© 2006-2019 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
Revision 22
29 November 1938:
Tamano. Laid down at Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding’s yard as kaibokan No. 9.
13 December 1939:
Launched and named SHIMUSHU.
2 February 1940:
Cdr Shoji Kiichiro (45) is posted as Chief Equipping Officer.
30 June 1940:
Completed and registered in the Maizuru Naval District. Cdr Shoji is the Commanding Officer.
15 July 1940:
Assigned to the 2nd Expeditionary Support Fleet.
16 July 1940:
Departs Maizuru for Mako, Pescadores.
Summer 1940:
Based in Mako Participates in a naval blockade off southern Chinese coast. Intercepts a large Chinese sampan carrying a shipment of weapons and escorts it to Hainan Island. Participates in the capture of Niujiaoshan Island. Shells the coast and lands a platoon of Special Naval Landing Force sailors.
August 1940:
Mako. LtCdr Norman R. Murch, the CO of the river gunboat HMS SEAMEW (T-43) and his officers are piped aboard SHIMUSHU. Murch later submits a detailed report about the new IJN "sloop".
15 October 1940:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Arimura Fuji (47) is appointed Commanding Officer.
22 September 1940:
Vichy France cedes airfields and agrees to admission of Japanese troops into northern Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam). The United States responds by placing a ban on the export of steel, scrap metal and aviation fuel to Japan.
14-16 January 1941: Operation "S" – Northern French Indochina Incursion.
Japanese troops enter French Indochina.
25 January 1941:
SHIMUSHU and mineweeper W-17 arrive at Haiphong harbor, Indochina, to observe French fleet units stationed there.
2 August 1941:
Reassigned to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (37)(former CO of HARUNA) Southern Expeditionary Fleet's Camranh Bay Area Force.
30 August 1941:
Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Arimura Fuji (47) is appointed Commanding Officer.
1 December 1941:
Attached to the Southern Force, Malay Force, No. 2 Escort Force. (Nanpo Butai Marai Butai Dai Ni Goeitai ).
7 December 1941:
SHIMUSHU is attached to Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's (35) (former CO of KONGO) Second Fleet, Southern (Malay) Force.
Gulf of Siam (Thailand). At 0300, departs Vietnamese Phu Quoc Island escorting three unidentified transports. Later that morning, rendezvouses at sea with seven other unidentified transports carrying three battalions of the 55th IJA Infantry Division escorted by the No. 2 Escort Unit's light cruiser KASHII. At 1035, all the units depart for landing sites in Siam.
8 December 1941: Operation "E" - The Invasion of Malaya:
Beginning at 1000, troops are landed at four points on the Kra Isthmus, Siam. SHIMUSHU covers the landings at Nakhorn (Surat Thani).
9 December 1941:
SHIMUSHU is reassigned to the No. 1 Escort Unit of the Escort Force with KASHII.
11 December 1941:
Arrives at Camranh.
13 December 1941:
At 0830 departs Camranh Bay with DesRon 3’s light cruiser SENDAI escorting 39 invasion transports of the Second Malaya Convoy carrying the IJA's 5th and 18th IJA Infantry Divisions.
16 December 1941:
Covers landings at Singora, Pattani, Bandon and Nakhorn. Escorts five transports to Kota Bharu, then patrols off Singora.
20 December 1941:
Departs Singora area.
22 December 1941:
Arrives back at Camranh Bay.
26 December 1941:
SHIMUSHU is reassigned back to the No. 2 Escort Unit with KASHII, light cruiser NATORI and destroyers. Departs Camranh Bay.
28 December 1941:
Departs Mako with the No. 2 Escort Unit escorting escorting 43 transports of the Third Malaya Convoy carrying elements of IJA's 15th and 25th Armies to Malaya and Bangkok, Siam.
3 January 1942:
Reassigned to 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
S of Hainan Island. At about 1520 (JST) SHIMUSHU is escorting the invasion convoy from Mako to Singora when MEIKO MARU carrying a shipment of incendiary shells explodes by self-ignition. At 1843, MEIKO MARU heavily afire, sinks at 15-01N, 112-48E (330 km E of Cap Batangan, FIC). MEIKO MARU was carrying elements of the 1st Parachute Regiment, destined for the Palembang mission. SHIMUSHU rescues 180 survivors, including a number of the IJA paratroopers. An unknown number of troops are killed.
Off Cape Camau, the convoy separates. SHIMUSHU, KASHII, DesDiv 11's FUBUKI and DesDiv 19's ISONAMI and AYANAMI escort 12 transports carrying the elements of the 15th Army.
10 January 1942:
Arrives at Bangkok. MEIKO MARU's survivors are disembarked. That same day, SHIMUSHU is reassigned to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (37) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
12 January 1942:
At 0830 arrives at Camranh Bay.
Late January 1942:
SHIMUSHU receives a signal from Ozawa's flagship CHOKAI that orders the kaibokan to locate the wreck of British battleship HMS PRINCE OF WALES sunk off Kuantan, Malaya by IJN aircraft on 10 December.
20–26 January 1942:
Indian Ocean. Participates in the occupation of the Anambas Islands by KANSAI MARU from Endau.
26 January 1942:
At 0805 arrives at Anambas.
29 January 1942:
South China Sea, E of Malaya. SHIMUSHU, escorted by minesweepers W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4 and W-5, locates the wreck of British battlecruiser HMS REPULSE and marks it with a buoy.
1 February 1942:
SHIMUSHU reports locating the wreck of HMS PRINCE OF WALES at a depth of 60 meters. The site is marked with a buoy and the IJN ships are recalled.
9 February 1942: Operation "L" - The Invasion of Palembang:
SHIMUSHU departs Camranh Bay for Palembang with MineSweepDiv 1's W-1, W-2, W-3, W-4 and W-5 and SubChasDiv 11's CH-7 and CH-8 escorting eight transports. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hashimoto Shintaro's (41) DesRon 3's light cruiser SENDAI (F) with DesDiv 11's FUBUKI, HATSUYUKI and SHIRAYUKI, DesDiv 20's ASAGIRI provides close cover.
15 February 1942:
At 0745 SHIMUSHU departs Camranh Bay.[See conflict below]
16 February 1942:
The transports land troops near Palembang, Sumatra. SHIMUSHU embarks the entire staff of the IJA's 38th Infantry Division from GINYO MARU and proceeds up the Palembang River, landing its passengers at 1435. Enroute, a total of 29 Dutch mines are located in the Moesi River and swept up. [Conflict: another source says arrives Palembang 1800 on 20 February]
27 February–2 March 1942:
Escorts returning transport convoy from MA-POO-RU Island (unidentified location) to Singapore.
