© 2008 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 1
14 March 1922:
Tokyo.
Tokyo. Laid down at Ishikawajima Shipbuilding as a second-class WAKATAKE-class destroyer named KAKITSUBATA.
4 November 1922:
Launched.
10 May 1923:
Completed and registered in the IJN. An unknown officer is the CO.
24 April 1924:
Designated destroyer No. 10.
1 December 1925:
An unknown officer assumes command.
1 December 1927:
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Yano Shikazo (43) assumes command.
1 August 1928:
Renamed ASAGAO. An unknown CO assumes command. -
10 December 1928:
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Nakazawa Tasuku (43)
ssumes command.
30 November 1929:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Araki Tsuto (45) assumes command.
1 April 1932:
LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Nakatsu Seiki (44) assumes command.
15 November 1933:
LtCdr Nakatsu assumes command of FUYO “on paper” as an additional duty.
11 January 1934:
LtCdr Nakatsu also assumes command of KARUKAYA “on paper” as an additional duty.
1 February 1934:
LtCdr Nakatsu is relieved of “paper” command of KARUKAYA, but retains command ASAGAO and “paper” command of FUYO.
15 May 1934:
An unknown officer assumes command.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The First "China") Incident:
Lugouqiao, China. Japanese troops on night maneuvers at the bridge fire blank cartridges. Chinese troops fire back, but do not cause injuries. The Japanese discover a soldier missing and demand entry to Beijing to look for him, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese shell the city and an undeclared war on China begins.
August 1937: The Evacuation of Japanese residents in South
China:
Japanese residents in South China are under the protection of Rear Admiral Okuma Masakichi's DesRon 5 composed of flagship YUBARI, destroyer ASAGAO, DesDiv 16's MAWEI, DesDiv 13's SWATOW and SANAE at Canton. DesRon 5 is assigned to protect about 12,000 Japanese residents in Fuchow, Amoy, Swatow and Canton. With the outbreak of the North China Incident, DesDiv 16 is dispatched to the north. DesDiv 5 from Mako and DesDiv 29 from Japan are put under the command of Rear Admiral Okuma.
12 August 1937:
The situation in South China shows a drastic change for the worse. Residents in Swatow start evacuation that day. After the clash in Shanghai, residents in Canton begin evacuating on 15 August and those in Fuchow on 17 August. All of them reach Formosa safely. The evacuation of residents from Amoy, delayed for various reasons, is completed in late August.
10 May 1938:
DesDiv 16’s FUYO, ASAGAO and KARUKAYA participate in an amphibious assault on Amoy (Xiamen) with Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Koichi Shiozawa’s (32)(former CO of FURUTAKA) 5th Fleet consisting of CruDiv 9's MYOKO (F) and light cruiser TAMA, CruDiv 10's light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU, DesRon 5's light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 3’s NADAKAZE, SHIMAKAZE, SHIOKAZE, CarDiv 1's KAGA, DesDiv 29’s HAYATE and OITE, SORYU with DesDiv 30’s YAYOI and KISARAGI, auxiliary seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU, collier MUROTO, CarDiv 3's seaplane tender KAMOI, auxiliaries SYURI, CHOJU, DELHI, EIKO, IKUTA, KAZAN, KURI, HAYA MARUs and DAIICHI MARU No. 8, NANSHIN MARU No. 8, NANSHIN MARU No. 31, TAIKO, YODATI and auxiliary minelayers ENOSHIMA and ENTO (MAROSHIMA).
At dawn, the Fifth Fleet’s warships, including DesDiv 16, bombard Ho-tsu, Ni-chin, and Wu-tung and cover an amphibious assault landing by more than 2,000 troops of the Yokosuka, Kure and Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF). At the same time, NE of Xiamen (Amoy), Japanese aircraft from tenders KAMOI and KAMIKAWA MARU bomb bridges, roads, ferries and ships. The poorly equipped Nationalist Chinese 75th Division defenders suffer heavy casualties, are overrun by the SNLFs and withdraw.
12 May 1938:
That night, Chinese forces abandon Amoy to the Japanese.
