Water Line Series
Okinoshima was a large minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was in service during the early stages of world War II. She was named after the Okinoshima Island in the Sea of Japan and the earlier Japanese battleship Okinoshima. She was the largest purpose-built minelayer of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the first Japanese minelayer to be equipped with a reconnaissance seaplane.

During the late 1930s, Okinoshima was assigned as flagship of a destroyer squadron, and made numerous survey missions to the Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and Marianas in the Japanese South Seas Mandate, seeking potential sites for seaplanes bases, and transporting naval mines for future use.

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Okinoshima was serving as flagship for Admiral Kiyoshide Shima in "Operation Gi" (the invasion of the Gilbert Islands) and had deployed from Jaluit with a Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) embarked. From 9–10 December, Okinoshima supported the Japanese landings on Makin and on Tarawa, and on 24 December, the seizure of Abaiang. Okinoshima was at Truk on 1 January 1942.

In January 1942, under the overall command of Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka, Okinoshima participated in '' Opertion R '' (the invasion of Rabaul ) landing Japanese troops at Blanche Bay, Rabaul on the night of 22/23 January 1942. On 1 February, Okinoshima was officially re-assigned to the south Seas Force.

On 5 March, Okinoshima, under the overall command of Admiral Kunimori Marumo, was assigned to '' Operation SR '' (the invasion of Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea). On 10 March, the invasion force was attacked by US Navy aircraft from USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Lexington (CV-2), with Okinoshima suffering light damage.

After repairs at Truk, on 28 April Okinoshima was appointed flagship for Admiral Shima's Tulagi invasion force, which was part of "Operation MO " (the invasion of Tulagi and Port Moresbey in New Guinea). The Tulagi assault force began their landings on Tulagi on 3 May, with Okinoshima successfully landing troops of the Kure 3rd SNLF. However, the invasion force was attacked on 4 May by aircraft from the USS Yorktown. Several transports and the destroyer Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki, were sunk and Okinoshima suffered from a near miss, which resulted in her being towed to Rabaul for repairs.

On 10 May, Okinoshima departed Rabaul as part of " Operation RY'', the invasion of Nauru and Ocean Island. On 12 May 1942, off New Ireland, she was hit by two or three torpedoes by American submarine USS S-42. Okinoshima was taken under tow by escorting destroyer Mochizuki0, but capsized in St.George`s Channel, in the Bismarck Sea at position Most of the crw survived. Okinoshima was removed from the navy list on 25 May 1942.

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