SOKURYOSEN
(TSUKUSHI prewar - colorized photo by Irootoko Jr)
IJN Hydrographic Survey Ship TSUKUSHI:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
17 January 1940:
Yokohama. Laid down at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding as a 1,400
ton survey vessel.
29 November 1940:
Launched and named TSUKUSHI.
12 June 1941:
Capt. (later Rear Admiral, posthumously) Yamataka Matsujiro (44) (former CO of MUROTO) is posted Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
20 November 1941:
Captain Yamataka is appointed CO of the 1st Survey Unit.
17 December 1941:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Captain Yamataka is the CO and remains CO of the 1st Survey Unit.
Early 1942:
SW coast of Dutch New Guinea. TSUKUSHI makes hydrographic
soundings and lands parties at various sites along the coast including landing a party of 30 men at Cape De Jong.
11-12 February 1942:
TSUKUSHI supports the invasion of Makassar, Celebes. Assists minelayer AOTAKA.
13 February 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay.
22 February 1942:
Conducts patrols of the Makassar Strait with
minelayer AOTAKA.
10 March 1942:
Reassigned to the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
10 April 1942:
Reassigned to the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet, Southwest Area Fleet.
Late July 1942:
TSUKUSHI makes port at Davao, Philippines.
25 September 1942:
Reassigned to the Fourth Fleet, Combined Fleet.
19 January 1943:
An unknown officer assumes command.
20 May 1943:
Reassigned to the Eighth Fleet, Southwest Area Fleet.
4 June 1943:
New Ireland. USS SILVERSIDES (SS-236) lays a minefield
off Kavieng.
12 October 1943: American Air Raid on Rabaul:
LtGen(later General)
George C. Kenney's 5th Air Force hits Rabaul with the biggest raid made up to
this time in the Pacific war. 349 aircraft, including 87 Boeing B-17 “Flying
Fortress” and B-24 “Liberator” heavy bombers, 114 North American B-25 “Mitchell”
strafers, 12 RAAF Bristol "Beaufighters" and 125 Lockheed P-38 "Lightning"
fighters and others from New Guinea and Australia hit Rabaul's town, airfields
and Simpson harbor.
Over 50 Japanese aircraft are destroyed. Transports KEISHO MARU, KOSEI
MARU, lighters No. 1 WAKAMATSU MARU and KUROGANE MARU and guardboat MISHIMA MARU
are sunk.
TSUKUSHI and destroyers MOCHIZUKI, MINAZUKI and TACHIKAZE are damaged as
are smaller vessels.
13 October 1943:
At 2049, USN codebreakers intercept and decode a message regarding events on the 12th that reads: “Southeastern Force Action Summary. (October 12th Rabaul Air Action). ----. Attacked from 1004 to 1022 by: 54 (Heavy bombers in 9 waves of three to ten planes covered by about 16 P-38s
attacked vessels and Rabaul airdrome vicinity. ------. Losses. (a) Vessels Tsukushi and Naruto hit: slight damage and holes in hull. Mochizuki, damaged by near misses and holes. Gun #3 inoperative. Miyatzuki, #2 ---- slight damage from near miss. Guns #1 and #2 out of commission. Tachikaze, ----- damage. I-180, as a result of a 60 kilo bomb hit unable to dive. I-177 and RO-105, holes from near misses.”
4 November 1943:
Departs Rabaul escorting cargo ship RYUOSAN MARU. Later that day off Kavieng, New Ireland, TSUKUSHI strikes a mine laid by USS SILVERSIDES on 4 Jun ’43 and sinks at 02-40S, 150-40E. [1]
5 January 1944:
Removed from Navy List –
Author's Notes:
[1] SILVERSIDES' mines also sink RYUOSAN MARU and damage light cruiser ISUZU and destroyer ISOKAZE.
Thanks go to Matthew Jones of Mississippi.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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