4 December 1928: Kobe. Laid down at Kawasaki Shipyard as A class heavy
cruiser No. 11.
11 September 1928: Named MAYA.
8 November 1930: Launched. Captain (later Rear Admiral) Morimoto
Jo (35)(former ComDesDiv 3) is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
30 June 1932: Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to
Yokosuka Naval District, initially placed in 1st reserve. Captain Morimoto
Jo is the CO.
1 December 1932: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Yamamoto Koki
(36)(former CO of NAKA) is appointed the CO.
26 August 1933: Participates in Naval Review off Yokohama.
12 September 1933: Dry-docked at Yokosuka Navy Yard to embark
Type 91 HA directors.
15 November 1933: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Niimi Masaichi
(36)(former CO of YAKUMO) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1934: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Ozawa Jisaburo
(37)(former ComDesDiv 11) is appointed the CO.
20-30 December 1934: Refit at Yokosuka Navy Yard to upgrade the
steering gear.
28 October 1935: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Moizumi Shinichi
(37)(former CO of YODO) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1935: Placed in 1st reserve at Yokosuka. Reassigned to
Yokosuka Guard Squadron.
9 July-20 September 1936: Dry-docked at Yokosuka Navy Yard for hull
strengthening. The mainmast pole derrick is replaced by a built-up derrick.
The searchlight tower blast screens are removed and the Sperry type
searchlights replaced by Type 92 searchlights.
16 November 1936: Captain Moizumi is apponited the CO of TAIGEI as
additional duty.
1 December 1936: Reassigned to CruDiv 4, Second Fleet with TAKAO.
Capt (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Oshima Kenshiro (39)(former CO of KAKO) is
appointed the CO.
27 March 1937: Departs Terashima Strait for a training cruise to
Tsingtao in company of carriers KAGA, HOSHO and RYUJO, battleships NAGATO,
MUTSU, HYUGA, HARUNA and KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 8, TAKAO, DesRons 1 and 2, and
SubRon 1.
6 April 1937: The fleet returns to Ariake Bay, Kyushu.
20 August 1937: MAYA departs Atsuta (near Nagoya) with cruisers
ASHIGARA, HAGURO MYOKO and NACHI, light cruiser JINTSU and destroyers AKEBONO,
AMAGIRI, ASAGIRI, AYANAMI, ISONAMI, OBORO, SHIKINAMI and YUGIRI. MAYA is
carrying 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry.
21 August 1937: Arrives at the Saddle (Ma'an) Islands, NE Zhoushan
archipelago, China. Troops are transferred to JINTSU and destroyers AMAGIRI,
ASAGIRI, MURASAME, OBORO, SAMIDARE, USHIO, YUDACHI and YUGIRI.
15 November 1937: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Suzuki Yoshio
(40)(former CO of MAMIYA) is appointed the CO.
8 December 1937-14 January 1938: Modernization at Yokosuka Navy
Yard. Two 40-mm Vickers AA guns are replaced by 13.2-mm Type 96 Mod. 2
quadruple machine guns.
15 November 1938: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nakahara Yoshimasa
(41)(former CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1939: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Osugi Morikazu
(41)(former CO of ONDO) is appointed the CO.
15 April 1941: Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Izaki Shunji
(42)(former CO of MOGAMI) is appointed the CO.
11 August 1941: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nabeshima Shunsaku
(42)(former CO of KASHIMA) is appointed the CO.
29 November 1941- Operation "M": MAYA is in Vice Admiral (later
Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's (former CO of KONGO) CruDiv 4 with ATAGO (F) and
TAKAO.
CruDiv 4 departs Saeki Bay with Kondo's Second Fleet, Malay Force, Main
Body with BatDiv 3's HARUNA and KONGO and destroyers ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, AKATSUKI,
HATAKAZE, NOWAKI, MAIKAZE, MICHISHIO and HIBIKI.
2 December 1941: Arrives at Mako, Pescadore Islands. The Main Body
receives the signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" from the
Combined Fleet. This signifies that X-Day hostilities will commence on 8
December (Japan time).
4 December 1941: The Main Body departs Mako for the South China Sea
to provide distant support for the invasion forces. MAYA remains at Mako.
