Imperial Cruisers

JUNYOKAN!

(OYODO at Kure in 1943 - colorized photo by Yamashita Atsushi)

IJN OYODO: Tabular Record of Movement

© 1997-2017 Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp
Revision 11
14 February 1941:
Kure Navy Yard. Laid down at No. 3 slip.
10 March 1942:
Named OYODO and provisionally attached to Yokosuka Naval District.
2 April 1942:
Launched and officially attached to Yokosuka Naval District.
31 December 1942:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Tawara Yoshioki (43) (former CO of NAGARA) is appointed the CO of AOBA and the Chief Equipping Officer of OYODO as an additional duty.
20 January 1943:
Captain (later Rear Admiral), the Baron, Tomioka Sadatoshi (45) is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer.
23 January 1943:
Conducts speed trials in Ise Bay, off Cape Sata.
18-19 February 1943:
Conducts turning trials and the second stage of speed trials. Achieves 35.3 kts.
28 February 1943:
Completed at Kure and attached to Yokosuka Naval District. Provisionally assigned to Yokosuka Guard Force. Captain Tomioka is the Commanding Officer.
7 March 1943:
Departs Kure for Yokosuka, refuels at the 3rd Fuel Depot at Tokuyama en route.
8 March 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Commences engine trials and battle training in Tokyo Bay.
1 April 1943:
OYODO is assigned to the Third Fleet.
16 April 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for the western part of Inland Sea.
17 April 1943:
Arrives at Nagahama.
18 April 1943:
Departs Nagahama. Arrives at Hashirajima anchorage.
April 1943:
Kure Navy Yard. A Type 21 air/surface-search radar is fitted.
1 May 1943:
OYODO is assigned to the Main Body, Mobile Force.
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 Maj Gen Eugene M. Landrum at Holtz Bay and Massacre Bay that later capture the island.
20 May 1943:
Departs Tokuyama with light cruiser AGANO.
22 May 1943: Operation "Kita" (North):
OYODO and AGANO arrive at Tokyo Bay. They join BatDiv 1's MUSASHI, BatDiv 3's HARUNA and KONGO, CarDiv 2's JUNYO and HIYO, CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA and MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA and destroyers. Carriers ZUIKAKU, SHOKAKU and ZUIHO also join the task force. Before this force can depart to launch a counterattack in the Aleutians, Attu falls to American forces.
25 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Kisarazu Bight in Tokyo Bay.
26 May 1943:
Arrives at Kisarazu Bight. Conducts battle exercises in Tokyo Bay in company of SHOKAKU and other units until 29 May.
29 May 1943:
Departs Kisarazu Bight for Yokosuka, arrives later that day. On that day Operation "Kita" is canceled.
31 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Hashirajima anchorage.
1 June 1943:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
15 June 1943:
Departs Hashirajima for Kure, arrives later that day. Commences a refit at Kure Navy Yard.
19-23 June 1943:
Drydocked in No. 3 drydock.
25 June 1943:
Departs Kure for Kabutojima Bight in Iyo Nada to conduct training in the western part of Inland Sea thereafter.
26 June 1943:
Departs Kabutojima Bight for Yashima anchorage. Arrives later that day, conducts battle training en route.
27 June 1943:
Departs Yashima anchorage for Nagahama, arrives later that day. Conducts battle and towing exercises with other fleet units.
30 June 1943:
Departs Nagahama and arrives at Tokuyama fuel depot to refuel.
2 July 1943:
Departs Tokuyama. One-day training cruise in the Inland Sea thereafter.
8 July 1943:
Departs Kure for Shinagawa, near Hiroshima, with CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA and light cruiser AGANO.
9 July 1943:
Arrives at Shinagawa. Embarks the troops of the South Seas 4th Guard Unit and material. Departs Shinagawa for Truk with CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, escort carrier CHUYO, seaplane carrier NISSHIN, CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, light cruiser AGANO, DesRon 2's TAMANAMI, DesDiv 4's ARASHI and HAGIKAZE, DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, DesDiv 61's HATSUZUKI and SUZUTSUKI.