15 October 1940:
Lt Kimotsuki Masaki (56) assumes command.
10 April 1941:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Sugihara Yoshiro (57) assumes command.
1941-1942:
Undergoes refit. The center 4.7 gun, between the funnels, is removed. The remaining two 4.7/45 cal, low angle guns are replaced with improved dual purpose 4.7/50 cal. mounts. Two triple 25mm mounts replace the center 4.7 mount. Mine sweeping gear is removed and the number of depth charges is increased by 36 with 4 throwers. One of ASAGAO's torpedo mounts is also removed.
8 December 1941:
ASAGAO is assigned to Rear Admiral Owada Yoshinosuke’s (35)(former CO of NACHI) Chinkai (Korea) Guard Force in Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Yamamoto Iwata’s (46)(former CO of KAGERO) DesDiv 32 with KARUKAYA and FUYO. Patrols the Tsushima Straits area.
21 January 1942:
DesDiv 32's ASAGAO, KARUKAYA and FUYO depart Mutsure with CruDiv 9's light cruiser OI escorting transports TATSUNO, FUSHIMI, SOMEDOMO, TAKETOYO, TOFUKU, BRAZIL, COLUMBIA, MAEBASHI, GENOA, HOEISAN, ATSUTA, DAINICHI, TOKIWA, SYDNEY, MOMOYAMA, PACIFIC, KIZAN, REIYO AND TSUYAMA MARUs. The transports are carrying the 2nd Infantry Division.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores. Later, the convoy departs for Camranh Bay to mobilize for the Invasion of Java.
10 April 1942:
ASAGAO is assigned to Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Amaya Yoshishige’s (47) DesDiv 13 of Rear Admiral Inoue Yasuo’s (38) 1st Surface Escort Division organized this day as a unit of the Southwest Area Fleet.
21 April 1942:
Convoy No. 101 departs Mutsure. The convoy, the first of the Empire-Formosa convoys, consists of 6 unidentrified merchant ships escorted by torpedo boat SAGI and subchaser CH-32. ASAGAO joins the convoy at an undetermined point or provides distant support.
25 April 1942:
LtCdr Onishi Yuji (57) is posted as CO.
26 April 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
30 April 1942:
ASAGAO departs Mako escorting convoy No. 302 consisting of one unidentified merchant ship.
5 May 1942
Arrives at St Jacques.
10 December 1942:
DesDiv 13 is disbanded.
10 April 1943:
Reassigned directly to the 1st Surface Escort Division of the Southwest Area Fleet. During the year, ASAGAO escorts convoys between Moji and Mako, Takao, Manila, Palau and Balikpapan.
15 April 1943:
At 0900, ASAGAO departs Takao escorting a convoy consisting of FUSEI, AWAJI MARUs and six unidentified merchant ships at 8.5 knots
E 20 April 1943:
Arrives at Manila
10 July 1943:
At 1500, departs Moji escorting convoy No. 175 consisting of DAINICHI, RAKUYO, FUSEI, WAKATSU, MACASSAR, TEIRITSU and KASHU MARUs and tankers NITTASU, KOZUI and TATSUNO MARUs.
18 July 1943:
Arrives at Takao.
19 July 1943:
Departs Takao for Mako.
E 24 July 1943:
Arrives at Saigon. DAINICHI MARU is detached. Later, RAKUYO, FUSEI, and WAKATSU MARUs steam on to Singapore.
20 October 1943:
Lt Mori Sakae (63) assumes command.
1 November 1943:
Reassigned to the General Escort Command.
10 November 1943:
While escorting convoy No. 439, ASAGAO reports a torpedo attack at 21-38N, 116-45E
29 December 1943:
At 1500, ASAGAO departs Moji for Takao, Formosa with minesweepers W-4 and W-5 escorting convoy No. 125 consisting of SEINAN, KOSHIN, and KOKKO MARUs.
4 January 1944:
At 0932, arrives at Takao.
