JUNYOKAN!
(MOGAMI in 1935 -
colorized by Irotooko, Jr)
IJN MOGAMI: Tabular Record of
Movement
© 1997-2019 Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp
Revision
21
27 October 1931:
Kure Navy Yard. Laid down.
14 March 1934:
Launched and named MOGAMI. Captain (later
Vice Admiral), the Baron, Samejima Tomoshige (37)(former CO of KITAKAMI) is
appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
28 July 1935:
Completed and registered in the IJN. Attached to Kure
Naval District. Captain Samejima Tomoshige is the Commanding Officer.
26 September 1935:
During the Annual Grand Exercise MOGAMI and MIKUMA
are caught by a typhoon and experience deformation of their hulls.
15 November 1935:
Captain (Admiral, posthumously) Ito Seiichi
(39)(former chief of the Personnel Bureau's 1st section at Navy Ministry) is
appointed the CO.
15 April 1936:
Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kobayashi Tetsuri
(38)(former ComDesDiv 6) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1936:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Takatsuka Seigo
(38)(former Naval Submarine School instructor) is appointed the CO of MOGAMI and
the submarine tender KARASAKI (until 1 December 1937) as additional duty.
20 April 1938:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Chiba Keizo (38)(former CO
of ISUZU) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1939:
Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Izaki Shunji
(42)(former CO of SENDAI) is appointed the CO of MIKUMA and JINTSU (until 5
December) as additional duty.
22 September 1940:
Vichy France cedes airfields and agrees to
admission of Japanese troops into northern Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and
Vietnam). The United States responds by placing a ban on the export of steel,
scrap metal and aviation fuel to Japan.
1-28 November 1940:
Captain Izaki is appointed the CO of SETTSU as
additional duty.
8 January 1941:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Aruga Takeo (42)(former
chief of the experimental navigating section at Yokosuka Navy Yard) is appointed
the CO.
16 July 1941:
CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, MIKUMA, KUMANO and SUZUYA depart
Kure.
22 July 1941:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island, China.
23 July 1941: Operation "FU"- The Occupation of South Indochina
(Cochinchina):
Japanese and Vichy French authorities arrive at an
"understanding" regarding the use of air facilities and harbors in Southern
Indochina. From the next day on, Japanese forces occupy the country.
25 July 1941:
CruDiv 7 departs Samah escorting an army convoy, perhaps
also with ASHIGARA and CarDiv 2's HIRYU and SORYU.
30 July 1941:
Arrives at Saigon.
31 July 1941:
Departs Saigon.
7 August 1941:
Arrives at Sukumo Bay, Japan.
19 August 1941:
Departs Sukumo Bay.
20 August 1941:
Arrives at Kure.
10 September 1941:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sone Akira (44)(former
CO of NAGARA) is appointed the CO.
20 November 1941:
MOGAMI is in Vice Admiral Inoue Shigeyoshi's (former
CO of HIEI) Fourth Fleet in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kurita Takeo's
(former CO of KONGO) CruDiv 7 with MIKUMA, SUZUYA and KUMANO (F).
That day, CruDiv 7, except KUMANO, departs Kure with CruDiv 4's CHOKAI.
KUMANO, with Admiral Kurita embarked, departs Kure three days later.
26 November 1941:
CruDiv 7 and CHOKAI arrive at Samah, Hainan Island,
Occupied China.
29 November 1941:
KUMANO arrives at Samah.
2 December 1941:
CruDiv 7 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).[1]
4 December 1941:
Samah. CruDiv 7 departs southward in Vice Admiral
Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) First Southern Expeditionary Fleet with
CHOKAI, SubRon 5's light cruiser YURA and destroyers FUBUKI, SHIRAKUMO, AYANAMI,
ISONAMI, SHIKINAMI, MURAKUMO, SHIRAYUKI and HATSUYUKI.
8 December 1941: Operation "E" - The Invasion of Malaya:
CruDiv 7's
operates off Cap Camau during the landings at Singora, Patani and Kota Bharu.
Provides close support.
9 December 1941:
CruDiv 7, DesRon 3's light cruiser SENDAI and DesDiv
19's AYANAMI, ISONAMI, SHIKINAMI and URANAMI are ordered to make night attack on
new battleship HMS PRINCE OF WALES and old battlecruiser REPULSE.
10 December 1941:
At dawn, CruDiv 7 and DesRon 3 join BatDiv 3's KONGO
and HARUNA, CruDiv 4's ATAGO and TAKAO. After the British ships are reported
sunk by aircraft, CruDiv 7 departs the area for Poulo Condore, Indochina.
12 December 1941:
Departs Poulo Condore.
14 December 1941:
Provides cover for the Second Malaya Convoy NE of
Kuantan, Malaya.
