28 April 1927: Laid down at Yokosuka Navy Yard.
23 June 1927: Named TAKAO.
12 May 1930: Launched. Empress Nagako (later Empress Kojun) represents
the Imperial family at the ceremony.
15 May 1930: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Ando Takashi (34)(former
Naval Gunnery School instructor) is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
31 March 1932: During sea trials conducted off the coast of Tateyama,
TAKAO makes 35.6 knots and develops 139,500 shaft horsepower.
31 May 1932: Completed and registered in the IJN. Captain Ando is the
CO.
1 November 1932: Captain (later Admiral) Sawamoto Yorio (36)(former
chief of the Naval Affairs Bureau 1st Section) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1933: Captain (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi
(36)(former ComDesDiv 11) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1934: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Goto Eiji (37)(former
CO of NAKA) is appointed the CO.
15 November 1935: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Hara Kenzaburo
(37)(former CO of JINTSU) is appointed the CO.
7 January-25 April 1936: Captain Hara is appointed the CO of ISUZU as
additional duty.
1 December 1936: Captain (Admiral, posthumously) Takagi Takeo
(39)(former chief of the NGS Training Bureau 1st Section) is appointed the CO.
1 December 1937: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Daigo Tadashige
(40)(former CO of IWATE) is appointed the CO of TAKAO and YAKUMO (until 25
January 1938) as additional duty.
3 June 1938: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Matsuyama Mitsuharu
(40)(former CO of KINUGASA) is appointed the CO.
14 July 1939: In sea trials conducted off the coast of Tateyama, TAKAO
makes 34.25 knots and develops 133,100 shaft horsepower.
21 August 1939: Yokosuka. TAKAO's reconstruction is completed.
15 November 1939: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Kobayashi Kengo
(42)(former CO of KUMA) is appointed the CO.
1 November 1940: Captain (later Vice Admiral) Yamaguchi Jihei
(41)(former chief of the Naval Affairs Bureau 2nd Section) is appointed the CO.
15 August 1941: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Asakura Bunji (44)(former
CO of AO IRO) is appointed the CO.
29 November 1941: TAKAO is in Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo
Nobutake's (former CO of KONGO) CruDiv 4 with ATAGO (F) and MAYA. CruDiv 4
departs Saeki Bay with Kondo's Second Fleet, Southern Force, Malay Force, Main
Body: 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). [1]
4 December 1941: The Main Body departs Mako for the South China Sea
to provide distant support for the invasion forces.
8 December 1941: The Invasions of Malaya and the Philippines: Cruiser
MAYA detaches from the Main Body to support the landings at Appari and Vigan in
the Philippines.
9 December 1941: The Pursuit of the Royal
Navy's "Force Z": The Main Body is SE of Indochina near Poulo
Condore Island. At 1415, LtCdr Harada Hakue's submarine I-65 reports sighting a
British force steaming NNW at 14 knots. This is Vice Admiral Sir Tom Phillips
who sorties from Singapore to find and attack the Malaya invasion transports
with his "Force Z's" new battleship HMS PRINCE OF WALES, the old battlecruiser
HMS REPULSE, destroyers HMS ELECTRA, EXPRESS, TENEDOS and Australian destroyer
HMAS VAMPIRE. The Main Body sorties south for a night attack against "Force Z",
but no contact is made.
10 December 1941: At dawn, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Kurita
Takeo's (former CO of KONGO) CruDiv 7's KUMANO, MOGAMI, MIKUMA and SUZUYA with
DesRon 3's light cruiser SENDAI and four destroyers join the Main Body. Kondo
also orders Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo (former CO of HARUNA) to join in the
hunt with cruiser CHOKAI.
In the afternoon, all ships depart the search area after receiving
reports that both British capital ships were sunk off Kuantan, Malaya. "Force Z"
was overwhelmed by 88 torpedo-bombers (Mitsubishi G3M2 Type 96 "Nells" and
G4M1 Type 1 "Bettys") of the Genzan, Kanoya and Mihoro Naval Air Groups of Rear
Admiral Matsunaga Sadaichi's (former CO of ISUZU) 22nd Air Flotilla based at
Saigon and Thudaumot in French Indochina. 840 British seamen are lost
including Admiral Phillips.
