@Revised - Allyn Nevitt with Anthony Tully - June 2018

Name Translation: "High Tide"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Ogura Masami [51] (prev. C.O. KISARAGI). Assigned to Desdiv 8 (OSHIO, ASASHIO, ARASHIO, MICHISHIO), Desron 2, Second Fleet.

29 November-2 December 1941:
Desdiv 8 steamed from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores).

4-24 December:
Desdiv 8 escorted Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body out of Mako as distant cover to Malaya and Philippine invasion forces.

31 December 1941-5 January 1942:
Desdiv 8 escorted 3rd Malaya troop convoy from Mako towards Singora, then put into Hong Kong.

11 January:
Desdiv 8 departed Hong Kong, escorting troop convoy to Davao.

31 January:
Desdiv 8 with Ambon invasion force.

8 February:
Desdiv 8 with Makassar invasion force.

18 February:
Desdiv 8 with Bali/Lombok invasion force.

19-20 February: Battle of Badoeng Strait (IJN : Bali Sea Battle)
Action:
- Anti-air action: B-17 hits SAGAMI MARU with a bomb in the engine room.
- Departed with ARASHIO escorting damaged SAGAMI MARU toward Makassar. OSHIO and ASASHIO remain behind, waiting on SASAGO MARU to finish unloading her supplies.
- Midnight: SASAGO MARU begins loading eight landing barges at Sanur.
- 20 February:
- 0145 Receiving word of OSHIO and ASASHIO engaged, left escort of SAGAMI MARU and with ARASHIO reversed course to hurry to Rombok Strait.
- 0347 Engaged two U.S. four stack destroyers at 4,700 yards. Fired torpedoes (1 hit claimed). Hit by enemy shellfire in No.2 turret and in the radio room. Torpedo tube set afire but extinguished. However, three shell hits demolished the engine room and MICHISHIO goes dead in the water. All power was out and the rudder damaged. The destroyer was down at the stern, fantail nearly awash and buckled at the mainmast. However, there is little list.
- Dawn: Enemy air attack. No further hits are received but three crewmen are blown overboard. One enemy light bomber claimed shot down.
- 0950 Taken in tow by ARASHIO. Fortunately the seas were very calm and towing proceeded at eight knots. More air attacks during the day. Sustained two near-misses to starboard from B-17s. One warps the keel of the forward engine room and the other lands alongside No.3 turret. Though it is feared the destroyer may break in two, ARASHIO resumed the tow. OSHIO, ASASHIO, WAKABA and transport SASAGO MARU journey with them in proximity. [1]

22 February:
- Arrived at Makassar, Celebes. Tow cast off. Emergency repairs undertaken and dead and wounded removed. MICHISHIO had lost fifty-three officers and men. Among them were the Chief Engineer and thirty-two others of the boiler and engine room watch. CO Lt.Cdr. Ogura and fifty-three officers and men were wounded. They are hospitalized ashore.

22 February-10 April:
Emergency repairs at Makassar.

10 April:
Desdiv 8 reassigned to Desron 4, Second Fleet. Departed under her own power for the homeland via Formosa for Yokosuka.

16 April:
Arrived at Takao.

18 April:
1000 Departed. However, ordered to detour out to sea clear of the homeland which was under enemy air attack. (The Doolittle Raid)

21 April:
1500: Arrived at Yokosuka. Repairs begun.

10 May:
1500: Departed Yokosuka for Kure.

13 May:
0728: Arrived at Kure. After temporary maintenance, proceeded to Osaka. Docked at Fujinagata Shipyard, Osaka, for repairs.

15 May-20 October:
Designated a "Special Duty Ship" while under repair in Japan.

14 July:
Desdiv 8 reassigned to "Special Reserve."

15 August:
Lieutenant Commander Ogura (to C.O. TAKANAMI) relieved by Commander Tomura Kiyoshi [49] (prev. C.O. KASUMI).

20 October:
Reassigned to Desdiv 8.

22-30 October:
Steamed from Yokosuka to Rabaul.