11 July 1943:
The task force is sighted by USS STURGEON (SS-187) and SEARAVEN (SS-196), but neither submarine is able to gain an attack position.
15 July 1943:
The task force is sighted by USS TINOSA (SS-283). TINOSA fires four torpedoes at ZUIHO, but they all miss. The task force is also spotted by USS POGY (SS-266), but she is unable to attack.
Arrives at Truk.
19 July 1943:
Departs Truk on a troop transport run with seaplane tender NISSHIN, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA, CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, light cruiser AGANO, DesDiv 4's ARASHI and HAGIKAZE , DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, DesDiv 61's HATSUZUKI and SUZUTSUKI.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Disembarks troops, later refuels ISOKAZE.
24 July 1943:
Departs Rabaul with TONE, CHIKUMA and MOGAMI, light cruiser AGANO and DesDiv 61's HATSUZUKI and SUZUTSUKI.
26 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
29 August 1943:
Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Shinoda Katsukiyo (44)(former CO of NAGARA) is appointed the CO.
19 September 1943:
Sorties from Truk with carrier ZUIHO to join the fleet which departed previous day for Brown Atoll, Eniwetok in response to raids on Tarawa, Makin and Abemama by Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall's Task Force 15 carriers USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), PRINCETON (CVL-23) and BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24).
Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo (former CO of HARUNA), in tactical command, leads the fleet's first section: BatDiv 1's YAMATO, NAGATO, CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE, light cruisers AGANO and NOSHIRO and destroyers. Vice Admiral Kurita Takao (former CO of KONGO) leads the second section with his Advance Force's CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI.
Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Koga Mineichi (former CO of ISE), Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, remains at Truk in the fleet's flagship MUSASHI with BatDiv 2's FUSO and BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA.
25 September 1943:
The fleet returns to Truk.
5-6 October 1943:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Alfred E. Montgomery's 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, NAGATO, BatDiv 2's FUSO, Bat Div 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 OYODO, AGANO and NOSHIRO and destroyers.
19 October 1943:
At Brown.
23 October 1943:
Departs Brown and sorties to a position 250 miles SW of Wake.
24 October 1943:
OYODO rescues the 3-man crew of a ditched reconnaissance B5N2 "Kate" launched the day before to search for the USN off Wake.
26 October 1943:
The fleet arrives back at Truk.
6 December 1943:
At Truk. Flagship of Vice Admiral Ozawa's Third Fleet.
23 December 1943:
On that day, codebreakers at the USN Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL), Australia, provide a partial translation of Combined Fleet OpOrd No. 868:
"7th Cruiser Division (KUMANO and SUZUYA), 10th Destroyer Division (AKITSUKI, YAMAGUMO, TANIKAZE and ?), TONE, OYODO are to compose the Diversion Attack Force."
30 December 1943: Transport Operation "BO-3":
Departs Truk on a transport run to Kavieng, New Ireland with light cruiser NOSHIRO (flagship of Rear Admiral Hayakawa Mikio), DesDiv 10's YAMAGUMO and DesDiv 30's AKIKAZE. OYODO carries 1,000 tons of cargo including several artillery pieces and 500 troops.
1 January 1944:
At 0445 (JST), arrives at Kavieng, unloads her cargo with a 2-hour delay as the last vessel of Hayakawa's squadron. After 0842, soon after departure, she and the escorting AKIZUKI are attacked by aircraft from TG 37.2's USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17) and MONTEREY (CV-26). Until 0919 OYODO expends 194 15.5-cm, 240 10-cm and 4640 25-mm rounds. She receives one direct hit (dud) and light damage as a result of near misses, but two men are killed and four wounded. [1] OYODO's floatplane is damaged and cannot carry out the recce flight ordered by RAdm Hayakawa once the attack is over.
