Name Translation: "Peach"

10 June 1944:
Completed at Maizuru; assigned same date to Desron 11, Combined Fleet, for training. Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Yukitaka Masamitsu [60] (prev. C.O. KARUKAYA).

15 July:
Assigned to Desdiv 43 (UME, TAKE, MATSU, MOMO), Desron 11, Combined Fleet.

20 August:
Desdiv 43 reassigned to Escort Squadron 31, Fifth Fleet.

9 September:
Lieutenant Commander Yukitaka relieved by Lieutenant Commander Minagawa Yoshio [63].

19 October:
1743: KAIYO,RYUHO, MOMI [Flag DesDiv 43], UME and MOMO ordered to carry armaments and material for reconstruction of 61st Air Depot from Kure to Keelung via Sasebo.

25 October:
1100: MOMI flying flag of Comdesdiv 43 departed Sasebo with UME and MOMO escorting carriers RYUHO and KAIYO to Keelung, Formosa. Convoy is under the command of Comdesdiv 43.

27 October:
1000:Convoy arrived at Keelung.

29 October-2 November:
1330: MOMI, UME, MOMO departed Keelung escorting KAIYO and RYUHO back to the homeland. MOMI returned to Kure with RYUHO.

9 November 1944:
0300: Departed Sasebo with UME and SUGI escorting battleship HYUGA.
0830 Rendezvoused with ISE, ISUZU, SHIMOTSUKI, KUWA, and KIRI twelve nautical miles north of the Gotto Retto Islands.(The latter group had departed Moji area at 0200 that morning) This formation of two battleships [i.e., Cardiv 4], one light cruiser, and now six destroyers [SUZUTSUKI had to be left behind] was designated "H" Unit which was to make a special urgent transport run to Luzon. Once assembled, force proceeded on planned voyage to Manila via Mako.

10 November 1944:
1400: "H" Unit arrived at Mako; some units [such as SUGI] arrived on the 11th.

12 November 1944:
"H" Unit of Cardiv 4 and its screen departed Mako for Manila.

13 November 1944:
1844: Based on the reports of the damage and ongoing danger from the large air raid on Manila that day, CarDiv 4 en-route to Manila is ordered by Com 2-YB (VADM Shima) to divert to the Shinnan Islands near Palawan. CarDiv 4 and DesRon 31 had been scheduled to reach Manila tomorrow but it was now decided they would unload their materials at a standby place and transfer them to fast transports sent down from Manila for the remainder of the journey.

14 November 1944:
1400: "H" Unit arrived the Spratly Island aka Shinnan Gunto "Dangerous Ground." There they awaited the arrival of the fast transports from Manila.

15 November 1944:
MOMO is assigned to Captain Kanma Ryokichi's DesDiv 43.
0900: Fast "T-1" Type Transports No.6, No.9, and No.10 arrived from Manila. Began loading the supplies carried by Cardiv 4, SHIMOTSUKI, and UME and KIRI for delivery to Manila. [ISUZU, MOMO,KUWA, SUGI retain their cargo for they are still going to Manila.]

16 November:
1700: Loading completed Fast Transports No.6, No.9, and No.10 departed the Spratlys for Manila. DesRon 31 ISUZU, MOMO, KUWA, and SUGI had preceded them. All of these scheduled to arrive at Manila afternoon of 18 November. CarDiv 4 and SHIMOTSUKI remained behind while UME and KIRI departed toward Brunei to reinforce the escort of Kurita's 1-YB departing from there for return home.

18 November 1944:
Noon:[USS HAKE (SS-256) sighted ISUZU on course 70 degrees heading to enter Manila Bay. No escorts seen but two [MOMO and KUWA] detected by sound dropping depth charges randomly.]
1620: ISUZU, KUWA, MOMO, and SUGI arrived in Manila Bay. ISUZU and KUWA go to Cavite while MOMO and SUGI go to Manila harbor. Two hours later, transports 6, 9, 10 enter Manila port after them. Just before midnight ISUZU and MOMO moved over to Manila dock and hastily unload their cargo and refuel, eager to depart befoe daylight to avoid the threat of expected air attack.

