6 April 1942:
Bay of Bengal. At about 0600, the three ships of Ozawa's
Northern Group attack and sink the 5,381-ton Norwegian tanker ELSA. After 0730,
KUMANO, SUZUYA and destroyer SHIRAKUMO intercept a six-ship convoy and sink the
4,986-ton American Export Line's EXMOOR (ex-CITY OF ST. JOSEPH), the 9,066-ton
British freighter MALDA, the 7,718-ton British freighter AUTOLYCUS and the
2,441-ton British freighter SHINKUANG at 19N, 86E. Ozawa's cruisers also sink
the 6,622-ton British freighter INDORA and Captain J. H. Gregory's British India
Line's 4,921-ton cargo ship SILKSWORTH. About 50 of SILKSWORTH's mostly Chinese
crewmen survive.
Temporarily detached from the rest of Ozawa's Center Group,
YURA and YUGIRI sink the 1,279-ton Dutch merchant BATAVIA en route from Calcutta
to Karachi. YURA and YUGIRI also sink the 1,279-ton Dutch freighter BANJOEWANGI
and the 3,471-ton British steamer TAKSANG.
The rest of the Center Group, RYUJO, CHOKAI and ASAGIRI, sink five ships:
The 5,491-ton American freighter BIENVILLE is bombed by RYUJO's aircraft,
finished off by gunfire from CHOKAI (reportedly also from RYUJO), and then
scuttled a torpedo from CHOKAI.
The 6,426-ton British cargo ship GANGES is
attacked by one of CHOKAI's floatplanes and two of RYUJO's aircraft, and is then
sunk by gunfire from the surface ships, including gunfire from RYUJO.
The
2,646-ton British ship SINKIANG is attacked by aircraft and then likewise sunk
by gunfire.
The 5,686-ton American freighter SELMA CITY is bombed by
CHOKAI's floatplanes. She is also attacked and hit by two aircraft from RYUJO,
but by then is already sinking and abandoned.
The 2,073-ton Dutch freighter
VAN DER CAPELLEN is bombed and damaged by RYUJO's aircraft and sinks two days
later.
That same day, the 5,268-ton British freighter ANGLO-CANADIAN is attacked
by five aircraft from RYUJO, including two armed with torpedoes, score one bomb
hit, which does not explode but which starts a fire. Also that day, RYUJO
launches strikes against Cocanada and Vizagapatam. The 3,827-ton British
merchant MARION MOLLER is damaged at Vizagapatam.
Ozawa's Southern Group sinks four ships. They first encounter disabled
DARDANUS, under tow by the 5,281-ton British ship GANDARA. The three Japanese
ships promptly open fire on the two merchantmen, which are finished off with
torpedoes from AMAGIRI. Two Norwegian vessels the 4,434-ton DAGFRED and the
1,515-ton HERMOD are then sunk.
In all Ozawa's commerce raiding detachment sinks twenty ships of about
93,247 tons during their brief foray in the Bay of Bengal.
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 Kate dive-bombers [18
from AKAGI, 18 from SORYU and 18 from HIRYU, 19 from SHOKAKU and 18 from
ZUIKAKU] and 41 A6M2 "Zeke" 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, carrying three crated Fairey "Albacore"
torpedo bombers and a "Walrus" amphibian, and damage the old 15-inch monitor HMS
EREBUS. The non-operational Dutch light cruiser SUMATRA is also hit, but the 800
kg bomb does not explode. Outside the harbor, the southbound 4,784-ton Greek
MARIONGA D. THERMIOTIS is damaged by strafing and seven men are wounded.
HARUNA launches an E8N2 "Dave" floatplane. At 0755, it spots an enemy
carrier 65 miles south of the base. Between 0843 and 0853, the Striking Force
launches 85 D3A Vals, (18 from SORYU, 18 from HIRYU and 18 from SHOKAKU, 17 from
AKAGI and 14 from ZUIKAKU), escorted by 9 A6M Zekes (3 each from AKAGI, SORYU,
HIRYU) which sink old 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.
