Japanese Minelayers

FUSETSUKAN!
(NUWAJIMA prewar)

IJN Minelayer NUWAJIMA: Tabular Record of Movement
© 2005-2017 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 10

26 November 1941:
Osaka. Laid down at Sakurajima Iron Works shipyard.
8 April 1942:
Named NUWAJIMA. [1]
31 July 1942:
Launched. Lt, Spec. Duty, Otsuka Goro is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
15 November 1942:
Completed. Assigned to the Saeki Guard Unit. Lt Kubo Tadahiko is appointed Commanding Officer.
22 November 1942:
NUWAJIMA joins storeship MAMIYA off Fukajima and proceeds south.
E 23 November 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
25 November 1942:
Joins tanker FUJISAN MARU off Fukajima and escorts her south.
E 26 November 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
28 November 1942:
Joins ammunition ship NICHII MARU off Ashizuri Misaki and heads north.
E 29 November 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
2 December 1942:
Departs Saeki with patrol boat PB-31 escorting the "E" convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of BANDOENG, CHIFUKU, SUMATRA and NICHIRYU MARUs.
4 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N and joins aircraft transport FUJIKAWA MARU.
E 5 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
8 December 1942:
Departs Saeki escorting the "K" Convoy (No.8 Military Movement) consisting of NISSEN MARU No. 6, SHICHISEI, YOSHINO and SHINSEI MARUs.
E 9 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N.
10 December 1942:
Joins TONEI MARU off Fukajima and escorts her south.
E 11 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
13 December 1942:
Joins store ship IRAKO Off Mizunoko Lighthouse and escorts her south.
E 14 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
22 December 1942:
Joins TAIKO MARU at 30-50N, 133-32E and escorts her north.
E 23 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
26 December 1942:
Departs Saeki escorting P Convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of YAMATO MARU No.2, RYUZAN, HOSHIKAWA and KEMBU MARUs.
E 27 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N.
28 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA joins CHOKO MARU at 30N, 133E and escorts her north.
E 29 December 1942:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
1943:
Undergoes refit for operations as a convoy escort. Her minelaying rails are removed and she is fitted to carry 36 depth charges.
25 January 1943:
NUWAJIMA and minelayer YURIJIMA departs Saeki escorting the W Convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of EHIME, KOSEI, KUROHIME and YASUKUNI MARUs.
E 26 January 1943:
The escorts are detached at 29N.
30 January 1943:
Departs Saeki escorting the Y Convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of NISSHU and OYAMA MARUs.
E 31 January 1943:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N.
7 February 1943:
NUWAJIMA and subchaser CH-39 departs Saeki escorting the A2 Convoy (No.8 Military Movement) consisting of YAHIKO, HOUN, TAIKO and SHINNO MARUs.
E 8 February 1943:
The escorts are detached at 29N.
12 February 1943:
NUWAJIMA and subchaser CH-39 joins storeship MAMIYA off Fukajima and head south.
E 13 February 1943:
The escorts are detached 90 degrees off Toi Misaki.
26 February 1943:
Departs Saiki in convoy D-2 No.8 Military Movement bound for Palau consisting of SORACHI, MILAN, KENKOKU and KANJU MARUs escorted by minelayers NASAMI and NUWAJIMA.
Est 27 February 1943:
At 29 degrees north the escorts detach.
3 March 1943:
Departs Saeki with minelayer NATSUSHIMA escorting the "E2" convoy (No. 8 Military Movement) consisting of DENMARK, YAMABUKI, GENMEI and KURAMASAN MARUs.
E 4 March 1943:
The escorts are detached at 29N.
7 March 1943:
At Ariake Bay joins a northbound convoy sheltering after submarine attack on CLYDE MARU. NUWAJIMA escorts the two undamaged merchant ships CHINZEI and SHICHISEI MARU ahead while other escorts accompany crippled CLYDE MARU.
E 8 March 1943:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
11 March 1943
A mixed force consisting of NUWAJIMA, torpedo boat HATO, patrol boats PB-31 PB-46 and subchaser CH-36 escort battleship HARUNA from Osumi Kaikyo (Strait) to Okinoshima.
