Japanese Minesweepers

SOKAITEI!
(W-7 class minesweeper scanned from SOTW, V. 507)

IJN Minesweeper W-8: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2019 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 10

11 December 1937:
Tokyo. Laid down at the Uraga Dock Company.
28 May 1938:
Launched and numbered W-8.
15 February 1939:
Completed and registered in the IJN in the Sasebo Naval District.
1 June 1941:
W-8 is assigned to Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet's 1st Base Force in MineSweepDiv 21 with W-7, W-9, W-10, W-11 and W-12.
21 September 1941:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kitamura Masayuki (45) assumes command of MineSweepDiv 21.
27 November 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
4 December 1941:
Arrives at Peleliu, Palau.
8 December 1941:
At 0800, departs Peleliu in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji's (38) (former CO of SUZUYA) Fourth Surprise Attack Unit.
12 December 1941:
At 1200, arrives off Legaspi, Philippines. Participates in its capture.
17 December 1941: The Invasion of Miri, Borneo:
W-7 and W-8 provide cover for the invasion with cruisers KUMANO and SUZUYA, light cruisers YURA and KINU, seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU, DesDiv 11's FUBUKI, DesDiv 12's SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO and SHINONOME and DesDiv 20's SAGIRI and a few subchasers. In the darkness, SHINONOME completes escorting W-7 and troop transport HIYOSHI MARU to the landing site.
Just after dawn, steaming alone off shore, SHINONOME is attacked by Dutch Dornier Do-24 K-1 flying-boat X-32 of Aircraft Group GVT-7 based at Tarakan, E Borneo. Of five 200-kg bombs she drops, X-32 scores two direct hits and a near-miss. An explosion severs SHINONOME's stern and she sinks quickly with all hands - the first FUBUKI-class destroyer sunk in WWII. The invasion force goes ashore almost unopposed at Miri, Seria and Lutong. The 2,500 men of MajGen Kawaguchi Kiyotake's "Kawaguchi Detachment" and the Yokosuka No. 2 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) quickly capture Miri's airfield and oil fields.
19 December 1941:
W-7 and W-8 escort a convoy to Lamon Bay, Philippines. Engages in antisubmarine operation in Lamon Bay, Philippines. Conducts minesweeping before amphibious operations.
24 December 1941:
At 2020 W-7 and W-8 arrive Lamon Bay.
26 December 1941:
At 1000 W-7 and W-8 depart Lamon Bay.
31 December 1941:
At 1400 W-7 and W-8 arrive at Davao.
7 January 1942:
At 0430 MineSweepDiv 21's W-7, W-8, W-9, W-11 and W-12 depart Davao and at 0900 arrive at nearby Magunaga Bay.
9 January 1942: Operation "H" - The Invasion of Celebes, Netherlands East Indies:
MineSweepDiv 21's W-8, W-7, W-9, W-11 and W-12 depart Davao in Rear Admiral Kubo's 1st Base Force with light cruiser NAGARA, SubChasDiv 1's CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3 and patrol boats PB-1, PB-2, PB-34 escorting eight transports of the Menado, Celebes Seizure convoy carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo's (40) (former CO of SATA) Sasebo No. 1 Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF).

11 January 1942: The Invasion of Menado, Celebes Dutch East Indies:
Rear Admiral Kubo’s 1st Base Force with MineSweepDiv 21, NAGARA, patrol boats PB-1, PB-2, PB-34 and SubChasDiv 1’s CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3 provides escort for the Menado invasion force of eight transports carrying Captain Mori's Sasebo No. 1 Combined SNLF.
At 0700 W-7 and W-8, followed shortly after by the reest of MineSweepDiv 21's vessels arrive at Banka anchorage.
20 January 1942:
At 1800 MineSweepDiv 21 (less W-12) departs Banka.
21 January 1942:
Escorts the Kendari invasion convoy and conducts minesweeping.
23-24 January 1942: The Invasion of Kendari, Celebes:
MineSweepDiv 21’s W-8, W-12, W-7, W-9 and W-11, DesRon 10’s light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 16’s TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE and SubChasDiv 1’s CH-1 and CH-2 escort Rear Admiral Kubo’s Kendari Invasion Force under consisting of six troop transports carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo’s Sasebo Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF). The 11th Seaplane Tender Division’s CHITOSE and MIZUHO provide distant support.