19 December 1941:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
22 December 1941: Operation "Q" - The Invasion of Kuching, Sarawak
(British Borneo):
Departs Camranh with MIKUMA.
23-27 December 1941:
Covers the landings at Kuching.
29 December 1941:
Returns to Camranh.
16 January 1942:
CruDiv 7 departs Camranh with CHOKAI, light cruisers
SENDAI and YURA and destroyers to intercept British units out of Singapore. The
orders are later cancelled.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Camranh.
23-28 January 1942:
Departs Camranh with MIKUMA to the Cap St Jacques
area to cover the landings at Endau.
28 January 1942:
Arrives at Camranh.
10 February 1942:
In the morning, CruDiv 7 departs Camranh Bay with
CHOKAI to escort 25 invasion transports.
That same day, LtCdr Theodore Aylward's USS SEARAVEN (SS-196) receives an
"Ultra" message from Captain (later Vice Admiral) John Wilkes (former CO of
BIRMINGHAM, CL-62), ComSubAsia in Java alerting SEARAVEN that a convoy departed
Camranh Bay heading towards Sumatra. Aylward races to the position given,
submerges and waits.
11 February 1942:
In the morning, in heavy seas, the convoy appears
on the horizon. Aylward sets up on two heavy cruisers and at close range fires
two torpedoes at each cruiser – but all four torpedoes – unreliable Mark 14s –
miss.
13 February 1942: Operation "L" - The Invasion of Borneo and
Sumatra:
CruDiv 7 covers the invasion landings at Palembang and Bangka
Island, Sumatra.
17 February 1942:
One of MOGAMI's floatplanes locates the Dutch
destroyer VAN NES, escorting the Dutch freighter SLOET VAN DE BEELE that is
evacuating personnel from Java. Several hours later 15 Genzan Kokutai Mitsubishi
G3M Nell bombers
attack the ships. SLOET VAN DE BEELE is sunk quickly, but it proves harder to
sink VAN NES, even with the assistance of 10 Nakajima B5N2 Kate attack bombers from
RYUJO it takes about two hours to sink the destroyer.
Later, CruDiv 7 detaches for refueling and resupply at Anambas Island.
24 February 1942:
CruDiv 7 departs Anambas Island for the invasion of
Java. MOGAMI, MIKUMA and destroyer SHIKINAMI are detached to cover the landings
in Bantam Bay.
28 February 1942: The Battle of the Sunda
Strait:
USS HOUSTON (CA-30) and Australian cruiser HMAS PERTH sortie
for Tjilatjap via the Sunda Strait. At 2215, they attack Japanese troop
transports screened only by destroyers HARUKAZE, HATAKAZE and FUBUKI. The
destroyers make smoke to mask the transports. FUBUKI charges HOUSTON and PERTH
and launches torpedoes.
At 2300, the Western Support Force's cruisers MOGAMI and MIKUMA,
destroyer SHIKINAMI, Third Escort Force's light cruiser NATORI and the
destroyers SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO, SHIRAYUKI, HATSUYUKI and ASAKAZE arrive and
engage HOUSTON and PERTH with gunfire and torpedoes.
MOGAMI fires a spread of six Type 93 torpedoes at HOUSTON, but misses.
Post-battle analyses indicate that MOGAMI's and FUBUKI's torpedoes probably sank
or disabled minesweeper W-2 and the transports SAKURA MARU, TATSUNO MARU,
hospital ship HORAI MARU and the CinC of the invading 16th Army LtGen Imamura
Hitoshi's flagship, landing craft depot ship SHINSHU (aka RYUJO) MARU. Imamura
jumps into the sea, but survives.
At 2308, torpedoes strike both HOUSTON and PERTH. At 2342, PERTH sinks at
05-51-42S, 106-07-52E.
1 March 1942:
At 0030, HOUSTON sinks at 05-48-45S, 106-07-55E.
4 March 1942:
CruDiv 7 departs Java.
5 March 1942:
Arrives at the Seletar Naval Base, Singapore.
9 March 1942:
CruDiv 7 and CHOKAI depart Singapore.
12 March 1942: Operation "T" - The Invasion of Northern
Sumatra:
Covers the landings at Sabang and Iri.
15 March 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
20 March 1942:
Departs Singapore with CruDiv 7 to cover the invasion
of the Andaman Islands and the seizure of Port Blair.
26 March 1942:
Arrives at Mergui, Burma.
26 March 1942:
Arrives at Mergui, Burma.
1 April 1942:
At 1100, Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's Second
Expeditionary Fleet departs Mergui and steams into the Bay of Bengal to attack
merchant shipping with CruDiv 4's CHOKAI (F) and CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, KUMANO,
MIKUMA and MOGAMI, light cruiser YURA and destroyers FUBUKI, SHIRAYUKI,
HATSUYUKI and MURAKUMO, which are replaced on 3 April by AYANAMI, YUGIRI,
ASAGIRI and SHIOKAZE.
