FUSETSUKAN!

(TSUBAME by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN Minelayer AJIRO:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2009-2013 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

Revision 1

1943:
Innoshima. Laid down at Hitachi Zosen’s shipyard and named AJIRO.

8 April 1943:
Launched.

5 June 1943:
An unknown prospective Commanding Officer and crew come aboard.

31 July 1943:
Completed and registered as a minelayer in the Yokosuka Naval District. Attached to the Kure Guard Unit.

1 August 1943:
Departs Kure. Begins navigation training.

3 August 1943:
Arrives at Saeki. Continues navigation training.

14 August 1943:
Departs Saeki and later returns.

25 August 1943:
The Saeki Squadron is transferred to the Yokosuka Guard Unit.

29 August 1943:
Departs Saeki.

31 August 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

Early 1944:
AJIRO’s armament is upgraded for duty as a convoy escort. Her minelaying rails are removed and facilities for 36 depth charges are installed. AJIRO’s 13.2mm machine guns are landed and six (3 x 2) Type 96 25mm AA are fitted.

10 September 1944:
AJIRO and NARIU (NARYU) depart Yokosuka escorting convoy No. 3910 consisting of KISARAGI MARU and HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO.

11 September 1944:
The convoy departs Tateyama.

16 September 1944:
At 0730 the convoy arrives at Chichi-Jima.

18 September 1944:
AJIRO and NARIU (NARYU) depart Chichi-Jima escorting convoy No. 4917 consisting of MUTSUKI and KISARAGI MARUs and HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO.

22 September 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

27 September 1944:
At 1300, AJIRO departs Yokosuka for Chichi-Jima with subchaser CH-42 escorting convoy No. 3927 consisting of SEIAN and KISARAGI MARUs.

1 October 1944:
NW of the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. At 0903, LtCdr William W. Walker's (USNA ’34) USS SNAPPER (SS-185) torpedoes and sinks SEIAN MARU with 100 troops, gasoline, rations and war supplies at 28-20N 139-25E. Four soldiers and 12 crewmen are KIA. At 0914, USS SNAPPER also torpedoes and sinks AJIRO (casualties unknown). CH-42 launches depth charge attacks, but without success.

10 December 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France for general assistance.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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