© 2000 (Revised June 2007) Anthony P. Tully
Contact Email: tullyfleet - gmail.com
Initial Command Structure:
Commanding Officer: Captain Ishii Norie.
April 1941:
Reconstruction to escort carrier authorized.
1 May 1941:
Enters dock at Sasebo for conversion. Captain Ishii Norie assigned as equipping officer, later to become commanding officer.
1 September 1941:
At Sasebo, flag of CarDiv 5, 1st Air Fleet hoisted aboard.
2 September 1941:
Reconstruction to CVE completed at Sasebo.
10 September 1941:
Flag of CarDiv 5, 1st Air Fleet removed, thereafter ship is assigned to CarDiv 4.
Reassigned to RAdm (later VAdm) Kakuta Kakuji (39) (former ComCarDiv 3)’s CarDiv 4, First
Air Fleet.
Reserve Lt (Eng.) (later LtCdr) Matsuzaki Saneki is appointed Damage Control Officer.
Lt (later LtCdr) Nagafuji Suehisa (63) (former Gunnery Officer, MATSUKAZE) is appointed
Communications Officer.
20 September 1941:
LtCdr/S (later Cdr/S) Takano Jiro (1929) (former Surgeon, NAKA) is appointed Surgeon. Lt/S
Nabeshima is reassigned.
15 October 1941:
Navigator Lt Abe is promoted LtCdr.
24 October 1941:
Depart Sasebo for Takao, Formosa.
26 October 1941:
Arrive at Takao.
1 November 1941:
Reserve Lt (Eng.) (later LtCdr) Sakamoto Yoshiteru is appointed Maintenance Officer. LtCdr (Eng.) Shiina is reassigned.
7 November 1941:
Depart Takao for Sasebo.
10 November 1941:
Arrive at Sasebo.
28 November 1941:
Depart Sasebo carrying Type-96 shipboard fighters to Palau for 11th Air Fleet)
1 December 1941:
Arrive at Takao, Formosa, depart next day for Palau.
6 December 1941:
Arrive at Palau, off-load fighter cargo.
8 December 1941:
Depart Palau for return to the Inland Sea.
12 December 1941:
Arrive off Tokuyama.
10 January 1942:
Depart Tokuyama, arrive Kure.
29 January 1942:
Depart Kure; arrive Saeki.
16 February 1942:
Depart Oita, arrive Kure.
17 February 1942:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Ito Kinnosuke (57) (former Navigator, IWATE) is appointed Navigator. LtCdr
Abe is reassigned.
20 February 1942:
Depart Kure for Yokosuka.
22 February 1942:
Arrive Yokosuka.
25 February 1942:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
3 March 1942:
Arrive at Truk.
5 March 1942:
Depart Truk for Kure.
12 March 1942:
Arrive Kure.
1 April 1942:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
Reserve Lt (Eng.) (later LtCdr) Iwanami Tsuyoshi is appointed Maintenance Officer. Lt (Eng.)
Sakamoto is reassigned.
Damage Control Officer Lt (Eng.) Matsuzaki is reassigned and leaves the ship. A successor is not
appointed, and the position of Damage Control Officer is eventually abolished on 1 December 1943.
3 April 1942:
Depart Yokosuka for Rabaul.
11 April 1942:
Arrive at Rabaul. Bombed that same day, no damage. LtCdr (later Cdr) Igarashi Chikamasa (56) (former Wing Leader, Chitose Air Group) is appointed
Air Officer. LtCdr Sakinaga is appointed an Equipping Officer of JUNYO.
12 April 1942:
Bombed at Rabaul, no damage. Depart same day for Tokyo Bay.
20 April 1942:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
Lt (Cdr posthumously) Irizawa Mitsuteru (63) (former Gunnery Officer, KONGO MARU) is
appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Yoshino is appointed an Equipping Officer of JUNYO.
Communications Officer Lt Nagafuji is appointed Communications Officer of Kisarazu Air Group
and leaves the ship. A successor is not appointed.
25 April 1942:
Depart Yokosuka.
3 May 1942:
Arrive Ruotto. Depart next day.
7 May 1942:
Arrive at Queen Carola and then Rabaul.
9 May 1942:
Depart Rabaul for the Inland Sea.
16 May 1942:
Arrive at Kure.
21 May 1942:
Enter drydock at Kure.
25 May 1942:
Leave drydock.
4 August 1942:
Captain Ishii relieved by Captain Takatsugu Kanichi as commanding officer.
10 August 1942:
Lt/P Haneda Tsunehisa (1940) is appointed Paymaster. Lt/P Ono is reassigned.