5 April 1942:
At 2030, Ozawa's Mobile Force separates into three
groups to attack merchant shipping in the Bay of Bengal. CruDiv 7/1's KUMANO and
SUZUYA, under Rear Admiral Kurita, form the Northern Group with destroyer
SHIRAKUMO. Carrier RYUJO, CHOKAI, SubRon 5's light cruiser YURA, DesDiv 20's
YUGIRI and ASAGIRI form the Center Group under Admiral Ozawa. MOGAMI, MIKUMA (F)
and destroyer AMAGIRI form the Southern Group with MIKUMA's skipper Captain
Sakiyama Shakao in tactical command.
6 April 1942:
Bay of Bengal (16N, 81-40-82-25E). Sakiyama's Southern Group
sinks two ships. They first encounter the British 7,726-ton passenger-cargo ship
DARDANUS, towed by the 5,281-ton cargo steamer GANDARA. The three Japanese ships
promptly open fire on the two merchantmen, which are finished off with torpedoes
from AMAGIRI. The 6,622-ton cargo steamer INDORA is sunk later. MOGAMI expends
137 8-in and 47 12.7-cm rounds.
In all Ozawa's commerce raiding detachment sinks twenty ships of about
93,247 tons during their brief foray in the Bay of Bengal.
11 April 1942:
Ozawa's Force arrives at Singapore.
13 April 1942:
CruDiv7 departs Singapore.
16 April 1942:
CruDiv7 is at Camranh.
22 April 1942:
CruDiv7 arrives at Kure.
4 May 1942:
Drydocked for overhaul and hull cleaning.
12 May 1942:
Undocked.
15 May 1942:
CruDiv 7 departs Kure for three-day 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 (renamed Omiyajima) 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
KIYOZUMI MARU, ZENYO MARU, TOA MARU No. 2, ARGENTINA MARU, BRAZIL MARU, AZUMA
MARU, KEIYO MARU, GOSHU MARU, KANO MARU, HOKURIKU MARU, KIRISHIMA MARU and
NANKAI MARU. The transports carry 5,000 troops.
MOGAMI refuels from an oiler.
28 May 1942:
Departs Guam with Rear Admiral Fujita Ruitaro's (former
CO of FUSO) Seaplane Tender Group's CHITOSE and KAMIKAWA MARU of the Close
Support Group.
30 May 1942:
Makes a rendezvous with the Transport Group with ARASHIO,
ASASHIO and oiler NICHIEI MARU.
4 June 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway:
The CinC of the Combined Fleet, Admiral (Fleet Admiral,
posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku orders CruDiv 7 to shell Midway at 1050 (I).
CruDiv 7 and DesDiv 8 are 410 miles away from the island, so they make a
high-speed dash at 35 knots. The sea is choppy and the destroyers lag behind. At
2120, the order is canceled.
At 2138, flagship KUMANO spots the surfaced submarine USS TAMBOR
(SS-198). KUMANO signals a 45° simultaneous turn to starboard to avoid possible
torpedoes. The emergency turn is correctly executed by flagship and SUZUYA, but
the third ship in the line, MIKUMA, erroneously makes a 90° turn. Behind her,
MOGAMI turns 45° as ordered. MOGAMI's navigator, Cdr (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. All her torpedoes are jettisoned.
After learning about the collision, the CinC of the Second Fleet, Vice
Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake orders Admiral Kurita to have DesDiv 8's
ARASHIO and ASASHIO stay behind and escort MOGAMI and MIKUMA. Flagship KUMANO
and SUZUYA are detached. The MOGAMI group proceeds westward at a reduced speed
of 12 kts.
5 June 1942:
At 0630 the cruisers are sighted by a PBY "Catalina"
flying boat from Midway. At 0805, VMSB-241's six Douglas SBD-2 "Dauntless"
dive-bombers and six Vought-Sikorsky SB2U-3 "Vindicators" from Midway, led by
Captain Marshall A. Tyler, attack MIKUMA and MOGAMI. MOGAMI, targeted by SBDs,
receives a near miss, killing two sailors and injuring several others.
6 June 1942:
MOGAMI and MIKUMA are heading for Wake Island at 14 kts.
After 0950 they are attacked by 26 SBD-3 dive-bombers from USS HORNET (CV-8).
VS-8's "Dauntlesses" score a direct hit on MOGAMI's No. 5 main gun turret; its
entire crew of 18 is killed. Another bomb hit to catapult deck destroys three
floatplanes and starts fires in the now empty torpedo room below. One hour later
the fires are put out.
