4 August 1922: Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki's shipyard as the second unit
of the SENDAI class.
10 November 1923: Captain Tsuge Michiji (30)(former ComDesDiv 3) is
appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
8 December 1923: Launched at 0800 and named
JINTSU.
2 February 1925: Captain Fukushima Kanzo (32)(former CO of AKASHI)
is appointed the CEO.
31 July 1925: Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Kure
Naval District. Captain Fukushima Kanzo is the Commanding Officer.
1 December 1925: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yamauchi Toyonaka
(32)(former ComDesDiv 3) is appointed the CO.
1 November 1926: Captain Mizushiro Keiji (32)(former CO of NATORI)
is appointed the CO.
24 August 1927: 4 miles E of Jizo Zaki lighthouse, Shimane
Prefecture. During night maneuvers off Mihogaseki Bight, JINTSU rams destroyer
WARABI and receives heavy damage, losing a large section of her forefoot. WARABI
sinks with 92 sailors lost. On the 26th JINTSU is towed to Maizuru by KONGO.
5 September 1927: Placed in reserve at Kure for repairs.
7 October 1927: Captain Mizushiro is replaced by Captain Mitsuya
Shiro (31)(former CO of AZUMA) for the duration of court proceedings. On 26
December, Captain Mizushiro commits suicide at his home.
15 November 1927: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Akiyama Toraroku
(33)(former CO of OI) is appointed the CO.
10 December 1928: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Machida Shinichiro
(35)(former ComDesDiv 9) is appointed the CO.
30 November 1929: Captain Toyama Hikoji (34)(former chief of Ominato
Port Director's office) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1930: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Izawa Haruma
(35)(former XO of MUTSU) is appointed the CO.
October 1931: The Kure Type No. 2 Model 2 catapult, previously
tested aboard KINU, is transferred to JINTSU. An Aichi E3A1 Type 90 Mod. 1
reconnaissance floatplane is embarked.
1 December 1931: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Iwashita Yasutaro
(37)(former chief of the Personnel Bureau's 1st section at Navy Ministry) is
appointed the CO.
15 November 1932: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Okuma Masakichi
(37)(former ComDesDiv 8) is appointed the CO.
25 August 1933: Following the Special Great Maneuvers participates
in the 16th Naval Review at Yokohama.
11 September 1933: Departs Tateyama, towing Destroyer Hulk No. 3
(the old KABA class destroyer MATSU), later sunk by gunfire as naval target.
15 September 1933: An outbreak of dysentery disables 262 of
JINTSU's crewmembers and the cruiser is quarantined in Yokosuka until 4
October. The staff of DesRon 2 is temporarily transferred to a destroyer.
10 October 1933: Departs Yokosuka for Kure.
15 November 1933: Placed in reserve at Kure. Captain (Rear Admiral,
posthumously) Suzuki Kozo (36) (former CO of Maizuru Defense Unit) is
appointed the CO.
27 November 1933-15 July 1934: Undergoes the first modernization at
Kure Navy Yard.
15 November 1934: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Hara Kenzaburo
(37)(former ComDesDiv 10) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1935: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Abe Koso (40)(former
CO of ERIMO) is appointed the CO.
20 August 1937: JINTSU departs Atsuta (near Nagoya) with cruisers
ASHIGARA, HAGURO, MAYA, MYOKO and NACHI, light cruiser and destroyers AKEBONO,
AMAGIRI, ASAGIRI, AYANAMI, ISONAMI, OBORO, SHIKINAMI and YUGIRI. JINTSU is
carrying the 1st Battalion (less 1st Company) of the 6th Infantry Regiment.
21 August 1937: Arrives at the Saddle (Ma'an) Islands, NE Zhoushan
archipelago, China. Troops are transferred to JINTSU and destroyers AMAGIRI,
ASAGIRI, MURASAME, OBORO, SAMIDARE, USHIO, YUDACHI and YUGIRI.
1 December 1936: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki (39)(former
Naval Academy instructor) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1937: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo
(41)(former ComDesDiv 2) is appointed the CO.
15 December 1938: Captain Nanba Sukenobu (39)(former ComDesDiv 12)
is appointed the CO.
15 November 1939: Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Izaki Shunji
(42)(former CO of SENDAI) is appointed the CO of MIKUMA and JINTSU as
additional duty.
5 December 1939: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi
(41)(former CO of SHIRETOKO) is appointed the CO.
15 October 1940: Captain Kasai Torazo (42)(former ComDesDiv 12) is
appointed the CO.
March-May 1941: During the first phase of Expedition Preparations the
four twin 61-cm torpedo tube mounts are replaced by two quadruple Type 92 mounts.
