINSHU, SHOEI (2764 gt) SHOTO, ZUIYO and WAZAN MARUs. NIKKAKU MARU joins from Sasebo but the next day breaks down and remains at Tomie, later returning to Nagasaki.
E 6 April 1943:
At an unknown date/time off Hua Hiao Shan PB-36 is detached and replaced by destroyer KURI.
11 April 1943:
At 0845 arrives at Takao.
16 April 1943:
At 1400 PB-36 departs Takao escorting convoy No. 252 consisting of SHINSHU, SHOEI (2764 gt), RONSAN, GENOA, NICHIAI and JUYO MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
21 April 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Moji.
26 April 1943:
At 1300 PB-36 departs Moji escorting convoy No. 151 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
28 April 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Takao.
3 May 1943:
At 0900 departs Takao but returns at 1930.
8 May 1943:
At 0630 departs Takao and at 1200 arrives at Mako.
9 May 1943:
At 1400 departs Mako escorting convoy No. 391 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
14 May 1943:
At 1845 arrives at St Jacques.
18 May 1943:
At 1230 PB-36 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 3602 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
21 May 1943:
At 2100 arrives at Manila.
26 May 1943:
At 0800 departs Manila escorting convoy No. 850 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships
29 May 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
2 June 1943:
At 0715, PB-36 departs Takao as the sole escort for convoy No. 268 consisting of TSUSHIMA, WALES, FUJI, UCHIDE, SHOJIN, MIYO, REIYO, BATAVIA, YAMAHAGI, KAYO, KOSO and HEIAN MARUs.
5 June 1943:
At 1013, TSUSHIMA MARU is hit by a dud Mark 14-3A torpedo from LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Lawrence R. Daspit's (USNA ’27) USS TINOSA (SS-283), but is undamaged. PB-36 attacks with depth charges, but USS TINOSA escapes.
6 June 1943:
At 0925, MIYO MARU is detached for Jinsen (Inchon).
7 June 1943:
At 0740, arrives at Moji. At 1715 PB-36 departs Moji.
8 June 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Sasebo.
15 June 1943:
At 0650, PB-36 departs Sasebo escorting convoy No. 166 consisting of oilers GOYO, TACHIBANA, KIYO, HAKKO, CHIYODA, CHIHAYA and NICHIRIN MARUs and transports CEYLON, NORFOLK, SHOGEN, TAIAN and ISUZU MARUs.
18 June 1943:
At 1000, TAIAN MARU is detached for Kirun (Keelung), Formosa.
19 June 1943:
At 1400, arrives at Takao, Formosa. A portion of the convoy consisting of KIYO, HAKKO, CHIYODA, CHIHAYA, SHOGEN and NORFOLK MARUs escorted by PB-36 continues to Mako where they arrive at 1950.
20 June 1943:
At 0600 PB-36 departs Mako and at 1400 arrives at Takao.
21 June 1943:
At 0730 PB-36 and destroyer SHIOKAZE depart Takao on an anti submarine sweep.
22 June 1943:
At 1940 arrives back at Takao.
23 June 1943:
At 0815, PB-36 departs Takao for Moji escorting convoy No. 275 consisting of TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), SEKKO, MAEBASHI, SAN LUIS, TEIKAI (ex German FULDA), CHOJUN, YASUKUNI, ROKKO and RISSHUN MARUs.
29 June 1943:
At 0850, arrives at Moji.
7 July 1943:
At 1400, PB-36 and torpedo boat HAYABUSA depart Moji escorting convoy No. 173 consisting of MURORAN, ASAKA, RYUKO, TAIYU, HIROTA, GYOKUREI, KYOKKO, KOSHIN, NACHISAN MARUs and tankers ZUIYO MARU and KYOEI MARU No.2.
9 July 1943:
NACHISAN MARU is detached to Hong Kong.
13 July 1943:
At 0950 arrives at Takao.
17 July 1943:
At 0800, PB-36 departs Takao for Moji escorting convoy No. 283 consisting of KINREI, SHONAN, TOFUKU and HAGURO MARUs and KYOEI MARU No. 5. As a result of bad weather the convoy is ordered to anchor and arrives at Mako at 1840.
