© 1998, 2009 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Tokitsukaze: Tabular Record of Movement

KAGERO-class (19 ships) profile (Ships of the World)

@Updated - February 27, 2012 - Allyn Nevitt

@Revised 2015 - Allyn Nevitt with Anthony Tully


Name Translation: "Fair Wind"

20 February 1939:
Laid down at Uraga Dock Co., Tokyo, Japan.

10 November 1939:
Launched and named TOKITSUKAZE ("Favorable Wind")

1 September 1940:
LtCdr (Eng.) (later Cdr) GotoHisahide (Eng. 35) (former Chief Engineer, OBORO) is appointed an Equipping Officer.

15 October 1940:
Lt (j.g.) (later VADm, JMSDF) Tsukudo Tatsuo (63) and Lt (later Cdr) Ito Suekichi (57) (former Air Officer, KONGO) are appointed Equipping Officers.

1 November 1940:
Cdr (VAdm posthumously) Nakahara Giichiro (48) (former CO of AMAGIRI) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.

15 November 1940:
Equipping Officer Lt (j.g.) Tsukudo is promoted Lt. Lt (later LtCdr) Nishiwaki Miyuki (61) (former Navigator, SHINONOME) is appointed an Equipping Officer.

15 December 1940:
Completed, placed in commission, and assigned to Captain (VAdm posthumously) Shimazaki Toshio (44) (former ComDesDiv 21)’s DesDiv 16 (YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE), DesRon 2, Second Fleet. Initial Command Structure:

Commanding Officer: Cdr Nakahara Giichiro (48)
Torpedo Officer: Lt Tsukudo Tatsuo (63)
Gunnery Officer: Lt Ito Suekichi (57)
Navigator: Lt Nishiwaki Miyuki (61)
Chief Engineer: LtCdr (Eng.) GotoHisahide (Eng. 35)

1941


15 January 1941:
Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) Kawashima Tatsuo (64) (former Navigator, I-55) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Tsukudo is reassigned.

17 April 1941:
Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) Okajima Toru (64) (former Gunnery Officer, SHINONOME) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Ito is reassigned. 15 May 1941:
Torpedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Kawashima and Gunnery Officer Lt (j.g.) Okajimaare promoted Lt.

25 July 1941:
Captain (VAdm posthumously) Shibuya Shiro (44) (former ComDesDiv 7) is appointed ComDesDiv 16. Captain Shimazaki is appointed CO of SENDAI.

10 September 1941:
Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) Takagi Seigo (66) (former Navigator, ISONAMI) is appointed Navigator. Lt Nishiwaki is reassigned. Special Duty Lt (j.g.) (Eng.) (LtCdr posthumously) Yamamoto Moto is appointed Chief Engineer. LtCdr (Eng.) Goto is reassigned.

Initial Wartime Organization:
Ship's captain: Commander Nakahara Giichiro [48] (prev. C.O. AMAGIRI). Assigned to Desdiv 16 (YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE), Desron 2, Second Fleet.

12 November 1941:
Arrived at Iwakuni.

23 November 1941:
Arrived at Terashima Strait, northern Kyushu.

26 November-1 December 1941:
Steamed with Desron 2 from Terashima Strait to Palau.

6 December:

Departed Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces, initially escorting RYUJO in attack on Davao. Returned to Palau.

8 December:
Departed Galasumao anchorage, Palau with the first Legaspi invasion convoy.

12 December:

With Legaspi invasion force.
- Action:
- While on patrol sweep, three crewmen injured, apparently from enemy strafing.

14 December:
Attacked by enemy aircraft, no damage.

19 December:
Left Legaspi zone to support landings at Lamon Bay.

20 December 1941:
Lt (j.g.) (later LtCdr) Kawaguchi Genbei (66) (former Navigator, HATSUHARU) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Kawashima is reassigned.


24 December:

With Lamon Bay invasion force.
Dropped depth chages on suspected enemy submarine contact. Results unknown. Also attacked by enemy aircraft, but no damage sustained.

26-29 December:
Departed Lamon area and arrived back at Palau.

1942



1 January 1942:
Departed Palau for Davao.

2 January:
Dropped depth-charges on suspected enemy submarine contact. Results unknown.

4 January:
Arrived at Magunaga Bay.

6-7 January:
Patrolled in Davao Gulf; returned to Magunaga Bay.

