JUNYOKAN!
KINU, 20 January 1937 - colorized photo by Irotokoo, Jr
IJN KINU: Tabular Record of
Movement
© 1997-2018 Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp
Revision 8
17 January 1921:
Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki's shipyard.
10 May 1922:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yano Umakichi (28)(former
CO of NOMA) is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
29 May 1922:
Launched and named KINU.
10 November 1922:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to
Kure Naval District. Captain Yano is the CO.
1 December 1923:
Captain (later Admiral) Oikawa Koshiro (31)(former
ComDesDiv 15) is appointed the CO. Captain Yano is reassigned as the CO of
Kure Sailor Corps.
20 December 1923:
Kure. KINU enters drydock. Her four turbines are
removed as they failed during operational use.
10 January 1924:
Captain Takeuchi Tadashi (30)(former CO of TAMA) is
appointed the CO.
E May 1924:
Undocked. KINU rejoins the fleet with a new set of
turbines.
10 November 1924:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Matsuzaki Sunao
(31)(former CO of TATSUTA) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1925:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sezaki Nihei
(32)(former CO of ONDO) is appointed the CO. Captain Matsuzaki is reassigned as
the CoS of Chinkai (Jinhae) Guard District HQ.
1 November 1926:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ono Yaichi (33)(former
CO of SHIRIYA) is appointed the CO. Captain Sezaki is reassigned as the CO of
SETTSU.
15 November 1927:
Captain Obata Takashi (33)(former ComDesDiv 18) is
appointed the CO. Captain Ono is reassigned as instructor aboard KASUGA and
FUJI as additional duty.
10 December 1928:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tajiri Toshiro
(33)(former CO of NISSHIN) is appointed the CO. Captain Obata is reassigned as
the CO of YAHAGI.
30 November 1929:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nakajima Ryukichi
(35)(former ComDesDiv 21) is appointed the CO. Captain Tajiri is reassigned as
the CO of FURUTAKA.
October 1930:
A Kure Type No. 2 Model 2 catapult is installed for
testing.
1 December 1930:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Sakamoto Ikuta
(36)(former ComDesDiv 5) is appointed the CO. Captain Nakajima is reassigned
to IJN Technical Council.
October 1931:
The catapult is transferred to JINTSU.
1 December 1931:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sakura Takeo
(37)(former CO of KATSURIKI) is appointed the CO. Captain Sakamoto is
reassigned as instructor at Naval Torpedo School.
10-20 May 1932:
Captain Sakura is appointed the CO of ASAHI as
additional duty.
15 November 1933:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Kowata Tsuyoshi
(37)(former ComDesDiv 22) is appointed the CO. Captain Sakura is reassigned
as CoS of Ominato Guard District.
April 1934:
A Kure Type No. 2 Model 3 catapult is installed
between turrets Nos. 5 and 6.
1 November 1934:
Captain (Admiral, posthumously) Endo Yoshikazu
(39)(former naval attache to Germany) is appointed the CO. Captain Kowata is
reassigned as the CoS of Makung Guard District.
15 November 1935:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Miwa Shigeyoshi
(39)(former ComSubDiv 30) is appointed the CO. Captain Endo is reassigned as
ADC to the Emperor.
1 December 1936:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ishikawa Shigeru
(40)(former CO of NARUTO) is appointed the CO. Captain Miwa is reassigned
as CoS of Makung Guard District.
1 December 1937:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tashiro Sohei
(41)(former CO of TSURUMI) is appointed the CO. Captain Ishikawa is
reassigned as the chief of Sasebo Naval District port office.
15 December 1938:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Watanabe Seishichi
(42)(former CO of SHIRETOKO) is appointed the CO. Captain Tashiro is
reassigned as the CO of KISO.
15 November 1939:
Captain Hashimoto Aiji (39)(former CO of KAMOI)
is appointed the CO. Captain Watanabe is reassigned as the CO of JINGEI.
20 April 1940:
Captain Ito Yasutaka (39)(former member of torpedo
department of Kure Navy Arsenal with joint duty as instructor at the IJN
submarine school) is appointed the CO. Captain Hashimoto is reassigned as
the supervisor of the hospital ship MURO MARU.
2 December 1940:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yamaki Akira
(46)(former chief of the Personnel Bureau's 1st section at Navy Ministry) is
appointed the CO. Captain Ito is reassigned as the CO of FUJIKAWA MARU.
15 March 1941:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nabeshima Shunsaku
(42)(former CO of KASHIMA) is appointed the CO. Captain Yamaki is reassigned
as Third Fleet staff officer.
11 August 1941:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kato Yoshio
(43)(former ComSubDiv 18) is appointed the CO. Captain Nabeshima is reassigned
as the CO of MAYA.