11 January 1944:
At 0830, convoy HI-31 departs Moji for Singapore consisting of oilers GENYO, OMUROSAN, TATEKAWA and ITSUKUSHIMA MARUS and cargo liner HOKUROKU MARU escorted by carrier CHITOSE and destroyers AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE.
16 January 1944:
N of the Spratly Islands. AMATSUKAZE is torpedoed by CDR Robert D. King's USS REDFIN (SS-272) at 14-40N, 113-50E. The destroyer loses her bow and is presumed sunk by the convoy that proceeds onward. AMATSUKAZE is left adrift for six days until discovered by a Japanese patrol plane. ASAGAO arrives from Indochina and tows AMATSUKAZE to to Cape St. Jacques. Later, AMATSUKAZE makes it to SAIGON for emergency repairs.
7 March 1944:
ASAGAO departs Takao for Palau with destroyer HAMANAMI and torpedo boat SAGI escorting convoy Nishi-Matsu No. 1 - TAPA-04 consisting of GOZAN, TAISEI, SHIRAHAMA, TETSUYO, TAKEGAWA and ATSUTA MARUs and four unidentified marus.
14 March 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
3 May 1944:
At 0445, ASAGAO departs Moji for Singapore via Manila with escort carrier TAIYO, destroyers HIBIKI and INAZUMA, kaibokan KURAHASHI, SADO, CD-5, CD-7, CD-13, escorting convy HI-61 consisting of tankers AKANE, TATEKAWA, NICHIEI, AZUSA, JINEI, EIYO, OTORISAN, SARAWAK and ASANAGI MARUs, transport MIZUHO MARU and fleet oiler HAYASUI.
7 May 1944:
JINEI MARU develops engine troubles and is detached for Takao.
8 May 1944:
LtCdr Victor B. McCrea's USS HOE (SS-258) attacks convoy HI-61. AKANE MARU suffers minor damage.
9 May 1944:
At 2055, HI-61 arrives at Manila. TATEKAWA, NICHIEI and AZUSA MARUs are detached.
12 May 1944:
HI-61 departs Manila for Singapore.
17 May 1944:
At 2100, arrives at Singapore.
11 June 1944:
At 1530, ASAGAO departs Moji with destroyer ASAKAZE, kaibokan YASHIRO, CD-2 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 escorting convoy MI-07 consisting of MATSUURA, KAMO, SHINKOKU, NISHI, MINO, TAIKAI, KAKOGAWA, MYOGI, OYO MARUs and tankers KOEI, TAIEI, CHIHAYA, RYUSHO and SAN LUIS MARUs and 12 unidentified merchant ships. Immediately after leaving port, KOEI MARU develops engine problems and is forced to return to port.
15 June 1944:
At 1040, anchors at Oshima Strait, Amami Oshima.
16 June 1944:
Departs Oshima Strait.
17 June 1944:
MATSUURA and KAMO MARUs are detached with ASAGAO and head for Kirun (Keelung).
18 June 1944:
At 1300, arrives at Takao. Later, ASAGAO rejoins convoy. At 1955, the convoy departs Takao.
23 June 1944:
At 1800, arrives at Manila. ASAGAO and CD-2 are detached.
E 26 June 1944:
ASAGAO and CD-2 join convoy HI-67 that left Moji on 20 June consisting of transports MANJU, NANKAI, KINUGASA, ASAKA, ASAHISAN and HAKOZAKI MARUs, ex AMC GOKOKU MARU and oilers OTORISAN, MIRI, SARAWAK and SHINEI MARUs and NICHINAN MARU No. 2 escorted by destroyer KURETAKE, kaibokans HIRADO, KURAHASHI, CD-5, CD-13 and subchaser CH-61.
29 June 1944:
At about 1510, LtCdr Anton R. Gallaher's USS BANG (SS-385) attacks convoy HI-67 at 17-13N, 118-18E. Gallaher fires a spread of five torpedoes. Tankers MIRI and SARAWAK MARUs are each hit in the bow by a torpedo and damaged, but both are able to proceed to Manila. CD-5 also suffers unspecified damage during the action.
