SOKAITEI!

© 2010-2015 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

Revision 6

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10 June 1942:
Aioi. Laid down at Harima Zosensho, K. K.

23 February 1943:
Launched and numbered W-27.

30 July 1943:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Yokosuka Naval District. Lt Cdr Nakane Kazumasa is appointed Commanding Officer. At 1346 departs Harima and at 1640 arrives at Kobe.

31 July 1943:
At 1000 departs Kobe escorting NIKKO MARU to Toba. Late that day the ships arrive at Toba.

2 August 1943:
At 0600 departs Toba on an anti submarine sweep. At 1800 arrives at Nagaura.

5 August 1943:
At 0800 departs Nagaura for a training exercise in Tokyo Bay and returns at 1300.

8 August 1943:
At 1030 departs Nagaura for a training exercise in Tokyo Bay and returns at 1630.

9 August 1943:
At 0800 departs Nagaura for a training exercise in Tokyo Bay and arrives at Tateyama at 1650.

10 August 1943:
At 0800 departs Tateyama and at 1400 arrives back at Nagaura.

12 August 1943:
At 0515 departs Nagaura and meets up and escorts convoy No. 7812 consisting of HIYOSHI, RYUSEI and GYOKO MARUs.

13 August 1943:
At 2130 arrives off Kobe.

14 August 1943:
At 0720 arrives at Kobe.

16 August 1943:
At 1038 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8816 consisting of cargo ships SEISHO and YAMAFUKU MARUs and tanker MITSU MARU. Auxiliary netlayer KASHI MARU and auxiliary minesweeper SHINTOHOKU MARU later join as escorts.

17 August 1943:
YAMAFUKU MARU breaks down and is towed by KASHI MARU.

18 August 1943:
At 0925 arrives at Nagaura.

20 August 1943:
At 0530 W-27 is notified that fishing boat FUKUJU MARU No.3 has broken down and is sent to that vessel's aid. At 1845 W-27 begins towing the stricken ship.

21 August 1943:
At 2350 arrives at Tateyama. The tug KAIO MARU No. 2 took over the tow at some point.

22 August 1943:
At 0720 arrives back at Nagaura.

24 August 1943:
At 0800 departs Nagaura on an anti submarine training exercise.

26 August 1943:
At 1615 arrives at Nagaura.

27 August 1943:
At 1700 departs Nagaura escorting convoy No. 1827 consisting of TAISEI, SHOKO, DAIBOSHI, MIYAZAKI and FUSHIMI MARUs.

30 August 1943:
At 0700 arrives at Muroran.

2 September 1943:
At 1400 departs Muroran escorting convoy No. 2902 consisting of AKAMA and MIYAZAKI MARUs.

3 September 1943:
At 1600 in 41-00N 144-34E USS POMPANO attacks the convoy and attacks and sinks AKAMA MARU. MIYAZAKI MARU seeks shelter while W-27 conducts a hunt for USS POMPANO.

5 September 1943:
At 1130 W-27 arrives at Onagawa and departs there at 1830 escorting MIYAZAKI MARU.

6 September 1943:
At 1800 the convoy arrives at Tateyama where it is dissolved. At 2000 W-27 arrives at Nagaura.

7 September 1943:
At 0700 departs Uraga and at 0830 arrives at 0830 arrives at Yokosuka.

10 September 1943:
At 0640 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 7910 consisting of RYUWA, KAIKA, KOKUYO, SAWA MARUs and RYOYU MARU No. 32.

11 September 1943:
At 2040 arrives at Kobe.

14 September 1943:
At 0845 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8914 consisting of YOZAN, SANSEI (3266 gt) MARUs and an unidentified ship.

16 September 1943:
At 1730 arrives at Yokosuka.

18 September 1943:
At 0730 departs Yokosuka and at 1650 W-27 arrives at Nagaura.

20 September 1943:
At 0730 departs Nagaura with destroyers SAWAKAZE and HATAKAZE on a training exercise. At 1430 returns to Yokosuka.

