© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Suzukaze: Tabular Record of Movement


Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Kamiyama Masao. Assigned to Desdiv 24, Desron 4, Second Fleet.

26 November-1 December 1941:
Steamed with Desron 2 from Terashima Strait to Palau.

6-12 December:
Departed Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces, then with Legaspi invasion force.

24 December:
With Lamon Bay invasion force.

12 January 1942:
With Tarakan invasion force.

19-26 January:
Guardship for ASHIGARA at Davao, then steamed to Staring Bay (Celebes) on 27 January.

4 February:
Heavy damage: while patrolling at mouth of Staring Bay, torpedoed by USS SCULPIN (SS-191); crew compartments flooded, nine killed. Assisted by YAMAKAZE and tankers SAN CLEMENTE MARU and ITSUKUSHIMA MARU back into bay for emergency repairs.

28 March-8 April:
Steamed from Staring Bay to Sasebo, then docked for repairs.

10 April:
Desdiv 24 reassigned to Desron 1, First Fleet.

15 April:
Lieutenant Commander Kamiyama (to C.O. HARUSAME) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Shibayama Kazuo (prev. C.O. NAGATSUKI).

14 July:
Desdiv 24 reassigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet.

15 July:
Repairs completed, then to Yokosuka on 23 July.

11-17 August:
Escorted CHITOSE from Yokosuka to Truk, then joined Guadalcanal troop convoy on 18 August.

25 August: Battle of Eastern Solomons
Escorted Guadalcanal troop convoy. Detached to escort damaged JINTSU into Truk on 28 August, then to Shortlands on 31 August.

31 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

4-5 September:
Escorted troop-carrying barges from Santa Isabel to Guadalcanal.

7 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

12 September:
Gunfire support mission to Guadalcanal (Kawaguchi offensive).

13 September:
Gunfire support mission to Guadalcanal (Kawaguchi offensive).

16 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

18 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to enemy presence off island.

24 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to air attack.

26-28 September:
Steamed from Shortlands to Truk.

13-14 October:
Escorted KONGO and HARUNA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

15-16 October:
Escorted MYOKO and MAYA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Advance Force.

3-5 November:
Escorted SUZUYA and MAYA from Truk to Shortlands.

7 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

10 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

13-15 November: Naval Battles for Guadalcanal
Escorted Guadalcanal troop convoy. On 14 November rescued 1,100 survivors from sunken transport NAKA MARU.

16-20 November:
Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul, then escorted CHOKAI via Kavieng to Truk.

21-23 November:
Carried Comcrudiv 18 (Rear Admiral Matsuyama Mitsuharu) from Truk to Rabaul; Admiral Matsuyama then transferred to TENRYU.

27 November:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul.

30 November: Battle of Tassafaronga
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Engaged U.S. cruiser-destroyer group. Failed to launch torpedoes while avoiding those of USS DRAYTON (DD-366).

3 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal.

7 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to PT-boat attack.

11 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal (cover). Assisted KAWAKAZE in sinking of PT- 44.

14 December:
Arrived Rabaul from Shortlands.

16-20 December:
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul to Madang and back.

1-2 January 1943:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul, then supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal (cover). Minor damage: in air attack due to near-misses.

5-6 January:
Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul, then emergency repairs.

16-21 January:
Towed UZUKI from Rabaul to Truk, then more repairs.

31 January-9 February:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons to cover the Guadalcanal evacuation.

12-18 February:
Steamed from Truk via Saipan to Sasebo, then docked for repairs.

23 May:
Lieutenant Commander Shibayama (to C.O. ASAGUMO) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Yamashita Masao (prev. C.O. YUNAGI).

16-21 June:
Escorted task force from Yokosuka to Truk.

23-27 June:
Escorted KUMANO and SUZUYA on troop transport run from Truk to Rabaul and back.

30 June-2 July:
Escorted CHOKAI from Truk to Rabaul; then steamed to Shortlands.

5-6 July: Battle of Kula Gulf
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). Contributed torpedoes to spread that sank USS HELENA (CL-50). Minor damage: due to shell hits, searchlights knocked out and forward turret jammed.

13-15 July:
Steamed from Rabaul to Truk.

21-26 July:
Escorted ATAGO, TAKAO and NAGARA from Truk to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs.

17-23 August:
Escorted ATAGO and TAKAO from Yokosuka to Truk.

25-29 August:
Escorted ATAGO and TAKAO on troop transport run from Truk to Rabaul and back.

18-25 September:
Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok in response to U.S. carrier raids in the Central Pacific, then returned.

11-13 October:
Escorted MYOKO and HAGURO from Truk to Rabaul; then returned to Truk on 15 October.

17-26 October:
Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok in anticipation of further U.S. carrier raids, then returned.

31 October-6 November:
Escorted JUNYO, UNYO, ISE and YAMASHIRO from Truk to Kure, then docked at Sasebo for repairs. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)

14-26 December:
Escorted troop convoy from Pusan via Saeki to Truk.

30 December 1943-19 January 1944:
Escorted troop convoy from Truk via Ponape to Kusaie, then troop transport runs between Kusaie, Nauru and Ponape; then escorted convoy from Ponape back to Truk.

20 January:
Out of Truk to assist torpedoed IRAKO.

24-25 January:
Departed Truk, escorting convoy towards Eniwetok. Sunk: torpedoed by USS SKIPJACK (SS-184) 140 miles north-northwest of Ponape (08-51 N, 157-10 E); blew up and sank, leaving only 22 survivors to be rescued by Subchaser No. 33; Lieutenant Commander Yamashita killed in action.

10 March 1944:
Removed from Navy List.


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