20 March 1943:
Patrol boat PB-46, minelayers NATSUSHIMA and NUWAJIMA and torpedo boat HATO escort battleship HARUNA, aircraft carriers SHOKAKU and RYUHO and their escorting destroyers to Okinoshima. Later that evening PB-46 arrives at Sukumo.
27 March 1943:
Joins store ship MAMIYA off Fukajima and heads south.
28 March 1943:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N. Later, together with minelayer YURIJIMA and torpedo boat HATO joins destroyers AKIKAZE and URAKAZE and escorts them to Okinoshima.
1 April 1943:
Destroyers AKIKAZE and URAKAZE are met heading north by a mixed force consisting of minelayer NUWAJIMA, subchaser CH-36 and patrol boat PB-31.
2 April 1943:
NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA, patrol boat PB-31, subchaser CH-36 join tanker NISSHIN MARU No. 2 at 31-17N, 132-45E and escort her north.
9 April 1943:
NUWAJIMA, PB-31 and CH-36 join seaplane carrier NISSHIN and destroyer SHIKINAMI off Okinoshima and escort both vessels north.
4 May 1943:
Departs Saeki with minesweeper W-17 escorting convoy K-508 consisting of TAISHO, KENZAN, YURI, KINE and CHOSEN MARUs.
E 5 May 1943:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N.
11 May 1943:
NUWAJIMA and torpedo boat HATO departs Saeki escorting convoy K-511 consisting of MIKAGE MARU No. 20, ASAKAZE, PACIFIC, YAMAFUKU and SHINRYU MARUs.
E 12 May 1943:
NUWAJIMA is detached at 29N.
23 May 1943:
Departs Palau escorting convoy P-523 consisting of TEIRYU (ex German AUGSBURG), CHINZEI, FUKKO, TOYO, KACHOSAN and ARATAMA MARUs.
E 29 May 1943:
Minesweeper W-18 and patrol boat PB-46 join the convoy at 29-50N, 132-02E.
31 May 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
9 June 1943:
At 28-55N, 131-48E, NUWAJIMA joins the escort of convoy P-607 that departed Palau on 7 June and now consists of HOFUKU, HIYOSHI and SAIPAN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO, patrol boat PB-31 and minelayer YURIJIMA and then heads north to Fukajima.
11 June 1943:
NUWAJIMA and kaibokan IKI join KONAN and NANKAI MARUs off Toi Misaki and escort the ships north.
12 June 1943:
IKI and NUWAJIMA are detached off Fukajima. IKI and NUWAJIMA then quickly return south and provide distant cover for arriving convoy P-607. None of these warships escort the convoy beyond the entrance to the Bungo Straits.
16 June 1943:
NUWAJIMA and minelayer YURIJIMA join Army landing craft depot ship NIGITSU MARU at 27-04N, 134-00E and head north.
E 17 June 1943:
Kaibokan IKI joins he escort.
E 18 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki. NUWAJIMA then departs.
19 June 1943:
Joins armed merchant cruiser AIKOKU MARU at 26-55N, 134-52E.
E 20 June 1943:
YURIJIMA joins the convoy at 30-50N, 133-00E.
21 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
24 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
25 June 1943:
Battleship MUSASHI is expected in the area. NUWAJIMA, YURIJIMA, auxiliary patrol boats NISUI, HOKUTO and KOSHUN MARUs and auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU conduct an advance sweep of her intended route.
E 27 June 1943: NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA join convoy To-906 at 30-40N, 134-50E as additional escorts. The convoy consists of DELAGOA, DAINICHI, KAZAN, MACASSAR and SAN FRANCISCO MARUs and EIKO MARU No. 2 GO escorted by patrol boat PB-46.
28 June 1943:
At 1920, arrives at Saeki.
E 1 July 1943:
NUWAJIMA, YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 8 and TAMA MARU No. 6 join convoy FU-405 at 29N consisting of NISHIYAMA (SEIZAN), MOJI, SHICHISEI, CHINZEI and KENRYU MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-18.
2 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
E 10 July 1943:
Joins convoy FU-601 at 29-10N 134-30E consisting of KAZUURA MARU escorted by kaibokan IKI.
11 July 1943:
Off Saeki the escorts are detached and KAZUURA MARU proceeds alone to Ujina.
15 July 1943:
East China Sea. NUWAJIMA joins auxiliary cruiser GOKOKU MARU and kaibokan IKI at 28-54N, 132-41E.