9 January:
Departed Magunaga Bay with invasion convoy.

10 January:
Attacked by enemy aircraft, no damage sustained.

11 January 1942:

With Menado invasion force. Anchored at Mamulan, departed same day for Menado.

12 January:
Arrived off Menado and began sweeps.

15 January:
Patrol duty in Molucca Sea.

17 January:
At Banka Island anchorage. Subsequently carry out anti-submarine sweeps.

21 January:
Departed Banka for Kendari, Celebes.

24 January:

With Kendari invasion force.

26-27 January:
Departed Kendari area and returned to Banka.

30 January:
Departed Banka escorting JINTSU to support Ambon invasion forces.

31 January:

With Ambon invasion force.

2 February:
Arrived at Ambon Bay. Begin patrols there.

5 February:
Attacked by single enemy aircraft, no damage.

8 February:
Departed to meet and bring in convoy. Arrived back at Ambon same day.

12-13 February:
Left Ambon and arrived at Staring Bay.

14-15 February:
Returned to Ambon from Staring Bay.

17 February:
0500: With AMATSUKAZE, KUROSHIO and HAYASHIO dparted Ambon with Timor invasion convoy.

20 February:

With Timor invasion force. Supporting successful landings at Kupang.

24 February:
Dropped depth-charges on suspected submarine contact; results unknown.

25 February:
Arrived at Makassar, Celebes. With JINTSU and rest of Desdiv 16 departed escorting Eastern Java Invasion Force.

26 February:

  • Action:
    - One B-24 bomber then two B-17 bombers approached. AA-fire opened and the aircraft driven off.

    27 February:

    With Eastern Java invasion force, Desron 2.

    27-28 February: Battle of Java Sea

    Drove two B-17s off with gunfire. Took part in torpedo attack on Allied fleet.

    28 February:
    On anti-submarine sweep with Desron 2, in first section of Desdiv 16.
  • Action:
    - 1750 With flagship YUKIKAZE drop 10 depth charges on a submarine contact. Obeserved lots of oil well up. A sinking is claimed.
    - 1943 Second submarine periscope is sighted. Depth-charges dropped. Results unknown.

    2 March:
    Pre-Dawn morning: On anti-submarine sweep with JINTSU and YUKIKAZE.
  • Action:
    - 0440 JINTSU sighted surfaced submarine 50 nm southwest of Bawean Island. YUKIKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE charge. The submarine submerged. 10 Depth charges dropped. Results unknown.
    - 1012 Detected what appeared to be mines 14 nmiles off Awaru Awaru Point (west of Surabay) Backed off and opened fire on them.

    3 March:
    1430: After transferring all but 100 tons of their fuel to JINTSU, first section of Desdiv 16 (YUKIKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE) left the Bawean patrol area and proceeded to Bandjarmasin as ordered.

    4 March:
    YUKIKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE arrived at Bandjarmasin, replenished and took on fuel reserves.(It was noted there was no heavy oil available so unrefined crude oil was used but caused no issues) Departed to return to Kragan the same day. (That morning JINTSU and the rest of Desdiv 16 arrived off Kragan anchorage area. Awaits on stand-by status.)

    5 March:
    0415: En-route back from Bandjarmasin sighted a torpedo wake and immediately counter-attacked with depth charges. Believe this was a confirmed sinking of submarine due to great quantity of heavy oil and air bubbles surfacing. Position bearing 300 degrees 18 nmiles from Bawean Island.
    0915: Returned to patrol area north of Kragan.

    8 March:
    0800: Returned to patrol area with AMATSUKAZE from (second) fuel run to Bandjarmasin. Released from patrol duty, arrived at Kragan anchorage on Java coast.

    9 March:
    Departed Kragan anchorage and conducted sweeps.

    12 March:
    Arrived at Makassar, Celebes. Carried out maintenance work.

    22-24 March:
    Escorted seaplane-tender CHITOSE from Makassar to Ambon.

    29 March-25 April:

    Departed Ambon. Escorted Western New Guinea invasion force out of Ambon for seizure of Sorong, Manokwari (arrived 2 April) and Sarmi/Hollandia (arrived 19 April) then to Davao. Generally with CHITOSE throughout.