16 August 1942:
Assigned to "KA" Operations force main body.
17 August 1942:
Depart Oita for Taroa, joining up with YAMATO.
27 August 1942:
Detach from Main Body and proceed with AKEBONO with load of planes for Maloelap in the Marshall Islands.
29 August 1942:
Arrive at Taroa, depart next day for Truk.
31 August 1942:
Name officially changed from KASUGA MARU to TAIYO. Reassigned directly to Admiral (Fleet
Admiral posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku (32) (former Vice-Minister of the Navy)’s Combined
Fleet Headquarters.
4 September 1942:
Arrive at Truk with AKEBONO from Maloelap; depart later for Palau.
5 September 1942:
Gunnery Officer Lt Irizawa is reassigned and leaves the ship. A successor is not appointed.
7 September 1942:
Arrive at Palau.
11 September 1942:
Depart Palau.
12 September 1942:
Arrive Davao, depart next day.
17 September 1942:
Arrive at Kavieng.
21 September 1942:
Arrive back at Davao, depart next day for Truk, escorted by AKEBONO and USHIO.
25 September 1942:
Maintenance Officer Lt (Eng.) Iwanami is reassigned and leaves the ship. A successor is not
appointed, and the position of Maintenance Officer is eventually abolished on 25 November 1943.
28 September 1942:
Action:
- 1325 when 40 miles south of Truk's South Channel, in position 06-59'N, 151-45'E hit in starboard quarter by one torpedo of five fired by enemy submarine [USS TROUT] TAIYO stopped with smoke welling up from the waterline aft, but by 1400 got back undway again. Thirteen men are killed, but assisted by heavy squall that arose, the carrier is able to evade further attack and to proceed at 16 knots, arriving safely in Truk later that day.
1 October 1942:
LtCdr/S (later Cdr/S) Kashima Shiro (1932) (former Surgeon, CHITOSE) is appointed Surgeon.
LtCdr/S Takano is reassigned.
4 October 1942:
After completion of emergency repairs, depart Truk for the homeland.
5 October 1942:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Yamakawa Yoshihiko (58) (former Navigator, HAGIKAZE) is appointed
Navigator. LtCdr Ito is reassigned.
13 October 1942:
Arrive at Kure.
15 October 1942:
LtCdr (Eng.) (later Captain) Uno Shigesaburo (Eng. 32) (former Chief Engineer, 1st Minesweeper
Division) is appointed Chief Engineer. Cdr (Eng.) Yamada is reassigned.
16 October 1942:
Enter drydock, remaining till 26th.
22 October 1942:
Air Officer LtCdr Igarashi is reassigned and leaves the ship. A successor is not appointed.
24 October 1942:
Captain (later RAdm) Shinoda Tarohachi (44) (former CO of KAMIKAWA MARU) is appointed
CO. Captain Takatsugu is reassigned.
26 October 1942:
Leave drydock, depart subsequently for Yokosuka.
29 October 1942:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
1 November 1942:
Resuming plane ferry duty, depart Yokosuka for Truk. Chief Engineer LtCdr Uno is promoted Cdr.
6 November 1942:
Arrive at Truk, depart next day.
16 November 1942:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
19 November 1942:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
25 November 1942:
Arrive at Truk; depart next day.
5 December 1942:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
15 December 1942:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
21 December 1942:
Arrive Truk, depart next day for Kavieng.
24 December 1942:
Arrive at Kavieng. From there depart to Tokyo Bay.
31 December 1942:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
1 February 1943:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
7 February 1943:
Arrive at Truk.
11 February 1943:
Depart Truk for Yokosuka.
17 February 1943:
Arrive at Yokosuka with UNYO and HIBIKI.
24 February 1943:
Depart Yokosuka with UNYO for Truk, escorted by HIBIKI.
2 March 1943:
Arrive at Truk.
6 March 1943:
Depart Truk for Yokosuka with UNYO, escorted by USHIO and HIBIKI.
12 March 1943:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
4 April 1943:
0930: Depart Yokosuka for Truk with CHUYO and CHOKAI, escorted by HIBIKI, SAZANAMI, OYASHIO and KUROSHIO.
7 April 1943:
Arrive at Saipan for short layover, depart later the same day for Truk.
9 April 1943:
Action:
- 2049 attacked by submarine, but torpedoes prematured or only partial exploded. TAIYO suffered only minor, if any, damage. The Task Force continued on.
