I found a diary..need some help

[Sgtrock46]

recently aquired a diary from a Japanese Naval man. The Diary spans a period of about 9 months and it appears the ship name was Destroyer transport by the name of "Minazuki" there are some very detailed accounts of action in the diary and it appears they were involved in part on the receiving end of many attacks by the US with a very specific devastating attack on or about March 6, 1943 where they had many injuries and deaths resulting from the attacks. I am thinking this may have been the solomon island campaign battle...any light someone can shed would be appreciated...I have a very good translator for the diary

Here is an excerpt from it; " Wake up 4:30, bow to emporers palace, excercise, clean up deck and patrol"

Nov 11 1942 Sail to Sagano Japan
Dec 10 1942 Saw Fuji Mountasin while sailing
Dec 22 1942 Sail to Rapport
Mar 6 1943 See's fierce enemy attack against Munda

This is some really interesting stuff

[John Brown]

Sgt

IJN Minazuki was a Mutsuki Class-1st class destroyer.

Launched on 25/05/26 in Uraga Dock she was torpedoed and sunk by the USS Harder on 6/06/44 in the Cerebes Sea.

Have a look at the following pages:

http://www.combinedfleet.com/minazu_t.htm

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/solomons_munda.html

This should be of some help.


Regards...John

[Yamatoholic]

Minazuki
Chief Equipping Officer - Cmdr. Shichisaburo Koga - 1 December 1926 - 22 March 1927
Cmdr. Shichisaburo Koga - 22 March 1927 - 1 December 1927
Cmdr. Sadao Yamada - 1 December 1927 - 10 December 1928
RESERVE - 10 December 1928 - 1 December 1930
Lt. Cmdr. Masahiko Matsuda - 1 December 1930 - 2 November 1931
Lt. Cmdr. Hiroshi Matsubara - 2 November 1931 - 1 December 1931
Lt. Cmdr. Tadayoshi Narita - 1 December 1931 - 15 November 1933
Lt. Cmdr. Hiroshi Matsubara - 15 November 1933 - 1 February 1934
Lt. Cmdr. Nobuki Ogawa - 1 February 1934 - 2 December 1935
Lt. Cmdr. Takemitsu Narita - 2 December 1935 - 5 November 1937
Lt. Cmdr. Kenma Isogu - 5 November 1937 - 1 December 1937
Lt. Cmdr. Kiyoshi Kaneda - 1 December 1937 - 8 January 1938
Lt. Cmdr. Yasuji Koga - 8 January 1938 - 20 October 1938
Lt. Cmdr. Hideo Kuboki - 20 October 1938 - 20 September 1941
Lt. Cmdr. Toshio Hirayama - 20 September 1941 - 25 September 1942
Lt. Cmdr. Tsuyoshi Fukuyama - 25 September 1942 - 25 October 1943
Lt. Keiji Isobe - 25 October 1943 - 6 June 1944 (KIA)

Careers for her wartime COs:

Toshio Hirayama
Commanding Officer, DD Namikaze - 15 October 1940 - 20 September 1941
Commanding Officer, DD Minazuki - 20 September 1941 - 25 September 1942
Commanding Officer, DD Shirakumo - 15 November 1942 - 22 January 1944
Chief Equipping Officer, DD Onami - 15 November 1942 - 20 December 1942
Chief Equipping Officer, DD Akishimo - 22 January 1944 - 11 March 1944
Commanding Officer, DD Akishimo - 11 March 1944 - 1 April 1944
Commanding Officer, DD Hayashimo - 1 April 1944 - 26 October 1944
Promoted Commander - 15 October 1944
Commanding Officer, DD Suzutsuki - 10 March 1945 - 15 August 1945

Tsuyoshi Fukuyama
Commanding Officer, TB Kari - 15 September 1941 - 25 September 1942
Commanding Officer, DD Minazuki - 25 September 1942 - 25 October 1943
Commanding Officer, DD Harukaze - 25 October 1943 - 15 August 1945

Keiji Isobe
Commanding Officer, DD Minazuki - 25 October 1943 - 6 June 1944 (KIA)

FWIW,

-Matt

[astraltrader]

A rare photograph of IJN Minazuki.

[Yamatoholic]

Beautiful photo, Terry...thanks for posting it! I've been looking for a pic of her!

-Matt

[astraltrader]

A pleasure Matt - glad to help.