21 September 1943:
At 1630 departs Yokosuka and at 1830 arrives at Tateyama.

22 September 1943:
At 0430 departs Tateyama escorting convoy No. 3921 consisting of HIYOSHI, KIKUKAWA, TAIAN and HAKKAI MARUs, NANKAI MARU No. 2 and MIKAGE MARU No. 18 also escorted by kaibokan FUKUE and OKI.

23 September 1943:
At 2130, after detaching from the convoy, W-27 arrives back at Tateyama.

24 September 1943:
At 0700 departs Tateyama and at 1200 arrives at Yokosuka.

26 September 1943:
At 1650 arrives Yokosuka with W-33 and destroyers SHIMAKAZE, HATAKAZE, SAZANAMI, SHIRATSUYU and minelayer UKISHIMA escorting damaged escort carrier TAIYO being towed by escort carrier CHUYO arriving at Yokosuka from Truk.

30 September 1943:
At 0600 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 7930 consisting of TATEYAMA and SHOEI MARUs.

1 October 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Yura.

2 October 1943:
At 0700 departs Yura and later that day arrives at Kobe.

4 October 1943:
At 1200 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8004 consisting of ASAKAZE, SHINRI, MISHIMA, KIYOTADA (SEICHU), MICHI and MITSU MARUs.

6 October 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Yokosuka.

8 October 1943:
At 1045 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 1008 consisting of SHINFUKU and SEKIHO MARUs.

10 October 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Yamada.

11 October 1943:
At 0730 departs Yamada Wan.

12 October 1943:
At 0500 arrives at Muroran.

14 October 1943:
At 0730 departs Muroran escorting convoy No. 2014 consisting of SHORYU and SHINO MARUs. At 1430 JOGU MARU joins the convoy.

15 October 1943:
At 0900 SHORYU and SHINO MARU are detached off Kamaishi.

17 October 1943:
At 1200 arrives at Yokosuka.

18 October 1943:
At 1300 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 7018B consisting of SHINWA, ASAHISAN, YAMAHAGI MARUs and UNKAI MARU No. 12.

20 October 1943:
At 0700 arrives at Kobe.

22 October 1943:
At 1200 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8022 consisting of TSUSHIMA and SYDNEY MARUs.

23 October 1943:
At 1310 in 34-33N 130-48E three enemy submarine contacts were made but the convoy avaoided attack.

24 October 1943:
At 1100 off Uraga W-27 ceases escort and at 1800 arrives at Tateyama.

25 October 1943:
At 0630 departs Tateyama and at 0930 arrives at Yokosuka.

27 October 1943:
At 1455 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 1027 consisting of TAISEI, SHORYU, FUKI, HOKURYU MARUs and RYUHO MARU No. 1.

30 October 1943:
At 0610 arrives at Muroran.

1 November 1943:
At 1132 departs Muroran escorting convoy No. 2101 consisting of TOTEN and KORYU MARUs.

2 November 1943:
At 0930 KORYU MARU is detached for Kamaishi.

4 November 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Yokosuka.

7 November 1943:
At 1700 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 7107 consisting of TOSEI, CHIYO, MITSU, CHIKUZEN and NAGISAN MARUs.

8 November 1943:
At 1740 arrives at Kobe.

11 November 1943:
At 1600 W-27 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8111A consisting of SANKA, YUKI and FUKUYAMA MARUs, one towing an unkato cargo barge eastward bound. The convoy sails at 8 knots.

13 November 1943:
At 1650 arrives at Yokosuka.

16 November 1943:
At 1300 W-27 transfers to Tokyo Bay.

17 November 1943:
At 0700 W-27 departs Tokyo Bay escorting convoy No. 7117B consisting of four unidentified ships, one of which is towing an unkato cargo barge westward bound. The convoy sails at 8 knots bound for the Inland Sea.

19 November 1943:
At 0600 arrives at Oshima but departs at 1030. At 2130 arrives at Kobe.

21 November 1943:
At 1800 W-27 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8121A consisting of NIKKIN, TEIHOKU (ex French PERSEE) and KOKUYO MARUs. The convoy sails at 8.5 knots.

