Battle of Surigao Strait

Notes

Notes Preface 1. The reader is invited to refer to H. P. Willmott’s recent book on the complete campaign. H. P. Willmott, The Battle of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action (Bloomington : Indiana University Press, 2005). I do not intend to give a comprehensive overview of the battle of Leyte Gulf in this volume. Willmott’s work is an excellent place to start. 2. Before the action Surigao Strait was known for the explorations and death of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. 3. http://www.combinedfleet.com/atully01.htm, The Nachi/Mogami Collision; http://www.combinedfleet.com/atully06.htm, Shell-Game at Surigao. 4. What was believed to be the battleship Yamashiro was discovered in April 2001. The identity of Yamashiro has been confirmed by side-scan sonar and underwater photography in spring 2008 as this book goes to press. 5. Most especially due to the tragic death of John Bennett in March 2004 on another dive project. 6. TROM = “Tabular Record of Movement.” Prologue: “Retiring towards the enemy.” 1. For an in-depth strategic planning examination, see Milan Vego, The Battle for Leyte, 1944: Allied and Japanese Plans, Preparations, and Execution (Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2006). 2. Ibid. 3. If Leyte had not been invaded early, Combined Fleet’s plan was to send Ozawa’s carriers, including the new Cardiv 1 of Amagi and Unryu, down to Lingga in mid-November. Eventually Katsuragi and Shinano would join them there in a rebuilt Mobile Force with the battleships. 4. Richard W. Bates et al., The Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944. Strategical and Tactical Analysis. Vol. 2: Operations from 0719 October 17th until October 20th (Newport , R.I.: Naval War College, 1955). Hereafter, Bates et al., vol. 2. The fact that Kurita ended up withdrawing back the way he came, through San Bernardino Strait, has obscured the fact that the original intent was to escape south through Surigao Strait, away from a returning Halsey. 289 290 · Notestopages4–15 5. Vigo, The Battle for Leyte, p. 161. Toyoda had started the inspection tour on October 7, arriving in Manila. Only his deputy chief of staff Rear Admiral Toshitne Takata and his air staff officer accompanied him. This handicapped him severely in the days that followed. Due to return to Japan October 10, he was caught on Formosa by the raids and resulting confusion. Toyoda got back to Hiyoshi only on October 20, the day MacArthur’s forces landed. 6. William F. Halsey, Admiral Halsey’s Story (New York: McGraw Hill, 1947), p. 499. 7. Richard W. Bates et al., The Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944. Strategical and Tactical Analysis. Vol. 1: Preliminary Operations until 0719 October 17th including Battle Off Formosa (Newport, R.I.: Naval War College, 1953) [hereafter, Bates et al., vol. 1], p. 360. “Enemy cripples” referred primarily to disabled carriers or cruisers that Tokyo hoped the Shima force might find lightly screened during salvage efforts (ala Hornet at Santa Cruz), and destroy them. 8. As he left Bungo Suido, Shima’s force was sighted and reported by Besugo. (See TROM for Nachi posted by Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp on www .combinedfleet.com for this and other details.) 9. Ibid., p. 428. 10. Hatsuharu, Action Report, October 1944. 11. Bates et al., vol. 2, p. 235. 12. Desron 1 IJN, War Diary. 13. Toshikazu Ohmae, “Research Report on Operations Relating to the Sho Operation ,” undated, unpaginated, circa April 1953, Morison papers, Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.; hereafter, 2YB report. 14. Bates et al., vol. 2, p. 74. 15. Ibid., p. 227. 16. Ibid., p. 232. 17. Ibid., p. 208. 18. Ibid., p. 211. 19. Ibid., p. 206. 20. Ibid., p. 212. 21. Ibid., p. 218. 22. Desron 1 War Diary, signal log. Mikawa had sent it at 1540, and Shima got it thirty minutes later. 23. Bates et al., vol. 2, pp. 125–126. 24. Ibid. 25. Ibid., p. 153. These were from Fire Support Unit South of TG 77.2. 26. Bates et al., vol. 2, p. 330. There was no “repulse.” This activity was from underwater demolition teams, and they simply laid smoke when they withdrew as planned. 27. 2YB report. See also, Bates et al., vol. 2, p. 336. 28. For full strategic overviews, see Willmott, Leyte Gulf. 29. Bates et al., vol. 2, p. 333. 30. Desron 1 War Diary, Oct. 1944. 1. “I have returned.” 1. John Costello, The Pacific War 1941–1945 (New York: Rawson Wade...