FUSETSUKAN!

© 1998-2007 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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5 July 1939:
Laid down at the Yokosuka Navy Yard.

5 June 1940:
Launched and named TSUGARU.

22 October 1941:
Completed and commissioned in the IJN. Captain Inagaki Yoshiaki is the Commanding Officer.

1 November 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.

5 November 1941:
Arrives at Saipan.

6 November 1941:
Departs Saipan.

8 November 1941:
Arrives at Truk.

22 November 1941:
Departs Truk.

24 November 1941:
Arrives at Saipan.

28 November 1941:
Departs Saipan.

1 December 1941:
TSUGARU is assigned to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Shima Kiyohide's Mine Division 19 in Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Inouye Shigeyoshi's Fourth Fleet.

2 December 1941:
TSUGARU receives the signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. This signifies that X-Day hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time).

4 December 1941:
Arrives at Hahajima, Bonin Islands. Departs Hahajima that same day in support of the invasion of Guam with Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Goto Aritomo's CruDiv 6’s AOBA, KINUGASA, KAKO and FURUTAKA and destroyers KIKUZUKI, YUZUKI, UZUKI and OBORO, then to Truk.

12 December 1941:
Departs Truk.

15 December 1941:
Arrives at Saipan. Departs that same day with destroyer OBORO.

19 December 1941:
Arrives at Kwajalein.

26 December 1941:
Arrives at Jaluit.

28 December 1941:
Departs Jaluit with minelayer OKINOSHIMA.

1 January 1942:
Arrives at Truk.

17 January 1942:
Near Lamotrek Island. MineDiv 19’s TSUGARU and OKINOSHIMA and two destroyers escorting transports that left Guam on 14 January are joined by Rear Admiral Kajioka's light cruiser YUBARI, seaplane tender KIYOKAWA MARU and four destroyers.

That same day, Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi’s Carrier Striking Force departs Truk consisting of CarDiv 1’s AKAGI and KAGA, CruDiv 5’s SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, BatDiv 3/1 HIEI and KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 8’s TONE and CHIKUMA and DesRon 1’s light cruiser ABUKUMA with DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, URAKAZE, TANIKAZE, HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 18's ARARE, KASUMI, KAGERO, SHIRANUHI and unattached AKIGUMO.

20 January 1942: - Operation "R" - The Invasions of Rabaul and Kavieng:
N of New Ireland. CarDivs 1 and 5 launch 100 bombers and fighters to attack Rabaul, New Britain and Kavieng, New Ireland. That evening, CarDiv 5 is detached and moves to a position in the Bismarck Sea.

20 January 1942:
CarDiv 1's AKAGI and KAGA launch air strikes against Rabaul and Kavieng.

21 January 1942:
CarDiv 1 launches another strike on Rabaul and CarDiv 5 launches attacks on Madang, Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea. After CarDiv 5 recovers her aircraft, she departs the Bismarck Sea area that evening to rendevous with CarDiv 1.

22 January 1942:
CarDiv 1 launches a 45-plane strike against Rabaul. After the launch, CarDiv 5 rendevouses with CarDiv 1. When CarDiv 1 completes recovery of her strike aircraft, Nagumo heads north to Truk.

22/23 January 1942:
New Britain. Soon after midnight, OKINOSHIMA lands invasion troops at Blanche Bay, Rabaul. The invasion forces swiftly overcome light Australian opposition and occupy both Rabaul and Kavieng.

February 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay, near Kendari, Celebes.

5 March 1942: Operation “SR” – The Invasions of Lae and Salamuana, New Guinea:
TSUGARU and OKINOSHIMA depart Rabaul with Rear Admiral Marumo Kuninori's CruDiv 18's TENRYU and TATSUTA and the KIYOKAWA MARU, Rear Admiral Goto's CruDiv 6, Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka Sadamichi's DesRon 6's YUBARI and DesDiv 29’s ASANAGI, OITE, YUNAGI and DesDiv 30’s MUTSUKI, MOCHIZUKI and YOYOI.

8 March 1942:
Provides cover for invasions of Lae and Salamaua.

10 March 1942:
Off Lae and Salamaua,The Invasion force is attacked by Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.'s Task Force 11, including ships of Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frank Jack Fletcher's TF 17. Ninety aircraft (SBDs, TBDs and F4Fs) of USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) and YORKTOWN (CV-5) fly over New Guinea' s Owen Stanley mountain range from the Coral Sea to make the attack.

Armed merchant cruiser KONGO MARU, auxiliary minelayer TENYO MARU and transport YOKOHAMA MARU are sunk. TSUGARU, OKINOSHIMA, YUBARI, destroyers YUNAGI, ASANAGI, OITE, seaplane carrier KIYOKAWA MARU, transport KOKAI MARU and minesweeper No. 2 TAMA MARU are damaged.