23 November 1943:
At 1330 arrives at Yokosuka.

25 November 1943:
At 1500 departs Yokosuka on a submarine sweep.

28 November 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Sasebo.

29 November 1943:
At 0630 departs Sasebo on a submarine sweep.

30 November 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Sasebo.

2 December 1943:
At 1600 departs Sasebo.

3 December 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Seso, Amami Oshima.

4 December 1943:
At 1400 departs Seso and at 1900 meets up with HITORA MARU (ex Panamanian RAMONA).

5 December 1943:
At 1300 auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU takes HITORA MARU in tow. At 1850 the ships arrive back at Seso.

6 December 1943:
At 1000 departs Seso on an anti submarine sweep.

7 December 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Kagoshima.

8 December 1943:
W-27 departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-804 consisting of FUYO MARU, SOTSU GO, NANKAI MARU No.1 and TOYO MARU No. 5. Bad weather forces the convoy to return to Kagoshima arriving back at 1630.

9 December 1943:
At 0800, convoy ROKU-804 consisting of the same ships departs Kagoshima again.

10 December 1943:
At 1300, FUYO MARU and TOYO MARU No. 5 are detached for Koniya.

11 December 1943:
At 1130, arrives at Naha, Okinawa.

14 December 1943:
At 1700 departs Naha on an anti submarine sweep.

15 December 1943:
At 0945 arrives at Naze and departs at 1100 escorting cableship TOYO MARU.

16 December 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Kagoshima.

18 December 1943:
At 1100 departs Kagoshima on an anti submarine sweep.

19 December 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Kuji, and at 1300 departs port, arriving at Seso at 1400, before departing at 1430.

22 December 1943:
At 0230 arrives at Kuji and departs there at 1200.

23 December 1943:
At 1530 arrives at Yamakawa.

24 December 1943:
At 0730 departs Yamakawa and at 1030 arrives at Kagoshima.

26 December 1943:
At 2400, W-27 departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-505 consisting of SHUNTAI, SUMIDA, AKAGI MARUs, cableship TOYO MARU and KYODO MARU No. 13.

28 December 1943:
At 0800, SUMIDA and TOYO MARUs are detached for Koniya.

29 December 1943:
At 0900, arrives at Naha.

30 December 1943:
At 0900, W-27 departs Naha escorting convoy OKI-003 consisting of HIBURI, NICHIMAN and FUYO MARUs.

31 December 1943:
At 1800, anchors at Koniya, Amami Oshima and convoy is joined by TOYO MARU No. 5, SUMIDA and BIYO MARUs.

2 January 1944:
At 0730 W-27 departs Koniya on an anti submarine sweep.

3 January 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Kuji but departs there at 1930; and at 2030 arrives back at Koniya.

4 January 1944:
At 0700, the same convoy departs Koniya. BIYO MARU joins the convoy but immediately straggles because of engine troubles and returns to Koniya.

5 January 1944:
At 1300, BIYO MARU catches up with convoy. At 2200 arrives Kagoshima.

8 January 1944:
At 1000, departs Kagoshima escorting convoy ROKU-706 consisting of RYUWA, KACHOSAN, KANTO, TAIKYU, SANYO and FUJI MARUs.

9 January 1944:
At 1300, KANTO MARU is detached for Naze. At 1600, TAIKYU MARU is detached for Koniya. SANKA MARU joins the convoy from Koniya.

10 January 1944:
At 1140, arrives at Naha. At 1700 W-27 departs Naha on an anti submarine sweep to assist convoy No. 127 consisting of NIKKI, TOYOKUNI, KINREI, ROKKO and IKUTAGAWA MARUs escorted by destroyer KARUKAYA.

12 January 1944:
At 0800 arrives back at Naha before departing again to assist convoy No. 127.

16 January 1944:
At 1100 arrives at Naha.

17 January 1944:
At 1800 departs Naha escorting convoy TAI-03 (NB probably typo for OKI-603).

18 January 1944:
At 0930 arrives at Kuji and departs at 1640, and arrives at Seso at 1730.

24 January 1944:
At 1500 departs Seso escorting NICHIRIN MARU (ex British MATA HARI).

25 January 1944:
At 1220 arrives at Naha.

28 January 1944:
At 1100 departs Naha to join convoy No. 132 consisting of NAGATA, TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), BOKO (ex British SAGRES), HIDA MARUs and eight unidentified merchant ships escorted by destroyer KURETAKE.