    20 April 1942:
    Gunnery Officer Lt Okajima is reassigned and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed.

    25 April 1942:
    Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) TaketaniHideharu (67) (former Gunnery Officer, OSHIO) is appointed Gunnery Officer.


    26 April:

    Departed Davao with HATSUKAZE escorting CHITOSE to the homeland.

    1 May:
    CHITOSE detached and arrived at Sasebo.
    Torpedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Kawaguchi and Navigator Lt (j.g.) Takagi are promoted Lt.


    2 May:
    TOKITSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE arrived at Kure. Docked for maintenance.

    12 May:
    Entered drydock at Kure for repairs.

    16 May:
    Undocked.

    21-25 May:

    Steamed with Desron 2 from Kure to Saipan.

    27 May:
    Arrived at Saipan.

    28 May:
    With Desdiv 16 departed Saipan escorting Midway Invasion Force. Attached to Transport Force, Midway Island Occupation Force.

    2 June:
    Refueled under tow.

    3-6 June: Battle of Midway

    - Action - 4 June:
    - Transport Force attacked by enemy aircraft. Engaged with AA-fire.

    6 June:
    Refueled.

    13 June:
    Arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.

    15 June:
    Departed Truk.

    21 June:
    Arrived at Yokosuka, Tokyo Bay.

    23-24 June
    Departed Yokosuka and arrived at Hashirajima, Inland Sea.
    Lt (later LtCdr) Toyama Saburo (66) (former Navigator, SAZANAMI) is appointed Navigator. Lt Takagi is appointed Gunnery Officer of ASAGUMO.

    26-28 June:
    With HATSUKAZE escorted NICHEI MARU (10, 020 tons) from Hashirajima to Yokosuka. Carried out repairs and maintenance.

    29 June:
    Departed Yokosuka escorting KAMAKURA MARU (17,526 tons).

    1 July:
    Returned to Yokosuka.

    2 July:
    Sailed to nearby Minato Sea.

    3 July:
    Departed to bring in BRAZIL MARU (12,733 tons).

    4 July
    Arrived back in Minato Sea. Thereafter on patrol duty south of Tokyo Bay.

    9 July:
    Arrived at Yokosuka.

    11 July:
    With YUKIKAZE departed Yokosuka escorting NANKAI MARU (8,416 tons) for Takao, Formosa.

    14 July:

    Desdiv 16 reassigned to RADM Kimura Susumu's (40) (former CO of HARUNA) Desron 10, Third Fleet.

    15 July:
    With YUKIKAZE arrived with NANKAI MARU at Takao. Refueled.

    21 July:
    Unit departed with NANKAI MARU for Rabaul.

    29 July:
    1306 Rendezvoused with cruiser CHOKAI off the Admiralty Islands and relieved ASAGUMO and NATSUGUMO of escort duty.

    30 July:
    1500 CHOKAI, TOKITSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE and NANKAI MARU arrived at Rabaul. CHOKAI disembarked troops.

    31 July:
    Departed with YUKIKAZE and CHOKAI for Kavieng area.

    1 August:
    Arrived at Meue Passage, near Kavieng. Departed next day.
    Captain (RAdm posthumously) Shoji Kiichiro (45) (former ComDesDiv 11) is appointed ComDesDiv 16. Captain Shibuya is reassigned.

    4 August:
    Arrived at Truk.

    5-12 August:
    With YUKIKAZE escort MOGAMI (damaged at Midway) and AKASHI from Truk to Japan. MOGAMI detached for Sasebo on the 11th; next day, the others arrived at Kure.

    16 August:

    Cruised from Kure to Hashirajima anchorage. Departed same day with the rest of Desdiv 16 escorting Cardiv 1 (SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU), Batdiv 11, Crudiv 8 and other units of Vice-Admiral Nagumo's Kido Butai towards Truk.

    21 August 1942:
    Admiral Yamamoto cancels the fleet's scheduled stop at Truk and instructs that Nagumo refuel at sea from oilers in order to hasten on directly toward Guadalcanal. Auxiliary oilers NIPPON and KYOKUTO MARU escorted by destroyers SHIKINAMI and URANAMI join the fleet N of the Solomons. Refueled.

