9 April 1942: The Attack on the British naval base at Trincomalee:
At
0600, Nagumo's Striking Force launches 132 aircraft, led by Cdr Fuchida, to
attack the British naval base at Trincomalee, Ceylon (91 B5N2 attack planes [18
from AKAGI, 18 from SORYU and 18 from HIRYU, 19 from SHOKAKU and 18 from
ZUIKAKU] and 41 A6M2 fighters [6 from AKAGI, 9 from SORYU, 6 from HIRYU, 10
from SHOKAKU and 10 from ZUIKAKU]).
The Japanese find the harbor almost empty of warships, but sink the
9,066-ton British merchant SAGAING with a "Walrus" amphibian and three crated
Fairey "Albacore" aircraft she was carrying, and damage old 15-inch gun monitor
HMS EREBUS. The non-operational Dutch light cruiser SUMATRA is hit by a 800-kg
dud. Outside the harbor, the southbound 4,784-ton Greek MARIONGA D. THERMIOTIS
is damaged by strafing and seven men are wounded.
An E8N2 floatplane from HARUNA locates an enemy carrier 65 miles south of
the base at 0755. Between 0843 and 0853, the Striking Force launches 85 D3A1s,
(18 from SORYU, 18 from HIRYU and 18 from SHOKAKU, 17 from AKAGI and 14 from
ZUIKAKU), escorted by 9 A6M2s (3 each from AKAGI, SORYU, HIRYU), which sink the
light carrier HMS HERMES. 306 RN personnel are KIA, but hospital ship HMHS
VITA, en route from Trincomalee to Colombo, arrives and picks up over 600
survivors.
Nagumo's aircraft also find and sink Australian destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE,
corvette HMS HOLLYHOCK, oilers ATHELSTANE and BRITISH SERGEANT and the
Norwegian merchant ship NORVIKEN.
During the day, nine of the RAF No. 11 Squadron's Bristol "Blenheim"
bombers attack AKAGI and TONE, but score no hits and lose five four of their
number to Nagumo's Combat Air Patrol A6M2s; another is lost during the return
flight when they encounter three fighters from HIRYU returning from the attack
on HERMES. BatDiv 3 and the Striking Force continue heading SE.
10 April 1942:
About midnight, the fleet changes course to the NE.
During the next 36 hours, BatDiv 3 and the Striking Force gradually bear
southwards again and pass through the Andaman Sea entering the Straits of
Malacca.
13 April 1942:
By nightfall, the fleet passes Singapore and enters the
South China Sea, bound for Japan.
18 April 1942: The First Bombing of Japan:
Vice Admiral Halsey's Task
Force 16.2's HORNET (CV-8), VINCENNES (CA-44), NASHVILLE (CL-43), oiler CIMARRON
(AO-22) and the destroyers GWIN (DD-433), MEREDITH (DD-434), GRAYSON (DD-435)
and MONSSEN (DD-436) accompanied by Task Force 16.1's 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 miles
of Japan.
Led by Lt Col (later General/MOH) 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 carrier RYUHO in a
drydock while undergoing conversion from former submarine depot ship TAIGEI.
After passing through the Bashi Channel, upon receipt of message about
Doolittle's Raid, the Striking Force is ordered to chase the enemy carriers and
proceeds toward the Marshall Islands, but is unable to encounter the enemy
force.
23 April 1942:
Returns to Maizuru Naval Base.
25 April-3 May 1942:
Refit and drydocked at Maizuru.
16 May 1942:
Departs Maizuru with TONE.
17 May 1942:
Participates in a large scale exercise off Tosa,
Shikoku. CHIKUMA is hit by three dummy torpedoes.
18 May 1942:
Arrives at Hashirajima, then transfers to Kure Naval Yard
for repairs.
27 May 1942: Operation
"MI" - The Battle of Midway:
Abe's CruDiv 8 departs Hashirajima with
Vice Admiral (later Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo's Carrier Striking Force:
CarDivs 1 and 2, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of
FUSO) Support Group: BatDiv 3/2's HARUNA and KIRISHIMA, Rear Admiral (later Vice
Admiral) Kimura Susumu's DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA with DesDiv 4's NOWAKI,
ARASHIO, HAGIKAZE and the MAIKAZE, DesDiv 10's KAZAGUMO, YUGUMO and MAKIGUMO,
DesDiv 17's URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE and HAMAKAZE.