- 2155 Telegram announced:"TAIYO sustained enemy torpedo attack but suffered no damage." [The submarine was USS TUNNY SS-282 which fired two torpedo spreads from a position directly between the two column formation. There is almost no information from the IJN side about this important encounter which was a heartbreaking failure for the USN. See Note 1]
10 April 1943:
1100: TAIYO, CHUYO, CHOKAI, SAZANAMI, HIBIKI, OYASHIO and KUROSHIO arrive at Truk. TAIYO's damage is not great enough to necessitate any reported repairs.
16 April 1943:
Depart Truk for Yokosuka with CHUYO, screened by HIBIKI and SAZANAMI.
17 April 1943:
Arrive at Saipan, joined by SHIGURE, and depart the same day for Yokosuka.
21 April 1943:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
25 April 1943:
??
Depart Yokosuka for Truk with both UNYO and CHUYO, escorted by SHIGURE and NAGANAMI.
29 April 1943:
Acting Combined Fleet CinC VAdm Kondo is promoted Admiral.
1 May 1943:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
6 May 1943:
Arrive at Truk.
8 May 1943:
Depart Truk.
21 May 1943:
Admiral (Fleet Admiral posthumously) Koga Mineichi (former CinC Yokosuka Naval District) is
appointed CinC Combined Fleet. Admiral Kondo resumes full-time command of Second Fleet.
25 May 1943:
Arrive at Mako.
27 Mary 1943:
Depart Mako.
29 May 1943:
Captain (RAdm posthumously) Matsuda Takatomo (45) (former CO of KAMIKAWA MARU) is
appointed CO. Captain Shinoda is reassigned.
15 June 1943:
Enter drydock at Sasebo.
30 June 1943:
Leave drydock.
15 July 1943:
Depart Sasebo.
17 July 1943:
Arrive Yokosuka.
23 July 1943:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
28 July 1943:
Arrive at Truk.
4 August 1943:
Depart Truk for Yokosuka.
6 August 1943:
Attacked by four torpedoes fired by submarine USS PIKE in position 21-23'N, 153-20 E. No damage received, while ONAMI depth charged with unknown results.
9 August 1943:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
17 August 1943:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk.
23 August 1943:
Arrive at Truk.
28 August 1943:
Depart Truk for Yokosuka with YUKIKAZE.
2 September 1943:
Arrive at Yokosuka.
7 September 1943:
Depart Yokosuka for Truk with CHUYO.
9 September 1943:
Arrive at Truk.
21 September 1943:
Depart Truk for Yokosuka with CHUYO, escorted by SHIMAKAZE.
24 September 1943:
Action:
- 0726 attacked by submarine [USS CABRILLA] which fired six torpedoes] in position 28-04'N, 145-05'E. Received one hit on starboard quarter which wrecked starboard propeller and caused moderate damage. There was a close call, because another pair of torpedoes hit the starboard bow - one against the ammunition store, but were duds. As it was TAIYO temporarily lost power and had to be towed to Yokosuka by UNYO. SHIMAKAZE hunted and suppressed the submarine.
26 September 1943:
Arrive at Yokosuka. Enter drydock for repairs.
1 October 1943:
XO Cdr Kawamoto is appointed XO & Chief Instructor of Tokushima Air Group and leaves the
ship. A successor is not appointed.
10 October 1943:
Cdr (later Captain) Nara Taro (Eng. 31) (former Chief Engineer, HIYO) is appointed Chief
Engineer. Cdr Uno is appointed Chief Engineer of HIYO.
13 October 1943:
Navigator LtCdr Yamakawa is reassigned and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately
appointed.
20 October 1943:
Surgeon LtCdr/S Kashima and Paymaster Lt/P Haneda are reassigned and leave the ship.
Successors are not immediately appointed.
1 November 1943:
LtCdr (Cdr posthumously) Tanaka Takeichi (Spec. Duty Eng. 6) (former Chief Engineer,
MINAZUKI) is appointed Chief Engineer. Cdr Nara is appointed Chief Engineer of Sasebo Defense
Squadron.
11 November 1943:
Leave drydock, repairs complete. Remain at Yokosuka.
15 November 1943:
Reassigned to Admiral Oikawa Koshiro (31) (former Director of the Naval College)’s newly
established General Escort Command.
17 November 1943:
Captain Matsuno Toshiro (42) (former CO of HAYATOMO) is appointed CO. Captain Matsuda is
appointed CO of AGANO.
December 1943:
Assigned from Combined Fleet Force to Grand Escort Command.
22 December 1943:
Depart Yokosuka; arrive Yokohama.
15 February 1944:
Captain (later RAdm) Beppu Akitomo (38) (former CO of CHIYODA) is appointed CO. Captain
Matsuno is reassigned.
10 March 1944:
Lt/P Kimura Yoshitomo (1941) (former Paymaster, NAGOYA MARU) is appointed Paymaster.