20 November 1941:
KINU is flagship of Rear Admiral Yoshitomi Setsuzo's
(39)(former XO of KAGA) SubRon 4. Departs Iwakuni with SubDiv 18's I-53, I-54
and I-55 and SubDiv 19's I-56, I-57 and I-58.
26 November 1941:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island, China.
2 December 1941:
KINU receives the coded signal "Niitakayama nobore
(Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the Combined Fleet. It signifies that hostilities
will commence on 8 December (Japan time).[1]
4 December 1941:
Departs Samah.
8 December 1941: Operation "E" - The Invasion of Malaya:
During the
landings on the Malay peninsula, KINU cruises SE of Indochina off Poulo
Condore Island.
9 December 1941:
The Pursuit of the Royal Navy's Force "Z":
Near Poulo Condore. At
1415, submarine I-65 reports that she has spotted "two enemy battleships,
course 340, speed 14 knots". This is Vice Admiral Sir Tom Phillips' Force "Z's"
new battleship HMS PRINCE OF WALES, old battlecruiser HMS REPULSE, destroyers
HMS ELECTRA, EXPRESS, TENEDOS and Australian destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE. Phillips
had sortied from Singapore to find and attack the Malaya invasion transports.
I-65's report is received by KINU, SubRon 5's flagship light cruiser YURA
and the 81th Naval Communications Unit in Saigon. The reception is poor and it
takes another 1.5 hours to decode and relay the message to Vice Admiral Ozawa
Jisaburo (former CO of HARUNA) aboard his flagship, CHOKAI. I-65's report is
wrong about Force Z's course and creates confusion. I-65 surfaces and starts a
tail chase, but a rain squall cloaks the British ships.
The Kawanishi E7K2 "Alf"
from KINU buzzes the I-65, its pilot mistaking her for an enemy submarine.
I-65 crash-dives. When she surfaces 30 minutes later, the contact with Phillips'
force is lost.
At 1705 the same floatplane spots Force "Z", steering NNW at 14 knots, and
reports its position, shadowing Phillips' force until sundown.
10 December 1941:
In the afternoon, Force "Z" is overwhelmed by
torpedo-bombers of the 22nd Air Flotilla from Indochina. Both British capital
ships are sunk.
13 December 1941: Operation "B" - The Invasion of British Borneo
(Sarawak):
The occupation of British Borneo is a combined IJN/IJA operation
which involves Gen (later Field Marshal) Count Terauchi Hisaichi's Southern
Expeditionary Army. The 25th Army, under LtGen Yamashita Tomoyuki
fields MajGen Kawaguchi Kiyotake's detachment of about 2,500 men consisting of
the 35th Infantry Brigade HQ, the 124th Infantry Regiment led by Col Oka
Akinosuke, 18th Signal Unit platoon, 18th Medical Unit and 18/4 Field Hospital
Medical Unit. In addition, the 21st Field Ordnance Depot Company and 1st, 2nd,
3rd & 4th Field Well drilling (oil well repairs) companies of about 120 men
each are embarked on the transports.The invasion units are embarked on IJA
transports HIYOSHI, KATORI, KENKON, MYOHO and NICHIRAN MARUs. One AA and one
Signal Regiment are also stationed on IJA transports.
The Navy force consists of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's
(35)(former CO of KONGO) Southern Force, Borneo Invasion Group that includes
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kurita Takeo's (38), Support Unit. Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hashimoto Shintaro's (41) Invasion Unit consists
of UNYO MARU No. 2 transporting equipment material and supplies, the 4th Naval
Construction Unit of about 260 men and materials aboard TONAN MARU No 3, and the
No.2 Yokosuka Special Naval Force (SNLF) aboard HOKKAI MARU. Other transports
are KAMIKAWA and MITAKESAN MARUs transporting equipment, material and supplies.
The convoy's close escort consists of CH-7, minesweepers W-3 and W-6 and
Other escorts include CruDiv 7's KUMANO and SUZUYA, light cruisers KINU and YURA
and Desdiv 11's FUBUKI, DesDiv 12’s MURAKUMO, SHINONOME, SHIRAKUMO and USUGUMO
and DesDiv 20's SAGIRI. Seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU with six Mitsubishi Type 0
F1M "Pete" (plus two in reserve) and four Aichi E13A1 "Jake" (plus one in
reserve) provides air cover. At 0730, the Invasion Convoy departs Camranh Bay.
14 December 1941:
The Invasion Convoy crosses the South China Sea
without being sighted. MITAKESAN MARU is detached to the Philippines.
15 December 1941:
At 2330, the main body of the convoy arrives at
Miri, Borneo anchorage. At midnight, HIYOSHI MARU arrives at Seria anchorage.
