Stan's Mogami
May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019
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The Mogami at the Battle of the Surigao Strait
Battle of the Surigao Strait (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
On 25 October, between 0300-0330, the Japanese force was attacked by American PT boats and destroyers. Battleships Fusō and Yamashiro were hit by torpedoes. The destroyer Yamagumo was sunk, and the destroyer Michishio disabled, but Mogami was not hit. Fusō and Yamashiro both later sank. Between 0350–0402 hours on 25 October, after entering the Surigao Strait, Mogami was struck by four 8-inch (200 mm) shells from the heavy cruiser USS Portland, which destroyed both the bridge and the air defense center. Both the captain and executive officer were killed on the bridge, and the chief gunnery officer assumed command. While attempting to retire southward, the flagship of Admiral Shima, Nachi, collided with Mogami. Nachi's bow was damaged and she began to flood. Mogami was holed starboard above the waterline, but fires ignited five torpedoes that exploded and disabled her starboard engine.[4] Between 0530-0535, the crippled Mogami was hit again by ten to twenty 6-inch and 8-inch shells from the cruisers Portland, Louisville and Denver. At 0830, Mogami's port engine broke down. At 0902, while adrift, she was attacked by 17 TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers from Task Group 77.4.1 (Taffy 1) and was hit by two 500-lb. bombs.[8] At 1047, Mogami's crew abandoned ship, and she stayed afloat for the next 2 hours. At 1240, the destroyer Akebono scuttled her with a single Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo. She finally sank at 1307, at 09°40′N 124°50′E. Akebono rescued 700 survivors, but 192 crewmen perished with the ship. Mogami was removed from the navy list on 20 December 1944.
On 25 October, between 0300-0330, the Japanese force was attacked by American PT boats and destroyers. Battleships Fusō and Yamashiro were hit by torpedoes. The destroyer Yamagumo was sunk, and the destroyer Michishio disabled, but Mogami was not hit. Fusō and Yamashiro both later sank. Between 0350–0402 hours on 25 October, after entering the Surigao Strait, Mogami was struck by four 8-inch (200 mm) shells from the heavy cruiser USS Portland, which destroyed both the bridge and the air defense center. Both the captain and executive officer were killed on the bridge, and the chief gunnery officer assumed command. While attempting to retire southward, the flagship of Admiral Shima, Nachi, collided with Mogami. Nachi's bow was damaged and she began to flood. Mogami was holed starboard above the waterline, but fires ignited five torpedoes that exploded and disabled her starboard engine.[4] Between 0530-0535, the crippled Mogami was hit again by ten to twenty 6-inch and 8-inch shells from the cruisers Portland, Louisville and Denver. At 0830, Mogami's port engine broke down. At 0902, while adrift, she was attacked by 17 TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers from Task Group 77.4.1 (Taffy 1) and was hit by two 500-lb. bombs.[8] At 1047, Mogami's crew abandoned ship, and she stayed afloat for the next 2 hours. At 1240, the destroyer Akebono scuttled her with a single Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo. She finally sank at 1307, at 09°40′N 124°50′E. Akebono rescued 700 survivors, but 192 crewmen perished with the ship. Mogami was removed from the navy list on 20 December 1944.