11 December 1941: The Main Body arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.
14 December 1941: The Main Body departs Camranh to cover the Second
Malaya Convoy, NE of Natuna Besar Island.
That same day, LtCdr Tyrell D. Jacobs' USS SARGO (SS-188) receives an
"Ultra" message based on code-breaking. The signal gives Jacobs course and speed
data necessary for him to intercept three cruisers - probably including TAKAO -
that left Camranh. The cruisers arrive at the designated intercept point, but
Jacobs is unable to gain an attack position and the cruisers pass by safely.
17 December 1941: The Main Body returns to Camranh.
20 December 1941: The Main Body departs Camranh to cover the invasion
landings at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines.
21-23 December 1941: The Main Body lies off the coast of Luzon.
24 December 1941: The Main Body returns to Camranh.
8 January 1942: The Main Body departs Camranh for Mako.
11 January 1942: The Main Body arrives at Mako.
14 January 1942: The Main Body departs Mako for the Palau Islands in
the Carolines.
18 January 1942: The Main Body arrives at Palau. Provides distant
cover for the Dutch East Indies invasion forces.
16 February 1942: Departs Palau with MAYA as distant cover for Vice
Admiral Nagumo Chuichi's Carrier Striking Force raid on Port Darwin, Australia.
21 February 1942: The Main Body arrives at Staring (Teluk) Bay near
Kendari, Celebes. Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi also arrives from his 19 February
attack on Darwin with his Striking Force: CarDiv 1's AKAGI and KAGA, CarDiv 2's
HIRYU and SORYU, BatDiv 3/1's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE,
DesRon 1's light cruiser ABUKUMA and seven destroyers. The Main Body and the
Carrier Striking Force refuel.
The Main Body splits into two groups to provide distant support of air
attacks on Ambon Island. HARUNA, CarDiv 2, CruDiv 4's MAYA and four destroyers
operate out of Palau to the east of Mindanao, Philippines. KONGO, CruDiv 4's
ATAGO and TAKAO and four destroyers operate south of Palau.
25 February 1942: CruDiv 4's TAKAO, ATAGO and MAYA with DesDiv 4's
ARASHI and NOWAKI depart Staring Bay under Vice Admiral Kondo to engage shipping
escaping from Java.
1 March 1942: Operating S of Tjilatjap, Java, Kondo's force sinks the
981-ton Dutch motorship TORADJA, the 620-ton auxiliary minesweeper HMS SCOTT
HARLEY and captures the 1,020-ton Dutch steamship BINTOEHAN.
A floatplane from TAKAO finds and bombs 5,412-ton Dutch merchant ENGGANO
and sets the freighter afire. (The hulk is sunk three days later by CruDiv 8's
CHIKUMA and destroyer URAKAZE).
2 March 1942: At 2206, TAKAO and ATAGO overhaul and sink LtCdr Harold
C. Pound's old four stack destroyer USS PILLSBURY (DD-227) that had been
misidentified as light cruiser USS MARBLEHEAD. At 2232, they sink PILLSBURY with
all hands at 15-38S, 113-13E.
4 March 1942: TAKAO and ATAGO with NOWAKI sink RAN LtCdr Robert W.
Rankin's Australian sloop YARRA, RNR Lt. F. Nixon's British Motor Minesweeper
51, tanker FRANCOL and Captain J. P. L. Reid's depot ship ANKING.
7 March 1942: At 1305, arrives at Staring Bay.
11 March 1942: Departs Staring Bay with MAYA for Yokosuka.
18 March 1942: Arrives at Yokosuka. Refit. New AA guns are installed.
18 April 1942: The First Bombing of Japan: Vice Admiral William F.
"Bull" Halsey's (former CO of SARATOGA, Cv-3) Task Force 16.2's 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 USS 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) approach the Japanese home islands. The
carriers and cruisers come 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 light carrier
RYUHO in a drydock undergoing conversion from submarine depot ship TAIGEI.
After the raid, MAYA, TAKAO and ATAGO put to sea in an unsuccessful
pursuit of Doolittle's Force.
22 April 1942: Arrives back at Yokusuka.
1 May 1942: Departs Yokosuka with MAYA for Hashirajima.
2 May 1942: 40 miles off Cape Omae Zaki, Southern Honshu. TAKAO
assists the seaplane carrier MIZUHO, torpedoed and sunk by USS DRUM (SS-228) at
34-26N, 138-14E. Returns to Yokosuka with 471 survivors of MIZUHO.
