Japanese minelayer Tsugaru
Building. Under the "Maru-3" Supplementary Naval Expansion Budget of 1937, a new large minelayer incorporating design improvements realized through operational experience with was funded. In addition to carrying 600 Type 6 naval mines, the new ship was equipped with an aircraft catapult, and carried a Kawanishi E7K reconnaissance seaplane. Physically very similar to "Okinoshima" in size, appearance and layout, its main armament was changed to four 127 mm Type 89 dual purpose guns, intended to give "Tsugaru" better AA capabilities than its predecessor. "Tsugaru" was launched by the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 5 June 1940, and  was commissioned into service on 22 October 1941. Operational history. After commissioning, "Tsugaru" was assigned to Admiral Kiyohide Shima’s Mine Division 19 under Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue’s IJN 4th Fleet and was forward deployed to Saipan. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, "Tsugaru" was assigned to support the invasion of Guam. Following the success of this mission, in January 1942, "Tsugaru" deployed from Jaluit together with "Okinoshima", under the overall command of Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka to participate in “Operation R” (the invasion of Rabaul and Kavieng). On 5 March, "Tsugaru" and "Okinoshima", under  the overall command of Admiral Kuninori Marumo, were assigned to “Operation SR” (the invasion of Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea). On 10 March, the invasion force was attacked by ninety United States Navy aircraft from and with "Tsugaru" suffering light damage. On 4 May "Tsugaru" was assigned to Admiral Shima's Tulagi invasion force, which was part of “Operation Mo” (the invasion of Tulagi and Port Moresby in New Guinea). However, the invasion plans were cancelled after the Battle of the Coral Sea and "Tsugaru" was assigned instead to “Operation RY" (the invasion of Nauru and Ocean Island). This  operation was also cancelled after the loss of "Okinoshima" on 12 May 1942, and "Tsugaru" was stationed at Rabaul. On 14 July, "Tsugaru" was reassigned to Admiral Gunichi Mikawa’s IJN 8th Fleet, and supported “Operation RI” (the invasion of Buna in New Guinea). Subsequently, in August and September, "Tsugaru" was used on missions to supply reinforcements and equipment to Guadalcanal, and was hit by bombs from USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on 3 September, with 14 crewmen killed and 30 wounded. After repairs, she continued making transport runs to Guadalcanal, Shortland Island, New Georgia and Santa Isabel Island in  the Solomon Islands to the end of February 1943. From March–May 1943, "Tsugaru" underwent repairs and refit at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, returning to Rabaul in early August. However, en route to Rabaul, she was attacked by , on 5 August, NNE of Rabaul, with one torpedo hit. The damage was enough to warrant an immediate return to Truk for emergency repairs, and a return to Yokosuka by mid-September, where she remained to the end of the year. On 1 December 1943, "Tsugaru" was reassigned to the Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet. On 24 March 1944, she deployed from Palau to  mine the Balabac Strait in the Philippines, after which she was stationed at Balikpapan in Borneo. One of the mines from this mission is credited with sinking the , in July 1944. On 31 May, "Tsugaru" was assigned to “Operation KON” (the Relief of Biak), transporting reinforcements from Zamboanga on Mindanao in an effort to counter the American landings. On 21 June, after departing Sorong, New Guinea for Halmahera Island, "Tsugaru" was torpedoed by the Royal Dutch Navy submarine "K-XIV", which caused severe damage. After temporary repairs, she attempted to reach Manila, but was sighted on 29 June near Biak  by , which fired a full spread of six torpedoes. Two hit "Tsugaru", which sank at position less than 25 minutes later with loss of most of her crew, including her CO, Captain Nakatsu. "Tsugaru" was removed from the navy list on 10 August 1944.