FUSETSUKAN!

© 2005-2009 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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26 November 1941:
Osaka. Laid down at Sakurajima Iron Works shipyard.

8 April 1942:
Named NUWAJIMA. [1]

31 August 1942:
Launched.

15 November 1942:
Completed. Assigned to the Saeki Guard Unit.

1943:
NUWAJIMA undergoes refit for operations as a convoy escort. Her minelaying rails are removed and she is fitted to carry 36 depth charges.

3 March 1943:
NUWAJIMA departs Saeki escorting Military Movement No. 8's convoy E2 consisting of DENMARK, YAMABUKI, GENMEI and KURAMASAN MARUs.

11 March 1943:
KURAMASAN MARU, that was detached earlier from the convoy, arrives at Saipan.

12 March 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

11 May 1943:
Departs Saeki.

19 May 1943:
Arrives at Palau.

23 May 1943:
Departs Palau.

31 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.

7 June 1943:
At 2020, NUWAJIMA departs Palau for Moji with torpedo boat HATO, patrol boat PB-31 and minelayer YURIJIMA escorting convoy P-607 consisting of HOFUKU, KAHOKU, HIYOSHI and SAIPAN MARUs.

8 June 1943:

At about 0240, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) John A. Tyree's USS FINBACK (SS-230) torpedoes and damages KAHOKU MARU, but she does not sink and continues on. FINBACK makes two more attacks over the next two hours and gets another hit. At 0950, KAHOKU MARU loses her battle with flooding and goes down. During Tyree's attacks, he also hits SAIPAN MARU, but the Mark-14 torpedo is a dud.

10 June 1943:
S of Bungo Suido. LtCdr Lawrence R. Daspit's USS TINOSA (SS-283) torpedoes and damages fleet oiler IRO. In the evening, NUWAJIMA, kaibokan IKI and several converted subchasers are detached to provide cover for outgoing battleship HARUNA and cruiser KUMANO scheduled to depart for Truk the next day. [2]

11 June 1943:
NUWAJIMA and IKI are detached to find and destroy the submarine that attacked IRO. A contact is made and depth-charged after 0900, but the results are unknown. Later that day, NUWAJIMA and IKI rejoin convoy P-607.

13 June 1943:
Arrives Moji.

24 June 1943:
Convoy FU-405 departs Palau consisting of SEIZAN, MOJI, SHICHISEI, CHINZEI and KENRYU MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-17.

E 1 July 1943:
The escort is reinforced by NUWAJIMA, kaibokan (ex-Chinese light cruiser) YASOJIMA, auxiliary subchaser TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 6.

2 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.

7 July 1943:
At 1400, NUWAJIMA departs Saeki for Truk with destroyer UMIKAZE escorting convoy O-703 consisting of TOA MARU and transports NIGITSU and AOBASAN MARUs.

E 8 July 1943:
At latitude 29-00N, NUWAJIMA is detached from the convoy.

5 August 1943:
Off the Bungo Straits. NUWAJIMA is appointed to escort German submarine U-511 (later IJN RO-500), inbound to Kure from France via Malaya. At 0800, NUWAJIMA rendezvouses with U-511 to escort her for the remainder of her voyage. Soon thereafter, a Japanese patrol aircraft reports sighting a submarine ahead of U-511's route. NUWAJIMA conducts a depth-charge attack, while U-511 continues the voyage independently. NUWAJIMA and U-511 stop at Agenosho Bay off Yashiro Jima for the night.

August 1943:
Off Kure. NUWAJIMA carries out tests of the Type 3 Sonar. SubRon 11’s I-40 plays the role of a target.

26 October 1943:
NUWAJIMA departs Palau for Saeki, Kyushu with minelayer YURAJIMA, patrol boat PB-31 and auxiliary minesweepers AOI and YACHIYO MARUs and TOKUHO MARU No. 10 escorting convoy FU-607 consisting of MEXICO, NISSHU, KAYOBA, NANMAN and KAYO MARUs and HISHI MARU No. 11 and another unidentified ship.