2 May 1942: Departs Yokosuka.
4 May 1942: Arrives at Hashirajima.
22 May 1942: Departs Kure for Ominato with MAYA 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, RYUJO, DesDiv 3's SHIOKAZE, DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI, DesDiv 7's
AKEBONO, SAZANAMI and the USHIO.
27 May 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway: MAYA and TAKAO depart Ominato for the Aleutians in Rear
Admiral Kakuta's Carrier Striking Force. They accompany Vice Admiral Hosogaya's
Main Body with the destroyers INAZUMA and IKAZUCHI, oilers FUJISAN and NISSAN
MARUs and three cargo ships. They cover invasion convoy bound for Kiska, and
also 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 float biplanes. USAAF
P-40 "Warhawk" fighters from Umnak Island bounce the floatplanes, shoot down two
and heavily damage the other two.
200 miles SW of Dutch Harbor. About 1000, JUNYO's combat air patrol
shoots down a USN PBY "Catalina" patrol flying boat from Umnak. TAKAO picks up
three survivors from a raft as POWs.
5 June 1942: During another attack on Dutch Harbor, TAKAO shoots down
a B-17E "Flying Fortress".
7-20 June 1942: Covers the invasion of Attu with the Second Mobile
Force.
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 a seven-month
campaign to take the island.
11 August 1942: CruDiv 4's TAKAO, ATAGO (F) and MAYA depart
Hashirajima with Vice Admiral Kondo's Second Fleet, Advanced Force: CruDiv 5's
HAGURO and MYOKO, CarDiv 11's seaplane tender CHITOSE, DesRon 4's light cruiser
YURA, DesDiv 9's ASAGUMO, MINEGUMO, NATSUGUMO, DesDiv 24's KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE,
UMIKAZE, DesDiv 27's ARIAKE, SHIGURE, SHIRATSUYU, YUGURE and the Support Force's
battleship MUTSU.
17 August 1942: Arrives at Truk.
20 August 1942 - Operation "KA": The Reinforcement of
Guadalcanal: CruDiv 4 departs Truk in Kondo's Second Fleet with Rear Admiral
(later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) Vanguard Force: BatDiv
11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, the Support Force's CHITOSE, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and the
HAGURO, CruDiv 7's KUMANO and SUZUYA, Desron 10's light cruiser NAGARA with
KAZAGUMO, YUGUMO, MAKIGUMO, AKIGUMO, HATSUKAZE, AKIZUKI, AMATSUKAZE,
TOKITSUKAZE, NOWAKI, TANIKAZE and MAIKAZE.
Kondo's Second Fleet joins Vice Admiral Nagumo's Third Fleet, Carrier
Strike Force, Main Body's CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, CruDiv 8's TONE
and CHIKUMA.
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
SARATOGA (CV-3) and ENTERPRISE (CV-6) launch 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
seaplane carrier CHITOSE.
5 September 1942: Arrives at Truk.
10 September 1942: Nagumo's Third Fleet sorties from Truk: 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 six destroyers to an area north of the Solomon Islands.
15-17 September 1942: At sea. The fleet refuels destroyers.
18-20 September 1942: The Second and the Third fleets sortie towards
the Solomons.
20 September 1942: The fleets are ordered to return to Truk.
23 September 1942: Arrives at Truk.
11 October 1942: TAKAO, ATAGO, and MAYA sortie from Truk with Kondo's
Second Fleet (the Vanguard Force): CruDiv 5's MYOKO, Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) DesRon 2's light cruiser ISUZU with
destroyers KAWAKAZE, MAKINAMI, SUZUKAZE, TAKANAMI, UMIKAZE and NAGANAMI and Vice
Admiral Kurita's Second Fleet, Close Support Force's BatDiv 3's KONGO and
HARUNA, destroyers HARUSAME, KAGERO, MURASAME, SAMIDARE, OYASHIO and YUDACHI,
followed by Nagumo's Third Fleet (the Carrier Strike Force).
17-18 October 1942: The fleet refuels at sea.
26 October 1942: The
Battle of Santa Cruz: The Carrier Strike Force engages Task Force
16's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and Task Force 17's USS HORNET (CV-8) in air battle.
