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Interrogation Nav 53, Commander Tadao Kuwahara

Editor's Note: The following content is a transcription of a period document or a collection of period statistics. It may be incomplete, inaccurate, or biased. The reader may not wish to take the content as factual.

1 Nov 1945

ww2dbaseBiography

KUWAHARA, Tadao, Commander, I.J.N.R.

KUWAHARA in peace time served as Captain of a large N.Y.K. passenger ship on the trans-Pacific run to SAN FRANCISCO. He served in the Navy for 37 months of World War II as navigator of two vessels and as Commanding Officer of an escort vessel engaged in protection of convoys. This officer appeared to have a good memory and referred to a personal note book for many of the details given during interrogation.

Chief Navigator, Chuyo (CVE)Central PACIFICAugust 1942-February 1943
Chief Navigator, Asaka MaruALEUTIANSFebruary 1943-December 1943
Commanding Officer, Sub-chaser #33JAPAN to MARIANAApril 1944-July 1944
Chief Technician and later Commanding Officer, Ukuru (escort)CHINA SEASJuly 1944-February 1945
Office of Military Affairs Merchant Crew recruitingTOKYOFebruary 1945-August 1945

Interrogation

INTERROGATION NAV NO. 53
USSBS NO. 225
ESCORT AND PROTECTION OF SHIPPING

TOKYO
1 NOVEMBER 1945

Interrogation of: Commander KUWAHARA, Tadao, IJNR (retired), who was commander of an escort vessel engaged in convoy work between MOJI and SINGAPORE; civilian experience as master of N.Y.K. liners; while in Military Affairs Office, assisted in recruiting and training crews for Naval supply ships and civilian ships.

Interrogated by: Captain Steadman Teller, USN

Personnel Present: Dr. J.V. Wehausen

SUMMARY

Three ex-NYK liners converted to the auxiliary aircraft carriers Chuyo, Unyo and Taiyo were employed in transporting aircraft from the EMPIRE to TRUK and RABAUL in 1942 and 1943. The carrier air strikes on shipping along the INDO-CHINA Coast, 12-16 January 1945, destroyed 11 tankers and freighters, a cruiser and four escorts of which Commander KUWAHARA has personal knowledge. In addition, 16 more freighters and 10 escorts were destroyed by carrier and other air strikes along the south INDO-CHINA Coast during the same period.

TRANSCRIPT

Q. Tell me about your experience in the Chuyo between the EMPIRE and TRUK, while transporting airplanes
A. I made three trips in Chuyo between the EMPIRE and South Sea. On the second trip, the ship carried about 54 planes of various types, including some heavy Army planes. About 30, including the Army planes were unloaded at TRUK and the ship then proceeded to a position about 200 miles north of RABAUL in early December 1942. At this point about 24 Navy fighters were launched for delivery to RABAUL.

Q. What was the normal number of planes taken each trip?
A. 50 to 60 planes.

Q. What was the largest plane you carried?
A. The largest planes carried were light-bombers, between six and seven tons of weight, twin-engines.

Q. What ships were used for this purpose of aircraft transport?
A. The Chuyo, Taiyo and Unyo. All were ex-NYK passenger boats and were 22 to 24 knot ships.

Q. Were you attacked by submarines during any of your trips from the EMPIRE to the Inner South Sea Area?
A. I left TATEYAMA for SAIPAN on 30 May 1944 at 0500 with a convoy of seven vessels and four escorts. Three of the ships were transporting 10,000 troops to SAIPAN. This was the last convoy to go to SAIPAN. The vessels were the following of which the first three carried troops

NameApprox. sizeDate sunk
Takaoka Maru6,000 G.T.5 June
Havre Maru5,0006 June
Katsuya Maru6,0004 June
Kashimazan Maru4,0006 June
Tamahime Maru4,0005 June
Katori Maru4,000
Shoei Maru3,000

The convoy was attacked by submarines on the 1st through the 6th of June, all attacks occurring at about 1500-1600. The submarines had been following another convoy bound for JAPAN. When the two convoys crossed, the submarines turned around and followed my convoy. During the first three days none of the attacks were successful. On 4 June, the convoy was attacked simultaneously from the two front quarters and the port aft quarter. Katsuya Maru was sunk. On 5 June, we were attacked again from two sides and Takaoka Maru and Tamahime Maru were sunk. On 6 June, we were attacked once more on two sides, simultaneously. Kashimazan Maru, carrying aviation gasoline, was hit during this attack and exploded. About an hour later another attack sank Havre Maru. Of the troops of the three troop transports noted above 80% were saved. During each attack the escorts depth charged the submarines, using sonar to locate them. Possible damage may have been inflicted on submarines on 1,2,4,5 June since, on each of these days oil appeared on the surface. However, no sinkings were claimed.

