6 April 1942:
Bay of Bengal. At about 0600, the three ships of Ozawa's
Northern Group attack and sink the 5,381-ton Norwegian tanker ELSA. After 0730,
KUMANO, SUZUYA and destroyer SHIRAKUMO intercept a six-ship convoy and sink the
4,986-ton American Export Line's EXMOOR (ex-CITY OF ST. JOSEPH), the 9,066-ton
British freighter MALDA, the 7,718-ton British freighter AUTOLYCUS and the
2,441-ton British freighter SHINKUANG at 19N, 86E. Ozawa's cruisers also sink
the 6,622-ton British freighter INDORA and Captain J. H. Gregory's British India
Line's 4,921-ton cargo ship SILKSWORTH. About 50 of SILKSWORTH's mostly Chinese
crewmen survive.
Temporarily detached from the rest of Ozawa's Center Group,
YURA and YUGIRI sink the 1,279-ton Dutch merchant BATAVIA en route from Calcutta
to Karachi. YURA and YUGIRI also sink the 1,279-ton Dutch freighter BANJOEWANGI
and the 3,471-ton British steamer TAKSANG.
The rest of the Center Group, RYUJO, CHOKAI and ASAGIRI, sink five ships:
The 5,491-ton American freighter BIENVILLE is bombed by RYUJO's aircraft,
finished off by gunfire from CHOKAI (reportedly also from RYUJO), and then
scuttled a torpedo from CHOKAI.
The 6,426-ton British cargo ship GANGES is
attacked by one of CHOKAI's floatplanes and two of RYUJO's aircraft, and is then
sunk by gunfire from the surface ships, including gunfire from RYUJO.
The
2,646-ton British ship SINKIANG is attacked by aircraft and then likewise sunk
by gunfire.
The 5,686-ton American freighter SELMA CITY is bombed by
CHOKAI's floatplanes. She is also attacked and hit by two aircraft from RYUJO,
but by then is already sinking and abandoned.
The 2,073-ton Dutch freighter
VAN DER CAPELLEN is bombed and damaged by RYUJO's aircraft and sinks two days
later.
That same day, the 5,268-ton British freighter ANGLO-CANADIAN is attacked
by five aircraft from RYUJO, including two armed with torpedoes, score one bomb
hit, which does not explode but which starts a fire. Also that day, RYUJO
launches strikes against Cocanada and Vizagapatam. The 3,827-ton British
merchant MARION MOLLER is damaged at Vizagapatam.
Ozawa's Southern Group sinks four ships. They first encounter disabled
DARDANUS, under tow by the 5,281-ton British ship GANDARA. The three Japanese
ships promptly open fire on the two merchantmen, which are finished off with
torpedoes from AMAGIRI. Two Norwegian vessels the 4,434-ton DAGFRED and the
1,515-ton HERMOD are then sunk.
In all Ozawa's commerce raiding detachment sinks twenty ships of about
93,247 tons during their brief foray in the Bay of Bengal.
9 April 1942: The Attack on the British naval base at Trincomalee:
At
0600, Nagumo's Striking Force launches 132 aircraft led by Cdr Fuchida to attack
the British naval base at Trincomalee, Ceylon (91 B5N2 Kate dive-bombers [18
from AKAGI, 18 from SORYU and 18 from HIRYU, 19 from SHOKAKU and 18 from
ZUIKAKU] and 41 A6M2 "Zeke" fighters [6 from AKAGI, 9 from SORYU, 6 from HIRYU,
10 from SHOKAKU and 10 from ZUIKAKU]).
The Japanese find the harbor almost empty of warships, but sink the
9,066-ton British merchant SAGAING, carrying three crated Fairey "Albacore"
torpedo bombers and a "Walrus" amphibian, and damage the old 15-inch monitor HMS
EREBUS. The non-operational Dutch light cruiser SUMATRA is also hit, but the 800
kg bomb does not explode. Outside the harbor, the southbound 4,784-ton Greek
MARIONGA D. THERMIOTIS is damaged by strafing and seven men are wounded.