16 July 1943:
Off Okinoshima, NUWAJIMA is detached.
E 22 July 1943:
At 30N, 134E, NUWAJIMA and auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 join convoy FU-406 consisting of YAMAFUKU, TAGA, YAMAGATA, RYUYO, UMEKAWA and OLYMPIA MARUs escorted by patrol boat PB-31.
23 July 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
E 29 July 1943:
NUWAJIMA and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU No. 7 join convoy FU-006 at 30N, 134E consisting of ERIE, NISSHU, KINKASAN, KENZAN, KAMO and INARI MARUs escorted by minesweeper W-17. At 1500, the convoy arrives at Fukajima.
31 July 1943:
In preparation for the arrival of an unidentified naval group, NUWAJIMA conducts an anti submarine patrol as do auxiliary minesweepers OI MARU, TAKUNAN MARU No. 3 and TAKUNAN MARU No. 8, auxiliary patrol boats NITTO MARU No. 12, SHINKO and TAITO MARUs and auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU.
1 August 1943:
NUWAJIMA, auxiliary patrol boats NITTO MARU No. 12, SHINKO and TAITO MARUs and auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU conduct an advance sweep from Okinoshima.
5 August 1943:
Off the Bungo Straits. NUWAJIMA is appointed to escort German submarine U-511 (later IJN RO-500), inbound to Kure from France via Malaya. At 0800, NUWAJIMA rendezvouses with U-511 to escort her for the remainder of her voyage. Soon thereafter, a Japanese patrol aircraft reports sighting a submarine ahead of U-511's route. NUWAJIMA conducts a depth-charge attack, while U-511 continues the voyage independently. NUWAJIMA and U-511 stop at Agenosho Bay off Yashiro Jima for the night.
10 August 1943:
At 31-30N, 134-00E, NUWAJIMA joins the escort of convoy FU-404 consisting of KANSAI, NISSHO, NIGITSU and AOBASAN MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO. Later that day, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No.8 and TAMA MARU No. 7 join the convoy at 31-30N, 133-30E.
11 August 1943:
Arrives at Palau. The merchant ships sail on to Ujina, arriving later that day.
17 August 1943:
NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA, minesweeper W-33, auxiliary minesweepers KOZAN, AOI, YACHIYO, TAMA, OI MARUs and auxiliary netlayer TAISHU MARU conduct an advance sweep at the entrance to the Kii Straits ahead of battleships YAMATO, FUSO, NAGATO, escort carrier TAIYO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO and TAKAO, DesDiv 7's USHIO, DesDiv 10's AKIGUMO and YUGUMO, DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE that transit the seaway soon after enroute to Tuk via Yokosuka.
11 October 1943:
Carriers JUNYO and RYUHO are scheduled to transit the Bungo Straits. YURIJIMA and minelayers NUWAJIMA, KUROKAMI, KATASHIMA and auxiliary TOKUSHIMA MARU, conduct an advance sweep.
Later that day, NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA join convoy FU-105 at 31N. The convoy consists of TAIKOKU, KAYO, KINE, KIBI and UMEKAWA MARUs escorted by torpedo boat SAGI, auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No. 6, TOKUHO MARU No. 10 and YACHIYO and AOI MARUs (the latter four having only joined at 30N.)
12 October 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
26 October 1943:
Convoy FU-607 departs Palau for Saeki, Kyushu consisting of HOSHI MARU No. 11 (JUNKITSU MARU), MEXICO, NISSHU, KAYO and NANMAN MARUs and one or two unidentified ships escorted by patrol boat PB-31.
27 October 1943:
At 2140, Captain (later Vice Admiral) Frank T. Watkins' (USNA ’22) USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) torpedoes and sinks NANMAN MARU, carrying civilian repatriates, at 12-02N, 134, 28E. One crewman is killed.
E 3 November 1943:
NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA, patrol boat PB-31 and auxiliary minesweepers AOI and YACHIYO MARUs and TOKUHO MARU No. 10 all join convoy FU-607 at latitude 30N.
4 November 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
5 November 1943:
NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA and auxiliary minesweepers TAMA and OI MARUs conduct an advance sweep of the Bungo Straits ahead of battleships YAMASHIRO and ISE and carrier JUNYO transiting the seaway heading north.