1 November:
2230: Departed Shortlands with URANAMI, SHIKINAMI, AYANAMI, and MOCHITSUKI for troop transport run.

5 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal. Sailed with ASAGUMO, MURASAME, HARUSAME, YUDACHI, SHIGURE, SHIRATSUYU, YUGURE, ASASHIO and ARIAKE.

6 November:
1016: Arrived at Shortlands.
2349: Departed.

7 November:
2300: Departed Shortlands on run with MOCHITSUKI, MURASAME, YUDACHI, SHIGURE, YUGURE, ASASHIO, ASAGUMO with light cruiser TENRYU.

8 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
2030: Arrived at Tassafaronga.

9 November:
1000: Returned to Shortlands.

13-14 November: Naval Battles of Guadalcanal
Escorted Admiral Mikawa's Support Force.
Action:
Heavily damaged: in engineering spaces by near-misses off stern in U.S. air attacks on 14 November; went dead in the water and had to be towed into the Shortlands.

14 November 1942-17 March 1943:
A succession of repair attempts at Shortlands, Rabaul and Truk failed to get MICHISHIO's engines operational. Possibly towed from Rabaul to Truk 24-29 December by ASASHIO; [1]

25 January 1943:
Commander Tomura (to C.O. TANIKAZE) relieved by Commander Suzuki Yasuatsu [49] (prev. C.O. MINEGUMO).

25 February:
Desdiv 8 reassigned to Desron 3, Eighth Fleet.

6 March:
1330: Departed Truk for final journey home under tow from destroyer HAMAKAZE with URAKAZE providing escort.

9 March:
1100: Arrived at Saipan Island; with HAMAKAZE still towing departed six hours later for Tokyo Bay.

16 March:
1000: HAMAKAZE cast off tow off Tokyo Bay as tugs took her place.

17 March:
Finally arrived under tow at Yokosuka on 17 March; then docked for repairs, through 14 November 1943. (“X” turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during these repairs.)

1 April:
Desdiv 8 deactivated, designated a "Special Duty Ship" while under repair in Japan.

1 May-15 October:
Commander Suzuki (to C.O. WAKATSUKI under construction) relieved; command then rotated among various officers while under repair.

15 October:
Commander Haraguchi Noboru [51] (prev. C.O. MATSUKAZE) appointed ship's captain.

1 November:
Assigned to Desdiv 24 (UMIKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desron 2, Second Fleet.

14 November:
Repairs completed.

22 November:
Departed Yokosuka.

25 November:
Arrived at Kure.

2 December:
Departed Kure for Truk.

29 December 1943-1 January 1944:
Escorted KUMANO and SUZUYA on troop transport run "BO-Go" Operation from Truk to Kavieng (31 December) and back.

1 January 1943
Arrived back at Truk Atoll.

10-16 January:
Escorted YAMATO from Truk to Kure.

24 January:
1325: Departed Yokosuka for training voyage; arriving at Tateyama at 1900.

25 January:
0600: Departed with IKAZUCHI and SHIRATSUYU escorting YASUKUNI MARU, AKAGI MARU and AIKOKU MARU from Yokosuka to Truk.

31 January:
YASUKUNI MARU torpedoed and sunk.

1 February:
Convoy arrived at Truk Atoll.

4 February:
Recon aircraft of the US Marines overfly Truk Atoll. It is decided all major warships should depart to Palau or the homeland.

10 February:
Departed Truk for Yokosuka with SHIRATSUYU, HATSUHARU and TAMANAMI escorting MUSASHI, ZUIHO, CHIYODA and OYODO.

15 February:
Arrived with SHIRATYSU at Yokosuka with MUSASHI, CHIYODA, OYODO.(ZUIHO, TAMANAMI and HATSUHARU had detached for Kure.)

20 February:
Departed Yokosuka, then patrol/escort duty in the Borneo-area.

16-27 March:
Escorted convoy from Lingga to Palau.