After 1245 MOGAMI and MIKUMA are attacked by 31 SBD-3 dive-bombers from
USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6). MOGAMI receives two bomb hits (to catapult deck and just
forward of the bridge), causing medium damage.
Around 1500 MOGAMI and MIKUMA are attacked by 23 dive-bombers from USS
HORNET. MOGAMI receives a 1000-lb bomb hit to her catapult deck, which starts a
serious fire. The sick bay personnel is almost entirely killed or injured. No. 4
turret likewise suffers heavy casualties: only two of its crew are unharmed. A
total of 91 crewmen are killed and 101 wounded during the air attacks.
By 1525 MOGAMI and ARASHIO complete the rescuing of MIKUMA's survivors
and depart for Truk at 20 kts. Later, MOGAMI refuels from oiler NICHIEI MARU.
8 June 1942:
MOGAMI rejoins CruDiv 7. [2]
14 June 1942:
Arrives at Truk. Undergoes temporary repairs by repair
ship AKASHI.
20 June 1942:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji
(former CO of HARUNA) is appointed CO of CruDiv 7.
14 July 1942:
Temporary repairs are completed. That same day, CruDiv 7
is transferred from the Second Fleet (Cruisers) to the Third Fleet (Carriers).
5 August 1942:
Departs Truk in company of AKASHI, escorted by
TOKITSUKAZE and YUKIKAZE.
11 August 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 August 1942:
Detached from CruDiv 7 for repairs.
1 September 1942:
Drydocked at Sasebo Navy Yard. MOGAMI undergoes a
major conversion to an aircraft cruiser to improve the fleet's reconnaissance
capabilities. Turrets Nos. 4 and 5 are removed and her aft magazines are
modified to serve as gasoline tanks and munitions storage. Her aft deck is
extended and fitted with a system of rails to accommodate the planned stowage of
11 Aichi E16A1 Zuiun ("Paul") reconnaissance floatplanes.
MOGAMI's 25-mm twin AA guns and 13-mm machine guns are landed and
replaced by ten 25-mm triple mounts. A Type 21 air-search radar is fitted and
most of her scuttles are welded over.
The new E16A aircraft are not available, so MOGAMI embarks three older
Mitsubishi F1M2 Type 0 ("Pete") observation floatplanes and four Aichi E13A1
Type O ("Jake") reconnaissance floatplanes.
10 November 1942:
Captain Sasaki Seigo (45)(former Yokosuka Naval
District staff officer) is appointed the CO.
25 November 1942:
Captain Sasaki is appointed the CO of the seaplane
carrier CHITOSE undergoing conversion to a conventional aircraft cruiser as
additional duty.
14 April 1943:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Aitoku Ichiro (45)(former
CO of CVE UNYO) is appointed the CO.
30 April 1943:
Recommissioned and assigned to the First Fleet.
1 May 1943:
Departs Sasebo for Hashirajima anchorage.
2 May 1943:
Arrives at Hashirajima. Conducts battle training
thereafter.
12 May 1943: American Operation "Landcrab" - The Invasion of the
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 the Army's 7th
Division that captures Attu Island.
17 May 1943:
Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Koga Mineichi
(former CO of ISE), new CinC, Combined Fleet, sorties from Truk for Yokosuka in
response to the Attu invasion with BatDiv 1's MUSASHI, CarDiv 2's JUNYO and
HIYO, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA and nine destroyers.
20 May 1943:
CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, KUMANO and SUZUYA depart Tokuyama.
22 May 1943:
CruDiv 7 arrives at Yokosuka. MOGAMI collides with oiler
TOA MARU in Tokyo Bay and is damaged slightly.
That same day, Admiral Koga's task force arrives. The task force is
joined by carriers ZUIKAKU, SHOKAKU and ZUIHO and light cruisers AGANO and OYODO
at Yokosuka. Before this powerful force can depart for a counterattack against
the Aleutians, Attu falls to the Americans.
31 May 1943:
Departs Tokyo Bay.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
2 June 1943:
Training in the Inland Sea.
8 June 1943:
At Hashirajima. Battleship MUTSU is moored midway between
Hashirajima and the Suo-Oshima islands. At 1213, her No. 3 turret magazine
explodes. MUTSU breaks in two. The forward section sinks quickly, but the stern
section remains floating. MOGAMI sends boats to rescue survivors, but they find
none.
9 July 1943:
MOGAMI embarks an Imperial Army detachment and supplies
at Ujina. She departs Shinagawa for Truk with CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and
ZUIHO, escort carrier CHUYO, seaplane carrier NISSHIN, CruDiv 8's TONE and
CHIKUMA, light cruisers AGANO and OYODO, DesDiv 4's ARASHI and HAGIKAZE, DesDiv
17's ISOKAZE, DesDiv 61's HATSUZUKI and SUZUTSUKI and destroyer TAMANAMI.
