Japanese Minelayers

FUSETSUKAN!
(IJN NASAMI prewar)

IJN Minelayer NASAMI: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2010-2015 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Erich Muehlthaler.
Revision 2

19 January 1933:
Harima. Laid down at Harima Shipbuilding as a 450-ton minelayer.
26 March 1934:
Launched and named NASAMI.
20 September 1934:
Completed and attached to the Kure Naval District.
7 July 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge (The First "China") Incident:
Hun River, Lugouqiao, China. Japanese troops on night maneuvers at the bridge fire blank cartridges. Chinese troops fire back, but do not cause injuries. Later, the Japanese discover a soldier missing and assume the Chinese captured him. They demand entry to Beijing to look for him, but the Chinese refuse. The Japanese shell the city and an undeclared war on China begins.
26 June 1938: The Battle of Madang:
Yangtze River. NASAMI takes part in the battle with minelayers NATSUSHIMA and TSUBAME and gunboat TOBA. They sweep mines, lay buoys and bombard Chinese positions. Chinese troops return fire with light arms, but cause many casualties among exposed crewmen. Japanese Special Naval Landing Force troops land behind the fort and Madang falls.
15 November 1940:
Transfered from the China Area Fleet to the Saeki Guard Force.
4 December 1941:
At 0700, NASAMI depart Saeki escorting armed merchant cruisers (AMC) KINJOSAN, BANGKOK and SAIGON MARUs to lay defensive minefields in the Bungo Straits Area No. 7.
6 December 1941:
Departs Saeki escorting AMCs KINJOSAN, BANGKOK and SAIGON MARUs as they lay defensive minefields in the Bungo Straits Area No. 8.
7 December 1941:
At 1000, departs Saeki to escort AMC's KINJOSAN, BANGKOK and SAIGON MARUs as they lay defensive minefields in the Bungo Straits Area No.11.
8 December 1941 - The Pacific War Begins:
Conducts patrols in the Bungo Straits while based at Saeki.
9 December 1941: At 0630, departs Saeki to escort AMC's KINJOSAN, BANGKOK and SAIGON MARUs as they lay defensive minefields in the Bungo Straits Area No. 10.
10 December 1941:
At 0655, departs Saeki with AMC KINJOSAN MARU and heads out to assist crippled tanker SAN DIEGO MARU that struck a mine from the recently laid defensive mine barrage. Later that day returns to Saeki.
11 December 1941:
At 0625, departs Saeki to escort AMC's KINJOSAN, BANGKOK and SAIGON MARUs as they lay defensive minefields in the Bungo Straits Area No. 12.
13 December 1941:
NASAMI and minelayer NATSUSHIMA provide escort for light aircraft carrier HOSHO.
21 December 1941:
NASAMI and minelayers NATSUSHIMA, KUROKAMI and KATASHIMA depart Kashima Bay and escort BANGKOK MARU north.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Drydocked.
26 February 1942:
Undocked.
1 March 1942:
Conducts patrols in the Bungo Strait while based at Saeki.
8 March 1942:
PB-46 departs Sukumo on an anti submarine sweep with armed merchant cruiser KINJOSAN MARU, minelayer NASAMI and submarine chaser CH-13.
1 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Drydocked.
14 April 1942:
Undocked.
16 April 1942:
Departs Kure. Conducts patrols in the Bungo Strait and lays mines.
28 May 1942:
At 0900, NASAMI departs Hesaki escorting a convoy consisting of RYOYO, YAMAURA, OTOWASAN and NAGARA MARUs south through the Bungo Straits.
16 September 1942:
Arrives at Kure. Drydocked.
30 September 1942:
Undocked.
22 October 1942:
Departs Kure. Conducts patrols in the Bungo Strait and engages in escort duties.
25 October 1942:
Assists with the rescue operation of the auxiliary oiler NISSHO MARU. Auxiliary cruiser SAIGON MARU, patrol boat PB-31, Submarine tender CHOGEI, minelayer NATSUSHIMA and subchaser CH-36 are also sent to take part in the rescue operation.
3 November 1942:
NASAMI joins store ship IRAKO off Fukajima and escorts her south to 32N.
4 November 1942:
NASAMI joins tanker SATA off Ashizuri Misaki and escorts her north to Fukajima.
9 November 1942:
NASAMI joins ASAHI MARU at 90 degrees off Toi Misaki and escorts her north.
E 10 November 1942:
NASAMI is detached off Fukajima
12 November 1942:
NASAMI departs Saeki with minelayer NATSUSHIMA escorting convoy 8-Go Enshu A (Military Movement No. 8) consisting of GENMEI and KOCHI MARUs carrying war supplies. Both minelayers terminate their escort duty at latitude 29N and return to Saeki.
E 13 November 1942:
The escorts are detached at 29N.
18 November 1942:
NASAMI joins tanker TOA MARU from Kure off Fukajima and escorts her south.
E 19 November 1942:
NASAMI is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
25 November 1942:
NASAMI and torpedo boat HATO depart Saeki escorting the “C” convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of SORACHI, MINRYO and HIBURI MARUs en route to Saipan. At an unknown point, NASAMI is detached.
30 November 1942:
NASAMI joins store ship IRAKO at 31-51N, 132-27E and escorts her north through the Bungo Straits.
E 1 December 1942:
NASAMI is detached off Fukajima.
31 December 1942:
NASAMI and minelayer NATSUSHIMA departs Saeki escorting the “R” convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of TOHO, KAMOI, TETSUZAN, NICHIUN, TASMANIA and FUKUYO MARUs.
E 1 January 1943:
The escorts are detached at 29N.
8 January 1943:
NASAMI joins TENYO MARU No. 2 GO off Fukajima and escorts her south.
E 9 January 1943:
NASAMI is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
16 January 1943:
NASAMI joins Army landing craft depot ship AKITSU MARU at 29-28N and escorts her north.
E 17 January 1943:
NASAMI is detached off Fukajima
21 February 1943:
NASAMI and patrol boat PB-31 depart Saeki escorting the “C2” Convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of ADEN, MIYAURA, ROKKOSAN, HAKUSAN, TATEISHI MARUs. (The convoy left Moji on 18 February)
E 23 February 1943:
The escorts are detached at 28-30N.
28 February 1943:
NASAMI joins transport KINUGASA MARU off Fukajima and escorts her south.
E 1 March 1943:
NASAMI is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
5 March 1943:
NASAMI and patrol boat PB-46 depart Saeki escorting the “F2” Convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of YOSHIDA MARU No. 3, KIYO and SATSUMA MARUs.
E 7 March 1943:
The escorts are detached at 28-30N.
8 March 1943:
NASAMI and patrol boat PB-46 join tanker ITSUKUSHIMA MARU at 29-33N 132-53E and escort her to 135E.
27 March 1943:
NASAMI, patrol boat PB-31 and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 depart Saeki escorting the “J2 Convoy (No.8 Military Movement) consisting of KOSO, JINZAN, SHICHISEI, KACHOSAN and UGO MARUs.
E 28 March 1943:
The escorts are detached at 29N
1 April 1943:
Dispatched to the Chinkai Guard Station, Ryojun (Port Arthur)(now Lushunkou) Area Force. The same day departs Moji for convoy escort duty between the southern part of Korea and North China.
5 April 1943:
Arrives at Dairen, Manchuria.
7 April 1943:
Departs Dairen. Engages in convoy escort duty while based at Dairen.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
24 May 1943:
Ryojun Repair Yard. Enters dock.
31 May 1943:
Undocked.
8 June 1943:
Engages in convoy escort duty while based at Dairen and Ryojun.
20 July 1943:
At 1150, NASAMI and auxiliary netlayer KANKO MARU depart Dairen escorting convoy CHI-12 consisting of EIKO MARU and YUBARI MARU No. 3 and possibly SAGA and HAKUUN MARUs for Moji.
22 July 1943:
At 1718 NASAMI departs Gunzan (Kunsan) escorting convoy CHI-13 consisting of UNTEN, TATSUGIKU, HAKUYO, SAKISHIMA, KIBI, TOKO, YOKO and REIZAN MARUs.
24 July 1943:
At 0620, arrives at Ryojun (Port Arthur). Later that day departs for Dairen.
26 July 1943:
At 1300, NASAMI departs Dairen escorting convoy CHI-18 consisting of RYOGA, CHOZAN, TERUKUNI, YOKO MARUs and NISSHO MARU No.12.
28 July 1943:
At 0630, arrives at Gunzan (Kunsan).
3 August 1943:
NASAMI departs Gunzan (Kunsan) escorting convoy CHI-25 consisting of SHOKA, KINE, FUKURI, KISHUN, SUMIDA, AOKI, HOKUREI, SHINAN, MATSUEI (SHOEI), HIKOSAN, OSHIMA, NEKKA, SEIKAI MARUs, ONO MARU No. 14, RYOYU MARU No. 11, TOYO MARU No.5 and one unidentified merchant ship en route to Dairen. Several ships are detached before reaching Dairen.
7 August 1943:
NASAMI and auxiliary netlayers KANKO, SHOEKI, KIRI MARUs and auxiliary submarine chaser SHONAN MARU No. 1 departs Dairen escorting convoy CHI-30 consisting of NAZE, MITSUMIME MARUs, SEIRI GO, TOYO MARU No. 5 and YUBARI MARU No.2.