HORNET is sunk.
30 October 1942: The Second and Third Fleets return to Truk.
9 November 1942: Vice Admiral Kondo departs Truk for Ontong Java area
with his Main Body's CruDiv 4's ATAGO (F) and TAKAO, Air Striking Unit: carrier
JUNYO, Screen: BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA, CruDiv 8's TONE, DesRon 3's light
cruiser SENDAI, DesDiv 19's URANAMI, SHIKINAMI and AYANAMI and DesDiv 11's
HATSUYUKI and SHIRAYUKI.
The Main Body also includes Vice Admiral Abe's Bombardment Unit: BatDiv
11's HIEI and the KIRISHIMA, accompanied by Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral)
Kimura Susumu's (former CO of HARUNA) Escort Unit: DesRon 10's light cruiser
NAGARA, DesDiv 6's IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA and AKATSUKI, DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE and
YUKIKAZE, DesDiv 61's TERUZUKI and Rear Admiral Takama Tamotsu's (former CO of
HARUNA) Guard Unit from Shortland: DesRon 4's ASAGUMO, DesDiv 2's YUDACHI,
MURASAME, HARUSAME and SAMIDARE.
The Main Body supports air attacks on USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) south of
Guadalcanal; however, the strike force fails to locate the American carrier.
13 November 1942: The First Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal: CruDiv 4 cruises off Ontong Java with Kondo's fleet.
HIEI is sunk off Savo Island.
14 November 1942: After the loss of HIEI, Vice Admiral Kondo forms an
Emergency Bombardment Force: BatDiv 11's KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 4's TAKAO and ATAGO
screened by Rear Admiral Kimura's DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA with DesDiv
6's INAZUMA, DesDiv 11's HATSUYUKI and SHIRAYUKI, DesDiv 16's YUKIKAZE and
AMATSUKAZE, DesDiv 27's SAMIDARE and DesDiv 61's TERUZUKI.
The Emergency Bombardment Force follows Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral)
Hashimoto Shintaro's (former CO of HYUGA) Sweeping Unit: DesRon 3's light
cruiser SENDAI (F) with DesDiv 19's AYANAMI, SHIKINAMI and URANAMI.
The Emergency Bombardment Force departs Ontong Java for Henderson Field.
En route, KIRISHIMA is attacked unsuccessfully by USS TROUT (SS-202), firing a
spread of five torpedoes; one hits the battleship, but fails to explode.
15 November 1942: The Second Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal: In a night gun battle with USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) and
USS WASHINGTON (BB-56) and destroyers, TAKAO and ATAGO hit SOUTH DAKOTA with
seventeen 8-inch hits, five 6-inch and one 5-inch hit. SOUTH DAKOTA is damaged
but not sunk. Early in the battle, TAKAO and ATAGO each launch eight Type 93
"Long Lance" torpedoes at the WASHINGTON, but they all miss.
KIRISHIMA and destroyer AYANAMI are sunk as a result of the action. ATAGO
is receives slight damage. CruDiv 4 and the DesRons retire northward.
18 November 1942: Returns to Truk.
22 November 1942: Departs Truk with seaplane carrier NISSHIN, DesDiv
6's IKAZUCHI and DesDiv 27's SAMIDARE.
27 November 1942: Arrives at Kure for battle-damage repairs and refit.
19 December 1942: Departs Yokosuka with DesDiv 27's SAMIDARE.
24 December 1942: Arrives at Truk.
31 January 1943: Operation "KE" - Evacuation of Guadalcanal. CruDivs
4 and 5 depart Truk and cruise N of the Solomons as distant support.
9 February 1943: Arrives at Truk. Remains until July.
23 February 1943: Captain (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Inoguchi
Toshihira (46)(former CO of NATORI) is appointed the CO. Captain Asakura is
later reassigned as the CO of MUSASHI.
21 July 1943: Departs Truk with ATAGO.
26 July 1943: Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 July 1943: Enters dock. Undergoes refit and modification. Two
triple mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns are installed, bringing their total to 18
barrels.