4 June 1942:
Between 0435-0500, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE
each launch two E13A1 "Jake" long-range reconnaissance floatplanes to search out
300 miles for American carriers from NNE thru S.
CHIKUMA and TONE also each launch one E8N2 "Dave" floatplane on ASW
patrol. Each cruiser holds another "Dave" for later use on another ASW mission.
At 1045, CHIKUMA's No. 5 floatplane, an E13A1 piloted by PO3c Hara
Hisashi, finds USS YORKTOWN, discovered earlier by TONE's floatplane. Hara
shadows the carrier for the next three hours and guides the carrier bombers that
attacking YORKTOWN. Two other CHIKUMA floatplanes observe YORKTOWN until that
night.
During the battle, CHIKUMA loses her E13A1 No. 5, piloted by PO Hara,
evidently downed by VF-6's MM William H. Warden and Lt(jg) Ronald J. Hoyle at
1409.
At 1745, CHIKUMA and HARUNA are unsuccessfully attacked by four B-17Es
from the 431st Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group. CHIKUMA is not damaged.
6 June 1942: Operation "AL" - The Invasion of the Aleutian Islands:
At 0652, CHIKUMA's floatplane No. 2 discovers damaged YORKTOWN and signals its
position. With this information submarine I-168 is able to find and sink the carrier.
CHIKUMA and TONE are ordered to support Vice Admiral Hosogawa Boshiro's Fifth
Fleet for the Aleutians invasion. CruDiv 8 joins BatDiv 3/1, carrier ZUIHO,
seaplane carrier KAMIKAWA MARU, escorted by DesDiv 4's MAIKAZE, HAGIKAZE and
NOWAKI that are also detached to join Rear Admiral Kakuta Kakuji's Second Mobile
Force. An anticipated American counter-attack fails to materialize. CruDiv 8
cruises northern waters uneventfully.
24 June 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
28 June July 1942:
CruDiv 8 departs Ominato.
12 July 1942:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
15 July 1942:
Departs Hashirajima.
16 July 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru for repairs.
6 August 1942:
Departs Maizuru for Kure.
7 August 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
16 August 1942: Operation "KA" - The Reinforcement of Guadalcanal:
At 1800 CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA depart Hashirajima with Nagumo's Third Fleet,
Carrier Strike Force, Main Body's CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU and CarDiv 2's
RYUJO, light cruiser NAGARA and ten destroyers.
The Carrier Strike Force joins Vice Admiral Kondo's Second Fleet: Rear
Admiral Abe's BatDiv 11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, the Support Force's seaplane
tender CHITOSE, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, MAYA and TAKAO, CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO,
Rear Admiral Kimura Susumu's DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA, DesDiv 4's
HATSUKAZE, MAIKAZE and NOWAKI, DesDiv 10's AKIGUMO, KAZAGUMO, MAKIGUMO and
YUGUMO, DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE, DesDiv 17's TANIKAZE and DesDiv
61's AKIZUKI.
20-23 August 1942:
The CinC, Combined Fleet, Admiral (Fleet Admiral,
posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku (former CO of AKAGI) cancels a planned stop at
Truk. The fleet refuels at sea and continues on towards Guadalcanal.
24 August 1942: The
Battle of the Eastern Solomons:
The Carrier Strike Force, Mobile
Force, Main Body's CarDiv 1, BatDiv 11, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and DesRon 10 cruises
NE of Guadalcanal. CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA and MOGAMI arrive from Burma and
join the Main Body.
At 0400, Rear Admiral Hara's TONE, light carrier RYUJO
and DesDiv 16's AMATSUKAZE and TOKITSUKAZE are detached from the Main Body.
At 0935, a Consolidated PBY "Catalina" seaplane spots RYUJO. RYUJO is
located and attacked unsuccessfully by two TBFs at 1428 and 1440 by two SBDs
from Task Force 16's USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6).
At 1100, CHIKUMA and TONE of the Vanguard Force launch seven floatplanes
on a late morning search for American ships.
At 1400, CHIKUMA's No. 2 Jake, piloted by Special Duty Ensign Fukuyama
Kazutoshi, discovers the American task force, but is shot down by USN fighters.