9 August 1943:
SUMIDA, SHOKA, AOKI, YURI, CHIKUZEN, SHORYU MARU’s, TAIRI GO and possibly WAJUN GO join the convoy at 38-18N 124-38E. The convoy probably anchors overnight.
10 August 1943:
NASAMI is detached and at 38-20N 124-34E joins CHI-31 convoy consisting of ROZAN, ASAHIGAWA, SANJIN, YUKI, HOZAN MARUs and WAKO GO proceeding from Gunzan to Dairen.
19 August 1943:
At 1100, NASAMI departs Dairen in convoy TA-12 consisting of KOKURYU and DAIREN MARUs en route to Moji. At 36-19N, 126-03E, NASAMI is detached and joins convoy CHI-42 consisting of TENKO, TATSU, YUKI and ASAHIGAWA MARUs escorted by auxiliary netlayer KANKO MARU. The convoy heads south-east towards Japan.
30 August 1943:
At 1600, a TA series convoy consisting of KOKURYU and DAIREN MARUs arrives at Gunzan. NASAMI takes over escort of this convoy to Dairen.
3 September 1943:
At 1126, NASAMI departs Dairen escorting convoy TA-14 consisting of KOKURYU and DAIREN MARUs en route to Moji.
4 September 1943:
At 1530, NASAMI is detachesd from TA-14 and joins convoy CHI-57 from Gunzan consisting of TERUKUNI, YOKO and KAITO MARUs.
6 September 1943:
At 0700, arrives at Dairen.
8 September 1943:
SW coast of Korea. NASAMI engages in minelaying near Hakko-ho (South Jeolla) harbor, W of Moppo (Mokpo) at 34-42N, 126-03E. She lays additional mines in a minefield in the Yellow Sea first laid by converted minelayers KOEI, SAIGON and SHINKO MARUs in June 1943. [1]
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
14 September 1943:
Departs Dairen.
18 September 1943:
At 1100, NASAMI departs Genzan (Kunsan) in convoy CHI-71 consisting of HAKKA, RYUWA MARUs and OKINOYAMA MARU No. 5.
20 September 1943:
At 0710, arrives at Ryojun (Port Arthur).
21 September 1943:
At 1300, departs Ryojun and at 1600 arrives at Dairen.
1 October 1943:
At 0600 NASAMI joins convoy TA-17 consisting of KOKURYU and DAIREN MARUs en route from Moji in Daito Wan and escorts the convoy north. At 2230, arrives at Dairen.
1 November 1943:
Reassigned to the 8th Fleet's 8th Base Force at Rabaul. That same day departs Dairen.
4 November 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
6 November 1943:
Departs Saeki and arrives the same day at Kure. Undergoes repairs to weapons, hull and machinery.
25 November 1943:
Enters dock.
3 December 1943:
Undocked.
13 December 1943:
Departs Kure.
14 December 1943:
Arrives at Kobe.
15 December 1943:
Departs Kobe.
17 December 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
19 December 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Saipan escorting a convoy consisting of transport MOMOKAWA MARU and possibly others.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at Saipan.
27 December 1943:
Departs Saipan escorting a convoy consisting of MOMOKAWA MARU and possibly others.
31 December 1943:
Arrives at Truk. Thereafter, proceeds to Rabaul area where she is engaged in convoy escort duty.
22 February 1944:
Keravia Bay, Rabaul, New Britain. NASAMI is damaged in an attack by USN Douglas "Dauntless"SBD dive-bombers and Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo-bombers that also sink several warships and merchants in the bay.
30 March 1944:
Off Rabaul. NASAMI is again damaged in an aircraft attack.
1 April 1944:
Beached on the SW coast of Karavia Bay as the result of damage suffered on 30 March. [2]
30 April 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
1968:
The hulk of NASAMI is still lying almost parallel to the beach, at an angle of about 45 degrees. The bow is in 15 feet of water and the stern up on the beach. NASAMI is one of the most accessible wrecks at Rabaul.
1969:
Much scrap metal is salvaged.

Authors’ Notes:
[1] USS ESCOLAR (SS-294), lost on her first patrol, possibly struck a mine about 17 October 1944 laid by NASAMI in September 1943 or laid in June 1943 by auxiliary minelayers KOEI, SHINKO and SAIGON MARUs.
[2] Some western sources erroneously claim that NASAMI was sunk 300 miles NW of Truk on 31 January 1944 by USS TRIGGER (SS-237).
Thanks go to Peter Cundall.
Photo credit goes to Matthew Jones.Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Erich Muehlthaler.

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