©2007-2015 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 6
1914:
Sunderland, England. Laid down at Sunderland Shipbuilding as an
"Insect-class" gunboat to counter Austro-Hungarian monitors on the River
Danube.
9 October 1915:
Launched, named and numbered HMS MOTH (T69).
5 January 1916:
Completed and registered in the Royal Navy.
1916-1917: First World War:
HMS MOTH and sister gunboats HMS MANTIS, HMS TARANTULA and HMS GNAT are
transported by ship to Abadan, Persia (now Iran), terminus of the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s (now BP) pipeline oil refinery, then the
largest in the world. From Abadan, the gunboats are sent to reinforce
the Royal Navy’s flotilla on the Tigris River near Baghdad during the
British Empire's second campaign in Mesopotamia against the Ottoman
Empire, an ally of Germany.
1918-1919: Russian Revolution:
HMS MOTH participates in actions in Northern Russia with sister ships HMS CICALA, HMS HMS COCKCHAFER, CRICKET, and HMS GLOWWORM in support of White Russian forces against the Communist Bolsheviks.
1 April 1919:
Persian Gulf. HMS MOTH departs Abadan for the UK. She is escorted to Suez by RFA WAR BAHADUR and from Port Said by HMS DIANA.
1 June 1919:
Arrives at Plymouth.
July 1919:
HMS MOTH and HMS MANTIS depart for Russia.
October 1919:
HMS MOTH and MANTIS and other gunboats return to the UK before the winter freeze.
17 January 1920:
HMS MOTH departs Chatham, England for China with HMS CICALA, HMS CRICKET, HMS COCKCHAFER, HMS MANTIS escorted by sloop HMS MAGNOLIA.
5 February 1920:
The “Long Tow Squadron” departs for China from Devonport. HMS BLUEBELL, COLOMBO, FOXGLOVE, HOLLYHOCK and MAGNOLIA are the escorts for the five gunboats and RFA EBONOL is the oiler for the first part of the journey, relieved at Port Said by RFA DREDGOL. All the Insects have a bad time, rolling, pitching and leaking heavily in any sort of sea and all are usually towed by one of the escorts.
12 June 1920:
The “Long Tow Squadron” arrives in Hong Kong. Moth remains in HK refitting until October then serves on the West River.
1929:
Yangtse River, China. At an unknown date this year, HMS MOTH strikes a submerged rock and is damaged.
17 May 1932 - January 1934:
LtCdr John M. Rodgers' HMS MOTH is in China.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The"First China Incident") Incident:
Hun River, Lukuokiao (Peking), China. The Japanese discover a soldier
missing after night maneuvers at the bridge and assume the Chinese
captured him. They demand entry to a Beijing suburb to look for him, but
the Chinese refuse. The Japanese then shell the city and an undeclared
war begins. [1]
October 1938:
One of HMS MOTH's original 12-lb guns is replaced by a 3-inch/45 HA gun
and her Maxim machine guns are replaced by eight Lewis machine guns.
12-21 October 1938:
Ta-Ya (Bias Bay), 35 miles NE of Hong Kong. At dawn, LtGen Furusho
Motoo’s 21st Army, supported by the China Area Fleet’s Fifth Fleet and
Formosa-based and carrier-based Navy air units, makes a surprise
landing. Thereafter, Japanese forces continue their advance with little
or no resistance. By 21 October, they capture Canton. The operation
isolates Hong Kong and Macao.
10 June 1940:
Lt Cdr H. R. White's HMS MOTH is at Hong Kong under command of the Commodore, Hong Kong. HMS MOTH is
assigned to patrol the West River (Si Kiang).
1 January 1941:
Royal Navy Reserve Temporary Lt J. Douglas' HMS MOTH is assigned to patrol the West River.
1 May to 4 June 1941:
Repaired at Hong Kong.
8 December 1941:
The Japanese open their offensive on Hong Kong by moving troops across
the frontier of Hong Kong's New Territories. Twelve Tachikawa Ki-36
"Ida" Army bombers of the 45th Sentai escorted by nine Ki-27 "Nate"
fighters also attack Kai Tak airport on Kowloon. All five of the token
RAF aircraft (2 "Walrus" amphibians and 3 Vickers "Vildebeeste" torpedo
bombers) stationed at Kai Tak are quickly either damaged or destroyed as
are numerous light trainers and civilian cargo planes. In the harbor,
PanAm’s visiting Sikorsky S-42B flying boat "Hong Kong Clipper" is
bombed, set afire and sinks.
