Japanese minelayer Sarushima
Building. The Maru 1 Supplementary Naval Expansion Budget of 1931 authorized the construction of the huge minelayer as well as three smaller minelayers for coastal and river service, the and as well as "Sarushima". "Sarushima" was a slightly enlarged version of the Natsushima-class, with the same armament, but with diesel engines. Sarushima was launched by the Mitsubishi Yokohama shipyards on December 16, 1933, and was commissioned into service on July 20, 1934. Operational history. On completion, "Sarushima" was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District. After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, she was dispatched  to patrol the inland waters of China, and was based at Jiujiang under the China Expeditionary Fleet on July 1, 1938. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, "Sarushima" was assigned to the Yokosuka Guard District, remaining in Japanese home waters for most of the duration of the war, and occasionally escorting convoys to the Bonin Islands. On April 15, 1944, "Sarushima" departed Tokyo with a convoy for Saipan, returning safety on May 4. On May 17, she departed with another convoy for Saipan and Guam. During the return leg of the voyage, the convoy  was attacked on June 2 by (which sank one transport), and on June 4 by (which sank another). "Sarushima" launched depth charges, but failed to sink either submarine. On June 28, "Sarushima" escorted a convoy from Tokyo to Chichijima in the Bonin Islands. On the return voyage, the convoy was attacked by United States Navy (USN) carrier-based aircraft, which sunk all of the ships in the convoy, including "Sarushima" at position . "Sarushima" was removed from the Navy List on September 10, 1944.