© 2006-2019 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 6
20 June 1942:
Tsurumi. Laid down at Nippon Kokan K. K.’s shipyard.
20 March 1943:
Launched and named TSUSHIMA.
28 July 1943:
Completed and registered in the Kure Naval District. LtCdr Suzuki Jo is the Commanding Officer.
August 1943:
Kure. Undergoes training.
17 August 1943:
TSUSHIMA departs Moji escorting convoy MA-01 consisting of ORYOKU MARU and one unidentified merchant ship.
20 August 1943:
Arrives at Keelung.
22 August 1943:
TSUSHIMA departs Takao escorting convoy MA-02 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship. ORYOKU MARU joins from Kirun.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
1 September 1943:
TSUSHIMA departs Moji escorting convoy MA-03 consisting of ORYOKU and FUJI MARUs.
4 September 1943:
Arrives at Takao. ORYOKU MARU has detached at Kirun.
9 September 1943:
TSUSHIMA departs Takao with two unidentified warships escorting convoys No. 201 and No. 204. The convoys include TOFUKU, TOKO, HITORA (ex Panamanian RAMONA), HIROTA, TAIRIN, ORYOKU and RYUYO MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships, but it is unclear to which convoy each ship belongs. The convoys consist of nine merchant ships (No. 201) and three merchant ships (No. 204).
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
25 September 1943:
TSUSHIMA departs Moji escorting convoy MA-05 consisting of BOKUYO (MUTSUYO), NISSHO, ORYOKU MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
29 September 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
12 October 1943:
At 1600, TSUSHIMA departs Moji with destroyer ASAKAZE escorting convoy HI-13 consisting of transport/cargo ships SANUKI, NANKAI, MIZUHO, AOBASAN, FUSO and MANILA MARUs and tankers KYOKUEI and AMATSU MARUs. AOBASAN MARU is carrying the commanding general and headquarters , 4th Infantry Division as well as elements of the 61st Infantry Regiment. FUSO MARU is carrying the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa.
18 October 1943:
Departs Takao.
21 October 1943:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island.
24 October 1943:
Departs Samah.
30 October 1943:
At 1546, arrives at Singapore.
3 November 1943:
At 1210, TSUSHIMA departs Singapore escorting fast convoy HI-14 consisting of transports AWA, KAGU, HOKUROKU and AKI MARUs and oilers AMATSU and KYOKUEI MARUs.
8 November 1943:
Near Dangerous Ground, Palawan, Philippines. At 0505, LtCdr (later Cdr) George E. Porter's (USNA ’32) USS BLUEFISH (SS-222) attacks the convoy on the surface. Porter fires all ten of his tubes; one torpedo prematures just after leaving the tube. USS BLUEFISH reloads and Porter makes three more attacks sinking KYOKUEI MARU with two torpedoes. No casualties are sustained. TSUSHIMA detaches to rescue survivors, but is unable to relocate the convoy. HI-14 is forced to proceed unescorted.
10 November 1943:
Convoy HI-14 arrives at Takao at 1100. Kaibokan WAKAMIYA replaces TSUSHIMA as escort.
15 November 1943:
Assigned to the General Escort Command's First Surface Escort Division.
17 November 1943:
TSUSHIMA departs Takao escorting the Toku convoy consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at Davao.
30 November 1943:
Manila Bay. At 1000, eight miles and 220 degrees off Corregidor, TSUSHIMA takes over as escort duties for special convoy "G" from Singapore consisting of tankers OKIKAWA and MIRI MARUs, fleet tanker ASHIZURI and transports KACHIDOKI (ex American PRESIDENT HARRISON), ASOSAN, ASAMA MARUs and one unidentified ship. Destroyer URANAMI is detached.
1 December 1943:
At 2000 the convoy arrives at Takao.
2 December 1943:
At 1430 departs Takao in Special G convoy (Part 2) also consisting of SAKITO, KACHIDOKI (ex PRESIDENT HARRISON), NISSHO and ASOSAN MARUs solely escorted by TSUSHIMA.
7 December 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Mutsure.
11 December 1943:
At 1400, TSUSHIMA departs Moji escorting fast convoy HI-25 consisting of transports KAGU, NISHI (ex-KALGAN), SHOZUI and JUYO MARUs and tankers ZUIHO, OMINESAN, NICHINAN and AMATSU MARUs.
15 December 1943:
At 0830, the convoy is unsuccessfully attacked by LtCdr Henry C. Stevenson's (USNA ’30) USS ASPRO (SS-309). Stevenson fires four torpedoes, but all miss or are evaded. Soon after JUYO MARU detaches for Kirun. At 1500, the convoy arrives at Takao.