4 May 1942: Operation “MO” – The Invasions of Tulagi and Port Moresby:
Rabaul, New Britain. Rear Admiral Kajioka's Port Moresby Attack Force departs towards Jomard Pass, Louisiade Archipelago with TSUGARU, DesRon 6's YUBARI, DesDiv 29’s ASANAGI, OITE, DesDiv 30’s MUTSUKI, MOCHIZUKI and YAYOI and a patrol boat escorting Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Koso's (former CO of HIEI) Transport Force of five Navy and six Army transports, repair ship OJIMA, oilers GOYO MARU, HOYO MARU, IRO, minesweepers W-20, HAGOROMO MARU, NOSHIRO MARU No. 2 and FUMI MARU No. 2. The Port Moresby invasion troops are in this group.

9 May 1942:
After the Battle of Coral Sea, the Attack Force returns to Rabaul.

11 May 1942: Operation "RY" - The Invasion of Ocean-Naru Island:
After Operation "MO" is cancelled, TSUGARU and light cruiser TATSUTA are ordered to join the Ocean-Naru Invasion Force.

12 May 1942:
Arrives at Buka.

13 May 1942:
Departs Buka with the Ocean-Naru Invasion Force.

15 May 1942:
Operation "RY" is cancelled.

19 May 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

14 July 1942:
TSUGARU is assigned to Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's (38)(former CO of KIRISHIMA) Eighth Fleet at Rabaul.

20-24 July 1942: Operation “RI” – The Invasion of Buna, New Guinea:
Departs Rabaul for Buna with CruDiv 18’s light cruisers TENRYU and TATSUTA, DesDiv 29’s ASANAGI and DesDiv 30’s UZUKI and YUZUKI escorting troop transport AYATOSAN MARU and two transports. After the troops are landed the convoy is attacked by USAAF B-17s and B-26s. AYATOSAN MARU is sunk and UZUKI is damaged slightly by strafing.

31 July 1942:
Departs Buna for Buka, Bougainville with transport NANKAI MARU and subchaser PC-28. Attacked by aircraft and forced to abandon mission. Returns to Rabaul.

7 August 1942:
Departs Rabaul for Guadalcanal on a 519-man troop transport mission with armed transport MEIYO MARU, supply ship SOYA and two small escorts.

9 August 1942:
14 miles west of Cape St. George, New Britain. Just after midnight, the convoy is attacked by LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's USS S-38 at 04-50S, 152-40E. Munson sinks MEIYO MARU, but TSUGARU clears the area undamaged.

29-30 August 1942:
Departs Shortland with destroyer KAGERO to assist destroyer SHIRAKUMO hit by bombs from U.S. dive-bombers while on a troop transport run to Guadalcanal. Takes over towing from destroyer AMAGIRI. Returns to Shortland.

1-2 September 1942:
Departs Shortland on troop and field artillery (120-mm AA) transport run to Guadalcanal. Covered by DesDiv 11’s FUBUKI and SHIRAYUKI, DesDiv 20’s AMAGIRI and two patrol boats.

3-4 September 1942:
Solomons area. Attacked by USAAF B-17 bombers while returning to Shortland. Fourteen crewmen are killed and 30 wounded.

September 1942:
Probably undergoes repairs at Rabaul.

25 October 1942:
TSUGARU is in Guadacanal Reinforcement Unit "A" with light cruiser TATSUTA and two destroyers. Transports troops to Koli Point, Guadalcanal.

30 November 1942:
Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Takahashi Ichimatsu (40) (former CO of ITSUKUSHIMA) assumes command.

10 December 1942:
Shortland. Attacked by 11 USAAF B-17 bombers and six fighters. Oilers TOA and FUJISAN MARUs are damaged. TSUGARU comes alongside burning FUJISAN MARU to help extinguish the fires.

13 December 1942:
Departs Shortland.

14 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

16-18 December 1942:
Departs Rabaul with DesDiv 17’s URAKAZE on a troop transport run to Munda and return.

18-25 December 1942:
Completes five transport runs from Rabaul to New Georgia and return with ten destroyers of DesRon 2 and several transports to facilitate the construction of an airfield at Munda. On 23 December, also makes a troop transport run to Munda with DesDiv 20’s AMAGIRI.

15 January 1943:
Departs Rabaul on a troop transport run with DesDiv 30’s MOCHIZUKI to the seaplane base at Rekata Bay, Santa Ysabel Island .

January 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.

22 January 1943:
Departs Rabaul on troop transport run to seaplane base at Rekata with DesDiv 15’s KUROSHIO and torpedo boat HIYODORI.

22 January 1943:
Returns to Rabaul.

25 February 1943:
Off Duke of York Island, New Britain. TSUGARU is damaged by bombs. [1]

E 26 February 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Probably undergoes temporary repairs by repair ship YAMABIKO MARU, then departs for the homeland.

March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.