    23 August:
    Assigned with AMATSUKAZE to escort of RYUJO and TONE as Mobile Force Detached Unit under command of ComCrudiv 8 Rear Admiral (later Vice-Admiral) Hara Chuichi. Force is to proceed ahead to launch strikes against Guadalcanal.

    24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons

  • Action:
    - 0200 RYUJO, TONE (F), TOKITSUKAZE, and AMATSUKAZE detached from Cardiv 5 and proceed ahead as an advance force as planned.
    - 1120 RYUJO launches strike against Henderson Field.
    - 1357 Force is attacked by enemy carrier aircraft [Launched at 1315 from USS SARATORGA (CV-3)]. Anti-Air action. RYUJO is hit by bombs and torpedo and goes dead in the water at 1420.
    - 1515 CO Captan Kato Tadao (45) of RYUJO ordered Abandon Ship. TOKITSUKAZE and TONE stand AA-guard as AMATSUKAZE goes alongside to remove the crew.
    - 1610-1625 B-17s bombed the force. Evasive action and AA-combat. No damage received.
    - 1730 B-17s again attacked. No damage.
    - 1755 RYUJO capsized to starboard and sank stern first. After rescue operations, TOKITSUKAZE and AMATSUKAZE leave the scene with TONE. In the action, TOKITSUKAZE expended eighty-nine 5" shells and 627 machine-gun rounds.

    3 September:
    Arrived at Shortlands. Commander Nakahara disembarks (to become Comdesdiv 24, later Comdesdiv 32, C.O. NAGARA) relieved by Commander Motokura Masayoshi [51] (prev. C.O. YUGIRI).

    5 September:
    Arrived at Truk.

    8 September:
    Departed Truk escorting KYOKUTO MARU (10,051 tons).

    9 September:
    Left Truk with HATSUKAZE in support of Guadalcanal transport operatins. However a submarine contact leads to the pair being left behind to suppress it. Therefore, returned to Truk.

    10 September:
    Put back to sea again with HATSUKAZE to overtake the departed force. Joined Cardiv 1 (SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU). Subsequently the fleet is patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons in a supporting role.

    23 September:
    Arrived back at Truk. Conducts maintenance work.

    1-2 October:
    Escorted KOKUYO MARU (10.026 tons) from Truk. Returned.

    4 October:
    Evening: Departed Truk with SAZANAMI escorting the damaged carrier TAIYO (hit by torpedo from USS TROUT on 28 September outside Truk) at a very slow speed for Kure.

    10 October
    SAZANAMI is detached, proceeding to Yokosuka.

    13 October:
    TOKITSUKAZE detached and proceeds ahead into Kure; TAIYO arrived the next day.

    15-19 October:

    Sailed from Kure to Truk.

    21 October:
    Joined Nagumo's carriers patrolling north of the Solomons.

    24 October:
    Underwent refueling under tow.

    26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz

    Screening Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force.

    27 October:
    Joined JUNYO and her escorts.

    29-30 October:
    Assigned as close escort of ZUIKAKU. Arrived at Truk Atoll.
    1 November 1942:
    Chief Engineer Lt (j.g.) Yamamoto is promoted Lt.

    4 November:
    0600 With HATSUKAZE departed Truk escorting ZUIKAKU and MYOKO to the homeland.

    11 November:
    MYOKO detached to proceed to Sasebo, ZUIKAKU arrived at Kure. TOKITSUKAZE remains at sea.

    12 November:
    Arrived at Kure.

    15 November 1942:
    Reserve Lt (j.g.) (later Lt) Imai Masao (former Navigator, MURAKUMO) is appointed Navigator. Lt Toyama is reassigned.

    16 November:
    Entered drydock for repairs.

    20 November:
    Undocked.

    21 November:
    With HATSUKAZE arrived at Hashirajima with ZUIKAKU.

    22 November:
    Moved to nearby Tokuyama.

    23 November:
    Cruised to Saeki Bay.

    24 November:
    Arrived at Hashirajima.

    25 November:
    Left Hashirajima on plane guard duty for aircraft carriers; arrived at Usuki Bay. Cruising between Tokuyama and Usuki Bay.

