Dai 1 Go-gata Yusokan

© 2014-2015 Bob Hackett
Revision 1

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1 April 1944:
Yokohama. Laid down at Mitsubishi Yokohama Shipyard as Ship No. 2907, a 1,500-ton No. 1 class landing ship.

3 July 1944:
Launched and numbered T.7.

31 July 1944:
Reserve LtCdr Shinoda Yoshitomo (former CO of AMAKUSA) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer. Attached to the Yokosuka Guard Force.

15 August 1944:
Completed. LtCdr Shinoda is the Commanding Officer.

30 August 1944:
At 1100, T.7 departs Yokohama for Chichi Jima with kaibokan YASOJIMA (ex-Chinese light cruiser PING HAI) and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 10 escorting convoy No. 3830 consisting of TOKIWASAN and TAKUNAN MARUs and HAKUUN MARU No. 2. Late that night, the convoy anchors off Tateyama in Tokyo Bay.

31 August 1944:
At 0400, departs Tateyama. After receiving reports that Chichi-Jima is under air attack, the convoy reverses course and returns to Yokosuka where it is dissolved.

13 September 1944:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Hachijo Jima.

21 September 1944:
Arrives at Chichi Jima.

25 September 1944:
Attached to the Second Transport Squadron.

2 October 1944:
Departs Yokosuka.

4 October 1944:
Arrives at Futami Bay, Chichi Jima. At 2300, starts cargo unloading and continues until 0610 the next morning, then departs.

8 October 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

16 October 1944:
Departs Yokosuka.

18 October 1944:
Arrives at Haha Jima. At 2150, starts cargo unloading and continues until 0400 the next morning, then departs.

21 October 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

31 October 1944:
At 2145, T.7's crew detect a surfacing submarine, probably with their new Type 22 radar, at 28-10N, 141-36E. T.7's twin 12.7 cm high-angle guns fire six shots at the sub between 2206 and 2210, but without results. (1)

(BALAO-class USS PILOTFISH, SS-386)

8 November 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Chichi Jima.

11 November 1944:
Arrives at Futami Bay, Chichi Jima. At 0525, starts unloading cargo and continues until 1445 the next morning, then departs.

13 November 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

18 November 1944:
Departs Tokyo Bay for Chichi Jima.

20 November 1944:
Arrives at Futami Bay, Chichi Jima. At 0730, starts unloading cargo and continues until 0800. Unloads "Hayabusa" (Peregrine Falcon) class motor torpedo boat (MTB) No. 212, then departs.

21 November 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima. Unloads cargo.

22 November 1944:
Departs Iwo Jima.

24 November 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

29 November 1944:
At 0720, starts loading cargo and continues until 1542. Loads the "Hayabusa" class MTB No. 31.

30 November 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima.

1 December 1944:
Arrives at Futami Bay, Chichi Jima.

2 December 1944:
Unloads No. 31 MTB, then engages in surface-to-air combat, probably against Seventh Air Force Guam based B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers. Later that same day, T.7 departs Futami.

3 December 1944:
Arrives at Iwo Jima. Lands cargo and engages in surface-to-air combat, again probably against B-24s. Later that same day, T.7 departs Iwo Jima.

5 December 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

15 December 1944:
Reserve Cdr Toriumi Kingo is appointed Commanding Officer.

27 December 1944:
Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith's Task Group 94 bombards Iwo Jima. SSW of Chichi Jima, destroyer USS DUNLAP (DD-384), damaged by a shore battery, teams with USS FANNING (DD-385) and USS CUMMINGS (DD-365) and sink T.7 and landing ship T.132 by gunfire at 24-47N, 141-20E. [1]

10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Author's Note:
[1] LtCdr Allan G. Schnable (USNA '34) reported that USS PILOTFISH (SS-386) was attacked at 2206 by two "CHIDORI"- class torpedo boats and that one opened fire, but her shells fell 2,000 yds short. Nevertheless, Schnable submerged and evaded.

[2] This was about the same area where a few days earlier Task Group 94's destroyers USS CASE (DD-370) and USS ROE (DD-418) sank T.8 and landing ship T.157.

-Bob Hackett

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