HARUNA launches an E8N2 "Dave" floatplane. At 0755, it spots an enemy
carrier 65 miles south of the base. Between 0843 and 0853, the Striking Force
launches 85 D3A Vals, (18 from SORYU, 18 from HIRYU and 18 from SHOKAKU, 17 from
AKAGI and 14 from ZUIKAKU), escorted by 9 A6M Zekes (3 each from AKAGI, SORYU,
HIRYU) which sink old light carrier HMS HERMES. 306 RN personnel are KIA, but
hospital ship HMHS VITA, en route from Trincomalee to Colombo, arrives and picks
up over 600 survivors.
Other sailors are rescued by local craft or swim to shore. Nagumo's
aircraft also find and sink Australian destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE, 8 KIA, corvette
HMS HOLLYHOCK, 53 KIA, oilers ATHELSTANE and BRITISH SERGEANT and Norwegian
merchant ship NORVIKEN.
11 April 1942:
Ozawa's Force arrives at Singapore.
13 April 1942:
Departs Singapore.
16 April 1942:
Arrives at Camranh.
17 April 1942:
Departs Camranh.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
27 April 1942:
Kure. Drydocked.
4 May 1942:
Undocked.
15 May 1942:
CruDiv 7 departs Kure for three days of exercises with
BatDiv 1's YAMATO, NAGATO and MUTSU in the area around Hashirajima.
18 May 1942:
Arrives back at Kure.
22 May 1942:
CruDiv7 departs Hashirajima that night.
26 May 1942:
CruDiv 7 arrives at Guam to provide close support for
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) Midway
Invasion Transport Group's oiler AKEBONO MARU and transports KIYOSUMI, ZENYO,
ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AZUMA, KEIYO, GOSHU, KANO, HOKURIKU, KIRISHIMA and NANKAI
MARUs and TOA MARU No. 2. The transports carry an airfield construction unit,
LtCol Ichiki Kiyonao's IJA detachment and two battalions of Special Naval
Landing Forces.
KUMANO refuels from an oiler.
28 May 1942:
Departs Guam with the Close Support Group.
30 May 1942:
Makes a rendezvous with the Transport Group with ARASHI,
ASASHIO and oiler NICHIEI MARU.
5 June 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway:
CruDiv 7 is ordered to bombard Midway, but the orders are
later canceled.
At 2138, flagship KUMANO spots surfaced submarine USS TAMBOR (SS-198).
KUMANO signals a 45-degree simultaneous turn to starboard to avoid possible
torpedoes. The emergency turn is correctly executed by the flagship and SUZUYA,
but the third ship in the line, MIKUMA, erroneously makes a 90-degree turn.
Behind her, MOGAMI turns 45 degrees as ordered. MOGAMI's navigator, LtCdr (later
Captain) Yamauchi Masaki (51), watching SUZUYA does not see MIKUMA's movement.
This results in a collision in which MOGAMI rams MIKUMA's portside below the
bridge. MOGAMI's bow caves in and she is badly damaged. MIKUMA's portside oil
tanks rupture and she begins to spill oil, but otherwise her damage is slight.
Admiral Kurita orders MIKUMA and DesDiv 8's ARASHIO and ASASHIO to stay
behind and escort MOGAMI. Flagship KUMANO and SUZUYA are detached from damaged
MOGAMI and MIKUMA. The MOGAMI group proceeds westward at a reduced speed of 17
knots.
13 June 1942:
Arrive at Truk.
17-23 June 1942:
Departs Truk with SUZUYA, and destroyers ARARE and
KASUMI.
20 June 1942:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji
(former CO of HARUNA) is appointed CO of CruDiv 7. Vice Admiral Kurita is later
appointed ComBatDiv 3.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
14 July 1942:
CruDiv 7 is transferred from the Second Fleet (Cruisers)
to the Third Fleet (Carriers).
17 July 1942:
CruDiv 7's KUMANO and SUZUYA depart Hashirajima.
25 July 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
28 July 1942: Operation "B" - The Invasion of Burma:
CruDiv 7's KUMANO
and SUZUYA depart Singapore.
