[Daniel Nole]

Wake units were not reinforced by transport surface ships after January 1, 1944. In Dec 24, 1943 the auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru departs Ujia carrying 940 soldiers of the Fifth Independent Mixed Regiment, 220 soldiers of the 16th Tank Regiment and 18 Type 95 light tanks. The Akagi Maru was escorted by two DD of the DesDiv 61’s, Hatsusuki and Suzutsuki. The Akagi arrived at Wake, Jan 1 1944, disembarks the troops, tanks and also six 75mm guns. Akagi Maru was the last surface ship to arrive at Wake during the war.