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| IJN Nisshin-class seaplane tender 11,317 Tons (standard) 12,500 Tons (full load) 631' 7" x 64' 8 x 23' 6 x 140mm guns 8x3 25mm AA guns 2 x 50mm salute guns 12 x floatplanes 2 x catapults  IJN February 19, 1942   USN October 13, 1942 |
Ship History Built by Kure Naval Arsenal at Kure. Laid down November 2, 1938 as Nisshin-class seaplane tender. Launched November 30, 1939 as Nisshin 日進 but completion was delayed for conversion as a midget submarine carrier. On February 19, 1942 undergoes sea trials. Commissioned February 27, 1942 into the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Katsumi Komazawa. Wartime History On March 3, 1942 with Yakaze participates in a search for lost Type A Midget Submarine No. 13 from Chitose. On April 16, 1942 at 11:00am departs Hashirajima via Davao and ten days later arrives at Surabaya. After the Japanese defeat during the Battle of the Coral Sea, returns to Hashirajima arriving May 8, 1942. At Hashirajima, embarks midget submarines for the upcoming Midway operation. These midget submarines will be delivered after the Japanese occupy Midway Atoll. On May 29, 1942 departs Hashirajima bound for Midway Atoll as part of the Japanese force Main Body attached to the Special Duty Unit with Chiyoda. On June 5, 1942 at the start of the Battle of Midway, Nisshin was a short distance from Main Body and is ordered with the 2nd Fleet and Mobile Force to a scheduled refueling rendevous at Lat 33'N, Long 170'E. On June 6, 1942 in the afternoon at Lat 31° 17'N, Long 168° 57'E is headed south and prepairs her single F1M2 Pete for operations but the sortie is aborted and the remaining Japanese force departs. On June 19, 1942 returns to Hashirajima. After the U.S. landings on Guadalcanal, Nisshin was sent to the South Pacific to support the resupply of the Japanese Army. On September 18, 1942 arrives Shortland and a week later departs for Kavieng arriving the next day. On September 30, 1942 departs Kavieng then returns to Shortland the next day. During October 1942, Nisshin made at least four "Tokyo Express" runs transporting personnel, supplies and equipment including 150mm howitzers to Guadalcanal. First Tokyo Express Run On October 3, 1942 at 6:30am Nisshin departs Shortland on her first supply run with Chitose escorted by destroyers Nowaki, Maikaze and Akitsuki. Nisshin is embarked with nine artillery pieces including 150mm howitzers with 330 personnel from 2nd Division including General Maruyama Masao. At 3:40pm, Nisshin was bombed by five B-17s, but not damaged. Afterwards, arrives Tassafaronga Point and begins unloading. At 10:00pm at night, suffers a near miss from a bomb causing an engine room leak and departs before being fully unloaded, with 80 personnel still aboard and two artillery pieces and departs as Akizuki joins her escort. Second Tokyo Express Run On October 7, 1942 departs Shortland on a second "Tokyo Express' run, but the mission is aborted halfway, as no air cover was available. On October 8, 1942 again departs Shortland with six anti-aircraft guns, two howitzers and 180 soldiers, escorted by Akizuki and four other destroyers including Yūdachi loaded with troops. After successfully unloading on Guadalcanal, the group is attacked on the return trip but suffers no damage and returns to Shortland. Third Tokyo Express Run On October 11, 1942 Nisshin and Chitose depart Shortland with more howitzers, guns, equipment and troops, escorted by six destroyers, while Cruiser Division 6 accompanies as a bombardment group. This was Nisshin's third mission to Guadalcanal. At 10:20pm arrives at for Tassafaronga and successfully unload as the Battle of Cape Esperance commences. Afterwards, Nisshin and Chitose withdraw overnight and returns to Shortland on October 12, 1942. Fourth Tokyo Express Run On October 13, 1942 Nisshin was photographed by a PBY Catalina off Tonolei Harbor on Bougainville. Afterwards, loads