Imperial Submarines

SENSUIKAN!

HIJMS Submarine RO-105: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2001-2003 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp
5 March 1943:
The R0-105 is completed at Kawasaki's Kobe Yard, commissioned in the IJN and assigned to the Kure SubRon. LtCdr Nishiuchi Shoiji is the Commanding Officer.
16 March 1943:
Lt Oba Saichi assumes command. LtCdr Nishiuchi is later assigned as CO of the RO-47.
1 April 1943:
Reassigned to SubRon 11.
11 June 1943:
Reassigned to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Harada Kaku's (former CO of CVS CHIYODA) SubRon 7, but temporarily detailed to Rear Admira Kouda Takero’s (former CO of CHOKAI) SubRon 1 together with the RO-104 to support the evacuation of Kiska.
16 June 1943:
Departs Kure for Paramushiro, Kuriles.
22 June 1943:
Arrives at Paramushiro.
29 June 1943:
Departs Paramushiro on her first war patrol with the Northern Submarine Patrol Unit.
4-10 July 1943:
Joins the "A" patrol line to cover the evacuation of Kiska. Patrols NW of Kiska.
13 July 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro.
17 July 1943:
Reassigned to SubRon 7. Departs Paramushiro for Yokosuka.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
11 August 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Rabaul.
20 August 1943:
Reassigned to SubDiv 51 under Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kato Ryonosuke.
23 August 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
2 September 1943: Departs Rabaul on her second war patrol to patrol S of San Cristobal Island, Solomons.
24 September 1943:
On her way back to base, the RO-105 rescues several IJNAF pilots downed in air battles two days earlier.
25 September 1943: The Evacuation of Kolombangara, Guadalcanal:
The Japanese begin the evacuation of the garrison on Kolombangara by assualt boats and barges. Eleven destroyers under Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously), the Baron, Injuin Matsui (former CO of KONGO) cover the evacuation of Kolombangara with the RO-105 and the RO-109. During these operations one of the submarines fires torpedoes at the USS COLUMBIA (CL-56), but misses.
That same day, the RO-105 returns to Rabaul.
7 October 1943:
Rear Admiral Injuin completes the evacuation of Kolombangara and successfully evacuates about 9,400 troops. The RO-105 departs Rabaul for a supply run to Sarmi, New Guinea.
9 October 1943:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs.
11 October 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
12 October 1943: American Air Raid on Rabaul:
At Rabaul. LtGen (later Gen) George C. Kenney's 5th Air Force hits Rabaul with the biggest raid made up to then in the Pacific war. 349 aircraft, including 87 B-17 and B-24 bombers, 114 B-25 strafers, 12 RAAF "Beaufighters" and 125 P-38 "Lightning" fighters and others from New Guinea and Australia hit Rabaul's airfields and its Simpson harbor.
The RO-105, RO-108, I-36, I-38, I-176 and the I-177 are moored in deep water. USAAF and RAAF aircraft bomb the harbor. When the attack begins, most of the submarines submerge to safety. The RO-105 receives slight damage caused by near misses.
14 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul for her second supply run to Sarmi.
16 October 1943:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs.
18 October 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
22 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul to intercept an enemy task force.
24 October 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
27 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul for her third war patrol off Mono Island.
2 November 1943: The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay: The Japanese force is intercepted by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Aaron S. Merrill's (former CO of INDIANA, BB-58) Task Force 39's radar-equipped CruDiv 12: USS CLEVELAND (CL-55), COLUMBIA (CL-56), MONTPELIER (CL-57) and the DENVER (CL-58). Captain (later Admiral/CNO) Arleigh Burke's destroyers USS STANLY (DD-478), CHARLES F. AUSBURNE (DD-570), CLAXTON (DD-571) and the DYSON (DD-572) and Cdr B. L Austin's destroyers USS CONVERSE (DD-509), FOOTE (DD-511), SPENCE (DD-512) and the THATCHER (DD-514).
At 0050, all four of Merrill's cruisers take the SENDAI under 6-inch fire and set her afire. She soon sinks with most of her crew. While avoiding the American fire, the SAMIDARE collides with the SHIRATSUYU and the MYOKO collides with the destroyer HATSUKAZE. The HAGURO receives minor damage in the action.
Early in the morning, lookouts of the RO-105 spot starshells and gun flashes from the battle area. Later that day, the submarine is ordered to rescue the survivors from the SENDAI and HATSUKAZE. The RO-105 searches the battle area in the evening but fails to locate anyone except several dead.
