© 2007-2016 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 3
1920:
Tokyo. Laid down at Uraga Dock Co. as a MOMI-class destroyer.
9 May 1921:
Launched and named HISHI.
23 March 1922:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District.
1 December 1924:
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Goto Eiji (37) assumes command.
1 December 1925:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Itagaki Sakan (39) assumes command.
1 November 1927:
An unknown officer assumes command.
1 February 1928:
Lt (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Shinoda Katsukiyo (44) assumes command.
10 December 1928:
Lt Shinoda is promoted LtCdr.
30 November 1929:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Kobe Yuji (45) assumes command.
21 November 1930:
An unknown officer assumes command.
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. 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 patrol boat and renumbered 37 under instruction No. 197 and No. 72 respectively. Attached to the Maizuru Naval District under instruction no. 198.
11 June 1940:
Call sign changed to JAJA under instruction no. 116.
1 August 1940:
Attached to the Maizuru Defense Corps based at the Maizuru Naval District under instruction No. 493.
15 November 1940:
Attached to the Maizuru Naval District troops, Maizuru Defense Corps based at the Maizuru Naval District under instruction No. 822.
1941:
PB-37 undergoes reconstruction. Her aft funnel is removed and her stem is cut down to form a ramp. She is fitted to carry and launch two 46-ft Daihatsu landing craft. Her forward interior spaces are modified to accommodate up to 150 troops. The 25mm AA suite is increased.
20 November 1941:
Base changed to Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 1491. Attached to the first patrol boat Corps of the special patrol boat Corps under instruction No. 1493.
1 December 1941:
Call sign changes to JJIQ.
8 December 1941:
At Palau.
10 December 1941:
Base changed to Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 1621. At 1135, embarked 54 members of an army platoon and its captain.
13 December 1941:
At 1830, The army personnel disembark.
16-20 December 1941: The Occupation of Davao, Mindanao, Philippines:
The Davao Occupation Convoy departs Palau carrying the Sakaguchi Detachment (56th Mixed Infantry Corps, 146th Infantry Regiment, 1st Field Artillery Battalion), the Miura Detachment (part of the 16th Army Division) and the Kure No. 1 SNLF. The convoy is organized into three subdivisions:
1st subdivision: AMAGISAN (IJN) (carrying the Kure No. 1 SLNF), YAMATSUKI (IJA), TAITO (IJN), KINUGASA (IJN) and KIRISHIMA (IJN) MARUs.
2nd subdivision: TONAN MARU No. 2 (IJN), TEIRYU (ex German AUGSBURG) ((IJA), KURETAKE (IJA) and TENRYU (IJN) MARUs escorted by minelayer SHIRATAKA and destroyers AMATSUKAZE and OYASHIO.
3rd subdivision: HANKOW (IJA), HAVANA (IJA), TATSUKAMI (IJN), EIKO (IJN) and KOSHIN (IJN) MARUs.
The convoy’s close escort consists of minelayer SHIRITAKA and patrol boats PB-36 and PB-37. Cover is provided by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (41) light cruiser JINTSU, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, NATSUSHIO, OYASHIO and KUROSHIO and DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE, HATSUKAZE and AMATSUKAZE. Rear Admiral (Admiral posthumously) Takagi Takeo's (39)(former CO of MUTSU) CruDiv 5's NACHI, MYOKO and HAGURO provide distant cover. Air cover is provided by light carrier RYUJO and seaplane carrier CHITOSE.
16 December 1941:
Attached to the Southern Expeditionary Fleet, fifth raid Corps. At 1600, departs Palau escorting the 3rd subdivision. EIKO MARU No. 2 GO and KOSHIN MARU sail seperately initially. At 1815, detects enemy submarines. At 1828, anti-submarine combat, drops 6 depth charges.
17 December 1941:
At 0700, the 2nd subdivision departs Palau.
At 1115, detects enemy submarines. At 1205, anti-submarine combat, drops 6 depth charges.
At 1300, the 1st subdivision departs Palau.
18 December 1941:
At 0648, detects enemy submarines. At 0650 without echo sound. At 0657 begins escorting a convoy.
