Japanese Minesweepers

SOKAITEI!
W-21 (W-19 class) scanned from Gakken, V. 45

IJN Minesweeper W-24: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2009-2020 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Revision 11

5 February 1942:
Aioi. Laid down at Harima Zosensho, K. K.
26 September 1942:
Launched and numbered W-24.
25 January 1943:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Maizuru Naval District. Reserve Lt Matsushima Takuo is the Commanding Officer. At 1150 departs Aioi and at 1620 arrives at Tadotsu.
26 January 1943:
At 1050 departs Tadotsu and at 2314 arrives off Hesaki.
27 January 1943:
At 0615 departs Hesaki.
28 January 1943:
At 1201 arrives at Maizuru.
8 February 1943:
At 0915 departs Maizuru on trials and returns at 1522.
9 February 1943:
At 0850 departs Maizuru on trials and returns at 1719.
18 February 1943:
At 0901 departs Maizuru.
19 February 1943:
At 1840 arrives at Shimizu.
20 February 1943:
At 0800 departs Shimizu.
21 February 1943:
At 1800 arrives at Yokosuka.
26 February 1943:
At 0901 departs Yokosuka but returns at 1920.
27 February 1943:
At 1332 departs Yokosuka.
28 February 1943:
At 1134 arrives back at Yokosuka.
3 March 1943:
At 0800 departs Yokosuka and at 0918 arrives at Yokohama, before departing at 1203 escorting convoy No. 1303 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships. The convoy sails at 7.5 knots.
6 March 1943:
At 1450 arrives at Muroran.
8 March 1943:
At 0812, W-24 departs Muroran escorting convoy No. 2308 for Tokyo consisting of KENAN, FUKUJU, SHINFUKU, HISAJIMA, HOKUYO, KONZAN and ATAKA MARUs. The convoy formed up off Kobusaki, KONZAN MARU arriving from Kobusho and HISAJIMA MARU from Hakodate, Hokkaido. From 1400, minelayer SHIRAKAMI and auxiliary KEISHU MARU No. 3 provide distant cover. At 1645, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Wreford G. Chapple's (USNA ’30) USS PERMIT (SS-178) torpedoes and sinks HISAJIMA MARU at 41-16N 141-29E. The ship is loaded with 3850 tons coal and takes down two escort troops and five crewmen. HOKUYO MARU rescues survivors and proceeds to Hachinohe, Hokkaido. The rest of the convoy retreats to Yamada Port.
12 March 1943:
At 1905 arrives at Yokosuka.
16 March 1943:
At 1200 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 1316 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
19 March 1943:
At 0553 arrives at Muroran.
21 March 1943:
At 0733, W-24 departs Muroran escorting convoy No. 2321 consisting of SHOZAN MARU (from Kobusho), KOWA MARU (bound for Yokohama), GOZAN MARU (bound for Shibaura) and SHIGANOURA MARU (bound for Kawasaki) and SEIRYU MARU (from Kobusho bound for Hakodate and Nagoya), SHINFUKU and FUKI MARUs (bound for Shibaura) and BANEI MARU No. 15 (bound for Hakodate and Shiogama).
24 March 1943:
At 0530, arrives at Kunisaki where convoy is dissolved. At 0830 W-24 arrives at Yokosuka.
27 March 1943:
At 1400 departs Yokosuka escorting CHIHAYA MARU.
28 March 1943:
At 1030 breaks off escort.
29 March 1943:
At 1615 arrives at Yokosuka.
1 April 1943:
At 1057 W-24 departs Yokosuka and at 1250 arrives at Yokohama. At 1527 W-24 departs Yokohama escorting convoy No. 7401 consisting of SEITAI, TERUKUNI, KIYOTADA (SEICHU), TENNAN and ZUIYO MARUs bound for Inland Sea ports.
2 April 1943:
At 1400 TENNAN MARU breaks down. Auxiliary patrol boat KAZUMI MARU escorts the ship into Ise Wan.
3 April 1944:
At 0850 arrives at Kobe.
5 April 1943:
At 1400 W-24 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8405 consisting of KOKI, SHOHO (1356 GRT) and KURETAKE MARUs and HAKUTETSU MARU No. 15. KIZUGAWA MARU is meant to join the convoy but apparently doesn't.
6 April 1944:
At 1622 arrives at Eigu Wan.
8 April 1943:
At 0858 departs Eigu Wan.
