Japanese submarine chaser CH-16

CH-16 was a No.13-class submarine chaser of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

History
Empire of Japan
Name	CH-16
Builder	Nippon Kokan K. K., Tsurumi
Laid down	22 April 1940
Launched	19 November 1940
Completed	5 April 1941
Commissioned	5 April 1941
Stricken	10 September 1944
Homeport	Yokosuka Naval District
Fate	Sunk by air attack, 4 July 1944
General characteristics
Class & type	No.13-class submarine chaser
Displacement	438 long tons (445 t) standard
Length	51 m (167 ft 4 in) o/a
Beam	6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
Draught	2.75 m (9 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2 × Kampon Mk.23A Model 8 diesels, 2 shafts, 1,700 bhp (1,268 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range	2,000 nmi (3,700 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	68
Sensors & processing systems	1 × Type 93 active sonar 1 × Type 93 hydrophone
Armament	1 × 76.2 mm (3 in) L/40 AA gun 2 × Type 93 13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA guns 36 × Type 95 depth charges 2 × Type 94 depth charge projectors 1 × depth charge thrower

History

CH-16 was built by Nippon Kokan K. K. at their Tsurumi shipyard, laid down on 22 April 1940, launched on 19 November 1940, and completed and commissioned on 5 April 1941, and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District.^[1] She participated in the invasion of the Northern Philippines (Operation "M") in December 1941 where she was assigned to Sub Chaser Division 21 (SCD 21) led by Commodore Ota along with CH-4, CH-5, CH-6, CH-17, and CH-18.^[1] SCD 21 was at the time assigned to Rear Admiral Hirose Sueto's 2nd Base Force under Vice Admiral Ibō Takahashi's Third Fleet.^[1] In May 1942, she participated in the Battle of Midway (Operation "MI") where she was assigned to Miyamoto Sadachika's 16th Minesweeper Unit (along with auxiliary minesweepers Tama Maru No. 3, Tama Maru No. 5, Showa Maru No. 7, Showa Maru No. 8; submarine chasers CH-17, and CH-18; cargo ships Meiyo Maru and Yamafuku Maru; and auxiliary ammunition ship Soya).^[1]

On 4 July 1944, CH-16 was attacked and sunk off the Bonin Islands near Chichi-jima (27°10′N 110°10′E) by carrier-based aircraft from Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark's Task Group 38.1 and Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison's Task Group 38.4.^[1][2] CH-16 was struck from the Navy List on 10 September 1944.^[1]