11 July 1943:
The task force is sighted by USS STURGEON (SS-187) and
SEARAVEN (SS-196), but neither submarine is able to attack.
15 July 1943:
The task force is sighted by USS TINOSA (SS-283). ZUIHO
is attacked unsuccessfully. Four torpedoes miss. The task force is also sighted
by USS POGY (SS-266), but the submarine is unable to attack. The task force
makes port at Truk unharmed.
19 July 1943:
MOGAMI departs Truk on a troop transport run with a task
group: seaplane tender NISSHIN, cruisers TONE and CHIKUMA, light cruisers OYODO
and AGANO, destroyers HATSUZUKI, SUZUTSUKI, ARASHI, HAGIKAZE and ISOKAZE.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Disembarks the troops.
24 July 1943:
Departs Rabaul with cruisers TONE and CHIKUMA, OYODO and
AGANO and destroyers HATSUZUKI and SUZUTSUKI.
26 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
18 September 1943:
The fleet sorties to Brown Island, Eniwetok in
response to raids on Tarawa, Makin and Abemama launched by Rear Admiral Charles
A. Pownall's (former CO of RANGER, CV-4) Task Force 15's carriers LEXINGTON
(CV-16), PRINCETON (CVL-23) and BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24).
Vice Admiral Ozawa, in tactical command, leads the fleet's first section:
BatDiv 1's YAMATO and NAGATO, CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU (followed by ZUIHO
on 19 September), CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO, CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's
CHIKUMA and TONE, light cruisers AGANO and NOSHIRO and destroyers.
Vice Admiral Kurita leads the second section with his Advance Force:
CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI. Admiral Koga remains at Truk in the
fleet's flagship, MUSASHI with BatDiv 2's FUSO and BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA.
25 September 1943:
No contact is made with Task Force 15. The fleet
arrives back at Truk.
5-6 October 1943:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Alfred E.
Montgomery's (former CO of RANGER, CV-4) Task Force 14's 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.
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 and
HARUNA, CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and
CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA and MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE and light
cruisers AGANO, NOSHIRO, OYODO and destroyers.
20 October 1943:
Arrives at Brown Island, Eniwetok.
23 October 1943:
Departs Brown and sorties to a position 250 miles
south of Wake. Returns after no contact is made with enemy forces.
26 October 1943:
The fleet arrives back at Truk.
3 November 1943:
Departs Truk with CruDivs 4, 7 and CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA
to attack American forces off Bougainville.
5 November 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. While at anchor, MOGAMI is
attacked by SBD dive bombers from USS SARATOGA (CV-2) and hit by a 500-lb bomb
between turrets Nos. 1-2; there are also several near misses. A fire breaks out;
19 crewmen are killed and 37 wounded. The explosion blows out a section of the
starboard bow just above the waterline, reducing the cruiser's top speed to 12
knots.
6 November 1943:
Departs Rabaul with SUZUYA, escorted by SHIMAKAZE and
TAMANAMI.
8 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk. Begins emergency repairs by repair
ship AKASHI.
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. The invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13 battleships and 11
carriers.
16 December 1943:
Emergency repairs are completed. Departs Truk,
escorted by KASUMI and TAMANAMI.
21 December 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
22 December 1943:
Arrives at Kure Navy Yard, where she is dry-docked
for repairs. Eight 25-mm single mounts are installed on the aft deck. This
brings MOGAMI's 25-mm AA suite to a total of 38 barrels.
1 Januay 1944:
Detached from CruDiv 7.
17 February 1944:
Undocked.
8 March 1944:
MOGAMI departs Kure with CarDiv 1's ZUIKAKU, BatDiv 3's
KONGO and HARUNA, DesDiv 10's AKIGUMO, KAZAGUMO and ASAGUMO.
11 March 1944:
At 1210, the task Force is sighted by USS LAPON
(SS-260), but she is unable to attack.
14 March 1944:
ZUIKAKU and MOGAMI detach from the task force at
Seletar Naval Base, Singapore. The remainder of the force continues to Lingga (S
of Singapore).
15-16 March 1944:
At Singapore. Unloads army supplies.
16 March 1944:
Arrives at Lingga. Battle training.
10 April 1944:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Toma Ryo
(47)(former Naval Academy instructor) is appointed the CO.
11 May 1944:
Departs Lingga with the fleet.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi.
15 May 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi for Tarakan, Borneo to refuel.
17 May 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi. Continues battle training.
27 May 1944: American Operation "Horlicks" - The Invasion of
Biak:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral/CNO) William M. Fechteler's (former CO of
INDIANA, BB-58), Task Force 77 lands Maj Gen Horace H. Fuller's 41st Division on
Biak off New Guinea.