9 April 1943:
At 0845 arrives at Yokosuka.
12 April 1943:
At 0800 departs Yokosuka on a training exercise but returns at 1505.
14 April 1943:
At 0902 W-24 departs Tokyo Bay escorting convoy No. 3414B consisting of SHOKO, ODATSUKI, HEIWA and HADACHI MARUs and RYOYU MARU No. 32. (HADACHI MARU, destined for Nagoya, may have separated en route and probably RYOYU MARU No. 32).
18 April 1943:
At 1720 arrives at Fushimi.
23 April 1943:
At 1754 departs Fushimi escorting MAGANE and KAIHEI MARUs.
26 April 1943:
At 1240 arrives at Yokosuka.
28 April 1943:
At 0905 W-24 departs Tokyo for Hokkaido escorting convoy No. 1429 consisting of KAMISHIMA, YOSHU, FUKI and SHOJU MARUs, TAIYO MARU No. 5 and JOSHU GO (ex Chinese HSU CHOW).
30 April 1943:
At 0430 escort stopped and at 1828 arrives back at Yokosuka,
1 May 1943:
At Ominato, assigned to MineSweepDiv 52 with W-23.
3 May 1943:
W-23, W-24, Submarine chaser CH-43 and the minelayer TOKIWA all anchor in Mutsu Wan.
5 May 1943:
All the ships return to Ominato.
7 May 1943:
W-23 and W-24 depart Ominato.
8 May 1943:
Both arrive at Otaru.
10 May 1943:
Departs Otaru escorting a convoy.
11 May 1943:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
12 May 1943:
W-24 departs escorting a convoy and then conducts an anti submarine sweep.
14 May 1943:
Both W-23 and W-24 arrive at Odomari.
15 May 1943:
W-24 departs Odomari escorting a convoy.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Odomari and later that day departs escorting a convoy.
18 May 1943:
Returns to Odomari.
19 May 1943:
Departs Odomari on an anti submarine sweep.
20 May 1943:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
21 May 1943:
Departs Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep.
22 May 1943:
Arrives back at Wakkanai.
23 May 1943:
Departs Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep.
24 May 1943:
Arrives back at Wakkanai. Late that day departs on a further anti submarine sweep.
25 May 1943:
Arrives back at Wakkanai.
26 May 1943:
Departs Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep.
27 May 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
30 May 1943:
Departs Ominato on an anti submarine sweep.
20 July 1943:
Joins training ship TOKIWA, carrying the 52nd gunboat unit from Sasebo and Maizuru, also escorted by auxiliary netlayer KISHIN MARU and auxiliary subchaser YARYU MARU. At 1025 finishes escort. At 1318 arrives at Ominato.
1 September 1943:
Departs Ominato and anchors off Nachi. At 0400 arrives off Hachinohe and begins escorting TONAN MARU.
2 September 1943:
Returns to Ominato.
6 September 1943:
W-23 and W-24 and minelayer TOKIWA transfer to Mutsu Wan and undertakes training exercises.
11 September 1943:
All ships return to Ominato.
13 September 1943:
W-24 departs Ominato.
14 September 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
21 September 1943:
Departs Otaru for Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep. Then undertakes convoy escort duties.
23 September 1943:
Arrives at Maizuru and drydocked for repairs.
21 October 1943:
Departs Maizuru on an anti submarine patrol.
23 October 1943:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
24 October 1943:
Departs Wakkanai and arrives at Otaru.
26 October 1943:
W-23 and W-24 depart Otaru on an anti submarine sweep.
27 October 1943:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
28 October 1943:
Departs Wakkanai and undertakes an escort mission and patrols.
Early-Mid November 1943:
In the Soya Strait area carries out convoy escorts and anti submarine sweeps.
21 November 1943:
Departs Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep.
22 November 1943:
Arrives at Otaru.
25 November 1943:
Departs Otaru on an anti submarine sweep.
26 November 1943:
Arrives at Ominato.
1 December 1943:
The Minelayer TOKIWA, Submarine chasers CH-41 and CH-43 and and W-23 and W-24 undertake training exercises at sea.
4 December 1943:
All transfer to Mutsu Wan and undertake further training.
8 December 1943:
W-23 and W-24 arrive at Ominato.
9 December 1943:
W-23 and W-24 depart Ominato on an anti submarine sweep.
10 December 1943:
Both arrive at Otaru.