8–15 March 1942: Operation "T" - The Invasion of Northern Sumatra (Sabang, Kota Radja, Idi, Laboehanroekoe).
9 March 1942:
SHIMUSHU departs Singapore with MineSweepDiv 41’s REISUI and TAKAO MARUs escorting troop transports HEITO and TATSUMIYA MARUs.
12 March 1942:
At 0540, unopposed landings are made at Idi, Northern Sumatra. At 0700, an unopposed landing is made at Laboehanroekoe, Northern Sumatra. Soon thereafter, the invasion force secures the oilfields at Langsa and Pangkalanbrandan.
E 15 March 1942:
Arrives back at Singapore.
19 March 1942:
SHIMUSHU departs Singapore for Rangoon, Burma with the No. 2 Escort Unit comprised of light cruiser KASHII (F), DesRon 3 and 5 destroyers being ASAKAZE, MATSUKAZE, SHIKINAMI and HATAKAZE, with HARUKAZE replacing HATAKAZE en route, MineSweepDiv 1's W-1, W-3 and W-4, Submarine Chaser CH-7, SubChasDiv 91's CHOKO MARU and SHONAN MARU No. 5 and No. 7 escorting 43 transports carrying the IJA's 56th Infantry Division. The convoy consists of SHUNSEI, YAE, KOAN, TATEISHI, HAVRE (5467 grt), HIBURI, HOKUMEI, YAMAZUKI, GLASGOW, SYDNEY, SHINANOGAWA, AOBASAN, KAZUURA, KIZAN, KUSUYAMA, KOTOHIRA, SANKO, SAKITO, SHINAI, SHINRYU, SUMATRA, GENOA, TSUYAMA, TOKIWA, NAKO, NAGARA, NICHIRAN, NAPLES, HARUNA (10420 grt), HOFUKU, MYOKO (4103 grt), ATLAS, CALCUTTA, KUWAYAMA, KYUSHU, MEIGEN and MOMOYAMA MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships.
Because of size and differing ship speeds the convoy is broken into two sections. The first section consists of ATLAS, YAMAZUKI, NAGARA, KYUSHU, TOKIWA and AOBASAN MARUs and five other ships from the above list that sail on 20th March. The remaining section sails on the 19th March.
21 March 1942:
At 0858 HATSUTAKA departs Penang and joins the convoy. Auxiliary gunboat EIKO MARU follows later that day. SHIMUSHU is detached.
25 March 1942: Operation “U” – The Seizure of Rangoon, Burma:
1st invasion convoy (43 transports) begins landing troops at Rangoon.
April 1942:
Based at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore.
2 April 1942:
SHIMUSHU, Cruiser KASHII, Submarine chaser CH-8 and destroyers SHIKINAMI and HATAKAZE depart Singapore escorting 45 transports of the 2nd Invasion Convoy including CELEBES, RASHIN, RAKUYO, SINGAPORE, MIDORI, AYATOSAN, ALASKA, WALES, KAMO, KYOKUSEI, KUNITAMA, KOFUKU, SHINYU, SHINYO, SHINKYO, TAMAHOKO, CHILE, NAGATO, MAEBASHI, MANJU, MACASSAR, MIIKESAN, YASUKAWA, YAMAFUJI, RYOGA, LONDON, WAKATSU, IKOMA, KAISHO, TOYAMA and WAKATSU MARUs and DAIGEN MARU No. 3, SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 and eleven unidentified ships carrying the IJA's 18th Infantry Division. Meanwhile at 1825 HATSUTAKA departs Penang returning there at 2322.
4 April 1942:
The convoy arrives at Penang. At 0730 escort duties are taken over by HATSUTAKA, SHIMUSHU, CH-8 and three destroyers of DesRon 5. Torpedo boat KARI also joins at some unknown stage. KASHII is detached from the convoy and returns to Singapore the same day.
7 April 1942:
Arrives at Rangoon with the 2nd invasion convoy.
10 April 1942:
Reassigned to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36)(former CO of KIRISHIMA) Southwestern Area Fleet's First Southern Expeditionary Support Fleet.
16 April 1942:
At 1215, SHIMUSHU departs Singapore with torpedo boats OTORI and HIYODORI, auxiliary gunboat TAIGEN MARU No. 7 and patrol boat PB-35 escorting an Army convoy transporting the 3rd Tank Corps to Dairen, Manchuria. The convoy consists of MYOKO, ATLAS, TSUYAMA, MOMOYAMA, FRANCE, SYDNEY, HEIAN, RYUNAN, GLASGOW, TOKIWA, HAVRE, GENKAI, CALCUTTA and SANKO MARUs. The escorts protect the convoy up to latitude 16N, from where the convoy is escorted by units of the IJN's North China Area Fleet.
28 April 1942:
Arrives at Rangoon.
7 May 1942:
While carrying out anti-submarine sweep off Camranh Bay, SHIMUSHU detects an enemy submarine. Attacks enemy sub with unknown result.
7 June 1942:
At 1650 arrives at Singapore.
10 June 1942:
Escorts an Army transport convoy from Singapore to Sabang, Sumatra.
15 June 1942:
At 1430 arrives at Sabang.
16 June 1942:
At 1530 departs Sabang.
20 June 1942:
At 1530 arrives at Padang.
21 June 1942:
At 0800 departs Padang.
22 June 1942:
Arrives at Sibolga.
23 June 1942:
Departs Sibolga early and at 1100 arrives back at Padang.
27 June 1942:
At 1400 begins to escorts a transport convoy from Padang to Singapore.
1 July 1942:
The kaibokan class of warships is abolished. As a result, the already mounted Imperial crest on the bow is removed.
2 July 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
12–17 July 1942:
Departs Singapore with subchaser CH-9 and auxiliary gunboat CHOSA MARU escorting convoy S-2 consisting of SHINYU and SHINRYU MARUs and SUGI MARU No. 5 and three unidentified merchant ships of which SHINYU and SHINRYU MARUs and SUGI MARU No. 5 are en route to Rangoon and the others to Belawan and Sabang. Later SHIMUSHU proceeds to Padang.
21-26 July 1942:
Escorts transport convoy from Padang to Singapore.
29 July–2 August 1942:
Escorts a Navy requisitioned ship from Singapore to Mergui.
8 August 1942:
Departs Mergui and later that day arrives at Tavoy.
