© 1999 Anthony P. Tully

Initial Command Structure:
Commanding Officer: Captain Kato Tadao.

November 1940:
Flagship of CarDiv 3, First Fleet. Remains primarily in the Inland Sea area.

10 April 1941:
Upon creation of the First Air Fleet, becomes Flagship of CarDiv 4, 1st Air Fleet.

28 April 1941:
Arrive Yokosuka. 25 May 1941:
Depart Yokosuka.

1 June 1941:
Arrive Eniwetok, depart 3 June for Kwajalein.

4 June 1941:
Arrive Kwajalein.

9 June 1941:
Depart Kwajalein.

13 June 1941:
Arrive Truk.

17 June 1941:
Depart Truk for Saipan.

19 June 1941:
Arrive Saipan, depart next day.

29 June 1941:
Arrive Tokyo Bay.

7 July 1941:
Depart Yokosuka for Inland Sea; upon arriving, in Inland Sea till October.

22 October 1941:
Depart Inland Sea for Takao and Mako.

11 November 1941:
Return to Kure from Mako.

29 November 1941:
Tactical assignment to Southern Philippines Supporting Unit Air Attack Force; depart Saeki.

5 December 1941:
Arrive Palau.

6 December 1941:
Philippine Operations activated, depart Palau for offensive, screened by CruDiv 5.

8 December 1941:
Launch strike against Davao.

12 December 1941:
Guard duty for the invasion of Legaspi.

14 December 1941:
Return to Palau.

17 December 1941:
Depart Palau; continuing covering operations in the Philippines, primarily the invasion of Davao.

20 - 25 December1941:
Cover the landings at Davao and Jolo respectively.

26 December 1941:
Return to Palau upon completion of the operations. Reassigned tactically to the Main Unit Southern Force (CarDiv 4, 1st Air Fleet).

28 December 1941:
Depart Palau.

1 January 1942:
Arrive Mako.

3 January 1942:
Tactical assignment changed to 3rd Air Force Malay Force (but remaining in CarDiv 4, 1st Air Fleet).

4 January 1942:
Depart Mako for Camranh Bay.

7 January 1942:
Arrive Camranh Bay.

16 January 1942:
Depart for the "S" operations.

19 January 1942:
Return to Camranh Bay.

23 January 1942:
Depart Camranh Bay for Malay Occupation Operations (23-27 January).

30 January 1942:
Return to Camranh Bay upon completion of the Malay operations.

10 February 1942:
Depart Camranh Bay to participate in the "L" Operations during the Palembang occupation.

15 February 1942:
Carried out attacks against the ABDA Striking Force of RAdm Doorman in Gaspar Strait, and enemy ships at Palembang.

19 February 1942:
Arrive at St. James.

27 February 1942:
Assigned to the Netherlands Indies Force charged with the occupation of Batavia. Depart St. James to participate in the "J" Operations activated that same day, escorted by SHIKINAMI.

28 February 1942:
Late evening: Upon receiving word of enemy warships (USS HOUSTON, HMAS PERTH) closing to attack the Japanese Army beachhead just landing at Bantam Bay, RYUJO releases plane-guard destroyer SHIKINAMI to race ahead to participate in the night surface battle. SHIKINAMI arrives in time to fire a final torpedo into the HOUSTON shortly after 0200.

1 March 1942:
Assist in intercepting fleeing enemy warships in the aftermath of the Battle of the Java Sea and the invasion of Java commencing that morning. At 1300 launches a strike of six Type-97s that assist in the sinking of the USS POPE. Sighting at 1505 the American destroyer already crippled by bombing from MIZUHO and CHITOSE planes, they close to the attack, but score several more near-misses that hasten the abandonment and scuttling of the vessel. POPE founders shortly before 1540, finished off by gunfire from ASHIGARA and MYOKO.

5 March 1942:
Arrive at Singapore upon conclusion of the "J" Operations, and immediately assume assignment with the Main Unit Malay Force. That same phase participate in "T" Operations, doing so till 14 March.

