SOKAITEI!



(W-19 Class Minesweeper by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN Minesweeper W-25:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2009 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

1942:
Laid down at the Kure Dock Yard.

1943:
Launched and numbered W-25.

30 April 1943:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Lt Oda Toshio is the Commanding Officer.

21 February 1944:
Tokyo Bay. W-25 and W-24 depart Yokohama Sea for Saipan escorting convoy No. 4420 consisting of KUMANOYAMA, KIMISHIMA and KOYO MARUs and two unidentified ships.

23 February 1944:
At 1226, LtCdr Raymond H. Bass' USS PLUNGER (SS-179) torpedoes KIMISHIMA MARU at 30-11N, 140-49E. A 1445, she sinks. The escorts counter-attack and drop 45 DCs, but PLUNGER suffers only slight damage.

That same day, subchaser CH-42 joins the escort from Chichi-Jima, but at 2240, LtCdr Charles O. Triebel's USS SNOOK (SS-279) torpedoes and sinks KOYO MARU at 28-49N, 141-13E. CH-42 rescues 142 survivors.

24 February 1944:
At 0900, KUMANOYAMA MARU is hit in the stern by a dud torpedo fired by an unknown submarine. At 1800, the convoy arrives at Chichi-Jima.

14 June 1944:
The "Meisei Maru" convoy consisting of MEISEI, TATSUEI and KYUSHU MARUs and UNKAI MARU No.10 departs Chichi-Jima escorted by subchaser CH-16 auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5.

15 June 1944:
At 0800, W-25 and torpedo boat CHIDORI join the escort.

16 June 1944:
In a raging storm, TATSUEI MARU, UNKAI MARU No. 10, KOGI MARU and CH-16 are separated from the convoy and steam together.

18 June 1944:
Arrives at Nagautura and Yokosuka, Tokyo Bay.

28 June 1944:
At 0600, W-25, departs Yokosuka for Chichi-Jima with subchasers CH-16 and CH-18, auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5 and minelayer SARUSHIMA escorting convoy No. 3628 consisting of SHIMA, TATSUEI, SHOZUI, TAIKO and KAIKO MARUs and UNYO MARU No. 8.

2 July 1944:
Convoy No. 3628 arrives at Chichi-Jima and begins to unload.

4 July 1944:
Chichi-Jima. Carrier-based aircraft of Rear Admiral (later Admiral-Ret) Joseph J. Clark’s Task Group 38.1 and Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Ralph E. Davison’s Task Group 38.4 planes attack convoy No. 3628. They sink the entire convoy except KAIKO MARU. W-25 goes down at 28-35N, 141-04E.

10 September 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Note:
Thanks go to Matthew Jones for help in identifying the CO.

-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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