29 January 1942:
Departs Kendari. Escorts the Ambon, invasion convoy.
31 January 1942: The Invasion of Ambon Island, Moluccas, Netherlands East Indies:
The invasion convoy includes ten transports carrying 820 men of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hatakeyama Koichiro's (39) (former CO of KINUGASA) Kure No. 1 SNLF, elements of the Sasebo SNLF and the 228th Infantry Regiment escorted by Rear Admiral later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (41) DesRon 2’s light cruiser JINTSU, DesDiv 8’s ASASHIO, MICHISHIO, ARASHIO and OSHIO, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 16’s TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE, MineSweepDiv 21’s W-8, W-7, W-9, W-11 and W-12 and SubChasDiv 1’s CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3. CHITOSE and MIZUHO arrive at Ceram and provide air cover for the invasion convoy.

3 February 1942:
At 2400 MineSweepDiv 21's W-7 and W-8 depart Ambon for Staring Bay.
5 February 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Kendari. 6 February 1942: The Invasion of Makassar, Celebes:
At 2100 MineSweepDiv 21's W-8 and W-7 depart Staring Bay escorting the Makassar Occupation Force consisting of six troop transports carrying Captain Mori’s Sasebo Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) also escorted by NAGARA, DesDiv 8’s ASASHIO, MICHISHIO, ARASHIO and OSHIO, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and HATSUSHIMO, DesDiv 21’s WAKABA, NATSUSHIN and NENOHI and SubChasDiv 2’s CH-13, CH-14 and CH-15.
11 February 1942:
Escorts the Kupang, Timor Seizure convoy.
14 February 1942:
At 0600 W-7 and W-8 depart Makassar.
17 February 1942:
At 0800, nine transports carrying the 228th Infantry Regiment and men of the Yokosuka No. 3 SNLF depart Ambon for Kupang, Dutch Timor. Light cruiser JINTSU provides close escort with the No. 2 Escort Unit's DesDiv 7's USHIO and SAZANAMI, DesDivs 15, 16 and DesDiv 24's UMIKAZE.
18 February 1942:
MineSweepDiv 21's W-7 and W-8, DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE and YAMAKAZE and a subchaser depart Ambon for Dili, Portugese Timor escorting a second convoy of five transports and fast transports (converted destroyers) P-1, P-2 and the P-34. CruDiv 5's HAGURO and MYOKO, DesDiv 6's INAZUMA and IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 7's AKEBONO provide distant cover. Air cover is provided by seaplane carrier MIZUHO.
19 February 1942:
That night, both convoys arrive off Timor. Operating as part of the American-British-Dutch-Australian ABDA FLOAT, the U. S. Asiatic Fleet's USS PIKE (SS-173) under LtCdr William A. New (USNA ’25), LtCdr Lewis Wallace's (USNA ’25) USS TARPON (SS-175) and LtCdr Barton E. Bacon's (USNA ’25) USS PICKEREL (SS-177) make contact with the invasion force.
20 February 1942:
Alor island. At 0243, USS PIKE attacks what LtCdr New misidentifies as two "light cruisers". The ships, in fact, are W-7 and W-8. New fires two torpedoes from 4,000 yards, but they miss ahead. The minesweepers move out of range before New can set up for another attack.
25 February 1942:
W-7 and W-8 departs Kendari escorting a convoy to Surabaya, Java.
3 March 1942:
At 0800 W-7 and W-8 depart Kupang for Kendari escorting YAMAMURA, MIKKE, ZENYO, RYOYO and AFRICA MARUs.
5 March 1942:
At 1600 arrives at Kupang.
8 March 1942:
At 0700 W-7, W-8, W-11 and W-12 depart Kupang.
9 March 1942:
At 1900 arrive at Macassar. The ships are refuelled by tanker OGURA MARU No. 2.
10 March 1942:
Assigned to the 1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet’s Special Base Force 21. At 0500 W-7, W-8, W-11 and W-12 depart Macassar.
2 April 1942:
At 0725 departs Surabaya Channel.
4 April 1942:
At 1320 returns to Surabaya Channel.
5 April 1942:
At 0740 arrives at Surabaya.
10 April 1942:
At 0800 departs Surabaya.