2 January 1944:
NW of Kavieng. Rendezvouses with the damaged transport KIYOSUMI MARU, torpedoed by USS BALAO (SS-285). Takes off 71 wounded sailors, then takes KIYOSUMI MARU in tow. Departs for Truk, escorted by AKIZUKI.
3 January 1944:
On that day, codebreakers at the USN Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL), provide the translation of a message transmitted by OYODO at 0806 that day:
"Reached KIYOSUMI MARU at 0700 in 4-30N, 146-50E. Weather bad and sea heavy, but expect to have her in tow about 0830 and estimate she can be towed at 6 knots."
4 January 1944:
Returns to Truk.
10 February 1944:
Following the American invasion of Kwajalein, OYODO departs Truk with Admiral Koga embarked aboard battleship MUSASHI in company of carriers CHIYODA and ZUIHO, DesDiv 21's WAKABA and HATSUHARU, DesDiv 27's SHIRATSUYU, DesDiv 24's MICHISHIO and DesDiv 32's TAMANAMI.
16 February 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka. Embarks a cargo of aircraft torpedoes and supplies destined for the garrison of Saipan.
19 February 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Saipan.
22 February 1944:
Arrives at Saipan, unloads her cargo.
23 February 1944:
Departs Saipan for Yokosuka.
26 February 1944:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
6 March 1944:
Refit. OYODO is converted to a Combined Fleet flagship. OYODO is designed to carry six high-speed Kawanishi E15K1 "Norm" reconnaissance floatplanes, but the aircraft are not as fast as expected and the strategic situation changes before they can be delivered. It is decided to equip OYODO with a shorter catapult and two Aichi E16A1 "Paul" reconnaissance planes, but these are not ready on time either. OYODO receives two standard IJN Type 0 Aichi E13A1 "Jake" three-seat reconnaissance floatplanes. The seaplane hangar is converted to crew living quarters and the crews' quarters in the forward part of the ship are converted to use by staff personnel. Six Type 96 triple-mount 25-mm AA guns and 11 single-mount guns are installed bringing OYODO's 25-mm AA suite to a total of 47 barrels. A Type 22 surface-search radar is also fitted. Other work is carried out in the engine and boiler rooms.
31 March 1944:
The refit/conversion is completed.
April 1944:
Embarks two E13A1 "Jake" floatplanes.
30 April 1944:
In Kisarazu Bight, Tokyo Bay. Flagship of Admiral Toyoda Soemu, new CinC, Combined Fleet.
6 May 1944:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Abe Toshio (46)(former ComDesDiv 21, 8 & 10) is appointed the CO. Captain Shinoda is later KIA at Surigao Strait as the CO of YAMASHIRO.
22 May 1944:
Departs Kisarazu Bight for Hashirajima anchorage.
25 May 1944:
Arrives at Hashirajima; remains in port there.
25 June 1944:
Departs Hashirajima.
28 June 1944:
Arrives at Kisarazu.
15 August 1944:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Mutaguchi Kakuro (44)(former ComDesDiv 15) is appointed the CO. Captain Abe is later KIA as the CO of the new carrier SHINANO.
29 September 1944:
Admiral Toyoda and the Combined Fleet Staff move ashore from OYODO to the IJN's underground headquarters at Keio University in Hiyoshi near Yokohama.
11 October 1944:
Departs Yokosuka for Hashirajima with DesDiv 41's FUYUZUKI and SHIMOTSUKI.
12 October 1944:
At about 2100, Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy S. Davenport's TREPANG (SS-412) attacks OYODO group in a surface radar attack. Davenport fires six torpedoes at OYODO, they all miss the cruiser, but one hits FUYUZUKI and damages her bow and forward gun turret. Davenport later claims damaging a battleship and sinking a destroyer.
20 October 1944: Operation "SHO-1-GO"(Victory) - The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
At 1700, OYODO departs the Yashima anchorage towards the Philippines in Vice Admiral Ozawa's Northern Mobile ("Decoy") Force with CruDiv 31's light cruiser ISUZU, DesDiv 41's KUWA and SUGI, DesDiv 43's MAKI and KIRI and DesDiv 61's AKIZUKI, HATSUZUKI, WAKATSUKI and SHIMOTSUKI. CarDiv 1's ZUIKAKU, ZUIHO, CHITOSE and CHIYODA, CarDiv 4's HYUGA and ISE are screened by OYODO, light cruiser TAMA and destroyers. OYODO is the only warship in Ozawa's force carrying reconnaissance floatplanes. Both "Jakes" conduct scouting missions and ASW patrols over the fleet.
