SOKAITEI!
W-21 (W-19 class) scanned from Gakken, V. 45
IJN Minesweeper W-19:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2017 Bob Hackett and Peter Cundal
Revision 1
17 September 1940:
Tokyo. Laid down at Ishikawajima Shipbuilding as Minesweeper No. 164.
10 December 1940:
Numbered W-19.
18 February 1941:
Launched.
17 April 1941:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Tsukada Shigeo (57)(former squad leader, Maizuru Guard Force) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
15 May 1941:
Lt (Cdr, posthumously) Yamazaki Jintaro (58)(former CO of W-1) is appointed CEO.
31 May 1941:
Completed and attached to Maizuru Naval District. Lt Yamazaki Jintaro is the CO.
10 June 1941:
Assigned to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hirose Sueto's (former CO of AOBA) 2nd Base Force of Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (36) (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet.
5 September 1941:
Lt (later LtCdr) Hagiwara Toshi (60)(former squad leader, Yokosuka Guard Force) is appointed the CO.
26 November 1941:
Departs Sasebo for Mako (Makung), Pescadores.
1 December 1941:
Arrives at Makung.
7 December 1941:The Attack on the Philippines:
Mako, Pescadores. W-19 is assigned to Cdr Kanaoka's MineDiv 30 with W-17 and W-18. Departs Mako at 1630. /P>
10 December 1941:
At 0550, Japanese forces arrive off Aparri, northern Luzon, Philippines where they are attacked by three Army Air Force B-17C "Flying Fortress" heavy bombers of the USAAF's 14th Squadron, including one piloted by Captain Colin P. Kelly. The B-17s drop 600-lb and 100-lb bombs. Light cruiser NATORI evades the first bomb attacks, but takes a near-miss to port when she attempts to approach W-19.
W-19 is hit by a bomb (or bombs) that trigger a depth charge explosion. The demolished ship is beached at 18-22N, 121-38E. DesDiv 5's HARUKAZE is also damaged slightly by near misses. Later, W-19 is given up as a constructive total loss. Lt Hagiwara is among the survivors.
30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List
Author's Note:
Photo credit goes to Ships of the World (SOTW) via J. Ed Low. Thanks also go to Sander Kingsepp of Estonia for info in Rev 1.
-Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.
Back to
Minesweeper Page