A total of sixteen oxygen-propelled Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes can be
embarked.
8-15 April 1941: The flag of DesRon 2 is temporarily transferred from
JINTSU to NATSUSHIO.
26 November 1941: JINTSU is the flagship of Rear Admiral Tanaka
Raizo's DesRon 2. Departs the Terashima Strait, Japan, for Palau.
2 December 1941: Arrives at Palau. DesRon 2 is in Vice Admiral
Takahashi Ibo's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Third Fleet, Southern Force, Philippine
Seizure Force. JINTSU 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). [1]
6 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Attack on the Southern
Philippines: Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kubo Kyuji's (former CO of
KAGA) Fourth Surprise Attack Force's seven transports depart Palau for planned
landings at Davao and Legaspi. The convoy is escorted by the light cruiser
NAGARA, DesDiv 24's YAMAKAZE, SUZUKAZE and UMIKAZE and DesDiv 16's TOKITSUKAZE.
DesRon 2's JINTSU and DesDiv 15's HAYASHIO, NATSUSHIO, OYASHIO and
KUROSHIO, DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE, HATSUKAZE and AMATSUKAZE and DesDiv 20's ASAGIRI
provide cover. The covering force also includes Rear Admiral (Admiral
posthumously) Takagi Takeo's (former CO of MUTSU) CruDiv 5's NACHI, MYOKO and
HAGURO.
Light carrier RYUJO, escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, and CarDiv 11's
seaplane carriers CHITOSE and MIZUHO provide air cover.
10 December 1941: JINTSU and DesDiv 15's HAYASHIO and NATSUSHIO are
detached from Kubo's force to escort MineDiv 17's minelayer YAEYAMA.
10-11 December 1941: YAEYAMA lays 133 mines in the Surigao Strait.
12 December 1941: The Invasion of Legaspi, Luzon. Early in the
morning, about 2,500 men of MajGen Kimura Naoki's 16th Infantry Division's 33rd
Infantry Regiment, a battery of the 22d Field Artillery and engineer detachments
accompanied by 575 men of the 1st Kure Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) land
at Legaspi without opposition. By 0900 hours, the airfield is secured.
DesRon 2's JINTSU with DesDiv 15 and DesDiv 16 and Takagi's CruDiv 5
provide distant cover. RYUJO, escorted by destroyer SHIOKAZE, provides air
cover.
14 December 1941: JINTSU arrives at Kossol Roads, Palau.
17 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Attack on the Southern
Philippines: At 1400, Tanaka's Southern Philippines Attack Force of 14
transports departs Palau carrying MajGen Sakaguchi Shizuo's 56th Regimental
Group, the 2nd Kure SNLF and a naval airfield maintenance unit. Close escort
is provided by Tanaka's JINTSU and DesDivs 15 and 16. Takagi's CruDiv 5
provides distant cover, while air cover for the convoy is provided by RYUJO and
CHITOSE.
19 December 1941: 200 miles E of Davao. In the afternoon, RYUJO
launches six planes to attack the radio station at Cape San Augustin, at the
eastern tip of Davao Gulf, while seaplane carrier CHITOSE launches planes to
reconnoiter Davao.
19/20 December 1941: The Invasion of Davao, Philippines. The
transports arrive off Davao after midnight. At 0400, troops of LtCol Miura
Toshio's 33rd Infantry Regiment's detachment, covered by RYUJO's aircraft, begin
landing in the northern section of Davao while elements of the Sakaguchi
Detachment come ashore along the coast SW of the city. By 1500, Davao and its
airfield are occupied. That evening a seaplane base is established S of the
city.
23 December 1941: The Invasion of Jolo, Philippines. In the morning,
nine transports set out from Davao with about 4,000 men consisting of an
incomplete infantry battalion with attached artillery, engineer and
communications units and the 2nd Kure SNLF. The convoy is escorted by JINTSU
and her destroyers. RYUJO and CHITOSE provide air cover.
24 December 1941: At 2000, the landings on Jolo begin.
25 December 1941: Jolo is secured.
29 December 1941: Arrives at the old American naval anchorage at
Malalag Bay, near Davao. Assigned to Rear Admiral Kubo's Eastern Netherlands
East Indies Seizure Force with DesDiv 15 and 16.
9 January 1942: Operation "H" - The Invasion of Celebes, Netherlands East
Indies: Eight transports depart Davao carrying Captain (later Vice Admiral)
Mori Kunizo's (former CO of AO SATA) 1st Sasebo Combined Special Naval Landing
Force (SNLF) and Rear Admiral Kubo's 1st Base Force with light cruiser NAGARA
and patrol boats PB-1, PB-2, PB-34, Minesweeper Div 21's W-7, W-8, W-9, W-11 and
W-12 and Subchaser Div 1's CH-1, CH-2 and CH-3.
