Japanese Minelayers

FUSETSUKAN!
(TSUBAME by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

IJN Minelayer NIIZAKI: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2008-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 8

12 July 1941:
Tamano. Laid down at Mitsui's shipyard.
2 March 1942:
Launched and named NIIZAKI.
31 August 1942:
Completed and registered in the Maizuru Naval District. Attached to the Maizuru Guard Unit.
6 September 1942:
At 0700 arrives at Maizuru.
27 October 1942:
Departs Yuranai.
22 May 1943:
Convoy 7522 departs Tokyo Bay consisting of GENBU, ISSEI, DAISHIN MARUs and possibly others with unknown escort.
25 May 1943:
At 1000 departs Kobe escorting convoy 8525A consisting of seven unidentified merchant ships bound for Tokyo.
26 May 1943:
Early that day at 0100 convoy 7522 sights an enemy submarine and NIIZAKI is advised. (It is unclear if she is detached to assist). Later that day NIIZAKI arrives back at Kobe escorting convoy 7525B consisting of fast tanker TATEKAWA MARU and an unknown ship ship allegedly tanker AKATSUKI MARU.
10 July 1943:
At 0010 72 degrees off Himejima Lighthouse NIIZAKI collides with TAISHO MARU (1122 grt) and sustains damage.
11 July 1943:
At 0840 departs Tokuyama Port under tow. The ship is later repaired at Kasado Zosen's yard.
16 August 1943:
Magnetic detection equipment installed.
22 August 1943:
Installation completed.
24 August 1943:
Magnetic equipment testing and trials.
28 August 1943:
Trials and testing completed.
30 August 1943:
NIIZAKI and NARYU depart together on patrol.
7 September 1943:
Arrives at Nanao.
10 September 1943:
Departs Nanao on an anti submarine sweep.
12 September 1943:
Arrives at Tottori.
13 September 1943:
At 2200 departs from Tottori on an anti submarine sweep.
18 September 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
20 September 1943:
Departs Maizuru on an anti submarine sweep.
22 September 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
25 September 1943:
Departs Maizuru on an anti submarine sweep.
29 September 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru. Repairs and maintenance undertaken.
24 October 1943:
Repairs are completed.
26 October 1943:
At 1300 departs Maizuru on patrol.
27 October 1943:
At 1300 arrives at Niigata.
1 November 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
3 November 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
6 November 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
10 November 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
13 November 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
17 November 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
20 November 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
22 November 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
26 November 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
30 November 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
2 December 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
7 December 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
9 December 1943:
Departs Maizuru on patrol.
10 December 1943:
Arrives back at Maizuru.
7 February 1944:
NIIZAKI and destroyer SHIOKAZE depart KIrun escorting convoy TAMO-01B consisting of OMINE, CHINA, TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), KINREI MARUs and five unidentified merchant ships.
14 February 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
7 March 1944:
Departs Takao with destroyers HASA and TSUGA escorting convoy TAMO-08 consisting of SEIAN, WAZAN, MEXICO, MIZUHO, TONEGAWA, ADEN, MITSUKI MARUs, KYOEI MARU No. 5 and ten unidentified merchant ships.
8 March 1944:
Arrives at Kirun (Keelung).
13 March 1944:
Departs Kirun. The convoy splits into two parts after departing port. NIIZAKI escorts a sections of 10 ships.
17 March 1944:
The first part arrives at Moji.
18 March 1944:
The second part arrives at Moji.
26 April 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Koniya with minelayer TSUBAME and auxiliary patrol boat TAIAN MARU escorting convoy ROKU-508 consisting of eight unidentified merchant ships.
3 May 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Koniya with auxiliary patrol boat TAIAN MARU escorting Army Fishing Boat Convoy No. 2 consisting of 16 unidentified fishing boats enroute to Minami Daito Jima.
13 May 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Naha for Kagoshima with torpedo boat MANAZURU and auxiliary minesweeper SHONAN MARU No. 16 escorting convoy OKI-305 consisting of six unidentified merchant ships.
16 May 1944:
At 2345 minesweeper W-15 departs Naha for Keelung with minelayers NIIZAKI and TSUBAME, auxiliary minesweeper HAKATA MARU No. 7 and BANSHU MARU No. 51 escorting convoy NATA-613 (or NATA-611) consisting of BAIEI, KOSHIN MARUs, NANSHIN MARU No. 14, NANSHIN MARU No. 27 and HORAI MARU No. 2 and six unidentified merchant ships.