Other sailors are rescued by local craft or swim to shore. Nagumo's
aircraft also find and sink Australian destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE, 8 KIA, corvette
HMS HOLLYHOCK, 53 KIA, oilers ATHELSTANE and BRITISH SERGEANT and Norwegian
merchant ship NORVIKEN.
11 April 1942:
Ozawa's Force arrives at Singapore.
13 April 1942:
Departs Singapore.
16 April 1942:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, Vichy French Indochima.
17 April 1942:
Departs Camranh.
22 April 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
1 May 1942:
Rear Admiral Kurita is promoted Vice Admiral.
4 May 1942:
In drydock at Kure.
15 May 1942:
CruDiv 7 Departs Kure for three days of exercises with
BatDiv 1's YAMATO, NAGATO and MUTSU in the area around Hashirajima.
18 May 1942:
Arrives back at Kure.
22 May 1942:
CruDiv7 departs Hashirajima that night.
26 May 1942:
CruDiv 7 arrives at Guam to provide close support for
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) Midway
Invasion Transport Group's oiler AKEBONO MARU and transports KIYOSUMI, ZENYO,
ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AZUMA, KEIYO, GOSHU, KANO, HOKURIKU, KIRISHIMA and NANKAI
MARUs and TOA MARU No. 2. The transports carry an airfield construction unit,
LtCol Ichiki Kiyonao's IJA detachment and two battalions of Special Naval
Landing Forces.
SUZUYA refuels from AKEBONO MARU.
28 May 1942:
Departs Guam with the Close Support Group.
30 May 1942:
Makes a rendezvous with the Transport Group with
ARASHIO, ASASHIO and oiler NICHIEI MARU.
5 June 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle
of Midway:
Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku
(former CO of AKAGI), CINC, Combined Fleet, orders Midway to be shelled. CruDiv
7 is tasked to accomplish the shelling at 1050 (I). CruDiv 7 and DesDiv 8 are
410 miles away from the island, so they make a high-speed dash at 35 knots. The
sea is choppy and the destroyers lag behind. At 2120, the order is canceled.
At 2138, flagship KUMANO spots surfaced submarine USS TAMBOR (SS-198).
KUMANO signals a 45-degree simultaneous turn to starboard to avoid possible
torpedoes. The emergency turn is correctly executed by the flagship and SUZUYA,
but the third ship in the line, MIKUMA, erroneously makes a 90-degree turn.
Behind her, MOGAMI turns 45 degrees as ordered. MOGAMI's navigator, LtCdr (later
Captain) Yamauchi Masaki (51), watching SUZUYA does not see MIKUMA's movement.
This results in a collision in which MOGAMI rams MIKUMA's portside below the
bridge. MOGAMI's bow caves in and she is badly damaged. MIKUMA's portside oil
tanks rupture and she begins to spill oil, but otherwise her damage is slight.
After learning about the collision, the Commander of the Second Fleet,
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake (former CO of KONGO) orders Admiral
Kurita to have DesDiv 8's ARASHIO and ASASHIO stay behind and escort MOGAMI and
MIKUMA. Flagship KUMANO and SUZUYA detach. The MOGAMI group proceeds westward at
reduced speed.
13 June 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
17-23 June 1942:
Departs Truk with KUMANO and destroyers ARARE and
KASUMI.
20 June 1942:
Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji
(former CO of HARUNA) assumes command of CruDiv 7. Vice Admiral Kurita later
assumes command of BatDiv 3.
23 June 1942:
Arrives at Kure.
14 July 1942:
CruDiv 7 is transferred from the Second Fleet (Cruisers)
to the Third Fleet (Carriers).
17 July 1942:
CruDiv 7's SUZUYA and KUMANO depart Hashirajima.
25 July 1942:
Arrives at Singapore.
28 July 1942: Operation "B" - The Invasion of Burma:
CruDiv 7's SUZUYA
and KUMANO depart Singapore.
