Japanese submarine chaser CH-18

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

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. 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 JAPANESE MINESWEEPER Tama Maru No. 3, JAPANESE MINESWEEPER Tama Maru No. 5, JAPANESE MINESWEEPER Showa Maru No. 7, JAPANESE MINESWEEPER Showa Maru No. 8; submarine chasers JAPANESE SUBMARINE CHASER CH-16, and JAPANESE SUBMARINE CHASER CH-17; cargo ships Meiyo Maru and JAPANESE TRANSPORT SHIP Yamafuku Maru; and auxiliary ammunition ship JAPANESE AMMUNITION SHIP Soya).

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 (17.3°N, 119.41667°W) while conducting escort duty.

CH-18 was struck from the Navy List on 10 March 1945.