12 December 1943:
W-23 and W-24 depart Otaru on an anti submarine sweep.
13 December 1943:
Both arrive at Wakkanai.
18 December 1943:
W-23 and W-24 depart Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep.
19 December 1943:
Both arrive at Ominato.
23 December 1943:
W-23 and W-24 both depart Ominato for Yokosuka.
25 December 1943:
At 0930 W-24 and torpedo boat CHIDORI depart Yokosuka.
26 December 1943:
At 0900 the ships are scheduled to arrive at Yuranai, Wakayama Ken.
2 January 1944:
Convoy No. 4102 departs Truk for Yokosuka consisting of repair ship YAMABIKO MARU and cargo ships KEIYO and YAMAKUNI MARUs escorted by destroyer ASAKAZE, kaibokan MANJU and cable layer HATSUSHIMA. At some unknown point W-24 meets the convoy.
8 January 1944:
At 0900 departs Kobe in convoy No. 8108A consisting of Naval transport NANKAI MARU and Naval oiler TAKASAKI, arriving that same day at Kushimoto Wan (Bay), Wakayama Prefecture.
9 January 1944:
Convoy 8108 A departs Kushimoto Wan arriving at 2030 that same day at Shimizu.
10 January 1944:
Convoy 8108A departs Kushimoto Wan arriving that same day at Shimizu.
Convoy No. 4102 is 185 miles NW of Torishima, Ogasawara (Bonin Islands). At about 0600, in typhoon weather conditions, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) David L. Whelchel's (USNA ’30) USS STEELHEAD (SS-280) fires four torpedoes in a night surface radar attack and hits YAMABIKO MARU in the engine room. Four crewmen are KIA. YAMAKUNI MARU takes YAMABIKO MARU in tow.
14 January 1944:
Convoy No. 4102 is NW of Hachijo-Jima. At about 0040, Captain (later Rear Admiral) Karl G. Hensel's (USNA ’23)USS SWORDFISH (SS-280) torpedoes and sinks YAMAKUNI MARU. 18 crewmen are KIA. Shortly thereafter, YAMABIKO MARU also sinks. The escorts drop 24 depth charges and damage USS SWORDFISH, but Hensel manages to escape. It is probable that siometime after this W-24 joins the convoy.
E 17 January 1944:
Convoy No. 4102 arrives at Yokosuka.
21 February 1944:
Tokyo Bay. W-24 and auxiliary netlayer TAIKO MARU depart Yokohama for Saipan escorting convoy No. 4420 consisting of KUMANOSAN, KIMISHIMA and KOYO MARUs and two unidentified ships.
23 February 1944:
At 1226, LtCdr Raymond H. Bass' (USNA ’31) USS PLUNGER (SS-179) torpedoes KIMISHIMA MARU at 30-11N, 140-49E. The ship is loaded with fuel, weapons, ammunition and rations. At 1445, she sinks with the loss of 10 escort troops and four crewmen. The escorts counter-attack and drop 45 DCs, but USS PLUNGER suffers only slight damage.
That same day, subchaser CH-42 joins the escort from Chichi-Jima, but at 2240, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles O. Triebel's (USNA ’29) USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and sinks KOYO MARU, carrying 20 passengers and 1191 construction troops and loaded with 5000 tons food provisions and construction equipment, at 28-49N, 141-13E. CH-42 rescues 142 survivors but 34 crewmen and 1046 troops are killed.
24 February 1944:
At 0900, KUMANOSAN MARU is hit in the stern by a dud torpedo fired by an unknown submarine. At 1800, the convoy arrives at Chichi-Jima.
18 March 1944:
W-24 and minelayer SARUSHIMA depart Chichijima escorting convoy 4318A consisting of KUMANOSAN MARU, UNKAI MARU No. 10 and motorised oil barge tanker No. 3998.
21 March 1944:
Arrives at Hachijo Jima.
22 March 1944:
Departs Hachijo Jima.
23 March 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
1 April 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
4 April 1944:
Departs Hakodate on patrol.
8 April 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
11 April 1944:
Departs Hakodate on patrol.
13 April 1944:
Meets up at sea and begins escorting a convoy.
15 April 1944:
Arrives at Muroran.
16 April 1944:
Departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
18 April 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
22 April 1944:
Departs Hakodate on an anti submarine sweep and patrol.
