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| IJN Minelayer 1,135 Tons (standard) 1,380 Tons (full load) 281' x 34' 11" x 9' 4" 2 x 12cm Naval guns 2 x 13mm AA guns 185 x Sea mines |
Construction Built by Kure Naval Arsenal at Kure. Laid down August 2, 1930 as a minelayer. Launched October 13, 1931 as Yaeyama 八重山 named for the Yaeyama Islands. Commissioned August 31, 1932 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Wartime History On December 1, 1941 assigned Mine Division 17 (MineDiv 17) with Itsukushima. On December 6, 1941 departs Palau as part of the southern Philippine attack force. On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War underway at sea. On December 10, 1941 and December 11, 1941 lays 133 mines in the Surigao Strait escorted by Jintsu and destroyers Hayashio and Natsushio. Afterwards departs for Palau returning on December 14, 1941. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 1, 1942 at 9:30pm spotted by PT-32 under the command of Lt(jg) Vincent E. Schumacher bound for Subic Bay then turned towards Bataan. Closing to attack, the PT Boat was caught in searchlights and Yaeyama opened fire with the shells landing 500 yards ahead. PT-32 fired her starboard torpedo as a second and third salvo both landed astern by 200 yards then fired her port torpedo and withdrew at a speed of 25 knots and turned. Schumacher claimed an explosion aboard the ship with debris visible in the searchlight beam and a pause in firing that was believed to be the second torpedo exploding then gunfire resumed. In fact, Yaeyama only suffered minor damage from what was reported as a dud shell fired by a shore battery. PARTIAL HISTORY Sinking History On September 24, 1944 Yaeyama and CH-32 were south of Mindoro when spotted and sunk by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 (TF-38) at roughly Lat 12° 15' N Long 121° 0' E. On November 10, 1944 officially removed from the Navy list. Fates of the Crew Captain Tsutsumi and an unknown number of crewmen survive the sinking. References Combined Fleet - IJN Minelayer Yaeyama Contribute
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