E 1 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Manila. CD-5 and ASAHISAN MARU
leave the convoy.
3 July 1944:
At 0600, ASAGAO departs Manila for Singapore with destroyer KURETAKE and kaibokan HIRADO, KURAHASHI, CD-2, CD-5 and CD-13, minelayer SHIRATAKA and subchaser CH-61 escorting convoy HI-67.
9 July 1944:
Near Samah, Hainan Island. During a typhoon, ASAGAO grounds on a reef.
29 July 1944:
Still stranded on the reef despite the best efforts of her crew, ASAGAO is attacked by American aircraft,
but incurs only slight additional damage.
15 October 1944:
Refloated. That same day, at 1600, ASAGAO and minesweeper W-101 depart Samah for Yawata, Japan
escorting iron-ore transport convoy YUTA-12 consisting of BINGO and NICHIZUI MARUs and two small unidentified
ships.
19 October 1944:
S of Hong Kong. The convoy is attacked by skip-bombing North American B-25 "Mitchell medium bombers. NICHIZUI MARU is hit and later sinks. At 2155, the convoy puts into Hong Kong.
20 October 1944:
Convoy YUTA-12 merges with convoy HOMO-1. At 1900, the combined convoy departs Hong Kong.
1 November 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
November 1944:
Undergoes repairs at an undetermined location.
30 November 1944:
At 0900, ASAGAO departs Moji with kaibokan IKUNA, KANJU, SHINNAN, CD-41, CD-66, subchaser CH-28 and auxiliary subchaser CHa-223 escorting convoy MI-29 consisting of CLYDE, BRAZIL, AKISHIMA, MEIRYU, HAWAII, ENOURA, DAII, SHINYU, AKIKAWA and KAZUURA MARUs, HOSHI MARU No. 11 and KONAN MARU No.1 and tankers ENGEN, ENCHO and ENKEI MARUs.
2 December 1944:
LtCdr Ralph C. Style's USS SEA DEVIL (SS-400) torpedoes and sinks HAWAII and AKIKAWA MARUs at 30-24N 128-17E. KONAN MARU No.1 rescues survivors from AKIKAWA MARU. The convoy formation breaks up. BRAZIL MARU goes to Keelung, DAII MARU and three others go to Koniya, Amami-Oshima and CLYDE MARU, HOSHI MARU No.11 with IKUNA go to Takao. Later, the Koniya ships rejoin at Takao, but at this point the convoy is officially dissolved.
26 April 1945:
Coast of China. At 0755, ASAGAO departs the Shusan Sea area for Moji with kaibokan UKU and CD-26, patrol boat PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224), minesweeper W-29 and subchaser CH-20 escorting convoy SHIMO-03 consisting of KASHIMA, BANSHU, ABUKUMAGAWA, SHINTON and TAIKYU MARUs and NANRYU MARU No. 9.
27 April 1945:
Convoy SHIMO-03 is attacked by aircraft and unidentified submarine(s). The planes make many attacks and bomb and strafe the convoy. UKU and patrol boat PB-102 are damaged at 34-52N, 124-23E.
28 April 1945:
At 1200, arrives at Moji.
April 1945:
Inland Sea. Serves as a mother ship for patrol craft and minesweepers.
20 May 1945:
Lt Ishibushi Nobutoshi assumes command.
28 July 1945:
Inland Sea, W of Bisan-Se. Carrier aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task Force 38 damage ASAGAO.
22 August 1945:
Kanmon Strait. At 1635, ASAGAO hits a mine most probably laid by a 20th Air Force B-29 “Super Fortress” in "Operation Starvation". ASAGAO makes Shimonoseki where she is surrendered to the Allies in a heavily damaged condition.
30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
September 1947:
Yoshimi. Begins scrapping and salvage.
10 June 1948:
Scrapping is completed.
Author's Notes:
[1] Little detailed data were found detailing ASAGAO's movements during most of 1942 and 1943. Readers with access to such data are requested to post the information on the Discussion
and Questions board or j-aircraft.org's IJN Ship Message
Board
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
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