8 December 1941: Operation "M" - The Invasion of the Northern
Philippines: MAYA joins Vice Admiral Takahashi Ibo's (former CO of KIRISHIMA)
Third Fleet, Philippine Seizure Force. She departs Mako with ASHIGARA and light
cruiser KUMA to support the North Philippine Force.
10 December 1941: W of Luzon. At about 0800, five USN PBY-4
"Catalinas" of Patrol Wing 10 based at Los Banos attack MAYA, CruDiv 16's
ASHIGARA and KUMA and DesDiv 5's ASAKAZE and MATSUKAZE. The "Catalinas" fail to
score a hit. At about 1300, four other PBYs from Sangley Point (Cavite) attack.
They too fail to score a hit. One PBY is shot down by Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 0
"Zeke" carrier fighters of the IJN's 3rd NAG.
11 December 1941: Covers the invasion landings at Vigan, Philippines.
14 December 1941: Returns to Mako.
19-23 December 1941: Departs Mako with the covering group.
22 December 1941: Supports the invasion landings in the Lingayen Gulf.
23 December 1941: Returns to Mako.
31 December 1941: Departs Mako to cover the Third Malaya Convoy NE of
Natuna Besar.
4 January 1942: Arrives at Camranh.
6 January 1942: Departs Mako with AKATSUKI.
12 January 1942: Arrives at Palau with ATAGO and TAKAO. Nakajima E8N2
"Dave"
floatplanes from all three cruisers provide anti-submarine cover during the
passage.
21 January 1942: MAYA escorts a convoy to Davao, Philippines.
28 January 1942: Arrives at Palau.
16 February 1942: Departs Palau with TAKAO as distant cover for Vice
Admiral Nagumo Chuichi's Carrier Striking Force raid on Port Darwin, Australia.
21 February 1942: Arrives at Staring (Teluk) Bay, Celebes.
25 February 1942: CruDiv 4's MAYA, ATAGO and TAKAO depart Staring Bay
with DesDiv 4's ARASHI and NOWAKI under Vice Admiral Kondo to hunt for shipping
escaping from Java.
1 March 1942: 300 miles from Tjilatjap. At 0518 (JST), ARASHI and
NOWAKI attack the Dutch merchant PARIGI and sink her at 0528.
Operating S of Tjilatjap, Java, Kondo's force sinks 981-ton Dutch
motorship TORADJA and 620-ton auxiliary minesweeper HMS SCOTT HARLEY. ARASHI and
NOWAKI capture the 1,020-ton Dutch steamship BINTOEHAN.
2 March 1942: A reconnaissance aircraft of the Bali-based 22nd Air
Flotilla reports the sighting of two destroyers 300 miles SW and a light
cruiser S of Bali. At 1743, MAYA, DesDiv 4's ARASHI and NOWAKI overhaul LtCdr
G. R. Pretor-Pinney's old destroyer-minelayer HMS STRONGHOLD.
MAYA targets STRONGHOLD with her main battery from 16,800 yds, joined by
ARASHI and NOWAKI at 1821. The Japanese close until MAYA is 3,000 yds off
STRONGHOLD's starboard bow and the destroyers 2,000 yds off her port beam. At
1858, immobilized and afire, she blows up and sinks at 12-20S, 112E. About 50
survivors take to Carley floats, but Pretor-Pinney and 74 other crewmen are
lost. MAYA expends 635 20-cm rounds; all three floatplanes are damaged by gun
blast.
At 2102, ATAGO and TAKAO overhaul and sink LtCdr H. C. Pound's old
four-stack destroyer USS PILLSBURY (DD-227) with all hands at 15-38S, 113-15E.
3 March: In the morning, survivors from STRONGHOLD are picked up by
the small steamer BINTOEHAN captured by the Japanese on 1 March. MAYA arrives
while the rescue is in process, and BINTOEHAN suspends rescue operations. The
survivors are transferred to MAYA. The steamer is sent to Bali without a prize
crew. BINTOEHAN's crew scuttles the ship close to the Java coast.