29 January 1944:
At 0745 W-27 joins the convoy and remains with the convoy until only 1045.

30 January 1944:
At 1950 arrives at Kuji.

31 January 1944:
At 1800 departs Kuji to meet HI-41 convoy.

1 February 1944:
At 0700, convoy HI-41 departs Moji consisting of transports AWA, ASAMA, NANKAI and TEIA (ex-French Liner ARAMIS) MARUs and tankers MIRI and NAMPO MARUs escorted by kaibokan MATSUWA. Meanwhile at 1248 W-27 arrives at Kuchinoraebu Jima to wait, before departing at 1900.

2 February 1944:
At 0730, W-27 joins the convoy.

3 February 1944:
At 0200, W-27 is detached. At 1100 W-27 arrives at Naha and after coaling, departs at 1800.

4 February 1944:
At 0800 arrives at Seso and at 1400 departs there.

5 February 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Sasebo.

13 February 1944:
At 0930 departs Sasebo and at 1700 arrives at nearby Ebisu Wan.

17 February 1944:
At 1200 departs Ebisu Wan.

20 February 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Tokuyama and at 2300 departs there.

22 February 1944:
At 1700 arrives at Yokosuka.

24 February 1944:
At 1600 departs Yokosuka and at 1830 arrives at Tateyama.

25 February 1944:
At 0622, W-27 departs Tateyama with W-25 escorting convoy No. 3225 consisting of MITAKESAN MARU.

27 February 1944:
At 0929, arrives at Fushimi, Chichi Jima.

3 March 1944:
At 0700 departs Fushimi escorting convoy No. 4302 consisting only of EIKO MARU.

5 March 1944:
At 1630 arrives at Mera-Koura, Shimizu to shelter from bad weather.

6 March 1944:
At 0000 the ships depart Mera-Koura and at 1900 the convoy arrives at Yokosuka.

10 March 1944:
At 0700 departs Yokosuka on an anti submarine sweep.

12 March 1944:
At 1400 arrives at Hachijo Jima.

13 March 1944:
At 0000 departs Hachijo Jima and at 1230 arrives at Yokosuka.

14 March 1944:
At 0000 departs Yokosuka.

15 March 1944:
At 1030 arrives back at Yokosuka.

16 March 1944:
At 0830 departs Yokosuka and at 0940 arrives at Yokosuka. At 1800 departs Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 7316 consisting of tanker HOSEN MARU and two unidentified merchant ships.

17 March 1944:
HOSEN MARU experiences an engine breakdown but later rejoins the convoy at 1700. At 1730 arrives at Matoya.

18 March 1944:
At 0530 departs Matoya.

19 March 1944:
At 0220 arrives at Kobe.

20 March 1944:
At 2000 departs Kobe escorting convoy No. 8320A consisting of five unidentified merchant ships.

21 March 1944:
At 2130 anchors off Gokasho.

22 March 1944:
At 0430 departs Gokasho.

23 March 1944:
At 1230 arrives at Yokosuka. At 1830 W-27 departs Yokosuka on an anti submarine sweep.

24 March 1944:
At 1840 W-27 anchors off Uraga.

25 March 1944:
At 0830 departs Uraga and at 1000 arrives at Yokosuka and docked.

1 April 1944:
At 0730 departs Yokosuka escorting a small boat convoy of 21 vessels to Hachijo Jima. W-27 spends some of the time on an anti submarine sweep.

3 April 1944:
At 0600 off the coast of Hachijo Jima the escort ceases.

4 April 1944:
At 1400 arrives back at Yokosuka.

8 April 1944:
At 0900 departs Yokosuka and at 1030 arrives at Yokohama.

10 April 1944:
At 0900, W-27 departs Yokohama with auxiliary subchasers SHONAN MARU No. 3 and SHONAN MARU No. 11. escorting convoy No. 3409 consisting of KASHIMASAN MARU, BANEI MARU No. 6, UNKAI MARU No. 10 and three yard craft under tow: Powercraft No. 1 Go, Powercraft No. 2 Go and SASEBO No. 8 Go.