18 July 1943:
HITORA MARU (ex RAMONA) joins the convoy.
19 July 1943:
At 1000 departs Mako. HITORA MARU breaks down before departing and is left behind.
24 July 1943:
At 0000 HAGURO MARU detaches at Imari Wan for Jinsen. At 0850, the rest of the convoy arrives at Moji.
28 July 1943:
At 1430 PB-36 departs Mutsure ultimately with destroyer SANAE escorting convoy No. 181 consisting of ARATAMA, TAIRYU, KIRISHIMA, KONSAN, YASUKUNI (5794 gt), HAMBURG, TEIKA (ex-Vichy French CAP VARELLA), TAIAN (5410 gt), SUEZ, TONAN, KENSEI, RIKKO and SAN LUIS MARUs and five other unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sails in two parts with PB-36 escorting a contingent of ten ships. SANAE and the first contingent sails two days later and catches up en route.
30 July 1943:
At 1940 SAN LUIS MARU develops engine problems and returns to Moji. At 2250 the tanker TONAN MARU joins the convoy.
4 August 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Takao.
11 August 1943:
PB-36 departs Takao en route to St Jacques escorting the “U” convoy consisting of tankers SHOYO MARU, OGURA MARU No. 1, OGURA MARU No. 2 and three unidentified merchant ships.
12 August 1943:
PB-36 is detached and returns to Mako. At 1240, PB-36 departs Mako, Pescadores for Saigon, Indochina escorting convoy No. 315 consisting of SUEZ, TOSAN, BISAN, SUNGSHAN (SUZAN), BELGIUM, CHINKO, NIKKO, RISSHUN, CHILE, JAMBI, SEISHIN, KOKKO and WALES MARUs.
15 August 1943:
At 0500, KOKKO and WALES MARUs are detached for Keelung and Hong Kong respectively.
21 August 1943:
At 1005, arrives at Cap St. Jacques, then proceeds to Saigon.
24 August 1943:
PB-36 departs St Jacques escorting convoy No. 421 consisting of tankers RIKKO, RONSAN and TAKETOYO MARUs and cargo ships HAMBURG and SUGIYAMA MARUs.
30 August 1943:
At 1900 arrives at Mako.
3 September 1943:
At 0840, PB-36 departs Mako for Sasebo escorting convoy No. 299 consisting of GYOKUREI, COLUMBIA, HONAN, REIYO, NAPLES, ASO and HASSHU (YASHIMA) MARUs.
4 September 1943:
At 1540 SUGIYAMA and MATSUURA MARUs join the convoy at sea from Kirun.
7 September 1943:
At 0945 HASSHU (YASHIMA) MARU is detached for Pusan.
8 September 1943:
At 0700 detaches from convoy and at 1230, arrives at Sasebo.
11 September 1943:
At 0900 drydocked at No.1 Dock, Sasebo.
21 September 1943:
At 0900 undocked.
27 September 1943:
Repairs completed.
28 September 1943:
At 0600 departs Sasebo and at 1430 arrives at Mutsure. At 1615, PB-36 departs Mutsure for Takao escorting convoy No. 102 consisting of TEIRITSU, SUEZ, BELGIUM, CHIYODA, MISAKI, TAIAN, TEIFU, HAVRE, FRANCE and YUBAE MARUs.
29 September 1943:
At 1300 two of the above listed ships join the convoy from Miike.
3 October 1943:
At 1925, arrives at Takao.
8 October 1943:
At 1245 PB-36 departs Takao for Moji with destroyer HASU escorting convoy No. 210 consisting of MALTA, HOKKO, NORWAY, KOKKO, KOSHIN, YULIN, TOKUSHIMA, SHINNO and YAMABATO MARUs.
E 11 October 1943:
Off Niu Shan Islands HASU is detached.
13 October 1943:
At 1200 the kaibokan SADO relieves PB-36.
15 October 1943:
Arrives at Moji less SHINNO and YAMABATO MARUs that were detached earlier.