18 May 1944:
At 0835 arrives at Ishigaki Jima and at 2050 departs.
19 May 1944:
At 1545 arrives at Kirun.
22 May 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchaser CH-49, auxiliary minesweeper HIMESHIMA MARU, auxiliary patrol boats TAIAN MARU and CHOUN MARU No. 13 escorting convoy KATA-205 consisting of NITTSU, AMAKUSA and TATSUHISA MARUs and seven unidentified merchant ships.
E 24 May 1944:
N of Naha. NIIZAKI joins the escort of convoy NAKA-305 consisting of five unidentified merchant ships escorted by minelayers TSUBAME, minesweeper W-15, auxiliary minesweeper HAKATA MARU No. 6, and auxiliary YUKO MARU enroute to Kagoshima via Koniya. At 2000 arrives at Seso.
25 May 1944:
At 0025 departs Seso.
26 May 1944:
At 0645 arrives at Yamakawa, departs there at 1200 and arrives at Kagoshima at 1505.
29 May 1944:
At 1230 NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Keelung with minelayer TSUBAME, minesweeper W-15, auxiliary minesweeper HAKATA MARU No. 6, auxiliary patrol boat RYUSEI MARU escorting convoy KATA-906 consisting of TERUKUNI, SHOTO, TOYAMA, KAIJO, MIYAKO, AMOY MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
30 May 1944:
Arrives at Koniya. At 1630 the escorts anchor at Seso.
1 June 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
16 June 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kirun via Naha for Kagoshima with minelayer TSUBAME, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, SHIMPO MARU, TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, TAIHEI MARU No. 3 GO, auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13 and CHIKUTO MARU escorting convoy TAKA-606 consisting of nine unidentified merchant ships.
27 June 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Keelung with auxiliary minesweeper SHONAN MARU No. 16, auxiliary patrol boats RYUSEI and CHIKUTO MARUs, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2 escorting convoy KATA-412 consisting of AMOY, BOKO (ex British SAGRES), SHOKEI, KAKO, SHOSHIN, KAIJO, TOYAMA, HITORA MARUs, NANSHIN MARU No.21, TAKASAGO MARU No.1, SHINKO MARU No.2 GO and one unidentified merchant ship.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Naze and AMOY MARU is detached.
10 July 1944:
At 0300 NIIZAKI departs Kirun via Naha for Kagoshima with auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, auxiliary minesweepers TOSHI MARU No. 7, TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, HAKATA MARU No. 6 and auxiliary patrol boat CHOUN MARU No. 13 escorting convoy TAKA-005 consisting of TAIKAI, AMOY, KEIUN, SANYO, SEISHO, SHOSHIN MARUs, YOSHIDA MARU No. 3 and three unidentified merchant ships.
13 July 1944:
Arrives at Naha. SANYO and KEIUN MARUs joins the convoy.
15 July 1944:
Stops briefly at Naze, SANYO MARU is detached. Later arrives at Koniya. AMOY MARU joins the convoy.
16 July 1944:
Arrives with convoy TAKA-005 at Kagoshima.
19 July 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary gunboat TOMITSU MARU, auxiliary minesweepers HAKATA MARU No. 6, HOEI MARU, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, auxiliary patrol boats RYUSEI MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 13, TAISEI MARU No. 5 and auxiliary YUKO MARU escorting convoy KATA-917 consisting of TOAN, BRAZIL, KOSHU, NISSHIN (1179 gt), HOEI (784 gt), NANSEI, KOSHU (2812 gt), HAKUSHIN, DAISHO (1519 gt), UJINA MARUs, NANSHIN MARU No.24, ASAHI MARU No.2, and landing ships SS 4 and SS 8 together with six unidentified merchant ships, some enroute to Kirun, some direct, others via Naha.
28 July 1944:
At 1640 NIIZAKI arrives at Seso escorting TOMITSU MARU. Soon after the warship departs and meets up with MI-13 convoy that had two days earlier departed Imari Bay for Miri with kaibokan MATSUWA, CD-14, patrol boat PB-38, minesweeper W-18, auxiliary gunboat CHOHAKUSAN MARU and auxiliary patrol boats EIFU, FUYO, KASUGA and NUNOBIKI MARUs escorting the convoy by now consisting of tankers SHINCHO, TEIKON, TOKUWA, KYOEI and ATAGO MARUs and cargo ships HIYORI, DURBAN, KIZAN, KUNIYAMA, URAL, KAZAN, SHIROTAE, KOKUSEI, HIGANE, MATSUURA, RISSHUN and ATLAS MARUs and SHINSEI MARU No. 1 and OGURA MARU No. 2.