2 August 1943: Undocked.
17 August 1943: Departs Yokosuka for Truk in a task group with
battleships YAMATO, NAGATO and FUSO, cruisers ATAGO and NOSHIRO, DesDiv 10's
AKIGUMO, YUGUMO, DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, DesDiv 24's SUZUKAZE,
UMIKAZE and DesDiv 61's WAKATSUKI. Off Yokosuka the escort carrier
TAIYO and DesDiv 7's USHIO
join Vice Admiral Shimizu Mitsumi's force.
23 August 1943: Arrives at Truk. Embarks the personnel of the 958th
NAG, earlier embarked aboard NAGATO.
25 August 1943: Departs Truk for Rabaul.
27 August 1943: Arrives at Rabaul. When TAKAO enters port, natives
riding canoes surround the ship. They have bananas and papayas to sell. TAKAO's
crewmen barter for the fruit with tobacco and canned goods. Disembarks the
troops and seamen, departs later that day.
29 August 1943: Arrives back at Truk.
18 September 1943: At Truk. The fleet sorties to Brown Island,
Eniwetok in response to raids on Tarawa, Makin and Abemama Atolls 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 Jizaburo (former CO of HARUNA), in tactical command,
leads the fleet's first section: BatDiv 1's YAMATO and NAGATO, CarDiv 1's
SHOKAKU, 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's
ATAGO and TAKAO.
Admiral Koga Mineichi (former CO of ISE), CinC 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: No contact is made with Task Force 15. The returns
to 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 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's
BatDiv 1's YAMATO, MUSASHI and NAGATO, BatDiv 2's FUSO, BatDiv 3's KONGO and
HARUNA, CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and the ZUIHO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO,
MAYA, and CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA and MOGAMI, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE,
light cruisers AGANO and OYODO and many destroyers.
20 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.
28 October 1943: Captain (later Rear Admiral) Hayashi Shigechika
(45)(former CO of CL KASHIMA) is appointed the CO. Captain Inoguchi is later
killed as the last CO of MUSASHI.
1 November 1943: American Operation "Shoestring II"- The Invasion of
Bougainville: Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Theodore S. Wilkinson's
(former XO of INDIANAPOLIS, CA-35). Third Amphibious Force, TF 31, lands Lt Gen
(later General/MOH/Commandant) Alexander A. Vandegrift's 1st Marine Amphibious
Corps at Cape Torokina, Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Solomons.
2 November 1943: The Battle of Empress Augusta
Bay: Vice Admiral Omori Sentaro (former CO of KIOKAWA MARU) departs
Rabaul to escort 1,000 IJA troops to Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville to oppose
the American invasion at Cape Torokina. Omori's force includes the heavy
cruisers MYOKO and HAGURO and light cruisers SENDAI and AGANO with six
destroyers. The Japanese force is intercepted by Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) A. S. Merrill's (former CO of INDIANA, BB-58) Task Force 39 with four
radar-equipped light cruisers and eight destroyers. At 0150, all four of
Merrill's cruisers take SENDAI under 6-inch fire and set her afire. She soon
sinks with most of her crew. Admiral Omori withdraws with the remaining Japanese
forces.
3 November 1943: CruDiv 4, CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, and MOGAMI and CruDiv
8's CHIKUMA depart Truk to attack American forces that landed on 1 November at
Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville.
5 November 1943: The Carrier Raid on
Rabaul: The cruiser force arrives at Rabaul. While refueling in
Simpson Harbor from oiler KOKUYO MARU the cruisers are attacked by SBD
dive-bombers from USS SARATOGA (CV-2). TAKAO is hit by two 500-lb. bombs, holed
below waterline and her steering is damaged. Twenty-three crewmen are killed.
5 November 1943: Departs Rabaul with ATAGO.
7 November 1943: Arrives at Truk.
11 November 1943: Departs Truk.
15 November 1943: Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 November 1943: Drydocked for battle-damage repairs, refit and
modifications. Eight single mount 25-mm AA guns are installed and a Type 22
surface-search radar is fitted.
18 January 1944: Repairs are completed.
29 January 1944: Departs Yokosuka for Truk, but is diverted to assist
the damaged escort carrier UNYO, torpedoed by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral/MOH)
Eugene B. Fluckey's (USNA '35) USS BARB (SS-220) on 19 January and later
temporarily patched up at Saipan.
1 February 1944: Rendevous with UNYO at sea.
7 February 1944: TAKAO and UNYO arrive at Yokosuka.
15 February 1944: Departs Yokosuka.
19 February 1944: TAKAO receives fresh provisions from the supply ship
KITAKAMI MARU.