25 November 1943:
NUWAJIMA provides an advance sweep for submarine tender CHOGEI.
5 December 1943:
At 0100, NUWAJIMA departs Saeki with minesweeper W-18, auxiliary minesweepers TAMA MARU No. 6 and OI MARU escorting convoy O-506 consisting of ERIE, KOFUKU, DENMARK, SAIHO, SHINYO MARUs, TAIAN MARU No.2
6 December 1943:
At 28N all escorts except W-18 are detached. At latitude 28N, NUWAJIMA and YURIJIMA join convoy FU-009 enroute from Palau to Saeki consisting of TAJIMA, TOYOOKA, NISSHIN, KOSEI, TOSHO, TENCHO, RYUWA, SAN FRANCISCO and KIZUGAWA MARUs escorted by minesweepers W-17 and auxiliary minesweepers OI MARU and TAMA MARU No. 6.
7 December 1943:
Arrives at Saeki.
E 9 January 1944:
At 28N, NUWAJIMA joins convoy FU-104 consisting of SAMARANG, YAMAGIKU, FUKKO, UMEGAWA MARUs escorted by destroyer HARUKAZE.
E 10 January 1944:
NUWAJIMA is detached off Fukajima.
11 January 1944:
Departs Saeki for Rabaul via Palau with minesweeper W-18 and auxiliary minesweeper TAMA MARU escorting convoy O-105 consisting of YAMAZURU, ERIE, DENMARK and NARITA MARUs. YAMAZURU MARU is towing Type A midget submarine HA-50.
WSW of Cape Ashizuri. About 1230, ERIE MARU is torpedoed in hold No. 2 by LtCdr Charleton L. Murphy’s (USNA ’32) old USS STURGEON (SS-187) at 32-31N, 132-34E. At 1417, ERIE MARU lists over and sinks. She is carrying about 2,500 Army troops of the 5th Nanyo (South Seas) Group consisting of two large infantry groups, a tank group and an AA group of which about 200 are KIA. The escorts counter-attack and drop 51 depth-charges. USS STURGEON incurs slight damage, but escapes. The convoy returns to port.
13 January 1944:
Saeki. At 0200, the convoy again sets out for Palau joined by TARUSHIMA MARU towing another unidentified midget submarine.
14 January 1944:
155 miles SE of Tanega-Jima. At 2025, YAMAZURU MARU, loaded with aviation fuel and war supplies, is attacked by LtCdr (later Cdr) Royce L. Gross’ (USNA ’30) USS SEAWOLF (SS-197) at 28-25N, 133-30E. The ship is hit by a torpedo in her No. 2 hold. and set afire. Her cargo of aviation fuel also catches fire. Hit by another torpedo, YAMATSURU MARU sinks also taking down the midget submarine. Four passengers, two escort troops and 30 of the crew are killed.
16 January 1944:
Philippine Sea. At 0130, an enemy submarine fires two shells that fall in the sea near the stern of DENMARK MARU, but the submarine is driven off. At 1806, that same day, LtCdr (later Captain) Albert C. Burrows' (USNA ’28) USS WHALE (SS-239) torpedoes and sinks DENMARK MARU at 24-00N, 134-00E with the loss of 1,653 men out of 2,899 troops of the 14th Infantry Division, 20 gunners and 31 crewmen. At 2250, LtCdr Gross’ USS SEAWOLF damages TARUSHIMA MARU by gunfire at 23-00N, 135-00E.
E 18 January 1944:
NUWAJIMA is detached from the remains of convoy O-105 and joins kaibokan IKI that is escorting convoy FU-203 from Palau to Saeki consisting of CHOSEN and RYUA MARUs and KOSHU MARU No. 2.
24 January 1944:
Near Fukujima light house. At 0225, in bad weather, LtCdr Charleton L. Murphy’s (USNA ’32) old USS STURGEON (SS-187) torpedoes and sinks CHOSEN MARU. One gunner and five crewmen are killed. IKI does not counter-attack. NUWAJIMA is detached.
28 January 1944:
At Naha loads 100 mines supplied by auxiliary minelayer KOEI MARU.
29 January 1944:
Loads a further 100 mines.
5 February 1944:
Arrives at Saiki.
15 February 1944:
Departs Saiki and later that day arrives at Kure.