The convoy is also escorted by Rear Admiral Tanaka's DesRon 2's JINTSU
with DesDiv 8/1's OSHIO and ASASHIO, DesDivs 15 and 16 and patrol boat PB-39.
Air cover is provided by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Fujita Ruitaro's
(former CO of FUSO) CarDiv 11's seaplane tenders MIZUHO and CHITOSE. Rear
Admiral Takagi's CruDiv 5's NACHI and HAGURO with DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI and
INAZUMA constitute the surface cover force.
11 January 1942: At 0300, the 1st Sasebo SNLF lands on Kema,
Celebes. At 0400, they land on Menado, Celebes. Later, 334 men of Cdr (later
Captain) Horiuchi Toyoaki's 1st Yokosuka SNLF (Air) are dropped successfully
from Mitsubishi G3M1-L
"Nell" converted transport aircraft in the Menado-Kema area. The paratroops
seize Langoan airfield.
12 January 1942: 185 more SNLF paratroops are dropped in the
Menado-Kema area.
17 January 1942: JINTSU launches a reconnaissance floatplane,
probably a Kawanishi E7K2 "Alf". The pilot claims
downing a Dutch Lockheed A-29 "Hudson" light bomber near Menado. The victory is
short-lived because soon thereafter, the floatplane is shot down.
18 January 1942: Arrives at Malalag Bay.
26 January 1942: Departs Malalag Bay with DesDivs 15 and 16.
27 January 1942: Arrives at Bangka Roads, Celebes.
31 January 1942: The Invasion of Ambon Island, Netherlands East
Indies: The invasion convoy includes ten transports carrying 820 men of Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hatakeyama Koichiro's (former CO of KINUGASA) 1st
Kure SNLF, elements of the Sasebo SNLF and the 228th Infantry Regiment.
The convoy's escort is provided by Rear Admiral Tanaka in JINTSU with
DesDiv 8's ASASHIO, OSHIO, ARASHIO and the MICHISHIO, DesDiv 15's HAYASHIO,
KUROSHIO, NATSUSHIO and OYASHIO and DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE and
TOKITSUKAZE, Minesweeper Div 21, Subchaser Div 1 and patrol boats PB-34 and
PB-39. The convoy's air cover is provided by CarDiv 11's MIZUHO and CHITOSE.
CruDiv 5's NACHI and HAGURO, DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 7's USHIO and
SAZANAMI provide the covering force.
2 February 1942: Rear Admiral Hatakeyama's troops capture Laha
airfield on Ambon. Hatakeyama orders the execution of Dutch and Australian POWs
a few days later. [2]
4 February 1942: JINTSU enters Ambon Bay.
8 February 1942: Departs Ambon. Arrives at Kendari, Celebes.
9 February 1942: Departs Kendari. Arrives at Ambon.
17 February 1942: At 0800, nine transports carrying the 228th
Infantry Regiment and men of the 3rd Yokosuka SNLF depart Ambon for Kupang,
Dutch Timor. JINTSU provides close escort with the No. 2 Escort Unit's DesDiv
7's USHIO and SAZANAMI, DesDivs 15, 16 and DesDiv 24's UMIKAZE.
18 February 1942: A second convoy of five transports departs Ambon
for Dili, Portugese Timor. The convoy also includes fast transports (converted
destroyers) PB-1, PB-2 and PB-34. DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE and YAMAKAZE provide
close escort with Minesweeper Division 21's W-7 and W-8 and a submarine chaser.
CruDiv 5's HAGURO and MYOKO, DesDiv 6's INAZUMA and IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 7's
AKEBONO provide distant cover. Air cover is provided by Mitsubishi F1M2
"Pete" floatplanes from the seaplane carrier MIZUHO.
19 February 1942: That night, both convoys arrive off Timor.
Operating as part of the American-British-Dutch-Australian ABDA FLOAT, the U.S.
Asiatic Fleet's USS PIKE (SS-173) under LtCdr W. New, LtCdr L. Wallace's TARPON
(SS-175) and LtCdr B. E. Bacon's PICKEREL (SS-177) make contact with the
invasion force.
20 February 1942: Alor island. At 0243, PIKE attacks what LtCdr New
misidentifies as two "light cruisers". The ships, in fact, are the small
minesweepers W-7 and W-8. LtCdr New fires two torpedoes from 4,000 yards, but
they miss ahead. The minesweepers move out of range before he can set up for
another attack.