Its report and subsequent messages sent by HIEI's F1M2 Pete
as well as CHIKUMA's No. 5 floatplane are not picked up by the leader of
carrier bomber group.
At 1430, a CHIKUMA floatplane reports the location of Rear Admiral (later
Admiral) Thomas C. Kinkaid's (former CO of INDIANAPOLIS, CA-35) Task Force 16's
USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6). At 1445, CarDiv 1 launches an air attack against Task
Group 16. At 1550, RYUJO is located, attacked and sunk by five TBFs and 21 SBDs
from Task Group 11's USS SARATOGA (CV-3). TONE is attacked unsuccessfully by
two TBFs whose Mark 13 torpedoes miss the cruiser.
At 1600, CarDiv 1 launches a second strike against Task Group 16, but
it fails to locate ENTERPRISE group. At 1642, ENTERPRISE is attacked by CarDiv
1's first strike. She is hit by three bombs and her wooden flight deck is set
afire, but she evades further damage at 24 knots.
5 September 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
9 September 1942:
Rear Admiral Abe's Vanguard Force sorties from Truk
with Carrier Strike Force to area N of the Solomon Islands.
23 September 1942:
Arrives back at Truk.
11 October 1942:
CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE sortie from Truk with
Abe's Vanguard Force's BatDiv 11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 7’s SUZUYA, DesRon
10's light cruiser NAGARA and DesDiv 10's AKIGUMO, MAKIGUMO, KAZEGUMO, YUGUMO
and DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE and URAKAZE to an area N of Solomon Islands.
Vice Admiral Kondo also sorties from Truk with his Second Fleet, Advance
Force's CruDiv 5's MYOKO, CruDiv 7's TAKAO, ATAGO and MAYA, 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 Bat Div 3's KONGO and
HARUNA, destroyers HARUSAME, KAGERO, MURASAME, SAMIDARE, OYASHIO and YUDACHI.
The Second Fleet is followed by Nagumo's Third Fleet, Carrier Strike
Force. The fleets take up position in an area N of the Solomon Islands.
17-18 October 1942:
Refuels at sea with the fleet.
18-26 October 1942:
Deploys NE of Guadalcanal awaiting the recapture
of Henderson Field by Japanese forces.
23 October 1942:
CHIKUMA and destroyer TERUZUKI thrust eastward of the
Vanguard Force and the cruiser's planes canvass the ocean.
26 October 1942: The
Battle of Santa Cruz:
250 miles NE of Guadalcanal. At 0415, Rear
Admiral Abe Hiroaki's Vanguard Force catapults off seven floatplanes to scout
south of the island.
At 0445, 13 Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" torpedo planes take
off from CarDiv 1's decks, followed at 0500 by floatplanes of the Advance
Force.
The Carrier Strike Force launches attacks against USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6)
and HORNET (CV-8). The Strike Force's planes sinks HORNET, damage SOUTH DAKOTA
(BB-57) and SAN JUAN (CL-54).
CHIKUMA jettisons her torpedoes before a 500-lb bomb dropped by a
Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" dive-bomber from HORNET hits her starboard forward
torpedo room. She is also hit by two other bombs. She loses one E13A1 "Jake"
on the catapult. Her crew suffers 190 killed and 154 wounded including Captain
Komura.
CHIKUMA proceeds to Truk with the maximum available speed of 23 knots
escorted by URAKAZE and TANIKAZE.
29 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk. Undergoes temporary repairs by
repair ship AKASHI.
2 November 1942:
CHIKUMA and KUMANO depart Truk with damaged carrier
ZUIHO, DesDiv 4's ARASHI and HAGIKAZE, DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, URAKAZE and
destroyer AKIZUKI.
7 November 1942:
CHIKUMA arrives at Kure.
10 November 1942:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Araki Tsutau
(45)(former CO of FURUTAKA) is appointed the CO of CHIKUMA and AOBA (until 31
December) as joint duty, while both ships undergo repairs. Captain Komura is
later reassigned as CO of FUSO.
CHIKUMA is repaired and undergoes a refit. Two additional 25-mm twin
mounts are installed and a Type 21 air-search radar is fitted.
20 January 1943:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Shigenaga Kazue
(46)(former CO of KASHII) is appointed the CO.
27 February 1943:
The refit is completed. Training in Inland Sea.