19 December 1941:
At 0225 detects enemy submarines. At 0234, anti-submarine combat, drops 4 depth charges. At 0315 detects enemy submarines. At 0327 anti-submarine combat, drops 4 depth charges. At 0535 detects enemy submarines. At 0544, anti-submarine combat, drops 4 depth charges.
20 December 1941:
At 0145, the 1st subdivision arrives at Tibungko Anchorage (15 km NNE of Davao). At 0320, the 3rd subdivision arrives at Talomo Anchorage (6 km SW of Davao). At 0440, the 2nd subdivision arrives at Tibungko Anchorage.
At 0400, arrives at Davao. Carries out ainti submarine sweeps, patrols the vicinity of the fleet and supports the landing of the fifth raid Corps. At 0515, the fifth raid Corps landing is reported as successful. At 0640, carries out an anti-submarine sweep and anti aircraft patrol in the vicinity of the fleet. At 1547, boarding party starts boarding and searching of enemy ships. At 1650, bording party searches an attributed enemy ship. At 1948 a total of 10 enemy ships are searched.
21 December 1941:
At 0935, tows captured enemy ship JOLO (150t) into Davao. At 1445 tows two seized ships into Davao. At 1800,loads 100t heavy oil from auxiliary oiler TONAN MARU No 2. At 1930, loading oil is completed and departs.
22 December 1941:
At 0925, departs for a patrol. At 1540, embarks 149 army personnel and their captain. At 1824 undergoes an air attack by 9 enemy aircraft. At 1826, strafed but near missed. At 1907 departs Davao escorting the first subdivision invasion convoy to Jolo consisting of EIKO and KOSHIN MARUs.
24 December 1941:
At 1800, Auxiliary transports have completed their landing preparations. At 1925, degaussing cable is activated. Starts sweeping for mines. At 2245, the army Corps prepares for landing in the presence of the enemy. At 2307, access to the anchorage has been prepared. At 2345, anchors off Jolo.
25 December 1941:
Stands off Jolo during the landings. At 0000, the auxiliary transports start disembarking the invasion troops. At 0100, the army troops start landing, their boats depart. At 0113, the paravane catches a mine. At 0805, the army sorties and extends its conquered territory. Guard duty in the vicinity of the fleet. At 1028, at anchor, waiting for an alert. At 1635, departs to assist a transport which ran aground in the presence of the enemy near the landing point while changing its position.
26 December 1941:
At 0048, the auxilairy transports completed their unloading operations. At 0845, continous to patrol in the vicinity of the fleet. Therafter anchors.
27 December 1941:
At 0705, undegoes an air attack by 6 twin engined heavy bomber aircraft.
28 December 1941:
At 0900, patrol area moves to the harbor and looks out for enemy aircraft. At 1918, drifting about during look out in the vicinity of the east exit waterway.
29 December 1941:
At 0930 takes on stores from EIKO MARU No. 2 GO. At 1150, completes replenishing and departs. At 1218, anchors.
30 December 1941:
At anchor but remains on guard.
31 December 1941:
At 0839, anchors and guards in the vicinity of first nights destination. At 1218, anchors in the vicinity of the fleet. At 1308 takes on stores from EIKO MARU No. 2 GO. At 1510 disengages.
1 January 1942:
At 1827 departs Jolo escorting the invasion convoy back to Davao.
3 January 1942:
At 2010 anchors off Davao.
4 January 1942:
At 0655, departs for a patrol. At 1040, at anchor. Takes on 6 depth charges and fresh food from SENKO MARU.
5 January 1942:
Attached to convoy No.1 carrying FIC Butai. At 0820, departs and comes alongside auxiliary oiler SAN CLEMENTE MARU. Supllied with fuel and water. At 1135, disengages and departs for a patrol. At 1240 undergoes an air attack. Attacks 8 enemy aircraft. At 1506, overnight guard at Malalag Bay, near Davao. At 1800 Provisioned with fresh food by auxiliary store ship OI MARU No. 2. GO.
6 January 1942:
At 1532, departs Malalag Bay for a patrol and anti-submarine sweep. At 1900, embarks war wounded from light cruiser JINTSU. At 2035, overnight guard and anti-submarine sweep in the vicinity of the fleet.