24 April 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
25 April 1944:
W-23 and W-24 depart Hakodate on patrol. For part of the way W-24 escorts KEIKI MARU that is en route from Kushiro to Tennei then returns to Hakodate at an unknown date.
2 May 1944:
Departs Hakodate on patrol.
4 May 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
6 May 1944:
Departs Hakodate on patrol.
8 May 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
11 May 1944:
Departs Hakodate on an anti submarine sweep.
12 May 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
15 May 1944:
Departs Hakodate escorting NIPPO MARU.
17 May 1944:
Arrives at Tennei.
25 May 1944:
Departs Tennei escorting a convoy.
26 May 1944:
Arrives at Kushiro.
28 May 1944:
Departs Kushiro on patrol.
29 May 1944:
Arrives at Hakodate.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Ominato and docked for repairs most of the month.
28 June 1944:
At 0734 departs Ominato for Wakkanai.
29 June 1944:
At 1808 arrives at Wakkanai.
30 June 1944:
At 0900 departs Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep but returns later that day.
2 July 1944:
At 0742 W-24 departs Wakkanai and returns at 1030. At 1950 convoy KI-203 departs Wakkanai consisting of KOKAI, MIHO and JUICHISEI (HOSHI MARU No. 11) MARUs escorted by kaibokan NOMI and auxiliary minesweeper FUKUEI MARU No. 7. The convoy is bound for Iwami Hama, Araito Jima. W-23 is later detached and arrives at Odomari on 5 July.
5 July 1944:
At 0310 W-24 and the convoy arrives at Izumi Hama, Uruppu, with MIHO MARU having detached en route.
6 July 1944:
At 0923 W-24 departs Uruppu with convoy now consisting of KOKAI and JUICHISEI (HOSHI MARU No. 11) MARUs escorted by kaibokan NOMI and auxiliary minesweeper FUKUEI MARU No. 7.
8 July 1944:
At 1325 arrives at Wakkanai.
9 July 1944:
At 0606 departs Wakkanai. Later at 1026 arrives at Odomari.
13 July 1944:
At 0958 departs Odomari and at 1716 arrives at Wakkanai.
16 July 1944:
At 1150 W-24 departs Wakkanai escorting KOKAI MARU bound for Toro, Karafuto.
18 July 1944:
At 0714 arrives at Etorofu Is.
19 July 1944:
At 0215 departs Etorofu.
20 July 1944:
At 1905 arrives back at Wakkanai.
22 July 1944:
At 0624 departs Wakkanai and at 1241 arrives at Odomari.
29 July 1944:
At 0802 departs Odomari escorting CHITOSE MARU.
30 July 1944:
At 1138 arrives at Wakkanai.
1 August 1944:
At 1157 departs Wakkanai escorting convoy KI-102 consisting of JUICHISEI MARU (HOSHI MARU No. 11) and KOKAI MARU.
3 August 1944:
At 1843 arrives at Izumi Hama, Urup Jima.
5 August 1944:
At 2028 departs Izumi Hama escorting the same ships.
8 August 1944:
At 1041 arrives at Odomari. KOKAI MARU proceeds on to Esutoru.
10 August 1944:
At 0523 departs Odomari and at 1155 arrives at Wakkanai. At 1804, W-24 departs Wakkanai, Hokkaido for Oha, Karafuto (Sakhalin) Island with kaibokan FUKUE escorting convoy KIRA-003 consisting of MANJU, KOSHO and MAYACHI MARUs.
12 August 1944:
At about 2300, LtCdr (later Captain) Stephen H. Gimber‘s (USNA ’35) USS POMPON (SS-267) torpedoes and sinks MAYACHI MARU at 50-35N, 144-02E. Nine passengers and 10 crewmen are killed.
14 August 1944:
Convoy KIRA-003 arrives at Oha (Okha). Unloads and departs Oha at 2315.
15 August 1944:
At 2315 W-24, that has departed ahead of the convoy, arrives at Wakkanai.
16 August 1944:
At 0137 departs Wakkanai and at 1018 arrives at Odomari.
17 August 1944:
At 0214 departs Odomari and later arrives at Airo Wan to stand by damaged tanker HAKUEI MARU that is in process of being refloated. W-23 joins soon after.
21 August 1944:
At 0124 W-23 and W-24 depart Airo Wan escorting HAKUEI MARU which is towed by salvage tugs MAGANE and NASU MARUs.
22 August 1944:
At 0830 W-24 arrives at Wakkanai. (W-23 has arrived at 0635). That same day Convoy No. KIRA-003 arrives at Wakkanai.