29 July 1942:
W of Poeloe Perak, Straits of Malacca, Malaya. Dutch
LtCdr Albertus M. Valkenburg's submarine Hr.Ms. O-23 sights two zig-zagging
MOGAMI-class cruisers (KUMANO and SUZUYA), protected by four destroyers at a
distance of about 7 miles. At 0600, Valkenburg fires four German G7 AD type
torpedoes, but all miss. The Japanese counter-attack with depth charges. A
cruiser and a destroyer head towards O-23. More depth charges are dropped.
Valkenburg finds a thermal layer and slips away running silently. The IJN ships
continue hunting for the O-23 for another six hours.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Mergui, Burma.
7 August 1942: American Operation "Watchtower" - The Invasion of
Guadalcanal, Solomons:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K. Turner's
(former CO of ASTORIA, CA-34) Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by Vice Admiral
(MOH-'14/later Admiral) Frank J.Fletcher's (former CO of VERMONT, BB-20)Task
Force 61 and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task Force 63's
land-based aircraft, lands Maj Gen (later Gen/Commandant) Alexander A.
Vandegrift's 1st Marine Division on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and
Guadalcanal opening the campaign to take the island.
That same day, CruDiv 7 departs Mergui for the South Pacific.
14-16 August 1942:
CruDiv 7 refuels at Balikpapan, Borneo.
20 August 1942: Operation "KA" - The Recapture of Guadalcanal and the
Destruction of the American Fleet:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo
Nobutake's (35)(former CO of KONGO) Advanced Force departs Truk to reinforce
Guadalcanal with Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi's Third Fleet, Carrier Strike
Force, Main Body's CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU and CarDiv 2's RYUJO, Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) BatDiv 11's HIEI,
KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 7's KUMANO and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA and Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Susumu's (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 10's
light cruiser NAGARA and destroyers.
24 August 1942: The Battle of Eastern Solomons:
CruDiv 7's KUMANO and
SUZUYA arrive and join CarDiv 1, BatDiv 11, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and DesRon 10.
The Main Body cruises NE of Guadalcanal.
Detached light carrier RYUJO is sunk by aircraft from Rear Admiral
Fletcher's Task Force 11 (USS SARATOGA, CV-3).
Around 1750 a flight of four B-17s of 11th Bombardment Group (H) from
Espiritu Santo arrives, targeting the battleship KIRISHIMA. KUMANO provides AA
support, firing her main battery Type 3 AA shells.
25 August 1942:
At 1455, CarDiv 1 launches an air attack on Rear
Admiral (later Admiral) Thomas C. Kinkaid's (former CO of INDIANAPOLIS, CA-35)
Task Force 16's (ENTERPRISE, CV-6). ENTERPRISE is hit by three bombs, but is not
sunk.
5 September 1942:
CruDiv 7 arrives at at Truk.
9 September 1942:
CruDiv 7 sorties from Truk with the Carrier Strike
Force, BatDiv 11 and DesRon 10 to an area N of the Solomon Islands.
14 September 1942:
CruDiv 7 is attacked by 10 Boeing B-17 "Flying
Fortresses". KUMANO suffers slight damage to a 25-mm AA gun mount.
23 September 1942:
Returns to Truk.
11 October 1942:
KUMANO sorties from Truk with Nagumo's Third Fleet,
Carrier Strike Force, Main Body's CarDiv 1 SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO and
destroyers AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, YUKIKAZE, ARASHI, MAIKAZE,
TERUZUKI and YAMAKAZE.
17-18 October 1942:
The fleet refuels at sea.
26 October 1942:
One Kawanishi E7K2 "Alf" floatplane from KUMANO is
temporarily transferred to KIRISHIMA.
26 October 1942:The Battle of Santa Cruz:
Nagumo's Carrier Strike
Force engages Task Force 16's ENTERPRISE and TF 17's HORNET (CV-8). Nagumo's
planes sink HORNET and damage SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) and SAN JUAN (CL-54).
30 October 1942:
Returns to Truk where the E7K2 floatplane is returned
to KUMANO.