    29 November:
    Arrived at Saeki; departed next day.

    1 December:
    Arrived at Amami-o-Shima. Departed for Kagoshima.

    3 December:
    Departed Kagoshima for Tokuyama. Subsequently cruising in Inland Sea.

    8 December:
    Departed West Inland Sea for Tokyo Bay.

    9 December:
    Arrived at Yokosuka.

    11 December 1942:
    Departed Yokosuka to join the fleet at Truk via the Inland Sea escorting new carrier RYUHO serving as plane-ferry with twenty light bombers and pilots embarked.

    12 December 1942:

  • Action:
    - At 0910 RYUHO attacked by Submarine USS DRUM (SS-228) 160 miles east of Hachijo-jima outside Tokyo bay. Suffers one direct torpedo hit on starboard side forward of amidships. Damage is moderate, but she is forced to return to Yokosuka.

    13 December:
    Shepherding RYUHO back to Tokyo Bay. Drop depth charges at intervals to deter submarines.

    14 December 1942:
    Outside Tokyo Bay, relieved from escort of RYUHO by seven destroyers and sets course for West Inland Sea.

    16 December:
    Arrived at Kure via Tokuyama (15th). Carried out maintenance work and training excercises there and at Hiroshima Bay.

    27 December:
    With HATSUKAZE join ZUIKAKU bound for Yokosuka.

    28 December:
    Arrived at Yokosuka.

    31 December 1942-4 January 1943:
    With HATSUKAZE and AKIZUKI, escorted ZUIKAKU from Tokyo Bay to Truk. The carrier is serving as a plane-ferry in this trip, and the aircraft carried are landed at Harushima airfield.

    1943



    7-9 January:

    Steamed from Truk to the Shortlands.

    10 January-11 January:

    Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. With KUROSHIO (F) KAWAKAZE, and HATSUKAZE served as guard cover force for a transport group of four destroyers (ARASHI, ARASHIO, MAKINAMI, OSHIO)

  • Action:
    - 2200 Force attacked by torpedo boats.
    - 2240 Transport force unloads its supply drums as planned, but while thus engaged, the Japanese are again attacked by both torpedo boats and aircraft. At 2247 HATSUKAZE hit by torpedo in starboard side forward but remains able to steam. TOKITSUKAZE takes up close escort of her division mate. One PBY claimed shot down, and assisted in sinking PT-43 and PT-112.
    - 2310 Unloading completed.

    11 January:
  • Action:
    - 0530 and 1340: Attacked by enemy aircraft, but no further damage received by any.
    - 1830 With ARASHI and KAWAKAZE arrived with damaged HATSUKAZE back at the Shortlands. Refueled.

    14-15 January:

    Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
    With AKIZUKI (F), ARASHI and KUROSHIO served once again as guard force for five destroyers acting as transports (TANIKAZE, URAKAZE, HAMAKAZE, ISOKAZE, and MAIKAZE)
  • Action:
    - 1400 Departed Shortlands.
    - 2250 Transport force begins offload of supplies and troops. Six enemy torpedo boats attack the guard force.

    15 January:
  • Action:
    - 0540 Fifteen aircraft attack. ARASHI has rudder damage and temporarily goes dead in the water, but is able to resume steaming. All ships arrived safely at the Shortlands by sunset.

    24 January:

    Troop transport run with KUROSHIO to Rekata.

    25-26 January:
    After arriving back at the Shortlands, each day attacked in harbor by enemy aircraft. No damage sustained.

    28 January:

    Led troop transport run to Russell Islands to set up temporary barge base of SNLF forces to prepare for the evacuation of Guadalcanal. The base is to serve as a reserve evacuation point if necessary. As flagship of Comdesdiv 16 Captain Shoji Kiichiro TOKITSUKAZE led guard force of KUROSHIO and SHIRAYUKI covering transport force of URAKAZE, HAMAKAZE, and KAWAKAZE.
  • Action:
    - 1330 Enemy planes attack, but no damage received.
    - 2345 Arrived at disembarkation point. While cargo being unloaded, bombed by enemy aircraft.
    - In the action fired twenty-two 5" shells and seventy-two machine-gun rounds. One enemy plane claimed shot down.