About the same time, all IJN transports arrive at Lutong. Because of a
rainstorm, three "Daihatsu" barges capsize when lowered into the water. 19
IJA landing troops are KIA and 15 are MIA.
16 December 1941:
At 0440, troops land at Miri, Seria and Lutong.
Despite bad weather, the landings are made without opposition from British
defending units. Miri, Seria and Lutong oilfields and Miri airfield are secured
in the morning.
17 December 1941:
KINU provides cover for the invasion landing at
Miri, northern Borneo with KUMANO and SUZUYA, light cruiser YURA, seaplane
tender KAMIKAWA MARU, DesDiv 12's SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO and SHINONOME, a few
subchasers, minesweeper W-7 and another minesweeper. Also present are DesDiv
11's FUBUKI and DesDiv 20's SAGIRI.
N of Miri, near Seria. In the darkness, SHINONOME completes escorting
minesweeper W-7 and the troop transport HIYOSHI MARU to this landing site. Just
after dawn, steaming alone off shore, SHINONOME is attacked by Dutch Dornier
Do-24 K-1 flying-boat X-32 of Aircraft Group GVT-7 based at Tarakan, E Borneo.
Of five 200-kg bombs she drops, X-32 scores two direct hits and a near miss.
An explosion severs the SHINONOME's stern and she sinks quickly with all
hands - the first FUBUKI-class destroyer sunk in WWII. [1]
The invasion force goes ashore almost unopposed at Miri, Seria and
Lutong. The 2,500 men of MajGen Kawaguchi Kiyotake's "Kawaguchi Detachment" and
the 2nd Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) quickly capture Miri's
airfield and oil fields.
19 December 1941:
Miri. In the morning, Martin B-10 medium bombers
from 1-VIG-I and 2-VIG-I based at Samarinda and Singkawang attack the invasion
shipping. Four KAMIKAWA MARU's F1M2 "Pete" fighters intercept separate trios of
bombers that appear at 15-minute intervals. The pilots claim downing Martin
M-571 of 2-VIG-I.
22 December 1941: Operation "Q" - The Invasion of Sarawak (British
Borneo):
The main body (two battalions) of the invasion force re-embarks at
Miri. The invasion convoy departs for Kuching, Sarawak. The invasion convoy
consisting of KENKON HIYOSHI, HOKKAI, KATORI, MYOHO and NICHIRAN MARUs, TONAN
MARU No. 3 and KAMIKAWA MARUs and UNYO MARU No. 2 escorted by light cruiser
YURA, DesDiv 12's SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO and USUGUMO and minesweepers W-3 and W-6.
The invasion convoy is transporting the Kawaguchi Detachment (less one
battalion) and the 2nd Yokosuka SNLF aboard HOKKAI MARU. UNYO MARU No. 2
carries material, equipment and supplies, TONAN MARU No. 3 carries the 21st
Field Ordnance Depot, the 48th Anchorage HQ, the 4th Naval Construction Unit
of about 260 men.
KINU and CruDiv 7/1's KUMANO and SUZUYA and destroyers FUBUKI and SAGIRI
provide the covering force. West of the covering force is CruDiv 7/2's MIKUMA
and MOGAMI with destroyer HATSUYUKI. Seaplane tender KAMIKAWA MARU provides air
cover.
23-24 December 1941:
Provides cover for the landing of the Kawaguchi
Detachment and the 2nd Yokosuka SNLF at Kuching, Sarawak (British Borneo) with
KUMANO and SUZUYA, YURA, KAMIKAWA MARU and destroyers FUBUKI and SAGIRI. Also
present are DesDiv 12's SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO and USUGUMO and minesweepers W-3 and
W-6. West of the Covering Force is CruDiv 7/2's MIKUMA and MOGAMI with destroyer
HATSUYUKI.
26 December 1941:
Returns to Camranh.
5 January 1942:
Departs Camranh to cover the Third Malaya Convoy.
9 January 1942:
Returns to Camranh.
16 January 1942:
Departs Camranh with CruDiv 4's CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's
MOGAMI, MIKUMA, SUZUYA and KUMANO, light cruiser YURA and DesRon 3 in response
to a false report that a British RENOWN-class battleship is at Singapore.
19 January 1942:
Returns to Camranh.
29 January 1942:
Departs Camranh to cover a convoy carrying personnel
to establish an air base at Ledo, SW of Kuching, Sarawak (British Borneo).
11 February 1942:
Returns to Camranh.
17 February 1942:
Departs Camranh, escorting SubRon 4's converted
submarine tender NAGOYA MARU.
24 February 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay, Celebes. Refuels and
departs that same day escorting a troop convoy.
28 February-1 March 1942:
Off Tandjoeng Awar Awar, near Rembang,
Java. That night, a force of Dutch motor torpedo boats (TM 6, 10, 15)
unsuccessfully engage KINU.