29 July 1942:
W of Poeloe Perak, Straits of Malacca, Malaya. Dutch
LtCdr Albertus M. Valkenburg's submarine Hr.Ms. O-23 sights two zig-zagging
MOGAMI-class cruisers (KUMANO and SUZUYA) protected by four destroyers at a
distance of about 7 miles. At 0600, Valkenburg fires four German G7 AD type
torpedoes, but all miss. The Japanese counterattack with depth charges. A
cruiser and a destroyer head towards O-23. More depth charges are dropped.
Valkenburg finds a thermal layer and slips away running silently. The IJN ships
continue hunting for the O-23 for another six hours.
30 July 1942:
Arrives at Mergui, Burma.
7 August 1942: American Operation "Watchtower" - The Invasion of
Guadalcanal, Solomons:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond K. Turner's
Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Frank J.
Fletcher's Task Force 61 and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) John S. McCain's Task
Force 63's land-based aircraft, lands Maj Gen (later Gen/Commandant) Alexander
A. Vandegrift's 1st Marine Division on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo and
Guadalcanal opening the campaign to take the island.
That same day, CruDiv 7 departs Mergui for the South Pacific.
14-16 August 1942:
CruDiv 7 refuels at Balikpapan, Borneo.
20 August 1942: Operation "KA" - The Recapture of Guadalcanal and the
Destruction of the American Fleet:
Kondo's Advanced Force departs Truk to
reinforce Guadalcanal with Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Nagumo Chuichi's
(former CO of KIRISHIMA) Third Fleet, Carrier Strike Force, Main Body: CarDiv
1's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU and CarDiv 2's RYUJO, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral)
Abe Hiroaki's (former CO of FUSO) BatDiv 11's HIEI, KIRISHIMA, CruDiv 7's KUMANO
and SUZUYA, CruDiv 8's TONE and CHIKUMA and Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral)
Kimura Susumu's (former CO of HARUNA) DesRon 10's light cruiser NAGARA and
destroyers.
24 August 1942: The
Battle of the Eastern Solomons:
CruDiv 7's SUZUYA and KUMANO arrive
and join Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi's Third Fleet, Carrier Strike Force, Main
Body's CarDiv 1, Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki's BatDiv 11, CruDiv 8's CHIKUMA and
DesRon 10. The Main Body cruises NE of Guadalcanal.
Detached light carrier RYUJO is sunk by aircraft from Rear Admiral (later
Admiral) Frank J. Fletcher's Task Group 11's USS SARATOGA (CV-3).
25 August 1942:
At 1455, CarDiv 1 launches an air attack on Rear
Admiral (later Admiral) Thomas C. Kinkaid's Task Force 16's USS ENTERPRISE
(CV-6). ENTERPRISE is hit by three bombs, but is not sunk.
5 September 1942:
CruDiv 7 arrives at at Truk.
9 September 1942:
CruDiv 7 sorties from Truk with the Carrier Strike
Force, BatDiv 11 and DesRon 10 to an area N of the Solomon Islands.
14 September 1942:
Attacked by 10 Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses".
23 September 1942:
Returns to Truk.
11 October 1942:
CruDiv 7 sorties from Truk with Nagumo's Third Fleet,
Carrier Strike Force, Main Body's CarDiv 1's SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO and
destroyers AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, YUKIAKAZE, ARASHI, MAIKAZE,
TERUZUKI and YAMAKAZE.
17-18 October 1942:
The fleet refuels at sea.
26 October 1942: The
Battle of Santa Cruz:
Engages Task Force 16's ENTERPRISE and Task
Force 17's HORNET (CV-8) in an air battle. The Carrier Strike Force sinks HORNET
and damages SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) and SAN JUAN (CL-54).
30 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.
3-5 November 1942:
SUZUYA departs Truk with CruDiv 4's MAYA to
reinforce Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's Eighth Fleet at Shortland.