    29 January:
    Morning: Returned to Shortlands.

    1 February 1943:
    Lt (j.g.) (later Lt) Mori Kenjiro (68) (former Torpedo Officer, YUZUKI) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Kawaguchi is reassigned.

    1-2 February:

    Operation KE No.1. Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal. Participated with nineteen other destroyers on the first round of the evacuation of all Japanese troops from Guadalcanal.

  • Action:
    - 0930 Departed Shortlands leading YUKIKAZE, OSHIO and ARASHIO assigned to evacuate troops assembled at Kamimbo, adjacent to Cape Esperance. Each destroyer towing a Daihatsu barge for transshipping soldiers, and guarded by SATSUKI and NAGATSUKI. At the same time an eight destroyer force guarded by six others will do the same at Cape Esperance.
    - 1300 Sighted by B-24.
    - 1600 Attacked by about 16 fighters and 12 dive-bombers. Comdesron 3 flagship MAKINAMI disabled and forced to return.
    - Midnight: Scheduled evacuations completed.

    2 February:
  • Action:
    - 0030 All forces retire less destroyer MAKIGUMO which had been mined, and has to be torpedoed at 0127.
    - 0446 Esperance and Kamimbo units rejoin.
    - 0547 Attacked by about 20 enemy scout bombers. No damage received.
    - 1000 Arrived at Bougainville. Troops disembarked.

    4-5 February:

    Operation KE No.2. Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal. Same iteniary and similar composition as before.
  • Action:
    - 0930 Departed Shortlands with YUKIKAZE, OSHIO and ARASHIO, guarded by SATSUKI, FUMIZUKI, and NAGATSUKI.
    - 1352 Attacked by 33 SBD and TBFs and 31 fighters. However, 10 Zeros are covering, and between them and AA fire, more than 10 enemy planes are claimed shot down for the loss of one Zero. However, MAIKAZE is crippled and has to be towed back to Shortlands.
    - Scheduled evacuation completed. No torpedo boats encountered.

    5 February:
    1050: Arrived at Erventa, Bougainville.

    7 February:

    Operation KE No.3. Final troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal. Mission of eighteen destroyers is to remove last troops from Kamimbo and the forces placed on Russel Island on 28 January.
  • Action:
    - 0910 Departed with YUKIKAZE, SATSUKI, and FUMIZUKI as Kamimbo evacuation force guarded by OSHIO and ARASHIO.
    - 1540 Fifteen SBDs attack. ISOKAZE is hit and set afire and forced to return to the Shortlands.

    8 February:
  • Action:
    - 0330 Scheduled evacuation completed; departed Kamimbo area.
    - 0800: Arrived at Erventa. Troops disembarked.

    13-14 February:

    Air-raid on Shortlands. No damage. Same day steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul.

    18-19 February:

    With SHIKINAMI escorted transport GOSHU MARU (8,592 tons) from Rabaul to Gasmata (New Britain).

    20 February:
  • Action:
    - 0213-0345 Enemy planes make night raid on Surumi. No damaged received, no aircraft shot down claimed.
    - 0815 Transport work completed, departed Surumi.

    21 February:
    0320: Arrived with GOSHU MARU back at Rabaul.

    28 February:
    No.81 Transport Operation to Lae.
    2350: Departed Rabaul with SHIRAYUKI (Flag-Comdesron 3 RADM Kimura Masatomi) and SHIKINAMI, URANAMI, ASASHIO, ARASHIO, ASAGUMO, and YUKIKAZE escorting a troop and supply reinforcement convoy to Lae, New Guinea of six troopships - KYOKUSEI MARU, AIYO MARU, SHINAI MARU, TAIMEI MARU, OIGAWA MARU, and TEIYO MARU - aviation transport KENBU MARU, and special IJN service vessel NOJIMA carrying 400 marines.

    BATTLE OF THE BISMARCK SEA = 1- 4 March 1943:

    Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul towards Lae.

    2 March:
  • Action:
    - 0816 Convoy bombed by seven B-17s, and two bombs hit KYOKUSEI MARU. At 0926 she sinks. Rescued survivors are taken ahead to Lae by YUKIKAZE and ASAGUMO and landed with 51st Division CO Lt.General Nakano Hidemitsu and staff.
    - 1615 Bombs near-miss NOJIMA; slightly damaged. Anti-Air action.