(Editor's Note: See annex A)

Q. During your duty in the Ukuru, what was her employment?
A. The Ukuru was a 1,000 ton escort vessel in the 101st Flotilla of the First Escort Fleet. The 101st Flotilla was composed of the flagship Kashii, light cruiser 4,500 tons, three escort vessels of 1,000 tons and three escorts, of 4,700 tons. While in Ukuru, we made two round trips between MOJI and SINGAPORE, stopping at TAKAO.

Q. Describe the attacks which you received during those two trips.
A. On the first trip we had eight empty tankers bound for SINGAPORE and seven or eight escort ships. The only attack, either by submarines or aircraft, was delivered on the 2nd of November 1944 at 1432, just east of HAINAN by one B-24 aircraft, bombing from about 3,000 meters. No damage was done to the convoy.

Q. Did you make any attacks on submarines?
A. This convoy encountered no submarines and followed close to the coast, generally within 2,000 or 3,000 meters.

Q. What was your experience on your second trip?
A. I left MOJI late December 1944 with four Army troop ships: the Shishu, Kibitsu, Hyuga, (10,000 tons each), the Aobasan (7,000 tons), and one empty tanker (10,000 tons). We proceeded to TAKAO without incidents and there turned over the four troop ships to another escort for further convoy to the PHILIPPINES. A new convoy was made up approximately as follows: one or two 10,000 ton tankers, four 6,000 ton ships, and three 2,900 ton tankers; eight escort vessels, including the Kashii, accompanied the convoy. In the early morning of 3 January, while proceeding south at approximately the east entrance of HAINAN Straits, the convoy was attacked by one B-24 aircraft which approached from astern in a glide with motor cut and dropped bombs. One bomb hit was made on the cargo carrier Teihoku Maru, 6,000 tons, which was the last ship in the west column. The bomb damaged one of the after hatches. We sent this ship and one escort to YULIN for repair and, while en route to YULIN, another air attack was made. This one damaged the escort vessel Tsushima (1,000 tons) with a near miss, so that it just barely got to YULIN. The convoy proceeded to SAIGON where the tankers were turned over to another escort group to take them to SINGAPORE. While at SAIGON, for three days, a single B-24 came over frequently; although some bombs were dropped, no damage was done to a group of about 20 cargo vessels and escorts which was anchored at SAIGON at the time.

This covered the period from 6 to 9 January; however, some of the bombs hit and started fires in the Army barracks at SAN JUAN.

We left SAIGON on 9 January at noon, with a convoy of two oil tankers, one 10,000 and one 7,000 ton, and six freighters, the largest of which was 7,000 ton. It also included two tankers of 600 tons. The convoy speed was 8 knots. The escorts were the same as before (six, including the Kashii). Before sunset of the 10th, the convoy was sighted by one B-24 which remained over it about half an hour. The convoy proceeded up the coast, spending one night each at VAN FONG Bay and QUINON Bay.

On the 12th the convoy left QUINON Bay at 0700. Three F6F's were sighted at 0855 and the one covering Zero fighter was shot down. At 0955 two more fighters appeared and at 1104 about 16, TBF's and SB2C's appeared. In the attack which lasted 30 minutes the heavily loaded 6,900 ton freighter EIMAN Maru was set afire by a bomb hit and sank. I believe one or two of the attacking planes were shot down by AA fire of the Kashii and other escort vessels. The Ukuru was bracketed by four or five near misses, thirty or forty meters away, which shook up the ship and caused her to stop about 2 minutes; but no damage was sustained. About 1229 a single plane dove on the Ukuru, but only obtained a near miss and did no damage. During the attack the convoy had become scattered due to evasive action and was now reformed. About 20 dive-bombers appeared and circled in the vicinity until 1355 when 50 more of the same type arrived from the north. At 1408 the dive-bombing and torpedo attack by all planes began. The Kashii was sunk almost immediately in an explosion. This was a well executed attack, bombers diving in succession and at the same time a torpedo attack was launched at the Kashii from her starboard side. One torpedo and two bombs hit the Kashii. One of the bombs exploded the after magazine. The ship sank stern first, the bow remained about 10 feet above the water which was shallow. Vice Admiral T. SHIBUYA, Convoy Commander, and his entire staff were killed. At 1416 escort No. 51 on the starboard quarter of the convoy received a hit or a very near miss by bomb, which I believed ignited the depth charges because of the white smoke. She sank very soon. The attack continued practically uninterrupted until dark during which time the following ships were sunk:

ShipTonnageDescription
YOSHU5,711Freighter
KYOKUUN10,000Tanker
EIMAN Maru6,900Freighter
Kashii4,500CL
#51700Escort vessel
#23700Escort vessel

(Editor's Note: See annex B)

The following ships were damaged severely and beached:

ShipTonnageDescription
Otsuyama6,800Freighter
San Luise7,628Tanker
Shoei2,768Freighter
Tatsuhato6,600Freighter
Tatebe4,519Freighter
#63 Banshu533Tanker
Usei500Tanker

The large escort vessels Ukuru and Daito and the small escort vessel No. 27 all were severely damaged, but were able to reach SANGA, HAINAN at 1540 on the 13th. The Ukuru escaped two torpedo attacks by maneuvering.