22 March 1943:
Joins TONE at Saeki, then departs for Truk.
27 March 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
17 May 1943:
CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE depart Truk for Yokosuka
with Admiral Koga embarked on MUSASHI, accompanied by Bat Div 3's KONGO and
HARUNA, CarDiv 2's HIYO, DesDiv 24's UMIKAZE and DesDiv 27's ARIAKE and SHIGURE,
DesDiv 61's HATSUZUKI and SUZUTSUKI. MUSASHI carries Admiral Yamamoto's ashes to
Tokyo for a state funeral.
20 May 1943:
Alerted by "Ultra", USS SAWFISH's (SS-276) radar picks
up the task force, but the submarine is unable to attack.
22 May 1943:
The task force is sighted off Tokyo Bay by USS TRIGGER
(SS-237), but the submarine is also unable to attack. The task force arrives
safely at Yokosuka.
30 May 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
1 June 1943:
At Hashirajima. Training in the Inland Sea.
8 July 1943:
Embarks Army troops and stores at Shinagawa.
9 July 1943:
CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE with CruDiv 7's MOGAMI
depart Shinagawa for Truk with CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO, escort
carrier CHUYO, seaplane carrier NISSHIN, light cruisers AGANO and the OYODO,
DesDiv 4's ARASHI and HAGIKAZE, DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, DesDiv 61's HATSUZUKI and
SUZUTSUKI and unattached 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:
ZUIHO is attacked unsuccessfully by USS TINOSA (SS-283)
that misses with four torpedoes. The task force is also spotted by USS POGY
(SS-266), but she is unable to attack. The task force makes port at Truk
unharmed.
19 July 1943:
CHIKUMA, TONE and MOGAMI depart Truk on a troop
transport run with seaplane tender NISSHIN, light cruisers OYODO and AGANO, and
destroyers HATSUZUKI, SUZUTSUKI, ARASHI, HAGIKAZE and ISOKAZE.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul. Disembarks troops.
24 July 1943:
CruDiv 8 departs Rabaul with OYODO, AGANO, HATSUZUKI
and SUZUTSUKI.
26 July 1943:
Arrives 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
carriers USS 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
CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI.
Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) 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 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 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. CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and TONE
sortie from Truk to Brown Atoll, Eniwetok to intercept the enemy task force with
Admiral Koga's 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, light cruisers
AGANO and the 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.
3 November 1943:
CruDivs 4, 7 and CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA depart Truk to
attack American forces off Bougainville.
5 November 1943: The Carrier Raid on
Rabaul:
Around 0600 the cruiser force arrives at Rabaul. About two
hours later, while refueling in Simpson Harbor from oiler KOKUYO MARU, the
cruisers are attacked by 97 planes from Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Frederick
C. Sherman's (former CO of LEXINGTON) Task Force 38's SARATOGA (CV-3) and
PRINCETON (CVL-23). They damage CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO and MAYA and CruDiv
7's MOGAMI, light cruisers AGANO and NOSHIRO and destroyers AMAGIRI and
FUJINAMI. Around 0931 CHIKUMA is attacked by an SDB dive-bomber from SARATOGA.
She receives a near miss off the starboard catapult, which disables No. 3
torpedo mount and causes slight flooding; 3 crewmen are wounded. That evening
CHIKUMA departs Rabaul for Truk.
7 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
20 November 1943:
Departs Truk on a troop transport run to the
Marshalls.
21-22 November 1943:
Arrives at Brown Island, Eniwetok.
23-27 November 1943:
At Roi.
28-29 November 1943:
At Eniwetok.
30 November-3 December 1943:
At Roi.
5 December 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
7 December 1943:
Departs Truk.
12 December 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Begins refit. The forward 25-mm
twin AA mounts are replaced by four triple mounts, bringing the total number of
25-mm AA guns to 20 (4 x 3 and 4 x 2).
1 January 1944:
CruDiv 8 is disbanded. CHIKUMA and TONE are assigned
to Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji's (former CO of HARUNA)
CruDiv 7 with KUMANO and SUZUYA.
7 January 1944:
Captain (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Norimitsu Saiji
(46)(former naval mine warfare school instructor) is appointed the CO. Captain
Shigenaga is reassigned as the CO of HARUNA.