11 December 1941:
Port of Hong Kong. Sometime prior to the outbreak of the war, HMS MOTH
had been drydocked in Hong Kong Navy Yard to repair her bottom plating .
As most of the yard personnel had been mobilized, the work was never
completed. Most of her armament was landed and the crew sent ashore to
defend the city. HMS MOTH and auxiliary minesweeper HMS MARGARET
probably sink when the drydock they are in is intentionally scuttled.
24 December 1941:
Japanese troops capture the navy yard.
25 December 1941: The Fall of Hong Kong:
MajGen Christopher M. Maltby, British Indian Army, advises Hong Kong's
Governor Sir Mark A. Young to surrender the outnumbered British garrison
because of lack of food and water. At 1800, in Japanese headquarters
set up in the fashionable Peninsula Hotel on Kowloon, Young surrenders
the Crown Colony to LtGen Sakai Takashi, CG, 23rd Army. That night,
nearly 6,500 British and Commonwealth troops go into Japanese captivity.
Early February 1942:
The hull of HMS MOTH is refloated and attached alongside a pier in navy
yard. She undergoes repairs at the IJN's No. 2 Repair Facility in Hong
Kong.
Early June 1942:
Lt (Reserve) Haba Akira is appointed acting CO. [2]
30 June 1942:
HMS MOTH's handover ceremony is held at Hong Kong navy yard and attended
by the CINC, Second Expeditionary Fleet, Vice Admiral Niimi Masaichi
(former CO of MAYA).
1 July 1942:
HMS MOTH is salvaged by the IJN. LtCdr Asahi Tatsuo (53) is appointed
the CO. The gunboat begins an extensive rebuild scheduled to be
completed on 20 July. The former superstructure is replaced by a
partially armored bridge.
14 July 1942:
Registered in the Sasebo Naval District as a gunboat and renamed SUMA.
Attached to Admiral (Admiral of the Fleet, posthumously) Koga Mineichi's
(34)(former CO of ISE) China Area Fleet’s Second China Expeditionary
Fleet’s 15th Squadron.
August-September 1942:
Spends these months at Hong Kong fitting out.
27 September 1942:
LISBON MARU departs Hong Kong for Shanghai with 1,816 British
Commonwealth prisoners of war (POWs) and about 700 Japanese troops
aboard.
1 October 1942:
China coast. Six miles from Tung Fusham Island. LtCdr (later Cdr) Rob
R. McGregor's (USNA ’29) USS GROUPER (SS-214) fires six Mark XIV
torpedoes at LISBON MARU. Five torpedoes miss, but one hits her stern.
As the ship slowly settles, the Japanese evacuate their troops, but the
guards batten down the holds, trapping the POWs. Some break through the
hatches, only to be gunned down. Still, many POWs get off the ship and
make it to land, but are soon recaptured. LISBON MARU finally sinks at
29-57N, 122-56N. 820 POWs are lost including at least one former crewman
of HMS MOTH.
3 October 1942:
The rebuild is completed.
15 October 1942:
SUMA is reassigned to the Pearl River Basin Guard Fleet. Departs Hong
Kong for Lingting Island, Pearl River Delta stopping at Chingshan
enroute.
16 October 1942:
Departs Lingting. Arrives at Taao (Tai O) to land a 19-strong Special
Naval Landing Force (SNLF) unit in an attempt to pacify the local
guerrillas.
19 October 1942:
Departs Taao for Guangdong, stopping at Humen en route.
20 October 1942:
Arrives at Guangdong, departs soon after arrival.
22 October 1942:
Arrives at Chili. Lands a 47-strong SNLF unit to clear the area of insurgents.
23 October 1942:
Conducts firing exercises at open sea off Chili.
24 October 1942:
Returns to Hong Kong to avoid an incoming storm.
25 October 1942:
After midnight MajGen Claire L. Chennault’s 14th Air Force's North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers
attack Hong Kong. SUMA fires at the attacking bombers and receives no damage.
26 October 1942:
Departs Hong Kong for Chingshan (Qingshan). Soon after her departure,
SUMA weathers another air attack and claims shooting down a B-25.
31 October 1942:
Departs Chingshan for Hong Kong.
2 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong and soon after arrives at Taao (Tai O), north western end of Lantau Island in the Pearl River Delta.