25 October 1944: The Battle off Cape Engano:
Between 0845-1740, the Northern Mobile Force is attacked by Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher's Task Force 38 carrier planes from USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), ESSEX (CV-9), INTREPID (CV-11), FRANKLIN (CV-13), LEXINGTON (CV-16), INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22), BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24), LANGLEY (CVL-27), CABOT (CVL-28) and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30). TF 38 launches 527 sorties in five strikes against the Northern Force. During the first strike, OYODO suffers two near-misses and at 0848 she is hit by a bomb that damages her No. 4 boiler room. At 1054, Vice Admiral Ozawa leaves the sinking ZUIKAKU and transfers his flag to OYODO. Ozawa orders his force to retire northward. ZUIKAKU finally goes under at 1414. Carriers ZUIHO and CHITOSE and destroyer AKIZUKI are also sunk during the day. OYODO is hit by two rockets from F6F "Hellcat" fighter-bombers and damaged by the near-miss of a bomb.
At 1900, Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Laurence T. Du Bose's CruDiv 13's USS SANTA FE (CL-60), BIRMINGHAM (CL-62), MOBILE (CL-63) and RENO (CL-96) and destroyers arrive at the scene of the earlier sinkings where destroyers WAKATSUKI and KUWA are rescuing survivors of ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO. The rescue effort is covered by destroyer HATSUZUKI. HATSUZUKI radios Ozawa that an American cruiser-destroyer force is attacking the destroyers left behind to assist CHIYODA. Ozawa orders OYODO, Rear Admiral Matsuda's CarDiv 4 and their destroyers to engage the Americans. They reverse course to 185 degrees, and set off at 16 knots. The Americans sink HATSUZUKI and chase off WAKATSUKI and KUWA, then sink stationary CHIYODA with all hands. At 2330, the CarDiv 4 group, unable to make contact with the American cruiser force, reverses course northward.
26 October 1944:
At 0610, HYUGA's lookouts spot torpedo tracks to port, bearing 110. A submarine alert is sounded immediately. The torpedoes pass 50 yards ahead of HYUGA's bow.
27 October 1944:
At 1200, CarDiv 4 arrives safely at Sakawa Bay, Amami-Oshima Island. Ozawa transfers the Combined Fleet's flag from OYODO to HYUGA.
29-31 October 1944:
OYODO detaches from the CarDiv 4 group and departs Amami-Oshima on a transport run to Manila.
1 November 1944:
Arrives at Manila.
4 November 1944:
OYODO departs Manila for Brunei Bay.
8 November 1944:
Arrives at Brunei. Joins battleship HARUNA, cruisers HAGURO and ASHIGARA and DesDiv 43's KIRI and UME.
17 November 1944:
Departs Brunei with HARUNA, HAGURO and ASHIGARA.
18 November 1944:
The HARUNA group arrives at the Spratly Islands. CarDiv 4's ISE and HYUGA and DesDiv 61's SHIMOTSUKI are already there unloading troops and supplies after being diverted from Manila because of carrier air attacks on that port. The CinC of the Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide (former CO of OI), arrives from Manila aboard DesDiv 21's HATSUSHIMO, accompanied by DesDiv 2's ASASHIMO and DesDiv 7's KASUMI and USHIO. Shima then transfers his flag to ASHIGARA.
20 November 1944:
OYODO departs the Spratlys with HARUNA, CarDiv 4's ISE and HYUGA, ASHIGARA and HAGURO and destroyers.
22 November 1944:
Arrives at Lingga.
12 December 1944:
Departs Lingga with ASHIGARA.
14 December 1944:
Arrives at Cap St. Jacques, near Saigon. ASHIGARA continues on to Camranh Bay.
24 December 1944:
Departs Cap St Jacques for Camranh. At 0900, departs Camranh with ASHIGARA and Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kimura Masatomi's (former CO of SUZUYA) DesRon 2's DesDiv 2's KIYOSHIMO, DesDiv 18's KASUMI (F), DesDiv 31's ASASHIMO, DesDiv 41's SUGI and KASHI and DesDiv 43's KAYA to raid the American beachhead at San Jose on Mindoro, Philippines.
26 December 1944:
During their approach to Mindoro, Kimura's Raiding Force is attacked by American bombers. At 2045, ASASHIMO suffers a near-miss by a bomb 200 meters to starboard. At 2101, OYODO is attacked by B-24s. She is hit by two 500-lb bombs, but one is a dud and the other does only slight damage. At 2115, two direct bomb hits cripple KIYOSHIMO and make her unnavigable. At 2120, KAYA shoots down one of the B-24s. At 2124, ASHIGARA is hit and damaged by a 500-lb bomb. At 2130, another plane (possibly a P-38) crashes into aft stack of KAYA. At 2210, the KASUMI, ASHIGARA and OYODO fire at American PT-boats. One is hit and burns. At 2303, ASHIGARA and OYODO commence firing illuminating shells into Mangarin Bay. An American convoy is sighted. At 2310, KASUMI fires four torpedoes at troop transports and gets one hit. At 2315, KIYOSHIMO is sunk by a torpedo from USS PT-223. She explodes and sinks at 12-38N, 120-43E. At 2326, KASHI and KAYA fire two torpedoes each. At 2330, the Japanese claim sinking four transports, but none are actually sunk. From 2345 to 0004, KASUMI, ASASHIMO, ASHIGARA and OYODO bombard a supply dump at mouth of the Kasuang River. Many hits are scored, and fires started. During the bombardment, freighter JAMES H. BREASTED, anchored in Ilin Strait, is damaged by shell fragments, but not before landing 600 Army troops unharmed. Later, BREASTED is bombed, probably by an American plane, that sets off her cargo of gasoline, forcing her to be abandoned.
27 December 1944: Operation "REI" - The San Jose Intrusion:
At 0100, ASHIGARA and OYODO bombard American "gunboats". From 0100-0235, the 1st Unit rescues KIYOSHIMO's survivors. At 0345, ASASHIMO is bombed, but not damaged. At 2325, ASASHIMO is bombed again, but not damaged. Cdr Arnold H. Holtz' USS BAYA (SS-318) sights ASHIGARA, OYODO and their destroyers at 12-51N, 113-27E returning to Camranh Bay. Holtz closes the range to attack. Reaching an attack position, he submerges to radar depth ahead of Kimura's force. BAYA has problems maintaining depth control, so Holtz decides to carry out his attack by sound. At 2207, at 3,200 yards, he fires a full bow salvo at the leading "cruiser" (actually ASASHIMO), but all six torpedoes miss.
28 December 1944:
At 0020, KASHI is bombed, but not damaged. At 1830, the 1st Unit anchors in Camranh Bay.
29 December 1944:
Departs Camranh via Cap St. Jacques.
30 December 1944:
Departs Cap St. Jacques.
1 January 1945:
Arrives at Singapore.
8 January 1945:
On that day, codebreakers at the USN Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne (FRUMEL), provide the following information:
"No. 2 Diversion Attack Force (OYODO, 4th Carrier Division, ASHIGARA, 1st Destroyer Squadron, KASUMI, ASASHIMO) arrived Singapore at 1200 on 1st January."
9 January 1945:
On that day, codebreakers at the FRUMEL provide the following information:
"2nd Diversion Attack Force, consisting of OYODO, ? Cruiser Division (TAKAO, ASHIGARA), 4th Carrier Division (ISE, HYUGA), 1st destroyer Squadron (KASUMI, ASASHIMO, HATSUHARU), left Singapore at 1530 on 9th January /. . ./ At 1300 on 11th January will arrive Saint Jacques, fuel, and then proceed to ? Camranh Bay, rendezvous with 43rd Destroyer Division and standby."
9-29 January 1945:
Singapore. Repaired and refitted at the 101st Navy Repair Facility.
29 January 1945:
Departs Singapore. Arrives at Lingga.
6 February 1945:
Departs Lingga with battleship-carriers ISE, HYUGA, Desdiv 18's KASUMI, DesDiv 21's ASASHIMO and HATSUSHIMO. Arrives at Singapore.
7-9 February 1945: Operation "KITA" ("North"):
Singapore. OYODO embarks 300 tons of rubber, zinc, mercury and tin, 70 tons of aviation gasoline and 159 passengers (mostly oil field service personnel), returning to Japan.
10 February 1945:
OYODO is attached to CarDiv 4. At 2100, the "Completion Force" (Kan Butai) comprised of ISE, HYUGA, OYODO and destroyers KASUMI, ASASHIMO and HATSUSHIMO sorties from Singapore.
11 February 1945:
Lt (later Vice Admiral Sir) Hugh "Rufus" MacKenzie's submarine HMS TANTALUS sights the "Force". TANTALUS tries an "end-around" but is bombed by an air escort and forced to go deep, unable to attack.

