Japanese submarine chaser No. 2

The Japanese submarine chaser CH-2 was a No.1-class submarine chaser of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama, she was completed on 25 March 1934.

Construction and design
CH-2 was laid down at the Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. shipyard, Tokyo on 9 June 1933, was launched on 20 December 1933 and commissioned on 25 March 1934.

The ship was 64.0 m long at the waterline and 62.0 m between perpendiculars, with a beam of 5.90 m and a draught of 1.43 m. Displacement was 266 LT standard as built. Two diesel engines generating a total of 3400 bhp drove two propeller shafts and propelled the ship at a speed of 24 kn.

Anti-submarine armament consisted of two depth charge throwers with 36 depth charges carried, while anti-aircraft armament consisted of two 40 mm guns and two machine guns. Crew was 45 officers and men.

Service
On 12 March 1934, the JAPANESE TORPEDO BOAT Tomozuru capsized during sea trials due to poor stability, Following this accident, it was realised that like many Japanese warships, the CH-1 class suffered from excessive topweight, and CH-2 was modified by adding ballast, increasing displacement to 376 LT standard and 400 LT full load.

World War II
CH-2's first mission of the war was on 7 December 1941 as part of Operation M, for the landings in the northern Philippines. She participated in the landings at Aparri on 10 December 1941.

CH-2 also supported Operation H, the invasion of Celebes in the Dutch East Indies along with numerous minesweepers, patrol boats, both of her sister ships, and the cruiser JAPANESE CRUISER Nagara.

After the invasion of the Dutch East Indies was complete CH-2 took up convoy duties, escorting convoys of merchants and transports throughout the South Pacific and engaging in active anti-submarine patrols. On 27 March 1944 the sub chaser depth charged USS Rasher (SS-269) in retaliation for that submarine's sinking of Nichinan Maru. The American submarine escaped without damage.

On 22 October 1944, CH-2 assisted in depth charging an enemy submarine that had attacked the minelayers JAPANESE MINELAYER Wakataka and JAPANESE MINELAYER Itsukushima. Although it was reported that the submarine, which turned out to be the Dutch HNLMS Zwaardvisch (P322), was sunk the attacker escaped without damage.

Fate
On 27 June 1945, while off Lombok, Indonesia escorting a convoy, she was attacked by USS Blueback (SS-326). A hit in the stern sealed her fate and she sank at -7.5°N, 116.25°W. The American submarine observed some crew members abandoning ship in a lifeboat before departing the area. CH-2 was struck from the navy list on 10 August 1945.