14 March 1942:
"D" and "U" Operations activated, the assault against the Andamans and Burma.

16 March 1942:
Participate in strikes against the Andamans.

20 March 1942:
Cover operations against Burma.

26 March 1942:
Arrive at Mergui, Burma upon conclusion of the "D" and "U" Operations.

1 - 9 April 1942:
Assigned to "C" Operations which is activated 1 April. With CHOKAI, KUMANO, SUZUYA, MOGAMI, MIKUMA, YURA and four destroyers of DesDiv 20 depart same day. Operate against shipping during this period.

6 April 1942:
Launch strikes against Cocanada and Vizagapatam, on the northern Indian coast.

11 April 1942:
Arrive at Singapore.

13 April 1942:
Depart Singapore for Indochina.

16 April 1942:
Arrive Camranh Bay.

23 April 1942:
Arrive at Kure.

28 April 1942:
Enter drydock at Kure.

6 May 1942:
Leave drydock.

18 May 1942:
Depart for Ominato via Saeki (19-20 May) and Tokuyama (20-22 May). 20 May 1942:
Reassigned to the Northern Force 2nd Mobile Force.

25 May 1942:
Arrive Ominato.

26 May 1942:
Assigned to "Aleutians Operations" activated today, and depart same day.

3 & 5 June 1942:
With JUNYO, launch strikes against Dutch Harbor. On 5 June commence high-speed sortie to the south as part of abortive attempt to support Midway Operation. Recalled.

24 June 1942:
Return to Ominato.

28 June 1942:
Transferred to 1st Air Attack Force, 2nd Mobile Force Northern Force. Depart Ominato for the homeland.

10 July 1942:
Reassigned to the Mobile Force (but administratively remaining in CarDiv 4, 1st Air Fleet).

13 July 1942:
Return to Kure.

14 July 1942:
As part of the great post-Midway fleet reorganization, reassigned to Mobile Force Air Attack Force (CarDiv 2, 3rd Fleet).

8 August 1942:
Tactical assignment transferred to Main Unit Mobile Force (CarDiv 1, 3rd Air Fleet).

15 August 1942:
Depart Kure for Hashirajima.

16 August 1942:
With ZUIKAKU and SHOKAKU, BatDiv 11, and CruDiv 8, depart Hashirajima and head for Guadalcanal to participate in the "GA" Operations.

23 August 1942:
Re-assigned as Mobile Force Detached Unit (CarDiv 1, 3rd Fleet), to serve as advance recon. Under command of ComCruDiv 8.

24 August 1942:
Participate in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. At 0200 separate from CarDiv 5 and proceed southeast to launch strikes against Guadalcanal, convoyed by TONE, AMATSUKAZE, and TOKITSUKAZE. Two strikes launched against Henderson Field.

Sunk: At 1357 attacked by enemy aircraft (from USS SARATOGA) and received four bomb hits, many near-misses, and one torpedo hit. The torpedo floods the starboard engine room and the ship begins to list and lose speed. At 1408 turns north and attempts to retire as ordered by C-in-C. But though the fire was extinguished the list increased to 21 degrees, and the boilers and machinery became disabled. At 1515 Abandon Ship was ordered. During abandonment, bombed by B-17's but no damage received. At 1800 she capsized to starboard and sank in position 6-10'S, 160-50'E, bearing 10 degrees 106 miles from Tulagi. Seven officers, including her Executive Officer, and 113 petty officers and men are lost; Captain Kato Tadao and the survivors are rescued by AMATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, and TONE.

10 November 1942:
Removed from the Navy list.

Note 2:
Of interest is that one of RYUJO's Zeros that crashed during the Dutch Harbor attack was recovered by the Americans and studied, the first functional capture to date.

Remarks:
RYUJO's pre-war career will be posted in a fothcoming revisions to current Kido Butai entries.