2 November 1942:
Departs Truk for Kure.
7 November 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
15 November 1942:
Drydocked.
20 November 1942:
Undocked.
22 November 1942:
Departs Kure.
27 November 1942:
Arrrives at Manila.
29 November-4 December 1942:
Embarks army troops and departs.
4 December 1942:
Arrrives at Rabaul. Disembarked troops.
5-6 December 1942:
Departs Rabaul for Kavieng. Flagship of Rear
Admiral Nishimura.
12-13 December 1942:
Troop transport run to Lorengau.
13 December-11 February 1943:
At Kavieng.
11-13 February 1943:
Departed Kavieng for Truk.
13 February 1943:
At Truk with SUZUYA.
17 February 1943:
Captain Fujita Toshizo (42)(former CO of JINTSU) is
appointed the CO.
24 March 1943:
Departs Truk for Kure with SUZUYA.
6-15 April 1943:
In drydock at Kure. KUMANO's twin 13-mm machine guns
are removed and replaced by two triple mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns bringing
their suite to 20 barrels (4x3, 4x2). A Type 21 air-search radar is fitted and
most of her middle and lower deck scuttles are welded over.
20 May 1943:
After refueling, CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA and MOGAMI
depart the Tokuyama Fuel Depot.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo Bay.
31 May 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Tokyo Bay.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
11 June 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Kure for Yokosuka. Embarks the 28th
airfield defense unit to be transferred to Rabaul.
16 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Truk with Vice Admiral Kurita's
Vanguard Force: CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA, escort carriers
RYUHO, UNYO and CHUYO, DesDiv 7's AKEBONO, USHIO, DesDiv 24's SUZUKAZE, DesDiv
27's ARIAKE, SHIGURE, YUGURE and DesDiv 31's KIYONAMI.
17 June 1943:
A lookout in LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Frank T.
Watkins' USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) sights the task group making 20 knots. Watkins
is unable to gain an attack position, but reports the sighting.
21 June 1943:
LtCdr George A. Sharp's USS SPEARFISH (SS-190)
intercepts and attacks one of the escort carriers, but he misses with four
torpedoes. The Vanguard Force arrives safely at Truk at 1300 (JST) that same
day.
23 June 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Truk with destroyer NIIZUKI.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and disembarks the airfield defense
unit.
27 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
9 July 1943:
CruDiv7 departs Truk for Rabaul.
18 July 1943:
CruDiv7 departs Rabaul for the Vella Gulf with CHOKAI,
DesRon 3's light cruiser SENDAI and her four destroyers to cover other
destroyer-transports carrying troop reinforcements.
Off Kolombangara, the force is attacked by Guadalcanal-based Marine
"Avenger" TBM torpedo-bombers. A near-miss damages KUMANO's aft hull plates.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
21-29 July 1943:
Undergoes emergency repairs by repair ship YAMABIKO
MARU.
29 July 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
31 July-28 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk. Undergoes further repairs by
repair ship AKASHI.
28 August-2 September 1943:
Departs Truk for Kure.
2 September-31 October 1943:
Repaired at Kure.
3 November 1943:
Departs Kure.
8 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
20 November 1943: American Operation "Galvanic" - The Invasion of the
Gilberts:
Forces under Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Raymond A. Spruance
(former CO of MISSISSIPPI, BB-41), Commander, Central Pacific, invade Tarawa and
Makin Islands. Spruance's invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13 battleships
and 11 carriers.
24 November 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Truk with destroyers HATSUZUKI,
SUZUTSUKI, HAMAKAZE, FUJINAMI and HAYANAMI in response to the invasion of
Tarawa. Fleet tanker NIPPON MARU, escorted by destroyers YAMAGUMO, MAIKAZE and
NOWAKI, provides support.
26-27 November 1943:
At Kwajalein.
28-29 November 1943:
At Eniwetok.
30 November-3 December 1943:
At Roi.
5 December 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
8 December 1943:
Flagship of CruDiv 7.
26 December 1943:
Departs Truk with SUZUYA on a transport run to
Kavieng, but they are sighted by American aircraft so the mission is aborted.