31 July 1944:
The convoy arrives at Takao. SHIROTAE and MATSUURA MARUs are detached and tankers SHIMPO and ZUIYO MARUs and cargo ship SHINKO MARU join the convoy. NIIZAKI and CHOHAKUSAN MARU are detached from the escort and replaced by kaibokan KUSAGAKI and YASHIRO and destroyer ASAKAZE. Naval Transport T-3 also joins.
6 August 1944:
At 0900, NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boats TOMOZURU and MANAZURU, minelayers TSUBAME and NUWAJIMA, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HAKATA MARU No. 6, TAIAN, HIMESHIMA and SEKI MARUs and subchasers CH-18 and CH-17 escorting convoy KATA-626 consisting of NISSHO, SHINTON, TAIYO, TAIKEN, SEIZAN, ARISAN, NAKAGAWA, TAKUSAN, FUKUURA, TETSUZAN, KENJO, DAITOKU, EJIRI, DAII and DAIIUKU MARUs.
9 August 1944:
At 1830, arrives at Naha. NUWAJIMA and the subchasers return to Kagoshima.
11 August 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Naha for Kagoshima with minelayer NUWAJIMA, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU escorting convoy NAKA-105 consisting of TAIKAI MARU and three unidentified merchant ships.
14 August 1944:
Arrives with convoy NAKA-105 at Kagoshima.
17 August 1944:
Convoy KATA-717 departs Kagoshima with minelayer TSUBAME, torpedo boat MANAZURU, subchasers CH-17, CH-18 and CH-49, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI MARU, SHONAN MARU No. 16, TOSHI MARU No. 7, TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, HIMESHIMA MARU, CHOUN MARU No. 8, auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13, TAISEI MARU No. 5 and TAIAN MARU escorting the convoy consisting of SHINKO, ESASHI, UJINA, UNTEN, KOTSU, DAIBOSHI, HIKOSAN, MAKO, MIKAGE, KORYU, SHIROTAE, TAIKYU, DAISHIN, DAITOKU, DAIYA, BRAZIL, HOKUYO, TOMITSU and WASHIN MARUs and HOEI MARU No. 2, Navy Transport No.135 and two unidentified merchant ships enroute to Koniya or Kirun, some direct and some via Naha.
19 August 1944:
At 1200, arrives at Naha. Most ships in the convoy stop and unload. TOMITSU, SHINKO MARUs and Navy Transport No. 135 stop at Naze.
21 August 1944:
DAIYA, HOKUYU and WASHIN MARUs depart with an unknown escort.
22 August 1944:
DAIYA MARU is detached at Miyako-Jima.
23 August 1944:
The convoy arrives at Keelung.
28 August 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kirun to Kagoshima with minelayer NUWAJIMA, torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI, CHITOSE and HOEI MARUs, auxiliary patrol boat CHOUN MARU No. 13 escorting convoy TAKA-708 (part II) consisting of 20 unidentified merchant ships enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Naha.
That same day subchasers CH-49, CH-17 and CH-18 depart Kagoshima, Kyushu for Keelung, Formosa escorting convoy KATA-827 consisting of TSUKUSHI MARU No. 3, DOSHI, DAISHIN, ISSHIN, KINZAN, KEIUN, KOTSU, NANYO, HAKUYO, AMOY, KEIZAN and JOGU MARUs, NANKO MARU No. 1, HORAI MARU No. 6, HORAI MARU No. 7 and 17 other unidentified merchant ships. Other escorts include torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, auxiliary subchaser CHIKUTO MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SHONAN MARU No. 16, HOEI MARU and auxiliary HOKOKU MARI No. 3.
30 August 1944:
Departs Naha with NIIZAKI presumed to have joined.
4 September 1944:
At 1030, arrives at Keelung.
6 September 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Kagoshima for Naha with minelayers NUWAJIMA and TSUBAME, minesweeper W-15, kaibokan CD-30, auxiliary minesweepers KAIYO MARU No. 1 Go, TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, CHITOSE MARU, auxiliary patrol boat HOKOKU MARU No. 3 Go escorting convoy KANA-602 consisting of KEIZAN and SHOTO MARUs.