14 April 1942:
At 1140 arrives back at Surabaya.
17 April 1942:
At 0800 departs Surabaya escorted by minelayer TSUBAME and sweeps the west and east entrances to the port.
25 April 1942:
At 0730 departs Surabaya.
29 April 1942:
At 1630 arrives at Ambon.
25 July 1942:
Participates in the invasion of western New Guinea.
27 July 1942:
Waigama. Coaled and watered by auxiliary gunboat OKUYO MARU.
28 July 1942:
Ammunition transferred to vessel by OKUYO MARU.
29 July 1942:
At 2130 at the northwest coast of Noehoe Tjoet (Great Kei/Kai, Kei/Kai Besar) Island , Kai Islands, Maluku, Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) OKUYO MARU hands over two landing craft to W-8 and W-16.
31 August 1942:
Departs Surabaya for Truk escorting a convoy.
2 October 1942:
At 1255 departs Truk on an escort mission.
5 October 1942:
At 0655 arrives at Truk.
9 October 1942:
At 0710 departs Truk on an escort mission.
11 October 1942:
At 0715 arrives at Truk.
12 October 1942:
At 0510 departs Truk on an escort mission.
13 October 1942:
At 0800 arrives at Truk.
23 October 1942:
At 0410 departs Truk on an escort mission.
24 October 1942:
At 1000 arrives at Truk.
28 October 1942:
At 1600 departs Truk on an escort mission.
30 October 1942:
At 1430 arrives back at Truk.
1 November 1942:
At 1200 departs Truk on an anti submarine sweep.
3 November 1942:
At 1300 arrives back at Truk and undergoes repairs.
20 November 1942:
At 0745 repairs completed.
21 November 1942:
At 0500 departs Truk on an anti submarine sweep.
24 November 1942:
At 0730 arrives back at Truk.
28 November 1942:
At 0500 departs Truk on an escort mission.
30 November 1942:
At 1430 arrives back at Truk.
1 December 1942:
At 1530 departs Truk on an anti submarine sweep.
3 December 1942:
At 1200 arrives back at Truk.
6 December 1942:
At 0800 departs Truk on an escort mission.
7 December 1942:
At 1515 arrives back at Truk.
9 December 1943:
At 1245 departs Truk on an escort mission.
10 December 1942:
At 1100 arrives back at Truk.
12 December 1942:
At 0735 departs Truk on an escort mission.
13 December 1942:
At 0740 arrives back at Truk.
14 December 1942:
At 0520 departs Truk on two escort missions.
18 December 1942:
At 1620 arrives back at Truk.
20 December 1942:
At 1300 departs Truk on an escort mission.
21 December 1942:
At 1030 arrives back at Truk.
23 December 1942:
At 1155 departs Truk on an escort mission.
24 December 1942:
At 1305 arrives back at Truk.
25 December 1942:
At 1500 departs Truk escorting ASAYAMA (CHOZAN) MARU until 07-55N 153-07E.
27 December 1942:
At 1748 temporarily anchors.
28 December 1942:
At 0600 arrives back at Truk.
29 December 1942:
At 0510 departs Truk on an escort mission.
30 December 1942:
At 0730 arrives back at Truk.
4 January 1943:
At 1445 departs Truk on patrol.
6 January 1943:
At 0820 arrives back at Truk.
7 January 1943:
At 1400 departs Truk on an escort mission.
8 January 1943:
At 1400 arrives back at Truk.
11 January 1943:
At 0900 departs Truk on an escort mission.
13 January 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Truk.
14 January 1943:
At 1430 departs Truk on an escort mission.
15 January 1943:
At 1330 arrives back at Truk.
16 January 1943:
At 1400 departs Truk escorting tanker TOEI MARU. It is unclear whether W-8 was still escorting the tanker when TOEI MARU was torpedoed and sunk, probably the escort had detached and was returning to Truk.
19 January 1943:
After TOEI MARU has been sunk returns to sinking site to rescue survivors between 0730 and 1450 and then undertakes an escort mission.
23 January 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Truk.
28 January 1943:
At 1000 departs Truk on an escort mission.
29 January 1943:
At 1700 in a location south of Truk temporarily anchors.
31 January 1943:
At 0620 arrives back at Truk.