22 March:
Action:
IRO torpedoed in the bow by USS TUNNY (SS-282). Is able to proceed.

23 March:
1800: Arrived at Palau.

29 March-3 April:
Because of the threat of imminent enemy carrier air attack, most of the Combined Fleet including the headquarters evacuates from Palau. Departed PALAU with HARUSAME, SHIRATSUYU, FUJINAMI, URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE, and HAMAKAZE escorting super-battleship MUSASHI and cruisers ATAGO, CHOKAI, TAKAO, HAGURO and MYOKO toward Lingga Roads.
Action:
- 1744 MUSASHI struck by torpedo in port bow from USS TUNNY (SS-282). Because of the damage the battleship is ordered to proceed home to Japan. Assigned to the escort screen with SHIRATSUYU and FUJINAMI.

31 March:
Desdiv 24 deactivated. Assigned to Desdiv 4 (NOWAKI, YAMAGUMO), Desron 10, Third Fleet.

2 April:
Noon: Force is arriving at southern entrance of Bungo Strait.
1656: Anchored in West Inland Sea for overnight.

3 April:
0734: Departed overnight layover.
1204: Arrived at Kure, following three hours behind MUSASHI. Carried out maintenance work.

20 April:
Maintenance workup completed. By now had been re-fitted. Four triple mounts, one twin mount, and twelve single 25 mm guns had been installed. There were also two single unfixed 25mm guns, two twin 13mm guns. No.2 turret aft had been removed and replaced with one of the twin 25 mm installations. A type 22 and type 13 radar and two sets of infrared equipment had also been added.

21 April:
0855: MICHISHIO departed Kure with NOWAKI and YAMAGUMO; arrived at Tokuyama at 1600.

22 April:
0552: The three destroyers left Tokuyama and conduct battle maneuvers. At 1600 arrived at Heigun-jima anchorage.

23 April:
0632: The three destroyers departed; this time to train with Batdiv 2 units.
1531: Returned to Heigun-jima.

24 April:
0900: Departed for refueling exercises.
1617: Returned.

25 April:
0635: MICHISHIO, NOWAKI, and YAMAGUMO departed Heigun-jima, carrying out main an AA gun training en-route to Kure; arrived there at 1815 hours.

26 April:
Some repair maintenance was necessary.

29 April:
0845: Commenced religious ceremonies and examinations.

1 May:
0930: MICHISHIO and YAMAGUMO departed Kure for training in the West Inland Sea.
1650: Arrived at Heigun-jima Commander Haraguchi relieved by Captain Takahashi Kameshiro [49] (Comdesdiv 4, assigned extra duty as C.O. MICHISHIO).

2 May:
0630: Departed; 1415: returned to Heigun-jima.

4 May:
0900: MICHISHIO and YAMAGUMO departed.
1545: Arrived at Beppu Bay, Kyushu.

6 May:
0950: The two destroyers departed Beppu Bay; 2000: arrived at Tokuyama.

7 May:
0800: Departed. 1330: MICHISHIO and YAMAGUMO arrived at Saeki, Kyushu. There they joined other warships preparing to sail to the front.

10 May
0630: Departed Saeki as part of the screen of battleship MUSASHI and carriers JUNYO, HIYO, RYUHO, CHITOSE, CHIYODA and ZUIHO from Saeki via Okinawa to Tawitawi. Screen comprised of: MICHISHIO (flag), YAMAGUMO, NOWAKI, HAYASHIMO, SHIGURE, NAGANAMI, and TAMANAMI. Speed is 24 knots.

12 May:
1530: Task force arrived at Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa. After some items were offloaded; departed two hours later bound for Tawi Tawi in the Philippines.