20 February 1944: Arrives at Palau.
1 March 1944: CruDiv 4 is reassigned to Vice Admiral Ozawa's First
Mobile Fleet.
11 March 1944: TAKAO receives fresh provisions from KITAKAMI MARU.
29 March 1944: CruDivs 4 and 5, light cruiser NOSHIRO and DesDiv 27's
HARUSAME sortie from Palau.
1-4 April 1944: At Davao, Philippines.
6 April 1944: The cruiser force is attacked by USS DACE (SS-247), but
she misses with six improperly set bow torpedoes. The cruiser force is also
sighted by DARTER (SS-227), but she is unable to attack.
7 April 1944: The cruiser force is sighted coming out of Davao Bay by
USS SCAMP (SS-277) but she is also unable to attack.
9 April 1944: The cruiser force arrives at Lingga (S of Singapore).
11 May 1944: CruDiv 4 departs Lingga with Vice Admiral Ozawa's First
Mobile Fleet.
12-13 May 1944: At sea. Fleet deployment, firing practice.
13 May 1944: Arrives at Tawi Tawi.
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.
Vice Admiral Ozawa's First Mobile Force departs Tawi Tawi to oppose the
American landings on Saipan with Force "A": CarDiv 1's TAIHO (FF), 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.
That same day, Vice Admiral Kurita's Mobile Force Vanguard departs Tawi
Tawi to oppose the American Fifth Fleet in a "decisive battle" off Saipan with
BatDiv 3's HARUNA, KONGO, CarDiv 3's CHITOSE, CHIYODA and ZUIHO, CruDiv 4's
ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's KUMANO and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's TONE and
CHIKUMA, DesRon 2's light cruisers NOSHIRO and YAHAGI with destroyers ASASHIMO,
KISHINAMI, TAMANAMI, HAMAKAZE, FUJINAMI, SHIMAKAZE, ASAGUMO, URAKAZE, ISOKAZE,
WAKATSUKI, HATSUYUKI, AKIZUKI, SHIMOTSUKI, MICHISHIO, SHIGURE, SAMIDARE,
HAYASHIO and AKISHIMO.
At sea, joins Vice Admiral Ugaki Matome's (former CO of HYUGA) aborted
Operation "Kon" force: BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, CruDiv 5's HAGURO and
MYOKO, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and destroyers OKINAMI, SHIMAKAZE and
ASAGUMO.
19 June 1944: Vice Admiral Kurita's Second Fleet steams about 100
miles ahead of Vice Admiral Ozawa's carriers.
At 0920, YAMATO's lookouts spot aircraft approaching at 13,125 feet. This
is the fighter unit of the 601st NAG's second strike. Admiral Kurita has
received no information about a friendly overflight. TAKAO fires four starshells
meaning "identify yourself", but no reply is received. At 16,400 yards, the
fleet executes a turn to port and opens fire. Four "Zekes" are damaged. Another
ditches.
The Mobile Fleet's aircraft attack U.S. Task Force 58 off Saipan but
suffer overwhelming losses in the "Great Mariana's Turkey Shoot".
22 June 1944: At 1300, the Mobile Fleet arrives at Nakagusuku,
Okinawa. Refuels destroyers, departs.
24 June 1944: The Mobile Fleet arrives at Hashirajima.
26 June 1944: Refit and modification at Kure. Four triple and 22
single mount 25-mm. AA guns are installed bringing their total to 60 barrels. A
Type 13 air-search radar is also fitted.
8 July 1944: Departs Kure with ATAGO.
16 July 1944: Arrives at Singapore.
26 July 1944: Refit.
30 July 1944: Drydocked.
6 August 1944: Undocked.
8 August 1944: Departs Singapore for Lingga. Arrives that day.
26 August 1944: Departs Lingga for Singapore with ATAGO. Arrives that
day.
29 August 1944: Departs Singapore for Lingga, arrives that day.
Resumes training. Captain Onoda Sutejiro (48)(former NGS staff officer) is
appointed the CO. Captain Hayashi is later reassigned as the CO of Hario Sailor
Corps.
14 September 1944: TAKAO receives fresh provisions replenishment from
supply ship KITAKAMI MARU.
