© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt
Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Ishii Hagumu. Assigned to Desdiv 6, Desron 1, First Fleet.
29 November-2 December 1941:
Steamed from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores)
4 December 1941-4 January 1942:
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body out of Mako as distant cover to Malaya and Philippine invasion forces; also briefly escorted Malaya troop convoys during this period.
6-12 January:
Escorted MAYA from Mako to Palau.
18-20 January:
Steamed from Palau to Davao.
29 January-4 February:
Escorted tanker convoys from Davao to Tarakan and Balikpapan and back.
5-9 February:
Escorted troop convoy from Davao to Camranh Bay.
27 February:
With Western Java invasion force.
10 March:
Arrived in Subic Bay, then assisted in operations to secure the Philippines.
19-26 March:
Escorted convoy from Subic Bay to Kure, then docked at Yokosuka for maintenance.
22-26 May:
Escorted TAKAO and MAYA from Kure to Ominato.
28 May-7 June:
Departed Ominato for Aleutian operations, then with Kiska invasion force.
12 June:
Heavily damaged: in air attack by U.S. PBYs at Kiska, due to near misses: bow damaged and speed reduced; then to Ominato on 27 June for emergency repairs.
12 July-10 October:
Docked at Yokosuka for repairs.
13 August:
Lieutenant Commander Ishii (to C.O. IKAZUCHI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Kudo Shunsaku (prev. C.O. IKAZUCHI). (Ishii and Kudo traded places/commands)
1-16 November:
Escorted TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.
19 November-5 December:
Escorted TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.
10 December:
Lieutenant Commander Kudo (to Civil Engineering Dept.) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Mori Takeugi (prev. C.O. AKIKAZE).
15-31 December:
Escorted TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and Kavieng and back, then docked for refitting.
1-17 February 1943:
Escorted UNYO and TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.
24 February-12 March:
Escorted UNYO and TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.
1 April:
Desdiv 6 reassigned as cadre to Desron 11, First Fleet.
4-21 April:
Escorted CHUYO and TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.
18 May:
Departed Yokosuka, then Northern Area patrol/escort duties.
7-17 July:
Initial troop evacuation run to Kiska, aborted due to weather.
22 July-1 August:
Second troop evacuation run to Kiska, successful on 29 July.
3-9 August:
Steamed from Paramushiro via Otaru to Yokosuka.
9-16 September:
Docked at Yokosuka for maintenance, then departed for Shanghai.
24 September-5 October:
Escorted troop convoy from Shanghai via Truk to Rabaul, then to Truk on 9 October.
11-29 October:
Escorted tanker convoy from Truk via Saipan to Singapore.
2-22 November:
Escorted tanker convoys from Singapore via Balikpapan to Truk.
23 November-18 December:
Troop transport runs from Truk to Ponape, Kwajalein, Mili and Kusaie and back.
25 November:
Commander Mori (to C.O. NAGANAMI) relieved by Commander Fukushima Eikichi.
21 December:
Out of Truk to assist torpedoed tanker TERUKAWA MARU; helped rescue survivors.
27 December 1943-2 January 1944:
Escorted HIYO and RYUHO from Truk to Kure.
12 January-19 February:
Escorted KAIYO from Kure to Manila, Singapore, Tarakan, Palau and Truk and back.
25 February:
Desron 11 reassigned to Combined Fleet.
1-12 March:
Escorted CHIYODA from Yokosuka via Saipan and Guam to Palau.
15-24 March:
Escorted CHIYODA from Palau to Balikpapan and back.
27 March-10 April:
Escorted CHIYODA from Palau via Balikpapan and Davao to Kure, then docked for maintenance. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)
3-19 May:
Escorted tanker convoys from Moji via Manila and Balikpapan to Tawitawi; on 14 May rescued 125 survivors of torpedoed INAZUMA.
23-25 May:
Escorted tanker convoy from Tawitawi to Davao.
10 June:
Desdiv 6 deactivated; assigned directly to Combined Fleet.
19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted 1st Supply Force. Minor damage: in air attacks due to strafing; two dead.
28 June-2 July:
Escorted tanker convoy from Guimarras to Manila.
7 July:
Out of Manila to assist torpedoed TAMANAMI, but unable to locate.
10-17 July:
Escorted HAYASUI from Manila to Kure.
1-5 August:
Escorted Convoy MO-05 from Moji to Okinawa.
19-25 August:
Escorted Convoy MI-15 from Moji to Takao.
5 September:
Departed Takao, escorting Convoy TAMA-25 to Manila. Heavy damage: on 6 September, while assisting sinking transport EIJI MARU. Both ships probably mined; HIBIKI possibly torpedoed by USS HAKE (SS-256): bow nearly severed; then back to Takao for emergency repairs. (1)
16 November:
Arrived Yokosuka from Formosa, then docked for repairs.
25 January 1945:
Assigned to Desdiv 7, Desron 2, Second Fleet.
26-29 January:
Steamed from Yokosuka to Kure.
19 March:
Weathered air attacks in Hiroshima Bay without damage.
29 March:
Light damage: hit mine near Himejima, then to Kure for repairs.
5 May:
Assigned to Escort Squadron 105, First Escort Fleet.
26 May:
Arrived Maizuru from Kure, then security duty there through end of war.
18 July:
Commander Fukushima relieved by Lieutenant Commander Sonozuki Hajime.
5 October 1945:
Removed from Navy List. Later used as repatriation ship.
5 April 1947:
Turned over to Soviet Union; renamed PRITKY.
(1) Editorial Note -- Indeed, USS Hake's patrol report indicates that on this date at 1149 (1049 How time which sub used) she hit an Asashio-class destroyer with the first of three torpedoes fired in a down-the-throat shot on a 10-12 degree port bow track. Two heavy explosions heard, and destroyer's screws stopped immediately. Destroyer was one of at least three escorts of a convoy of four medium-sized AKs. Relevant here, Hake reported that the convoy's escort had been dropping deptch-charges "randomly" for an hour and half before the submarine even closed. This might be consistent with a reaction to Eiji Maru mining being mistaken for submarine attack? What is clear is the submarine was not responsible: Hake had not attacked prior, and made no further attack after, hitting the destroyer. Position of the attack: 16-19'N, 119-44'E. Photographs show the bow was cracked just in front of the bridge, with the whole forepart, including No.1 turret, left slanting down into the sea. - (Tully)