9 August 1942:
Departs Tavoy with the light cruiser KASHII.
13 August 1942:
Both ships arrive at Rangoon.
14 August 1942:
Both ships depart Rangoon.
17 August 1942:
Arrives at Port Blair alone and quickly departs later that day.
20 August 1942:
Arrives at Singapore. Drydocked at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore.
22 August 1942:
Cdr Teranishi Takechiyo (46) is appointed Commanding Officer.
17 September 1942:
Undocked and departs Singapore with the light cruiser KASHII.
19 September 1942:
Arrives at Saigon.
21 September 1942:
Departs Saigon.
23 September 1942:
Discovers an enemy submarine. Drops depth charges with unknown result.
25 September 1942:
In co-operation with aircraft, attacks an enemy submarine with depth charges. Claims sinking of submarine.
At about 1415, LtCdr Richard V. Gregory’s (USNA ’32) USS SARGO (SS-188) fires six torpedoes at cargo ship TEIBO MARU (ex-Danish NORDBO) en-route from Mako to Cap St. Jacques. SARGO gets two hits; one in No. 3 port side hold and one under the bridge. At 1640 (JST), flooding overwhelms TEIBO MARU and she sinks at 0-31N, 109-31E (90 km SE of Cap Padaran,Indochina). Some crewmen are injured but all survive.
26–27 September 1942:
SHIMUSHU rescues 40 survivors from TEIBO MARU.
28 September 1942:
Arrives at St Jacques and departs later that day.
1 October 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
26 October 1942:
Departs Singapore.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Penang. That same day Cdr Teranishi is promoted Captain.
4 November 1942:
Departs Penang.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Sabang and departs later that day.
6 November 1942:
Arrives at Penang.
7 November 1942:
Departs Penang.
10 November 1942:
Arrives back at Penang.
11 November 1942:
Departs Penang.
12 November 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
17 November 1942:
Departs Singapore.
22 November 1942:
Arrives at Padang.
29 November 1942:
Departs Padang.
5 December 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
8 December 1942:
Departs Singapore.
9 December 1942:
Arrives at Belawan.
10 December 1942:
Departs Belawan.
12 December 1942:
Arrives at Port Blair and departs later that day.
14 December 1942:
Arrives at Penang.
16 December 1942:
Departs Penang that day.
18 December 1942:
Arrives at the Mentawei Islands. Engages in a mopping-up operation of enemy soldiers on these islands off the west coast of Sumatra.
20 December 1942:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
21 December 1942:
At 1900 arrives at Padang.
23 December 1942:
Departs Padang with the dcruiser KASHII.
27 December 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
January 1943:
Refit at Singapore. A Type 93 Mod. 1 sonar is retrofitted.
12 January 1943:
Undocked and departs Singapore.
18 January 1943:
Arrives at Padang.
19 January 1943:
Departs Padang.
24 January 1943:
Arrives at Padang.
25 January 1943:
Departs Padang.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Phan Rang.
28 January 1943:
Departs Phan Rang and later that day arrives at Camranh Bay.
29 January 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay.
30 January 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay and departs later that day.
1 February 1943:
Arrives at Saigon.
5 February 1943:
Departs Saigon.
6 February 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
7 February 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at St Jacques.
9 February 1943:
Departs St Jacques.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Camranh Bay.
13 February 1943:
Departs Camranh Bay.
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Miri.
18 February 1943:
Departs Miri.
23 February 1943:
Arrives at Seletar, Singapore.
28 February 1943:
Departs Seletar.
21 March 1943:
Lands a combined Army/Navy force on Tambelan Island, 00-58N, 107-34E. The landing force mops up the island.
23 March 1943:
At 2145 TEIKO MARU (15105 grt ex French D'ARTAGNAN), while sailing unescorted, sights an enemy submarine at 02-01N 105-37E and SHIMUSHU, minesweeper W-7 and others are despatched to search and destroy it.
21 April 1943:
Near Horsburgh Light, Singapore SHIMUSHU is despatched to escort the Army cargo ship TAIRYU MARU.
1 August 1943:
Arrives at Penang.
3 August 1943:
Departs Penang.
4 August 1943:
Malacca Straits. At 0900 joins transport NANKAI MARU that left Singapore the previous day.
6 August 1943:
Indian Ocean. At 1130 arrives Car Nicobar Island, Andaman Islands.[1]
13 August 1943:
Departs Car Nicobar Island alone.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Penang.
17 August 1943:
Departs Penang. During the same day light cruiser KASHII and Auxiliary gunboat HEITO MARU depart Singapore.
18 August 1943:
The ships all meet at Belawan.
20 August 1942:
The ships all departs Belawan.
22 August 1942:
Arrives at Car Nicobar Island. Late that evening KASHII departs.
23 August 1943:
Early that day departs Car Nicobar alone. (HEITO MARU is bombed and sunk later that same day).
24 August 1943:
Arrives at Sabang.
25 August 1943:
Departs Sabang.
30 August 1943:
Arrives at Sibolga.
2 September 1943:
Departs Sibolga.
3 September 1943:
Arrives at Sabang.
10 September 1943:
Departs Sabang, Sumatra escorting auxiliary minelayer TATSUHARU MARU and an unidentified ship.
13 September 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
18 September 1943:
Departs Singapore.
20 September 1943:
Arrives at Penang.
22 September 1943:
Departs Penang.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Belawan.
24 September 1943:
Departs Belawan with light cruiser KASHII.
28 September 1943:
Both ships arrive at the Port of Singapore. In the immediate aftermath of the successful "Krait" raid by Australian/British Special Operations Executive (SOE) commando forces the day before, SHIMUSHU is ordered to undertake mobile guard duties between buoys 1 through 19.
28 October 1943:
Lt (later LtCdr) Shimamura Kazuchiyo assumes command. Cdr Teranishi is reassigned.
13 December 1943:
Escorting KORYU MARU (6680 grt) in Java area.
20 December 1943:
Reassigned to the First Surface Escort Division. At 0000 arrives at Singapore.
21 December 1943:
At 1100 SHIMUSHU departs Singapore with torpedo boat KARI escorting convoy SA-20 consisting of tankers OMUROSAN, TATEKAWA and ITSUKUSHIMA MARUs, amnd IJN transport NANKAI MARU.
27 December 1943:
Arrives at Takao. Both escorts detach and destroyer SHIOKAZE takes over escort of the convoy. At 1100 SHIMUSHU departs on a submarine hunt.