16 May:
2330: Task force arrived at Tawi Tawi, joining First Mobile Fleet's Cardiv 1 already present.

18 May:
0800: MICHISHIO, YAMAGUMO and NOWAKI departed Tawi Tawi on anti-submarine patrol.
2040: Returned from patrol.

19 May:
0850: MICHISIO departed Tawi Tawi for overnight patrol.

20 May:
0930: Arrived back at Tawi Tawi.

31 May:
0530: Departed with YAMAGUMO and NOWAKI for anti-submarine sweep.

1 June:
1000: Arrived back at Tawi Tawi. Captain Takahashi relieved by Lieutenant Commander Tanaka Tomoo [57] (prev. C.O. URANAMI).

6 June:
Designated No.1 patrol ship till 8 June, swept for enemy submarines.

8 June:
Swept for enemy submarines with NOWAKI, YAMAGUMO and No.61 Subchaser.

9 June:
Swept for enemy submarines with NOWAKI, YAMAGUMO and No.61 Subchaser.

8 June:
1230: MICHISHIO sent out of the anchorage on anti-submarine sweep.

9 June:
1845: MICHISHIO returned to Tawi Tawi.

11 June:
Designated No.1 patrol ship again.

12 June:
Comdesdiv shifted flag from MICHISHIO to NOWAKI.

13 June:
0600: 1st Mobile Fleet departed Tawi Tawi. Acting as one of the screening destroyers. Detected enemy submarine and attacked, results unknown.

14 June:
1705: Arrived at Guimaras Island, southern Philippines.

15 June:
0700: Departed Guimaras. Formed part of the escort for Cardiv 2 JUNYO, HIYO, and RYUHO with NAGATO and MOGAMI.

19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Desdiv 4 escorted Admiral Joshima's Force B.

20 June:
Action:
- 1740-1810 Anti-Air action. Defending Cardiv 2 against enemy carrier plane attacks. Shot down six dive bombers (two of which are uncertain) and rescued a friendly aviator having to ditch.
- 1932 Aircraft carrier HIYO sank. MICHISHIO rescued both the captain and executive officer and 14 officers and 204 men from the carrier.

21 June:
En-route to Guimaras with HAMAKAZE, HAYASHIMO, SHIGURE and AKISHIMO. Directed to separate and change course for Okinawa.

23 June:
0910: Arrived at Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa, possibly suffering engine trouble.[3] HIYO survivors are transshipped to cruiser MAYA. Comdesdiv 4 transfers flag back to MICHISHIO from NOWAKI. Desdiv 4 is not going home with the fleet; it is to proceed to Guimaras and pick up the survivors of the Mobile Fleet's tanker train.

23-26 June:
1615: Desdiv 4 steamed from Okinawa to Guimaras to pick up tankers YUHO MARU, BANEI MARU, EIHO MARU (arrived 1900 26th)

28 June:
0230 Relieved from planned escort duty of the YUHO MARU convoy; departed Guimaras for Davao to join battleship FUSO.
Action
- In position 06-48.6'N, 122-36.5'E (time not given) launched depth charge attacks on an enemy submarine which had been sighted by a patrol plane. The effect of the attacks was not confirmed.

29 June:
1500: Arrived at Davao, joining battleship FUSO. Alert and standby status.
June), then to Davao on 29 June; en route assisted and removed oil from torpedoed tanker ITSUKUSHIMA MARU at Negros Island.(The tanker was struck on 22 June and had taken refuge at Negros from that day since.)

1-15 July:
0445: Desdiv 4 escorted FUSO from Davao via Tarakan to Kure.

2 July:
1600: Arrived at Tarakan, Borneo. Refueled from an oil jetty.

3 July:
0810: Went alongside FUSO and transferred the fuel to her.

4 July:
1255: Loaded fuel at BJ oil jetty.

5 July:
0809: Loading completed, shift out to anchorage. Commence maintenance work.

8 July:
0700: Desdiv 4 departed with FUSO for the homeland.

14 July:
0900: Arrived at Sukumo Bay, Shikoku. Refueled from FUSO. Released from escort. (FUSO proceeded to Kure.)
1315: Desdiv 4 departed Sukumo Bay for Yokosuka.