11 April 1944:
At 1600, arrives at Hachijo Jima where the yard craft are left behind because of the rough weather.

14 April 1944:
At 0600, arrives at Chichi Jima.

17 April 1944:
At 1310 departs Futami, Chichijima with auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 8 escorting convoy No. 4417B consisting only of BANEI MARU No. 6.

18 April 1944:
At 2400 TOSHI MARU No. 8 is detached.

20 April 1944:
At 2000 arrives off Yokosuka.

27 April 1944:
At 1400 departs Yokosuka and at 1510 arrives at Kisarazu.

28 April 1944:
At 0700 departs Kisarazu escorting Higashi Matsu No.7 with submarine chasers CH-16 and CH-18, kaibokan NOMI, CD-12, CD-18 and CD-22 in outbound convoy consisting of TATSUHARU, MITAKESAN, ASAHISAN, OKINAWA, YAMATAMA, BINGO, MEIRYU, MOJI and MIHO MARUs bound for Saipan; ASAKA MARU and Naval landing ships T.128 and T.150 for Palau; KOSHIN and BOKUYO MARUs for Yap and TAITO MARU for Chichi-jima.

29 April 1944:
At 1230 the escort mission ceases.

30 April 1944:
At 1000 arrives back at Nagaura.

4 May 1944:
At 0730 departs Yokosuka on an anti submarine sweep.

6 May 1944:
At 0830 arrives back at Yokosuka.

8 May 1944:
At 0930 docked for repairs.

19 May 1944:
At 0830 undocked.

21 May 1944:
At 0830 departs Yokosuka on trials, returning at 1600.

25 May 1944:
At 1400 departs Yokosuka and at 1700 arrives at Tateyama.

28 May 1944:
At 0500 departs Tateyama with auxiliary netlayer TAIKO MARU escorting the third motor torpedo boat flotilla and at 1900 arrives at Otsu.

29 May 1944:
At 0540 departs Otsu and at 0730 arrives at Onahama.

1 June 1944:
At 0600 departs Onahama and at 1430 arrives at Onagawa.

3 June 1944:
At 0800 departs Onagawa and at 1430 arrives at Yamada with MTBs H-10, H-19 and T-246.

7 June 1944:
At 0330 departs Yamada towing MTB T-246. At 1730 arrives at Onahama.

9 June 1944:
At 0730 departs Onahama still towing MTB T-246. At 1630 arrives at Onagawa.

14 June 1944:
At 0900 departs Onagawa escorting four MTBs. At 1630 arrives at Yamada.

17 June 1944:
At 0900 departs Yamada again escorting the third motor torpedo boat flotilla. At 1440 arrives at Hachinohe.

20 June 1944:
At 0600, still escorting the third motor torpedo boat flotilla, departs Hachinohe. At 1940 the ships arrive at Kushiro.

23 June 1944:
At 1120 the third motor torpedo boat flotilla and W-27 depart Kushiro but for unspecified reasons, return at 1545.

26 June 1944:
At 1300 W-27 departs Kushiro on an anti submarine sweep.

28 June 1944:
At 0805 W-27 detects an enemy submarine and launches a series of attacks from 0815 to 1647. Auxiliary netlayer KOKAI MARU and auxiliary patrol boat RIKOKU MARU later arrive to assist.

29 June 1944:
At 1828 arrives (possibly) at Same.

1 July 1944:
Arrives at Nagaura, near Yokosuka.

4 July 1944:
At 1408 departs Yokosuka and anchors in Tokyo Bay.

6 July 1944:
At 0600 departs Tokyo Bay and at 0700 arrives at Yokosuka. Later returns to Tokyo Bay.

8 July 1944:
At 1647 departs Tokyo Bay and at 1757 arrives at Yokosuka.

10 July 1944:
At 0500, W-27 departs Yokosuka with destroyers WAKABA and HATSUHARU, kaibokan AMAKUSA and CD-12 and auxiliary subchaser FUMI MARU escorting convoy No. 3710 consisting of NISSHU, TAISEI, TONEGAWA, DAIJI and EIKO MARUs and TOKAI MARU No. 4.