12 June 1944: American Operation "Forager" - The Invasion of
Saipan:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K. Turner's (former CO of
ASTORIA, CA-34) Task Force 52 lands Marine LtGen Holland M. Smith's V Amphibious
Corps and the invasion of Saipan begins.
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.
That same day, Vice Admiral Ozawa's First Mobile Force departs Tawi Tawi
to oppose the American landings on Saipan with Force "A": CarDiv 1's TAIHO (F),
ZUIKAKU and SHOKAKU, Rear Admiral Kimura Susumu's DesRon 10's light cruiser
YAHAGI, DesDiv 10's TANIKAZE, URAKAZE and ISOKAZE and DesDiv 61's WAKATSUKI,
HATSUZUKI, AKIZUKI and SHIMOTSUKI.
MOGAMI departs with Rear Admiral Joshima Takatsugu's (former CO of
SHOKAKU) Force "B": CarDiv 2's JUNYO, HIYO and RYUHO, BatDiv 1's NAGATO, DesDiv
4's MICHISHIO, NOWAKI and YAMAGUMO, DesDiv 17's HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 27's SAMIDARE,
SHIGURE, HARUSAME and AKISHIMO. MOGAMI is carrying five E13A1 "Jake"
floatplanes.
Forces "A" and "B" deploy 100 miles behind Vice Admiral Kurita's Vanguard
Force "C": CarDiv 3's CHITOSE, CHIYODA, ZUIHO, BatDiv 3's HARUNA and KONGO,
CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's
TONE and CHIKUMA, DesDiv 31's ASASHIMO, KISHINAMI, DesDiv 32's TAMANAMI,
FUJINAMI and HAYANAMI.
14 June 1944:
Guimaras near Panay, Philippines. The Mobile Fleet
refuels from oilers GENYO and AZUSA MARUs.
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, USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) spots the Mobile Fleet in the San Bernardino
Strait. She reports the sighting that evening.
16 June 1944:
Philippine Sea. At 1650, Vice Admiral Ugaki Matome's
(former CO of HYUGA) aborted "KON" group's BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, CruDiv
5's HAGURO and MYOKO, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and destroyers OKINAMI,
SHIMAKAZE and ASAGUMO join the Mobile Fleet. At 2000, they are sighted by USS
CAVALLA (SS-244).
18 June 1944:
At 2100, Vice Admiral Ozawa splits the Mobile Fleet.
Forces "A" and "B" proceed southward. The Vanguard Force "C" proceeds due east.
19 June 1944:
At 0530, the third morning reconnaissance group takes
off. Two floatplanes from MOGAMI are launched. CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU launches
eleven Yokosuka D4Y2-C Suisei ("Judy") dive-bombers on reconnaissance duty.
Later in the day, the Mobile Fleet's aircraft attack Task Force 58 off
Saipan, but suffer overwhelming losses in the "Great Mariana's Turkey Shoot".
20 June 1944:
About 2030, two hours after she is hit by torpedoes by
Grumman TBM "Avenger" torpedo planes from USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24), carrier
HIYO explodes and sinks. MOGAMI and NAGATO stand by as destroyers rescue most of
HIYO's crew. That night, MOGAMI retires with the Mobile Fleet to Nakagusuku Bay,
Okinawa.
22 June 1944:
At 1300, the Mobile Fleet arrives at Okinawa, refuels
destroyers and departs.
24 June 1944:
The Mobile Fleet arrives at Hashirajima.
25 June 1944:
At Kure for refit. Four triple-mount and 10 single-mount
Type 96 25-mm AA guns are installed. This brings MOGAMI's AA suite to a total of
60 barrels (14x3 and 18x1). A Type 22 surface search radar and a Type 13
air-search radar are fitted. She is also fitted with a Type 2 infrared
Identification Friend-or-Foe signaling device.
8 July 1944:
MOGAMI departs Kure carrying Imperial Army troops and
material with Group "B": battleships KONGO and NAGATO, DesRon 10: light cruiser
YAHAGI with DesDiv 17's URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, HAMAKAZE and YUKIKAZE and Group "A":
BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, CruDiv
7's KUMANO, SUZUYA, TONE and CHIKUMA, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and
destroyer SHIMAKAZE with DesDiv 2's AKISHIMO and HAYASHIMO, DesDiv 31's
KISHINAMI, OKINAMI and ASASHIMO, DesDiv 32's FUJINAMI and HAMANAMI, DesDiv 17's
HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 27's SHIGURE and SAMIDARE.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Nakagusuku, Okinawa.