23 August 1944:
At 0035 W-24 departs Wakkanai escorting damaged tanker HAKUEI MARU which is towed by salvage tugs MAGANE and NASU MARUs.
24 August 1944:
At 0739 arrives at Otaru. HAKUEI MARU then proceeds to Hakodate.
28 August 1944:
At 0803 departs Otaru. At 1836 W-24 arrives back at Wakkanai.
30 August 1944:
At 0550, W-24 departs Wakkanai escorting convoy KI-002 consisting of HOSHI MARU No. 11 (JUICHISEI MARU) and KOKAI MARU. Soon after departing, KOKAI MARU is detached for Nemuro. The convoy sails on to Toro.
1 September 1944:
At 0550 arrives at Toro.
3 September 1944:
At 2153 departs Toro.
5 September 1944:
At 1543 W-24 darrives at Odomari.
9 September 1944:
At 0652 departs Odomari on patrol.
12 September 1944:
At 2343 arrives back at Odomari.
14 September 1944:
At 0751 departs Odomari and at 1429 arrives at Wakkanai.
16 September 1944:
At 2022 departs Wakkanai on patrol.
18 September 1944:
At 0802 arrives at Chitose Wan.
19 September 1944:
At 0629 departs Chitose Wan and at 0713 arives at Odomari.
21 September 1944:
At 0812 departs Odomari on patrol.
23 September 1944:
At 1356 arrives back at Odomari.
27 September 1944:
At 0801 departs Odomari on patrol.
28 September 1944:
At 1835 arrives at Wakkanai.
29 September 1944:
At 0620 departs Wakkanai and at 1514 arrives at Odomari.
4 October 1944:
At 0815 W-24 departs Odomari on patrol.
6 October 1944:
At 1255 arrives at Odomari.
7 October 1944:
At 1739 W-24 departs Odomari to meet with kaibokan FUKUE and destroyer KAMIKAZE escorting convoy RA-404 consisting of unidentified merchant ships.
9 October 1944:
At 0713 the convoy arrives at Chitose Wan.
10 October 1944:
At 0637 departs Chitose Wan but at 0918 returns to Chitose Wan.
11 October 1944:
At 0803 departs Chitose Wan and at 1005 arrives at Odomari.
15 October 1944:
At 0703 departs Odomari escorting convoy KI-403 consisting of NITTEI, HAKUYO and UMEKAWA MARUs also escorted by kaibokan FUKUE. At some point W-24 is detached.
17 October 1944:
At 0817 arrived at Odomari.
18 October 1944:
At 1208 departs Odomari and at 1820 arrives at Wakkanai.
21 October 1944:
At 1200 departs Wakkanai and at 1855 arrives at Odomari.
22 October 1944:
At 0803 departs Odomari and at 1458 arrives at Wakkanai.
31 October 1944:
At 0650 departs Wakkanai and at 1422 arrives at Odomari.
November 1944:
Lt Shibayama Takeo is appointed the Commanding Officer.
4 November 1944:
At 0107 W-23 and W-24 depart Odomari escorting TENRYO MARU in convoy Ki-301.
6 November 1944:
At 0720 the convoy arrives at Iwami Hama, Uruppu (Urup).
7 November 1944:
At 0042 W-23 departs Iwami Hama on patrol.
8 November 1944:
At 0635 returns to Uruppu.
9 November 1944:
At 1920 W-23 and W-24 depart Uruppu escorting a convoy.
10 November 1944:
At 1645 arrives at Mayoro Wan, Etorofu.
12 November 1944:
At 0455 departs Mayoro Wan.
13 November 1944:
At 1306 the convoy arrives at Abashiri. W-24 however proceeds to Wakkanai, arriving at 2136.
14 November 1944:
At 0935 W-24 departs Wakkanai and at 1606 arrives at Odomari.
16 November 1944:
At 0930 departs Odomari and at 1548 arrives at Wakkanai.
18 November 1944:
At 1046 W-24 departs Wakkanai with submarine chaser CH-15 escorting tanker NANKO MARU No. 4 that is bound for Tennei.
20 November 1944:
At 0930 arrives at Abushiri.
22 November 1944:
At 0737 departs Abushiri on patrol.
23 November 1944:
At 0330 arrives at Odomari.
25 November 1944:
At 0725 departs Odomari and at 1348 arrives at Wakkanai.
