Japanese Minesweepers

SOKAITEI!

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

IJN Minesweeper W-9: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2007 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall

7 February 1938:
Maizuru Naval Arsenal. Laid down.

10 September 1938:
Launched and numbered W-9.

15 February 1939:
Completed and registered in the Sasebo Naval District.

1 June 1941:
W-9 is assigned to the Third Fleet's 1st Base Force in MineSweepDiv 21 with W-7, W-8, W-10, W-11 andW-12.
21 September 1941:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kitamura Masayuki (45) assumes command of MineSweepDiv 21.
27 November 1941:
Departs Sasebo.

30 November 1941:
Arrives at Mako.

7 December 1941:
Departs Mako escorting the Vigan, northern Luzon, invasion convoy.
17 December 1941:
Departs Amami O-Shima escorting a convoy to Lamon Bay and Davao, Philippines.

9 January 1942: Operation "H" - The Invasion of Celebes, Netherlands East Indies:
MineSweepDiv 21's W-12, W-7, W-8, W-9 and W-11, light cruiser NAGARA, patrol boats P-1, P-2, P-34 and SubChasDiv 1's CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3 depart Davao escorting eight transports carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo's (former CO of AO SATA) Sasebo No. 1 Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) and Rear Admiral Kubo's 1st Base Force.
11 January 1942: The Invasion of Menado, Celebes Dutch East Indies:
Rear Admiral Kubo’s 1st Base Force with MineSweepDiv 21, NAGARA, patrol boats and SubChasDiv 1’s CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3 provides escort for the Menado invasion force of eight transports carrying Captain Mori's Sasebo No. 1 Combined SNLF.

At 0300, the SNLF lands on Kema, Celebes. At 0400, they land on Menado. Later, 334 men of Cdr (later Captain) Horiuchi Toyoaki's (later XO of TAKAO) Yokosuka No. 1 SNLF (Air) are dropped successfully from Mitsubishi G3M1-L "Nell" converted transport aircraft in the Menado-Kema area. The paratroops seize Langoan airfield.

21 January 1942:
Escorts the Kendari invasion convoy and conducts minesweeping.
23-24 January 1942: The Invasion of Kendari, Celebes:
MineSweepDiv 21’s W-9, W-7, W-8, W-11 and W-12, DesRon 10’s light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 16’s TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE, and Subchaser Div 1’s CH-1 and CH-2 escort Rear Admiral Kubo’s Kendari Invasion Force under consisting of six troop transports carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mori Kunizo’s Sasebo Combined Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF). The 11th Seaplane Tender Division’s CHITOSE and MIZUHO provide distant support. >
29 January 1942:
Departs Kendari. Escorts the Ambon invasion convoy.
31 January 1942: The Invasion of Ambon Island, Moluccas, Netherlands East Indies:
The convoy includes ten transports carrying 820 men of Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hatakeyama Koichiro's (former CO of KINUGASA) Kure No. 1 SNLF, elements of the Sasebo SNLF and the 228th Infantry Regiment escorted by Rear Admiral Tanaka's DesRon 2’s light cruiser JINTSU, DesDiv 8’s ASASHIO, MICHISHIO, ARASHIO and OSHIO, DesDiv 15’s HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO, OYASHIO and NATSUSHIO, DesDiv 16’s TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE, Minesweeper Div 21’s W-9, W-7, W-8, W-11 and W-12 and Subchaser Div 1’s CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3. CHITOSE and MIZUHO arrive at Ceram and provide air cover for the invasion convoy.
2 February 1942:
Ambon. While minesweeping, W-9 explodes a mine and sinks.

10 April 1942:
Removed from the Navy List.

-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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