27 October 1943:
At 2140, LtCdr Frank T. Watkins' USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) torpedoes and sinks NANMAN MARU at 12-02N, 134, 28E.

4 November 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.

11 November 1943:
NUWAJIMA joins the escort of convoy FU-503 enroute from Palau to Saeki by now consisting of KOSEI and BUNZAN MARUs escorted by destroyer SATSUKI. At 1335, LtCdr Phillip W. Garnett's USS SARGO (SS-188) torpedoes and sinks KOSEI MARU SE of Nase, Amami-O-Shima at 27-40N, 130-24E.

12 November 1943:
At 0100, convoy FU-503 arrives at Koniya, Amami O-Shima where it is dissolved.

5 December 1943:
At 0100, NUWAJIMA departs Saeki for Palau with auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No. 6 and OI MARU escorting convoy O-506 consisting of ERIE, DENMARK, SAIHO, SHINYO and KOFUKU MARUs and TAIAN MARU No. 2. At latitude 28N, all escorts detach except W-18.

E 6 December 1943:
At latitude 28N, NUWAJIMA joins convoy FU-009 enroute from Palau to Saeki consisting of TAIJIMA, TOYOOKA, NISSHIN, KOSEI, TOSHO, TENCHO, RYUWA, SAN FRANCISCO and KIZUGAWA MARUs escorted by minelayer YURIJIMA, minesweeper W-17 and auxiliary minesweepers OI MARU and TAMA MARU No. 6.

7 December 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.

11 January 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Saeki for Rabaul via Palau with minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU escorting convoy O-105 consisting of YAMATSURU, ERIE, DENMARK and NARITA MARUs. YAMATSURU is towing an unidentified midget submarine.

WSW of Cape Ashizuri. About 1230, ERIE MARU is torpedoed in hold No. 2 by LtCdr Charleton L. Murphy’s old USS STURGEON (SS-187) at 32-31N, 132-34E. At 1417, ERIE MARU lists over and sinks. She is carrying about 2,500 Army troops of which about 200 are KIA. The escorts counter-attack and drop 51 depth-charges. STURGEON incurs slight damage, but escapes. The convoy returns to port.

13 January 1944:
Saeki. At 0200, the convoy again sets out for Palau joined by TARUSHIMA MARU towing another unidentified midget submarine.

14 January 1944:
155 miles SE of Tanega-Jima. At 2025, YAMATSURU MARU is attacked by LtCdr Royce L. Gross’ USS SEAWOLF (SS-197) at 28-25N, 133-30E. The oiler is hit by a torpedo in her No. 2 hold. and set afire. Her cargo of aviation fuel also catches fire. Hit by another torpedo, YAMATSURU MARU sinks also taking down the midget submarine.

16 January 1944:
Philippine Sea. At 0130, an enemy submarine fires two shells that fall in the sea near the stern of DENMARK MARU, but the submarine is driven off. At 1806, that same day, LtCdr Albert C. Burrow's USS WHALE (SS-239) torpedoes and sinks DENMARK MARU at 24-00N, 134-00E with the loss of 1, 653 men out of 2, 899 troops of the 14th Infantry Division. At 2250, LtCdr Gross’ SEAWOLF damages TARUSHIMA MARU by gunfire at 23-00N, 135-00E. E 18 January 1944 NUWAJIMA is detached from the remains of convoy O-105 and joins kaibokan IKI that is escorting convoy FU-203 from Palau to Saeki consisting of CHOSEN and RYUA MARUs and KOSHU MARU No. 2.

24 January 1944:
Near Fukujima light house. At 0225, in bad weather, LtCdr Charleton L. Murphy’s old USS STURGEON (SS-187) torpedoes and sinks CHOSEN MARU. IKI does not counter-attack. NUWAJIMA is detached.

