World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseBorn in 1892, Raizo Tanaka graduated the Japanese Navy Academy at the age of 21 in 1913. As a midshipman, he served on armored cruiser Azuma, armored cruiser Nisshin, and battleship Aki. At the rank of sub-lieutenant, he served aboard armored cruiser Kasagi and battlecruiser Kongo. Between Dec 1916 and Dec 1917, he studied at the basic torpedo and naval artillery schools. He then served aboard destroyer Hatsushimo, destroyer Kusunoki, and then battleship Katori. Between Dec 1919 and Dec 1920, he studied the advanced course at the torpedo school. Between 1921 and Nov 1923, at the rank of lieutenant, he served as the executive officer of submarine tender Karasaki, armored cruiser Iwate, destroyer Shiokaze, light cruiser Yura, and the torpedo school. In Dec 1926, he was assigned to the Kure Naval District. In 1930, at the rank of lieutenant commander, Tanaka took command of destroyer Tachikaze. In 1931, he was promoted to the rank of commander and was made the commanding officer of destroyer Ushio. Between Dec 1932 and Dec 1936, he served with the Yokosuka Naval District. Between Dec 1937 and Dec 1938, he was the commanding officer of light cruiser Jintsu. Between Dec 1938 and Nov 1939, he was the Chief of Staff of the Mako naval port in the Pescadores Islands in the Taiwan Strait. Between Nov 1939 and Nov 1940, he was the commanding officer of Kongo, which had been converted into a battleship since his prior service. In Sep 1941, at the rank of captain, he was made the commanding officer of 2nd Destroyer Squadron, returning to light cruiser Jintsu to break his flag. In Oct 1941, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. He led the 2nd Destroyer Squadron in support of the invasion of the Philippine Islands and the Dutch East Indies, engaging in the Battle of the Java Sea during the latter campaign. He led the same squadron during the Battle of Midway, escorting the convoy carrying invasion troops; his unit did not see combat during this battle. In 1942, his ships were engaged in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons; he suffered injuries during this battle as Jintsu was attacked by US Marine Corps aircraft. He then conducted an efficient night time campaign of transport and supply for the Japanese campaign on the island of Guadalcanal using his fast destroyers, which were nicknamed "rat transportation" by the Japanese for the nocturnal nature of the runs and "Tokyo Express" by the Americans. On 30 Nov 1942, while personally leading a night time run, he brilliantly orchestrated the Battle of Tassafaronga, sinking one US cruiser, USS Northampton, and damaging three others despite having been ambushed by the Americans. In the following month, while personally leading another run, his destroyer was torpedoed by a US Navy PT boat and he was injured; he was transferred to Singapore to recuperate. Becoming a scapegoat for the eventual loss of Guadalcanal despite having achieved several impressive victories against Allied warships, he was relegated to shore duties in Burma, where he was to remain until the end of the war. He retired from military service in 1946 at the rank of vice admiral. Tanaka passed away in 1969.

Raizo Tanaka Interactive Map

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Raizo Tanaka Timeline

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