7 November 1942:
Departs Taao and soon after arrives at Chingshan.
9 November 1942:
Departs Chingshan and soon after arrives at Taao.
10 November 1942:
Departs Taao and soon after arrives at Hong Kong.
12 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong and soon after arrives at Taao.
16 November 1942:
Departs Taao and soon after arrives at Hong Kong.
18 November 1942:
Departs Hong Kong and soon after arrives at Chingshan.
21 November 1942:
Departs Chingshan and soon after arrives at Taao.
26 November 1942:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Ling Ting Tao.
27 November 1942:
Departs Ling Ting Tao and later arrives at Chingshan.
1 December 1942:
Returns to Hong Kong. Undergoes repairs.
6 December 1942:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day returns to Hong Kong.
7 December 1942:
Departs Hong Kong to patrol with overnight stays at the Chingshan (Qingshan-Taio (now Jingshan) area), Lantau Island.
12 December 1942:
Transfers from Chingshan to Taio.
14 December 1942:
Departs Taio and soon after arrives at nearby Ling Ting Tao, NW of
Lantau Island. Departs there later that day and arrives at Chuanbi.
15 December 1942:
Departs Chuanbi and arrives at Chingshan.
16 December 1942:
Departs Chingshan and returns to Hong Kong.
21 December 1942:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Taao.
22 December 1942:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Chinhsing Men (Jinxing Men) on other side of Pearl River Delta.
23 December 1942:
Departs Chinhsing Men and later that day arrives back at Taao.
25 December 1942:
Departs Taao and arrives at Shenchen (Shenzhen).
26 December 1942:
Departs Shenchen and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
29 December 1942:
Departs Chingshan and returns to Hong Kong.
30 December 1942:
Yangtze River. Attacked by aircraft, but only slightly damaged.
5-8 January 1943:
Hong Kong. Undergoes a refit at the No. 2 Repair Facility. Full radio equipment is installed.
9 January 1943:
Departs Hong Kong to patrol nearby. Arrives at Chingshan.
10 January 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Taao.
11 January 1943:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
14 January 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Tangchia Wan (Tangjia Bay)
15 January 1943:
Departs Tangchia Wan and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
17 January 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Hong Kong.
21 January 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Taao.
22 January 1943:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
24 January 1943:
Departs Chingshin and later that day arrives at Hong Kong.
25 January 1943:
Departs Hong Kong with gunboat SAGA.
26 January 1943:
Arrives at Humen.
27 January 1943:
Departs Humen and later that day arrives back at Hong Kong.
28 January 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Taao.
29 January 1943:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
31 January 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Hong Kong.
3 February 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Taao. Departs late that evening.
4 February 1943:
Arrives back at Hong Kong.
5 February 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
6 February 1943:
Departs Chingshan but returns later that day.
9 February 1943:
Departs Chingshan and arrives Chiao Tao and departs later that day arriving back at Chingshan.
12 February 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives back at Hong Kong.
24 February 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
25 February 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Taao.
26 February 1943:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
28 February 1943:
Departs Chingshan but returns to port later that day.
1 April 1943:
Reassigned to the Pearl River Basin Guard Fleet.
8 April 1943:
Undergoes repairs and replenishment. While based in Hong Kong, SUMA conducts patrols off Canton.
3 May 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives off Taao.
5 May 1943:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
7 May 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Wanshan.
8 May 1943:
Departs Wanshan and later that day arrives at Hong Kong.
9-18 May 1943:
Undergoes a refit at No. 2 Repair Facility.
19 May 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Chingshan.
20 May 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later that day arrives at Taao.
21 May 1943:
Departs Taao and later that day arrives at Tachan Tao (Dachan Dao).
22 May 1943:
Departs Tachan Tao and arrives at Chingshan.
26 May 1943:
Departs Chingshan and arrives at Hong Kong.
1 June 1943:
Departs Hong Kong.
2 June 1943:
Returns to Hong Kong.
3 June 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Canton.
5 June 1943:
Departs Canton and later that day arrives back at Hong Kong
10 June 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Taao (Tai O) (Lantau Island).
12 June 1943:
Departs TaaO and later that day arrives at Ching Shan (Qing Shan), Chenhai Wan, Pearl River Estuary.
13 June 1943:
Departs Ching Shan and arrives at Shen Chow Bay nearby.
14 June 1943:
Departs Shen Chow Bay and arrives at Er Hu.
15 June 1943:
Departs Er Hu and arrives at TaaO.