28 December 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Takao.
1 January 1944:
At 1000 departs Takao with kaibokan MIYAKE on a anti submarine sweep.
3 January 1944:
At 1030 SHIMUSHU arrives back at Takao alone.
7 January 1944:
At 1000 SHIMUSHU departs Takao for Moji escorting convoy No. 233 consisting of SHINNO, SHINKYO MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships.
13 January 1944:
At 1745 arrives at Sasebo. SHIMUSHU is drydocked.
23 January 1944:
At 1630 departs Sasebo for Moji.
24 January 1944:
At 0930 arrives at Moji.
26 January 1944:
At 1300, departs Moji for Singapore escorting convoy HI-39 consisting of NICHIRIN, NANEI, ICHIYO MARUs, NICHINAN MARU No.2, and two unidentified merchant ships.
31 January 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Takao.
9 February 1944:
At 1100, the convoy arrives at Singapore.
13 February 1944:
At 1600, departs Singapore for Moji escorting convoy HI-40 consisting of tankers NANEI, KOKUEI, ICHIYO, NICHIRIN and NAMPO MARUs and transport/passenger ship ASAMA MARU.
19 February 1944:
South China Sea, 300 miles W of Luzon. Captain (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Thomas M. Dykers’ (USNA ’27) USS JACK (SS-259) attacks HI-40 and sinks KOKUEI and NANEI MARUs at 14-34N, 114-11E, NICHIRIN MARU at 15-40N, 115-48E and ICHIYO MARU at 15-46N, 115-57E. Six crewman from KOKUEI MARU, Five Gunners and 55 crewmen from NANEI MARU, 48 crewmen from NICHIRIN MARU and 28 crewmen from ICHIYO MARU are KIA. [1]
24 February 1944:
20 miles E of Formosa. At 0336, LtCdr (later KIA) John A. Moore’s (USNA ’32) USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) torpedoes and sinks oiler NAMPO MARU at 24-20N, 122-25E and damages transport ASAMA MARU at 24-15N, 122-19E. Two passengers, 10 soldiers and 37 crewmen are killed on NAMPO MARU. SHIMUSHU counterattacks unsuccessfully. [2]
25 February 1944:
At 0830 SHIMUSHU and ASAMA MARU arrive at Kirun, Convoy HI-40 is dissolved.
26 February 1944:
At 0900 departs Kirun in convoy HI-42 consisting of cargo passenger MIIKE MARU, tanker SEISHIN MARU, cargo liner NOTO MARU, passenger ship ASAMA MARU (ex HI-40), cargo-passenger ship ORYOKU MARU and possibly oiler SHIOYA escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA and SHIMUSHU. At some unknown date/point SHIMUSHU detaches and returns to Takao.
29 February 1944:
At 2100, departs Takao for Singapore with kaibokan SADO escorting convoy HI-49 consisting of tankers EIHO, KYOKUHO, ASASHIO MARUs, HAKOZAKI MARU (that had joined at Takao and later detached for Manila) and one unidentified merchant ship.
7 March 1944:
At 1230, arrives at Singapore.
11 March 1944:
At 0730, departs Singapore with kaibokan MIYAKE, IKI and ETOROFU escorting convoy HI-48 consisting of transport/cargo liners SANUKI, TEIA (ex French ARAMIS), HOKUROKU and AWA MARUs and tankers OMUROSAN, OTOWASAN, TATEKAWA, ITSUKUSHIMA, SEIYO, NICHIEI, ASASHIO and KUROSHIO MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
14 March 1944:
Gulf of Thailand. SANUKI MARU is damaged by a mine or torpedo that causes her to drop out of the convoy on the Indochina coast. At 1700, convoy HI-48 arrives at Van Phong Bay, French Indochina.
15 March 1944:
At 1100, HI-48 departs Van Phong Bay.
18 March 1944:
At 0114, HOKUROKU MARU is hit by four torpedoes fired by LtCdr Lowell T. Stone's (USNA ’29) USS LAPON (SS-260) and sinks at 19-24N, 116-50E. Eight passengers, 25 gunners and 55 crewmen are killed. Later that day, KASHII MARU escorted by patrol boat PB-31 joins the convoy.
19 March 1944:
At 0600, SHIMUSHU runs aground, but later that day she is refloated. At 1600, the convoy arrives at Takao.
20 March 1944:
At 1300, departs Takao.
25 March 1944:
At 0500, the convoy arrives at Moji. At 1530 both IKI and SHIMUSHU having detached at 0700, arrive at Sasebo.
1 April 1944:
Departs Moji with escort carrier KAIYO, kaibokan ETOFORU, IKI, CD-8, CD-9 and torpedo boat SAGI escorting convoy HI-57 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, OTOWASAN, RYOEI and OMUROSAN MARUs, IJA landing craft depot ships SHINSHU and MAYASAN MARUs and transports SEIA, KINUGASA MARUs and one of tankers ZUIHO MARU and or SHINCHO MARU.
2 April 1944:
The convoy encounters extremely severe weather and returns to Moji.
3 April 1944:
At 0600, the unchanged convoy departs Moji.
7 April 1944:
At 1450, arrives at Takao. HOKKAI MARU joins the convoy.
8 April 1944:
At 1000, departs Takao.
12 April 1944:
At 1930 arrives at Camranh Bay. SHIMUSHU patrols outside the bay.
13 April 1944:
At 1200, departs Camranh Bay.
16 April 1944:
At 1240, arrives at Singapore.
21 April 1944:
At 0700, departs Singapore with escort carrier KAIYO, kaibokan ETOFORU, IKI, CD-8 and CD-9 escorting convoy HI-58 consisting of oilers ITSUKUSHIMA, RYOEI, ZUIHO, OMUROSAN and OTOWASAN MARUs, IJA landing craft depot ships SHINSHU and MAYASAN MARUs.
That same day, one of KAIYO's attack planes sights LtCdr Manning M. Kimmel's (USNA ’35) (son of former CINCPAC, Adm H. E. Kimmel(USNA ’04)) USS ROBALO (SS-273) on the surface about 15 miles behind the convoy. The plane drops two bombs on USS ROBALO and calls for assistance. IKI and CD-9 arrive. They depth charge and damage USS ROBALO, but she escapes.
2 May 1944:
At 2100 SHIMUSHU and ETOROFU detach from the convoy with ITSUKUSHIMA MARU.
3 May 1944:
HI-58 arrives at Moji. Meanwhile at 0815 ITSUKUSHIMA MARU and ETOROFU and SHIMUSHU arrive at Sasebo. SHIMUSHU undergoes repairs.