18 October 1943:
At 1420, PB-36 departs Moji for Takao escorting convoy No. 107 consisting of MURORAN, JINZAN, MANTAI, SAN PEDRO, KENSEI, NITTATSU, NICHINAN (2732 gt), HOKOKU, KOHOKU and MATSUEI (SHOEI) (1877 gt) MARUs, OGURA MARU No. 2 and SHINSEI MARU No. 1.
23 October 1943:
At 1245 arrives at Mako.
26 October 1943:
At 0720 departs Mako and at 1335 arrives at Takao.
29 October 1943:
At 1120, departs Takao escorting convoy No. 215 consisting of DURBAN, REIYO, TATSUWA, KOFUKU MARUs, tankers RIKKO and ZUIYO MARUs.
30 October 1943:
Arrives at and later that day departs Keelung. NICHIAN MARU joins convoy.
4 November 1943:
At 0740, arrives at Moji.
7 November 1943:
At 0700 departs Moji escorting MAYASAN and NIGITSU MARUs and arrive at Pusan at 1830.
9 November 1943:
At 0650 departs Pusan escorting MAYASAN and NIGITSU MARUs and at 1600 arrives at Moji.
10 November 1943:
At 1130 PB-36 departs Mutsure for Takao, Formosa escorting convoy SA-17 consisting of tankers OKIKAWA, KYOKUTO and MIRI MARUs, IJA landing craft depot ship NIGITSU and MAYASAN MARUs and cargo-passenger ships ORYOKU and USSURI MARUs. Tanker GOYO MARU is due to join this convoy but drops out and later joins HI-21. ORYOKU MARU detaches en route for Kirun.
14 November 1943:
At 0420 arrives at Mako. At 1610 arrives at Takao.
15 November 1943:
PB-36 is reassigned to the General Escort Command’s 1st Surface Escort Division.
21 November 1943:
At 0930 PB-36 departs Takao for Moji escorting convoy No. 221 consisting of TAKETOYO, CHILE, SHORYU, TENSHIN, HIROTA, SEIWA and SAN RAMON MARU and FUSHIMI MARU No. 3.
27 November 1943:
Off Uki Jima, Goto Retto. At 0005, LtCdr (later Captain) Slade D. Cutter’s (USNA ’35) USS SEAHORSE (SS-304) torpedoes and sinks tanker SAN RAMON MARU carrying a full load of 10,600 tons of crude oil from Miri, Borneo. She sinks at 33-34N, 128-35E. Three guards and 28 crewmen are killed. After rescuing survivors and searching for the submarine from 0130 to 1200 PB-36 heads for Sasebo. Later that day, the remainder of convoy No. 221 arrives at Moji.
28 November 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Sasebo.
3 December 1943:
At 0700 departs Sasebo and joins convoy No. 118 consisting of RAIZAN, PANAMA, NANREI, DURBAN, TSUKIKAWA, TACOMA, NISSHU, JUICHISEI (HOSHI MARU No. 11), KAIRYU and TATSUWA MARUs, tanker KONSAN MARU and three unidentified merchant ships also escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU.
8 December 1943:
At 1115 arrives at Takao.
11 December 1943:
At 0900, PB-36 departs Takao for Moji escorting convoy No. 226 consisting of ENJU, OYO, ATLAS, HIOKI, AMERICA, HANAGAWA and NEIKAI MARUs.
14 December 1943:
At 2300 ENJU MARU suffers an engine breakdown.
17 December 1943:
Convoy No. 226 arrives at Moji, less ENJU MARU detached at Okinawa due to engine trouble. PB-36 has detached already and at 1700 arrives at Sasebo.
25 December 1943:
PB-36 is reassigned to the 22nd Special Base Force at Balikpapan, Borneo.
26 December 1943:
At 0920, PB-36 departs Sasebo for Takao escorting convoy No. 124 consisting of HIDA, HAVRE, NICHIYO, HAKUSHIKA, MOJI and FUJI MARUs.
27 December 1943:
FUJI MARU develops engine problems and returns to Nagasaki.
31 December 1943:
At 0600 the convoy arrives at Takao less FUJI and HAKUSHIKA MARUs detached earlier.
1 January 1944:
At 1535 departs Takao on an anti submarine sweep.
3 January 1944:
At 1430 arrives back at Takao.