18 October 1944: Departs Lingga with the fleet.
20 October 1944: Arrives at Brunei, Borneo. Refuels.
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"'s BatDiv 1's YAMATO, MUSASHI and
NAGATO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, CHOKAI, and MAYA, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO,
DesRon 2's flagship light cruiser NOSHIRO and 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 0634, TAKAO is hit by two torpedoes from Cdr (later
Captain) David McClintock's DARTER (SS-227) and goes dead in the water. 33 petty
officers and ratings are KIA and 30 injured. DARTER sinks Vice Admiral Kurita's
flagship ATAGO. Cdr (later Captain) Bladen Clagett's DACE (SS-247) sinks MAYA.
While attempting to finish off TAKAO, McClintock runs DARTER hard aground on the
largely uncharted Bombay Shoal. DARTER has to be abandoned. Clagett's DACE
rescues DARTER's crew.
Kurita orders TAKAO to return to Brunei, escorted by destroyers ASASHIMO
and NAGANAMI. The cruiser has lost one shaft and her speed is limited to 6
knots. Although an emergency rudder is jury-rigged, the ship remains largely
unsteerable.
At 0830, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message that reads:
"Takao CA was torpedoed at 0830 in position 09-28N, 117-17E. Hiyodori will
transfer command of the convoy to the next senior commander, proceed immediately
to the scene of the Takao disaster and undertake rescue operations as directed
by the captain of the latter ship. Mitsu Maru will leave convoy to tow the
Takao."
At 1730, codebreakers decrypt another message that reads: "In accordance
with DesOrd 544, at 1730, set out at full speed, in command of Mitsu Maru, to
the scene of Takao disaster. Position 09-28 N., 117-17 E. Speed 10 knots. At
0700 on 24th will arrive at scene."
24 October 1944: At 0420, the converted subchaser MITSU MARU and
torpedo boat HIYODORI rendezvouse with TAKAO. At 0900, after a patrol bomber
from the 910st NAG reports the sighting of the wreck of USS DARTER, NAGANAMI
and HIYODORI are detached to inspect it.
25 October 1944: At 0310 HIYODORI and NAGANAMI rejoin the group. At
1714 TAKAO arrives at Brunei.
8 November 1944: Departs Brunei for Singapore.
12 November 1944: Arrives at Singapore.
15 November 1944: CruDiv 4 is deactivated. TAKAO is reassigned to
CruDiv 5.
15 November 1944: TAKAO and MYOKO are deemed unrepairable at Singapore
and impossible to tow to Japan. Both are moored in the Seletar harbor as
floating AA batteries. An additional camouflage is applied and a number of her
25-mm AA guns are transferred ashore.
11 January 1945: The USAAF XXth Air Force dispatches forty-seven B-29s
from the Calcutta-based 58th BW to attack the dry-dock facilities in Singapore
Harbor ("Mission 25"). During the attack, TAKAO fires 37 main battery Type 3
shells and 481 12.7-cm rounds, claiming one "Superfortress" (possibly the
B-29-15-MO from the 444th Bombardment Group, 677th Bombardment Squadron,
commanded by Maj. Joseph H. Wilson, Jr.).
15 January 1945: Captain Onoda is appointed the CO of MYOKO as
additional duty.
1 February 1945: The USAAF XXth Air Force on Tinian dispatches 113
B-29s ("Mission 33") to hit the Seletar Naval Base. They bomb the former
Admiralty IX Floating Drydock and the West Wall area of the base.
1 February 1945: At Seletar harbor, Singapore.
22 March 1945: Captain Ishisaka Takeo (50)(former CO of SHIRETOKO) is
appointed the CO. Captain Onoda is reassigned as the assistant CoS of the 10th
Area Fleet.
26 July 1945: British Operation "Struggle": The British, after taking
Rangoon, Burma, are fast moving towards Singapore. TAKAO and MYOKO's eight-inch
guns pose a threat to any forces that may try to cross the causeway from Johore,
Malaya to Singapore Island. The cruisers could also wreak havoc with Allied
shipping attacking from seaward.
Lt G. S. C. Clarabut's submarine HMS STYGIAN departs Brunei and tows S/Lt
Frank Ogden's midget submarine HMS XE-3 towards Singapore. HMS SPARK tows HMS
XE-1, under Lt J. E. Smart who is assigned to attack MYOKO.