personnel at Shortland Harbor and departs on her fourth resupply run escorted by Sendai, Yura, Asagumo, Akatsuki, Ikazuchi and Shirayuki on an overnight "Tokyo Express" run bound for Guadalcanal. On October 14, 1942 unloads at Cape Esperance and returns to Shortland Harbor. On November 1, 1942 returns to Shortland Harbor then departs for Truk arriving two days later. On November 23, 1942 arrives Yokosuka. Captain Ito Jotaro becomes new commander. On December 10, 1942 departs Yokosuka then returns to Truk five days later. On December 17, 1942 departs for Rabaul arriving two days later. Departs on 21st and returns to Kure on the 27th. On January 4, 1943 departs Kure via the Inalnd Sea and arrives at Truk a week later. On February 15, 1942 departs Truk with Bat. Div 3 for Kure arriving five days later. On April 9, 1942 departs Kure and arrives Rabaul on May 15th, then returns to Kure on the 22nd, then to Yokosuka four days later. On April 30, 1942 returns to Kure. Bougainville Reinforcement On July 10, 1943 departs Kure escorted by Araski an Hagikaze aboard was 630 troops of the 4th South Seas Guard Unit embarked and twenty-two Type 89 Chi-Ro tanks, artillery, supplies and fuel. On July 14, 1943 arrives Truk and five days later departs for Rabaul escorted by Hatsuzuki, Mogami, Oyodo and Agano. On July 21, 1943 arrives Rabaul and loads additional personnel and that evening departs for Shortland. At 11:00pm, enemy planes are sited but the reinforcement mission continues. Meanwhile, Allied Ultra intercepts revealed the details of the convoy and an air attack was planned. Sinking History On July 22, 1943 in the early afternoon off southeast Bougainville, targeted by Allied planes including twelve B-24 and B-17s plus 34 SBD Dauntless, TBF Avengers armed with bombs. The attack was reported as "60 miles east of Buin (Kahili)". Other sources list the location as "17 miles west of Cape Alexander" or "off Cape Friendship". At 1:45pm, as the first attack commenced by B-17 Flying Fortresses, Nisshin was at 34 knots and evaded their bombs without damage. At 1:53pm, targeted by SBD Dauntless dive bombers and sustains three hits: one on the no. 2 turret, another on the front aircraft deck and the third inside the aircraft hangar that was open for unloading. Aboard, electrical power was lost and speed drops and temporarily jams the rudder but it is reset to the center. At 1:59pm a third strike scores two additional hits on the port side, causing the ship to list sharply and sink by the bow. A sixth bomb hits on the starboard side. During these attacks, her anti-aircraft gunners continue to fire as the ship ship sinks. Although the order to abandon ship is given, there is not enough time for the crew or passengers to escape. At 2:05pm the Nisshin rolled to starboard and sinks bow first at roughly Lat 6° 33'S, Long 156° 10'E. Officially, stricken from the register on September 10, 1943. Rescue Afterwards, escorting destroyers search for survivors for two hours and manage to rescue less than 200 of the crew. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Story of the Battle of Midway pages 38, 40 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Guadalcanal Campaign page 110 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses page 7 (Nisshin July 22, 1943), 113 (index Nisshin) (Page 7) Date: July 22, 1943 / Vessel: Nisshin / Type: Seaplane Tender / Tons: 9,000 / Location: 6-35S, 156-10E / Agent: Army Aircraft Navy Land- Based Aircraft Marine Land- Based Aircraft / Assessment: Sunk" Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Battle of Midway, 3-6 June 1942 Composition of Japanese Naval Forces Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) H-011-1: Guadalcanal: Victory at Cape Esperance (Sort of), 11/12 October 1942 Combined Fleet - IJN Nisshin: Tabular Record of Movement Combined Fleet - Neglected Disaster: Nisshin by A.P. 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