18 February 1944:
At 0700, W-18 and two unidentified escorts depart Palau for Takao escorting a convoy consisting of KANKYO, MAKASSAR, MEXICO, SHOUN and two unidentified ships. Enroute two other ships join the escort.

22-24 April 1944:
Radar is installed.

23 June 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Moji for Miri Borneo with kaibokan CD-9, torpedo boats TOMOZURU, HATO and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and KAZAN MARUs escorting convoy MOMA-09/MI-09 consisting of SAIHO, SAINEI, CHILE, SHIMOTSU, CHIYODA, SHUNTEN, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA), NORFOLK, KINRYO, KENSEI, UGA and KYOKUZAN MARUs and 14 other merchant ships.

E 28 June 1944:
NUWAJIMA is detached for Keelung, Formosa.

30 June 1944:
At 0600, NUWAJIMA departs Keelung for Moji with kaibokan ETOROFU and CD-17 escorting convoy TAMO-20B consisting of KAMO, MANSHU, KONZAN, YAMAHAGI, SHIROTAE, TOUN and TASMANIA MARUs.

July 1944:
Assigned to escort supply convoys to Okinawa.

3 July 1944:
At 2300, LtCdr Donald F. Weiss' USS TINOSA (SS-283) torpedoes and sinks KAMO and KONZAN MARUs at 32-25N, 128-50E.

4 July 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Moji.

9 July 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima, Kyushu for Keelung with auxiliary minesweepers Banshu Maru No. 51, Shimpo Maru, Kaiyo Maru No. 1, auxiliary patrol boats TAIAN MARU, CHIKUTO MARU, HOKOKU MARU No. 3 Go escorting convoy KATA-910 consisting of 13 unidentified merchant ships.

11 July 1944:
Arrives at Naha.

24 July 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima for Naha with auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, auxiliary submarine chaser NAGATO MARU, auxiliary patrol boats TAIAN MARU, HOKOKU MARU No. 3 Go escorting convoy KANA-408 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.

E 28 July 1944:
NUWAJIMA joins the escort of convoy TAKA-005 that departed Keelung on 25 July enroute to Koniya and Kagoshima via Naha consisting of 13 unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary subchaser NAGATO MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SHIMPO MARU, and auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13, RYUSEI MARU, TAIAN MARU and auxiliary YUKO MARU.

6 August 1944:
At 0900, NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boats TOMOZURU and MANAZURU, minelayers TSUBAME, NIIZAKI, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HAKATA MARU No. 6, TAIAN, HIMESHIMA and SEKI MARUs and subchasers CH-18 and CH-17 escorting convoy KATA-626 consisting of NISSHO, SHINTON, TAIYO, TAIKEN, SEIZAN, ARISAN, NAKAGAWA, TAKUSAN, FUKUURA, TETSUZAN, KENJO, DAITOKU, EJIRI, DAII and DAIIUKU MARUs.

9 August 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Naha. NUWAJIMA and the subchasers return to Kagoshima.

11 August 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Naha for Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU escorting convoy NAKA-105 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.

17 August 1944:
At 1900, NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima with kaibokan CD-30, torpedo boat TOMOZURU, minelayers TSUBAME, NIIZAKI, subchasers CH-17 and CH-18, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARUs No. 1 and No. 3, SHONAN MARU No. 16, CHITOSE and HOEI MARUs escorting convoy KATA-717 consisting of ESASHI, UJINA, UNTEN, KOTSU, DAIBOSHI, UBUYAMA, MAKO, MIKAGE, KORYU, SHIROTAE, TAIKYU, TAISHIN, DAITOKU, DAIYA, BRAZIL, HOKUYU, WASHIN MARUs and six unidentified ships.

