© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Minegumo: Tabular Record of Movement


Name Translation: "Clouds on the Summit"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Suzuki Yasuatsu [49] (prev. C.O. SHIRATSUYU). Assigned to Desdiv 9 (ASAGUMO, YAMAGUMO, NATSUGUMO, MINEGUMO), Desron 4, Second Fleet.

26-29 November 1941:

Steamed with Desron 4 from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores).

7-11 December:

Departed Mako, then with Vigan (Philippines) invasion force.

22 December:

With Lingayen invasion force.

12 January 1942:

With Tarakan invasion force.

23 January:

With Balikpapan invasion force.

8 February:

With Makassar invasion force.

25 February:
Assisted in occupation of Bawean Island.

27 February:

With Eastern Java invasion force.

27-28 February: Battle of the Java Sea

Dueled with HMS ENCOUNTER and assisted ASAGUMO in sinking of HMS ELECTRA. Light damage: four wounded; then went to assistance of ASAGUMO.

1 March:

With NATSUGUMO, damaged USS PERCH (SS-176) in depth-charge attack.

31 March-10 April:

With Christmas Island invasion force, then escorted damaged NAKA to Singapore.

12-20 April:

Steamed from Singapore via Formosa to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs.

2 May:

Out of Yokosuka with TAKAO to assist sinking MIZUHO.

4-6 June: Battle of Midway

Escorted Admiral Kondo's Occupation Force Main Body.

27 June-13 July:

Escorted fleet patrolling out of Ominato southwest of the Aleutians.

11-17 August:

Escorted fleet from Yokosuka to Truk.

20 August:
Minor damage:
during fleet sortie, clipped reef at Truk; sortie delayed for repairs.

22-28 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons

Escorted oiler NIPPON MARU from Truk to join fleet, then escorted damaged CHITOSE back to Truk.

2-7 September:

Escorted convoy from Truk to the Shortlands and back.

September:

Desdiv 9 escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons.

26-28 September:

Desdiv 9 steamed from Truk to the Shortlands.

2 October:

Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

5 October:

Troop transport run to Guadalcanal. Medium damage: in air attack, near-missed off both bows; serious flooding, best speed 14 knots. Escorted by NATSUGUMO back to Shortlands.

6-10 October:

Steamed from Shortlands to Truk, then repairs.

16-23 November:

Steamed from Truk to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs.

25 January 1943:
Lieutenant Commander Suzuki (to C.O. MICHISHIO) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Uesugi Yoshitake [50] (prev. C.O. USHIO).

12-22 February:

Repairs complete; escorted convoy from Yokosuka to Truk.

28 February-2 March:

Steamed from Truk to Rabaul.

4-5 March:

With MURASAME, transport run from Rabaul via the Shortlands to Kolombangara. Sunk: by gunfire of U.S. cruiser-destroyer group, in Kula Gulf (08-01 S, 157-14 E); 46, including Lieutenant Commander Uesugi, killed in action. 122 survivors later reached Japanese lines, and two more were captured by the Americans.

1 April 1943:

Removed from Navy List.


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