28 December 1943:
Arrives back at Truk.
29 December 1944:
Departs Truk with SUZUYA and destroyer MICHISHIO on
another transport run to Kavieng.
1 January 1944:
Arrives back at Truk. That day, CruDiv 8 is disbanded.
TONE and CHIKUMA are assigned to CruDiv 7.
1 February 1944: The Evacuation of Truk:
CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA and
TONE depart Truk with BatDiv 1's NAGATO, BatDiv 2's FUSO, DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE,
TANIKAZE, HAMAKAZE and URAKAZE and DesDiv 61's AKIZUKI. At 1000, a lookout
aboard LtCdr Carter L. Bennett's USS PERMIT (SS-178) sights the task group
leaving Truk, but Bennett is unable to attack.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
16 February 1944:
Departs Palau with the task group in anticipation of an
air raid. An enemy submarine is sighted at 08-00N, 131-00E.
17 February
1944:
Another enemy submarine is sighted at 05-30N, 125-40E.
20 February 1944:
South China Sea. N of Singapore. After sunset, a lookout
aboard LtCdr Frank G. Selby's USS PUFFER (SS-268) sights the 10-ship task group,
but Selby is unable to attack.
Lookouts in NAGATO group sight an enemy
submarine, probably PUFFER, at 04-16N, 108-40 E.
21 February 1944:
Arrives at Lingga (near Singapore). Participates in
battle exercises thereafter.
1 March 1944:
The Combined Fleet is
reorganized as the First Mobile Fleet.
21 March-11 May 1944:
At Lingga with SUZUYA. Training.
24 March-7 April 1944:
Eight single-mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns are
installed at Singapore. This brings KUMANO's AA suite to a total of 28 barrels
(4x3, 4x2 and 8x1).
25 March 1944:
Rear Admiral (promoted Vice Admiral 15 October)
Shiraishi Kazutaka (42)(former CO of KIRISHIMA) is appointed ComCruDiv 7.
29 March 1944:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Hitomi Soichiro
(47)(former chief of the Navy Ministry Education Bureau's 2nd Section) is
appointed the CO.
11 May 1944:
Steams from Lingga to the old American anchorage at Tawi
Tawi in the Sulu Archipelago with Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of
HARUNA) Mobile Fleet.
13 May 1944:
KUMANO arrives at Tawi Tawi with Vice Admiral Kurita's
Force "C" Vanguard: BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, BatDiv 3, CarDiv 3's CHITOSE,
CHIYODA and ZUIHO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA,
CHIKUMA and TONE, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and Rear Admiral (Vice
Admiral, posthumously) Hayakawa Mikio's (former CO of NAGATO) DesRon 2's light
cruiser NOSHIRO, DesDiv 31's ASASHIMO, KISHINAMI, OKINAMI and DesDiv 32's
FUJINAMI, SHIMIKAZE and HAMAKAZE.
15-17 May 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi with SUZUYA for Tarakan, Borneo to
refuel. Returns to Tawi Tawi.
8 June 1944:
Tawi Tawi. KUMANO receives fresh provisions replenishment
from stores ship KITAKAMI MARU.
13 June 1944: Operation "A-GO" - The
Battle of the Philippine Sea:
In Tokyo, the CINC, Combined
Fleet, Admiral Toyoda Soemu (former CO of HYUGA), sends out a signal that
activates the "A-Go" plan for the Defense of the Marianas.
Ozawa's Mobile Fleet departs Tawi Tawi (less Operation "Kon's" BatDiv 1,
CruDiv 5) for Guimaras near Panay Island, Philippines. At 1000, LtCdr Marshall
H. Austin's USS REDFIN (SS-272) sights and reports the departing Mobile Fleet.
14 June 1944:
At Guimaras. Refuels from Supply Group No. 2's oilers.
15 June 1944:
The Mobile Fleet departs Guimaras through the Visayan
Sea. At 1622, the fleet is sighted in the San Bernardino Strait by lookouts
aboard LtCdr Robert Risser's USS FLYING FISH (SS-229).