20 March 1944:
Captain Sugino Shuichi (46) (former CO of KUMA) is appointed CO. Captain Beppu is reassigned.
23 March 1944:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Iki Mitsu (55) (former Equipping Officer, CHIYODA) is appointed Temporary
Navigator.
25 March 1944:
Lt/S (Cdr/S posthumously) Iwai Mitsuru (1935) (former Surgeon, HOSHO) is appointed Surgeon.
1 April 1944:
LtCdr (Cdr posthumously) Shimezawa Haruo (58) (former Navigator, TAMA) is appointed
Navigator. LtCdr Iki is reassigned.
4 April 1944:
Undocked from drydock.
13 April 1944:
Depart Yokohama; arrive Yokosuka.
20 April 1944:
Depart Yokosuka for Kure. Reassigned same date to VAdm Nakajima Torahiko (39) (former
Chief-of-Staff, Kure Naval District)’s 1st Surface Escort Division, General Escort Command.
29 April 1944:
At Kure, assigned to First Surface Escort Unit.
3 May 1944:
Depart Moji-Mutsure, escorting convoy HI-61 to Singapore via Manila.
9 May 1944:
Arrive with HI-61 at Manila.
12 May 1944:
With HI-61 depart Manila for Singapore.
18 May 1944:
Arrive at Singapore.
23 May 1944:
Depart Singapore channel escorting convoy HI-62 on return trip to Japan via Manila.
29 May 1944:
Arrive at Manila with HI-62.
1 June 1944:
Depart Manila with HI-62 for the homeland.
8 June 1944:
Arrive at Moji with convoy, detach from HI-62 and proceed to Kure, arriving the next day.
7 July 1944:
Depart Kure for Mutsure area.
12 July 1944:
Depart Mutsure to ferry planes to Manila; enroute, overtake convoy HI-69 escorted by SHINYO
and KAIYO and proceed together.
20 July 1944:
TAIYO, SHINYO, and KAIYO all arrive with HI-69 at Manila, off-load aircraft.
25 July 1944:
Depart Manila for Saei, Formosa, escorting convoy, joined by KAIYO. SHINYO continues to Singapore.
27 July 1944:
Arrive at Saei, Formosa. Depart next day for Sasebo.
3 August 1944:
Arrive at Sasebo, escorting convoy. Proceeded subsequently to Imari Bay via Hesaki.
10 August 1944:
Depart Imari Bay escorting convoy HI-71 for Singapore via Manila.
15 August 1944:
Arrive with HI-71 at Mako.
17 August 1944:
Depart Mako escorting convoy HI-71 for Manila.
18 August 1944:
Action:
- 2215 Sound room detected enemy submarine [USS RASHER SS-269] bearing 45 degrees to starboard. Captain Sugino immediately ordered increase to No.5 battle speed and evasive turn to starboard. Hydrophones confirmed four torpedoes approaching from 15 degrees starboard.
- 2220: Two torpedoes evaded; however two hit starboard aft. One of these struck the aft av-gas tank which erupted violently, and the carrier was engulfed in explosions and fires. [The second apparently hit the propellers or the engine room as stopped immediately] [See Note 2]. Fire broke out in
the hangar deck and many were killed while the carrier began to list quickly to starboard. Captain promptly ordered the port magazines flooded to compensate. Carrier settled by the stern. Fires continued to rage.
- 2230 an oil tank aft on the port side exploded with tremendous force, and it was thought by some to be another torpedo hit amidships and so recorded. It was reported the damage control parties were dead, and no hope of correcting the list which had resumed. Captain Sugino ordered all hands to upper deck. The ensign was lowered, and `Abandon Ship' ordered. Carrier was furiously afire, listing hard to starboard and sinking by the stern.
Sunk:
- 2248 Soon after the order to abandon, TAIYO was wracked by another final huge explosion and sank in position 18-10'N, 120-22'E. Because of the fire and speed of sinking, most of her crew - including Navigator LtCdr (Cdr posthumously) Shimezawa, Chief Engineer LtCdr (Cdr
posthumously) Tanaka, and Surgeon LtCdr/S (Cdr/S posthumously) Iwai - were lost. If common practice obtained, including passengers about 1,200 were
probably aboard. Of these reportedly 747 perished; but by some miracle, Captain Sugino Shuichi was among the 20 officers and 218 men of the crew and 11 officers and 168 men among the passengers that survived to be rescued. A total of 417 survivors of crew and passengers combined.[See Note 3]
Captain Sugino is later appointed CO of NAGATO.
1 October 1944:
Removed from the Navy list.