At dawn, JINTSU launches a reconnaissance floatplane, probably a Kawanishi
E7K2 "Alf". Later, Captain Kasai throttles JINTSU down to idle speed to recover
the plane. LtCdr Bacon maneuvers PICKEREL for a shot at the motionless JINTSU,
but he is slow in closing and setting up. JINTSU moves out of range while
PICKEREL is still 5,000 yds out. She soon returns with one of her destroyers.
They detect PICKEREL and together launch a depth charge attack that drives
PICKEREL deep, but she escapes. Wallace's TARPON is never able to close on any
of the ships that he sights.
Timor Island. 308 paratroops of LtCdr Fukumi Koichi's 3rd Yokosuka SNLF
(Air) are dropped successfully from G3M1-L Nell transport aircraft in the
Dili-Kupang area to capture Penfoei airfield.
21 February 1942: 323 more SNLF paratroops are dropped successfully
in the Dili-Kupang area.
24 February 1942: Departs Kupang with the No. 2 Escort Unit.
25 February 1942: Arrives at Makassar, Celebes. Departs that day with
light cruiser NAKA and the No. 2 Escort Unit escorting a troop convoy to invade
eastern Java.
27 February 1942: The Battle of the Java Sea:
At 1547, CruDiv 5's NACHI and HAGURO, DesRon 2's JINTSU with DesDiv
7's USHIO, SAZANAMI, YAMAKAZE and KAWAKAZE and DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE,
TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE and NAKA and her six destroyers engage
Dutch Rear Admiral Karel W. F. M. Doorman's (former CO of SUMATRA) Strike
Force's light cruiser HNMS DE RUYTER, cruisers HMS EXETER, USS HOUSTON (CA-30),
light cruisers HMAS PERTH, HNMS JAVA, destroyers HMS ELECTRA, ENCOUNTER,
JUPITER, HNMS KORTENAER and WITTE de WITH and old destroyers USS ALDEN (DD-211),
JOHN D. EDWARDS (DD-216), JOHN D. FORD (DD-228) and PAUL JONES (DD-230).
JINTSU, NAKA and NACHI launch floatplanes to mark Doorman's ships'
positions and to spot IJN salvos.
At 1603, Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tawara Yoshioki's light cruiser
NAKA of DesRon 4 and DesDiv 2's MURASAME, HARUKAZE, SAMIDARE and YUDACHI with
DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO and MINEGUMO launch 43 Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at the
Allied force from about 16,250 yards. More than a dozen torpedoes premature or
collide with each other after a run of only a few thousand yards. None hits an
Allied ship.
At 1638, the EXETER is hit by a 7.9-inch shell from HAGURO and set afire.
At 1640, Dutch LtCdr A. Kroese's HNMS KORTENAER is hit by a torpedo from HAGURO,
blows up and sinks at 06-29S, 112-05E. Sixty crewmen are killed, but LtCdr
Kroese is a survivor.
At 1727, JINTSU launches a salvo of eight Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes
at Doorman's force. These are followed by torpedoes from DesRon 2's destroyers.
In all, 72 "Long Lances" head towards Doorman's Strike Force, but not one hits.
At 1731, JINTSU launches her recon plane. At 1746, British Cdr C. W.
May's HMS ELECTRA and ASAGUMO engage in a gun battle. ELECTRA is sunk at about
1800 and takes down Cdr May and most of her crew. [3]
At 2000, British LtCdr Norman V. J. T. Thew's HMS JUPITER hits a Dutch
mine and sinks. LtCdr Thew survives, but becomes a POW.
At 2027, Vice Admiral Takagi Takeo recalls all five recon planes to their
respective ships. At 2336, Dutch Captain P. B. M. Van Straelen's light cruiser
JAVA is hit by a torpedo. Soon thereafter, her stern breaks off.
At 2340, the Allied flagship, Dutch Cdr Eugène E. B. Lacomblé's HNMS DE
RUYTER is hit by a torpedo from HAGURO and set afire aft. As a result of a
complete power failure, the fire can not be extinguished, but DE RUYTER remains
afloat for several hours.
At 2345, JAVA sinks taking down 512 crewmembers including Captain van
Straelen. [4]
HOUSTON and PERTH retire to Batavia (Jakarta), Java.
JINTSU departs the area.
28 February 1942: DE RUYTER sinks in the early hours, but the exact
time remains unknown. Rear Admiral Doorman and 344 crewmen are killed.