17 June 1944:
Lookouts aboard LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Herman J.
Kossler's USS CAVALLA (SS-244) sight the fleet in the Philippine Sea. Kossler
reports its movement after surfacing later that evening.
18-19 June 1944:
Ozawa splits the Mobile Fleet. Forces "A" and "B"
proceed southward. The Vanguard Force "C" proceeds due east in the Philippine
Sea headed towards Saipan. The Mobile Fleet's aircraft attack the U.S. Task
Force 58 off Saipan, but suffer overwhelming aircraft losses in the "Great
Mariana's Turkey Shoot".
20 June 1944:
At 1830, Curtiss SB2C "Helldiver" dive-bombers and TBM
torpedo-bombers from USS BUNKER HILL (CVL-17), MONTEREY (CVL-26) and CABOT
(CVL-28) attack BatDiv 3 and carrier CHIYODA. During the battle, air attacks
sink carrier HIYO and damage battleship HARUNA, carriers ZUIKAKU, JUNYO, CHIYODA
and RYUHO. Meanwhile, Kossler's CAVALLA sinks SHOKAKU and LtCdr James W.
Blanchard's ALBACORE (SS-218) sinks new armored carrier TAIHO. The Mobile Fleet
retires to Okinawa.
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa for refueling
destroyers, then departs.
24 June 1944:
The Mobile Fleet arrives at Hashirajima.
25 June 1944:
At Kure for refit. Additional 25-mm. AA installed. A
Type 22 surface search radar and a Type 13 air search radar are installed.
8 July 1944:
CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA, TONE and CHIKUMA are loaded
with troops and supplies. They depart Kure with Group "A": BatDiv 1's YAMATO and
MUSASHI, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI and DesRon 2's light cruiser
NOSHIRO and her destroyers. Group "A" is accompanied by Group "B": BatDiv 1's
NAGATO, BatDiv 3's KONGO, CruDiv 7's MOGAMI and DesRon 10's light cruiser YAHAGI
and her destroyers.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Okinawa. Group "A" detaches and departs
Okinawa.
16 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore, offloads troops and supplies.
17 July 1944:
Proceeds to Lingga (S of Singapore) to join the Mobile
Fleet.
22 September 1944:
Lingga. KUMANO receives fresh provisions from
stores ship KITAKAMI MARU.
5 October 1944:
Lingga. KUMANO receives fresh provisions from
KITAKAMI MARU.
18 October 1944:
Vice Admiral Shirashi's CruDiv 7 departs Lingga in
Vice Admiral Kurita's First Raiding Force with Vice Admiral Suzuki Yoshio's
Force "B" (Northern Force): BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA and DesRon 10's YAHAGI
and destroyers NOWAKI, URAKAZE, YUKIKAZE, HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE.
20 October 1944:
Arrrives at Brunei Bay, Borneo.
22-26 October 1944: Operation "SHO-I-GO"(Victory) -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
Departs Brunei for Leyte Gulf via the San
Bernardino Strait.
24 October 1944:
Tablas Strait. After 1024, KUMANO launches one of her
two remaining floatplanes, the Aichi E13A1 "Jake" No. 1, heading for San Jose,
Mindoro Island. During the ensuing air attacks KUMANO is attacked by 7 carrier
planes (probably from USS ESSEX or LEXINGTON) and receives a bomb hit (a dud) to
No. 4 turret roof. She expends around 70 main battery Type 3 AA rounds, over 200
12.7-cm and over 1,000 25-mm rounds.
25 October 1944: The
Battle off Samar:
At 0724, when attacking TG 77.4.3's "Jeep"
carriers, KUMANO is hit by a torpedo from destroyer USS JOHNSTON (DD-557). The
Mk.15 tears a section of KUMANO's bow off. By 0830 Admiral Shiraishi and his
staff are transferred to SUZUYA while KUMANO retires towards the San Bernardino
Strait at 15 knots. Around noon she is mistakenly attacked by two Aichi E16A1
"Paul" floatplanes and soon thereafter by a Nakajima B6N2 "Jill" torpedo bomber,
scoring no hits. A later attack by some 30 American torpedo and dive-bombers
likewise produces no hits.