1 February 1944:
At Kure. The refit is completed.
6 February 1944:
Departs Kure, carrying army troops and supplies with
carriers SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, light cruiser YAHAGI, destroyers AKIGUMO,
KAZAGUMO, HATSUZUKI and WAKATSUKI.
13 February 1944:
Arrives at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore. Departs
for Lingga (S of Singapore). Arrives that same day.
27 February 1944:
Departs Lingga with the TONE, AOBA and
destroyer URANAMI.
1 March 1944: Operation "SA No. 1"
Arrives at Bangka then
departs for commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean.
15 March 1944:
Arrives at at Batavia.
18 March 1944:
Departs Batavia.
20 March 1944:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Shiraishi Kazutaka
(former CO of KIRISHIMA) assumes command of CruDiv 7.
24 March-7 April 1944:
Flagship of CruDiv 7.
1 April 1944:
Departs Singapore with TONE for Sumbawa and Tengah
Islands carrying materials for the 601st NAG that is readying to embark on
CarDiv 1's ships.
4 April 1944:
Arrives at Singapore.
5 April 1944:
Arrives at Lingga.
11 May 1944:
At 0300, the Mobile Fleet (except CarDiv 1, CruDiv 5 and
DesRon 10) redeploys from Lingga.
12-13 May 1944:
At sea. Fleet deployment, firing practice.
14 May 1944:
Arrives at the old American anchorage at Tawi Tawi in the
Sulu Sea.
15 May 1944:
Departs Tawi Tawi for Tarakan, Borneo to refuel.
17 May 1944:
Arrives back at Tawi Tawi. Battle Training.
8 June 1944:
At Tawi Tawi. CHIKUMA refuels from MUSASHI. TONE refuels
from YAMATO.
10 June 1944: Operation "KON" - The Relief of Biak:
Vice Admiral
Ugaki's KON task group is detached from the fleet with Bat Div 1's YAMATO and
MUSASHI, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and destroyers OKINAMI and SHIMAKAZE.
The KON task group departs Tawi Tawi for Batjan.
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.
The Mobile Fleet departs Tawi Tawi for Guimaras near Panay, Philippines with
Force "B"'s NAGATO, CarDiv 2's JUNYO, HIYO and RYUHO, cruiser MOGAMI and eight
destroyers. Force "B" sorties with Force "A"'s CarDiv 1's TAIHO, SHOKAKU and
ZUIKAKU, DesRon 10's light cruiser YAHAGI and seven destroyers.
At 1000, on station nearby, LtCdr Marshall H. Austin's USS REDFIN (SS-272)
sights and reports the Mobile Fleet departing the anchorage.
14 June 1944:
Guimaras, Philippines. Vice Admiral Ozawa's Mobile Fleet's
Main Body arrives and the 2nd Supply Force's oilers GENYO and AZUSA MARUs begin
refueling operations.
15 June 1944:
Guimaras. At 0800, refueling is completed and the Mobile
Fleet's Main Body departs through the Visayan Sea. At 1622, LtCdr Robert
Risser's USS FLYING FISH (SS-229) sights the Mobile Fleet in the San Bernardino
Strait.
16 June 1944:
Ozawa's force is joined by Vice Admiral Ugaki Matome's
(former CO of HYUGA) aborted Operation "KON" (Relief of Biak) Task Force's
YAMATO, MUSASHI and CruDiv 5 from Batjan.
18-19 June 1944:
Ozawa splits the Mobile Fleet. Forces "A" and "B"
proceed southward. Force C proceeds due east.
CHIKUMA launches one E13A1 floatplane in addition to 13 B5N2 that are in
CarDiv 3's second wave of morning searches.
The Mobile Fleet's aircraft attack elements of the American Fifth Fleet
but suffer overwhelming aircraft losses in the "Great Mariana's Turkey Shoot".
20 June 1944:
HARUNA, KONGO and carrier CHIYODA are attacked by
Grumman "Avenger" torpedo bombers from USS BUNKER HILL (CVL-17), MONTEREY
(CVL-26) and CABOT (CVL-28). That night, CHIKUMA retires with the Mobile
Fleet to Okinawa.