7 January 1942: The Invasion of Dutch Borneo:
The 21st Air Flotilla’s tenders SANYO and SANUKI MARUs provide air cover for Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (39) (former CO of AOBA) Tarakan Occupation Force that departs Davao that day carrying MajGen Sakaguchi Shizuo’s 56th Mixed Infantry Group (Sakaguchi Brigade) and the Kure No. 2 SNLF includes Army transports TSURUGA, LIVERPOOL, HAVANA, KURETAKE, NICHIAI, HITERU, TEIRYU, HANKOW and EHIME MARUs and Navy transports KUNIKAWA, KANO, KAGU and RAKUTO MARUs and tanker KOKUYU MARU.
Hirose’s No. 2 Base Force includes patrol boats PB-37, PB-36 and PB-38, Minesweeper Division 11’s W-13, W-14, W-15, W-16, 30th Minesweeper Division’s W-17, W-18 and Subchaser Div 31’s CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 and other auxiliary ships. PB-37 departs Davao escorting the first subdivision convoy.
The convoy’s escort is provided by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji’s (39) 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. The 21st Air Flotilla’s tenders SANYO and SANUKI MARUs provide air cover.
8 January 1942:
At 0653 PB-37, PB-38 and SANYO MARU rendezvous with units of No. 2 Base Force (Central Force) and proceed to Tarakan, Borneo.
10 January 1942:
At 1540, the ships take their landing positions. At 1820, undergoes an air attack by 3 enemy aircraft. Fires 150 thirteen millimeter machine gun rounds. At 2000, The auxiliary transports have completed their landing preparations. At 2001 arrived at landing point. At 2054, assists auxiliary transport KUNIKAWA MARU with unloading and landing army soldiers and their equipment.
11 January 1942:
Rear Admiral Hirose's Occupation Force invades Tarakan. At 0030, departs for a patrol and anti-submarine sweep near the sea. At 0721, enters Tarakan Island northern waterway and sweeps the area for submarines. At 0820, turns on the degaussing cable and starts sweeping for mines. At 1310, undergoes an air attack. At 1912, the paravane catches a mine. At 1920, anchors but remains on guard.
12 January 1942:
At 0640, departs for a patrol and anti-submarine sweep. At 0750, Degaussing cable is turned on. Sweeps the northern waterway for mines. At 1255, Undergoes an air attack by 3 enemy aircraft. Fires 80 rounds. At 1635,takes over responsability for patroling the east sea near the fleet. At 1750, the paravane catches a mine. At 1846, undergoes an air attack by three twin engined heavy bomber aircraft. The thiteen millimeter machine gun fires 220 rounds and the seven millimeter machine gun fires 400 rounds. At 1855 departs Tarakan and starts guarding the east waterway.
13 January 1942:
At 1101, undergoes an air attack by three enemy aircraft. The thirteen millimeter machine gun fires 120 rounds and the seven millimeter machine gun fires 345 rounds. At 1545, alongside auxiliary oiler/collier YODOGAWA MARU and loads fuel. At 1740, loading fuel is completed and disengages. At 1837, anti submarine sweep near the fleet.
14 January 1942:
At 1640, departs anchorage for an ant-submarine sweep.
15 January 1942:
At 1905, at Tarakan continues with anti submarine and ainti aircraft guard at the east waterway.
16 January 1942:
At 0655 starts daytime patrol to guard the transport columns. At 2007, anchors and remains on guard near the waterways.
17 January 1942:
At 0642, departs for an aniti-aircraft patrol. At 1514 anchors but remains on guard.
19 January 1942:
At 1533, departs for an anit-aircraft patrol in the northern waterway. At 1900, embarks 49 army soldiers and their platoon leader. At 1920, anchors near the lightship but remains on guard.
20 January 1942:
At 0711, departs for an anti-submarine and anti-aircraft patrol. At 0750, alongside auxiliary netlayer SUMANOURA MARU and is replenished with water. At 1039, replenishment with water is completed and disengages. At 1330, alongside auxiliary oiler AKEBONO MARU and is supplied with fuel. At 1353, auxiliary store ship OI MARU No. 2 GO comes alongside and provisiones fresh food. At 1455, refueling is completed and disengages. At 1638, anchors at second anchorage but remains on guard.