1 March 1942:
Java Sea. 90 miles W of Surabaya, Java. The convoy is
attacked by ten obsolete Vickers "Wildebeest" biplane bombers and 15 fighters
of the Australian and New Zealand Air Forces. KINU is slightly damaged by
near-misses and three men are killed by shrapnel. Army cargo ship TOKUSHIMA MARU
and transport JOHORE MARU are also damaged in the attack.
2 March 1942:
Java Sea. N of Surabaya, Java. LtCdr (later Captain)
Henry G. Munson's submarine USS S-38 (SS-143) attacks KINU at 6-27S, 112-12E,
but all of the four torpedoes that he fires miss. Munson fires two torpedoes at
a destroyer that also miss. The destroyers counter-attack and keep the S-38 down
with depth charges for 24 hours.
6 March 1942:
Arrives at Staring Bay.
10 March 1942:
KINU is assigned to CruDiv 16.
17 March 1942:
Departs Staring Bay.
18 March 1942:
Arrives at Makassar, Celebes.
25 March 1942:
Departs Makassar.
28 March 1942:
Arrives at Ambon.
29 March 1942: The Invasion of Dutch New Guinea:
KINU is assigned to
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Fujita Ruitaro's (former CO of FUSO) "N"
Expeditionary Force that assembles at Ambon Island.
Fujita's Force includes CarDiv 11's seaplane carrier CHITOSE, KINU,
DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE and the TOKITSUKAZE, torpedo boats TOMOZURU, HATSUKARI,
patrol boats PB-1, PB-2, PB-38 and PB-39, SubChasDiv 54's SHONAN MARU Nos. 5 and
17 and FUKEI MARU No. 15, oiler SEIAN MARU and transport HOKURIKU MARU plus a
SNLF unit.
The "N" Expeditionary Force departs Ambon.
31 March 1942:
Arrives at Boela, Ceram Island.
1-23 April 1942:
Covers the invasion force's landings at Fak-Fak,
Babo, Sorong, Manokwari, Moemi, Nabire, Seroei, Sarmi and Hollandia, New Guinea.
26 April 1942:
Arrives at Makassar, Celebes.
28 April 1942:
Departs Makassar.
29 April 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java.
1 May 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
10 May 1942:
Arrives at Kure for an overhaul.
21 May 1942:
Drydocked.
28 May 1942:
Undocked.
5 June 1942:
Overhaul is completed. Departs Kure.
11 June 1942:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo. Refuels.
12 June 1942:
Departs Tarakan.
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya, Java.
20 June 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
21 June 1942:
Arrives at Batavia, Java.
29 June 1942:
Departs Batavia.
1 July 1942:
Arrives at Bandjarmasin, Borneo.
2 July 1942:
Departs Bandjarmasin.
3 July 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
24 July 1942:
Departs Makassar.
27 July 1942:
Arrives at Singapore, Malaya.
28 July 1942:
Departs Singapore.
29 July 1942:
Arrives at Sabang, Sumatra.
30 July 1942:
Departs Sabang.
31 July 1942:
Arrives at Mergui, Burma.
7 August 1942: American Operation "Watchtower" - The Invasion of
Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond
K. Turner's (former CO of ASTORIA, CA-34) Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher's 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 Gen/MOH/Commandant) Alexander A.
Vandergrift's 1st Marine Division on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and
Guadalcanal opening the campaign to take the island.
9 August 1942:
Departs Mergui.
10 August 1942:
Arrives at Sabang.
11 August 1942:
Departs Sabang.
12 August 1942:
Arrives at Penang, Malaya.
18 August 1942:
Departs Penang. Arrives at Singapore, Malaya.
19 August 1942:
Departs Singapore.
21 August 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
23 August 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
24 August 1942:
Arrives at Kendari, Celebes.
25 August 1942:
Departs Kendari.
26 August 1942:
Moves to Staring Bay, Celebes.
29 August 1942:
Departs Staring Bay.
31 August 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
8 September 1942:
Departs Makassar.
9 September 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
11 September 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
12 September 1942:
Arrives at Batavia.
12 September 1942:
Arrives at Batavia, Java (Jakarta, Indonesia).
13 September 1942:
Departs Batavia with light cruiser ISUZU. Escorts
the first wave of transports from the Dutch East Indies to the Solomons carrying
LtGen Maruyama Masao's 2nd Infantry Division's advance party consisting of the
16th Infantry Regiment HQ and the 3rd Battalion, half of the AT [rapid fire
artillery] Gun Company and half of the Regimental Gun Unit.
16 September 1942:
Arrives at Ambon, Moluccas.
17 September 1942:
Departs Ambon.
20 September 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
21 September 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
22 September 1942:
Arrives at Shortland Island, Bougainville.