The Ukuru attempted to rescue the crew of the sunken Kashii about 1430, but an attack developed at this time and prevented us from rescuing more than 19. Subsequently we escaped several attacks by maneuvering into nearby rain squalls. The total casualties of the Ukuru were 12 killed and 29 injured. The three remaining escorts arrived at YULIN on 14 January where they joined Tsushima, which had made that port after being damaged in the earlier attack on 3 January. At YULIN between 1100 and 1240 of the 15th we were attacked by carrier planes, it was believed fighters, during which the Daito was damaged to some extent by strafing and the Harima, a 10,000 ton tanker, was sunk by dive-bombing. This tanker was empty and en route to the south with eight airplanes on deck. Two other freighters were damaged slightly. Two American fighters were shot down during strafing attacks by AA firing from escort. The escorts were closely grouped for protection along the shore near the mountains and we were able to shoot down the fighters because they had to pull up in recovering from the strafing attack. On the 16th, about 30 or 40 dive-bombers and fighters made another attack, but it appeared to be directed at shore objects; consequently no serious damage was done to the escorts or to the freighters. On the 17th three fighters again attacked, but did no serious damage. This was the last attack, which was fortunate, because we were almost out of machine gun ammunition at that time, having only 5000 rounds remaining in the Ukuru. On 21 January the Teihoku Maru, 6,000 ton freighter, and the Akeshima, 2,000 ton freighter (the only ones out of four in port which could get under way) escorted by four escort vessels left YULIN. This convoy proceeded around the western side of HAINAN and hugged the coast going north. At latitude 21°N and longitude 111°E, at 0930 on the 23rd, the group was attacked by a single B-24 with no damage. A message was intercepted from this B-24 reporting the exact position and composition of the convoy in plain language. On 26 January, at 0130 in the morning in position 25°N and 119°E, a night attack was made by one four-engine plane on the leading escort Tsushima. A bomb dropped close but no damage was sustained.

On 31 January, in position 34°N, 123°E, our sound gear detected a submarine trailing us and a message supposedly from the submarine was also heard. However, no attack developed.

At the time my convoy left SAIGON, on 9 January, there were many freighters and some escorts still remaining. I understand that on the 10th seven ships, of which two or three may have been oil tankers, and five escorts left SAIGON, north bound, and were attacked shortly after, just north of Cape ST JACQUES. All these vessels were sunk. I also know that three escort vessels of the First Flotilla, namely Chiburi and No. 17 and No. 19 which had remained in SAIGON, and three or four freighters which were loading there were all sunk by air attack. In addition there was a southbound convoy of perhaps five or six empty tankers and two escorts which I believe were all sunk shortly after leaving SAIGON. Consequently, out of a total of 30 or 40 freighters and tankers and 20 escorts, the only ships I know of which escaped were the three escorts of my group which reached YULIN on the 14th.

Q. What were your duties in the Office of Military Affairs between February 1945 and August 1945?
A. I assisted in recruiting and training merchant crews for vessels under Navy control and for civilian ships. It was difficult to obtain crews towards the end of the war; but due to the fact that many ships were under repair, we were always able to provide a crew for ships which were to sail. However, the age of the crews was very low, most of them were in their 'teens. There was a great tendency for crews to jump ship at various ports. About forty percent of our merchant crews were lost during the war. ww2dbase

Source(s):
United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) Interrogation of Japanese Officials [OPNAV-P-03-100], courtesy of ibilio Hyperwar Project

Added By:
C. Peter Chen

Photographs

Approximate path of Japanese convoy toward Saipan, Mariana Islands which was attacked by American submarines on 6 Jun 1944; appendix A of Commander Tadao KuwaharaJapanese convoy formation when attacked by American aircraft off Indochina coast, 12 Jan 1945; appendix B of Commander Tadao Kuwahara





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Approximate path of Japanese convoy toward Saipan, Mariana Islands which was attacked by American submarines on 6 Jun 1944; appendix A of Commander Tadao KuwaharaJapanese convoy formation when attacked by American aircraft off Indochina coast, 12 Jan 1945; appendix B of Commander Tadao Kuwahara


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