16 December 1943:
At 1530, departs Takao. NISHI MARU and probably SHOZUI MARU are detached from the convoy for Manila soon thereafter. Soon after departure, TSUSHIMA is summoned to assist MATSUWA carry out an unsuccessful anti-submarine hunt for LtCdr (later Captain) Robert D. Risser's (USNA ’34) USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) that attacked convoy No. 447 earlier that day and sank GINYO MARU. Later, TSUSHIMA rejoins the convoy.
21 December 1943:
Arrives at Singapore at 1320.
26 December 1943:
At 1000, TSUSHIMA departs Singapore escorting convoy HI-26 consisting of tankers OTOWASAN, OMINESAN, AMATSU MARUs, and fleet oiler TAKASAKI and possibly up to three unidentified merchant ships (including ICHIYO MARU).
1 January 1944:
Arrives at Takao. TSUSHIMA is detached.
3 January 1944:
TSUSHIMA depart Takao with kaibokan MIYAKE escorting convoy No. 232 consisting of GOZAN, DAIHO, SAN DIEGO, HASSHU (ex MIJER), TAIKAI (3812 GRT), AKAGISAN, KOHO, YOZAN, KINE, KENSEI MARUs, and three unidentified merchant ships.
10 January 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Moji.
11 February 1944:
At 1600, TSUSHIMA departs Moji escorting convoy HI-43 consisting of tankers MANEI MARU, EIYO MARU No.2 and OSE (ex Dutch GENOTA), cargo passenger ship ORYOKU MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.
16 February 1944:
At 1100, arrives at Kirun, Formosa. ORYOKU MARU is detached.
18 February 1944:
At 1000, departs Kirun.
23 February 1944:
At 1730, arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina. Submarine chaser CH-41 joins the convoy, some of which may have straggled and did not arrive until 25 February. CH-21 carries out an anti submarine sweep over the following days.
29 February 1944:
At 0900, departs Camranh Bay. Immediately prior to leaving CH-41 is detached.
1 March 1944:
In the predawn near St Jacques the ships pass close to a northbound convoy. One of this convoy's ships TOKUSHIMA MARU collides with TSUSHIMA and cuts off 8 metres (26 feet) of the ship's stern killing two NCO's and four enlisted men. Without rudder and propellers TSUSHIMA is immobilised but damage control and emergency repairs are carried out and TOKUSHIMA MARU tows the ship to Nha Be below Saigon where further emergency repairs are carried out.
27 March 1944:
The ship is towed by TATEISHI MARU from Nha Be to St Jacques and later that day departs in convoy SASHI-14 consisting of TATEISHI, NISSHIN, ZUISHO and TSURUSHIMA MARUs with auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU providing the escort.
31 March 1944:
Near Singapore the tow is taken over by the Naval tug KURUSHIMA (Ex British CHRISTINE MOLLER). TSUSHIMA is towed to Seletar Naval Base where the ship remains under repair for many months. The rest of the convoy arrives at Singapore that same day.
12 October 1944:
TSUSHIMA joins the escort of convoy HI-76A consisting of TEIRITSU MARU (ex French LECONTE DE LISLE) and three unidentified merchant ships also escorted by kaibokan CD-9.
15 October 1944:
At 2000 arrives at St Jacques. TEIRITSU MARU and TSUSHIMA are both detached and sail upriver to Saigon. CD-9 is detached, possibly also to go to Saigon, but later rejoins the convoy together with TSUSHIMA.
22 October 1944:
The convoy now strengthened by additional kaibokan escorts DAITO, CD-16 and CD-28 departs St Jacques.
26 October 1944:
At 2016 an enemy submarine is sighted at 20.19N 114.26E.
27 October 1944:
At 1345 an enemy submarine is sighted at 20.42N 114.34E. Soon after DAITO is likely detached.
2 November 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
14 November 1944:
TSUSHIMA departs Imari Bay for Singapore with escort carrier SHINYO, destroyer KASHI, Rear Admiral Sato Tsutomu's (40) (former CO of FUSO) Eighth Escort Convoy’s Eighth Escort Convoy’s flagship ETOROFU and kaibokan DAITO, KUME, SHONAN, and CD-61 escorting convoy HI-81 consisting of SHINSHU, KIBITSU, AKITSU, MIRI, ARITA, HASHIDATE, KIMIKAWA, MAYASAN, OTOWASAN and TAIHO MARUs. HI-81 makes an overnight stop off Goto Island.
15 November 1944:
Departs Goto Island. At 1156, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles E. Loughlin's (USNA ’33) USS QUEENFISH (SS-393) torpedoes and sinks AKITSU MARU at 33-17N, 32-00E. 67 crewmen, 140 gunners, 2,093 of 2500 men of the IJA's 64th Infantry Regiment are KIA. Load of IJA's 20th Sea Raiding Battalion 104 “Maru-ni” explosive motor boats (EMB) aboard also are lost.
