Editorial Notes by Anthony Tully - Managing Editor, CombinedFleet.com


NOTES:

[1] It is worthing noting that Fujinami was apparently the last completed Yugumo-class with the `old style' foremast.

[2] John Whitman located an account online by a diarist aboard Tatsuha Maru who recorded some interesting facts related to the fate of Gyoten Maru and Fujinami's activity that day. The Matsumoto Regiment HQ was aboard Gyoten Maru which was torpedoed and sunk around 0330 17 February 1944. At 0830 Fujinami rescued the drifting officers and men of the Gyoten Maru. Then at 1300 the diarist's transport, Tatsuha Maru, was attacked by enemy carriers planes and set afire. At length there was a large explosion among crates stacked around the bridge, and 2nd Battalion staff and its commander were killed along with much of the Tatsuha Maru 's bridge crew. At 1427 she sank. After sunset, Fujinami and CD No.1 [sic] began a rescue operation. Remark: As the CD No.1 mention shows, sometimes soldier diaries could err in details and must be used cautiously. Nonetheless, though unconfirmed, there is little reason to doubt the general picture presented. Thanks to John Whitman for this link: Tatuha Maru.

[3] Since Fujinami was ultimately lost with all hands during the Battle of Leyte Gulf we are dependent on messages preserved from other ships. Fujinami radioed this damage in combat report to Kurita. It forms part of the battle summary of damages known to 1-YB related in its Detailed Action Report.

[4] On May 5, 2019 the wreck of heavy cruiser Chokai was located on the bottom by the research vessel Petrel of Vulcan, Inc in the general vicinity last seen afloat. On May 30, 2019 an ROV was sent down to video the wreck. It was reported to be lying in waters 5,173 meters deep. The wreck video on Facebook provided mute testimony and clues of the CHOKAI's actual fate and of Fujinami's scuttling action. The cruiser's torpedo mounts were intact, and the wreck sat upright. Though there was marked impact damage on the tower-bridge, apart from apparent torpedo (or near-miss) damage to starboard of No.2 turret the cruiser's main hull showed relatively little underwater damage. The bow was severed forward of No.1 turret and the fantail collapsed. There is marked damage to the port side forward at the bow break consistent with Type 93 torpedo hits. In all likelihood Fujinami fired torpedoes into Chokai's port side. One of these shattered the bow, and it broke off then or during the sinking to land some distance away. Probably at least two scuttling torpedoes hit, as Chokai settled to the bottom flooded enough amidships and forward that little implosion damage like apparently collapsed the fantail occurred.

[5] These details and those for 25 October all come from an 0400 26 October radio update to Kurita. Remarkably, it indicates she passed safely through San Bernardino Strait after the 0100 destruction of Nowaki by Halsey's surface forces. This was the last message received from Fujinami before her loss, but not the last addressed to her.

[6] From a Desron 2 radio order to Fujinami. This order is crucial, for not only does it seal Fujinami's fate, it strongly implies that Fujinami (then presumably somewhere east of Coron) was expected to first refuel to 65% capacity, then go back to Hayashimo to refuel and shepherd her to Coron. But it has proven impossible to determine whether Fujinami ever arrived at Coron. It is known she had not arrived by 0235 27 October (was considered overdue) and furthermore, was in view of Hayashimo off Semirara at dawn. On balance, it is thus very unlikely Fujinami reached Coron and the Japanese passed the opportunity to offload the Chokai survivors while taking on fuel. Consider: when Ushio arrived at 0917 at Coron loaded with nearly 400 Abukuma survivors that very same day (27th) - they were transferred ashore indicating some means to land them. Therefor it appears more probable that in response to the 0235 orders - because of where then located - that Fujinami tragically chose to divert to Semirara to investigate before reaching Coron.

[7] Details of Fujinami's fate comes from the reports of Franklin's aircraft, and observers aboard Hayashimo which both confirm the hit amidships. The Franklin's planes, which left the area immediately because of fuel, reported a large explosion between the stacks and left the "Aoba-class" cruiser listing to port and sinking. She apparently broke in two just afterward. There is indication Shiranuhi arrived at the scene around 1045 and was attempting to rescue Fujinami and Chokai survivors when she herself was then bombed and sunk with all hands.


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