21 January 1942:
PB-37 departs Tarakan with PB-36 and PB-38, minesweepers W-16, W-17 and W-18 and subchasers CH-10, CH-11 and CH-12 escorting the Balikpapan invasion convoy carrying the Sakaguchi Brigade and the Kure No. 2 SNLF escorted by DesRon 4 and Rear-Admiral Hirose’s No. 2 Base Force. The convoy includes transports TATSUGAMI, NANA, SUMANOURA, TSURUGA, KURETAKE, KUMAGAWA, LIVERPOOL, HITERU, EHIME, HAVANA, HANKOW, TEIRYU, ASAHISAN, NITTEI, KANAYAMASAN and TOEI MARUs. 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. Then USS MARBLEHEAD develops engine trouble and can make no more than 15 knots. DesDiv 59 is detached and increases speed to 27 knots so as to arrive at Balikpapan at midnight on January 23rd.
23 January 1942: The Invasion of Balikpapan, Borneo:
Storms protect the invasion force until it is almost to Balikpapan, Borneo. At 1045, undegoes an air attack by enemy twin engined heavy bombers. The thirteen millimeter machine gun fires 340 rounds and the seven millimeter machine gun fires 360 rounds. At 1620, undergoes an enemy air attack. Attacks three enemy aircraft. The thirteen millimeter machine gun fires 240 rounds. At 1625, nine Dutch Martin Model 166 (B-10) (139WH-3) bombers from Samarinda attack and hit transports TATSUGAMI and NANA MARU. At 1646, NANA MARU is hit in No. 6 hold by a bomb, splinters from others that land to port alongside the same hold adds to the fires raised. At 1650, No. 5 hold’s aviation gasoline ignites and explodes. Navigation becomes impossible and over the following hours the flames take a firm grip. At 1712, PB-37 turns on the degaussing cable and starts sweeping for mines. At 1730 “all hands abandon ship” order is given. At 1747, PB-37 undergoes an air attack. Attacks one enemy aircraft. The thirteen millimeter machine gun fires 180 rounds. Finally, at 2100, after a huge explosion NANA MARU sinks at 01-18S, 117-43E with unknown casualties. TATSUGAMI MARU continues on to Balikpapan. At 2130, the transports begin disembarking their troops.
At 2312, PB-37 anchors at the second anchorage. At 2344, a paravane catches a mine. Later departs the fleet anchorage for a patrol on the south sea.
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. One crewman and 38 soldiers are KIA. 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 now 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 the torpedoes miss.
Talbot orders another attack. At 0330, USS POPE hits and sinks transport SUMANOURA MARU with the loss of many troops aboard. At 0335, USS PARROTT and USS PAUL JONES sink already damaged transport TATSUGAMI MARU with torpedoes. Four crewmen are KIA. At 0345, USS JOHN D. FORD sinks transport KURETAKE MARU with gunfire and torpedoes. 188 soldiers are KIA. Two other transports suffer damage from gunfire and torpedoes but remain afloat.
