SENSUIKAN!

© 2001-2003 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp

27 May 1943:
The RO-36 is completed at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's Kobe Yard, commissioned in the IJN and assigned to the Maizuru Naval District. LtCdr Okada Hideo is the Commanding Officer.

31 May 1943:
Reassigned to SubRon 11.

20 August 1943:
Reassigned directly to the Sixth Fleet.

5 September 1943:
Departs Maizuru for Truk.

24 September 1943:
Departs Truk for the New Hebrides area on her first war patrol.

13 October 1943:
Off New Hebrides. The RO-36 attacks a lone merchant, but fails to hit her. That same day, 40 crewmembers come down with food poisoning.

14 October 1943:
LtCdr Okada is ordered to return to base.

21 October 1943:
Returns to Truk.

31 October 1943:
Reassigned to SubDiv 34.

8 December 1943:
Departs Truk to reconnoiter Espiritu Santo on her second war patrol.

8 January 1944:
Returns to Truk.

31 January 1944: American Operation "FLINTLOCK" - The Invasion of the Marshalls:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58 lands the 4th Marine Division and the Army's 7th Infantry Division that capture the Kwajalein, Roi-Namur and Majuro atolls.

1 February 1944:
LtCdr Kawashima Tatsuo is posted as the next CO of the RO-36.

17 to 19 February 1944:
TF 58 raids Truk. The RO-36, I-10 and the RO-42 attempt to intercept the attackers.

25 February 1944:
Departs Truk to patrol in the Marshalls on her third war patrol.

1 March 1944:
The RO-36 is redirected to reconnoiter Roi Island.

4 March 1944:
After sunset, the RO-36 surfaces off Roi, but fails to detect any enemy forces.

15 March 1944:
The RO-36 is redirected to an area 60 miles E of Kwajalein and then to Pingelap Atoll to rescue Japanese coast-watchers.

23 March 1944:
Pingelap Atoll. The RO-36 takes the coast-watchers aboard .

28 March 1944:
Returns to Truk.

15 April 1944:
Departs Truk for Maizuru.

22 April 1944: American Operations "PERSECUTION" and "RECKLESS" - The Landings on New Guinea:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Daniel E. Barbey's Task Force 77 lands the 41st and 24th Infantry divisions of Lt Gen (later General) Robert L. Eichelberger's I Corps at Aitape and Tanahmerah Bay (PERSECUTION) and at Humboldt Bay, Hollandia, New Guinea (RECKLESS).

26 April 1944:
The RO-36 returns to Maizuru for an overhaul. While in port, LtCdr Kawashima Tatsuo assumes command.

4 June 1944:
Departs Maizuru via Saeki, Kyushu on a supply run to Wewak, New Guinea.

11 June 1944:
Departs Saipan on her fourth war patrol to patrol off northern coast of New Guinea

13 June 1944: Operation "A-GO" - The Defense of the Marianas:
Tokyo. The CINC, Combined Fleet, Admiral Toyoda Soemu, (former CO of HYUGA), activates A-GO and orders Vice Admiral Takagi Takeo (former CO of MUTSU), CINC, Sixth Fleet (Submarines) to redeploy his boats to the Marianas. From his Headquarters on Saipan, Takagi orders all available submarines to deploy E of the Marianas.

After the Japanese detect the presence of a U.S. Task Force off the Marianas, the RO-36 is redirected to the Saipan area with the RO-43 and reassigned to SubRon 7 at Truk.

The RO-36 sends a regular situation and weather report that day to ComSubRon 7. It is the last report received from the RO-36.

75 miles E of Saipan. Cdr Warner R. Edsall's USS MELVIN (DD-680) is part of the screen of Task Group 52.17's battleships approaching to bombard Saipan. About midnight, the MELVIN's radar detects a surfaced submarine. Cdr Edsall closes and opens fire with his 5-inch main armament. The MELVIN sinks the submarine - probably the RO-36 - with depth charges at 15-21N, 147-00E.

12 July 1944:
Presumed lost with all 77 hands N of New Guinea.

10 August 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Author's 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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