That same day, TSUSHIMA is assigned to the General Escort Command's 101st Escort Squadron.
16 November 1944:
Convoy HI-81 anchors off Korea, near Strange Island.
17 November 1944:
At 0800, HI-81 departs Strange Island for the Shushan Islands near Shanghai. At 1815, LtCdr Evan T. Shepard's (USNA ’35) USS PICUDA (SS-382) torpedoes and sinks MAYASAN MARU. 56 crewmen, 194 gunners and 3187 soldiers of 4,387 of IJA’s 23rd Division are KIA as well as 204 horses. All maru-ni explosive motor boats (EMB) of IJA's 24th Sea Raiding Battalion also are lost. At 2303, LtCdr Underwood's USS SPADEFISH (SS-411) torpedoes and sinks SHINYO at 32-59N, 123-38E. Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Ishii Shizue (39) (former CO of CHUYO) and more than 700 men are lost. Destroyer KASHI counter-attacks, but with uncertain results.
18 November 1944:
At 0220, CD-61 is ordered to locate and assist SHINYO. At 0315, TSUSHIMA drops 15 depth-charges on an enemy submarine, which on the basis of fuel oil and other debris, is claimed sunk in a report at 0426. At 0800, Rear Admiral Sato aboard ETOROFU orders TSUSHIMA to proceed to the scene and take SHINYO’s survivors aboard. At 1600, HI-81 arrives off Raffles Island E of Shanghai and awaits the rescue escorts to rejoin.
21 November 1944:
HI-81 departs for Mako.
23 November 1944:
The convoy splits into two sections, one heads for Singapore via Mako and the other for Luzon via Takao. CD-9 joins the convoy.
26 November 1944:
TSUSHIMA and kaibokan DAITO arrive at Takao with the Luzon contingent of HI-81. Some ships proceed to Luzon the next day.
30 November 1944:
At 2104, TSUSHIMA, DAITO, CD-14, CD-16, CD-46, CD-134, and minesweeper W-101 depart Takao for Manila escorting convoy TAMA-33 consisting of SHINSHU and KIBITSU MARUs.
Eight miles off Corregidor. At 1200, TSUSHIMA is detached from convoy TAMA-33 and takes over the escort of special convoy "G" consisting of passenger liner ASAMA MARU, tankers OKIKAWA and MIRI MARUs and two unidentified ships. TSUSHIMA escorts these ships to Manila.
10 December 1944:
TSUSHIMA is reassigned to the First Escort Fleet.
27 December 1944:
TSUSHIMA departs Takao for Singapore with light cruiser KASHII and kaibokan DAITO, UKURU,
CD-23, CD-27 and CD-51 escorting convoy HI-85 consisting of TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE), DAINAN, ENKYO, YAMAZAWA, ENGEN, ENCHO, DAIGYO, OTSUSAN, FUEI, OEI, SERIA and SHINYU MARUs.
28 December 1944:
TSUSHIMA is detached from the convoy and makes for Yulin, Hainan Island.
29 December 1944:
South China Sea. At 1725, minesweeper W-101 joins HI-85’s escort.
30-31 December 1944:
On both days, sporadic attacks by B-24 "Liberator" heavy bombers are beaten off without loss.
1 January 1945:
At 1720, convoy arrives Qui Nhon Bay.
2 January 1945:
Departs Qui Nhon Bay. That evening, the convoy anchors at Nha Trang Bay, Indochina.
3 January 1945:
At 0730, convoy HI-85 departs Nha Trang. While proceeding south, near the east entrance of Hainan Straits, the convoy is attacked by a lone B-24 which approaches from astern in a glide with its motors cut. One bomb hits TEIHOKU MARU (ex French PERSEE), the last ship in the west column. TEIHOKU MARU and escort TSUSHIMA are detached to Yulin, Hainan Island for repairs. While en route to Yulin, they are bombed again and TSUSHIMA is damaged by a near miss.
15 January 1945:
Off Yulin. Between 1100 and 1240, Task Force 38's planes dive-bomb and sink empty tanker HARIMA MARU with eight airplanes on deck and also damage kaibokan DAITO. The escorts are closely grouped for protection along the shore near the mountains and shoot down two F6F "Hellcat" fighters as they pull up from their strafing attacks.
16 January 1945:
About 30 or 40 SB2C "Helldiver" dive-bombers and F6F fighters make another attack, but it is directed at shore targets and no serious damage is done to the escorts or the freighters.
17 January 1945:
Three fighters attack, but do no serious damage.
21 January 1945:
At 0300, TSUSHIMA departs Yulin for Moji with kaibokan DAITO, UKURU and CD-27 escorting convoy YUTA-15 consisting of TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE), KIBITSU and AKISHIMA MARUs.