4 March 1942: 280 miles SSE of Tjilatjap, Java. At sunrise, MAYA,
ATAGO and TAKAO and DesDiv 4's ARASHI and NOWAKI attack a convoy that departed
Tjilatjap for Fremantle, Australia. The IJN force launches two spotter
floatplanes. The cruisers sink the 4,900-ton British tanker FRANCOL, British
Motor Minesweepers 51 and 3, the 470-ton British depot ship ANKING, then capture
the 7,089-ton Dutch freighter TJISAROEA (later in Japanese service as CHIHAYA
MARU). For more than an hour-and-a-half, LtCdr Robert Rankin's 1,060-ton sloop
HMAS YARRA puts up an heroic defense against impossible odds, but is smothered
by 5-inch and 8-inch shells and finally sinks a blazing wreck. Rankin is killed
on the bridge.
The Japanese pick up one lifeboat of survivors from FRANCOL, then depart
to the NNE. Four days later, the Dutch submarine K-XI picks up a total of 18
survivors of YARRA, ANKING and the survivors of torpedoed Dutch freighter
PARIGI that had been rescued by YARRA.
One survivor dies, before K-XI arrives in Colombo, Ceylon.
7 March 1942: MAYA arrives at Staring Bay.
11 March 1942: Departs Staring Bay with TAKAO.
18 March 1942: Arrives at Yokosuka to commence a refit.
19-28 March 1942: Drydocked. Four 25-mm Type 96 AA guns in two twin
mounts are installed abreast the fore funnel.
14 April 1942: Departs Yokosuka.
14 April 1942: Arrives at Owase Bay.
18 April 1942: The First Bombing of Japan: Vice Admiral (later Fleet
Admiral) William F. Halsey's Task Force 16.2's USS HORNET (CV-8), VINCENNES
(CA-44), NASHVILLE (CL-43), oiler CIMARRON (AO-22) and destroyers GWIN (DD-433),
MEREDITH (DD-434), GRAYSON (DD-435) and MONSSEN (DD-436) accompanied by Task
Force 16.1's ENTERPRISE (CV-6), SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25), NORTHAMPTON (CA-28),
oiler SABINE (AO-25) and destroyers BALCH (DD-363), BENHAM (DD-397), ELLET
(DD-398) and FANNING (DD-385). The carriers and cruisers approach to within 668
nautical miles of Japan.
Led by Lt Col (later General/Medal of Honor) James H. Doolittle, 16 Army
B-25 "Mitchell" twin-engine bombers of the 17th Bomb Group take off from Captain
(later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's carrier HORNET and strike targets in Tokyo,
Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya and Kobe. At Yokosuka, a B-25 damages carrier RYUHO in a
drydock while undergoing conversion from former submarine depot ship TAIGEI.
After the raid, MAYA departs Owase Bay to join TAKAO and ATAGO in an
unsuccessful pursuit of Halsey.
25 April 1942: Returns to Yokusuka.
1 May 1942: Departs Yokosuka for Hashirajima with TAKAO.
4 May 1942: Arrives at Hashirajima.
22 May 1942: Departs Kure with TAKAO in Vice Admiral Hosogaya
Boshiro's (former CO of MUTSU) Fifth Fleet, Second Strike Force under Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kakuta Kakuji (former CO of NAGATO) with carriers
JUNYO and RYUJO, DesDiv 3's SHIOKAZE, DesDiv 6's AKATSUKI, HIBIKI, INAZUMA and
IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 7's AKEBONO, SAZANAMI and USHIO.
26 May 1942: Arrives at Ominato.
27 May 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway: MAYA and TAKAO depart Ominato for the Aleutians in
Kakuta's Carrier Striking Force. They accompany Hosogaya's Main Body with
destroyers INAZUMA and IKAZUCHI, oilers FUJISAN MARU and NISSAN MARU and three
cargo ships. They cover a convoy bound for the invasion of Kiska and support
attacks against Attu Island.
2 June 1942: Arrives at Paramushiro.
3 June 1942: Operation "AL" - The Invasion of the Aleutians: Departs
Paramushiro. The Second Mobile Force detaches and launches air attacks against
U.S. installations in the Aleutians at Dutch Harbor and Unalaska Island.
MAYA and TAKAO each catapult two reconnaissance floatplanes. USAAF
P-40 "Warhawk" fighters from Umnak Island bounce the floatplanes, shoot down two
and heavily damage the other two.