At mid-day after the battle, Lt James R. Reynolds' submarine USS S-37
sights a 50-foot open boat from DE RUYTER carrying 60 Allied survivors. Although
S-37 is unable to accommodate all of those in the boat, Reynolds approaches to
take on casualties. Finding no casualties, he takes on two American sailors who
had performed signals liaison on DE RUYTER. Reynolds transfers provisions to the
Dutch sailors and dispatches enciphered messages on the boat's location to ABDA
(American-British-Dutch-Australian) Command headquarters. Then S-37 resumes her
patrol.
Later, LtCdr (later Captain) Henry G. Munson's submarine USS S-38 also
surfaces at the scene of the battle. Munson rescues 54 of HMS ELECTRA's crewmen
from the water.
During the next two days, IJN units and aircraft sink HOUSTON, PERTH and
EXETER and destroyers HMS ENCOUNTER, HNMS EVERTSEN and USS POPE (DD-225).
1 March 1942: Java Sea. Madoera Strait. S-38 transfers ELECTRA's
sailors to a surface ship. Munson then resumes the hunt for Japanese shipping.
2 March 1942: Java Sea, near Balwean Island. In the early morning,
the S-38's lookouts spot a cruiser – probably JINTSU - and a destroyer. Munson
submerges and fires his four bow torpedoes at the cruiser and later fires two
torpedoes at the destroyer. S-38's crew hear explosions and later claim damage
to the cruiser, but postwar the damage cannot be verified. S-38 waits on the
bottom as destroyers search for her, but later escapes unscathed.
4 March 1942: JINTSU arrives at Tarakan, Borneo and refuels.
12 March 1942: Departs Tarakan. Arrives at Makassar.
15 March 1942: Departs Makassar.
23 March 1942: Arrrives at Kure. Refit.
28 March 1942: Drydocked.
6 April 1942: Undocked.
6-18 April 1942: At Kure, later transferred to Hashirajima anchorage.
18 April 1942: The First Bombing of Japan: Vice Admiral (later Fleet
Admiral) William F. Halsey's (former CO of SARATOGA, CV-3) Task Force 16.2's USS
HORNET (CV-8), VINCENNES (CA-44), NASHVILLE (CL-43), an oiler and four
destroyers accompanied by Task Force 16.1's ENTERPRISE (CV-6), SALT LAKE CITY
(CA-25), NORTHAMPTON (CA-26), another oiler and four other destroyers approach
Japan. The carriers and cruisers come to within 668 nautical miles of the
mainland.
Led by Lt Col (later General/MOH) James H. Doolittle, 16 Army B-25
"Mitchell" twin-engine bombers of the 17th Bomb Group take off from Captain
(later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's HORNET and strike targets in Tokyo, Yokohama,
Osaka, Nagoya and Kobe.
19 April 1942: In the morning JINTSU departs Hashirajima in an
unsuccessful pursuit of Halsey's carriers in the area E of Miyake Jima and
Hachijo Jima.
23 April 1942: Returns to Kure. Training in the Inland Sea
thereafter.
21 May 1942: Departs Kure with DesDiv 15's KUROSHIO and OYASHIO,
DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE and DesDiv 18's
KAGERO with temporary destroyer-transports SHIRANUHI, KASUMI and ARARE.
25 May 1942: Arrives at Saipan.
28 May 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway: JINTSU is in Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's
(former CO of KONGO) Midway Invasion Force. DesRon 2 departs Saipan escorting
the Transport Group's oiler AKEBONO MARU, transports KIYOZUMI, ZENYO, ARGENTINA,
BRAZIL, AZUMA, KEIYO, GOSHU, KANO, HOKURIKU, KIRISHIMA and NANKAI MARUs, TOA
MARU No. 2 and Rear Admiral Fujita's CHITOSE and KAMIKAWA MARU. The transports
carry an airfield construction unit, LtCol Ichiki Kiyonao's IJA detachment and
two battalions of Special Naval Landing Forces.
3 June 1942: The convoy is bombed by nine Boeing B-17 "Flying
Fortresses". Later, the convoy is also attacked by torpedo-carrying Consolidated
PBY "Catalinas". Oiler AKEBONO MARU is hit, but not JINTSU.
13 June 1942: Arrives at Truk. The transports disembark the airfield
construction unit.
15 June 1942: Departs Truk.
16 June 1942: Arrives at Guam. The transports disembark LtCol Ichiki's
detachment. Departs that same day.
21 June 1942: Arrives at Yokosuka. The transports disembark the
Special Naval Landing Forces.
24 June 1942: Departs Yokosuka for Hashirajima.
28 June 1942: Recalled to Yokosuka.
July 1942: Yokosuka. Conducts antisubmarine training.
