Japanese submarine chaser CH-18

CH-18 was a No.13-class submarine chaser of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

History
Empire of Japan
Name	CH-18
Builder	Nippon Kokan K. K., Tsurumi
Laid down	1941
Launched	23 April 1941
Completed	31 July 1941
Commissioned	31 July 1941
Stricken	10 March 1945
Fate	Sunk by aircraft, 30 December 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-18 was laid down by Nippon Kokan K. K. at their Tsurumi Shipyard in 1941, launched on 23 April 1941, and completed and commissioned on 31 July 1941.^[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-16, and CH-17; cargo ships Meiyo Maru and Yamafuku Maru; and auxiliary ammunition ship Soya).^[1]

On 30 December 1944, she was attacked and sunk near Santiago Island, Luzon by 26 land-based aircraft of the United States Fifth Air Force consisting of B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, A-20 Havoc light bombers, and P-40 Warhawk fighters (17°18′N 119°25′E) while conducting escort duty.^[1][2]

CH-18 was struck from the Navy List on 10 March 1945.^[1]