Japanese submarine chaser Cha-216

Cha-216 or No. 216 (Japanese: 第二百十六號驅潜特務艇) was a No.1-class auxiliary submarine chaser of the Imperial Japanese Navy that served during World War II.

History
Imperial Japanese Navy
NameCha-216
BuilderHayashi Kane Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki
Launched11 March 1944
Completed13 September 1944
Commissioned13 September 1944
Stricken30 April 1945
HomeportTakao
FateSunk by aircraft, 9 January 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeNo.1-class Submarine chaser
Displacement130 long tons (132 t) standard[1]
Length29.20 m (95 ft 10 in) overall
Beam5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)
Draught1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 1 × intermediate diesel
  • shingle shaft, 400 bhp
Speed11.0 knots (12.7 mph; 20.4 km/h)
Range1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 10.0 kn (11.5 mph; 18.5 km/h)
Complement32
Armament
  • 1 × 7.7 mm machine gun
  • 22 × depth charges
  • 1 × dunking hydrophone
  • 1 × simple sonar
  • From mid 1943, the 7.7 mm machine gun was replaced with a 13.2mm machine gun

History

edit

She was laid down at the Shimonoseki shipyard of the Hayashi Kane Heavy Industries (林兼重工業株式會社 - now known as Hayashi Kanesen Co., Ltd jp:林兼造船) and launched on 11 March 1944.[1][2] She was completed and commissioned on 13 September 1944 and assigned to the Mako Guard District operating out of Takao.[2] She conducted patrol, escort, and minesweeping duties between Kagoshima, Chiringashima, Koniya (jp:古仁屋), and Keelung.[2]

On 28 October 1944, she served as an escort of convoy KATA-916 along with a Type D escort ship (CD-30), a Chidori-class torpedo boat (Manazuru), a No.28-class submarine chaser (CH-49), a W-13-class minesweeper (W-15), 3 auxiliary minesweepers (Himeshima Maru, Shonan Maru No. 16, Toshi Maru No. 7), 3 auxiliary subchasers (Showa Maru, Cha-228, Cha-235), 3 auxiliaries (Kiyo Maru, Kochi Maru, Aikawa Maru), and an auxiliary netlayer (Kiri Maru No. 1 Go) for 13 transport/cargo ships (Tensho Maru, Amakusa Maru, Shinton Maru, Sanka Maru, Sanjin Maru, Hayama Maru, Torai Maru, Taikyu Maru, Sakishima Maru, Bansei Maru, Choki Maru, Kishin Maru, Kankyo Maru).[3] The convoy moved cautiously from island to island departing from Naha then the Kerama Islands then Miyako-jima and then Iromote-Jima, Yaeyama Islands before finally arriving at Keelung on 1 November 1945.[3]

On 5 January 1945, she left Keelung escorting convoy Kita-9 consisting of 6 transports (Kankyo Maru, Torai Maru, Taiken Maru, Kishen Maru, Yaei Maru No. 10, Banshu Maru No. 31) along with 2 auxiliary netlayers (Choki Maru, Kiri Maru No. 1 Go), and 5 auxiliary subchasers (Showa Maru, Cha-228, Kochi Maru, Kyo Maru, Ayugawa Maru) headed to Kaohsiung.[3][2] On 6 November 1944, the convoy arrived at Kaohsiung.[3]

On 9 January 1945, she was attacked by planes from Task Force 38 and sunk southwest of Hsinchu, Taiwan.[2] She was removed from the Navy List on 30 April 1945.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Toda, Gengoro S. (21 September 2019). "驅潜特務艇 (Cha - Stats)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Toda, Gengoro S. "第二百十六號驅潜特務艇の艦歴 (No. 216 submarine chaser - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy -Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese).
  3. ^ a b c d Casse, Gilbert; van der Wal, Berend; Cundall, Peter; Toda, Gengoro (2020). "IJN Choki Maru: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.