19 May 1944:
At 1700 departs Sasebo.
20 May 1944:
At 0500 arrives at Moji. Then at 1600 SHIMUSHU with destroyer KURETAKE (MOTA-20) and kaibokan FUKUE (TE-07) escorting convoys MOTA-20 and TE-07 departs Moji in joint convoy consisting of TATEBE (KEMBU), HAKUSHIKA (HAKUROKU), KAIKO (851 GRT), KOSHIN, TATSUHATO, HIBI, JUNPO, HOKUSHIN, MACASSAR, YAMAGIKU, TEIFU (Ex French BOUGAINVILLE), HOSEN MARUs, fast Navy transport T-101 and three unidentified merchant ships (MOTA-20) and TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), MIYAJIMA, HIDA MARUs and four unidentified merchant ships (TE-07).
25 May 1944:
Convoy TE-07 is detached for Keelung, arriving later that day at 1300.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Takao.
1 June 1944:
At 0700 SHIMUSHU departs Kirun with kaibokan FUKUE escorting convoy TE-07 (part 2) consisting of HIDA, MIYAJIMA, DAIZEN MARUs and three unidentified merchant ships.
6 June 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Manila.
9 June 1944:
At 0600 SHIMUSHU departs Manila with kaibokan FUKUE and subchasers CH-43 and CH-19 escorting convoy MASA-06 consisting of HAKUSHIKA, HAKUBASAN, BEIJU, TENSHIN, TATSUHATO, KAIJUN, KUROGANE, MAYA MARUs and JUNGEN GO.
13 June 1944:
At 2000 SHIMUSHU and FUKUE are detached from the convoy outside Camranh Bay and return towards Manila.
E 15 June 1944:
SHIMUSHU and kaibokan FUKUE meet up and begin escorting convoy MAYU-03 from Manila consisting of MIYAJIMA MARU and four unidentified merchant ships previously escorted by auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU, but which had lost contact with the convoy.
18 June 1944:
At 1300 arrives at Yulin.
24 June 1944:
At 1700 SHIMUSHU departs Yulin with kaibokan FUKUE and torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy YUTA-07 consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships.
1 July 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Kirun.
4 July 1944:
At 1800 SHIMUSHU departs Kirun with kaibokan FUKUE and torpedo boat TOMOZURU escorting convoy TAMO-21 consisting of DAITEN MARU and six unidentified merchant ships.
9 July 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Moji.
10 July 1944:
At 0740 arrives at Sasebo.
12 July 1944:
At 1500, destroyer SHIOKAZE, minesweepers W-38 and W-39, and subchaser CH-55 depart Moji escorting convoy MI-11 consisting of EIKYU, YOSHINO, MIHO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, DAKAR, FUSO, TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE), TOUN, BAIKAL and FUKUJU MARUs, BANSHU MARU No. 16 and tankers KOEI, TAKETOYO, AYAYUKI, SHICHIYO, AYAGUMO MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1.
13 July 1944:
At 0600 SHIMUSHU departs Sasebo and joins the convoy.
20 July 1944:
BAIKAL MARU is detached with W-38 and arrives at Kirun.
21 July 1944:
At 1800 the convoy arrives at Takao. TOUN MARU is detached. MANKO and HARIMA MARUs join. At 1800 W-38 departs Kirun.
22 July 1944:
At 1430 W-38 rejoins the convoy at Takao.
23 July 1944:
At 1800 SHIMUSHU departs Takao alone.
25 July 1944:
At 0700 arrives at North San Fernando.
26 July 1944:
At 0600 departs North San Fernando escorting joint convoys MATA-25 and YUTA-09 then consisting of TATSUWA, PACIFIC, MACASSAR, JUNPO, MURORAN, HAKOZAKI, SEIGA, SHINFUKU and SHINSUI MARUs, NISSHO MARU No. 18, two unidentified merchant ships (YUTA-09) and two unidentified merchant ships (MATA-25) also escorted by CD-10, submarine chaser CH-48, minesweepers W-38 and W-39 auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 8.
28 July 1944:
At 1500 the merged convoys arrive at Takao.
29 July 1944:
At 0500, SHIMUSHU departs Takao, Formosa for Miri, Borneo with SHIOKAZE, W-28, W-38, W-39, subchaser CH-55 and auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU escorting reorganized convoy MI-11 now consisting of EIKYU, YOSHINO, KOEI, TAKETOYO, MIHO, MANKO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, DAKAR, FUSO, SHICHIYO, HARIMA, AYAYUKI, AYAKUMO, TEIRITSU (ex-French LECONTE DE LISLE) and FUKUJU MARUs and OGURA MARU No. 1. [2]
31 July 1944:
Luzon Strait. A wolfpack patrols the Strait under Captain (later Rear Admiral) Lewis S. Parks (USNA ’25). It consists of LtCdr (later Vice Admiral/MOH/COMSUBLANT) Lawson P. Ramage's (USNA ’31) USS PARCHE (SS-384)(F), LtCdr (later Captain) David L. Whelchel's (USNA ’30) USS STEELHEAD (SS-280) and LtCdr John C. Martin's (USNA ’34) USS HAMMERHEAD (SS-364). [3]
280 miles NNW of Cape Mayraira, Luzon. At 0332, LtCdr Ramage's USS PARCHE torpedoes and sinks KOEI MARU. 105 out of 150 troops on board and 9 crewmen are KIA. About the same time, oiler OGURA MARU No. 1 is hit by a torpedo, but does not sink. At 0340, Ramage torpedoes and sinks transport (ex-hospital ship) YOSHINO MARU. She carries down 2,442 soldiers, 18 naval gunners and 35 sailors and a cargo of ammunition.
At 0420, Whelchel's USS STEELHEAD torpedoes DAKAR MARU, but she does not sink. At 0455, Whelchel torpedoes and sinks transport (ex-hospital ship) FUSO MARU. She takes down 1,384 troops and crewmen and a cargo of 36 railway carriages and 1,120-tons of other military supplies.
At 0514, Ramage's USS PARCHE torpedoes and sinks MANKO MARU. She carries down several hundred naval personnel, 17 crewmen and about 20 Gunners and a cargo of ammunition.
3 August 1944:
At 1730, the remainder of MI-11 arrives at Manila where it is reorganized.
August 1944:
An unknown Cdr assumes command.