30 July 1945: At 0600, S/Lt Ogden and his passage crew turn XE-3 over
to Lt Ian Fraser and his three-man crew to execute the attack on TAKAO. At 2300,
XE-3 slips her tow at 036 degrees from the Horsburgh Light. Intelligence briefed
them that the buoys marking the channel swept through the minefield would be
lit, but all are extinguished except the Horsburgh Light.
31 July 1945: At 0217, the main engine is stopped and they creep past
a listening post using the electric motor only. About 0240, Fraser fixes their
position at 8.3 miles from Johore. He goes ahead on his main engine at 4.5
knots. At 0400, a large tanker and an escorting motor launch come into view
closing at high speed. XE-3 dives. About 0420, she surfaces, but the two ships
are still nearby, heading towards them. XE-3 dives again.
As XE-3 makes her way up the Johore Strait her echo-sounder registers the
depth at thirty feet as she crosses the Johore Shoal. At 0800 they pass through
the boom guarding the harbor. At 1250, TAKAO comes into view. Suddenly, a
liberty boat full of sailors passes by at about 40 feet, but without spotting
XE-3.
Fraser maneuvers XE-3 into position under TAKAO with only a foot of water
between her and the cruiser's keel. Leading Seaman James J. Magennis dons his
breathing appartus, succeeds in cleaning away marine growth and plants six
limpet mines spread across 45 feet of TAKAO's hull. Magennis re-enters the
midget and her crew operates the hand wheels to drop the two side cargoes - one
full of two tons of high explosive and the other the empty limpet carrier. The
HE charge falls away, but the limpet carrier refuses to budge.
As TAKAO slowly settles with the tide, XE-3 is trapped under her bilge
keel. After much thrashing with the motor and pumping water the midget frees
herself from the cruiser. Magennis, already exhausted, dons his breathing
apparatus again to ditch the flooded limpet carrier.
At 2130, some of the limpet mines explode and blow a 23 by 10 foot hole
in the starboard side of TAKAO's bottom abreast her No. 3 turret. The explosion
floods several compartments below the lower deck, including two 12.7-cm
ammunition magazines, the main gun plotting room and the lower communications
room. There are no casualties among the crew. [2]
Later, Lt Fraser and Leading Seaman Magennis are each awarded Britain's
highest military award for valor - the Victoria Cross. [3]
21 September 1945: Surrenders at Seletar to British forces. A total of
817 sailors are still aboard; 157 of them are left to man the cruiser while the
others are sent to a POW camp at Batu Pahat.
27 October 1946: At 0730, TAKAO departs Seletar, towed to the Strait
of Malacca by HMS fleet tugs GRIPER and ASSIDUOUS, escorted by cruiser HMS
NEWFOUNDLAND. The group is accompanied by NITTO MARU and ex-subchaser CH-17.
After arrival off Port Swettenham, Malaya (now Port Klang, Malaysia) the
explosive charges are planted aboard. CH-17 takes TAKAO's Japanese crew back to
Singapore.
29 October 1946: In the afternoon, TAKAO's engine room kingston valves
are opened. The cruiser is scuttled by gunfire from HMS NEWFOUNDLAND at
03-05-05N, 100-41-00 E. She sinks by the stern at 1838.
3 May 1947: Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes: [1] Mt. Niitaka, located in Formosa (now Taiwan), was the
highest point in the Japanese Empire at the time.
[2] The damage control crew of TAKAO counted three explosions and one
unexploded limpet mine was recovered by the cruiser's divers. Two remaining
limpet mines and the side charge were evidently not recovered.
[3] Lt Fraser had the chance to personally inspect TAKAO while returning
to Britain. According to his interview the cruiser was manned by a skeleton crew
during the attack and carried no ammunition for her 8-inch guns.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Jean-François Masson of Canada. Thanks also go to "Admiral
Gurita" of the Netherlands, Andrew Obluski of Poland and Randy Stone of the
United States.
Thanks also go to the late John Whitman of the USA for info on CNO
intercepts of Japanese messages and to Brian Seward of Canada, a former HM Fleet
tug ASSIDUOUS crewman, who witnessed TAKAO's demise.
Thanks go to Gengoro Toda of Japan for info about supply ship KITAKAMI
MARU.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
