Japanese minelayer Sarushima
Encyclopedia
was a small minelayer
of the Imperial Japanese Navy
, which was in service during World War II
. She was named after Sarushima Island, a small island in Tokyo Bay
, offshore Yokosuka, Kanagawa
. She was designed as an auxiliary minelayer and escort vessel.
Supplementary Naval Expansion Budget of 1931 authorized the construction of the huge minelayer as well as three smaller minelayers for coastal and river service , the and as well as Sarushima. Sarushima was a slightly enlarged version of the Natsushima-class, with the same armament, but with diesel engine
s. Sarushima was launched by the Mitsubishi Yokohama shipyards
on December 16, 1933, and was commissioned into service on July 20, 1934.
. After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
, she was dispatched to patrol the inland waters of China, and was based at Jiujiang
under the China Expeditionary Fleet
on July 1, 1938.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
in December 1941, Sarushima was assigned to the Yokosuka Guard District, remaining in Japanese home waters for most of the duration of the war, and occasionally escorting convoys to the Bonin Islands.
On April 15, 1944, Sarushima departed Tokyo with a convoy for Saipan
, returning safety on May 4. On May 17, she departed with another convoy for Saipan and Guam
. During the return leg of the voyage, the convoy was attacked on June 2 by (which sank one transport), and on June 4 by (which sank another). Sarushima launched depth charge
s, but failed to sink either submarine.
On June 28, Sarushima escorted a convoy from Tokyo to Chichijima in the Bonin Islands. On the return voyage, the convoy was attacked by USN
carrier-based aircraft, which sunk all of the ships in the convoy, including Sarushima at position 12°15′N 121°00′E. Sarushima was removed from the Navy List
on September 10, 1944.
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, which was in service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was named after Sarushima Island, a small island in Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
, offshore Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Yokosuka, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...
. She was designed as an auxiliary minelayer and escort vessel.
Building
The Maru 11st Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1931)
The , otherwise known as the "Circle One" plan was the first of four expansion plans of the Imperial Japanese Navy between 1930 and the start of World War II.-Background:...
Supplementary Naval Expansion Budget of 1931 authorized the construction of the huge minelayer as well as three smaller minelayers for coastal and river service , the and as well as Sarushima. Sarushima was a slightly enlarged version of the Natsushima-class, with the same armament, but with diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s. Sarushima was launched by the Mitsubishi Yokohama shipyards
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
on December 16, 1933, and was commissioned into service on July 20, 1934.
Operational history
On completion, Sarushima was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval DistrictYokosuka Naval District
was the first of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included Tokyo Bay and the Pacific coasts of central and northern Honshū from the Kii Peninsula to Shimokita Peninsula.-History:...
. After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, she was dispatched to patrol the inland waters of China, and was based at Jiujiang
Jiujiang
Jiujiang , formerly transliterated Kiukiang, is a prefecture-level city located on the southern shores of the Yangtze River in northwest Jiangxi Province, China. It is the second-largest prefecture-level city in Jiangxi province, the largest one being Nanchang...
under the China Expeditionary Fleet
IJN 5th Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, active during the early portions of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and again in World War II, primarily in the Battle of the Aleutian Islands.-China Expeditionary Fleet:...
on July 1, 1938.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
in December 1941, Sarushima was assigned to the Yokosuka Guard District, remaining in Japanese home waters for most of the duration of the war, and occasionally escorting convoys to the Bonin Islands.
On April 15, 1944, Sarushima departed Tokyo with a convoy for Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, returning safety on May 4. On May 17, she departed with another convoy for Saipan and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. During the return leg of the voyage, the convoy was attacked on June 2 by (which sank one transport), and on June 4 by (which sank another). Sarushima launched depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s, but failed to sink either submarine.
On June 28, Sarushima escorted a convoy from Tokyo to Chichijima in the Bonin Islands. On the return voyage, the convoy was attacked by USN
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
carrier-based aircraft, which sunk all of the ships in the convoy, including Sarushima at position 12°15′N 121°00′E. Sarushima was removed from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on September 10, 1944.