12 July 1944:
At 1500, NISSHU, TAISEI, TONEGAWA MARUs and destroyer HATSUHARU and kaibokan AMAKUSA and CD-12 are detached for Iwo Jima.

13 July 1944:
Bonin Islands. At 0726, LtCdr Albert L. Becker's (USNA ’34) USS COBIA (SS-245) fires three torpedoes and gets two hits that sink storeship DAIJI MARU, loaded with 960 tons cement, 420 tons coal, 200 tons baggage and 644 passengers including the main body of the 204th Naval Construction Unit, at 27-27N, 140-32E. 344 passengers, 15 Armed Escort and 29 crewmen are killed. W-27, destroyer WAKABA and auxiliary subchaser FUMI MARU counter-attack and drop 45 depth charges on USS COBIA, but Becker evades without damage to his boat. Later that day at 1850, the remaining ships of convoy No. 3710 arrive at Chichi Jima.

16 July 1944:
At 0600 W-27 departs Chichi Jima with destroyers WAKABA and HATSUHARU and kaibokan AMAKUSA and CD-12 escorting convoy No. 4716 consisting of TAISEI, TONEGAWA and EIKO MARUs.

19 July 1944:
At 1025, convoy No. 4716 arrives at Yokosuka.

23 July 1944:
At 1100 departs Yokosuka.

24 July 1944:
At 1230 arrives at Kushimoto.

26 July 1944:
At 1550 departs Kushimoto and at 1712 arrives at Katsuura. At 1745 meets up with destroyer SAWAKAZE and a further unidentified warship (ending ki/hata) of 3rd Surface Escort Force.

27 July 1944:
At 1129 arrives at Owase.

28 July 1944:
At 0845 departs Owase and at 1256 arrives at Toba.

31 July 1944:
At 1555 departs Toba and at 1630 arrives at Hamashima.

E 18 August 1944:
W-27 takes over the escort of convoy No. 2817 from auxiliary minesweeper TOGO MARU. Later W-27 escorts YAMAZUKI MARU.

31 October 1944:
At Takao. Newly arrived convoy MOMA-06 is reconstituted. It now consists of HAMBURG, SHIMOTSU, ASOKAWA, TOTTORI, EIWA, ATLAS, DAITOKU, SHINSHO, KAKOGAWA, SEKIHO and SEIWA MARUs escorted by W-27, old destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokan CD-7, CD-1, CD-3, subchaser CH-41 and fleet supply ship KURASAKI.

1 November 1944:
At 1800, the convoy departs Takao for Manila.

2 November 1944:
At 2305, LtCdr John B. Hess’s (USNA ’37) USS POMFRET (SS-391) torpedoes and damages ATLAS MARU carrying 1,325 troops, many from the 2nd Tank Division’s 2nd Battalion, 2nd Mobile Infantry and the 13th Shinyo Squadron with its 187 men and 50 Explosive Motor Boats (EMBs). Two crewmen and 79 members of the 13th Shinyo Squadron are KIA.

3 November 1944:
At 0435, Hess attacks ATLAS MARU again, but misses. At 0500, USS POMFRET also torpedoes and damages HAMBURG MARU. At 1850, one of the escorts scuttles her. Three of the 415 troops carried onboard, a gunner and 18 crewmen are KIA.

4 November 1944:
About 1330, ATLAS MARU finally goes aground. Torpedo boat SAGI arrives from Takao and joins the escort.

6 November 1944:
At 0253 departs Sabtang Island with minesweepers W-17 and W-18 as additional escorts.

8 November 1944:
Off Cape Bolinao, Luzon. LtCdr Guy E. O'Neil, Jr’s (USNA ’37) USS GUNNEL (SS-253) torpedoes and sinks SAGI. The convoy later arrives at Santa Cruz, Philippines. Warned of a typhoon in the area, the convoy departs the same day and arrives at Manila Bay at 2238.