19 November 1944:
Action:
Before dawn, ISUZU, MOMO, KUWA, and SUGI departed Manila for Brunei to construct a new seaplane base there. However, when 55 nmiles west of Manila Bay entrance at 0640 ISUZU is hit in the starboard quarter by a torpedo from a salvo of six fired by USS HAKE (SS-256). The cruisers steering gear is heavily damaged and she is rendered temporarily unnavigable. However, within an hour ISUZU gets underway again. Steering has been temporarily restored and she can make 16 knots. But since a typhoon is brewing in the Formosa area, it is too risky to attempt to proceed toward Japan for any repairs. It was decided to proceed to Singapore and ISUZU screened by MOMO and SUGI headed there for repairs. At some point KUWA and SUGI detached.

20 November 1944:
Desdiv 43 assigned to Escort Squadron 31; which is then re-designated Desron 31 , and today attached to the Fifth Fleet. Composition now:
Light cruiser ISUZU [flag]
Desdiv 43:UME, MAKI, TAKE, KIRI, KAYA
Desdiv 52:MOMO, KUWA, SUGI, HINOKI, KASHI
Desdiv 30:YUZUKI, UZUKI
CD # 21: KASADA, KANJU, MANJU, MIYAKE, IKUNA.

22 November:
Arrived at Johore Strait escorting damaged ISUZU.

24 November:
1320: Departed Johore Strait with SHIMOTSUKI (Now flag of ComDesRon 31 RADM Edo Heitaro) for Manila via Miri to join the TA-Operations.

25 November:
Action:
- 0448 While sailing to starboard of MOMO flagship SHIMOTSUKI was torpedoed by enemy submarine [USS CAVALLA SS-244]and blew apart. She capsized to port and sank immediately. Attack presumed to have come from west.
- 0510 MOMO sends: "The SHIMOTSUKI had departed Singapore and was enroute to Brunei when at 0448 she was torpedoed by an enemy submarine and sank instantaneously in position [omitted]. Apparently her magazine exploded. We are pursuing hunter-killer tactics against the enemy."
- Subsequently began search and rescue, but found only 46 survivors. ComDesRon 31 Edo and entire staff among the lost. Did not return to Singapore, but proceeded to Manila.

1 December:
There is hint [see 2 December and SUGI trom] that MOMO and UME met SUGI at Shinnan Gunto. Then departed for Manila. [It is possible survivors of SHIMOTSUKI were transshipped to another ship at this time; otherwise they disembarked at Manila.]

2 December:
0930: SUGI, UME, MOMO arrived at Manila Harbor.

- 5-8 December 1944 (TA-8 Operation):
Escorted troop convoy TA No. 8 from Manila to Ormoc and back.
5 December:
1030: TA-8 departed Manila for Ormoc with the destroyers UME, MOMO, SUGI, SC-18 and Naval Transports Nos 11 and 38 escorting the NICHIYO MARU (6,482 tons), AKAGISAN MARU (4,714 tons), HAKUBA/HAKURA MARU (2,857 tons), and No.5 SHINSEI MARU (2,599 tons) The operation is under ComDesDiv 43 Captain Kanma Ryokichi in UME. The reinforcement is scheduled to arrive at Ormoc early afternoon of 7 December.

7 December:
Action:
- 0930: When TA-8 some 18 miles north and short of Ormoc there is an enemy air attack. Also, the Americans are landing in force at Ormoc itself that very day. No damage was received but because of the U.S. counterlanding the convoy was diverted to go instead to San Isidro at Leyte's tip.
- 1000: The transports entered the small fishing port of San Isidro and approached close. They began to unload quickly.
- 1030-1250 However, while thus engaged heavy enemy air attack by land-based bombers struck. ComDesDiv 43 directed the transports to run themselves ashore there and continue to unload troops and cargo for overland transport while the screen pulled back north to standby. But this was only partly successful: All the transports were hit and wrecked---the AKAGISAN MARU sunk west of Leyte, the SHINSEI MARU off San Isidro, and the HAKUBA MARU was beached. SUGI and UME were also damaged by strafing and the naval transport No. 11 was hit aft and rendered inoperational; she was left grounded and a total loss. MOMO was sent back from the holding spot to San Isidro to assist the transports. [ ]
- Minor damage: While seeking to rejoin UME and SUGI that night MOMO scraped a reef off Masabate Island. For this reason she started back to Manila independently ahead of the others.

