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Japanese minelayer Okinoshima

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Okinoshima in 1937
History
Japanese Navy EnsignJapan
NameOkinoshima
NamesakeJapanese battleship Okinoshima
Orderedfiscal 1931
BuilderIshikawajima-Harima
Laid downSeptember 27, 1934
LaunchedNovember 14, 1935
CommissionedSeptember 30, 1936
StrickenMay 25, 1942
FateSunk in action, May 12, 1942
General characteristics
Typeminelayer
Displacement4,290 long tons (4,359 t) standard, 4400 tons normal
Lengthlist error: <br /> list (help)
113.0 m (370.7 ft) pp,
119.29 m (391.4 ft) waterline
Beam15.74 m (51 ft 8 in)
Draught5.49 m (18 ft 0 in)
Propulsion2-shaft geared turbine, 4 boilers, 9,000 hp (6,700 kW)
Speed20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Range9,000 nmi (17,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement445
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
2 x 14cm/50 Type 3 naval gun

2 x Type 3 80 mm AA Gun
2xType 93 13 mm AA Guns

500x Type 6 naval mines
22 x depth charges
Armournone
Aircraft carried1x Kawanishi E7K seaplane
Aviation facilities1 catapult

Okinoshima (沖島) was a large minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was in service during the early stages of World War II. She was named after the Okinoshima Island in the Sea of Japan and the earlier Japanese battleship Okinoshima. She was the largest purpose-built minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the first Japanese minelayer to be equipped with a reconnaissance seaplane.

Building

Following the ratification of the London Naval Treaty, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided to retire its existing obsolete minelayers, the former cruisers Aso, and Tokiwa. A replacement was budgeted under the Maru-1 Supplementary Naval Expansion Budget of 1931. The new vessel was to be of unprecedented size, thus overcoming the shortcomings of previous minelayers in the Japanese inventory in terms of range and capacity.[1] In addition to carrying 600 Type 6 naval mines, the new ship had the same guns as was used on the Japanese cruiser Yubari,[2] and also was equipped with an aircraft catapult, and a Kawanishi E7K reconnaissance seaplane.

Okinoshima was launched by the Harima shipyards of Ishikawajima-Harima in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan on November 14, 1935, and was commissioned into service on September 30, 1936.[3]

Operational history

During the late 1930s, Okinoshima was assigned as flagship of a destroyer squadron, and made numerous survey missions to the Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and Marianas in the Japanese South Seas Mandate, seeking potential sites for seaplane bases, and transporting naval mines for future use.

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Okinoshima was serving as flagship for Admiral Kiyohide Shima in "Operation Gi" (the invasion of the Gilbert Islands) and had deployed from Jaluit with a Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) embarked. From 9–10 December, Okinoshima supported the Japanese landings on Makin and on Tarawa, and on 24 December, the seizure of Abaiang. Okinoshima was at Truk on 1 January 1942.[4]

In January 1942, under the overall command of Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka, Okinoshima participated in "Operation R" (the invasion of Rabaul) landing Japanese troops at Blanche Bay, Rabaul on the night of 22/23 January 1942. On 1 February, Okinoshima was officially re-assigned to the South Seas Force.

On 5 March, Okinoshima, under the overall command of Admiral Kuninori Marumo, was assigned to "Operation SR" (the invasion of Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea). On 10 March, the invasion force was attacked by United States Navy aircraft from USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Lexington (CV-2), with Okinoshima suffering light damage.

After repairs at Truk, on 28 April Okinoshima was appointed flagship for Admiral Shima's Tulagi invasion force, which was part of "Operation Mo" (the invasion of Tulagi and Port Moresby in New Guinea). The Tulagi assault force began their landings on Tulagi on 3 May, with Okinoshima successfully landing troops of the Kure 3rd SNLF. However, the invasion force was attacked on 4 May by aircraft from the USS Yorktown. Several transports and the destroyer Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki, were sunk and Okinoshima suffered from a near miss, which resulted in her being towed to Rabaul for repairs.

Fate

On 10 May, Okinoshima departed Rabaul as part of "Operation RY", the invasion of Nauru and Ocean Island. On 12 May 1942, off New Ireland, she was hit by two or three torpedoes[5] by American submarine USS S-42. Okinoshima was taken under tow by escorting destroyer Mochizuki, but capsized in St. George's Channel, in the Bismarck Sea at position 05°06′S 153°48′E / 5.100°S 153.800°E / -5.100; 153.800.[6] Most of the crew survived. Okinoshima was removed from the navy list on 25 May 1942.

References

Notes

  1. ^ Watts, Anthony J (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday. ASIN B000KEV3J8.
  2. ^ DiGiulian, Tony (2007). "Japanese 5.5"/50 (14 cm) 3rd Year Type 14 cm/50 (5.5") 3rd Year Type". Naval Weapons of the World. Navweaps.com. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  3. ^ Nishida, Hiroshi. "Materials of IJN". Imperial Japanese Navy. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  4. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  5. ^ http://www.combinedfleet.com/Okinoshima_t.htm
  6. ^ Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Okinoshima: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)

Books

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