6 June 1942: The Second Mobile Force rejoins the Northern Force to
cover the invasions of Attu and Kiska Islands. BatDiv 3/1's HIEI and KONGO,
light carrier ZUIHO, seaplane carrier KAMIKAWA MARU detach from the Midway Force
with Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) CruDiv
8's TONE and CHIKUMA. MAYA joins the Second Mobile Force SW of the Aleutians and
cruises S of Attu.
24 June 1942: Arrives at Ominato.
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 (former CO of RANGER,
CV-4) Task Force 63's land-based aircraft, lands Maj Gen (later
General/MOH/Commandant) Alexander A. Vandegrift's 1st Marine Division on
Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and Guadalcanal opening the campaign to take
the island.
11 August 1942: CruDiv 4's MAYA, TAKAO and ATAGO (F) depart
Hashirajima with Vice Admiral Kondo's Advanced Force: CruDiv 5's HAGURO and
MYOKO, CarDiv 11's seaplane tender CHITOSE, DesRon 4's light cruiser YURA and
nine destroyers and battleship MUTSU.
17 August 1942: Kondo's Advanced Force arrives at Truk.
20 August 1942: Operation "KA" - The Recapture of Guadalcanal and the
Destruction of the American Fleet: The Advanced Force departs Truk to
reinforce Guadalcanal with Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi's
(36)(former CO of KIRISHIMA) 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 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 the Eastern Solomons: Cruises NE of Guadalcanal with the
Carrier Strike Force, Main Body. Vice Admiral Fletcher's Task Force 61's USS
SARATOGA (CV-3) and ENTERPRISE (CV-6) launches aircraft that find and sink light
carrier RYUJO. In turn, CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU launch aircraft that find
and hit ENTERPRISE with three bombs. That evening, aircraft from SARATOGA damage
the seaplane carrier CHITOSE.
5 September 1942: Arrives at Truk.
10 September 1942: Nagumo's Third Fleet sorties from Truk with CarDiv
1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, BatDiv 11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 7's
KUMANO and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA, DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA and 11
destroyers. The Third Fleet accompanies Kondo's Second Fleet: Vice Admiral
Kurita Takeo's (former CO of KONGO) Close Support Force: BatDiv 3's KONGO and
HARUNA, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO and MAYA, CruDiv 5's HAGURO and MYOKO and Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) DesRon 2's
light cruiser ISUZU with her six destroyers to an area north of the Solomon
Islands.
15-17 September 1942: At sea. The fleet refuels destroyers.
18 September 1942: The Second and Third fleets sortie towards the
Solomons.
20 September 1942: The fleets are ordered to return to Truk.
23 September 1942: Arrives at Truk.
30 September 1942: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Matsumoto Takeshi
(45)(former CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO.
11 October 1942: MAYA, TAKAO and ATAGO sortie from Truk with Kondo's
Second Fleet, Advance Force: CruDiv 5's MYOKO, DesRon 2's light cruiser ISUZU
and destroyers KAWAKAZE, MAKINAMI, SUZUKAZE, TAKANAMI, UMIKAZE and NAGANAMI and
Vice Admiral Kurita's Second Fleet, Close Support Force: BatDiv 3's KONGO and
HARUNA, destroyers HARUSAME, KAGERO, MURASAME, SAMIDARE, OYASHIO and YUDACHI.
Kondo's Second Fleet is followed by Nagumo's Third Fleet, Carrier Strike
Force.
15-16 October 1942: The First Bombardment of Henderson Field: Rear
Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Takagi Takeo's (former CO of MUTSU) MYOKO is
detached with MAYA, ISUZU and DesRon 2 and bombards Henderson Field,
Guadalcanal. MAYA fires 450 20-cm Type 3 incendiary shells and Type 91 AP
shells and MYOKO fires 462 shells.
30 October 1942: The Second and Third Fleets return to Truk.
3 November 1942: MAYA and CHIKUMA plus six destroyers depart Truk to
reinforce Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's (former CO of KIRISHIMA) Eighth Fleet at
Shortland.
5 November 1942: Arrives at Shortland.
13 November 1942: MAYA departs Shortland for Guadalcanal in Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji's (former CO of HARUNA) Bombardment
Unit: SUZUYA, light cruiser TENRYU and four destroyers. They accompany Vice
Admiral Mikawa in CHOKAI with KINUGASA, light cruiser ISUZU and two destroyers.