March-25 May 1943:
Yokosuka. Probably undergoes further batttle-damage repairs and refit.

25 May-3 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk, then to Rabaul with DesDiv 30’s AKIKAZE.

4 August 1943:
Departs Truk.

5 August 1943:
340 miles NNE of Rabaul. At 1000, TSUGARU is attacked by LtCdr John S. Coye's USS SILVERSIDES (SS-236) at 01-53N, 153-52E. Coye claims a possible hit by one of four torpedoes he fires in a submerged attack.

6 August 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Undergoes temporary repairs, probably by repair ship YAMABIKO MARU.

31 August 1943:
Departs Rabaul with destroyer HAMAKAZE.

2 September 1943:
Arrives at Truk.

12 September 1943:
Departs Truk with IRAKO and HAMAKAZE.

18 September -December 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Undergoes permanent repairs.

20 September 1943:
Captain Nakatsu Seiki (44) (former XO of FUSO) assumes command. Captain Takahashi is reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.

1 December 1943:
TSUGARU is assigned to Vice Admiral Oka Arata's (40) (former CO of IZUMO) Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet.

24 March 1944:
Departs Palau. TSUGARU lays mines in the Balabac Strait, Philippines. [2]

2 April 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.

27 May 1944: American Operation "Horlicks" - The Invasion of Biak, New Guinea:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral/CNO) William M. Fechteler's (former CO of INDIANA, BB-58), Task Force 77 lands Maj Gen Horace H. Fuller's 41st Division on Biak off New Guinea.

31 May 1944: Operation “KON” - The Relief of Biak:
Davao, Philippines. Joins in the effort to embark 3,500 troops of the Second Mobile Brigade from Zamboanga, Mindanao to reinforce Biak.

2 June 1944:
Departs Davao for Biak. TSUGARU attempts to transport 800 troops to Biak with minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA and Transport T. 127. After being sighted by two B-24 bombers, the operation is canceled.

12 June 1944:
Operates from Kaoe area to Sorong, New Guinea with ITSUKUSHIMA, Transport No. 127 and subchaser escorts. Makes a third attempt to reinforce Biak with cover from the battleships MUSASHI and YAMATO.

21 June 1944:
TSUGARU departs Sorong for Kau, Halmahera Island. She is scheduled to arrive at 0600 the next day. At 0950, TSUGARU sends an urgent dispatch she is under attack. Off Sanana, Soela islands, TSUGARU is torpedoed by Dutch Ltz. I Jacob F. Drijfhout van Hooff's submarine HNMS K-XIV at 01-10S, 130-30E.

23 June 1944:
0815, TSUGARU reports she has been hit by a torpedo on thr starboard side between frames 45 and 53 that tore a hole 27 feet long by 14 feet wide. Her starboard mine deck and the upper part of her mine storage area are completely flooded.

21 June 1944:
Departs Sorong.

22 June 1944:
Arrives at Malifuddo. Undergoes temporary repairs.

29 June 1944:
Departs Halmahera for Manila. In the early afternoon, off Morotai Island, near Biak, Cdr (later Captain) David H. McClintock’s DARTER (SS-227) sights a large minelayer under escort by two 300-ton subchasers and an aircraft. Using an out-dated reference, McClintock misidentifies TSUGARU as the similarly configured, but somewhat older, minelayer OKINOSHIMA. At 1356, DARTER's crew readies all torpedo tubes. As TSUGARU approaches from starboard, Cdr McClintock observes a floatplane on her deck. [3]

At 1425, McClintock fires a full bow spread of six torpedoes with a run of about 2,350 yards. Two torpedoes hit and TSUGARU goes dead in the water. At 1432, the subchasers begin dropping a total of 24 depth charges, but DARTER goes deep and escapes undamaged.

At 1449, TSUGARU sinks at 02-19N, 127-57E. Captain Nakatsu is KIA. He is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.

10 August 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors' Notes:
[1] TSUGARU was probably bombed by B-17s that raided Rabaul that same day.

[2] On 26 Jul '44, LtCdr Manning M. Kimmel's (son of Admiral H. E. Kimmel of Pearl Harbor) USS ROBALO (SS-273) is sunk W of Palawan Island in the Balabac Strait. ROBALO may have hit a mine laid by TSUGARU in Mar '44. On 13 Aug '44, LtCdr John D. Crowley's FLIER (SS-250) also hit a mine S of Palawan in the Balabac Strait that may have been laid by TSUGARU; however, some mines were also laid in the Balabac Strait in 1943. Crowley survived, but Kimmel was KIA.

[3] Probably a two-seat Kawanishi E7K "Alf" float biplane.

Special thanks for assistance go to Jean-Francois Masson of Canada and Allan Alsleben of Oregon. Thanks also go to reader James Pratt for information concerning the mining of the Balabac Strait and to Brian of U-boat.net for information about the 25 Feb '43 bombing.

- By Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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