12 July 1944:
Group "B" departs Okinawa.
14 July 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
17 July 1944:
Departs Manila.
19 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore, then to Lingga (S of Singapore).
20 July-18 October 1944:
Training with the fleet at Lingga.
18 October 1944:
MOGAMI departs Lingga with Kurita's First Raiding
Force in Vice Admiral Nishimura Shoji's (former CO of HARUNA) Force "C"
(Southern Force): BatDiv 2's FUSO and YAMASHIRO, DesDiv 4's ASAGUMO, MICHISHIO
and YAMAGUMO and DesDiv 27's SHIGURE. She is carrying six E13A1 "Jake"
floatplanes.
20 October 1944:
Arrives at Brunei Bay, Borneo.
22 October 1944: Operation "SHO-1-GO"(Victory) -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
Force "C" departs Brunei.
24 October 1944:
At 0200 in the morning, when Vice Admiral Nishimura
arrives at the entrance of the Mindanao Sea, MOGAMI's E13A1 floatplane No. 1,
piloted by Ens Spec. Duty Kasuya Gizo, is launched to reconnoiter Leyte Gulf.
Around 0650, Ens Kasuya reaches the gulf and reports sighting 4
battleships and 2 cruisers S of the bay. Kasuya also reports about 80 transports
off the landing area and four destroyers and several torpedo boats near Surigao
Strait. In addition, the scout reports 15 carriers, 4 destroyers and 14 torpedo
boats in vicinity of Panaon Island. This is the first intel report received that
day by any Japanese forces concerning the situation at Leyte Gulf. The E13A1 is
briefly chased by the American fighters, but manages to evade the attackers at
low level. After refueling at Cebu Kasuya returns to MOGAMI.
Around 0945, Force "C" is attacked in the Sulu Sea (approximately 09-02N,
121-35E) by 27 aircraft from TG 38.4's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and FRANKLIN
(CV-13). MOGAMI is near-missed by three bombs and her flight deck receives minor
damage as a result of strafing; two sailors are KIA and six wounded. Her gunners
claim one TBF "Avenger" shot down.
At 0950 two floatplanes are launched to land at San Jose and provide
Force "C" with air support during the upcoming night battle. At 1500 E13A1 No.
4, piloted by CPO Koyama Masashi, is launched to reconnoiter Leyte Gulf. [3] At
1830, in position 08-56N, 123-37E, Vice Admiral Nishimura detaches MOGAMI and
the three destroyers of DesDiv 4 to conduct an offensive sweep of Sogod Bay,
Leyte.
After 2252 Force "C" is attacked unsuccessfully by PT-130, PT-131 and
PT-152.
25 October 1944: The
Battle of the Surigao Strait:
Between 0018-0035, the MOGAMI group is
attacked unsuccessfully by PT-146, PT-151 and PT-190. Captain Toma orders to
reverse course to rejoin Force "C", temporarily remaining separated from his
consorts. After 0105, in a friendly fire incident under conditions of limited
visibility in an area 5 miles SE from the southern tip of Limasawa island, the
cruiser receives one 6-in dud shell hit from FUSO, killing 3 sailors in her aft
sick bay. MOGAMI then takes up the cruising station astern FUSO.
Between
0205-0215, Force "C" is attacked unsuccessfully by other PT boats. Around 0212
MOGAMI is misssed by six torpedoes.
Between 0300-0330, Force "C" is attacked by American DesRons 24, 54 and
56. Battleships FUSO and YAMASHIRO are hit by torpedoes, destroyer YAMAGUMO sunk
and MICHISHIO and ASAGUMO crippled. After FUSO takes a torpedo, MOGAMI shifts to
a new station astern YAMASHIRO, still advancing north.
Around 0338-0350, FUSO sinks by the bow. At 0342 MOGAMI receives several
5-in hits hits from USS BACHE (DD-470) and returns fire, using her Type 22 radar
in an attempt to track enemy destroyers.
After entering the Surigao Strait, MOGAMI increases her speed to 25 kts
and makes a turn to port to attack the enemy vessels with torpedoes. At 0354 she
is targeted by USS HUTCHINS (DD-476), BACHE and DALY (DD-519), advancing from
behind. MOGAMI's skipper initially misidentifies them for own destroyers and
orders to send a recognition signal before returning fire. The cruiser again
receives several hits, disabling the after radio room. A fire breaks out.
Captain Toma orders to make smoke and retire southeast while continuing
to prepare for a torpedo attack. MOGAMI is also targeted by two cruisers, soon
knocking out her main battery turret No. 3 with a direct hit. At 0359 another
8-in shell hit near the air intakes of the starboard engine room causes a fire
amidships, forcing to evacuate the engine room No. 3 and stop the outboard
starboard propeller.