18 February 1944:
Departs Kure and later that day arrives at Innoshima.
28 February 1944:
Departs Innoshima and later that day arrives at Kure.
14 March 1944:
Departs Kure and transfers to Hiroshima Wan.
17 March 1944:
Departs Hiroshima Wan and later that day arrives at Saiki.
22 March 1944:
Departs Saiki and later that day arrives at Kure.
27 March 1944:
Departs Kure and transfers to Hiroshima Wan.
29 March 1944:
Transfers from Hiroshima Wan to Iyo Nada.
17 April 1944:
Departs Saiki and patrols off Sata Misaki before returning to Saiki later that day.
20 April 1944:
Departs Saiki and patrols off Fuka Jima then Sata Misaki.
21 April 1944:
Arrives at Otaka.
22-24 April 1944:
Radar is installed.
24 April 1944:
Departs Otaka and arrives at Yurijima.
25 April 1944:
Departs Yurijima.
29 April 1944:
Arrives at Saiki.
14 May 1944:
Departs Saiki and patrols the Pacific.
17 May 1944:
Returns to Saiki.
1 June 1944:
Departs Saiki.
5 June 1944:
Arrives Uwajima and later that day departs port.
7 June 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
9 June 1944:
Departs Kure.
12 June 1944:
Arrives at Saiki.
14 June 1944:
Departs Saiki and later that day arrives at Kure.
18 June 1944:
Departs Kure.
20 June 1944:
Arrives at Moji.
23 June 1944:
At 1700 departs Moji for Miri Borneo with kaibokan CD-9, torpedo boats TOMOZURU, HATO and auxiliary gunboats PEKING and KAZAN (HUASHAN) MARUs escorting convoy MOMA-09/MI-09 consisting of SAIHO, SAINEI, CHILE, SHIMOTSU, CHIYODA, SHUNTEN, SHIROUMA (HAKUBA), NORFOLK, KINRYO, KENSEI, UGA, KYOKUZAN, AMAHI, BINGO, NATSUKAWA, TEIKA (ex French CAP VARELLA), HIROTA, TATSUHARU, NIKKO, EIYO, MISAKI MARUs, KYOEI MARU No.3 (to Manila), KYOEI MARU No. 10, YOKO MARU (to Takao) and two other merchant ships.
E 27 June 1944:
NUWAJIMA is detached for Keelung, Formosa with MISAKI, ANAHI and TEIKA MARUs.
28 June 1944:
At 2200 arrives at Kirun.
30 June 1944:
At 0600, departs Keelung for Moji with kaibokan ETOROFU and CD-17 escorting convoy TAMO-20B consisting of KAMO, MANSHU, KONZAN, YAMAHAGI, SHIROTAE, TOUN and TASMANIA MARUs.
July 1944:
Assigned to escort supply convoys to Okinawa.
3 July 1944:
At 2300, LtCdr Donald F. Weiss' (USNA ’29) USS TINOSA (SS-283) torpedoes and sinks KAMO and KONZAN MARUs at 32-25N, 128-50E. KAMO MARU is carrying 525 passengers and 7,570 tons of general cargo. 415 passengers, seven guards, three gunners and 74 crewmen are killed, a death toll of 499. KONZAN MARU's casualties are 23 crewmen KIA.
4 July 1944:
At 1930, arrives at Moji.
9 July 1944:
Departs Kagoshima, Kyushu for Keelung with auxiliary minesweepers Banshu Maru No. 51, Shimpo Maru, Kaiyo Maru No. 1, auxiliary patrol boats TAIAN MARU, CHIKUTO MARU, HOKOKU MARU No. 3 Go escorting convoy KATA-910 consisting of TOYOSAKA, TERUKUNI MARUs, NANKAI MARU No.1 and ten unidentified merchant ships.
11 July 1944:
Arrives at Naha.
24 July 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Naha with auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 1, auxiliary submarine chaser NAGATO MARU, auxiliary patrol boats TAIAN MARU, HOKOKU MARU No. 3 Go escorting convoy KANA-408 consisting of NICHIRIN, RYUKYU, AMOY, TOKO (4168 gt), YUSEI, MIYAKO, AMAKUSA MARUs and NANSHIN MARU No.4.
25 July 1944:
AMOY MARU is detached off Naze.
