Take Ichi convoy

Take Ichi convoy

The Take Ichi convoy's route from Shanghai to Halmahera

Date	17 April – 9 May 1944
Location	Off Luzon and Celebes
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Empire of Japan

Commanders and leaders

Ralph Waldo Christie (USN)

Sadamichi Kajioka (IJN)

Strength

2 submarines

1 Minelayer
3 destroyers
2 Kaibokan escort ships
1 minesweeper
2 Subchasers
3 Gunboats

15 merchant ships

Casualties and losses

None

Four transports sunk
4,290 soldiers killed

1 Minelayer
3 destroyers
2 Kaibokan escort ships
1 minesweeper
2 Subchasers
3 Gunboats

The Take-Ichi sendan (竹一船団, "Bamboo No. One" convoy^?) was a Japanese convoy of World War II. The convoy left Shanghai on 17 April 1944, carrying two infantry divisions to reinforce Japan's defensive positions in the Philippines and western New Guinea. United States Navy (USN) submarines attacked the convoy on 26 April and 6 May, sinking four transports and killing more than 4,000 soldiers. These losses caused the convoy to be diverted to Halmahera, where the surviving soldiers and their equipment were unloaded.

The Take Ichi convoy's losses had important strategic results. The failure to bring the two divisions to their destination without loss contributed to the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters' decision to move Japan's defensive perimeter back by 600 mi (970 km). The divisions' combat power was also blunted by their losses, and while they both saw action against United States Army forces, they contributed little to Japan's attempt to defend its empire.

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Wikipedia