26 October 1944:
Tablas Strait, near the S tip
of Mindoro Island. KUMANO is attacked by AG-7 aircraft from USS HANCOCK (CV-19)
and receives two 1,000-lb bomb hits; a near miss causes flooding to No. 6 boiler
room. Seven boilers are disabled and the starboard cruising turbine damaged; the
cruiser goes dead in the water. After emergency repairs she can make 10 knots
and proceeds to Coron Bay, rendezvousing with ASHIGARA and destroyer USHIO
around 1330. ASHIGARA takes KUMANO in tow. Around 1630 KUMANO arrives at Coron
Bay and refuels from the oiler NICHIEI MARU.
27 October 1944:
Around 0130 departs Coron for Manila, rendezvousing
with OKINAMI en route.
28 October 1944:
Arrives at Manila. Emergency repairs are performed by
the 103rd Naval Repair Unit (Cavite) on her bow and four boilers.
29 October 1944:
Manila. KUMANO and NACHI are attacked by Task Force
38's carrier planes.
3 November 1944:
Conducts a test run off Manila, developing a maximum
speed of 15 knots.
4 November 1944:
At 0100, departs Manila for Takao, Formosa with AOBA
in convoy MATA-31 with six freighters, two kaibokan frigates and five
subchasers.
5 November 1944:
At 10,000-yards, convoy MATA-31 (15-ships with air
cover) is spotted by lookouts aboard Cdr (later Rear Admiral) John K. Fyfe's USS
BATFISH (SS-310). Fyfe makes a submerged approach on AOBA under the escorts, but
when he comes to periscope depth, BATFISH is almost rammed by a destroyer. Fyfe
aborts his approach and crash dives. Later, he fires six torpedoes at a large
cargo ship, but they all miss.
6 November 1944:
Cape Bolinao, Luzon. The convoy is attacked by a wolf
pack of composed of LtCdr (later Captain) Enrique D. Haskins' USS GUITARRO
(SS-363), LtCdr W. G. Chapple's BREAM (SS-243), LtCdr Maurice W. Shea's RATON
(SS-270) and LtCdr William T. Kinsella's RAY (SS-271). GUITARRO, BREAM and RAY
share credit for sinking 6,800-ton transport KAGA MARU.
The four submarines fire 23 torpedoes at KUMANO. At 1052, she is hit by
two torpedoes. One blows off her repaired bow section. The second hits near her
starboard engine room. All four engine rooms are flooded. She takes on an
11-degree list to starboard and becomes unnavigable. At 1930, KUMANO is taken
under tow by the 2,274-ton DORYO MARU and later arrives at Dasol Bay.
7 November 1944:
At 1500, arrives at Santa Cruz harbor, west coast of
Luzon.
7-20 November 1944:
Santa Cruz harbor. Undergoes emergency repairs by
personnel brought up from the Manila Repair Facility. Minesweeper W-11 keeps ASW
lookout.
25 November 1944:
Santa Cruz harbor. KUMANO is attacked by aircraft
from Task Force 38's USS TICONDEROGA (CV-14). She is hit by five Mk.13 torpedoes
and four 500-lb. bombs. At 1515, KUMANO capsizes and sinks in 108 ft of water at
15-45N, 119-48E. 595 survivors are rescued, but Captain Hitomi and 398 sailors
are killed. Captain Hitomi is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously.
20 January 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), was the highest point
in the Japanese Empire at the time.
For more about KUMANO see Ship of Nine Lives: The long
struggle of cruiser KUMANO.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Jean-François Masson of Canada and to Gilbert Casse of
France.
Thanks also to the late John Whitman and to Gengoro Toda of Japan for
info about stores ship KITAKAMI MARU.
Thanks go to Rob Stuart of Canada for additional info about "Operation
C". For more info on "Operation C" please see Rob's splendid 20 Ships, Not 23: Ozawa's
Score, 5-6 April 1942. NB: Older map on this TROM page erroneously shows 23
ships sunk.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
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