6 January 1944:
At 1500, PB-36 departs Takao to Balikpapan with kaibokan SADO escorting the Rinji (special) M convoy consisting of IJN oilers ASHIZURI and SHIOYA and OKIKAWA MARU.
9 January 1944:
At 1530, convoy HI-29 arrives at Manila. The Rinji M convoy is dissolved.
10 January 1944:
At 1900, departs Manila escorting the Rinji (special) M convoy consisting of IJN oilers ASHIZURI and SHIOYA and OKIKAWA MARU.
13 January 1944:
At 1840 arrives at Tarakan.
14 January 1944:
At 0340 departs Tarakan.
15 January 1944:
At 1540 arrives at Balikpapan.
17 January 1944:
At 1445 departs Balikpapan on an anti submarine sweep.
20 January 1944:
At 0930 arrives at Balikpapan.
21 January 1944:
At 0945, PB-36 departs Balikpapan with subchaser CH-37 and auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-41 escorting convoy O-103 consisting of oilers JAMBI MARU, IRO and SATA.
22 January 1944:
At 1435, aircraft discover things that seems to be hostile and dangerous. PB-36 is sent to investigate these. At 1524, PB-36 arrives at the spot indicated by the aircraft and drops 8 depth charges without result. At 1600, PB-36 ends her investigation. At 1820, PB-36 rejoins the convoy. At 2240, at the Tarakan latitude JAMBI MARU detaches and heads towards Tarakan.
28 January 1944:
At 1350, arrives at Palau.
30 January 1944:
At 0800, PB-36 departs Palau for Tarakan with auxiliary subchasers CHa-15 and CHa-22 escorting convoy NE-002 consisting of OGURA MARU No. 3 and KYOEI MARU No. 2.
31 January 1944:
At 1400, auxiliary subchaser CHa-22 is detached to return to Palau.
2 February 1944:
At 1300, auxiliary subchaser CHa-15 is detached for Davao.
5 February 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Tarakan.
7 February 1944:
At 1820 arrives at Bongao and departs at 2025 on an anti submarine sweep.
10 February 1944:
At 1550 arrives at Bongao and at 2050 departs for Tarakan.
11 February 1944:
At 1010 arrives at Tarakan.
13 February 1944:
At 1850 departs Tarakan.
14 February 1944:
At 0915 arrives at Bongao and departs there at 1455.
15 February 1944:
At 0900 arrives at Zamboanga.
17 February 1944:
At 1750 departs Zamboanga. Engages in an anti submarine sweep.
20 February 1944:
At 0510 arrives at Bongao and departs there at 1115.
21 February 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Tarakan.
22 February 1944:
At 1845, departs Tarakan escorting an unnumbered convoy consisting of tanker SEIAN MARU and weather ship RYOFU MARU.
24 February 1944:
At 1045, arrives at Balikpapan. Remains there for the rest of the month.
5 March 1944:
At 1650 departs Balikpapan with PB-102 escorting convoy O-502 consisting of tanker NASUSAN MARU and cargo ship HAVRE MARU.
6 March 1944:
At 1800 HAVRE MARU and PB-102 separate from the convoy. The convoy is renumbered O-601.
7 March 1944:
At 1820 arrives at Tarakan with NASUSAN MARU.
9 March 1944:
At 0620 departs Tarakan escorting tanker OKIKAWA MARU.
10 March 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Balikpapan.
15 March 1944:
At 0730 departs Balikpapan escorting Naval tanker IRO, tankers NAGISAN MARU and HISHI MARU No. 2 for Palau in convoy O-507 consisting of three echelons escorted by destroyers HARUSAME and SHIRATSUYU, patrol boat PB-36, subchaser CH-6 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-52. The first echelon consists of fleet oilers IRO and tankers NAGISAN MARU and HISHI MARU No. 2. The second echelon consists of fleet oiler TSURUMI, tanker KYOEI MARU and cargo ship RAIZAN MARU and the third echelon consists only of cargo ship HOKUTAI MARU.
16 March 1944:
At 1530, destroyer MICHISHIO joins the convoy and the other escorts, except PB-36 escorting IRO, depart.