13 February 1945:
1213: South China Sea. LtCdr John M. Hyde's USS BERGALL (SS-320) picks up the Force in poor weather conditions off Hainan Island at 15-34N, 110-50E. Hyde, submerged on the track, cannot get closer than 4,800 yards. He fires six torpedoes at a battleship, but they all miss. BERGALL is counter-attacked by the escorts with new, larger explosive depth-charges but escapes. The Force is also attacked the same day by LtCdr James H. Campbell's USS BLOWER (SS-325). He fires five torpedoes at a battleship and one at OYODO, but they all miss.

1530:The Force comes out of a rainsquall and OYODO launches a floatplane. LtCdr H. S. Simpson's USS BASHAW (SS-241) is sighted on the surface. Battleship HYUGA opens fire with her main armament on the submarine. One 14-inch shell comes within a mile of BASHAW. Simpson crash-dives and breaks off his attack.
15 February 1945:
At 1900, the Force anchors at Matsu Island Anchorage (26-09N, 119-56E), Fukien Province, China.

16 February 1945:
Formosa Strait. At 0000, the Force departs Matsu Island Anchorage for Kure via the Korean coast and the Shimonoseki Strait. Destroyers NOKAZE and KAMIKAZE join the escort briefly, then are detached southbound.

LtCdr (later Captain) Benjamin E. Adams, Jr's USS RASHER (SS-269) is alerted by "Ultra" to the movement of the Force. At 0507, RASHER makes radar contact south of Wenchow, China at 26-55N, 122-03E. RASHER picks up three escorts, range nine miles, heading 030 at 18 knots. In a driving rain, Adams targets the second ship. At 1,800 yards, he fires six Mk. 18 electric torpedoes, but the Force changes course. All six torpedoes miss.

At 2106, the Force anchors N of Chusan (Zhoushan) Island, SE of Shanghai.

18 February 1945:
At 0700, the Force departs Chusan Island.
18 February 1945:
At 1600, the Force anchors off E side of Shozen-To (Ch´angson-do) island an SE of Sanzenpo Harbor, S Korea. (34-51N, 128-01E).

19 February 1945:
At 0700, the Force departs Shozen-To. At 1600, anchors of Mutsure Jima.
20 February 1945:
At 1000, arrives at Kure. In all, the Force escapes pursuit by 23 American and Allied submarines.
25 February 1945:
Captain Matsuura Yoshi (49)(former CEO of IBUKI) is appointed the CO. Captain Mutaguchi is KIA as the CO of ISE in July 1945.
1 March 1945:
Assigned to Kure Training Force. The floatplane crew and service personnel are transferred to YAHAGI.
19 March 1945:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58 carriers USS ESSEX (CV-9), INTREPID (CV-11), HORNET (CV-12), WASP (CV-18), HANCOCK (CV-19), BENNINGTON (CV-20) and BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24) make the first carrier attack on the Kure Naval Arsenal. More than 240 aircraft (SB2C "Helldivers", F4U "Corsairs" and F6F "Hellcats") attack the fleet. OYODO receives three 500-lb bombs hits and several near misses. The first bomb hit to the port engine room starts a serious fire and causes heavy damage to several boilers. Several near misses rupture the starboard hull plating and OYODO goes down by the bow, developing a 15-degree list. After the attack the crippled cruiser can be towed to Etajima and beached. Fifty-two sailors are killed in the attack.
23 March 1945:
Kure. Drydocked for repairs. Four boilers and a number of AA guns cannot be replaced.
4 May 1945:
Undocked. Departs Kure. Arrives at Etajima, Inland Sea that day. Moored in Etauchi Bay, off the western shore of Etajima as a floating battery. Until mid-July the cruiser is partially camouflaged.
15 May 1945:
Captain Taguchi Masaichi (49)(former CO of DDs HATSUZUKI and YUKIKAZE) is appointed the CO. [2]
24 July 1945: The Final Destruction of the Imperial Japanese Navy:
Etajima. From 0600 to 1700, OYODO suffers several attacks by about 50 of Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task Force 38's SB2C Helldiver dive-bombers and F6F Hellcats. She is strafed and hit by five 500-lb bombs and many near misses that cause her to list slightly to starboard. A major fire breaks out.
28 July 1945:
Etajima. From 0600 to 1700, OYODO suffers several attacks by about 40 of Task Force 38's aircraft. She is hit by four more bombs from SB2C-4s of USS WASP's (CV-18) Air Group 86 and by aircraft from SHANGRI-LA (CV-38) and F6F-5 fighter-bombers from MONTEREY's (CVL-26) VF-34. At 1000, hits near the bridge cause extensive flooding and OYODO takes on a heavy list to starboard. Captain Taguchi orders to counterflood the portside spaces to right his cruiser, but at 1200 she capsizes to starboard in shallow water. Soon thereafter the survivors abandon the ship. A total of 223 sailors are killed and 180 injured in the last two attacks.
In the afternoon the exposed hull of the cruiser is hit by 5-inch rockets, ripping two 2-ft wide holes in the portside hull.
20 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

Authors' Notes:
[1] As per "Senshi Sosho", Vol. 96 (1976). Lacroix and Wells (1997, p. 647) provide slightly different data.
[2] Captain Taguchi's first name appears as Shoichi in older sources. The IJN Navy List of 1927 (p. 209), however, identifies him as Taguchi Masaichi.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned in this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada and Fontessa-san of Japan. Thanks for assistance also goes to "Adm. Gurita" of the Netherlands and Andrew Obluski of Poland. Special thanks go to Hans Mcilveen of the Netherlands for info on FRUMEL intercepts and to Erich Muehlthaler of Germany.

- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

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