MAYA launches her floatplanes to drop magnesium parachute flares and light
targets for Henderson Field's bombardment.
14 November 1942: The Bombardment of Henderson Field: From 0130 until
0200, Rear Admiral Nishimura's unit bombards Henderson Field with 989 20-cm
shells. The task force retires towards the Shortland Islands.
Later, the task force is attacked by Grumman TBM "Avenger"
torpedo-bombers from USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and Marine TBMs from Guadalcanal.
KINUGASA is sunk. CHOKAI is slightly damaged.
Two Douglas SBD "Dauntless" dive-bombers of VB-10 arrive from their
search sector to the south. About 0930, one of them piloted by Ens Paul M.
Halloran and his rear-gunner Earl Gallagher drops a 500-lb bomb astern of MAYA,
but its starboard wing strikes MAYA's mainmast and the plane crashes into her
superstructure near the 12-cm AA mount No. 2. A fire breaks out, igniting the
12-cm ready ammunition. Several explosions wreck the port side AA gun mounts
and searchlights. Thirty-seven crewmen are killed and 24 wounded. Fires force
MAYA to jettison her torpedoes as a precautionary measure. She returns to
Shortland.
15 November 1942: Departs Shortland for Rabaul then to Kavieng for
repairs.
8 December 1942: Departs Kavieng for Truk. At 0330, MAYA and a
destroyer are sighted south of Truk by USS SCULPIN (SS-191), but the submarine
is too far away to attack. Arrives safely at Truk. Undergoes repairs.
30 December 1942: Departs Truk.
5 January 1943: Arrives at Yokosuka for repairs and overhaul.
8 January 1943: Drydocked.
16 January 1943: Undocked.
30 January 1943: MAYA is assigned to the Northern Force.
20 February 1943: Departs Yokosuka.
22-23 February 1943: Arrives at Ominato.
24 February 1943: Departs Ominato.
27 February 1943: Arrives at Paramushiro.
7 March 1943: Departs Paramushiro with NACHI escorting convoy I-21 to
Attu. During the Aleutians campaign, MAYA carries two E8N2 "Dave" floatplanes (both
lost) and one Aichi E13A1 "Jake" floatplane that
survives.
13 March 1943: Arrives at Paramushiro.
17 March 1943: TEIYO MARU refuels MAYA.
23 March 1943: Departs Paramushiro for Attu with NACHI and light
cruisers TAMA, ABUKUMA, DesDiv 21's WAKABA, HATSUSHIMO and DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI
and INAZUMA escorting a three-ship reinforcement convoy including seaplane
tender/transport SANKO MARU and auxiliary cruiser ASAKA MARU.
26 March 1943: The
Battle of the Komandorski Islands: North Pacific, off the Kamchatka
Peninsula, Siberia. Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Charles H. McMorris
(former CO of SAN FRANCISCO, CA-38) Task Group 16.6's USS RICHMOND (CL-9), SALT
LAKE CITY (CA-25) and four destroyers engage Vice Admiral Hosogaya's Fifth Fleet
cruisers NACHI (F), MAYA, TAMA and ABUKUMA and two destroyers escorting Convoy
"D", carrying troops and supplies for the isolated garrison on Attu.
MAYA catapults her spotter aircraft and launches Type 93 "Long Lance"
torpedoes, but scores no hits. In a four-hour running gun battle, SALT LAKE CITY
and BAILEY (DD-492) are damaged by gunfire. Light cruiser RICHMOND (CL-9) and
destroyers COGHLAN (DD-606), DALE (DD-353) and MONAGHAN (DD-354) are not
damaged.
MAYA and NACHI are damaged in the exchange of fire. McMorris succeeds in
causing the Japanese to abort their resupply mission.
28 March 1943: Arrives at Paramushiro with the convoy. Disgraced,
Hosogaya is relieved of command and forced to retire. Vice Admiral Kawase Shiro
assumes command of the Fifth Fleet.
31 March 1943: Departs Paramushiro with NACHI and DesDiv 21's WAKABA
and HATSUSHIMO.