8 September 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
9 September 1944:
NIIZAKI and NUWAJIMA detach from KANA-602 and join convoy KATA-719 consisting of CHOSAN, EKISAN, YOKO, SAKISHIMA, DAITOKU, DAIHAKU, MUSASHI, MIFUKU and NAKAGAWA MARUs and NISSHO MARU No. 1, NANSHIN MARU No. 26 and thirteen unidentified ships also escorted by kaibokan CD-30, minesweeper W-15, and auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, CHITOSE MARU and auxiliary CHOUN MARU No. 13.
15 September 1944:
Enroute DAITOKU, DAIHAKU and NAKAGAWA MARUs are detached to Ishigaki Shima and Miyako Shima. The remainder of the convoy arrives at Keelung.
29 September 1944:
NIIZAKI departs Naha to Kagoshima wih subchaser CH-49, auxiliary patrol boat Chikuto MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SEKI and HOEI MARUs and SHONAN MARU No. 16 escorting convoy NAKA-908 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
26 October 1944:
At 1730, NIIZAKI departs Moji with light cruiser KASHI and kaibokan NOMI and UKURU escorting convoy HI-79 consisting of fleet stores ship MAMIYA, transports KAGU, MELBOURNE and ARIMASAN MARUs and tankers TENEI and MATSUSHIMA MARUs.
27 October 1944:
Kaibokan CD-17 joins the escort.
28 October 1944:
Minesweeper W-21 joins the escort.
29 October 1944:
MELBOURNE MARU is detached for Keelung escorted by kaibokan UKURU and CD-17.
30 October 1944:
At 1900 HI-79 arrives at Takao. W-21, MAMIYA and KAGU MARU are detached. Tankers KUROSHIO and RYOEI MARUs and kaibokan MANJU join the convoy.
31 October 1944:
At 1600 departs Takao.
9 November 1944:
At 1000 arrives at Singapore.
17 November 1944:
At 1800 NIIZAKI departs Singapore with light cruiser KASHII (F), kaibokan MANJU, UKURU, NOMI, KASADO, MIYAKE, CD-17, CD-23 and CD-51 escorting convoy HI-80 consisting of tankers TENEI, MATSUSHIMA, RYOEI, MUNAKATA, KUROSHIO, NICHINAN and KAIHO MARUs and transport ARIMASAN MARU.
20 November 1944:
CD-17 is detached for Saigon.
24 November 1944:
A Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" heavy bomber attacks the convoy at 16-34N, 108-21E, but is driven off without inflicting damage to the convoy.
At 1300 NICHINAN MARU and MANJU and CD-51 having detached arrive at Van Phong. CD-51 later rejoins the main convoy.
27 November 1944:
RYOEI and ARIMASAN MARUs escorted by NIIZAKI are detached for Takao.
28 November 1944:
At 1800 the ships arrive at Mako and depart late that evening.
29 November 1944:
At 0800 arrive at Takao.
18 December 1944:
NIIZAKI departs St Jacques in convoy SASHI-38 with fast tankers RYOEI MARU and AMATO MARU (from TASA-18) and en route meets up with patrol boat PB-102.
21 December 1944:
At 1300 the convoy arrives at Singapore but PB-102 is detached before arrival.
26 December 1944:
At 1158, NIIZAKI departs Singapore for Moji with escort carrier KAIYO, kaibokan OKINAWA, CD-207, CD-25, CD-63 and patrol boat PB-102 (ex-USS STEWART, DD-224) escorting convoy HI-84 consisting of transport AWA MARU, oilers AKASHI, TOA, RYOEI, AMATO and MIRI MARUs, transport IKUTAGAWA MARU and one unidentified ship.
29 December 1944:
At 1157, HI-84 arrives at Cape St. Jacques (near Saigon) and departs at 1625 the same day. IKUTAGAWA and AKASHI MARUs remain behind. CD-27 and CD-34 join the convoy at this point.
30 December 1944:
South China Sea. HI-84 passes CarDiv 4's hybrid battleship/carriers ISE and HYUGA, cruisers OYODO and ASHIGARA, DesDiv 2's ASASHIMO and DesDiv 18's KASUMI that are enroute south from Camranh Bay. Later that day, HI-84 arrives at Binhoang Bay, Indochina.
31 December 1944:
At 0745, HI-84 departs Binhoang Bay. Soon after departure, LtCdr Otis R. Cole's (USNA ’36) USS DACE (SS-247) fires three torpedoes at KAIYO, but gets no hits. There is no counterattack, as the convoy seems unaware of the attack. At 1804, HI-84 arrives at Quinhon, Indochina.
1 January 1945:
At 0057 departs Quinhon.
2 January 1945:
At 0105 arrives at Tourane.
