Japanese minesweeper No. 10 (1938)

History
Japan
Name	W-10
Builder	Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding Yard, Tokyo
Laid down	21 December 1937
Launched	22 September 1938
Completed	15 February 1939
Out of service	15 March 1942
Fate	Sunk by air raid off Pandan, Caoayan (near Vigan) on 10 December 1941 at 17°32'N, 120°22'E.
General characteristics
Class and type	W-7 Class
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	630
Length	237 feet
Height	25.9 feet
Depth	6.6 feet
Installed power	3,850 horsepower
Propulsion	Steam
Speed	20 knots
Complement	88
Armament	2 x 120mm (4.7") 45 cal, 9 x 25mm AA, 36 depth charges[1]

The No.10 minesweeper (第十号掃海艇, Dai Jū Gō Sōkaitei), also sometimes called W-10 was a No.7 class minesweeper of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was launched on 21 December 1937 and completed in 1939.

The Japanese minesweeper W-10, sometimes also referred to as No. 10, was a minesweeper of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was laid down on 21 December 1937 at Ishikawajima Shipbuilding, (now known as the IHI Corporation) and launched on 22 September 1938. When it was completed on 15 January 1939 it was attached to the Sasebo Naval District. On 1 June 1941 W-10 was assigned to the Third Fleet, as part of MineSweepDiv 21, along with the minesweepers W-7, W-8, W-9, W-11, and W-12.

On 27 November of the same year, W-10 departed from Sasebo, and arrived at the Mako Guard District in Formosa, a major base for the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 7 December 1941, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines began, starting with the invasion of Batan Island, a fairly small island off the north coast of Luzon. On 10 December, an invasion force was sent to the islands of Vigan and Aparri. Despite poor weather, the forces still managed to land some troops on the islands.^[2] While participating in the invasion of Vigan, W-10 was attacked by Captain Samuel H. Marrett of the 34th Pursuit Squadron. Marrett, in a P-35, undertook multiple strafing runs against W-10 until the ship exploded. The explosion was so powerful that it tore the wing off of Marrett's P-35, causing him to crash into the sea. Marrett also damaged the Oigawa Maru and Takao Maru.^[3]

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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1941

Shipwrecks

• 2 Dec: Virsaitis
• 6 Dec: HMS Perseus
• 7 Dec: USS Arizona, USS California, USS Cassin, Cynthia Olson, USS Downes, Ha-19, M-16, M-18, M-20, M-22, USS Nevada, USS Oglala, USS Oklahoma, Sauternes, USS Shaw, U-208, USS Utah, USS West Virginia, HMCS Windflower
• 8 Dec: SS Capillo, Nisqually, USS Penguin, HMS Peterel, Ravnaas
• 10 Dec: HMS Banka, USS Bittern, I-70, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, Takao Maru, No. 10, USS YP-16
• 11 Dec: Hayate, Kisaragi, HMS Lady Shirley
• 12 Dec: Awazisan Maru, HMS Moth, HMS Tamar
• 13 Dec: Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto di Giussano
• 14 Dec: HMS Galatea
• 15 Dec: Empire Barracuda, HNLMS O 16, U-127
• 16 Dec: U-557
• 17 Dec: Corregidor, Ro-66, Shinonome, U-131
• 18 Dec: U-434
• 19 Dec: HMS Neptune, HNLMS O 20, HMS Stanley, U-574
• 20 Dec: Emidio, HMS Kandahar
• 21 Dec: HMS Audacity, HMS Cicala, HNLMS K XVII, U-451, U-567
• 23 Dec: Hayataka Maru, Montebello, Patrol Boat No. 32, Patrol Boat No. 33, Shuntien, U-79
• 24 Dec: Absaroka, HNLMS K XVI, USS Rochester, Sagiri, HMS Salvia
• 25 Dec: Empire Dragon, USS Sealion, HMS Thracian
• 26 Dec: Unyo Maru No. 2
• 27 Dec: Arayat, Canlaon
• 28 Dec: Banahao, DCH-1, U-75, Volo, SS Connecticut
• 29 Dec: BRP Banahaw, Ro-60
• Unknown date: HMS H31, USS Nereus, HMS Triumph, Vizcaya

Other incidents

• 7 Dec: USS Gamble, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee, USS Thresher, USS Vestal
• 8 Dec: Awazisan Maru, USS Thresher
• 9 Dec: I-10
• 10 Dec: Oigawa Maru, USS Sealion
• 11 Dec: HMS Jackal
• 16 Dec: HMS Thracian
• 17 Dec: Ro-62
• 20 Dec: USS Pompano
• 24 Dec: Absaroka
• 31 Dec: Ruth Alexander

1940 1941 1942
November 1941 January 1942