7 August 1944:
At 1900, SHIMUSHU departs Manila for Miri, Borneo with kaibokan CD-26, minesweeper W-28 and subchaser CH-55 escorting reconstituted convoy MI-11 that now consists of TAKETOYO, MIHO, ENOSHIMA, HACHIJIN, SHICHIYO, AYAYUKI, AYAKUMO MARUs and TEIRITSU MARU (ex French LECONTE DE LISLE) joined by MISAKI MARU.
12 August 1944:
At 1630 arrives at Miri.
16 August 1944:
At 0700, SHIMUSHU departs Miri for Manila with kaibokan CD-7, CD-16, CD-28, subchaser CH-30, CH-33 (this ship joined en route) and CH-41 escorting convoy MI-12 consisting of JINEI, TAKETOYO, SEISHIN, NORFOLK, UGA, KINRYU, KAITO, OYO, NANSEI, TAIEI and GYOSAN MARUs, JUNGEN GO, and unidentified KAITO MARU.
18 August 1944:
At 1352, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) William T. Kinsella's (USNA ’34) USS RAY (SS-271) torpedoes and sinks NANSEI MARU at 08-39N, 116-39E. 12 Gunners and 17 crewmen are killed. The convoy is ordered to seek shelter.
20 August 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Paluan Bay, NW Mindoro.
21 August 1944:
At 0556. departs Paluan Bay. Soon after CD-28 attacks an enemy submarine contact. At 0720, a wolfpack consisting of USS GUITARRO (SS-363), USS HADDO (SS-255), USS HARDER (SS-257), USS RAY (SS-271) and USS MUSKALLUNGE (SS-262) make the first of a series of successful attacks. Kinsella's USS RAY torpedoes and sinks TAKETOYO MARU, carrying a cargo of drummed oil and gasoline at 0652 at 13-21N, 120-19E. 13 crewmen are KIA.
At 0730, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Chester W. Nimitz, Jr's (USNA ’36) USS HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes and sinks NORFOLK MARU. One Gunner and 16 crewmen are KIA. At 0800, Nimitz also torpedoes and sinks KINRYU MARU carrying a cargo of bauxite. 65 of soldiers and three crewmen are KIA. At 0825, LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskin's (USNA ’33) USS GUITARRO (SS- 363) torpedoes and sinks UGA MARU at 13-27N, 120-17E. 16 of the passengers, two Ship’s Gunners and 29 crewmwn are killed.
22 August 1944:
At 2200, MI-12 arrives at Manila.
27 August 1944:
At 0900, SHIMUSHU departs Manila with kaibokan ETOROFU, SHONAN, CD-7, CD-22 and CD-28 and subchaser CH-41 and patrol boat P-102 escorting convoy MAMO-02 consisting of KASHII, MAYASAN, NISSHO and NOTO MARUs. At 1548, anchors in Subic Bay.
28 August 1944:
At 0600, departs Subic Bay.
30 August 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Takao. Destroyers WAKABA and HATSUSHIMO join the escort and subchaser CH-41, patrol boat P-102, CD-7 and CD-28 are detached.
31 August 1944:
At 1600 departs Takao. Later that day ORYOKU MARU joins the convoy.
4 September 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Sasebo after detaching en route with ETOROFU and SHONAN. Soon after departs Sasebo.
5 September 1944:
At 1700 arrives at Maizuru. Undergoes repairs.
26 September 1944:
At 1600 departs Maizuru.
28 September 1944:
At 1430 arrives at Moji and at 1800 departs Moji.
29 September 1944:
At 0100 arrives at Sasebo.
2 October 1944:
At 1300 departs Saiki and at 1930 arrives at Moji.
4 October 1944:
At 1532 departs Moji with Rear Admiral Matsuyama Mitsuharu’s (former CO of KITAKAMI) 7th Convoy Escort Group’s kaibokan SHIMUSHU (F), OKINAWA and CD-13 escorting convoy MOMA-04 consisting of transports NOTO, KINKA, KASHII MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship TAKATSU (KOZU) MARU.
6 October 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Woosung. The ships load the IJA’s 1st Division's main body of about 10,000 men plus equipment.
10 October 1944:
At 0900 SHIMUSHU, CD-11 and CD-13 departs Woosung and at 1700 arrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
12 October 1944:
At noon, Rear Admiral Matsuyama Mitsuharu’s (40) 7th Convoy Escort Group's SHIMUSHU (F) departs Shanghai, China with kaibokan OKINAWA, CD-11 and CD-13 escorting convoy MOMA-04 consisting of transports NOTO, KINKA, KASHII MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship TAKATSU (KOZU) MARU carrying the IJA’s 1st Division's main body of about 10,000 men plus equipment.
15 October 1944:
SHIMUSHU departs Ssu Chiao Shan.
16 October 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Woosung.
17 October 1944:
At 0700 SHIMUSHU departs Woosung and later atrrives at Ssu Chiao Shan.
19 October 1944:
Shushan Islands (Ssu Chiao Shan). ASAMA MARU carrying 5,000 troops escorted by kaibokan OKINAWA arrive from Shanghai and join convoy MOMA-04.
20 October 1944:
At 0230, convoy MOMA-04 departs the Ssu Chiao Shan (Shushan Islands).
22 October 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Sabtang.
23 October 1944:
At 0300 departs Sabtang and at 1820 arrives at Cabugao Bay.
24 October 1944:
At 0700 departs Cabugao Bay and at 1730 arrives at Lapoc Bay.
25 October 1944:
At 0330 departs Lapoc Bay and at 2351 arrives in Lingayen Gulf.
26 October 1944:
At 0600 departs Lingayen Gulf. At 2315, the convoy arrives at Manila.
31 October 1944: Operation TA No. 2:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's (41) SHIMUSHU (F) departs Manila with kaibokan OKINAWA, CD-11 and CD-13 escorting transports NOTO, KINKA, KASHII MARUs and IJA landing craft depot ship TAKATSU (KOZU) MARU.
2 November 1944:
Early in the morning the convoy is attacked by P-38 "Lightning" fighter-bombers. OKINAWA claims shooting down one. During the attack all kaibokan stream kites loaded with explosives as an AA measure, the first time this weapon is used in action. In the afternoon, the convoy is attacked by two dozen B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers. NOTO MARU, mostly unloaded, suffers a near miss by a 500-lb bomb that causes her to flood and sink. About 50 troops, 30 Ship’s Gunners, one Shipyard Worker and three crewmen are killed.
4 November 1944:
The convoy arrives back in Manila.