Just after 0400 while still dueling with the destroyers, MOGAMI launches
four torpedoes from two port mounts, targeting the enemy battleline muzzle
flashes at north. Some two minutes later two 8-in shells, probably fired from
USS PORTLAND (CA-33) strike her compass bridge and the air defense station atop
the bridge. MOGAMI's skipper Captain Toma and his XO, Captain Hashimoto Uroku
(50), are killed on the bridge along with a number of junior officers. Two
following hits disable two engine rooms, leaving the cruiser with one (No. 2)
engine room and the port outboard shaft still working. The gunnery officer,
LtCdr Arai Giichiro (61) takes over the conn and orders to retreat southeast at
8 kts, steering by hand and the remaining engine.
11 miles SW of Hibuson Island. At 0415, the lookouts aboard the retiring
MOGAMI sight Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide's northbound flagship, heavy cruiser
NACHI. At 0423, NACHI collides with MOGAMI. NACHI's bow is holed and she begins
to flood as she pulls clear. MOGAMI is holed starboard side above the waterline
abreast her No. 1 turret. At 0441 she receives the order to join Shima's
squadron, now retiring southwest. While MOGAMI works up to 14 knots, fires reach
the still loaded torpedo tubes and four torpedoes explode.
By 0445 the last remaining engine room is evacuated while its turbine
still continues to run. Five minutes later MOGAMI rendezvouses with the crippled
destroyer ASAGUMO. Around 0500, after a change of course made by Shima's
squadron, heavy cruiser ASHIGARA avoids another collision with MOGAMI.
At 0529, MOGAMI is targeted by gunfire from USS LOUISVILLE, PORTLAND and
DENVER (CL-58), chasing the remnants of Force "C" W of Kanihaan Island. Over ten
new hits reignite the fires amidships and on the flight deck and disable the No.
1 radio room, but LtCdr Arai manages to escape, changing course.
At 0600, when exiting Surigao Strait, MOGAMI is attacked by PT-491 that
misses her with two torpedoes. MOGAMI opens the fire from her two remaining main
gun turrets. At 0610 MOGAMI exchanges signals with Shima's flagship NACHI. At
0620 the ships are attacked by PT-150, PT-190 and PT-491, which are driven off
by gunfire. Seven minutes later MOGAMI is attacked by PT-137, driven off by
combined gunfire from MOGAMI and AKEBONO. PT-489, PT-492 and PT-495 fail to
catch up with the cruiser.
At 0700, Vice Admiral Shima orders MOGAMI, escorted by AKEBONO, to
proceed to Cagayan or Coron. By that time MOGAMI's top speed is limited to 12
kts. At 0717 she and AKEBONO are attacked by four aircraft, driven off by main
caliber fire, No. 2 12.7-cm mount and the 25-mm AA guns.
At 0902 MOGAMI, still underway, is attacked by six TBM-1C "Avenger"
torpedo bombers from OMMANEY BAY (CVE-79), escorted by five FM-2 "Wildcats". The
torpedo bombers claim five direct hits with 500-lb bombs. In reality MOGAMI
receives three hits, setting the forward aviation gasoline storage compartment
afire and disabling the remaining turbine. The cruiser goes dead in the water
and the new fires cannot be brought under control.
At 1047, MOGAMI is abandoned by her crew. At 1256, AKEBONO scuttles her
with a single Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo to port side. At 1307, MOGAMI sinks
by the bow at 09-30N, 124-56E. One hundred ninety-one crewmembers and one
navy-hired civilian are lost; AKEBONO rescues 700 survivors, including 125
wounded (4 enlisted die later).
20 December 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.
8 May 2019:
Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen's research vessel
RV PETREL locates the wreck of MOGAMI at a depth of 4,760 ft. The largely intact
cruiser lies upright on the seabed, with her overturned bow separated from the
hull.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), was the
highest point in the Japanese Empire at the time.
[2] The best account about MOGAMI's participance in the Battle of Midway
is provided in the book "Shattered Sword: The Untold Story
of the Battle of Midway" by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully. A
thoroughly researched description of her rebuild and subsequent career appears
in "Japanese Hybrid Warships: Ise, Hyuga, Mogami, I-400 class and I-13 class" by
Hans Lengerer.
[3] The wreckage of MOGAMI's E13A1 No. 4 was dicovered near Valencia,
Bohol Island, on 26 October. The identity of its pilot was established in
mid-1970s by the Japanese aviation historian Hata Ikuhiko.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada. Thanks also go to "Adm.
Gurita" of the Netherlands, Andrew Obluski of Poland and Randy Stone of the
United States.
For further reading, see Anthony P. Tully's "Battle
of Surigao Strait" published by Indiana University Press in 2009.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
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