1 February 1943:
At 1000 departs Truk for Palau escorting a convoy. [1]
7 February 1943:
At 0900 arrives at Palau.
8 February 1943:
At 1430 departs Palau on an escort mission.
11 February 1943:
At 1000 arrives back at Palau.
13 February 1943:
At 1500 departs Palau on an escort mission.
15 February 1943:
At 1500 arrives at Palau.
18 February 1943:
At 1800 departs Palau on an escort mission.
21 February 1943:
Arrives back at Palau.
23 February 1943:
At 0830 ddeparts Palau but returns later that day at 1030.
26 February 1943:
At 1500 departs Palau on an escort mission.
2 March 1943:
At 1410 arrives back at Palau.
3 March 1943:
At 1900 departs Palau on an escort mission.
7 March 1943:
At 0400 arrives back at Palau.
9 March 1943:
At 1100 departs Palau on an escort mision.
11 March 1943:
At 0800 arrives back at Palau.
13 March 1943:
At 1600 departs Palau for Guam escorting a convoy.
16 March 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Guam.
17 March 1943:
At 0800 departs Guam on an escort mission to Truk.
19 March 1943:
At 1830 arrives at Truk.
21 March 1943:
At 1040 departs Truk to assist auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No.2 GO that has been attacked and damaged by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy S. Benson's USS TRIGGER (SS-237) in 03-48N 144-12E. Later undertakes an escort mission.
26 March 1943:
At 1345 arrives back at Truk.
28 March 1943:
At 1450 departs Truk on an escort mission.
30 March 1943:
At 1400 arrives at Truk.
8 April 1943:
Departs Truk on patrol.
10 April 1943:
At 0800 arrives back at Truk.
13 April 1943:
At 0700 departs Truk on an escort mission to Jaluit.
17 April 1943:
At 1000 arrives at Jaluit.
18 April 1943:
Jabor, Marshalls. Provisioned by auxiliary storeship KITAKAMI MARU.
23 April 1943:
At 1000 departs Jaluit on an escort mission to Truk.
27 April 1943:
At 1418 arrives at Truk.
3 May 1943:
At 0615 completes escort mission and undertakes minesweeping off channel entrance/s to Atoll.
7 May 1943:
At 1045 arrives at Truk.
10 May 1943:
At 1530 departs Truk with submarine chaser CH-31 escorting convoy No. 5113 consisting of ASAYAMA (CHOZAN), OKITSU and YAMAKUNI MARUs. The escorts patrol outside Truk and meet the convoy the next day.
16 May 1943:
At 1100 arrives at Kwajalein.
19 May 1943:
At 0341 departs Kwajalein escorting convoy No. 6192 consisting of HIYOSHI MARU and one unidentified merchants ship (perhaps ASAYAMA (CHOZAN) MARU ?) and begins escorting them.
22 May 1943:
At 1030 arrives at Truk.
26 May 1943:
At 1700, W-8 departs Truk by the north channel with kaibokan OKI and minelayer TOKIWA escorting convoy 4526 consisting of NOTORO and repair ship HAKKAI MARU. After the convoy is at sea for Yokosuka, W-8 returns to Truk.
27 May 1943:
At 1530 arrives back at Truk.
29 May 1943:
At 0435 departs Truk for Surabaya via Palau to sweep for mines. Initially escorts convoy 7291 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship to Palau.
24 June 1943:
At 1500 departs Manila escorting a convoy consisting of CHOJO, SHONAN MARUs with W-8 as only escort.
28 June 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
4 July 1943:
Departs Surabaya and undertakes minesweeping in Lombok Strait.
7 July 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya.
16 July 1943:
Departs Surabaya and undertakes minesweeping in the Surabaya western channel.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
23 July 1943:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Ambon.
28 July 1943:
Departs Ambon on an escort mission.
31 July 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
1 August 1943:
At 1220 arrives at Surabaya. At 1425 departs Surabaya on an anti submarine sweep and escort mission.
6 August 1943:
Arrives back at Surabaya. At 1600 Drydocked for repairs.
21 September 1943:
Undocked.
26 September 1943:
At 1124 departs Surabaya escorting a convoy.
28 September 1943:
At 1600 arrives at Balikpapan.