9 November 1944:
At 0925, convoy MOMA-06 arrives at Manila harbor.

December 1944:
Lt Oda Tsumoru is appointed Commanding Officer.

16 December 1944:
At 0800, W-27 departs Yokosuka for Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto, (Bonin Islands) with kaibokan AMAKUSA, CD-4, CD-56 and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 2 escorting convoy No. 3217 consisting of AITOKU MARU, UNYO MARU No. 6 and HIYOSHI MARU No. 2.

20 December 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.

21 December 1944:
At 0337, HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 is mined and badly damaged and has to be beached off Kagaura. Five crewmen are KIA. AMAKUSA also sets off a magnetic mine beneath her keel, but with the aid of two pumps borrowed from CD-56 is able to control the flooding and proceed.

22 December 1944:
At 1400, the convoy departs Chichi-Jima for Yokosuka on its return journey. The convoy is renumbered No. 4222.

26 December 1944:
At 1700, arrives at Yokosuka.

15 February 1945:
Convoy No. 8215 consisting of HAGANE MARU and two unidentified merchant ships depart Inland Sea at 9 knots bound for Tokyo Bay escorted by W-27.

18 February 1945:
At 0500 the convoy departs Irako.

6 March 1945:
W-27, auxiliary minesweeper MISAGO MARU No. 3, auxiliary minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU and kaibokan CD-45 begin escorting a convoy in Ise Wan area.

8 March 1945:
The escort operation ends.

13-15 March 1945:
W-27 escorts a convoy.

18 March 1945:
W-27 escorts a convoy.

22-24 March 1945:
W-27 escorts a convoy.

27-29 March 1945:
W-27 escorts a convoy.

3 May 1945:
Arrives at Onagawa.

4 May 1945:
Departs Onagawa.

5 May 1945:
Arrives at Onagawa and departs later the same day.

9 May 1945:
Arrives at Onagawa and departs later the same day.

15 May 1945:
Arrives at Onagawa.

16 May 1945:
Departs Onagawa.

25 May 1945:
Arrives at Onagawa.

26 May 1945:
Departs Onagawa but arrives back in port later that day.

27 May 1945:
Departs Onagawa.

26 June 1945:
S of Todogasaki, Honshu. At 1030, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Woodrow W. McCrory‘s USS PARCHE (SS-384) attacks convoy No. 1624 consisting of EIKAN and KAMITSU MARUs and fleet supply ship SOYA, en route from Yokosuka to Hakodate, Hokkaido. KAMITSU MARU is sunk and EIKAN MARU heavily damaged.

The escorts, kaibokan SHISAKA and CH-51 counter-attack, dropping a total of 67 depth-charges. Alerted by SHISAKA, W-27, W-23 and Wa-6 also arrive to the scene of attack, guided by a Kawanishi E7K2 "Alf" floatplane from the Yamada Bay detachment of the 903rd NAG. As a result of multiple attacks USS PARCHE sustains slight damage, but escapes.

2 July 1945:
Departs Hachinohe escorting cargo ship EIROKU MARU. Late that day arrives at Muroran.

4 July 1945:
Departs Muroran escorting HOKOKU MARU. Later that day arrives at Hachinohe.

5 July 1945:
Departs Hachinohe and later that day arrives at Yamada.

7 July 1945:
Departs Yamada and briefly escorts cargo ship EIROKU MARU before returning to Yamada.

9 July 1945:
Departs Yamada.

10 July 1945:
Off Yamada Bay, northern Honshu. At about 1100, LtCdr Raymond H. Bass’ (USNA ’31) USS RUNNER II (SS-476) torpedoes and sinks W-27 at 39-20N, 142-07E. W-27 is escorting SHINYO MARU with W-33 and submarine chaser CH-47 when attacked. (UNYO MARU No. 10 was also in the same area). She receives two hits to starboard and sinks in 90 seconds.

15 September 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors' Note:
Photo credit goes to Gakken via J. Ed Low.
Thanks go to Mr. Sander Kingsepp of Estonia and Mr. Gilbert Casse of France for general assistance and to Mr Matthew Jones of USA for help in identifying CO's.

-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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