23 January 1945:
At 0930, the convoy is attacked at l 21-N, 111-E by a single B-24 with no damage. A message is intercepted from this B-24 reporting the exact position and composition of the convoy in plain language.
23 January 1945:
At 0130, a night attack is made by a four-engine plane on TSUSHIMA, the leading escort at 25-N and 119-E. A bomb drops close by, but no damage is sustained.
10 February 1945:
Arrives at Moji.
April 1945:
LtCdr Shinzawa Masao assumes command from LtCdr Suzuki. TSUSHIMA escorts convoys between Japan and Korea.
2 June 1945:
Arrives at Sasebo. Undergoes repairs.
15 August 1945:
TSUSHIMA's crew is notified of the termination of the war.
5 October 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
12 October 1945:
Departs Sasebo.
19 October 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
21 October 1945:
Departs Manila.
23 October 1945:
Arrives at Tacloban. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 October 1945:
Departs Tacloban.
3 November 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 November 1945:
Departs Kure.
1 December 1945:
Officially assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service. [1]
7 December 1945:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
9 December 1945:
Departs Manila.
16 December 1945:
Arrives at Otaka. Disembarks troops and passengers.
29 December 1945:
Departs Kure.
1 January 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo.
7 January 1946:
Arrives at Manila. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
16 January 1946:
Departs Manila
22 January 1946:
Arrives at Otaka. Disembarks troops and passengers.
27 January 1946-10 February 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tamano.
19 February 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
20 February 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
22 February 1946:
Departs Kirun.
24 February 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers and departs later that day.
26 February 1946:
Arrives at Kirun.
28 February 1946:
Departs Kirun.
1 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
4 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
11 March 1946:
Departs Kirun.
13 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
17 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
20 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
22 March 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
24 March 1946:
Arrives at Kirun. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated
27 March 1946:
Departs Kirun.
30 March 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 April 1946:
Departs Kagoshima.
5 April 1946:
Arrives at Kwaren (Hua Lien). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
8 April 1946:
Arrives at Kagoshima. Disembarks troops and passengers.
20 April 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tamano.
11 May 1946:
Repairs are completed.
18 May 1946:
Departs Kure.
22 May 1946:
Arrives at Sasebo. Disembarks troops and passengers and departs later that day.
27 May 1946:
Arrives at St Jacques. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated
28 May 1946:
Departs St Jacques.
30 May 1946:
Arrives at Bangkok. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
9 June 1946:
Arrives at Uraga. Disembarks troops and passengers.
23 June 1946:
Departs Uraga.
26 June 1946:
Arrives at Korojima (near Tientsin). Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
28 June 1946:
Departs Korojima.
1 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 July 1946:
Departs Hakata.
9 July 1946:
Arrives at Korojima. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated.
10 July 1946:
Departs Korojima.
13 July 1946:
Arrives at Hakata. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 July 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tamano.
10 August 1946:
Repairs are completed.
21 August 1946:
Departs Ujina.
23 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
25 August 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
27 August 1946:
Departs Ujina.
28 August 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa and departs later that day.
30 August 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
2 September 1946:
Departs Kure.
5 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
7 September 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
9 September 1946:
Departs Ujina.
11 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later that day.
13 September 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
15 September 1946:
Departs Kure.
17 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
19 September 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
21 September 1946:
Departs Ujina.
23 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
25 September 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
27 September 1946:
Departs Kure.
28 September 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
3 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure and departs later the same day.
4 October 1946:
Arrives at Ujina. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 October 1946:
Departs Ujina.
7 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
9 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
13 October 1946:
Departs Kure.
14 October 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriated and departs later the same day.
16 October 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
18 October 1946- 30 October 1946:
Undergoes repairs at Tamano.
7 November 1946:
Departs Kure.
9 November 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriate and departs later the same day.
12 November 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
6 December 1946:
Departs Kure.
8 December 1946:
Arrives at Okinawa. Embarks troops and passengers to be repatriate and departs later the same day.
10 December 1946:
Arrives at Kure. Disembarks troops and passengers.
31 July 1947:
Ceded to the Nationalist Republic of China as a war reparation. Renamed LIN AN.
1963:
Discarded.
Authors' Note:
[1] 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, ammunition landed, and radar and catapults removed, if fitted. Repatriation of the Chinese on Japanese ships 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 inoculated for typhus and smallpox, provided with food, and transported to his final destination in Japan.
Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan, Mr. Erich Muehlthaler of Germany, Mr. John Whitman of Virginia, USA and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks for assistance in identifying kaibokan COs goes to Mr. Aki of Japan and Matthew Jones of Ohio.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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