6 November 1943:
SE of New Britain. In the evening the RO-105 rescues two downed pilots from an inflatable boat.
9 November 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
17 November 1943:
Departs Rabaul for her third supply run to Sarmi, New Guinea.
19 November 1943:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs on patrol.
23 November 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
6 Dec ´43:
Departs Rabaul for her fourth supply run to Sarmi.
10 December 1943:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs on patrol.
20 December 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.
30 December 1943:
Departs Rabaul to rescue the pilots of IJAAF 6th Hiko Shidan Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar” fighters and Ki-49 "Helen” bombers downed in an air battle on 26 Dec '43.
1 January 1944:
Redirected to intercept Task Force 74 spotted by a patrol plane early in the morning N of Choiseul. Later, when no contacts are made, the RO-105 resumes lifeguard duty with the I-181.
8 January 1944:
Returns to Rabaul.
12 January 1944:
The IJN decides to abandon Rabaul as a submarine base.
16 January 1944:
Departs Rabaul for her fifth supply run to Sarmi.
18 January 1944:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs.
20 January 1944:
Returns to Rabaul.
26 January 1944: (
Departs Rabaul for her sixth supply run to Sarmi.
28 January 1944:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs.
30 January 1944:
Returns to Rabaul. Lt Inoue Junichi assumes command.
12 February 1944:
Departs Rabaul for her seventh supply run to Sarmi.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Sarmi, unloads her cargo, then departs.
17 February 1944:
Returns to Rabaul. Reassigned to the 1st Advance Submarine Unit.
20 February 1944:
Departs Rabaul. Patrols in vicinity of the island.
7 March 1944:
Returns to Rabaul.
8 March 1944:
The RO-105 arrives at Truk.
13 March 1944:
Departs Rabaul for Sasebo.
25 March 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo for repairs and overhaul.
7 May 1944:
Departs Sasebo for Saipan.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
17 May 1944:
The RO-105 sorties from Saipan with ComSubDiv 51 Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kato Ryonosuke embarked, with the RO-104. Earlier, separate orders are issued to the RO-108, RO-112 and RO-116 to depart Truk on 15 May and the RO-106 and RO-109 on 16 May. The submarines are to form "Scouting line NA," a picket line N of the Admiralty Islands to warn of American invasion forces approaching the Palaus.
18 May 1944:
Rear Admiral Owada orders the NA formation to extend from 01-30N, 150-30E to 00-30S, 148-30E. All submarines are to be on station at 0000, 21 May. The American Navy intercepts this signal that indicates the Japanese have established a new submarine picket NA line between Truk and the Admiralty Islands to intercept American carriers. LtCdr Walton B. Pendelton's USS ENGLAND (DE-635) departs Purvis Bay, off Florida Island, Solomons with LtCdr James Scott's USS RABY (DE-698) and LtCdr Fred W. Just's GEORGE (DE-697) as a hunter-killer group to attack the NA line.
27 May 1944:
After sinking six submarines in the past week, the ENGLAND, RABY and the GEORGE put into Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island to refuel and replenish their supply of ahead-thrown Mark 10 "hedgehog" projector charges from the USS SPANGLER (DE-696). The escort carrier USS HOGGATT BAY (CVE-75) and Cdr V. P. Douw's HAZELWOOD (DD-531) and Cdr W. T. Kenny's McCORD (DD-534) join the hunter-killer group.
30 May 1944:
N of the Admiralty Islands. At 0144, the HAZELWOOD makes a radar contact at 15,000 yards. At 0153, the contact -a submarine - dives, but the HAZELWOOD soon makes sonar contact and attacks with depth charges. At 0435, the RABY and the GEORGE relieve the HAZELWOOD and make several hedgehog attacks. The GEORGE seems to get three hits, but does not sink the submarine.
31 May 1944:
At 0500, the SPANGLER and the ENGLAND arrive. The SPANGLER fires a salvo of hedgehogs, but misses. At 0729, the ENGLAND makes sonar contact. LtCdr Pendelton fires a salvo of 24 hedgehogs. The hedgehogs' explosions are followed by a shattering underwater blast that kills the RO-105 at 00-47N, 149-56E. She is the sixth submarine sunk by the ENGLAND in 13 days.
25 June 1944:
Presumed lost with all 55 hands N of the Admiralty Islands.
10 August 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:
Special thanks for help in preparing this TROM go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan. – Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

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