E 28 July 1944:
Joins the escort of convoy TAKA-205 that departed Keelung on 25 July enroute to Koniya and Kagoshima via Naha (arriving there 27 July) consisting of UNTEN, EDOGAWA, TAISHO (830 gt), TORAI MARUs and nine unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary subchaser NAGATO MARU, auxiliary minesweepers SHIMPO MARU, and auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13, RYUSEI MARU, TAIAN MARU and auxiliary YUKO MARU.
6 August 1944:
At 0900, departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boats TOMOZURU and MANAZURU, minelayers TSUBAME, NIIZAKI, 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:
Departs Naha for Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2 and auxiliary minesweeper CHITOSE MARU escorting convoy NAKA-105 consisting of four unidentified merchant ships.
17 August 1944:
At 1900, departs Kagoshima with kaibokan CD-30, torpedo boat TOMOZURU, minelayers TSUBAME, NIIZAKI, subchasers CH-17 and CH-18, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARUs No. 1 and No. 3, SHONAN MARU No. 16, CHITOSE and HOEI MARUs escorting convoy KATA-717 consisting of ESASHI, UJINA, UNTEN, KOTSU, DAIBOSHI, HIKOSAN, MAKO, MIKAGE, KORYU, SHIROTAE, TAIKYU, TAISHIN, DAITOKU, DAIYA, BRAZIL, HOKUYU, SHINKO, TOMITSU, WASHIN MARUs, HOEI MARU No. 2, NAVY TRANSPORT No. 135 and two unidentified merchant ships.
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:
Departs Keelung for Kagoshima with minelayer NIIZAKI, 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.
6 September 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Naha with minelayers NIIZAKI 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. At some point later NUWAJIMA is detached.
13 September 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Naha with minelayer TSUBAME, auxiliary gunboat CHOJUSAN MARU, auxiliary minesweeper TAKUNAN MARU No. 1 and auxiliary subchaser NAGATO MARU escorting convoy KANA-402 consisting of HAGIKAWA and SOSHU MARUs.
14 September 1944:
Arrives at Koniya. SOSHU MARU and escorts NAGATO MARU and NUWAJIMA are detached.
6 October 1944:
Departs Keelung for Kagoshima with torpedo boat MANAZURU, auxiliary netlayer SHINTO MARU No. 2, kaibokan CD-30, minesweeper W-15, subchaser CH-49, auxiliary minesweepers CHOUN MARU No. 13, KAIYO MARU No. 1 Go, auxiliary patrol boats CHOUN MARU No. 13, SOBUN and HOKOKU MARUs escorting convoy TAKA-410 consisting of KOTSU, DAIYA, TAIKAI, TAKUSAN MARUs and ten unidentified merchant ships enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Miyako Shima and Kasari Bay.
20 November 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Naze, Amami Oshima with torpedo boat MANAZURU escorting an unnumbered convoy consisting of an unidentified merchant ship.
22 November 1944:
Departs Koniya with auxuilary minesweepers CHITOSE MARU and KAIYO MARU No. 1 GO and auxiliary patrol boat HOKOKU MARU No. 3 GO escorting NICHIRIN MARU (ex British MATA HARI) for Kagoshima.
26 November 1944:
Departs Kagoshima for Keelung with torpedo boat MANAZURU, kaibokan CD-44, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, TOSHI MARU No. 7, HIMESHIMA MARU, auxiliary patrol boat CHIKUTO MARU escorting convoy KATA-614 consisting of HAKUTETSU MARU No. 11, KINYU MARU No. 3, HOEI MARU No. 3, HOEI MARU No. 5, DAISHIN, TOYOSAKA, RYUKYU, KEIUN, NAZE MARUs, and six unidentified merchant ships.
30 November 1944:
KEIUN MARU is detached off Kerama Retto.
11 December 1944:
Departs Keelung escorting convoy TAKA-107 consisting of TENSHO, NANKING MARUs and fourteen unidentified merchant ships escorted by minelayer Nuwajima, torpedo boat MANAZURU, kaibokan CD-44, minesweeper W-15, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, TOSHI MARU No. 7 enroute to Kagoshima, some direct and some via Miyako Shima and Kasari Wan.