October 1943:
Reserve Lt Tane Shumio relieves Reserve Lt (later LtCdr) Kawashima Noboru as Commanding Officer. Lt Kawashima is later posted Chief Equipping Officer of KASADO.
1 October 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya. Later departs for Jakarta.
6 October 1943:
Arrives at Jakarta.
9 October 1943:
Departs Jakarta on an escort mission.
11 October 1943:
W-8 departs Surabaya escorting RIO DE JANEIRO MARU.
12 October 1943:
W-8 detaches from RIO DE JANEIRO MARU and joins a convoy consisting of MANJU MARU (ex-SANTOS MARU) and KUNISHIMA MARU at 05-20S, 108-35E and commences escort. The convoy is proceeding from Singapore to Surabaya.
13 October 1943:
At 1705, arrives at Surabaya.
22 October 1943:
At 0900, W-8 departs Surabaya escorting fleet oiler KAMOI and auxiliary submarine tender RIO DE JANEIRO MARU as far as the Banka Straits.
2 November 1943:
At 1130 departs Jakarta on an escort mission.
5 November 1943:
At 2320 arrives at Padang.
7 November 1943:
At 2300 departs Padang on an escort mission.
9 November 1943:
At 1430 arrives at Jakarta.
10 November 1943:
At 1822 departs Jakarta on an escort mission.
E 12 November 1943:
W-12 hands over escort of SENKO MARU from Balikpapan to W-8 at 04-00S, 112-00E. W-12 heads for Surabaya. SENKO MARU and W-8 proceed to Padang.
20 November 1943:
At 1130 arrives at Padang.
21 November 1943:
At 1600 departs Padang on an escort mission.
24 November 1943:
At 1321 arrives at Jakarta. Later departs again to Padang.
3 December 1943:
At 1200 departs Padang on an escort mission.
9 December 1943:
At 1630 arrives at Surabaya.
17 December 1943:
At 1450 departs Surabayaon an escort mission.
23 January 1944:
Early am departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
5 February 1944:
At 0730 departs Macassar on an escort mission.
7 February 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Surabaya.
10 February 1944:
Departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
20 February 1944:
At 1500 arrives back at Surabaya.
23 February 1944:
Departs Surabaya on a brief patrol.
24 February 1944:
Return to Surabaya. At 1522, W-8, W-11 and auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 depart Surabaya escorting RYUSEI and TANGO MARUs to Ambon.
25 February 1944:
25 miles N of Bali Island. At 2045, LtCdr Willard R. Laughon's (USNA ’33) USS RASHER (SS-269) torpedoes and sinks TANGO MARU that was loaded with 3500 tons of general cargo and 5700 passengers at 07-41N, 115-10E. 34 crew and many passengers killed in the circumstances with estimates ranging to at least 3000 of the passengers (Indonesian coolies known as Romusha) dead. At 2225, Laughon sets up and fires four torpedoes at RYUSEI MARU. He gets three hits and she goes down. At this time she is carrying 4 sections of troops a total of 1244 men as well as 2865 Indian soldiers and 2559 coolies as passengers. 4968 of these and 31 crew killed.
2 March 1944:
At 1515 CH-2 and W-8 both arrive back at Surabaya.
5 March 1944:
At 0900 departs Surabaya on an escort mission followed by an anti submarine sweep.
14 March 1944:
At 1340 arrives at Surabaya.
15 March 1944:
At 1020 departs Surabaya on an escort mission followed by an anti submarine sweep.
23 March 1944:
At 1500 arrives at Surabaya and enters drydock.
22 April 1944:
Undocked and departs Surabaya at 1830 on a short patrol.
23 April 1944:
At 0830 arrives at Surabaya.
26 April 1944:
At 1400 departs Surabaya escorting a convoy to Ambon.
1 June 1944:
At 1802 W-8 and W-11 depart Kau.
3 June 1944:
At 0655 arrives at Ambon.
4 June 1944:
At 1040 W-8 and W-11 depart Ambon escorting KIYOKAWA MARU. At 1834 arrive off Obi Island.
5 June 1944:
At 0336 departs from off Obi Island. At 1924 arrives at Pulau Tabulu.
6 June 1944:
At 0605 departs Pulau Tabulu. At 1924 arrives at Masamati Bay, Banggi island Group.