3 May 1943: At Yokosuka Navy Yard. Battle damage repairs.
15 April 1943: Departs Yokosuka with DesDiv 12's SHIRAKUMO.
19 April 1943: Arrives at Ominato.
27 April 1943: Departs Ominato.
29 April 1943: Arrives at Shimushu, Kuriles.
11 May 1943: American Operation "Landcrab" - The Invasion of Attu,
Aleutians: Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Thomas C. Kinkaid's (former CO of
INDIANAPOLIS, CA-35) Task Force 16, covered by Rear Admiral Francis W.
Rockwell's (former CO of THATCHER, DD-162) Task Force 51, lands elements of the
Army's 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions under the command of MajGen Eugene M.
Landrum at Holtz Bay and Massacre Bay that later capture the island.
12 May 1943: Flagship of the Fifth Fleet. Departs Kataoka with
destroyer USUGUMO.
15 May 1943: After the invasion of Attu, returns to Paramushiro with
USUGUMO.
17 May 1943: TEIYO MARU refuels MAYA.
21 May 1943: Operation "KE" - The Evacuation of Kiska: The Imperial
General Headquarters decides to evacuate the garrison at Kiska Island,
Aleutians.
16 June 1943: TEIYO MARU refuels MAYA.
18 June 1943: Departs Paramushiro.
21 June 1943: Arrives at Ominato.
1 July 1943: Departs Ominato.
5 July 1943: Arrives at Paramushiro.
10 July 1943: Sorties from Paramushiro with NACHI to support the
withdrawal from Kiska.
3 August 1943: Departs Paramushiro with AGIKUMO, ASAGUMO and YUGUMO.
6 August 1943: Arrives at Yokosuka. Refit.
19 August 1943: Drydocked. Two 25-mm Type 96 twin AA guns are
installed bringing MAYA's total 25-mm suite to 16 barrels.
24 August 1943: Undocked.
4 September 1943: Drydocked.
6 September 1943: Undocked.
15 September 1943: Departs Yokosuka with CHOKAI with army troops and
supplies.
20 September 1943: Arrives at Truk.
22-27 September 1943: Departs Truk and disembarks troops at Rabaul.
Returns to Truk for more troops. Steams to Rabaul and back to Truk.
5-6 October 1943: Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Alfred E.
Montgomery's (former CO of RANGER, CV-4) Task Force 14 carriers USS ESSEX
(CV-9), YORKTOWN (CV-10), LEXINGTON (CV-16), INDEPENDENCE (CV-22), BELLEAU WOOD
(CVL-24) and COWPENS (CVL-25) launch raids on Wake Island and the Marshall
Islands.
16 October 1943: Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kato Yoshio
(43)(former CO of CHUYO) is appointed the CO.
17 October 1943: The Japanese intercept radio traffic that suggests
the Americans are planning another raid on Wake. Admiral Koga sorties from Truk
to Brown Atoll, Eniwetok to intercept the enemy task force with the fleet:
BatDiv 1's YAMATO, MUSASHI and NAGATO, BatDiv 2's FUSO, BatDiv 3's KONGO,
HARUNA, CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and
CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE, light cruisers
AGANO, NOSHIRO and OYODO and destroyers.
19 October 1943: Arrives at Brown Island, Eniwetok.
23 October 1943: Departs Brown and sorties to a position 250 miles S
of Wake; returns after no contact is made with enemy forces.
26 October 1943: The fleet arrives back at Truk.
3 November 1943: CruDiv 4, CruDiv 7's MOGAMI and CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA
depart Truk to attack the American forces off Bougainville.
5 November 1943: The Carrier Raid on
Rabaul: Arrives at Rabaul. Around 0930, when getting underway, MAYA
is attacked by LtCdr James H. Newell's SBD-5 dive-bombers of VB-12 from USS
SARATOGA. A bomb hits the aircraft deck portside above No. 3 engine room and
starts a major fire in the engine room. Seventy crewmen are killed and 60
injured.
Undergoes emergency repairs at Rabaul.
11 November 1943: Departs Rabaul with submarine tender CHOGEI, light
cruiser NOSHIRO and five destroyers. Enroute, NOSHIRO and the destroyers assist
light cruiser AGANO after she was torpedoed by USS SCAMP (SS-277).
14 November 1943: Arrives at Truk.
28 November 1943: MAYA departs Truk for Yokosuka with carriers
ZUIHO, UNYO and CHUYO and six destroyers.
30 November 1943: Carrier group is attacked unsuccessfully by USS
SKATE (SS-305). The submarine misses with three stern torpedoes.