8 December:
1705: MOMO arrived at Manila Harbor. Thereafter cruised over to Cavite for temporary hull repairs.[The rest of TA-8 returned to Manila the morning of 9 December]

13 December:
Assigned with CH 60 to escort the prison ship ORYOKU MARU as special small convoy on part of a voyage to Japan.
1000: Prisoners marched from Bilibid Prison start boarding the ORYOKU MARU and a few other ships.
1348: CO MOMO telegramed schedule. MA-TA 37 will clear Manila Bay entrance at 0600 the next day and arrive at Takao 0800 18 December. MOMO herself will only go as far as the start of the Takao minefield then detach and via Mako (14 December) return to arrive at San Fernando 0500 15 December. (CH 60 would take ORYOKU MARU on to Sasebo.)
2033: Departure of MOMO and SC 60 with ORYOKU MARU set for 0330 from Manila Harbor. Now to arrive at Takao 0900 18 December.

14 December:
0300: A half hour ahead of schedule MOMO departed Manila Bay with Ch.60 escorting prison ship OROYOKU MARU as convoy MA-TA 37, bound for Takao.
Action:
- 0845 As convoy was heading to seaward outside Subic Bay attacked by enemy carrier planes. It was decided to seek shelter in Subic Bay.
- 1000-1100 Continual attack in Subic Bay. ORYOKU MARU hit by bombs, set afire and beached just above Sampolac Point, western side of Subic Bay. After this time, MOMO and Ch.60 leave the Maru to its fate and head back to sea seeking to escape.
- 1430 Last attack on the two ships ended. Spot Report telegram stated that during the day's attacks MOMO had suffered damage from two direct bomb hits with several near-misses. Flooding had resulted and fire amidships had made LtCdr. Minagawa jettison the four torpedoes from the single mount to forestall an induced explosion. Speed reduced to 14 knots. Return to Cavite was considered but the bombing of the 103rd Repair Unit there that day in particular led to discarding this idea. MOMO and CH 60 would clear the area and try to make Takao. [Meanwhile back in Subic Bay the ORYOKU MARU - still afloat - was shifted over to Olongapo Naval Base. There fresh TF 38 attacks began the next morning and after further bomb hits the Maru capsized at 1600 15 December and sank on her port side in shallow water]

15 December:
0650: SC 60 reported MOMO had had a breakdown and they were proceding to Takao.[Apparently MOMO had become unnavigable for a time - probably at 0401 when sent an unrecovered message - but from context it appears temporary repairs allowed her to get underway again for Takao] Position given in terms of bearing from Subic Bay.

Sunk:
- 2027 While headed on northward course in column with SC 60 attacked by submarine [USS HAWKBILL SS-366]. One torpedo hit the port side in the No.2 boiler room and destroyed it. The forward engine room in front of it [between the stacks] was also rendered inoperable. MOMO came to a halt and then almost immediately sank. SC 60 stopped despite the risk and rescued survivors. The position was 140 miles west-southwest of Cape Bolinao, Luzon 16 N, 117-39 E). 92 dead, including Lieutenant Commander Minagawa, 36 wounded.
- 2035 SC 60 left the area.
- 2240 SC 60 reported they had undergone torpedo attack and gave position as 16-41'N, 117-42'E.

10 February 1945:
Removed from Navy List.

Notes and Sources:

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Anthony Tully, Bill Somerville, and Matthew Jones for contributing to this TROM.