13 November 1942:
SUZUYA departs Shortland for Guadalcanal in Rear
Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Nishimura Shoji's (former CO of HARUNA) Bombardment
Unit's CruDiv 7's MAYA, light cruiser TENRYU, destroyers KAZAGUMO, MAKIGUMO,
MICHISHIO and YUGUMO. Accompanied by Vice Admiral Mikawa's Main Body's CruDiv
4's CHOKAI (F) and KINUGASA, light cruiser ISUZU, destroyers ARASHIO and
ASASHIO. Launches scout planes to drop parachute flares and light targets for
Henderson Field bombardment.
14 November 1942:
From 0130-0200, Nishimura's unit bombards Henderson
Field with 989 8-inch shells, then retires towards Shortland. En route, USS
FLYING FISH (SS-229) attacks a heavy cruiser, but misses with six torpedoes.
Later, the task force is attacked by torpedo-bombers from ENTERPRISE
(CV-6) and Marine Grumman TBM "Avenger" torpedo-bombers from Guadalcanal. SUZUYA
is not damaged, but KINUGASA is sunk and CHOKAI slightly damaged by a near-miss.
An SBD dive-bomber crashes into MAYA. The task force returns to Shortland.
17-18 November 1942:
Departs Shortlands for Kavieng.
18 November 1942:
At Kavieng.
24 November 1942:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Ono Takeji (44)(former
CO of KISO) is appointed the CO. Rear Admiral Kimura is reassigned as ComDesRon
3.
2 December 1942:
Departs Kavieng for Shortland, then to Rabaul.
5 December 1942:
CruDiv 7 departs Rabaul for Kavieng.
12 December 1942:
Cru Div 7 makes a troop transport run to Lorengau.
13 December 1942:
Arrives at Kavieng. Remains there for almost a
month.
4 January 1943:
Departs Kavieng.
6 January 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
7 January 1943:
SUZUYA departs Truk via Saipan with battleship MUTSU,
carrier ZUIKAKU and DesDiv 6's INAZUMA, DesDiv 19's ISONAMI, DesDiv 27's ARIAKE.
At Saipan, the escort is joined by DesDiv 20's AMAGIRI.
12 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure. Refit and drydocked. Additional AA
and a Type 21 air search radar installed.
5 February 1943:
Departs Kure.
10 February 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
24 March 1943:
Departs Truk with KUMANO.
29 March 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
6 April 1943:
Drydocked. SUZUYA's dual 13-mm machine guns are removed
and replaced by two triple-mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns bringing her total 25-mm
suite to 20 barrels (4x3, 4x2). A Type 21 air-search radar is fitted and most of
her mid and lower deck scuttles are welded over.
15 April 1943:
Undocked, then training in the Inland Sea with KUMANO.
12 May 1943: American Operation "Landcrab":
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 the Army's 7th Division that captures Attu Island, Aleutians.
20 May 1943:
CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, KUMANO and MOGAMI depart Tokuyama.
21 May 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo Bay.
31 May 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Tokyo Bay.
2 June 1943:
Arrives at Hashirajima.
11 June 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Kure for Yokosuka. Embarks troops.
16 June 1943:
Departs Yokosuka with BatDiv 3's KONGO, HARUNA, escort
carriers RYUHO, UNYO and CHUYO, CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA and DesDiv 7's
AKEBONO, USHIO, DesDiv 24's SUZUKAZE, DesDiv 27's ARIAKE, SHIGURE, YUGURE,
DesDiv 31's KIYONAMI.
17 June 1943:
The task group, making 20 knots, is sighted by USS
FLYING FISH (SS-229), but the submarine is unable to gain an attack position.
21 June 1943:
USS SPEARFISH (SS-190) attacks a carrier but misses with
four torpedoes. The task group arrives at Truk.
23 June 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Truk with destroyer NIIZUKI.
25 June 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul and disembarks troops.
27 June 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
9 July 1943:
CruDiv7 departs Truk for Rabaul.