28 November 1944:
Departs Wakkanai on an anti submarine sweep.
6 December 1944:
Departs Wakkanai on patrol.
12 December 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
15 December 1944:
Meets convoy KI-501 from Otaru consisting of small tanker NANKO MARU No. 4 escorted by storeship SHIRASAKI and pareol boat HAKUHO MARU, booth from Wakkanai. At some point W-24 is detached.
18 December 1944:
Departs Wakkanai on patrol.
21 December 1944:
Arrives at Wakkanai.
28 December 1944:
Departs Wakkanai.
29 December 1944:
Arrives at Otaru.
3 January 1945:
Departs Otaru on patrol.
4 January 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
14 January 1945:
Departs Ominato on patrol.
16 January 1945:
Arrives at Kushiro.
17 January 1945:
Departs Kushiro escorting a convoy.
20 January 1945:
Arrives at Uruppu.
21 January 1945:
Departs Uruppu escorting a convoy.
24 January 1945:
Arrives at Kushiro.
26 January 1945:
Departs Kushiro on patrol.
28 January 1945:
Arrives at Ominato. Docked and undergoes repairs and maintenance.
6 March 1945:
At 0805 departs Ominato but returns at 1133.
10 March 1945:
At 0700 departs Ominato and at 1640 arrives at Muroran.
11 March 1945:
Arrives at Muroran.
12 March 1945:
At 0433 departs Muroran escorting SOYA and at 1706 arrives at Hachinohe.
15 March 1945:
At 0355 departs Hachinohe with SOYA and at 1605 arrives back at Muroran.
21 March 1945:
At 0654 departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
22 March 1945:
At 0715 arrives back at Muroran.
24 March 1945:
At 0810 departs Muroran on patrol.
26 March 1945:
At 0920 arrives back at Muroran.
30 March 1945:
At 0428 departs Muroran escorting a convoy consisting of EISO and SHINNAN MARUs. At 1729 arrives at Hachinohe.
3 April 1945:
Arrives back at Muroran.
8 April 1945:
Departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
9 April 1945:
Off Sanriku coast, NE Honshu. UKISHIMA MARU and minesweeper W-3 are attacked by by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Woodrow W. McCrory’s (USNA ’38) USS PARCHE (SS-384). W-3 is sunk at 39-07N, 141-57E, UKISHIMA MARU manages to avoid an incoming torpedo. She drops three depth charges and fires five shots from her main guns. Arrives at Yamada port now escorted by W-24.
17 April 1945:
Arrives back at Muroran.
19 April 1945:
Departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
21 April 1945:
Arrives at Ominato.
25 April 1945:
Departs Ominato escorting a convoy.
26 April 1945:
Arrives at Kamaishi.
28 April 1945:
Departs Kamaishi escorting a convoy.
30 April 1945:
Arrives at Muroran.
13 May 1945:
Departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
14 May 1945:
Arrives at Hachinohe.
15 May 1945:
Departs Hachinohe escorting a convoy.
16 May 1945:
Returns to Hachinohe.
18 May 1945:
Departs Hachinohe escorting a convoy.
21 May 1945:
Arrives at Muroran.
26 May 1945:
Departs Muroran escorting a convoy.
28 May 1945:
Arrives back at Muroran.
18 June 1945:
At 0830 W-24 is escorting TENYU MARU 160 degrees 7 Ri off Hensashi Misaki when an unknown submarine attempts to torpedo TENYU MARU. Kaibokan CD-221 operating in the vicinity arrives on the scene. The escorts counterattack.
15 July 1945:
W-24 is among the several vessels attacked at Muroran after 0830 on the morning of 14 July by Vought FG-1D Corsair fighters and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive-bombers from Vice Admiral (Admiral posthumously) John S. McCain’s (USNA ’06) Task Force 38 USS YORKTOWN (CV-10). W-24 is attacked by the first wave and heavily strafed, and although the ship manages to escape from harbor, sink laters allegedly at 41-38N, 141-00E. [1]
10 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:
Photo credit goes to Gakken via J. Ed Low.

[1] The stated sinking location is described as Tsugaru Straits. It is probable that this and the quoted position are approximate and the exact sinking location is closer to Muroran as claimed by Jiro Kimata (Battle History of Kaibokan Escorts, 1994).
Thanks for general assistance go to Mr. Sander Kingsepp of Estonia and to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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