16 June 1943:
Departs TaaO and arrives at Wan Shan.
17 June 1943:
Departs Wasn Shan and arrives at Hong Kong.
22 June 1943:
Departs Hong Kong but returns later that day.
26 June 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and arrives at TaaO.
27 June 1943:
Departs TaaO and arrives at Ching Shan.
28 June 1943:
Departs Ching Shan and arrives at Daichiaochen (?), (Daojiaozhen).
29 June 1943:
Departs Daichiaochen and arrives at Canton.
3 July 1943:
Departs Canton and later that day arrives at Hong Kong.
8 July 1943:
Departs Hong Kong and later that day arrives at Hsiang Chou (Xiangzhou) Wan, Pearl River estuary.
9 July 1943:
Departs Hsing Chou (Xiang zhou) Wan and later this day arrives off Chiwan (unconfirmed)
10 July 1943:
Departs Chiwan and later this day arrives off Chingshan, Pearl River estuary.
11 July 1943:
Departs Chingshan and later this day arrives back at Hong Kong.
12 July 1943:
Transfers from Hong Kong Harbour to Tsin Shui Wan (Repulse Bay).
14 July 1943:
Briefly departs Tsin Shui Wan but returns there soon after.
15-19 July 1943:
Departs Tsin Shui Wan and arrives at Hong Kong. Undergoes machinery repairs at the No. 2 Repair Facility.
19-31 July 1943:
SUMA is propped up ashore for hull repairs.
27 July 1943:
Air raid on Hong Kong. SUMA’s repair area is attacked by sixteen B-25 bombers and Curtiss P-40 “Warhawk” fighters.
28 July 1943:
Air raid on Hong Kong. Six bombers attack the area. One dud bomb lands near SUMA.
29 July 1943:
Air raid on Hong Kong. Nine bombers attack the area. During three
attacks SUMA fires seventy-eight 40-mm and two hundred and ten 7.7-mm
rounds.
1-5 August 1943:
Drydocked at No. 2 Repair Facility for hull plating repairs.
5-12 August 1943:
Undergoes additional refit at No. 2 Repair Facility. A new breakwater is installed and the original anchor windlass replaced.
13 August 1943:
Departs Hong Kong for engine and anchor trials.
15 August 1943:
Departs Hong Kong for Shanghai, stopping at Amoy and the Chusan archipelago to avoid an approaching typhoon.
20 August 1943:
Attached to the China Area Fleet, Lower Yangtze Guard Force.
26 August 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
31 August 1943:
Arrives at Shanghai.
1 September 1943:
Undergoes hull repairs and refit at the Kiangnan Dock & Engineering
Works. Additional armor is fitted to the bridge. Her forward (British)
40-mm AA gun is fitted with a splinter shield. Remains at Shanghai all
month.
9 October 1943:
Repairs and refit are completed.
12 October 1943:
Departs Shanghai for her new base at Anking, making stops at Chingkiang, Nanking and Yanhu.
17 October 1943:
Arrives at Anking. Until late December continues to patrol the Yangtze, travelling twice a month to Nanking for supplies.
9 November 1943:
Arrives at Hankow.
12 November 1943:
Departs Hankow on patrol.
16 November 1943:
Arrives at Nanking.
21 November 1943:
Departs Nanking on patrol.
19 December 1943:
Arrives at Nanking.
23 December 1943:
Departs Nanking on patrol.
29 December 1943:
Anchored off Anking, SUMA is attacked by three 14th Air Force B-25 medium bombers.
30 December 1943:
Anchored off Anking with ATAMI. At about 0850, both gunboats are twice
attacked by two B-25s of the 341st Bomb Group based at Suichuan air base
in Jiangxi province. SUMA receives strafing damage to her starboard
side, in return expending forty-seven 40-mm and five hundred and sixty
eight 13.2-mm rounds. One of the bombers is shot down and crashes
killing four American flyers.
19 January 1944:
Arrives at Nanking.
24 January 1944:
Departs Nanking on patrol.
9 March 1944:
Departs Anking on patrol.
13 March 1944:
Arrives at Nanking.
15 March 1944:
Departs Nanking.
16 March 1944:
Arrives at Anking.
5 April 1944:
Departs Anking on patrol.
6 April 1944:
Arrives at Nanking.
11 April 1944:
Departs Nanking on patrol.
18 April 1944:
Breaks off patrol and heads for Shanghai.
