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| IJN CH-28 Class Subchaser 420 Tons 160.9' x 22' 8' 8" 1 x 80mm 40 cal gun 2 x 13mm MG 2 x depth charge rails 36 x depth charges |
Ship History Built at Harima Zosensho K. K (Harima Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Shipyard) at Harima. Laid down May 26, 1942 as CH-28 Class Subchaser. Launched October 31, 1942 as Subchaser No. 39 (CH-39). Commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and registered in the Sasebo Naval District. Wartime History During November 1942 assigned to the Kure Guard Unit at Kure. On November 7, 1942 departs Kure with CH-37 and the same day arrives at Saiki. Four days later, the pair departs Saiki to patrol Bungo Suido and returns later that day. On November 12, 1942 the pair departs Saiki escorting "B" convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) comprised of Lima Maru and Miyaura Maru unti reaching a position of 29° North Latitude the next day then returns to Saiki. On November 15, 1942 the pair departs on another escort mission and return two days later. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 10, 1942 arrives at Truk then proceeds to Palau and joins convoy SO-903 bound for Rabaul with Tatsukiku Maru, Shinto Maru No. 1 and Sanko Maru towing HA-52 midget submarine escorted by subchasers CH-22 and CHA-16 and CH-39. During the voyage off Mussau Island, Sanko Maru towing HA-52 escorted by subchaser CH-39 detaches from the convoy to proceed towards Kavieng. PARTIAL HISTORY On December 30, 1942 departs Saiki escorting No. 8 Military Movement Convoy "Q Convoy" consisting of Taisei Maru, Kofuku Maru, Yorihime Maru and Ikuta Maru. PARTIAL HISTORY In early February 1944, departs Ponape escorting a convoy including Nippo Maru, Kitagami Maru, Yubae Maru, Takuman Maru No. 2 and Shonan Maru No. 5 to Truk arriving February 10, 1944 then contines onward to Palau. On February 12, 1944 departs Palau escorting "Convoy SO-903" with Tatsukiku Maru, Shinto Maru No. 1 and Sanko Maru towing HA-52 midget submarine escorted by subchasers CH-22, CH-39 and CHA-16 bound for Rabaul. Enroute, CH-39 and Sanko Maru towing HA-52 detach off Mussau Island bound for Kavieng. Sinking History On February 16, 1944, CH-39 with Sanko Maru towing HA-52 were off Three Island Harbor on the northeast of New Hanover when spotted by B-25 Mitchells from 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) that strafe and sink Sanko Maru and damage HA-52. Later that afternoon, the same B-25s return and strafe CH-39 causing her to sunk by the stern and grounded on a coral reef and abandoned. They bomb and strafe causing it to explode and again attack HA-52. On April 30, 1945 CH-39 was officially removed from the Navy list. Shipwreck The wreck of CH-39 remains broken up atop a coral reef. Don Fetterly adds in 2000: "I have just returned from New Hanover and dived the Sanyo Maru, mini sub along with the sub chaser and gun boat mentioned in Warpath Across the Pacific. It was fantastic to hold the photo in your hand and maneuver the vessel to the exact position where the photo was taken." References CombinedFleet.com - IJN Subchaser CH-39: Tabular Record of Movement Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 130-134, 447 (index Subchaser #39) Contribute
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