At 0353, receives an alert, enemy ships detected about 155 degrees 2,500 ~ 2000m from second ship in the column. At 0435, discovers warhip shilouettes. At 0438, confirmed that these are 2 enemy destroyers. At 0440, the left gun fires 20 rounds. USS desttroyer USS PARROTT (DD-218) fires a torpedo wihich hits at the rear of the main gun. Turning becomes impossable and the wirelless is interrupted. At 0441, another torpedo hits forward midships. The generator fails, The engine room and the forward buklhead are flooded. At 0445,the main engine becomes unusable. At 0459 to port 10 degrees inclination. All hands are involved in stopping flooding. Drainage starts at the rear machine room. At 0630, list is being corrected by ballasting. At 0635, drainage work is completed. At 0809, anti aircraft combat. The hull list is now to port 7 degrees. A boat from patroal boat No. 36 arrives for relief. At 0945, undergoes an air attack by 7 heavy enemy bomeber aircraft. At 0947, near missed, fires 10 rounds. The mooring capstan is damaged. At 1000 transfers wounded to destroyer HARUSAME. At 1050, 7 enemy heavy bombers attack. Started shelling, fired four rounds. At 1215, transfers the army soldiers to PB-36. The boat now tilts to port 3.5 degrees. At 1725, undergoes an air attack. [1]
25 January 1942:
At 0053, patrol boat No. 38 starts towing. At 1000, undergoes an air attack by 10 enemy aircraft. Fires four rounds. At 1045, patrol boat No. 38 stops towing. Air attack alert. ? by Guardship on lookout. Repair of the engine fails. Waterproofing is reinforced. Boiler water drainage work. At 1305, undergoes an air attack by seven enemy aircarft. At 1540, transferred 30 rounds of the main gun amunition and 200 rounds of the seven millimeter machine gun to patrol boat No. 36. At 1820, transferred eight depth charges to destroyer UMIKAZE and 8 depth charge to destroyer KAWAKAZE. At 1845, destroyer YUDACHI starts towing. At 2045, towing ends and anchors.
27 January 1942:
At 1255, undergoes an air attack by 7 heavy enemy bomber aircraft. Near missed. Fired four rounds. At 1300, undergoes an air attack. The thirteen millimeter machine gun fires 390 rounds and the seven millimeter machine gun fires 630 rounds. Near missed.
28 January 1942:
At 1017, the damaged part of the bottom hull is inspected with a submersible intrument of light cruiser NAKA. At 1300, transfers 120 rounds main gun ammunition to minesweeper W-20. At 1615, Patrol boat No. 38 starts towing.
29 January 1942:
At 0055, anchors off the coast of the river Manggar estuary, near Balikpapan. Remains on guard. At 0120, undergoes an air attack by four enemy heavy bomber aircraft.
30 January 1942:
At 1635, provisioned with fresh food.
31 January 1942:
At 1500, provisioning with stored grain products starts. At 1700, provisioning with stored grain products is completed.
1 February 1942:
At 2135, four wounded return from destroyer KAWAKAZE.
2 February 1942:
At 1430, undergoes an air attack by four enemy heavy bomber aircraft. Fires 200 rounds.
3 February 1942:
At 1347, undergoes an air attack by nine enemy heavy bomber aircraft. The thirteen millimeter machine gun fires 268 rounds and the seven millimeter machine gun fires 340m rounds.
5 February 1942:
The crew is ordered to leave the ship and stationed on land, under the Second Base Corps instruction No. 24 Only crewmembers needed for securing the ship remain on board. No. 2 Minesweeping guard unit assigned to watch vessel.
6 February 1942:
At 1205, transfers 63 passengers and 19 security personnel to land.
7 February 1942:
At 1145, provisioned with fresh food.
27 February 1942:
At 1145, a surveyor from auxiliary repair ship YAMABIKO MARU comes on board and inspects the hull. At 1420, the surveyor returns to YAMABIKO MARU.
5 March 1942:
At 0955, provisioned with fresh food.
16 March 1942:
At 1115, workers from YAMABIKO MARU arrive and start repair work by using a submersible machine.
26 March 1942:
Provisoned with fresh food.
10 April 1942:
Removed from the Naval list under instruction No. 655.
15 April 1942:
At 1615, auxiliary minesweeper tender IMIZU MARU and two tugboats start towing patrol boat no 37 into the inner harbor. At 2153, the towing ends.
16 April 1942:
At 0758, a tugboat starts towing. At 0900, the towing ends.
17 April 1942:
Start of removal of weapons, other equipment, fittings and drainage work.
30 April 1942:
Removal of weapons, other equipment, fittings and drainage work end. Abandoned.
10 May 1942:
Removed from the Navy List.
194? :
Raised and broken up.
Authors’ Notes:
[1] British sources claim PB-37 was torpedoed and sunk by Groeneveld’s Dutch submarine KNS K-XVIII.
Thanks to Gilbert Casse of France and Berend van der Wal of Netherlands for assistance.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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