''Cha-12'' or ''No. 12'' (''Japanese'': 第十二號驅潜特務艇) was a

No.1-class auxiliary submarine chaser The was a class of auxiliary submarine chasers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. 200 vessels were built under the Maru Kyū Programme (Ship # 500–599) and the Maru Sen Programme (Ship # 2001–2100). Backgro ...

of the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, Potsdam Declaration, when it was dissolved followin ...

that served during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

History

She was laid down on 11 January 1942 and launched on 8 January 1943. She was completed on 6 April 1943. She was assigned to the Sasebo Defense Force,

Sasebo Naval District was the third of five main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the western and southern coastline of Kyūshū, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Korea, as well as patrols in the East China Sea and t ...

on 6 April 1943. On 1 June 1943, she was reassigned to the First Base Force, Eighth Fleet.

Battle off Horaniu

On 17 August 1943, she was assigned to escort duty for 13 ''Daihatsu''-class landing craft and 3 motor torpedo boats carrying 2 companies of army troops and a naval platoon tasked with establishing a barge depot and staging base at Horaniu on the northeast part of

Vella Lavella Vella Lavella is an island in the Western Province (Solomon Islands), Western Province of Solomon Islands. It lies to the west of New Georgia, but is considered one of the New Georgia Islands, New Georgia Group. To its west are the Treasury Isla ...

in order to facilitate the evacuation of 9,000 troops from the island. She was accompanied by subchaser ''Cha-5'', two armored ''Daihatsus'', another motor torpedo boat, and a ''Soukoutei''-class armored boat with four destroyers (, , , and ) commanded by Rear-Admiral Baron

Matsuji Ijuin Baron was a commander in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, who was promoted posthumously to vice admiral after being killed in action in combat off Saipan. Life and military career Born in the Kōjimachi district of Tokyo, Ijuin ...

providing heavy cover. The convoy left Buin on the 17th and on 18 August 1943, they were attacked by the US destroyers USS ''Nicholas'', USS ''Chevalier'', USS ''O'Bannon'', and USS ''Taylor''. In the ensuing

Battle off Horaniu The Battle off Horaniu (Japanese: 第一次ベララベラ海戦) was a minor naval battle of the Pacific War, Pacific campaign of World War II, fought near Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands. On the night of 17–18 August 1943, four U.S. N ...

, she was sunk along with '' Cha-5'', two torpedo boats, and one ''Daihatsu'' by gunfire north of Vella Lavella. She was struck from the

Navy List A Navy Directory, Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a co ...

on 1 November 1943.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:CHa-12 1943 ships Maritime incidents in August 1943 World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean No.1-class auxiliary submarine chasers Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy