Like every other battle in the Pacific theater after the fall of #Saipan, the last sortie of Yamato didn’t need to happen. The #ImperialJapaneseNavy had ceased to exist as a combat force after Leyte Gulf, and there was no hope of Japanese military success. The suicide mission went forward anyway.
On the #PHG blog today; we're taking a look at the site of the first #ImperialJapaneseNavy fleet review at Mt. Tempo Park in #Osaka. This place should be on the list of any #NavalHistory nerd!
www.pacifichistoryguide.com/post/monumen...
There aren't many museum ships in Japan, and almost none from the #ImperialJapaneseNavy. #Mikasa is worth every second of your time to visit, along with the rest of historic #Yokosuka. #PacificHistoryGuide is dedicated to connecting you with history, where you are. #NavalHistory #IJN
The Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe was a single-seat floatplane interceptor developed as a stopgap to protect remote island bases and amphibious forces while purpose-built float fighters were pending. It was essentially a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero (Model 11) modified with a central float and wingtip stabilizer floats. First flown on 7 Dec 1941, it entered service in 1942 and 327 were built. Compared to the land-based Zero, the Rufe was heavier and slower (max speed ~435 km/h vs ~533 km/h), but retained much of the Zero’s agility. It carried the same basic armament (2×20 mm cannons, 2×7.7 mm MGs) and could carry small bombs or rockets. Rufe units primarily served in the Solomon Islands, Aleutians, Dutch East Indies and home waters, operating from seaplane bases and tenders. Early on, many Rufes were lost in the Solomons (e.g. Tulagi, Aug 1942); they saw action intercepting US bombers (B‑17s, B‑24s) and defending island convoys. By 1944 they were outmatched by modern fighters, and production ceased Sept 1943.
The Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe was a single-seat floatplane interceptor developed from the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero www.destinationsjourney.com/nakajima-a6m... #NakajimaA6M2NRufe #aeroplane #airplane #aviation #fighter #floatplane #Floatplane #floatplanefighter #ImperialJapaneseNavy #MitsubishiA6M2
Nachi later collided with Mogami, the sole survivor of Southern Force, in the dark due to a navigational error by Nachi’s bridge crew. The damage from this collision was still under repair when Nachi was sunk in Manila Bay on 5 November 1944. #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy 3/3
On today's #PacificHistoryGuide blog, a post from last year on a statue of Enomoto Takeaki in #Sumida-ku, #Tokyo. #武揚榎本 is a founding father of the #ImperialJapaneseNavy and one of the most colorful figures of the #MeijiRestoration.
www.pacifichistoryguide.com/post/in-case...
In March 1942, the #ImperialJapaneseNavy took control of #Guam; a brutal occupation in which the #Chamorro people were forced to relocate their villages, surrender their food supplies, and perform hard labor. The memory of this period is still very much alive on the island. #PacificHistoryGuide
The Japanese heavy cruiser Kako was one of the earliest heavy cruisers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty. She was the second vessel of the Furutaka class, which represented Japan’s first generation of treaty-compliant heavy cruisers designed to combine strong armament with high speed and long operational range. Kako was laid down at Kawasaki Shipyard in Kobe in 1922, launched in 1925, and commissioned in 1926. Like her sister ship Furutaka, she was initially armed with six 200 mm guns in single turrets, arranged along the centreline. This configuration reflected pre-treaty cruiser design concepts but soon proved less efficient than newer turret arrangements. During a major modernisation in the mid-1930s, Kako was rebuilt with three twin 203 mm gun turrets, significantly improving her firepower and combat effectiveness. The refit also included upgraded torpedo armament, improved aircraft handling facilities, and enhanced machinery performance. By the time the Pacific War began in December 1941, Kako served with Cruiser Division 6 alongside Furutaka, Aoba, and Kinugasa. The division supported Japanese amphibious operations across the western Pacific. In August 1942, Kako participated in the Battle of Savo Island, part of the Guadalcanal campaign. During this night engagement, Japanese cruiser forces surprised Allied naval units and sank several cruisers in one of the most decisive Japanese surface victories of the war. Despite surviving the battle itself, Kako was lost shortly afterward. On 10 August 1942, while returning to base at Kavieng, she was attacked by the American submarine USS S-44. The submarine fired a spread of torpedoes that struck the cruiser, causing catastrophic damage. Kako sank rapidly, with the loss of 68 crew, although another 649 were rescued.
Japanese Heavy Cruiser Kako in 1926 www.destinationsjourney.com/japanese-hea... #maritimehistory #navalhistory #IJN #ImperialJapaneseNavy #Kako #heavycruiser #cruiser
Two Japanese I-400-class aircraft carrier #Submarine and I-14 (right). At Sasebo prior to being taken to Pearl Harbour for valuation. All were later scuttled to prevent their inspection by the Soviets www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-m... #maritimehistory #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy
The Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka was one of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s earliest attempts to build a treaty-era cruiser optimised for surface combat. She was laid down in 1922 at the Kure Naval Arsenal and commissioned in 1926, becoming the lead ship of her class. Designed before the Washington Naval Treaty limitations were fully understood, Furutaka reflected evolving Japanese cruiser doctrine rather than a settled design philosophy. As completed, Furutaka displaced about 7,100 tonnes standard and carried a main armament of six 200 mm guns mounted in single turrets. This arrangement soon proved inefficient, as the low rate of fire and limited protection restricted combat effectiveness. Her propulsion system, based on geared turbines and oil-fired boilers, produced a top speed of roughly 34 knots, giving her the ability to operate with destroyer flotillas and fast task groups. Protection was modest, with thin belt armour and limited deck coverage, a common compromise for cruisers of her generation. Between 1937 and 1939, Furutaka underwent an extensive modernisation that transformed her into a true heavy cruiser. The single gun mounts were replaced by three twin 203 mm turrets, her torpedo armament was expanded with quadruple launchers for the Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedo, and her superstructure was rebuilt to improve command facilities and anti-aircraft defence. These changes significantly enhanced her offensive power, though stability remained a concern. During the Second World War, Furutaka served with Cruiser Division 6 and participated in early Japanese operations in the Pacific, including the invasions of Guam and Wake Island. Her most notable action occurred during the Battle of Cape Esperance in October 1942, part of the Guadalcanal campaign. In a confused night engagement with United States Navy forces, Furutaka was hit by gunfire and torpedoes, suffering severe damage. She sank on 12 October 1942
Japanese Heavy Cruiser Furutaka
www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-m... #MaritimeHistory #NavalHistory #HeavyCruiser #ImperialJapaneseNavy #IJN #Furutaka #HeavyCruiserFurutaka
#OTD Nov. 21 in 1944, the #ImperialJapaneseNavy battleship Kongo was torpedoed and sunk in the Formosa Strait by #USSSealion. #Kongo had a long and storied service history; the last #IJN capital ship built outside of Japan, she had entered service in 1913. #NavalHistory
Yamashiro was a Fusō-class dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Launched on 3 November 1915, she was completed on 31 March 1917. Due to her age, Yamashiro played supporting roles in the early part of World War Two. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Yamashiro was part of Vice-Admiral Shōji Nishimura’s Southern Force. On the morning of 24 October 1944, she was attacked by carrier aircraft and ship listed by almost 15 degrees after a bomb’s near miss damaged the hull and flooded the starboard bilge, until counter-flooding in the port bilge righted the ship. Early the next morning, Yamashiro, accompanied by Fuso was attacked by a force of US destroyers. Fuso was hit and fell out of formation, sinking between 03:38 and 03:50. Yamashiro was also hit by one or two torpedoes but after counter flooding to counter a list was able to continue. During the subsequent night action of the Battle of Surigao Strait, Yamashiro was intercepted by a force of ten cruisers and six battleships. The action started at 03:52 and concluded at 04:19 when she sank. An estimated 1,626 officers and crew were killed in her sinking.
Japanese Battleship Yamashiro
www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-m... #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy #Yamashiro #IJNYamashiro #battleship
Shimane Maru was the lead ship of her class of escort carriers for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Although she was completed, the ship did not enter active service before being destroyed by British aircraft on 24 July 1945. The concept of the class was similar to British merchant aircraft carriers. The class consisted of two oil tankers of 10,002 gross register tons (GRT) that were modified by the Navy to provide minimal anti-submarine air cover for convoys going from Southeast Asia to the Japanese homeland. The conversion consisted of fitting a full-length flight deck, a small hangar, and a single elevator. An island and catapults were not installed. The only other change was the rerouting of the boiler uptakes to the aft starboard side where they discharged in a typical downward-facing funnel. The Shimane Maru was fitted with a single geared steam turbine set with a total of 8,600 shaft horsepower (6,400 kW). It drove one propeller shaft using steam provided by two boilers. The ship had a designed speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) and a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). The flight deck was 154.99 meters (508 ft 6 in) long and had a maximum width of 23.01 meters (75 ft 6 in). The hangar, built on top of the well deck, was served by a single elevator from the flight deck. It had a capacity of a dozen aircraft.
Japanese Escort Carrier, Shimane Maru, after being attacked by Avenger aircraft operating from HMS Victorious, 24 July 1945 www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-m... #warship #navalwarfare #IJN #ImperialJapaneseNavy #escortCarrier #AircraftCarrier #MaritimeHistory #NavalHistory
Light cruiser #IJN Sendai was sunk in the early morning hours #OTD November 3, 1943 during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. She had taken 6" hits from #USN cruisers in night action before the #ImperialJapaneseNavy force withdrew, unable to stop the Allied invasion of #Bougainville. #NavalHistory
#OTD 29th October 1946 the #ImperialJapaneseNavy heavy cruiser #Takao was sunk as a target in the #MalaccaStrait by HMS Newfoundland. Takao, lead ship of her class of four ships, had been surrendered to the British at Seletar on 21st September 1945, alongside another heavy, #Myoko. #NavalHistory
Japanese Battleship Settsu www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-m... #Navalhistory #MaritimeHistory #battleship #ImperialJapaneseNavy
Jun'yō was a Hiyō-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Laid down as the passenger liner Kashiwara Maru, she was purchased by the IJN in 1941 while still under construction and converted into an aircraft carrier. Completed in May 1942, the ship participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign the following month and in several battles during the Guadalcanal Campaign later in the year. Jun'yō was torpedoed in November 1943 and spent three months under repair. She was damaged by several bombs during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in mid-1944, but quickly returned to service. Lacking aircraft, she was used as a transport in late 1944 and was torpedoed again in December. Jun'yō was under repair until March 1945, when work was cancelled as uneconomical. Considered a constructive loss by US assessors, she was scrapped in 1946-47.
Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Junyō At Sasebo, September 1945. www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-m... #IJNJunyo #aircraftcarrier #ImperialJapaneseNavy #WorldWarTwo #WW2 #WWII #SecondWorldWar #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory
Today on the #PacificHistoryGuide blog, we remember the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which reached its climax on this day 81 years ago. By the end of October 25th 1944, the #ImperialJapaneseNavy had ceased to exist as an effective fighting force. #NavalHistory
www.pacifichistoryguide.com/post/on-this...
I'll be presenting my talk on Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita at Leyte Gulf tomorrow, hope to see you there! #PacificHistoryGuide #ImperialJapaneseNavy #NavalHistory
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGZ...
Excited to announce that I'm returning to @ww2tv.bsky.social to discuss Admiral Kurita at Leyte Gulf. This is one of my favorite subjects to talk about; see you there! #History #NavalHistory #USN #IJN #ImperialJapaneseNavy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGZ...
#OTD July 30 1945, USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk in the Philippine Sea by the #ImperialJapaneseNavy submarine I-58. Although she sank in less than 12 minutes, her survivors were not rescued for four days, when they were spotted by accident on August 2 by a #U.S.Navy seaplane. 1/6
#OTD June 8 1943, the #ImperialJapaneseNavy Battleship #Mutsu #陸奥 exploded and sank at her moorings off Suo-Oshima, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. There is a small museum dedicated to the Mutsu on Suo-Oshima. Check out the #PacificHistoryGuide blog for more! www.pacifichistoryguide.com/post/suo-osh...
Ijūin's operational CO tours included seven destroyers, the light cruiser #Naka and heavy cruiser #Atago, and the battleship #Kongo. The flotilla he was responsible for in May 1944 did in fact make it to Singapore; only the Iki was sunk. #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy #IJN 3/3
Discovered this while doing some reading on the 'hell ships' of the Second World War. Four men who survived the Bataan Death march and the sinking of the Arisan Maru. #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy
www.cnn.com/travel/bataa...
If you're going to this landmark, you won't be far from #Kochi airport, where you can find the remains of fortified aircraft hangars that were used by the #ImperialJapaneseNavy. #NavalHistory
@hush-ndb.bsky.social do you have any information about this place?
www.nankoku-kankou.jp/life/dtl.php...
Happy birthday to #Kurita Takeo, former Admiral in the #ImperialJapaneseNavy. Born #OTD April 28 1889 in #Ibaraki, Kurita graduated the 38th class of the Japanese Naval Academy and served throughout the First and Second World Wars. 1/7
U.S. Navy Submarines in the Second World War sank an #ImperialJapaneseNavy battleship, ten aircraft carriers and more than 200 other warships. Over 1200 merchant ships were sunk, and approximately 98,000 people killed. #TsushimaMaru is but one tragedy among many. #NavalHistory
#Palau was home to the HQ of the Imperial Japan mandate for the South Seas at #Koror. Later the islands became forward operating bases for the #ImperialJapaneseNavy and Army.
A photo of IJN Nagara sinking by the stern; taken through the periscope of USS Croaker, who fired the torpedo that sank the ship.
Shortly after leaving Kagoshima, Nagara was sighted by #USSCroaker, a new sub on her first patrol. Croaker fired four torpedoes, only one of which hit Nagara. She sank with her Captain and 348 Sailors. 237 men were rescued. The wreck has not been located. #ImperialJapaneseNavy #IJN 5/5