18 July 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Rabaul for the Vella Gulf with CHOKAI,
light cruiser SENDAI, four destroyers to cover destroyers carrying troop
reinforcements. Off Kolombangara they are attacked by Guadalcanal-based Marine
"Avenger" torpedo-bombers.
21 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
21 July-October 1943:
At Rabaul.
4 September 1943:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Takahashi Yuji
(44)(former CO of KAKO) is appointed the CO. Captain Ono later assumes command
of YAMATO.
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.
8 October 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
10 October 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
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 BatDiv 1's
YAMATO, MUSASHI and the 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, 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.
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. About noon, 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, CV-2) Task Force 38's SARATOGA (CV-3) and PRINCETON (CVL-23). They
bomb and damage CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO and MAYA and CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, light
cruisers AGANO and NOSHIRO and destroyers AMAGIRI and FUJINAMI. SUZUYA is not
hit.
6 November 1943:
SUZUYA departs Rabaul escorting MOGAMI that was hit
by a 500-lb. bomb and set afire.
8 November 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
20 November 1943: American Operation "Galvanic" - The Invasion of the
Gilberts:
Forces under Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Raymond A. Spruance
(former CO of MISSISSIPPI, BB-41), Commander, Central Pacific, invade Tarawa and
Makin Islands. The invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13 battleships and 11
carriers.
24 November 1943:
CruDiv 7 departs Truk with destroyers HATSUZUKI,
SUZUTSUKI, HAMAKAZE, FUJINAMI and HAYANAMI in response to the invasion of
Tarawa. Fleet tanker NIPPON MARU provides support, escorted by destroyers
YAMAGUMO, MAIKAZE and NOWAKI.
26-27 November 1943:
At Kwajalein
28-29 November 1943:
At Eniwetok.
30 November-3 December 1943:
At Roi.
5 December 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
8 December 1943:
Flagship of CruDiv 7.
26 December 1943:
Departs Truk on a transport run to Kavieng with
KUMANO, but they are sighted by American aircraft. The mission is aborted.
28 December 1943:
Arrives back at Truk.
29 December 1943:
Departs Truk on another transport run to Kavieng
with KUMANO and destroyer MICHISHIO.
1 January 1944:
SUZUYA arrives at Truk. That day CruDiv 8 is
disbanded. TONE and CHIKUMA are assigned to CruDiv 7.
31 January 1944: American Operation "Flintlock" - The Invasion of the
Marshall Islands:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Marc A. Mitscher's (former CO
of HORNET, CV-8) Task Force 58 lands the 4th Marine Division and the Army's 7th
Infantry Division that soon capture the Kwajalein, Roi-Namur and Majuro atolls.
1 February 1944:
CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA and TONE evacuate Truk with
BatDiv 1's NAGATO, BatDiv 2's FUSO, DesDiv 17's ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE, HAMAKAZE and
URAKAZE and DesDiv 61's AKIZUKI. At 1000, USS PERMIT (SS-178) sights the IJN
force leaving Truk, but is unable to attack.
4 February 1944:
Arrives at Palau.
16 February 1944:
Departs Palau with the task group in anticipation of an
air raid. An enemy submarine is sighted at 08-00N, 131-00E.
17 February
1944:
Another enemy submarine is sighted at 05-30N, 125-40E.
20 February 1944:
South China Sea. N of Singapore. After sunset, the
10-ship task group sights an enemy submarine, probably USS PUFFER (SS-268), at
04-16N, 108-40 E. The submarine is unable to gain an attack position.
21 February 1944:
Arrives at Lingga (near Singapore). Participates in
battle exercises thereafter.
1 March 1944:
The Combined Fleet is
reorganized as the First Mobile Fleet.
21 March 1944:
At Lingga with KUMANO. Battle training thereafter.
24 March-7 April 1944:
Eight single-mount Type 96 25-mm AA guns are
installed at Singapore. This brings SUZUYA's AA suite to a total of 28 barrels
(4 x3, 4 x 2 and 8X1).
