Home Page World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 27.03.2019
Imperial Japanese Navy
Gunboats
In cooperation with Jeff Donahoo and Matthew Jones
The format for names is Japanese style: rank; last name, first name; Japanese name in Kaji;
(and in brackets the officer's graduating class of the Naval Academy at Etajima, if applicable).
(M) Behind the name indicates a merchant marine (civilian) officer.
Rank as was at the date he took command, whether as supervisor or captain.
If an officer is shown as being in command before the ship was commissioned, he was Chief Equipping Officer, becoming Commanding Officer on the date the ship was commissioned.
Dates are given thus: day.month.year
Commanders marked with * are known to have died.
Ataka    安宅    カタア  
   Class: Ataka  
   Builder: Yokohama Dock Co.  
   Ordered under trhe 1920–1928 Fleet Construction program  
   Laid Down: 15.08.1921
   Launched: 11.04.1922
   Completed: 08.12.1922
   Service:  
      ?    1922–1933
      11th Gunboat Sqdn, 3rd Fleet 20.05.33–
      ?    –1941   
      1st China Exp Fleet, China Area Fleet 11.08.41–20.08.43
      Shanghai Base Force, China Area Fleet 20.08.43–02.09.45
Fate:  02.09.45 surrendered in Singapore. To China as An Tang. Captured by Communists 1949. Sunk in Wuhu by Nationalist aircraft on 24.09.49.
   Removed from Navy List 03.05.1947
   Commanding Officers:  
    Cdr Umeda Ryozo (31)梅田三良12.08.22–01.12.23
    Cdr Shimomura Shosuke (35)下村正助01.12.23–20.11.24
    Cdr Nakajima Naokuma (34)中島直熊20.11.24–15.11.27
    Cdr Suzuki Kozo (36)鈴木幸三15.11.27–15.06.28
    Cdr Noguchi Kouichi (35)野口幸一15.06.28–01.12.32
    Cdr Hara Chuichi (39)原　忠一01.12.32–20.10.33
    Cdr Mori Kunizo (40)森　国造20.10.33–15.11.34
    Cdr Horie Yugoro (41)堀　勇五郎15.11.34–25.10.35
    ??25.10.35–01.12.36
    Cdr Shibazaki Keiji (43)柴崎恵次01.12.36–01.12.37
    Cdr Matsumoto Takeshi (45)松本　崇01.12.37–26.03.38
    Cdr Oishi Kenshiro (42)堀　勇五郎26.03.38–15.12.38
    Cdr Ishizuka Chitoshi (45)石塚千俊15.12.38–15.11.39
    Capt Kaizuka Takeo (46)貝塚武男15.11.39–15.11.40
    Capt Nijima Nobuo (46)新島信夫15.11.40–20.09.41
    Capt Mutaguchi Kakuro (44)牟田口格郎20.09.41–07.12.42
    Capt Hosoya Sukehiko (47)細谷資彦07.12.42–25.12.43
    Capt Terainishi Takechiyo (46)寺西武干代25.12.43–02.09.45
Hashidate    橋立    テダシハ  
   Class: Hashidate  
   Call Sign: JVBA  
   Builder: Sakurajima, Osaka  
   Ordered under the 1937 Program  
   Laid Down: 20.02.1939
   Launched: 23.12.1939
   Completed: 30.06.1940
   Service:  
         ?      1940–1941
      15th Squadron, China Area Fleet 12.41–10.04.42
      2nd China Exp Fleet, China Area Fleet 10.04.42–10.07.44
Fate:  Sunk 22.05.44 by USS Picuda (SS-382) off Pratas Island (21°18'N, 117°12'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List 10.07.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      Capt Kagawa Kiyota (46)香川清登01.02.40–20.09.41
      Capt Yamashiro Katsumori (47)山代勝守20.09.41–15.07.42
      ?山代勝守15.07.42–07.10.42
      Cdr Tsuyuguchi Misao (50)露口　操07.10.42–09.43
      *Capt Murai Sadatoshi (50)村井貞敏09.43–22.05.44
Nankai    南海    ナンカイ  
South Sea  
   Call Sign: JFPQ  
   Builder: Droogdok Mij., Soerabaja  
   Laid Down as Gouvernementsmarine Minelayer G.m.s. Regulus?
   Scuttled by Dutch at Soerabaja  02.03.1942
   Salvaged and raised by Japanese ?
   Launched as Gunboat Nankin: 12.04.1943
   Completed: 07.06.1944
   Service:  
      SW Area Fleet 10.04.44–05.02.45
      10th Area Fleet 05.02.45–02.09.45
Fate:  Sunk 16.07.45 at 05:00 by USS Blenny (SS-324) 150 miles W of Surabaya (05°26'S, 110°33'E).? dead; ? saved.