2 December 1943: The task group is attacked unsuccessfully by USS
GUNNEL (SS-253) at 26-03N, 147-50E. The submarine misses with four Mk.14-3
torpedoes.
4 December 1943: In typhoon conditions, CHUYO is sunk by USS SAILFISH
(SS-192) off Hachijo Jima.
5 December 1943: The remainder of the carrier group arrives at
Yokosuka.
21 December 1943-4 April 1944: Dry-docked in No. 4 Drydock of
Yokosuka Navy Yard to undergo modification to an AA cruiser. Her No. 3 main gun
turret, the 12-cm and 25-mm twin AA mounts and torpedo mounts are landed. A new
upgraded AA suite is installed, comprising twelve 12.7-cm Type 89 guns in
six twin mounts, forty-eight 25-mm Type 96 guns in thirteen triple and nine
single mounts, and thirty-six 13.2-mm Type 93 machine guns in movable single
mounts.
Four quadruple Type 92 torpedo mounts for 16 Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes
are also added and a Type 22 surface-search radar installed. A centerline depth
charge rail is fitted to the stern.
26 December 1943: Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Oe Ranji
(47)(former ComDesDiv 61) is appointed the CO.
1 March 1944: CruDiv 4 is reassigned to Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's
(former CO of HARUNA) First Mobile Fleet.
9 April 1944: Repairs and modifications are completed.
16 April 1944: Departs Yokosuka for Kure, carrying two E13A1 "Jake"
long-range scout planes. Loads troops and material. A monkey, donated to MAYA by
the Kure Zoo, is also embarked. During the voyage, the aircrew who care for it
teach the monkey to smartly salute the senior officers - much to their
annoyance.
21 April 1944: Departs Kure for Okinoshima with YAMATO, destroyers
SHIMAKAZE and YUKIKAZE and two other destroyers. Loads troops, material.
22 April 1944: Departs Okinoshima.
28 April 1944: Arrives at Manila, unloads troops and supplies, then
departs.
1 May 1944: Arrives at Lingga Roads (near Singapore).
11 May 1944: CruDiv 4 departs Lingga for Tawi Tawi with Vice Admiral
Ozawa's First Mobile Fleet.
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.
Departs Tawi Tawi with Vice Admiral Ozawa's Mobile Fleet for Guimaras
near Panay, Philippines in Force "C"s Vanguard (less YAMATO, MUSASHI, CruDiv 5,
NOSHIRO). The departing Mobile Fleet is sighted by USS REDFIN (SS-272).
14 June 1944: Refuels from oilers GENYO MARU and AZUSA MARU.
15 June 1944: The Mobile Fleet departs Guimaras through the Visayan
Sea and the San Bernardino Strait into the Philippine Sea headed towards Saipan.
At 1622, the Mobile Fleet is spotted in the San Bernardino Strait by a lookout
aboard LtCdr Robert Risser's USS FLYING FISH (SS-229). Risser reports the
sighting that evening.
16 June 1944: At 1650, Ozawa's force is joined by Vice Admiral Ugaki
Matome's (former CO of HYUGA) from Batjan with his aborted Operation "KON"
(Relief of Biak) Task Force: BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI and CruDiv 5's MYOKO
and HAGURO and DesRon 2's NOSHIRO.
18 June 1944: At 2100, Ozawa splits his Mobile Fleet. Forces A and B
proceed southward. Force C proceeds due east.
19 June 1944: Ozawa's Mobile Fleet's aircraft attacks elements of the
American Fifth Fleet but suffers overwhelming aircraft losses in the "Great
Mariana's Turkey Shoot".
20 June 1944: At 1635, an E13A1 Jake from MAYA spots one of Task
Force 58's groups at a distance of 300 miles, At 1725, MAYA is steaming in a
ring formation with KONGO, HARUNA and ASASHIMO and two other vessels protecting
CHIYODA. A lookout reports at least 50 Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo-bombers
approaching and alarm is given.
At 1730, BatDiv 3 and carrier CHIYODA are attacked by Avengers from USS
BUNKER HILL (CVL-17), MONTEREY (CVL-26) and CABOT (CVL-28). Aircraft from
CABOT's VT-31 score one bomb hit and three near-misses on HARUNA. MAYA is also
damaged by near-misses, losing 16 seamen killed and 40 wounded; she develops a
2-degree list to port. Retires with the remnants of the Mobile Fleet via
Okinawa to Japan.