3 January 1945:
At 0755 departs Tourane. Later S of Hainan Island. MIRI MARU strikes a mine and her engine room floods. She is left behind, but manages to reach Hong Kong.
5 January 1945:
At 1840, convoy HI-84 arrives at the Hong Kong area and departs at 1937.
9 January 1945:
At 1120 arrives at Chusan Retto, E of Shanghai.
10 January 1945:
At 0720 departs Chusan Retto.
13 January 1945:
At 1725, arrives at Moji.
14 January 1945:
Departs Moji and later that day arrives at Kure. Undergoes repairs.
22 January 1945:
At 1700 NIIZAKI departs Moji for Hong Kong with kaibokan AGUNI and CD-17 escorting convoy MOHO-01 consisting of SHINTON and TAIKYU MARUs and two unidentified merchant ships.
23 January 1945:
Arrives at Jinsen.
24 January 1945:
At 0600 departs Jinsen.
2 February 1945:
At 1700 arrives at Hong Kong.
3 February 1945:
NIIZAKI departs Hong Kong.
4 February 1945:
At 2000 arrives at Sana (Samah).
18 February 1945:
NIIZAKI departs Kirun with destroyer KAEDE and subchaser CH-21 escorting convoy TAHO-01 consisting of WAYO and KINE MARUs. That evening arrives at Niu Shan Dao.
19 February 1945:
At 0700 departs Niu Shan Dao.
21 February 1945:
Arrives at Hong Kong.
10 March 1945:
Departs Jong Kong and with kaibokan OKINAWA off Heiniu Wan joins convoy HI-94 consisting of tanker TOA MARU escorted by kaibokan CD-63 and CD-207.
12 March 1945:
CD-63 conducts a depth-charge attack against an unidentified submarine. The explosions wreck her sonar head and cause multiple fuel leaks. At 1935, arrives Saegil Do (Seinichi To), Korea.
13 March 1945:
At 0623, departs Saengil Do. At 0700 OKINAWA is detached from the convoy.
14 March 1945:
At 1700 arrives at Mutsure. Transfers to Moji.
16 March 1945:
At 0700 departs Moji.
17 March 1945:
At 0927 arrives at Maizuru. Undergoes repairs.
9 April 1945:
At 1600 NIIZAKI departs Sasebo.
12 April 1945:
At 1700 minelayers TOKIWA, KYOSAI and NIIZAKI arrive at Saiki.
14 April 1945:
At 0600 TOKIWA and NIIZAKI depart Saiki.
22 April 1945:
At 0800 minelayers KYOSAI, NIIZAKI, SAISHU and NUWAJIMA escorted by kaibokan CD-22 depart Sasebo. At 1400 they anchor in Imari Wan.
24 April 1945:
At Himejima anchorage minelayer EIJO MARU transfers mines to minelayers SAISHU, NIIZAKI, NUWAJIMA and KYOSAI.
25 April 1945:
At 0600 minelayers SAISHU and NIIZAKI depart Himejima anchorage escorted by kaibokan CD-29.
26 April 1945:
At 1510 off Imari Wan minelayer NIIZAKI and CD-29 separate from CD-22 and head to Sasebo.
1 May 1945:
At 1333 KOEI MARU and NIIZAKI depart Sasebo for Saiki. At 1750 anchor at Koguchi (Oguchi) Wan.
2 May 1945:
At 1530 arrive at Saiki. NIIZAKI and KOEI MARU begin loading mines.
3 May 1945:
Loading operations on KOEI MARU completed.
4 May 1945:
Saiki. NIIZAKI, KATASHIMA and KUROKAMI load mines assisted by a tug alongside.
8 May 1945:
At 0300 NIIZAKI, SAISHU and KYOSAI depart Saiki for Yawata. They arrive there at 1140.
15 August 1945:
NIIZAKI's crew is informed of the cessation of hostilities with the Allies.
September 1945:
Hong Kong. Surrendered to Chinese Forces; thereafter turned over to the British Royal Navy.
4 October 1945:
Off Muroran, Hokkaido. While engaged in minesweeping duties for the Allied Minesweeping Service, NIIZAKI hits a mine and is disabled.
5 October 1945:
Towed to Muroran and laid up. Removed from the Navy List that same day.
1947:
Scrapped.

Author's Notes:
[1] No data were found on NIIZAKI 's movements during 1942 and 1943. Readers with access to any such data are requested to post the information on the Discussion and Questions board or j-aircraft.org's IJN Ship Message Board

Thanks to Mr. Gilbert Casse of France.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.

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