Japanese minesweeper No. 10 (1938)

The No.10 minesweeper (第十号掃海艇), also sometimes called W-7 was a minesweeper for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was 21 December 1937, and finished on 22 September 1938.

The Ship
The Japanese minesweeper W-10, sometimes also referred to as No. 10, was a minesweeper for the Imperial Japanese Navy (sometimes abbreviated IJN). It was laid down on 21 December 1937 at Ishikawajima Shipbuilding, now known as the IHI Corporation. It was launched just under a year later, on 22 September 1938. On 15 January 1939, W-10 was attached to the Sasebo Naval District, after being registered with the IJN. On 1 June 1941 W-10 was assigned to the Third Fleet, on MineSweepDiv 21, along with the minesweepers W-7, W-8, W-9, W-11, and W-12. On 27 November of the same year, W-10 departed from Sasebo, and arrived at the Mako Guard District in Formosa, a major base for the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 7 December 1941, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines began, starting with the invasion of Batan Island, a fairly small island off the coast of the Philippines. On 10 December, an invasion force is sent towards Vigan and Aparri. Despite poor weather, the forces still managed to land several troops on the islands. While participating in the invasion of Vigan, W-10 was attacked by Captain Samuel H. Marrett of the 34th Pursuit Squadron. Marrett, in a P-35, took multiple strafing runs against W-10, until the ship blew up. The explosion was so powerful it tore the wing off of Marrett's P-35, causing him to crash in to the sea. Marrett also managed to do damage to Oigawa Maru and Takao Maru.