24 June 1944:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
26 June 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Drydocked.
8-10 July 1944:
CruDiv 7's CHIKUMA, TONE, KUMANO and the SUZUYA
depart Kure with Group "A"'s BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, CruDiv 4's ATAGO,
TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO with DesDiv 27's
AKISHIMO and HAYASHIO, DesDiv 31's KISHINAMI, OKINAMI and ASASHIMO, DesDiv 32's
FUJINAMI, HAMANAMI and SHIMAKAZE, DesDiv 17's HAMAKAZE, DesDiv 27's SHIGURE,
SAMIDARE and Group "B"'s BatDiv 3's KONGO and NAGATO, CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, DesRon
10's YAHAGI with DesDiv 17's URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, HAMAKAZE and YUKIKAZE. CHIKUMA
carries Imperial Army troops and material to Okinawa.
10-20 July 1944:
Group "A" is detached from Group "B", then departs
Okinawa for Lingga (S of Singapore) to join the Mobile Fleet.
16 July 1944:
At 0530 hours, CruDivs 4, 7 and DesRon are detached
from BatDiv 1 for Singapore.
19 July-3 August 1944:
Flagship of CruDiv 4 while ATAGO is
drydocked at Singapore.
18-20 October 1944:
Departs Lingga for Brunei Bay, Borneo in Vice
Admiral Kurita Takeo's First Raiding Force with Vice Admiral Susuki Yoshio's
Force "B" (Northern Force): BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA, Vice Admiral Shirashi
Kazutaka's CruDiv 7's KUMANO (F), SUZUYA, TONE and CHIKUMA, DesRon 10's light
cruiser YAHAGI and DesDiv 4's NOWAKI and DesDiv 17's URAKAZE, YUKIKAZE, HAMAKAZE
and ISOKAZE.
22 October 1944: Operation "SHO-1-GO" (Victory) -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
At 0820, CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA, TONE and CHIKUMA sortie from Brunei
towards Philippines with Vice Admiral Kurita's First Mobile Striking Force,
Force "A's" (Center Force) BatDiv 1's YAMATO, MUSASHI and NAGATO, Kurita's
CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, Vice Admiral Hashimoto Shintaro's
CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO, Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously)
Hayakawa Mikio's 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.
At 2100, Force "A" ceases zigzagging as it approaches the Palawan Passage.
23 October 1944:
The Battle of the Palawan Passage:
At 0633, Force "A" is attacked by
two American submarines. Vice Admiral Kurita's flagship ATAGO is sunk by the USS
DARTER (SS-227). Kurita and his staff slide overboard and are picked up by
KISHINAMI. At 0656, CruDiv 4's MAYA is sunk by the USS DACE (SS-247). CruDiv 4's
TAKAO is damaged by DARTER and retires towards Brunei with ASASHIMO, NAGANAMI
and torpedo boat HIYODORI.
At 0830, Vice Admiral Ugaki on the YAMATO assumes command of the Mobile
Force. By 1623, Kurita, his staff and flag transfer to the YAMATO. Vice Admiral
Ugaki relinquishes command to Kurita.
At 2330, Force "A" changes course from N to SE toward the Mindoro
Straits.
24 October 1944: The Battle of the Sibuyan
Sea:
Tablas Strait. After 1024, CHIKUMA and TONE both launch their two
remaining floatplanes, heading for San Jose, Mindoro Island.
Force "A" endures eleven raids by over 250 Task Force 38 carrier
aircraft from USS ESSEX (CV-9), LEXINGTON (CV-16), INTREPID (CV-11), CABOT,
(CVL-28), FRANKLIN (CV-13), ENTERPRISE (CV-6). Battleship MUSASHI is sunk,
bombs hit YAMATO and NAGATO.
At 1530 hours, Force "A" reverses course back through the Sibuyan Sea. At
1715 hours, Kurita again reverses course. At 2330 hours, Force "A" enters the
San Bernadino Strait in single file.
25 October 1944: The Battle off
Samar:
At 0030, Force "A" exits the San Bernardino Strait and proceeds
eastward until 0300 when it turns SE towards Leyte Gulf.
At 0644, Force "A" detects the Seventh Fleet's Task Group 77.4. In turn,
Force "A" is spotted by USN aircraft.
