Japanese T.103 Class Landing Ship Tank

Tokusetsu-Yusokan

IJN T.103 Class Landing Ship Tank

(T.101 Class Landing Ship Tank by T. Yuki)

IJN LST T.160: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2018 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp

5 February 1944.
Numbered T.160. Provisionally attached to Kure Naval District.
1 July 1944:
Mukojima. Laid down at Hitachi K.K. shipyard as the 950-ton T.103-class landing ship tank No. 1560.
8 August 1944:
Launched.
5 September 1944:
Reattached to Kure Naval District. Rerated a 2nd Class Yusokan. Reserve Lt Ozaki Shuhei is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
30 September 1944:
T.160 is completed, commissioned in the IJN and assigned to 1st Transport Squadron of the Combined Fleet. Attached to Kure Naval District. Lt Ozaki Shuhei is the CO.
17 October 1944:
Reassigned to Southwestern Area Fleet.
18 October 1944:
Lt Ozaki receives the order to proceed to Manila.
21 October 1944:
Departs Sasebo for Kiirun (Keelung), Taiwan. Arrives later that day.
30 October 1944:
Departs Keelung for Takao (Kaohsiung), Taiwan.
2 November 1944:
Departs Takao for Manila, Luzon, Philippines in fleet convoy TAMA-31A, consisting of seaplane tender KAGU MARU, escorted by subchaser CH-21 and minesweeper W-20. The ships are part of an emergency transport run to Manila following the Battle for Leyte Island and are carrying 1,820 men including a naval construction unit from Kure, an anti-aircraft unit and a Special Naval Landing Force.
3 November 1944:
Near Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines. A temporary wolf pack is formed, consisting of consisting of Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Wreford G. Chapple's BREAM (SS-243), LtCdr William T. Kinsella's RAY (SS-271), LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's RATON (SS-270) and LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins's GUITARRO (SS-363).
Bashi Channel. At 1627, T.111 evades four torpedoes, probably fired by LtCdr Robert E. Ward's USS SAILFISH (SS-192). Minesweeper W-20 conducts an unsuccessful depth charge attack. At 1800, the convoy arrives and shelters in Lapog Bay, N of Vigan.
4 November 1944:
At 0700, convoy TAMA-31A departs Lapog Bay for Manila. During the day, subchaser CH-5 and auxiliary subchaser KEISHU MARU join TAMA-31A's escort. At 1627, LtCdr Shea's RATON attacks the convoy and fires six torpedoes at KAGU MARU, but they all miss. Minesweeper W-20 and the convoy's air cover counter-attack without effect. Later that day, Cdr Chapple's BREAM fires four torpedoes at KAGU MARU and scores one hit. Subchaser CH-21 conducts another counter-attack.
10.5 miles NW of Cape Bolinao, Lingayen Gulf. That evening, GUITARRO attacks KAGU MARU. At 1748, KAGU MARU's lookouts spot six torpedoes approaching from astern. She attempts to evade, but more incoming torpedoes are sighted off her starboard bow. One of a spread of eight torpedoes hits her amidships. A fire starts in the engine room. After GUITARRO's attack, RAY fires two torpedoes and blows off KAGU MARU's bow. At 2010, KAGU MARU sinks at 15-54N, 119-45E. 22 passengers and 24 sailors are killed. Credit for the sinking is divided among the wolfpack's submarines.
T.160 dispatches a lifeboat to assist KAGU MARU's survivors. Later shelters at Santa Cruz, Mindanao.
5 November 1944:
The lifeboat from T.160 arrives at Santa Cruz. After weathering an air attack, the landing ship arrives at Olongapo, Subic Bay in company of T.111 and later departs for Sarangani Bay, Mindanao.
6 November 1944:
T.160 and T.111 arrive at Sarangani Bay, Mindanao, then depart for Manila.
7 November 1944:
T.160 and T.111 arrive at Manila.
23 November 1944: Operation "TA No. 5" - The Reinforcement of Leyte:
T.160 departs Manila with LST's T.111 and T.141 in the first echelon of convoy TA No. 5, escorted by subchaser CH-46.
24 November 1944:
Masbate Island. In the early morning, convoy TA No. 5 arrives at Port Cataingan and takes shelter. Shortly after noon, USAAF 13th Air Force P-40 "Warhawk" and P-47 "Thunderbolt" fighter-bombers attack and set T.160, T.111 and T.141 with their cargos on fire. T.160 sinks at 11-58N, 123-59E as do T.111 and T.141. CH-46 rescues the survivors and heads towards Manila.
10 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

-Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp

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