21 June 1944: At 1612, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a
message from the Chief of Staff, 2nd Fleet that reads: "HARUNA and MAYA received
the following damages in the battle of the 20th: 1. HARUNA -- (lists fairly
extensive damages, from bomb hit(s), ----. MAYA. Flooding in vicinity of ------
(120 tons of water have entered). Port -- out of commission --."
23 June 1944: At 0848, codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message
from the Chief of Staff, 1st Mobile Fleet that reads: "HARUNA, SHIGURE and
SAMIDARE will carry out repairs of damage at Sasebo; MAYA will do the same at
Yokosuka and others at Sasebo --."
25 June 1944: Arrives at Yokosuka for a refit. The aircrew and their
pet monkey disembark.
Eighteen 25-mm single AA guns are installed bringing MAYA's total 25-mm
suite to 66 barrels.
14 July 1944: Departs Yokosuka for Kure with destroyer ASAGUMO.
Embarks IJA 28th Division units. Departs Kure for Miyako Jima, disembarks the
troops then departs.
29 July 1944: Arrives at Singapore.
8 August 1944: Departs Singapore for Lingga. Arrives that day,
training thereafter.
18-20 October 1944: Departs Lingga with the fleet for Brunei, Borneo.
22 October 1944: Operation "SHO-I-GO"(Victory) -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf: Sorties with Vice Admiral Kurita's First
Mobile Striking Force, Force A (Center Force). Vice Admiral Ugaki, aboard
YAMATO, leads the first section of Force "A": BatDiv 1's YAMATO, MUSASHI and
NAGATO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, CHOKAI and MAYA, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO,
DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO with DesDiv 2's HAYASHIMO, AKISHIMO, KIYOSHIMO,
DesDiv 31's KISHINAMI, OKINAMI, ASASHIMO and DesDiv 32's FUJINAMI, NAGANAMI,
HAMANAMI and destroyer SHIMAKAZE.
23 October 1944: The Battle of the Palawan
Passage: At 0533, Kurita's flagship ATAGO is hit by four torpedoes
from Cdr (later Captain) David McClintock's USS DARTER (SS-227), set afire, goes
dead in the water and sinks in 18 minutes. DARTER also heavily damages TAKAO.
At 0555, LtCdr (later Captain) Bladen Clagett in USS DACE (SS-247) fires
six torpedoes at 1, 800 yards at what Clagett takes to be "a KONGO-class
battleship". At 0557, four torpedoes hit MAYA portside. One in the foreward
chain locker, another opposite No. 1 gun turret, a third hits No. 7 boiler room
and the last hits in her aft engine room. HAGURO evades the other two of DACE's
torpedoes.
Powerful explosions rent MAYA and she lists heavily to port. At 0605,
MAYA sinks at 09-27N, 117-23E. Her skipper, Captain Oe (promoted Rear Admiral,
posthumously) and 335 men go down with her. AKISHIMO rescues 769 men, then
transfers them to MUSASHI. Later, while attempting an "end-around" attack on
damaged TAKAO, McClintock runs DARTER hard aground on the largely uncharted
Bombay Shoal. DARTER has to be abandoned. Clagett's DACE rescues DARTER's crew.
24 October 1944: SHIMAKAZE rescues 607 of MAYA's crewmen from the
crippled MUSASHI; thus 498 of MAYA's 1,105 crewmen are lost.
20 December 1944: Removed from the Navy List.
19 April 2019: Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen's research vessel RV
PETREL locates the wreck of FURUTAKA at a depth of 6,070 ft. She is mostly
intact, with the exception of her forward bow which is lying upside down just
astern of the rest of the ship.
Authors' Notes: [1] Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), was the
highest point in the Japanese Empire at the time.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada and Andrew Obluski of
Poland. Thanks for assistance with the TROM also go to "Adm. Gurita" of the
Netherlands and Randy Stone of the United States. Thanks also go to the late
John Whitman for info on CNO intercepts of Japanese messages, Gilbert Casse of
France, and to Fontessa-san of Japan for info about 1937 troop movements.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