20 March 1944:
At 0910, auxiliary subchasers CHa-51 and CHa-53 join the escort.
22 March 1944:
LtCdr (later Cdr) John A. Scott's (USNA ’28) USS TUNNY (SS-282) SJ radar picks up a large convoy. At daybreak, Scott is maneuvering to gain an attack position when his radar picks up a destroyer at 14,000 yards. The destroyer sights the submarine and challenges USS TUNNY with a blinker. Scott ducks into a nearby rain squall and continues to close on the surface in conditions of poor visibility. Through the haze, he makes out a group of oilers and cargo ships.
Scott sets up and fires a full bow spread of six-torpedoes at two cargo ships at 07-22N, 132-08E. He and his crew see and hear hits on both, but suddenly, a small oiler, probably KYOEI MARU, appears out of the gloom and almost collides with USS TUNNY.
Scott sets up on destroyer MICHISHIO moving at high speed across USS TUNNY’s stern. He fires four Mark-18 electric torpedoes, then crash dives as depth charges from a trawler explode on his port quarter. During the next four hours, IRO is hit in the bow, forward of the bulkheads. The Japanese drop 87 depth charges on USS TUNNY, but without effect.
23 March 1944:
At 1710 arrives at Palau.
25 March 1944:
At 1050 departs Palau with submarine chaser CH-6 to meet up with inbound Nishi Matsu Convoy No.2 consisting of MATSUE, CHUYO and HAMBURG MARUs escorted by destroyer WAKATAKE, patrol boat PB-31 and minelayer MAESHIMA.
26 March 1944:
At 0740 meets up with the convoy. In the afternoon, during a violent rain squall, LtCdr (later Cdr) Charles F. Brindupke's (USNA ’32) USS TULLIBEE (SS-284) attacks the convoy. The escorts attack without success, then sweep the seas with machine gun fire. To their surprise, a large explosion is heard. Later, a single survivor is rescued by WAKATAKE.[2]
27 March 1944:
At 1420 arrives at Palau.
30-31 March 1944: American Operation “Desecrate One”:
Palau. The anchorage is attacked by F6F "Hellcats", SBD "Dauntless", TBF "Avenger" and SB2C "Helldiver" carrier aircraft of Task Group 58. 1's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) and USS COWPENS (CVL-25), TG 58. 2's USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17), USS HORNET (CV-12), USS MONTEREY (CV-26) and USS CABOT (CVL-28) and TG 58. 3's USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), USS PRINCETON (CVL-23) and USS LANGLEY (CVL-27). TF 58’s planes sink over 30 ships and damage five ships including PB-36 that is damaged by strafing.
23 April 1944:
At 1315 departs Palau for Surabaya.
25 April 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Davao and departs at 1650.
27 April 1944:
At 0845 arrives at Tarakan.
28 April 1944:
At 1110 departs Tarakan escorting Naval tanker SHIOYA.
29 April 1944:
At 1210 arrives at Balikpapan.
2 May 1944:
At 0655 departs Balikpapan escorting KIYOKAWA MARU.
4 May 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Surabaya.
17 May 1944: Operation "Transom":
Surabaya, Java. Planes from Admiral (later Admiral of the Fleet, Sir) James F. Somerville’s (former CO of HMS NORFOLK) Allied task force’s carriers HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA (CV-3) attack Surabaya. While undergoing repairs in No. 2 dock, PB-36 is hit by a bomb from USS SARATOGA’s planes that causes heavy damage and kills eight men. USS SARATOGA's planes also damage YOSEI MARU, cargo ships CHUKA and TENCHO MARUs and auxiliary subchasers CHa-107 and CHa-108. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS’ planes sink transport SHINREI MARU.[3]
21 May 1944:
At 1631, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from Surabaya regarding the bombing attacks that reads in part: “Patrol Boat No. 36 was severely damaged as she entered port and will require 6 months for repair.”
May 1944:
Surabaya. PB-36 begins extensive repairs.
1 September 1944:
In Surabaya undergoing repairs.
10 October 1944:
Departs main port to 102nd Naval Construction & Repair Unit at No. 1 wharf.
15 October 1944:
At 1116, enters No. 4 dock.