15 July:
1000: Arrived at Yokosuka with NOWAKI and YAMAGUMO.

17 July:
0830: MICHISHIO entered No.5 drydock for repairs and maintenance work.

22 July:
0830: Left drydock.

15-21 August:
Escorted HARUNA from Sasebo to Singapore.

17 October:
1400: Departed Lingga with NOWAKI for Singapore.

18 October:
1100: Departed with NOWAKI, ETOROFU, and Minesweeper No.34. Escorted supply force of tankers YUHO MARU (5,226 tons) and HAKKO MARU (10, 022 tons) from Singapore to Brunei.

21 October:
1120: Arrived at Brunei. One hour later, YUHO MARU and HAKKO MARU went alongside YAMATO and MUSASHI respectively to refuel them. MICHISHIO goes alongside KONGO to refuel, and NOWAKI refueled from HARUNA.

22-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf

22 October:
1505: After refueling from FUSO departed Brunei. Escorted Admiral Nishimura's Southern Force in diversion penetration operation through Surigao Strait.

24 October:
Action:
- 0915-1000 Anti-air action. no damage received.

25 October:
Action:
- c0325-0330 Sunk: Struck in port engine room by torpedo from USS McDERMUT (DD-677). The hit tore a large hole under the No.2 torpedo mount and and flooded both engines leaving MICHISHIO dead in the water crippled and in a sinking condition. Listing to port and down at the stern the destroyer swung broadside to the current and began to drift southwards. It is possible another torpedo clipped the bow in the same time frame but this is unclear. In any case, the initial damage proved mortal. [4] Flooding amidships aft was heavy and according to her Commanding Officer Tanaka she went down within fifteen minutes, but her boilers were secured and did not explode. Four survivors, including Lieutenant Commander Tanaka, later rescued by Americans; Comdesdiv 4 (Captain Takahashi) apparently also survived the sinking, but was killed by natives ashore with many others.

10 January 1945:
Removed from Navy List.

26-27 November 2017:
Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and his team of researchers led by Robert Kraft aboard RV PETREL survey the remains of the YAMAGUMO and MICHSIHIO below the surface of the Surigao Strait. The wreck was found at the same latitude west of that of YAMAGUMO, which settles one mystery of her loss. She was indeed hit by torpedo from the west flank U.S. destroyers and foundered from that damage in the first phase of the battle at the same time range (0320-0330) as YAMAGUMO and ASAGUMO, and apparently not again later as far north and late as 0355 by U.S.S. HUTCHINS as conventionally alleged. Indications had always been that she was hit shortly after ASAGUMO, i.e., last of the three destroyers hit, and this fits the evidence. MICHISHIO sank soon after hit, landing on the bottom canted to port facing the east shoreline with hull unbroken upright but crumpled.

Note-1: The torpedo tubes set afire are not named, but probably No.2 mount since above the engine room. By any measure, MICHISHIO suffered severely, and arguably with less favorable seas would have foundered.

Note-2: It will be noted that this is the second time MICHISHIO suffered damage to the engine spaces area. It is possible that the combination of prior damage to this area hindered full repairs. She was never quite in `top shape' again.

Note-3: When interrogated after the Battle of Surigao Strait, CO Tanaka mentioned that he had trouble with the port engine from lubrication issues that limited speed to 20 knots coming home from the battle of Mariana. However, this is unconfirmed since no mention of it is made in the Mobile Fleet's admittedly terse war diary.

Note-4: Both MOGAMI and SHIGURE reported seeing MICHISHIO with a damaged bow, and context made clear it was distinct and not confused with the similar damage to ASAGUMO. But in all likelihood MICHISHIO sank from the engine room hit. This is not surprising when it is considered that sister-ship OSHIO foundered after suffering a very similarly located torpedo hit flooding both engine rooms and a boiler room. OSHIO took on 700 tons of water from this hit, and soon broke in half and sank. It is further worth noting that nearly all the damage in MICHISHIO's history each time was centered in the engine room area of the hull; and it could well have been more than a little weakened over time.