19 August 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Naha. Most ships in the convoy stop and unload.

21 August 1944:
DAIYA, HOKUYU and WASHIN MARUs depart with an unknown escort.

22 August 1944:
DAIYA MARU is detached at Miyako-Jima.

23 August 1944:
The convoy arrives at Keelung.

28 August 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Keelung for Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI, CHITOSE and HOEI MARUs, auxiliary patrol boat CHOUN MARU No. 13 escorting convoy TAKA-708 (part II) consisting of 20 unidentified merchant ships enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Naha.

6 September 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima for Naha with minelayers NIIZAKI and TSUBAME, minesweeper W-15, kaibokan CD-30, auxiliary minesweepers KAIYO MARU No. 1 Go, TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, CHITOSE MARU, auxiliary patrol boat HOKOKU MARU No. 3 Go escorting convoy KANA-602 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.

8 September 1944:
Arrives at Naha.

14 September 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima for Naha with minelayer TSUBAME, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 1 and auxiliary subchaser NAGATO MARU escorting convoy KANA-402 consisting of two unidentified merchant ships.

6 October 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Keelung for Kagoshima with torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, kaibokan CD-30, minesweeper W-15, subchaser CH-49, auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 13, KAIYO MARU No. 1 Go, auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13, SOBUN and HOKOKU MARUs escorting convoy TAKA-410 consisting of 14 unidentified merchant ships enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Miyako Shima and Kasari Bay.

20 November 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima for Naze, Amami Oshima with torpedo boat MANAZURU escorting an unnumbered convoy consisting of an unidentified merchant ship.

26 November 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boat MANAZURU, kaibokan CD-44, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, TOSHI MARU No. 7, HIMESHIMA MARU, auxiliary patrol boat CHIKUTO MARU escorting convoy KATA-614 consisting of 15 unidentified merchant ships.

11 December 1944:
NUWAJIMA departs Keelung escorting convoy TAKA-107 consisting of 16 unidentified merchant ships escorted by minelayer Nuwajima, torpedo boat MANAZURU, kaibokan CD-44, minesweeper W-15, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, Toshi Maru No. 7 enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Miyako Shima and Kasari Wan.

1 February 1945:
Reassigned to the Seventh Fleet’s 18th Squadron at Saeki.

26 February 1945:
NUWAJIMA departs Tomie, Goto Retto with minelayer TSUBAME, subchaser CH-49, kaibokan FUKUE and auxiliary submarine chaser SANKYO MARU escorting convoy SA-11 consisting of DAIKEN, NICHIRIN, TOYOSAKA and EDOGAWA MARUs .

1 March 1945:
Off Miyako Jima. Aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s Task Force 58 sink DAIKEN, TOYOSAKA and damage EDOGAWA MARU. NICHIRIN MARU escapes south, but is sunk the following day.

Off Ishigaki Shima. Task Force 58 aircraft damage NUWAJIMA and kaibokan FUKUE and sink TSUBAME at 24-23N, 124-12E.

27 March 1945:
At 1437, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “Ibusuki patrol plane discovered survivors (presumed to be from ODATE) drifting in position bearing 226 degrees, distant 142 miles from Ibusuki. SAISHU and NUWAJIMA are to proceed rapidly to the same position and are to make contact after rescue.”

30 April 1945:
Saeki Bay. USAAF 20th Air Force’s Boeing B-29 “Super Fortress” aircraft of the 314th Bomb Wing based at Guam attack a nearby airfield. A heavy bomb hits NUWAJIMA aft and blows her stern off. Fourteen crewmen are KIA. The hulk is beached at 32-56N, 131-05E.

At 1140, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “At 1013, 11 B-29s dropped bombs on Saeki Unit Air Group. All fell into the sea. Damage received: NUWAJIMA received hit in stern and was badly damaged and beached on south shore of Onyu Shima -----.”

20 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

1945-1946:
Scrapped.

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Authors' Note:
[1] NUWAJIMA was also known as NUWASHIMA.

[2] Apparently, HARUNA's and KUMANO's sortie was delayed after the submarine sighting.

Thanks go to John Whitman for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages.

-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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