19 October 1944:
At 1706, departs No. 4 Dock back to No.1 wharf.
8 December 1944:
At 1000, departs Surabaya for trials. Returns at 1658. to No. 3 wharf.
16 December 1944:
At 1000, puts to sea again for trials and returns at 1246 to wharf No. 3.
18 December 1944:
At 1150, departs Surabaya in a convoy consisting of KUMAGAWA MARU escorted by patrol boats PB -36 and PB-108.
20 December 1944:
At 1752, arrives at Balikpapan. Remains there for rest of month.
4 February 1945:
At 0720, departs Balikpapan.
5 February 1945:
At 0830 minesweeper W-12, joins with the second group (PB-108 and CH-5). At 1804 PB-36 runs aground. At 2255, PB-36 detaches. Continues as the first group with CH-5. Arrives at Tawi-Tawi later this day and departs later that day.
6 February 1945:
Firstly at 1008, then at 1225, attacked by a B-25 medium bomber and a B-24 heavy bomber respectively. At 2050, arrives at Tawi Tawi.
7 February 1945:
At 0230, departs Tawi Tawi. At 0935, and again at 1418, attacked by a B-24.
12 February 1945:
At 0940, arrives at Balikpapan.
13 February 1945:
At 1847, departs Balikpapan escorting convoy of small ships consisting of RYUSEI, SHOKO MARUs, SHOJU MARU No. 3, TENYO MARU No. 9, KOTSUSEN (shuttleboat) No. 146 and another unifdentified ship.
18 February 1945:
At 1130, arrives at Surabaya.
24 February 1945:
At 1100 enters Dock No. 2 for major repairs.
7 March 1945:
Transfers to wharf No. 3. Spends the remainder of March and April under repair.
15 August 1945: Cessation of Hostilities:
Surabaya. PB-36 is active at the time of the surrender. Afterwards, she carries out repatriation duty in the local area.
10 August 1946:
Removed from the Navy List.
6 June 1946:
Ex-PB-36 arrives at Tegal Roads.
7/8 June 1946:
Tegal Roads. Allied Headquarters orders the Japanese crew of ex-PB-36 to evacuate 300 Japanese personnel. The local headquarters of the Indonesian Navy (Angkatan Laut Republik Indonesia (ALRI) decides to take possession of ex-PB-36. 70 ALRI men in two motorboats chase away the Japanese crew except for a few men needed to operate the engines. A heavy MG is placed on the forecastle and the new "owners" hoist a red/white flag. That evening, the ship departs Tegal Roads for Japara Roads.
In the meantime, ex-PB-36’s Japanese skipper informs Allied Headquarter of the ALRI seizure. A PBY Catalina is sent to search for the vessel. Dutch Kapitein-Luitenant-ter-Zee Nuboer’s sloop Hr.Ms. VAN KINSBERGEN receives a clear order "seek and destroy, if necessary".
Catalina Y-93 radios that she found the vessel anchoring at Japara Bay. At 1430, KNS VAN KINSBERGEN arrives off the bay. KLZ Nuboer orders action stations. At 1500 meters, KNS VAN KINSBERGEN opens fire with her 20mm MGs. At 1545, KNS VAN KINSBERGEN anchors 150 meters from ex-PB-36.
A boarding party takes 41 men prisoners and brings them aboard KNS VAN KINSBERGEN that takes ex-PB-36 in tow. Several hours later the boarding party gets the boilers working and she continues under her own power.
9 June 1946:
Ex-PB-36 arrives at Surabaya and is moored alongside the Cruiser Quay.
1946:
Ceded to the Netherlands as a war reparation.
1947:
Broken up and scrapped.
Authors Note:
[1] LtCdr Narizawa's name has several possible readings; in various sources it also appears as Narusawa Sunao.
[2] The Japanese claim a sinking, although USS TULLIBEE is now believed to have been sunk by one of its own torpedoes that made a circular run.
[3] Operation "Transom" was one of the first major offensive air raids in which aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet participated.
Thanks go to John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages.
Thanks also go to Bill Somerville and Erich Muehlthaler for additional information for Revision 4. Thanks to Gilbert Casse of France for information on revision 9.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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