7 June 1944:
At 0350 departs Masamati Bay and later that day at 1315 arrives at Kolono.
8 June 1944:
At 0623 departs Kolono and later that day at 2104 arrives at Pulau Boeloenroe. At Pulau Boelenroe receives 20 tons of No. 1 Grade fuel oil from KIYOKAWA MARU.
9 June 1944:
At 0745 departs Pulau Boeloenroe and later that day at 1855 arrives at Pulau Dewakang Besar (Greater Dewakang) .
10 June 1944:
At 0630 departs Pulau Dewakang Besar.
11 June 1944:
Arrives at the south entrance to Laut Island Strait and departs later that day.
12 June 1944:
At 1155 arrives at Surabaya.
30 June 1944:
Escorts a convoy to Macassar, Celebes.
3 July 1944:
At 1500 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
10 July 1944:
At 1230 arrives at Surabaya.
12 July 1944:
At 1200 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
16 July 1944:
At 0730, W-5, W-8 and CH-60 depart Bitung escorting a convoy consisting of CELEBES, TAIAN, TAIKAI and TOYO MARUs. At some point, W-5 is detached for Halmahera Island.
22 July 1944:
At 1720 arrives at Ambon.
4 August 1944:
At 1045 arrives at Surabaya.
6 August 1944:
At 0800 departs Surabaya and undertakes minesweeping.
8 August 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Surabaya.
11 August 1944:
At 0800 departs Surabaya for Macassar area escorting minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA.
17 August 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Bitung anchorage.
19 August 1944:
At 1500 departs Bitung on an anti-submarine sweep.
23 August 1944:
Arrives at Macassar.
26 August 1944:
At 0700 departs Macassar and meets and escorts a convoy consisting of KANTO MARU and UNKAI MARU No. 12 en route from Pulau Kabaena.
30 August 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Macassar.
2 September 1944:
At 1710 departs Macassar and meets up and escorts a convoy.
6 September 1944:
At 1000 departs Kota Bharu with auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 and auxiliary patrol boat KENKAI MARU escorting a convoy consisting of SEITO MARU (ex British CHENGDU), SHINAI MARU (ex British SHINAI) and KAKO GO (ex Chinese HUA HONG). 8 September 1944:
At 1555 arrives back at Macassar.
11 September 1944:
At 0840 departs Macassar and meets up and escorts a convoy with submarine chaser CH-53 and SHONAN MARU No. ? escorting TOSHO MARU.
16 September 1944:
At 1130 arrives at Macassar.
20 September 1944:
Escorts a convoy to Tokai, North Borneo.
25 September 1944:
At 0645 departs Macassar and meets up and escorts a convoy.
27 September 1944:
At 1000 arrives back at Macassar.
28 September 1944:
At 1700 departs Macassar escorting a convoy presumed consisting only of TENCHO MARU. [2]
30 September 1944:
At 1300 arrives at Surabaya. [2]
4 October 1944:
At 1600 departs Surabaya on an escort mission.
6 October 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Macassar.
8 October 1944:
At 1335 departs Macassar on an anti submarine sweep.
11 October 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Macassar.
15 October 1944:
At 0700 departs Macassar on an escort mission.
17 October 1944:
At 1600 arrives at Balikpapan.
20 October 1944:
At 1800 departs Balikpapan on an escort mission.
24 October 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Tarakan.
25 October 1944:
At 0630 departs Tarakan on an escort mission.
1 November 1944:
Arrives at Labuan.
2 November 1944:
Departs Labuan.
3 November 1944:
Arrives at Api.
4 November 1944:
At 0630 departs Api escorting IKUTAGAWA MARU.
7 November 1944:
At 1230 arrives at Tawau.
9 November 1944:
At 0700 departs Tawau still escorting IKUTAGAWA MARU. At 1400 arrives at Tarakan.
10 November 1944:
On that day, FRUMEL provides the following information:
"IKUTAGAWA MARU, escorted by Minesweeper No. 8, will pass through the following noon positions on passage to Balikpapan:
12th: 1-64N. 118-20E.
13th: 0-25S. 117-41E.
Minesweeper No. 8 will sail again at 1200 on 14th after taking in 40 tons of oil fuel and 20 days provisions for 156 men."
11 November 1944:
At 1230 departs Tarakan.