25 March 1944:
Rear Admiral (promoted Vice Admiral 15 October)
Shiraishi Kazutaka (42)(former CO of KIRISHIMA) is appointed ComCruDiv 7.
11 May 1944:
Steams from Lingga to the Tawi Tawi anchorage with Vice
Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) Mobile Fleet.
13 May 1944:
Arrives at Tawi Tawi with Vice Admiral Kurita's Force "C"
Vanguard: BatDiv 1's YAMATO and MUSASHI, BatDiv 3, CarDiv 3's CHITOSE, CHIYODA
and ZUIHO, CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA and CHOKAI, CruDiv 7's KUMANO, SUZUYA,
CHIKUMA and TONE, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO and RADM Hayakawa Mikio's
DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO, DesDiv 31's ASASHIMO, KISHINAMI and OKINAMI,
DesDiv 32's FUJINAMI, SHIMIKAZE and HAMAKAZE.
15-17 May 1944:
Departs
Tawi Tawi with KUMANO for Tarakan, Borneo to refuel. Returns to Tawi Tawi.
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.
Ozawa's Mobile Fleet departs Tawi Tawi (less Operation "KON's" BatDiv 1,
CruDiv 5) for Guimaras near Panay Island, Philippines. At 1000, LtCdr Marshall
H. Austin's USS REDFIN (SS-272) sights and reports the departing Mobile Fleet.
14 June 1944:
At Guimaras. Refuels from oilers.
15 June 1944:
The Mobile Fleet departs Guimaras through the Visayan Sea.
At 1622, the fleet is sighted in the San Bernardino Strait by LtCdr Robert
Risser's USS FLYING FISH (SS-229).
16 June 1944:
At 1650, Vice Admiral
Ugaki's aborted Operation KON task force from Batjan rejoins Ozawa's force. The
1st Supply Force's oilers HAYUSUI and NICHIEI, KOKUYO and SEIYO MARUs rendezvous
with Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo's (former CO of HARUNA) First Mobile Fleet's
Main Body. The 1st Supply Force begins to refuel the Mobile Fleet.
17 June 1944:
KOKUYO refuels CruDiv 7's SUZUYA and TONE. By 2000,
refueling of the First Mobile Fleet's Main Body is completed. At this time, the
First Mobile Fleet is at 12-15N, 132-45E. The oilers depart the area for a
designated standby point at 14-40N, 134-20E.
That same day, LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Herman J. Kossler in USS
CAVALLA (SS-244) sights the Mobile Fleet in the Philippine Sea and reports later
that evening after surfacing.
18-19 June 1944:
Ozawa splits the Mobile Fleet. Forces "A" and "B"
proceed southward. The Vanguard Force "C" proceeds due east in the Philippine
Sea headed towards Saipan. The Mobile Fleet's aircraft attack the U.S. Task
Force 58 off Saipan, but suffer overwhelming aircraft losses in the "Great
Mariana's Turkey Shoot".
20 June 1944:
At 1830, BatDiv 3 and carrier CHIYODA are attacked by
Curtiss SB2C "Helldiver" dive-bombers and Grumman TBM "Avenger" torpedo-bombers
from USS BUNKER HILL (CVL-17), MONTEREY (CVL-26) and CABOT (CVL-28). During the
battle, air attacks sink carrier HIYO and damage battleship HARUNA, carriers
ZUIKAKU, JUNYO, CHIYODA and RYUHO while CAVALLA sinks SHOKAKU and USS ALBACORE
(SS-218) sinks new armored carrier TAIHO. The Mobile Fleet retires to Okinawa.
22 June 1944:
Arrives at Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa for refueling
destroyers, then departs.
24 June 1944:
The Mobile Fleet arrives at Hashirajima.
25 June 1944:
At Kure for refit. Four triple-mount and 10 single-mount
Type 96 25-mm AA guns are installed. This brings SUZUYA's AA suite to a total of
50 barrels (8x3, 4 x 2 and 18X1). A Type 22 surface search radar and a Type 13
air-search radar are fitted. She is also fitted with a Type 2 infrared
Identification Friend-or-Foe signaling device.