14 July 1942: The Eighth Fleet (Outer South Seas Force) is organized
under Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi (former CO of KIRISHIMA).
7 August 1942: American Operation "Watchtower" - The Invasion of
Guadalcanal, British Solomons: Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K.
Turner's (former CO of ASTORIA, CA-34), Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by
Vice Admiral (MOH/later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher's (former CO of VERMONT,
BB-20) Task Force 61 and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's (former
CO of RANGER, CV-4) Task Force 63's land-based aircraft, lands MajGen (later
General/MOH/Commandant) Alexander A. Vandegrift's 1st Marine Division on
Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and Guadalcanal opening the campaign to
retake the islands.
11 August 1942: Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's (former
CO of KONGO) Second Fleet's Advanced Force departs Hashirajima for Truk
consisting of CruDiv 4's ATAGO (F), TAKAO and MAYA, CruDiv 5's HAGURO and MYOKO,
BatDiv 2's MUTSU, CarDiv 11's seaplane tender CHITOSE, DesRon 4's light cruiser
YURA and nine destroyers.
Yokosuka. JINTSU and DesDiv 15's KAGERO depart that same day for Truk.
15 August 1942: JINTSU and KAGERO arrive at Truk. They load troops and
supplies that night.
16 August 1942: At 0500, DesDiv 4's ARASHI and HAGIKAZE, DesDiv 15's
KAGERO and DesDiv 17's HAMAKAZE, TANIKAZE and URAKAZE depart Truk for
Guadalcanal as the first echelon of a reinforcement convoy carrying 917 men of
LtCol Ichiki's 28th Infantry Regiment. Ichiki rides aboard ARASHI.
The second echelon of the reinforcement convoy consisting of BOSTON and
DAIFUKU MARUs carrying 1,100 men of Ikki's Regiment departs Truk escorted by
JINTSU and patrol boats PB-34 and PB-35. Rear Admiral Tanaka in JINTSU is in
command of the entire convoy.
The third echelon of the convoy consisting of fast transport (ex-AMC)
KINRYU MARU carrying about 1,000 troops of the 5th Yokosuka SNLF departs Truk
escorted by patrol boats PB-1 and PB-2.
17 August 1942: Kondo's Advanced Force arrives at Truk.
18 August 1942: About noon, DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE and
UMIKAZE join the second and third echelons of the convoy that are still enroute
to Guadalcanal.
19 August 1942: The first echelon's destroyers are bombed by B-17s.
HAGIKAZE is hit and damaged.
Cape Taivu, E of Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. At 0100, the first echelon
lands LtCol Ichiki's troops.
20 August 1942: At midnight, LtCol Ichiki's lightly-armed troops
attempt to storm Guadalcanal's "Henderson Field" and retake the airfield without
artillery support. Almost all of Ichiki's infantrymen are cut down by General
Vandegrift's Marines manning fortified positions and the attack fails. Ichiki
commits ritual suicide.
Rear Admiral Tanaka receives a signal from Vice Admiral (later Admiral)
Tsukahara Nishizo's (former CO of AKAGI) 11th Air Fleet headquarters that
directs Tanaka to turn his convoy about and head north to avoid an American task
force. Shortly thereafter, Tanaka receives a signal from Vice Admiral Mikawa's
Eighth Fleet headquarters that directs Tanaka to change course to 250-degrees
(WSW). Tanaka, faced with conflicting orders from the senior officer in the area
and his own superior, is further frustrated by atmospherics that cause
communications failure with both headquarters. He compromises and changes course
to 320 degrees (WNW).
190 miles S of Guadalcanal, off San Cristobal. A Kawanishi H6K
"Mavis"
flying boat spots USS LONG ISLAND (ACV-1) ferrying aircraft. Later, LONG ISLAND
catapults 19 Grumman F4F Marine "Wildcat" fighters and 12 Douglas SBD Marine
"Dauntless" dive-bombers. They are the first aircraft to land on Henderson
Field, home of the soon-to-be named "Cactus Air Force".
At 1420, Tanaka receives a signal that 20 American carrier planes landed
at Guadalcanal's airfield. That same day, Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously)
Yamamoto Isoroku (former CO of AKAGI), CinC, Combined Fleet, dispatches Vice
Admiral Kondo's Advanced Force from Truk to rendezvous with Vice Admiral
(Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi’s (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Third Fleet,
enroute from Kure.
21 August 1942: Nagumo's Third Fleet comprised of CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU
and ZUIKAKU, CarDiv 2's RYUJO, BatDiv 11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 7's KUMANO
and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE and Desron 10's light cruiser NAGARA and
three destroyers, is scheduled to arrive at Truk. Instead, Yamamoto orders
Nagumo to refuel at sea from oilers and continue towards Guadalcanal.