13 November 1944:
At 1950 arrives at Balikpapan.
14 November 1944:
At 1200 departs Balikpapan.
15 November 1944:
At 1200 arrives at Tarakan.
16 November 1944:
At 0922 departs Tarakan to meet inbound B-02 convoy. Soon after 1 B-24 and 14 P-38s attack the ships without causing damage. At 1800 departs Tarakan again escorting MANYO MARU .
18 November 1944:
At 1610 arrives at Balikpapan.
22 November 1944:
At 0500 departs Balikpapan and later that day arrives at Toli Toli.
23 November 1944:
Departs Toli Toli and at 1400 arrives back at Balikpapan.
24 November 1944:
At 1800 departs Balikpapan.
25 November 1944:
Arrives at Macassar and departs at 1930.
26 November 1944:
At 1900 arrives at Balikpapan.
1 December 1944:
On that day, FRUMEL provides the following information:
"Vessels for transporting troops between Jolo and Tarakan (Minesweepers 12 and 8 and Subchaser 4), will leave Balikpapan at 1830 on 3rd and arrive Jolo at 1700 on 5th. 880 men of NADA Force comprise the troops to be transported."
5 December 1944:
At 1830 departs Balikpapan on the transport mission with CH-4 and W-12.
7 December 1944:
At 1730 arrives at Jolo.
9 December 1944:
At 0700 arrives at Tarakan.
10 December 1944:
At 1800 arrives back at Balikpapan.
12 December 1944:
At 1200 departs Balikpapan on another transport mission.
15 December 1944:
At 1530 arrives at Jolo.
17 December 1944:
At 1850 arrives at Tarakan.
19 December 1944:
At 1700 arrives at Balikpapan.
21 December 1944:
At 1800 departs Balikpapan escorting MANYO MARU.
23 December 1944:
At 1800 arrives at Macassar.
24 December 1944:
At 0630 departs Macassar still escorting MANYO MARU.
29 December 1944:
At 1430 arrives at Surabaya.
16 January 1945:
Anchored off Tarakan port.
20 June 1945:
On that day, FRUMEL decrypts the East Indies [Force] Order 647, dated 200811:
"Patrol Boat No. 2, Minesweeper No. 8 and Subchaser 56 are to go to Barito River Mouth at 0200 on ’X’ Day to carry out Phase 2 of HO-GO operation.
’X’ Day is 23rd June."
ETA Surabaya of all above vessels is later given as 1030 on 24th.
(according to FRUMEL comment, on night of X Day the 12th Air Regiment was due to attack ships in Balikpapan area).
30 June 1945:
On that day, FRUMEL decrypts the East Indies Force Order 656, timed 300944:
"Minesweeper No. 8 is to sail fortwith and take the Army personnel ex No. 16 NANSHIN MARU to Soerabaja. No. 16 NANSHIN MARU is to make every effort to reach Probolinggo or if not possible, Kangean or Singaraja."
1 July 1945:
On that day, FRUMEL decrypts a message from Surabaya Base Force, timed 301331:
"Subchaser No. 2 and Minesweeper No. 8 left Soerabaja for Makassar at 0800 on 26th. Whilst attacking an enemy submarine which had attacked Minesweeper No. 8 at 0025 on 27th, Subchaser No. 2 was attacked by 2 enemy submarines at 0228 and 0250 and sunk in 7-30S 116-15E."
Based on fragmentary evidence, FRUMEL concluded that W-8 had participated in the evacuation of Lesser Sundas (Operations Hikari and Hikari-Hei) in July 1945.
15 August 1945: Cessation of Hostilities:
Surabaya. The crew of W-8 receives notice of the termination of hostilities.
10 July 1946:
Arrives at Keppel Harbor, Singapore.
13 July 1946:
Malacca Straits. Scuttled by the Royal Navy.
10 August 1946:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:
[1] Or possibly 2 February 1943.
[2] W-8 is stated by some sources as being in MIMA-11 convoy. This is an error for auxiliary minesweeper Wa-8.
Photo credit goes to Ships of the World (SOTW) via J. Ed Low. Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France and Mr. Sander Kingsepp of Estonia for general assistance. Special thanks go to Hans Mcilveen of the Netherlands for info on FRUMEL intercepts and to Matthew Jones of USA for details of COs.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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