SENSUIKAN!

© 2001-2004 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp

24 July 1943:
The R0-38 is completed at Mitsubishi's Kobe Yard, commissioned in the IJN and based in the Maizuru Naval District. LtCdr Nomura Shunji is the Commanding Officer.

31 July 1943:
Assigned to SubRon 11.

31 October 1943:
Reassigned to Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Shimizu Taro's SubDiv 34, Sixth Fleet. Departs Kure for Truk.

8 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

19 November 1943:
Departs Truk en route to the Makin-Tarawa area of the Gilberts as a part of A Group on her first war patrol. There are no further contacts with the RO-38 after her departure..

20 November 1943: American Operation "GALVANIC" - The Invasion of the Gilberts:
The Americans invade Tarawa and Makin Islands. The invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13 battleships and 11 carriers.

Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Takagi Takeo (former CO of MUTSU), Commander, Sixth Fleet (Submarines) orders the I-19, -21, -35, -39, -40, -169, -174 and the I-175 and the RO-38 to proceed to Tarawa and attack the invasion ships.

26 November 1943:
Takagi orders the RO-38, I-19, -40 and the I-169 to form a picket line N of Makin.

27 November 1943:
Sixth Fleet orders the RO-38 to take up a specific position.

29 November 1943:
Sixth Fleet orders the RO-38 to take up a new position.

3 December 1944:
The RO-38 fails to answer a general order from Sixth Fleet to report.

2 January 1944:
Presumed missing with all 77 hands off the Gilberts.*

30 April 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors' Note:
*Author/historian Kimata Jiro suggests that the RO-38 was sunk by the USS COTTEN (DD-669) on 24 Nov '44 W of Tarawa while screening the carriers of TG 53.6, but this remains unconfirmed by other sources.

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

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