At 0658, Force "A" opens fire at "Taffy 3"'s escort carriers: ST.LO
(CVE-63), WHITE PLAINS (CVE-66), KALININ BAY (CVE-68), FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70) (F),
KITKUN BAY (CVE-71), GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73). The carriers are screened by
destroyers USS HEERMANN (DD-532), HOEL (DD-533) and JOHNSTON (DD-557) and
destroyer escorts RAYMOND (DE-341), JOHN C. BUTLER (DE-339), DENNIS (DE-405) and
SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE-413).
At 0703, Vice Admiral Kurita orders CruDivs 4, 5 and 7 to attack. At
0706, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Clifton Sprague orders his destroyers to
attack Force "A" with torpedoes.
CruDiv 7 steers SE in a single column. They close the escort carriers on
the port quarter at 33 knots. After 0724, when KUMANO is damaged by a torpedo,
CHIKUMA is designated the ad hoc flagship of CruDiv 7. At 0730 CHIKUMA and TONE
change course to ESE to engage the fleeing carriers.
At 0850, CruDiv 7's CHIKUMA and TONE, followed by CruDiv 5's HAGURO and
CHOKAI, pursue "Taffy Three's" escort carriers. At 0853, CHIKUMA is attacked by
four TBM "Avenger" torpedo-bombers from "Taffy Two". She is hit by a Mk.13
torpedo that disables her port screw and rudder; two minutes later she goes
dead in the water.
At 0907, CHIKUMA reports to YAMATO that she has been torpedoed and is
unnnavigable. Then at 0920, CHIKUMA reports that she has lost a shaft, is
making 18 knots, but is unsteerable. At 0930, CHIKUMA reports she is at 11-25N,
126-48E and making nine knots.
At 1020, Force "A" reverses course towards Leyte Gulf. At 1105, CHIKUMA is
attacked by five VC-5 TBM-1Cs from KITKUN BAY. By that time her AA ammunition is
mostly exhausted; in fact, during the previous attack some gunners had resorted
to using exercise rounds. CHIKUMA is hit port side amidships by two torpedoes
and her engine rooms flood. Power is lost. She comes to a stop and takes on a
list to port. At 1110, destroyer NOWAKI is dispatched to assist her.
After 1415, CHIKUMA is attacked by three TBM-1Cs from OMANNEY BAY (CVE-79),
led by VC-75's CO, Lt Allen W. Smith, Jr. Three torpedoes hit her port side
amidships. Around 1430, CHIKUMA capsizes and sinks by the stern at 11-52N,
126-36E. NOWAKI rescues some 120 survivors.
26 October 1944: 65 miles SSE of Legaspi, Philippines. At 0054, NOWAKI is
crippled and set afire by gunfire from TG 34.5's VINCENNES (CL-64), BILOXI (CL-80)
and MIAMI (CL-89) and DesDiv 103's MILLER (DD-535), OWEN (DD-536) and LEWIS
HANCOCK (DD-675). At 0149, NOWAKI, dead in the water, is sunk by gunfire and
torpedoes from the destroyers at 13N, 124-54E. NOWAKI goes down with all hands,
including CHIKUMA's survivors. [3]
20 April 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes:
[1] Although several Western sources credit CHIKUMA with the
sinking of MODJOKERTO, DesRon 1's War Diary (1-31 March 1942 including DesRon 1
Secret Messages Nos. 14-2-6), filed on 27 April 1942, confirms that MODJOKERTO,
identified by her name, was indeed intercepted and sunk by ISOKAZE and other
destroyers.
[2] Different numbers have been published for the survivors from USS
EDSALL. BatDiv 3/2's War Diary suggests seven sailors were rescued, while
CruDiv 8 War Diary confirms there were eight, all of them POs or sailors. In
1952, investigators found five skeletons, identified by their ID tags as crewmen
from EDSALL, in graves at Kendari, Celebes.
[3] A single survivor from CHIKUMA was picked up by an American warship
three days later.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned in
this TROM go to Mr. Jean-François Masson of Canada. Special thanks and credit
goes to Andrew Obluski of Poland for providing details concerning CHIKUMA's
floatplane operations during her wartime career. Thanks also go to "Adm. Gurita"
of the Netherlands and Randy Stone of the United States.
Thanks also go to Gilbert Casse of France for info in Rev 15 and Don
Kehn, Jr. of Texas for aircraft info in Rev 18.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
Back to
Cruiser Page