    Removed from Navy List: 30.07.1945
    Commanding Officers:  
      ?    07.06.44–16.07.45
Nanyo  
   Class: Bangor Minesweeper  
   Builder: Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock, Hong Kong   
   Laid Down in Hong Kong as British Minesweeper HMS Lyemun:22.07.1941
   Demolished on the slips in Hong Kong while half completed12.41
   Launched after repair by Japanese: 1942
   Completed as Gunboat Nayo 02.03.1943
   Service:  
      Commissioned 02.03.1943
      2nd China Exp Fleet, China Area Fleet 02.03.43–05.02.44
Fate:  Sunk 23.12.43 by USAAF 14th Air Force aircraft off Matsu Island (26°10'N, 119°55'E). ? dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List 05.02.1944
   Commanding Officers:  
      ?    01.03.43–23.12.43
Okitsu    興津    ツキオ  
Lake Okitsu  
   Builder: Cantieri Navale Riuniti, Ancona  
   Laid Down: 1925
   Launched: 22.05.1927
   Completed as Italian Minelayer Lepanto 1927
   Service:  
      Italian Navy 1927–1943
      Scuttled at Shanghai 09.09.1943
      Raised by the Japanese Feb.44
      Commissioned as Gunboat Okitsu 01.03.1944
      Shanghai Base Force, China Area Fleet 01.03.44–02.09.45
Fate:  02.09.45 surrendered at Chusan Archipelago. Transferred to China 1947 as Chienning. Stricken and scrapped 1956.
   Removed from Navy List 30.09.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      Lt Hamazaki Chotaro (61)浜崎長太郎01.03.44–09.10.44
      LtCdr Sugiyama Tadayoshi (61)杉山忠嘉09.10.44–01.11.44
      Lt Hamazaki Chotaro (61) 01.11.44–05.02.45
      LtCdr Hijioka Torajiro 13.02.45–30.09.45
Saga    嵯峨    ガサ  
Saga Prefecture  
   Class: Saga  
   Call Sign: JVRA  
   Builder: Sasebo Navy Yard  
   Ordered: 1911
   Laid Down: 17.01.1912
   Launched: 27.09.1912
   Completed: 08.11.1912
   Service:  
      3rd Fleet 15.06.31–20.10.37
      PG Div 11, 3rd Fleet 20.10.37–01.11.38
      2nd Base Force, 5th Fleet 01.11.38–15.11.39
      2nd China Exp Fleet 15.11.39–02.11.41
      1st Squadron5, China Area Fleet 02.11.41–10.04.42
      2nd China Exp Fleet, China Area Fleet 10.04.42–10.03.45
Fate:  Sunk 22.01.45 by USAAF 14th Air Force aircraft at Hong Kong. ?dead; ? saved.
   Removed from Navy List 10.03.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      LtCdr Suganuma Shujiro (26)菅沼周次郎19.10.12–01.12.13
      LtCdr Yokochi Joji (27)横地錠二01.12.13–07.09.14
      ??07.09.12–01.12.16
      Cdr Emori Hisashi (28)江守　久01.12.16–01.12.18
      LtCdr Hakawa Shosaburo (36)?01.12.18–01.12.19
      Cdr Umeda Saburo (31)梅田三良01.12.19–12.04.21
      Cdr Katayama Noboru (32)片山　登12.04.21–01.12.22
      Cdr Takanabe Sankichi (33)高鍋三吉01.12.22–10.09.24
      LtCdr Shibata Genichi (34)柴田源一10.09.24–20.03.26
      Cdr Nagumo Chuichi (36)南雲忠一20.03.26–15.10.26
      Cdr Suzuki Kozo (36)鈴木幸三15.10.36–15.11.27
      ??15.11.27–20.10.28
      Cdr Kumasawa Masuzo (37)熊沢舛蔵20.10.28–01.11.30
      Cdr Hatakeyama Koichiro (39)畠山耕一郎01.11.30–20.05.32
      ??20.05.32–17.01.33
      Cdr Harada Kame (38)原田　亀17.01.33–01.03.35
      LtCdr Kanooka Enpei (49)鹿岡円平01.03.35–15.10.35
      ??15.10.35–01.12.37
      Cdr Count Ueno Masao (40)上野正雄01.12.37–15.12.38
      Cdr Oishi Tamotsu (48)大石　保15.12.38–20.10.39
      Cdr Ogata Tsutomu (42)緒方　勉20.10.39–10.11.39
      Cdr Doi Shinji (45)土井申二10.11.39-01.08.41
      Cdr Kobayashi Hajime (48)小林　一31.07.41–01.09.42
      Capt Tanno Yuzo (51)丹野雄三01.09.42–22.01.45
Uji    宇治    ジウ  
   Class: Hashidate  
   Call Sign: JWCA  
   Builder: Sakurajima, Osaka  
   Ordered under the 1937 Program  
   Laid Down: 20.01.1940
   Launched: 29.09.1940
   Completed: 30.04.1941
   Service:  
      1st China Exp Fleet, China Area Fleet 12.41–20.08.43
      Yangtze Base Force, China Area Fleet 20.08.43–05.01.45
      Shanghai Base Force, China Area Fleet 05.01.45–25.10.45
Fate:  02.09.45 surrendered at Shanghai. To China as Chang Chi. Taken over by Communists in 1949.
   Removed from Navy List 25.10.1945
   Commanding Officers:  
      LtCdr Suzuki Masaki (48)鈴木正明30.04.41–01.06.42
      LtCdr Watanabe Kenjiro (49)渡辺謙次郎01.06.42–03.02.44
      LtCdr Koyano Hitoshi (49)古谷野　均03.02.44–02.09.45
 

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