22 April 1944:
Shanghai. Undergoes an AA upgrade and remodeling construction at
Mitsubishi Yangshupu Shipyard. One 6-inch gun is replaced by a 3-inch AA
gun. Both 40-mm AA guns forward and aft are replaced by Type 96 25-mm
AA guns. The 40-mm AA guns and new Type 93 13.2-mm machine guns are
resited to the bridge wings. SUMA's foremast is reduced in height.
27 May 1944:
Completes repairs. Departs Shanghai for Nanking.
3 June 1944:
Departs Shanghai.
4 June 1944:
Arrive at Chinkiang.
6 June 1944:
Departs Chinkiang and later that day arrives at Nanking.
8 June 1944:
Departs Nanking.
10 June 1944:
Arrives at Anking.
11 June 1944:
Anking is attacked by Lockheed P-38 "Lightning“ fighters. SUMA claims downing two of the attackers.
18 June 1944:
Anking. After 1255, gunboats SUMA, ATAMI, NARUMI and TATARA are attacked
by three B-25s escorted by twelve P-38s. SUMA and TATARA receive ten
near misses. [3]
29 June 1944:
Arrives at Wuhu.
2 July 1944:
Departs Anking and later that day arrives at Nanking.
6 July 1944:
Departs Nanking on patrol. Undertakes patrol and guard duties for rest of month in the area.
15 October 1944:
LtCdr Asahi is promoted Cdr.
26 December 1944:
In the evening, Anking is attacked by North American P-51D "Mustang“
fighters, seven of which target SUMA. One bomb hit demolishes the aft
25-mm AA twin mount and nearby vegetable locker. Sixteen AA gunners are
killed in the explosion and six are wounded. Of the wounded, two more
Japanese die in No. 1 Naval Hospital.
28 December 1944:
Arrives at Yanhu for temporary repairs. Receives a new 25-mm twin mount from repair ship HAYASE.
30 December 1944:
Repairs are completed.
1 January 1945:
Returns to Anking.
11 January 1945:
Arrives at Nanking.
14 January 1945:
Returns to Anking.
11 February 1945:
At 1330 departs Anking for Shanghai. Enroute to Shanghai, SUMA is attacked by seven P-51 fighters. SUMA claims downing one.
12 February 1945:
At 1640 arrives at Antung Wharf.
14 February 1945:
At 0800 departs Antung Wharf. At 1920 arrives at Nanking.
15 February 1944:
At 1800 departs Nanking.
16 February 1945:
At 0929 arrives off Shanghai.
17 February to 12 March 1945:
Repaired at Mitsubishi's Yangshupu Shipyard, Shanghai. After 9 March, embarks supplies and stores.
12 March 1945:
At 1000 departs Yangshupu for Kiangnan shipyard to refuel. Arrives at 1300.
13 March 1945:
At 1400 departs Kiangnan Yard. At 1530 anchors off Shanghai.
14 March 1945:
At 0800, departs Shanghai for Anking with gunboat NARUMI. In the evening
at 1820 stops at Kiangyin to repair the starboard engine.
18 March 1945:
In the evening departs Kiangyin with NARUMI, but has to return after the daybreak when freshly-laid mines are detected en route.
19 March 1945:
Yangtze River. At 0814 returns to Kiangyin to wait until the river is
swept for mines. At 1435, SUMA and NARUMI depart Kiangyin. At 1526, 51
miles above Kiangyin neat Tienshenchiao, SUMA grazes a mine laid by 14th
Air Force planes on 4 Mar ‘45. An explosion amidships under her port
boiler room causes a heavy leak, demolishing most of the upper works. A
list to port side begins, increasing until the gunboat finally sinks at
32-00N, 120-00E.
In a three-hour rescue operation, NARUMI evacuates 40 wounded and 36 survivors. Eight sailors are killed.
20 March 1945:
NARUMI returns to Shanghai, where the wounded are sent to No. 1 Naval Hospital.
10 May 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes:
[1] "Lukuokiao" and "Beijing" are examples of different romanization
systems. Following the older convention, we used the city name "Peking".
[2] Lt Haba Akira’s name can also be read as Haneba Naoshi.
[3] The bombers were probably 75-mm cannon-equipped B-25Gs, since they left several unusually large craters behind.
Thanks for assistance go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan, Matthew Jones of USA and Gilbert Casse of France. Thanks for info in Rev 6 goes to reader Dorbel.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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