FROM: VADM OZAWA, SOUTHERN FLEET HQ COMMANDER, ASW COMMAND, CAMRANH
TO: ADM NAGANO, IJN HQ STAFF, TOKYO
SUBJECT: ASW COMMAND STRUCTURE.
DATE: DEC 20TH 1941.
EYES ONLY / TOP SECRET
WE HAVE PROCEED TO SEND ORDERS TO EVERY SHIP UNDER THIS ASW COMMAND TO RE-ESTRUCTURE THE SOUTHERN FLEET AIR AND NAVAL ASSETS FOLLOWING YOUR INSTRUCTIONS OF YOUR INCOMING MESSAGE DEC 7TH 1941.
BANGKOK:
11th Mine Division : 4 DMS (In the West coast of Thailand at ASW duties, will heading to Bangkok to commander relieve).
21st Subchasser Division: 4 SC Cha Type. Pending ships availability. Will escort convoys from Bangkok to Kompoch Trang, then will be releveated by ASW assets based in this naval station.
KOMPONG TRACH:
31st SubChasser Division: 4 PB. Pending ships, now operating in the war area escorting amphibious groups in the North Borneo. Will escort freighter to Saigon from KTrach, and then will be releveated from ASW assets in this Naval Base.
SAIGON:
3rd CARDIV: CVE HOSHO and her Combat Air Group (A5M4 and B5N2)with DD Yugao, DD Numakaze, DD Namikaze, DD Nokuze. At date, HIJMS HOSHO is heading Hong Kong to reffit. 3 DD´s will meet with her at once from Phillipine Islands. The fourth will be available later (now under South Heavy Cover TF).
Replenishment TG:AO Notoro at CamRamh Bay, will be loaded with fuel and will heading to Saigon.
60th SubChasserDiv:4 SC Cha Type. Available soon, Pending arrival ships from Home Island (with replenishment in route).
59th SubChasserDiv: 4 PB, pending ships. Will patrol Miri/Brunei/Saigon maritime links.
7th GunBoat Div: Will be available soon, pending ships. Will escort freighters as necesary.
30th MineDiv: 4 AMc. Heading from Hong Kong, will be at Saigon this week. Commander relieve at soon they arrive to Saigon.
CAMRANH BAY:
53th SubChasserDiv:4 PB. Pending ships. Will be available soon. Will escort convoys to Samah, where will be releveated by 54th SubChasserDiv -Samah Naval Station-
SAMAH:
54 SubChasserDiv: 4 SC Cha Type. Will be available from Home as soon as possible. Will escort convoy to Hong Kong, then will be relevated by Canton SBF.
HONG KONG:
Canton SBF: 4 PB. Ships available soon. Will escort freighters to Takao, then will be relevated from 59th SubChasserDiv.
TAKAO:
4th MineDiv: 4x AMc. Heading Takao from HK.
59th SubChasserDiv: 4 x SC Cha Type. Will escort convoy to Naha, there will be relevated by TAIYO ESCORT GROUP (Kagoshima)
NAHA:
HIJMS HOSHO will be releveated in this Naval Station by HIJMS TAIYO for escort duties heading Home Islands. HIJMS HOSHO TG will heading Saigon to escorts empty frighters from H.I. to our West resource/oil centers.
KAGOSHIMA:
HQ 12th Air Fleet -Air ASW Assets- with all ASW Air training groups.
CVE TAIYO ESCORT GROUPwith her Combat Air Group (B5N) in ASW duties with DD Hasi, DD Karii, DD Yanagi. Destroyers Pending. CVE Taiyo will arrive to Hong Kong tomorrow to refit. After embark new air complement will heading to Kagoshima.
ASW Kagoshima Division: 4 x SC Cha Type. Heading Kagoshima from another H.islands bases.
SHANGAI:
13th GunBoatDiv: 4 PB. Pending ships. Available soon from HI.
14th GunboatDiv: 4 Escort ships. 2 at Shangai yet, 2 more heading from Inner Sea to Shangai.