Disembarks troops.
21 September 1942:
Departs Rabaul.
22 September 1942:
Arrives at Shortland Island, Bougainville.
Disembarks troops and departs.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
1 October 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
2 October 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya. Refit.
10 October 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
14 October 1942:
Arrives at Kupang, Timor.
15 October 1942:
Departs Kupang.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
28 October 1942:
Departs Makassar.
29 October 1942:
Arrives at Balikpapan, Borneo.
30 October 1942:
Departs Balikpapan.
1 November 1942:
Arrives at Ambon.
2 November 1942:
Departs Ambon.
3 November 1942:
Arrives at Fak-Fak, New Guinea.
11 November 1942:
Departs Fak-fak.
14 November 1942:
Arrives at Ambon. Vice Admiral Takasu Shiro
(former CO of ISUZU), CINC, SW Fleet, orders KINU, ASHIGARA and NATORI to
prepare to engage an American-Australian landing on Timor that is expected to
occur in December based on an intelligence report received from the Italians.
Later, the report proves false.
24 November 1942:
Departs Ambon. Arrives at Sumba Island.
30 November 1942:
Departs Sumba.
30 November 1942:
Cruises off Timor.
2 December 1942:
Arrives at Sumba.
11 December 1942:
Departs Sumba.
12 December 1942:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Uehara Yoshio
(45)(former CO of AO ERIMO) is appointed the CO. Captain Kato is later
reassigned as the CO of the escort carrier CHUYO.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Makassar.
28 December 1942:
Departs Makassar.
29 December 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.
31 December 1942:
Departs Surabaya.
2 January 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Refit.
3 January 1943:
Drydocked.
9 January 1943:
Undocked.
19 January 1943:
Refit is completed. Departs Singapore.
21 January 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya. KINU is ordered to proceed to
Makassar to assist light cruiser NATORI damaged by a single USAAF B-24 bomber at
Amboina harbor on Ambon Island, Dutch New Guinea.
23 January 1943:
Departs Surabaya.
24 January 1943:
Arrives at Makassar.
27 January 1943:
Departs Makassar with NATORI.
31 January 1943:
Arrives at Singapore.
2 February 1943:
Departs Singapore.
5 February 1943:
Arrives at Makassar.
6 February 1943:
Departs Makassar.
8 February 1943:
Arrives at Ambon.
9 February 1943:
Departs Ambon.
12 February 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
21 February 1943:
Embarks Army troops. Departs Surabaya.
22 February 1943:
Arrives at Makassar.
23 February 1943:
Departs Makassar.
27 February 1943:
Arrives at Kaimana, New Guinea. Disembarks troops.
Departs.
28 February 1943:
Arrives at Kabui Bay on the southern coast
of Waigeo Island, New Guinea. Disembarks troops.
9 March 1943:
Departs Kabui.
13 March 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan. Refuels.
15 March 1943:
Departs Tarakan.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Makassar. Remains as a guard ship.
22 March 1943:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Itakura Tokushi
(42)(former CO of the 2nd Gunboat Division) is appointed the CO.
12 April 1943:
Departs Makassar.
13 April 1943:
Arrives at Batavia.
25 April 1943:
Departs Batavia.
27 April 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Begins refit.
13 May 1943:
Departs Singapore.
14 May 1943:
Arrives at Lingga.
15 May 1943:
Departs Lingga.
17 May 1943:
Arrives at Batavia.
20 May 1943:
Departs Batavia.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
29 May 1943:
Embarks Army troops. Departs Surabaya.
30 May 1943:
Arrives at Makassar.
31 May 1943:
Departs Makassar.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Ambon.
3 June 1943:
Departs Ambon.
5 June 1943:
Arrives at Babo, New Guinea. Disembarks troops and
departs.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Bula, New Guinea. Disembarks troops and
departs.
8 June 1943:
Arrives at Batjan, Halmahera, New Guinea and departs.
10 June 1943:
Arrives at Makassar.
23 June 1943:
Makassar Roads. CruDiv 16's KINU and KUMA are anchored
at Juliana Quay alongside OI and KITAKAMI. The cruisers are attacked by 17
Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" bombers of the 319th Squadron/90th Bomb Group (H)
of the 5th Air Force. All four light cruisers are straddled by near-misses, but
suffer only slight damage. A fuel dump is set afire and many buildings along
Juliana Quay and in the town area are damaged or demolished.
24 June 1943:
CruDiv 16's flag is transferred from KINU to KUMA.
Both cruisers then depart Makassar.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
30 June 1943:
Begins battle damage repairs to her hull.
18 July 1943:
Repairs are completed.
20 July 1943:
Departs Surabaya.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Makassar.
22 July 1943:
Departs Makassar.
27 July 1943:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
30 July 1943:
Departs Mako.