24 January 1945:
W-15, kaibokan CD-44, CD-68, torpedo boat MANAZURU, minelayer NUWAJIMA, auxiliary minesweepers TAKUNAN MARU No. 3, CHOUN MARU No. 8 and HIMESHIMA and SEKI MARUs depart Kagoshima escorting convoy KATA-407 consisting of tanker KINYU MARU No. 7 and probably other ships.
27 January 1945:
At 1858 arrives at Naha.
28 January 1945:
Naha, Okinawa. NUWAJIMA and minelayer SAISHU come alongside KOEI MARU and each receives 100 mines.
29 January 1945:
SAISHU receives another 100 mines while NUWAJIMA receives 80 more.
31 January 1945:
Arrives at Kagoshima.
1 February 1945:
Reassigned to the Seventh Fleet’s 18th Squadron at Saeki.
26 February 1945:
Departs Tomie, Goto Retto with minelayer TSUBAME, subchaser CH-49, kaibokan FUKUE and auxiliary submarine chaser SANKYO MARU escorting convoy SA-11 consisting of DAIKEN, NICHIRIN, TOYOSAKA and EDOGAWA MARUs .
1 March 1945:
Off Miyako Jima. Aircraft of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher’s (USNA ’10) Task Force 58 sink TAIKEN MARU (42 passengers and 16 crewmen killed), TOYOSAKA MARU (four crewmen killed) and damage EDOGAWA MARU. NICHIRIN MARU escapes south, but is sunk the following day with the loss of 17 crewmen.
Off Ishigaki Shima. Task Force 58 aircraft damage NUWAJIMA and kaibokan FUKUE and sink TSUBAME at 24-23N, 124-12E.
27 March 1945:
At 1437, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “Ibusuki patrol plane discovered survivors (presumed to be from ODATE) drifting in position bearing 226 degrees, distant 142 miles from Ibusuki. SAISHU and NUWAJIMA are to proceed rapidly to the same position and are to make contact after rescue.”
1 April 1945:
At 2200 arrives at Sasebo
9 April 1945:
At 1200 minelayers TOKIWA, KOEI MARU, NUWAJIMA and SAISHU depart Sasebo. Later they anchor at Imari Wan.
10 April 1945:
At 0800 departs Imari Wan. At 1700 transits the Shimonoseki Straits.
11 April 1945:
At 1730 KOEI MARU, NUWAJIMA and SAISHU arrive at Saiki.
12 April 1945:
NUWAJIMA together with KUROKAMI, KATASHIMA, SAISHU and KOEI MARU load mines at Saiki.
13 April 1945:
Loading operations are completed.
14 April 1945:
At 0900 NUWAJIMA departs Saiki followed an hour later by KOEI MARU, KYOSAI and SAISHU. The ships proceed to lay mines in the Bungo Suido area.
15 April 1945:
At 0630 KOEI MARU, SAISHU, NUWAJIMA and KYOSAI arrive at 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 1330 off Kogushi (Ogushi) Wan NUWAJIMA meets up with minelayer KYOSAI.
28 April 1945:
At 1000 NUWAJIMA and KYOSAI with kaibokan CD-22 for escort depart Kogushi (Ogushi) Wan for Saiki.
29 April 1945:
At 1530 NUWAJIMA, SAISHU and KYOSAI with kaibokan CD-22 arrive at Saiki.
30 April 1945:
Saeki Bay. USAAF 20th Air Force’s Boeing B-29 “Super Fortress” aircraft of the 314th Bomb Wing based at Guam attack a nearby airfield. A heavy bomb hits NUWAJIMA aft and blows her stern off. Fourteen crewmen are KIA. The hulk is beached at 32-56N, 131-05E.
At 1140, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads: “At 1013, 11 B-29s dropped bombs on Saeki Unit Air Group. All fell into the sea. Damage received: NUWAJIMA received hit in stern and was badly damaged and beached on south shore of Onyu Shima -----.”
17 May 1945:
Reserve Lt Yamakawa Kunio is appointed the CO.
20 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
1945-1946:
Scrapped.

Authors' Note:
[1] NUWAJIMA was also known as NUWASHIMA.

[2] Apparently, HARUNA's and KUMANO's sortie was delayed after the submarine sighting.
Thanks go to John Whitman of Virginia for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages and to Gilbert Casse of France for his contribution to revisions.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

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