8 November 1944:
At 1030, TAKATSU MARU, KINKA MARU and KASHII MARU, carrying 10,000 men of the 26th Infantry Division and 3,500 tons of munitions, depart Manila into typhoon seas escorted by Rear Admiral Matsuyama's kaibokan OKINAWA and Admiral Kimura's destroyer screen of KASUMI (F), USHIO, AKISHIMO, ASASHIMO, NAGANAMI and WAKATSUKI. All proceed under the cover of the storm to Ormoc Bay, Luzon.
9 November 1944:
In the evening, the convoy arrives Ormoc Bay.
10 November 1944:
SHIMUSHU and DesDiv 31's ASASHIMO and NAGANAMI stand by as KINKA MARU unloads material. About 1000, 30 B-25s hit and sink TAKATSU MARU with all hands. KASHII MARU is hit several times and explodes after survivors abandon ship. CD-11 is set afire and beached. CD-13 is damaged by near-misses. SHIMUSHU claims a B-25.
N of Cebu. That same day, the convoy is attacked by P-38 fighter-bombers. AKISHIMO’s bow is blown off.
Sibuyan Sea. That same day, transport CELEBES MARU runs hard aground on a reef. Subchaser CH-46 is detached to guard CELEBES MARU. Admiral Kimura directs Admiral Matsuyama to carry CELEBES MARU's troops to Ormoc in SHIMUSHU and CD-13.
12 November 1944:
SHIMUSHU and CD-13 reach the location of CELEBES MARU at 1630.
12 November 1944:
SHIMUSHU and CD-13 cannot carry out Admiral Kimura's orders to land the troops at Ormoc and return to Manila.
17 November 1944:
At 0730, SHIMUSHU departs Singapore for Manila with kaibokan OKINAWA and CD-13 escorting convoy No. 4118 consisting of DOWA and GYOSAN MARUs.
20 November 1944:
At 1210, kaibokan OKINAWA is detached.
21 November 1944:
At 1844, in bad weather, LtCdr Richard E. Nichol's (USNA ’35) USS BASHAW (SS-241) torpedoes GYOSAN MARU, but she does not sink. Later, the flaming wreck drifts ashore in Dangerous Ground where it is torpedoed by LtCdr James E. Steven's (USNA ’30) USS FLOUNDER (SS-251) and sinks. 21 crewmen are KIA.
22 November 1944:
At 1947, LtCdr Carl Tiedeman's (USNA ’33) USS GUAVINA (SS-362) torpedoes and sinks anchored DOWA MARU at 10-18N, 114-15E. The convoy is dissolved at this point. One Gunner and 18 crewmen are KIA.
25 November 1944:
W of Corregidor. LtCdr Frank C. Lynch’s (USNA ’38) USS HADDO (SS-255) torpedoes SHIMUSHU and blows off her bow at 14-00N, 119-25E. At 1941, CD-13 carries out an anti submarine sweep and drops 18 depth charges. At 2028, ends the anti submarine sweep and heads towards SHIMUSHU. At 2130, meets up with SHIMUSHU and starts escorting her.
26 November 1944:
The ships arrive initially at Manila. SHIMUSHU undergoes emergency repairs.
4 December 1944:
Departs Manila escorted by CD-13.
5 December 1944:
Both ships arrive at Lapoc Bay, Luzon, Philippines. Departs later that day.
7 December 1944:
At 1142, arrives with CD-13 at Takao. The ship eventually arrives at Mako and undergoes repairs there.
10 December 1944:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command's First Escort Fleet.
25 December 1944:
Reassigned to the Kuriles Area Base Force, 12th Air Fleet.
8 January 1945:
Arrives at Kirun.
12 January 1945:
At 0800 departs Kirun in convoy TAMO-35 consisting of ARIMASAN MARU and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan MIKURA, SHIMUSHU, CD-2, CD-66, CD-67, aircraft carrier RYUHO and destroyer ISOKAZE.
14 January 1945:
At 1900 arrives at Chusan Island Group.
15 January 1945:
Departs Chusan Island Group.
16 January 1945:
At 2300 arrives at Katoku Suido.
17 January 1945:
Departs Katoku Suido and at 1700 arrives at Moji.
20 January 1945:
Arrives at Maizuru arsenal. A new bow is installed.
March 1945:
Attached to the Kuriles Area Base Force. Remains under repairs throughout the whole of March.
3 April 1944:
Departs Maizuru.
5 April 1944:
Arrives at Ominato.
10 April 1945:
Reassigned to the 104th Escort Squadron, Ominato Naval Guard District.
13 April 1945:
Departs Ominato and later that day arrives at Hakodate.
14 April 1945:
Departs Hakodate escorting a convoy probably consisting only of HOKUSHIN MARU. The ships are later apparently joined by kaibokan FUKUE.
16 April 1945:
Returns to Hakodate.
21 April 1945:
Departs Hakodate and later that day arrives at Ominato.
26 April 1945:
Departs Ominato escorting convoy KI-601.
30 April 1945:
Arrives at Kataoka.
1 May 1945:
Departs Kataoka.
2 May 1945:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan (Bay).
3 May 1945:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
4 May 1945:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
5 May 1945:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
6 May 1945:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan.
10 May 1945:
Departs Kataoka Wan on patrol.
11 May 1945:
Arrives back at Kataoka Wan. Later that day at 1700 departs Kataoka Wan escorting convoy KI-601 consisting only of UKISHIMA MARU. The convoy sails at 12 knots.
15 May 1945:
At 1700 arrives at Otaru.
18 May 1945:
Departs Otaru. Later off Shimushu Island, Kuriles. SHIMUSHU and HACHIJO, on the way to escort transport UKISHIMA MARU, are attacked by three B-25 bombers, damaging the HACHIJO. SHIMUSHU downs one of the attackers and takes one of B-25’s gunners aboard. She then tows damaged HACHIJO to Kataoka Bay, Shimushu.
19 May 1945:
Kuriles. SHIMUSHU inspects a Soviet merchant that strayed into Japanese waters. The Soviet skipper warns the Japanese about the presence of the U.S. submarines in the area.
23 May 1945:
Arrives at Kataoka Wan.
26 May 1945:
At 2000, SHIMUSHU departs Paramushiro, Kuriles for Otaru, Hokkaido with kaibokan HACHIJO, CD-47, CD-205 and CD-112 and fleet supply ship SHIRASAKI escorting the Chi convoy consisting of KURETAKE, TENRYO and KASUGAYAMA MARUs.