2 August 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Begins refit and modifications. Her
Nos. 5 and 7 140-mm guns are removed as are her catapult and derrick. A twin
127-mm HA gun is fitted as are two triple mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns. This
brings KINU's 25-mm AA suite to ten barrels (2x3, 2x2). A Type 21 air search
radar is also fitted and depth charge rails are added to her stern.
17 August 1943:
Drydocked.
27 August 1943:
Undocked.
25 September 1943:
Drydocked.
27 September 1943:
Undocked.
14 October 1943:
Refit and modifications are completed. Begins
loading Army troops and supplies.
19 October 1943:
Departs Kure.
26 October 1943:
Arrives at Singapore. Disembarks troops and
off-loads supplies.
4 November 1943:
Departs Singapore. Arrives at Lingga. Battle
training.
26 November 1943:
Departs Lingga. Arrives at Singapore.
30 November 1943:
Departs Singapore.
2 December 1943:
Arrives at Malacca, Malaya.
7 December 1943:
Departs Malacca.
8 December 1943:
Arrives at Penang.
11 December 1943:
Departs Penang.
12 December 1943:
Arrives at Sabang.
13 December 1943:
Departs Sabang.
21 December 1943:
Arrives at Batavia.
23 December 1943:
Departs Batavia.
24 December 1943:
Arrives at Surabaya.
25 December 1943:
Departs Surabaya.
27 December 1943:
Arrives at Tarakan. Refuels.
30 December 1943:
Departs Tarakan. Tows damaged oiler HAYATOMO.
8 January 1944:
Arrives at Singapore. Begins refit.
16 January 1944:
Refit is completed. Departs Singapore. Arrives at
Lingga.
21 January 1944:
Departs Lingga. Arrives at Singapore.
23 January 1944:
Embarks troops. Departs Singapore. KINU and AOBA
accompany light cruisers OI and KITAKAMI, escorted by destroyer SHIKINAMI, on
a troop transport mission.
25 January 1944:
Indian Ocean. Arrives at Port Blair, Andaman
Islands. Disembarks troops.
27 January 1944:
KINU arrives at Penang.
That same day, SW of Penang, in the Malacca Straits KITAKAMI is torpedoed
by Royal Navy Lt Denis J. B. Beckley's submarine HMS TEMPLAR. Damaged KITAKAMI
puts into Angsa Bay, Malaya.
28 January 1944:
KINU departs Penang.
30 January 1944:
Arrives at Angsa Bay and takes KITAKAMI in tow,
escorted by destroyer SHIKINAMI.
On that day, codebreakers at the USN Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL),
Australia, provide the translation of a radio message transmitted by KINU at
1341 on that day:
"Began towing at 1200, speed 12 knots. Expect to enter harbour at 1900 on
31st. Request arrangements for a tug to take over the tow outside harbour
entrance."
Comment: H.M. Submarine P-316 reported 1 hit on a cruiser or a destroyer
in North Malacca Strait on 27th. This is it.
31 January 1944:
Destroyer URANAMI arrives from Singapore to assist
KINU in towing KITAKAMI.
1 February 1944:
KINU tows KITAKAMI into Seletar Naval Base,
Singapore. KITAKAMI begins repairs.
4 February 1944:
Captain Kawasaki Harumi (46)(former CO of the
personnel bureau's 1st section at Maizuru Naval District) is appointed the CO.
Captain Itakura is later reassigned as the CO of Ise Guard Force.
7 February 1944:
Departs Singapore. Arrives at Lingga. Battle
training.
22 February 1944:
Departs Lingga. Arrives at Singapore.
27 February 1944:
Departs Singapore with OI and URANAMI, AMAGIRI and
SHIKINAMI.
3 March 1944:
Arrives at Batavia.
6 March 1944:
Departs Batavia. Arrives at Bangka.
14 March 1944:
Departs Bangka.
15 March 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
19 March 1944:
Departs Singapore.
20 March 1944:
Arrives at Bangka area.
25 March 1944:
Departs Bangka area.
2 April 1944:
KINU departs Singapore carrying ammunition with cruiser
AOBA, light cruiser OI, destroyer AMAGIRI and two unidentified destroyers.
4 April 1944:
At 1900, the AOBA group arrives at Balikpapan. Refuels
and takes on fresh provisions.
5 April 1944:
Departs Balikpapan.
7 April 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
13 April 1944:
Departs Davao.
17 April 1944:
Arrives at Saipan.
23 April 1944:
Loads Army troops and supplies. Departs Saipan for
Palau with light cruiser YUBARI and destroyers SAMIDARE and YUZUKI.
27 April 1944:
Arrives at Tokobae, Celebes. Disembarks troops and
departs.
28 April 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
30 April 1944:
Departs Davao.