    3 March:
  • Action:
    - 0510 YUKIKAZE and ASAGUMO return from Lae and rejoin convoy.
    - 0755 Large body of enemy planes of varied types (both U.S. and Australian bombers and fighters) approach from the south. Convoy turns to port to meet it. The attack that follows is devastating to the convoy. Within fifteen minutes all eight marus and three destroyers are sunk or left crippled.
    - 0809 TOKITSUKAZE is struck by one or more skip bombs in starboard side that floods the engine rooms. (Since there is no centerline bulkhed this floods port engine too but prevents serious list.) Goes dead in the water and becomes unnavigable. She begins to list to starboard and settle in the water. However TOKITSUKAZE is floating on an even keel and in little danger of sinking.
    - 1040 Because proceeding with the operation is of utmost importance, and more attacks are expected, the decision was made to transfer all troops and crew to YUKIKAZE which comes alongside. Commander of the 18th Army, Lt.General Adachi Hatazo, his staff, the 150 soldiers, Cdr. Motokura (to C.O. HAMANAMI), Tropedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Mori, Gunnery Officer Lt (j.g.) Taketani, Navigator Lt. (j.g.) Imai, and almost the entire crew are removed. The TOKITSUKAZE is not scuttled, but simply allowed to drift away. The hope and plan is to return for her later.
    - 1305-1320 Drifting TOKITSUKAZE is attacked by enemy bombers in the afternoon wave of attacks. The Americans claim further hits, but the damage is unknown. At the same time, ASASHIO involved in rescue of survivors to her east is bombed and sunk. [1]
    - 1800 RADM Kimura aboard SHIKINAMI - having transferred all survivors to HATSUYUKI - leads ASAGUMO and YUKIKAZE back south through Dampier Strait to go to the rescue of survivors and the abandoned TOKITSUKAZE.

    4 March:
    Japanese destroyers return to the battlefield seeking survivors and to determine salvage prospects.
  • Action:
    - 0100 YUKIKAZE locates the drifting TOKITSUKAZE. Twenty survivors are found alive aboard and are rescued. However, because YUKIKAZE had earlier transhipped 170 survivors from sinking derelict of ARASHIO and many survivors are still nearby in the sea, it is apparently decided to not try to tow, nor even scuttle TOKITSUKAZE. The abandoned destroyer is once more left alone to drift. The darkness and strong current also discourage further work. The three destroyers discontinue searches to get out of range by daylight.
    - 0710 The derelict TOKITSUKAZE is bombed by a single B-25 [65th Bomb Squadron] which drops two 500-pound bombs. One scores a direct hit near the bridge, confirmed by a famous photograph. The destroyer is still upright but the fantail is coming awash. Even after this hit, she does not settle much further. [2]
    - A Japanese plane of the Cdr. (later Captain) Kobayashi Yoshito's (49) (former Staff Officer, Cardiv 2) 253rd Air Group searching for survivors sights TOKITSUKAZE still afloat, "listing to starboard." To finish her off and prevent capture, Nine dive-bombers and fourteen fighters are launched. They bomb TOKITSUKAZE around midday, but still fail to sink her. [3]

  • Sunk:
    - 1350 Nine B-25s attack TOKITSUKAZE making runs from starboard to port. Hits are scored that finally sink the derelict. TOKITSUKAZE sinks in Huon Gulf 55 miles southeast of Finschhafen (07-15 S, 148-15 E).

  • Postscript:
    - After a layover at Kavieng at 1700 4 March to refuel (apparently from AOBA and SENDAI), at 0620 5 March SHIKINAMI, ASAGUMO, and YUKIKAZE return to Rabaul. The TOKITSUKAZE and ARASHIO survivors are dis-embarked and transferred to the hospitals and naval base. TOKITSUKAZE's losses were light: yet 19 (including Chief Engineer Lt Yamamoto (LtCdr posthumously) are reported KIA.

    1 April 1943:

    Removed from Navy List.

    Notes and Sources:


    Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Anthony Tully and Bill Somerville for contributing from their works to this TROM.

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