28 May 1945:
At 2000, at N50.00-E146.00, in dense fog HACHIJO loses contact with the convoy.
29 May 1945:
At 1300, at N47.32-E143.31, CD-112 departs and starts searching for HACHIJO. At 2055, LtCdr Hugh H. Lewis' (USNR) USS STERLET (SS-392) torpedoes KURETAKE and TENRYO MARUs. KURETAKE MARU's crew struggles to control flooding, but TENRYO MARU sinks soon after being hit taking down 773 men of the 23rd Air Defense Battalion and 26 gunners and 47 crewmen. SHIMUSHU carries out an anti submarine sweep and drops 17 depth charges and later the main guns fire 53 rounds and the machine guns fire 251 rounds.
30 May 1945:
At 0600, KURETAKE MARU sinks. 372 troops and six crewmen are KIA. SHIMUSHU rescues hundreds of survivors. At 0900, ceases the rescue of survivors. Heads towards Otaru towing two large Daihatsus . At 1200, both Daihatsus flood and sink.
31 May 1945:
Arrives at Otaru.
2 June 1945:
At 0400 SHIMUSHU, CD-36, CD-55 and CD-57 depart Otaru escorting combined Ru Convoy consisting of HAKUAI, KANATO, HIRANO MARUs and KYODO MARU No. 13 and Wa Convoy consisting of KOJO, EIHO MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 15. At some point the convoy is joined by kaibokan ETOROFU.
18 June 1945:
Attached to the Combined Fleet Twelfth Air Fleet 104 Squadron.
18 July 1945:
USS BARB (SS-220) attacks ferry SOYA MARU en route from Wakkanai to Sakhalin, but escorting kaibokan CD-112 deliberately intercepts USS BARB’s torpedo and sinks after being hit. SHIMUSHU arrives on the scene and rescues two of CD-112 sailors.
15 August 1945: Cessation of Hostilities:
At Hokkaido.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
29 October 1945:
Departs Maizuru on her first repatriation voyage.
6 November 1945:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
9 November 1945:
Arrives at Truk. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
10 November 1945:
Departs Truk.
18 November 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 November 1945:
Undergoes repairs at Uraga.
1 December 1945:
Officially appointed a special cargo ship in the Allied Repatriation Service. [4]
6 December 1945:
Repairs are completed.
7 December 1945:
Departs Uraga.
14 December 1945:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated
and departs later that day.
18 December 1945:
Arrives at Truk. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
19 December 1945:
Departs Truk.
24 December 1945:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
28 December 1945-25 January 1946:
Under repair at Uraga.
2 February 1946:
Departs Uraga.
6 February 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
8 February 1946:
Departs Guam.
12 February 1946:
Arrives at Palau. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
14 February 1946:
Arrives at Truk. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
18 February 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 February 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
21 February 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
26 February 1946:
Arrives at Guam. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
28 February 1946:
Arrives at Tinian. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
4 March 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
8 March 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
10 March 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 March 1946-20 April 1946:
Under repairs at Maizuru.
28 April 1946:
Departs Maizuru.
29 April 1946:
Arrives at Pusan. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
4 May 1946:
Departs Maizuru.
6 May 1946:
Arrives at Shanghai. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
13 May 1946:
Departs Shanghai.
15 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers.
19 May 1946:
Departs Sasebo.
27 May 1946:
Arrives at St Jacques. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 May 1946:
Departs St Jacques.
29 May 1946:
Arrives at Saigon. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 June 1946:
Arrives at Bangkok. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
3 June 1946:
Departs Bangkok.
14 June 1946:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
25 June 1946-3 July 1946:
Under repair at Uraga.
5 August 1946:
Departs Uraga.
10 August 1946:
Arrives at Korojima near Tientsin. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
13 August 1946:
Departs Korojima.
16 August 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
1 Septemer 1946-18 September 1946:
Under repairs at Maizuru.
27 September 1946:
Departs Ninoshima (small island S of Hiroshima)
29 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
1 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
7 October 1946:
Departs Kure.
9 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
12 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 October 1946:
Departs Ujina.
17 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
20 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
23 October 1946:
Departs Otake.
25 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
27 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 November 1946:
Undergoes repairs.
18 November 1946:
Repairs are completed.
27 November 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
28 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
29 November 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
30 November 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 December 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
22 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
23 December 1946:
Departs Okinawa.
25 December 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
18 June 1947:
Dai-ichi Building, Tokyo. Japanese warships are to be divided into four roughly equal lots among the "Big Four" victorious nations. Vice Admiral Robert M. Griffin, commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Far East, conducts the first drawing of lots that includes a total of 24 destroyers and 68 kaibokan. The Soviet Union is allotted 34 former IJN warships, including 7 destroyers and 17 escort vessels.
5 July 1947:
20 miles E of Vladivostok. Nakhodka Bay, Siberia, Maritime Province. SHIMUSHU is ceded to the Soviet Navy as a war reparation. Provisionally attached to the Soviet 7th (Pacific) Fleet as patrol vessel EK-31.
22 July 1947:
Decommissioned and mothballed until spring 1953.
Late October 1947:
Transferred to Vladivostok.
23 April 1953:
Reassigned to the Soviet Pacific Fleet.
May 1953:
Port Sovetskaya Gavan, Khabarovsk Krai. Navy shipyard No. 263 commences the repairs of EK-31, now provisionally designated as dispatch ship PS-25.
17 June 1957:
Shipyard No. 263 receives the order to refurbish PS-25 as a towed repair ship PM-74, to be commissioned on 5 October that year. Soon after the start of works the hull of the vessel is found to be deteriorated beyond repair.
16 May 1959:
Decommissioned and scrapped sometime thereafter.
Authors' Notes:
[1] CH-20 is known to have undertaken escort of NANKAI MARU on the return journey with the ships departing 15 August from Car Nicobar.
[2] After HI-40 was annilhilated by USS JACK and USS GRAYBACK, the Naval General Staff discontinued
assigning only one escort vessel to protect small convoys and began organizing larger convoys with more escorts.
[3] USS GRAYBACK was lost with all 80 hands in East China Sea on 27 Feb '44.
[4] 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, and ammunition landed. Repatriation of the Chinese on Japanese shipping 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 innoculated for typhus and smallpox, provided with food, and transported to his final destination in Japan.
Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan, Mr. Berend van der Wal of Netherlands and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa, Matthew Jones of Ohio and Aki-san of Japan for help in identifying kaibokan COs.
Thanks go to Erich Muethaler of Germany for information in Revision 9.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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