1 May 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan, Borneo, rejoining CruDiv 16's
flagship, AOBA. Refuels.
5 May 1944:
Departs Tarakan escorting an oiler.
10 May 1944:
Arrives at Balikpapan. Refuels.
15 May 1944:
Departs Balikpapan escorting a convoy.
19 May 1944:
KINU receives fresh provisions from stores ship
KITAKAMI MARU.
21 May 1944:
Arrives at Tarakan.
27 May 1944: American Operation "Horlicks" - The Invasion of Biak:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral/CNO) William M. Fechteler's (former CO of INDIANA,
BB-58) Task Force 77 lands MajGen Horace H. Fuller's 41st Division on Biak off
New Guinea.
30 May 1944:
CruDiv 16's KINU, AOBA, and DesDiv 19's SHIKINAMI,
URANAMI and DesDiv 27's SHIGURE depart Tarakan.
31 May 1944: Operation "Kon" - The Reinforcement of Biak:
Arrives at
Zamboanga on Mindanao, Philippines to cover the Biak troop reinforcement convoy.
CruDiv 16, minelayer ITSUKUSHIMA and the destroyers embark 2,300 men and
depart. Battleship FUSO and CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO and five destroyers
provide distant cover for the Kon troop transport forces.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Davao.
2 June 1944:
Departs Davao for Biak with transport units and escorts.
4 June 1944:
At Sorong. Disembarks troops.
5 June 1944:
Departs Sorong with AOBA for Misool Island area.
ComCruDiv 16 Rear Admiral Sakonjo Naomasa (former CO of AOBA) transfers his flag
to SHIKINAMI. A troop transport run to Biak is aborted due to enemy
interception. SHIKINAMI suffers minor damage in air attacks due to strafing.
6 June 1944:
Anchored off Waigeo Island, Vogelkop, New Guinea. KINU
and AOBA are attacked unsuccessfully by B-24 bombers of the Fifth Air Force's
380th Group.
On that day, codebreakers at the FRUMEL provide the partial translation of a
radio message transmitted by Chief of Staff (probably Army) on 5 June:
"AOBA, KINU and destroyers, with No. 2 Brigade of Marine Commandos embarked,
reported at 0958 on 5th that they were standing by in Kabui Bay (Waigeo Island),
and requested that aerial photographs of No. 1 Landing Point (5 miles south of
Wardo River mouth) and No. 2 Landing Point (Korim Bay and Wari Bay) be sent to
Sorong by p.m. 7th."
7 June 1944:
N of Misool Island. KINU and AOBA rendezvous with DesDivs
19 and 27. Depart Misool that day.
8-9 June 1944:
At Ambon for refueling, then to Salawati Island, near
Vogelkop.
10 June 1944:
Rear Admiral Sakonjo transfers his flag to AOBA.
11 June 1944:
KINU and AOBA arrive at Batjan.
That same day, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO arrive at Batjan from Davao.
12 June 1944: American Operation "Forager" - The Invasion of Saipan:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K. Turner's (former CO of ASTORIA, CA-34)
Task Force 52 lands Marine LtGen Holland M. Smith's V Amphibious Corps and the
invasion of Saipan begins.
Batjan. Vice Admiral Ugaki Matome's (former CO of HYUGA) Operation Kon
Task Force's BatDiv 1 YAMATO and MUSASHI, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO with
DesDiv 4's OKINAMI, SHIMAKAZE, ASAGUMO, MAIKAZE and MICHISHIO and DesRon 10's
YAMAGUMO and NOWAKI arrive from Tawi Tawi.
Operation "Kon" is "postponed".
13 June 1944:
Batjan. At 2200, Ugaki's Task Force departs.
14 June 1944:
KINU, AOBA and URANAMI depart Batjan. Arrives at Obi
Major Island, Celebes.
17 June 1944:
Departs Obi Major Island.
18 June 1944:
Arrives at Bangka Roads.
25 June 1944:
Departs Bangka Roads.
27 June 1944:
Arrives at Makassar.
28 June 1944:
Departs Makassar.
2 July 1944:
Arrives at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore. KINU begins a
refit by the 101st Repair Facility.
12 July 1944:
In dock.
19 July 1944:
Undocked.
24 July 1944:
Refit is completed.
25 July 1944:
Departs Singapore. Arrives at Lingga that same day.
7 August 1944:
KINU and URANAMI depart Lingga on a transport run via
Brunei to Manila.
11 August 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
20 August 1944:KINU and destroyer SHIGURE are en route from Palau via Cebu
to Manila, but are diverted to assist NATORI, torpedoed on 18 August by USS
HARDHEAD, but are unable to locate her.
25 August 1944:
Departs Manila via Coron for Lingga escorted by SHIGURE.