8 July 1944:
CruDiv 7's SUZUYA, KUMANO, TONE and CHIKUMA, loaded with
troops and supplies, depart Kure with Group "A"'s BatDiv 1's YAMATO, MUSASHI,
CruDiv 4's ATAGO, TAKAO, MAYA, CHOKAI, DesRon 2's light cruiser NOSHIRO,
destroyers. Group "A" is accompanied by Group "B"'s KONGO, NAGATO, MOGAMI,
DesRon 10's light cruiser YAHAGI and her destroyers.
10 July 1944:
Arrives at Okinawa. Group A detaches from Group "B" and
departs Okinawa.
16 July 1944:
Arrives at Singapore, offloads troops and supplies.
17 July 1944:
Proceeds to Lingga (S of Singapore) to join the Mobile
Fleet.
1 September 1944:
Lingga. Captain Teraoka Masao (46)(former CO of
CHOGEI) is appointed the CO.
5 October 1944:
Lingga. SUZUYA receives fresh provisions from KITAKAMI
MARU.
18 October 1944:
Vice Admiral Shirashi's CruDiv 7 departs Lingga in
Vice Admiral Kurita's First Raiding Force with Vice Admiral Suzuki Yoshio's
(former CO of KONGO) Force "B"'s (Northern Force) BatDiv 3's KONGO and HARUNA,
DesRon 10's light cruiser YAHAGI and destroyers NOWAKI, URAKAZE, YUKIKAZE,
HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE.
20 October 1944:
Arrrives at Brunei Bay, Borneo.
22 October 1944: Operation "SHO-I-GO"(Victory) -
The Battle of Leyte Gulf:
Departs Brunei for Leyte Gulf via the San
Bernardino Strait.
24 October 1944:
Tablas Strait. After 1024, SUZUYA launches one of her
two remaining floatplanes, the Aichi E13A1 "Jake", heading for San Jose, Mindoro
Island.
25 October 1944: The Battle off
Samar:
SUZUYA engages Task Group 77.4.3's "Jeep" carriers, but is
attacked by ten TBM "Avenger" torpedo-bombers around 0735. A near-miss causes
the loss of her port shaft and her speed drops to 20 knots. By 0830, Vice
Admiral Shiraishi transfers his flag to SUZUYA from KUMANO, crippled by a
torpedo hit.
At 1050, SUZUYA is attacked by 30 other carrier aircraft. A near-miss to
starboard detonates SUZUYA's No. 1 torpedo mount, loaded with Type 93 "Long
Lance" torpedoes. At 1100, additional torpedoes start to explode. The fire and
blasts damage the starboard engine rooms and the No. 7 boiler room. SUZUYA
becomes unnavigable. At 1105, destroyer OKINAMI is ordered to assist SUZUYA. At
1130, Vice Admiral Shiraishi again transfers his flag, this time to TONE.
At noon, SUZUYA's remaining torpedoes and ammunition explode. At 1150,
Abandon Ship is ordered. At 1315, SUZUYA turns on her starboard side. At 1322,
she sinks at 11-45.2N, 126-11.2E. Captain Teraoka and 401 officers and men are
rescued by OKINAMI. A total of 247 officers and men are lost.
20 December 1944:
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.
Special thanks for assistance in researching the IJN officers mentioned
in this TROM go to Jean-François Masson of Canada. Thanks also to Tony Tully and
Gilbert Casse of France.
Thanks go to John Whitman of Virginia and Gengoro Toda of Japan for info
about stores ship KITAKAMI MARU.
Thanks go to Rob Stuart of Canada for additional info about "Operation
C". For more info on "Operation C" please see Rob's splendid 20 Ships, Not 23: Ozawa's
Score, 5-6 April 1942.
NB: Older map on this TROM page erroneously shows 23 ships sunk.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
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