That evening, Tanaka receives a signal from Headquarters, Eighth Fleet
that the Second and Third Fleet's will support his reinforcement convoy.
23 August 1942: 200 miles N of Guadalcanal. Rear Admiral Tanaka's
convoy is spotted by a PBY "Catalina" flying boat.
At 0830, Tanaka receives a signal from Vice Admiral Mikawa's Eighth Fleet
headquarters that directs Tanaka to turn his convoy about and head north to
avoid an American task force. At 1430, Tanaka receives a signal from Vice
Admiral Tsukahara's 11th Air Fleet headquarters that directs Tanaka to land
troops on Guadacanal the next day. Tanaka, faced with yet a second set of
conflicting orders, replies that he cannot comply because some of his ships are
too slow.
24 August 1942: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons. At 1230,
Tanaka's force sights light carrier RYUJO, covered by CruDiv 8's TONE and DesDiv
16's AMATSUKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE. Later, RYUJO launches two strikes against
Henderson Field.
At 1357, RYUJO is attacked by aircraft from Vice Admiral Fletcher's Task
Force 61's USS SARATOGA (CV-3). RYUJO is hit by four bombs and a torpedo hit
that floods her starboard engine room.
CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU launch aircraft that find and damage
ENTERPRISE. That evening, aircraft from SARATOGA damage seaplane carrier
CHITOSE. At 1800, RYUJO capsizes and sinks.
That same night, DesDiv 15's KAGERO, DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, DesDiv 24's
KAWAKAZE and DesDiv 30's MUTSUKI and YAYOI shell Henderson Field. Afterwards,
the five destroyers race northward to join Tanaka's convoy.
25 August 1942: 150 miles N of Guadalcanal. At 0600, six USMC Douglas
SBD "Dauntless" dive-bombers attack the convoy. KINRYU MARU is hit and begins to
sink. Her embarked troops are evacuated by DesDiv 30's MUTSUKI and YAYOI and two
patrol boats. BOSTON MARU is damaged by a near-miss. A 1000-lb bomb dropped by
1/Lt Lawrence Baldinus of VMSB-232 strikes JINTSU's forecastle at 0805 and
starts fires, causing her forward magazines to be flooded. Twenty-four crewmen
are killed. Rear Admiral Tanaka is injured. He shifts his flag to KAGERO
because of the damage to JINTSU.
B-17s appear over the convoy and sink the stationary destroyer MUTSUKI
that is embarking troops from sinking KINRYU MARU.
25 August 1942: Arrives at Shortland that night.
28 August 1942: JINTSU arrives at Truk escorted by SUZUKAZE. JINTSU
undergoes emergency repairs by repair ship AKASHI for over a month.
2 October 1942: Departs Truk.
8 October 1942: Arrives at Kure. Battle damage repairs/modifications.
Two triple 25-mm Type 96 AA guns are installed.
26 December 1942: Captain Fujita Toshizo (42)(former CO of TSURUMI)
is appointed the CO.
29 December 1942: Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Koyanagi Tomiji
(former CO of KONGO) is appointed ComDesRon 2. Rear Admiral Tanaka is
reassigned as the CO of the Maizuru Guard Unit.
9 January 1943: Repairs/modifications are completed.
16 January 1943: Reassigned to DesRon 2 as its flagship.
18 January 1943: Departs Kure.
21 January 1943: Rear Admiral Izaki Shunji (former CO of JINTSU) is
appointed ComDesRon 2. Rear Admiral Koyanagi assumes command of DesRon 10.
24 January 1943: Arrives at Truk.
31 January 1943: Operation "KE" - The Evacuation of Guadalcanal:
Cruises N of Guadalcanal covering the operation.
9 February 1943: Arrives at Truk. Training duties thereafter.
12 February 1943: Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Sato Torajiro
(43)(former ComDesDiv 15) is appointed the CO.
14 June 1943: Departs Truk on a transport run, carrying the
maintenance personnel of carrier JUNYO's air group.
16 June 1943: Arrives at Roi, Kwajalein. Disembarks JUNYO's personnel.
17 June 1943: Departs Roi.
19 June 1943: Arrives at Truk.
8 July 1943: Departs Truk with DesDiv 31's KIYONAMI for Rabaul.
10 July 1943: Arrives at Rabaul.
12 July 1943: At 0530 (local), JINTSU departs Rabaul, flying the flag
of ComDesRon 2's Rear Admiral Izaki with DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE, DesDiv 17's
HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 27's YUGURE, DesDiv 30's MIKAZUKI and DesDiv 31's KIYONAMI to
rendezvous with destroyer-transports SATSUKI, MINAZUKI, YUNAGI and MATSUKAZE of
the Transport Group from Buin, carrying 1,100 troops and 100 tons of equipment
to be landed at Vila on Kolombangara Island, New Georgia.