2 September 1944:
Arrives at Lingga.
25 September 1944: Operation "SHO-I-GO" - The Defense of the Philippines:
Crudiv 16's KINU, AOBA and destroyer URANAMI are assigned to Vice Admiral
Kurita Takeo's (former CO of KONGO) First Raiding Force.
29 September 1944:
Lingga anchorage. KINU receives fresh provisions
from stores ship KITAKAMI MARU.
11 October 1944:
Lingga. AOBA collides with KINU in a training
accident. Both ships are slightly damaged.
18 October 1944:
Crudiv 16's AOBA, KINU and destroyer URANAMI depart
Lingga with the fleet for Brunei Bay, Borneo.
20 October 1944:
Arrives at Brunei.
21 October 1944: "Operation TA" - The Reinforcement of Leyte:
Crudiv
16 is detached from Vice Admiral Kurita's Force to assist the Southwest Area
Fleet's transport of 2,500 soldiers of the 41st Regiment from Cagayan, Mindanao
to Ormoc, Leyte. At 1700, Crudiv 16 departs Brunei.
23 October 1944:
At 0240, Cdr W. G. Chapple's USS BREAM (SS-243) picks
up CruDiv 16 on radar and begins tracking to intercept the Japanese. At 0324,
Chapple fires six torpedoes at AOBA. One hits in her No. 2 engine room. AOBA
takes on a 13 degree list to starboard. Rear Admiral Sakonjo transfers to KINU.
At 0815, KINU tows AOBA to the Cavite Navy Yard near Manila for emergency
repairs.
At 0815, AOBA is towed by KINU to the Cavite Navy Yard near Manila.
At 1422, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads:
"AOBA was torpedoed by an enemy submarine and taken in tow by the KITAGAMI
(sic). 0900 posit. Was ---- from Cabra Island----"
24 October 1944:
In the morning, KINU and URANAMI sortie from Cavite
for Cagayan. CruDiv 16 is attacked by aircraft from Rear Admiral (later
Admiral) Frederick C. Sherman's (former CO of LEXINGTON (CV-2) Task Group 38.3's
carriers USS ESSEX (CV-9) and LEXINGTON (CV-16). Near misses cause light
structural damage, but strafing kills 47 crewmen aboard the KINU and 25 crewmen
on URANAMI.
25 October 1944:
Arrives at Cagayan. Naval transports T.6, T.9 and
T.10 each embark 350 troops and T.101 and T.102 each load 400 men. In the
morning, they depart for Ormoc as CruDiv 16 arrives. After KINU embarks 347 men
and URANAMI 150, they depart Cagayan.
26 October 1944:
Visayan Sea, Jintotolo Channel. At 1020, KINU and
URANAMI are attacked by 80-85 aircraft from two groups of Task Group 77.4's
escort carriers.
An "Avenger" from MANILA BAY (CVE-61) scores two bomb hits on KINU and
several rocket hits on URANAMI. URANAMI sinks around noon. A VC-20 FM-2
"Wildcat" from KADASHAN BAY (CVE-76) and a VC-68 TBM-1C "Avenger" from PETROF
BAY (CVE-80) are shot down; their crews are rescued later.
A third bomb hits an engine room aft and sets KINU ablaze. She remains
afloat, but goes dead in the water around 1400 and begins to settle by the
stern. Naval transports arrive at mid-afternoon.
At 1720, Captain Kawasaki orders Abandon Ship. T.6, T.9 and T.10 rescue
most of KINU's crew of 813 men including Captain Kawasaki; 83 are killed and
51 wounded. T.9 embarks 129 and T.10 350 survivors. Rear Admiral Sakonjo
transfers his flag to T.10 and makes Manila the next day. Around 1730, KINU
sinks by the stern in 150 feet of water 44 miles SW of Masbate.
6 November 1944:
Captain Kawasaki is appointed the CO of the 36st
Guard Unit.
20 December 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
15 July 1945:
Divers from USS CHANTICLEER (ASR-7) find and explore
the wreck and recover documents and several coding machines.[2]
Authors' Notes:
[1] Mt. Niitaka, Formosa, is then the highest point in the
Japanese Empire.
[2] Original research by Jan Visser of the "Royal Netherlands Navy
Warships in World War II" website at http://leden.tref.nl/~jviss000/Default.htm
[3] For more about the wreck of KINU and other IJN warships see
Located & Surveyed Shipwrecks of the Japanese Navy
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada. Thanks also go to "Adm.
Gurita" of the Netherlands. Thanks also go to John Whitman for decrypt info and
troop info in Rev 4. and to John and Gengoro Toda for info on stores ship
KITAKAMI MARU. Special thanks go to Hans Mcilveen of the Netherlands for info
on FRUMEL intercepts.
Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
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