13 July 1943: The Battle of Kolombangara: 20 miles E of the northern
tip of Kolombangara. At 0030, YUKIKAZE's E27 radar detector detects the
presence of enemy vessels. By that time Izaki's squadron is steaming in
line-ahead formation with MIKAZUKI leading JINTSU, YUKIKAZE, HAMAKAZE,
KIYONAMI and YUGURE.
At 0036, a PBY "Catalina" reports the sighting of the Japanese squadron
to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Walden L. Ainsworth (former CO of
MISSISSIPPI, BB-38), leading the Task Group 36.1. TG 36.1 includes CruDiv 9's
USS HONOLULU (F)(CL-48), ST LOUIS (CL-49), HMNZS LEANDER, DesRon 12's RALPH
TALBOT (DD-390), MAURY (DD-401), GWIN (DD-433), WOODWORTH (DD-460) and
BUCHANAN (DD-484), DesRon 21's RADFORD (DD-446), JENKINS (DD-447), NICHOLAS
(DD-449), O'BANNON (DD-450) and TAYLOR (DD-468).
At 0044 a Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete" floatplane from the 938th Naval Air
Group, patrolling overhead, reports the sighting of four ships on a westerly
course. At 0057 YUKIKAZE again reports the presence of enemy warships. Rear
Admiral Izaki orders his squadron to head SE at 30 knots while preparing for
a gun/torpedo attack. The Transport Group is detached.
At 0108, JINTSU snaps on her searchlights to illuminate Ainsworth's
force. Two minutes later she is taken under the radar-controlled fire of
three cruisers. Rear Admiral Izaki, Captain Sato and Executive Officer Cdr
Kondo Issei (50) are killed on the bridge. Around 0117 the steering engine
and rudder are disabled by gunfire. Fires broke out and the cruiser goes
dead in the water, while the foremost turret still keeps returning fire. In
all, 2,630 6-inch and 353 5-in shells are fired at JINTSU.
Captain Shimai Zenjiro (48), ComDesDiv 16 aboard YUKIKAZE, assumes
command of the IJN force. His destroyers launch 31 Type 93 "Long Lance"
torpedoes at TG 36.1. LtCdr J. B. Fellows' destroyer GWIN is sunk and the New
Zealand light cruiser LEANDER disabled after a torpedo hit. ST LOUIS is hit
by another torpedo that twists her bow. HONOLULU receives one torpedo hit to
her bow and a dud to her stern. During the action, BUCHANAN glances off
WOODWORTH's stern, causing some flooding and light damage.
Around 0145 a torpedo hits JINTSU to starboard in the aft engine room.
A massive explosion follows; the cruiser breaks in two abaft the middle funnel
and sinks three minutes later at 07-38S, 157-06E. A total of 482 men are lost.
Later, LtCdr Kusaka Toshio's submarine I-180 arrives and rescues 21 of
JINTSU's crewmen. The Americans also rescue two of JINTSU's survivors.
Rear Admiral Izaki is promoted Vice Admiral, posthumously and Captain
Sato is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
The Transport Group successfully lands 1,100 men with their equipment
on Vila, so the Battle of Kolombangara is a tactical defeat for the Allies.
1 August 1943: Placed in fourth reserve.
10 September 1943: Removed from the Navy List.
February 2019: Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen's research vessel
RV PETREL locates the wreck of JINTSU a depth of 2,952 ft. Her bow section is
lying on her port side while the stern section is upright.
Authors' Notes: [1] Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), is the
highest point in the Japanese Empire at the time.
[2] Vice Admiral Hatakeyama was KIA in China in January 1945.
[3] On 19 August 2003, a group of divers operating off MV EMPRESS out of
Singapore using side-scan sonar discover ELECTRA in about 160 feet of water in
the Java Sea. She lays on her port side covered in trawler nets.
[4] On 1 December 2002, divers operating off MV EMPRESS discover DeRUYTER
and JAVA at about 225 feet down off Bawean Island in the Java Sea.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada. Thanks also goes to
Aldert Gritter/"Adm. Gurita" of the Netherlands and to Andrew Obluski of Poland
for information on IJN paratroop operations.
Thanks also go to John Whitman of Viginia and Fontessa-san of Japan for
info about 1937 troop movements.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
