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    USN April 7, 1945 |
Location The Battle of the East China Sea on April 7, 1945 in the East China Sea was a battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Special Surface Attack Force was intercepted by three waves of U.S. Navy (USN) carrier aircraft on April 7, 1945 in the East China Sea with all but three destroyers sunk and was an American victory and the last sortie of the Japanese Navy during World War II. Japanese Force On April 6, 1945 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Surface Special Attack Force sortied from southern Japan on a one way kamikaze mission to intercept the U.S. fleet off Okinawa. The force includes Battleship Yamato, Light Cruiser Yahagi escorted by destroyers Isokaze, Hamakaze and Yukikaze, DesDiv 21's Kasumi, Hatsushimo and Asashimo, DesDiv 41's Fuyuzuki and Suzutsuki. By evening was spotted by submarine USS Theadfin (SS-410) and later USS Hackleback (SS-295). U.S. Navy Force Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy (USN) force in the vicinity included submarines, seaplanes and carrier aircraft and Task Force 58 (TF-58) in the vicinity. On April 6, 1945 by evening, the Japanese force was spotted by submarine USS Theadfin (SS-410) and later USS Hackleback (SS-295). Battle of the East China Sea On April 7, 1945 at 8:32am the Japanese force is spotted by F6F Hellcats from USS Essex (CV-9). At 10:14am spotted by two PBM Mariner flying boats while an enemy submarine. Meanwhile, U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 58 (TF-58) was 250 nautical miles away and launches carrier aircraft. At 11:07am radar on Yamato spots aircraft approaching in two groups and the force increases speed to 25 knots and begins a turn and prepares for action. Losses The Battle of the East China Sea was the last offensive sortie of the Japanese Navy during World War II. The Surface Special Attack Force was sunk with only four destroyers surviving Yukikaze, Hatsushimo, Fuyuzuki and Suzutsuki with heavy damage. The U.S. Navy (USN) lost 10 aircraft and 12 air crew. Asashimo Sunk April 7, 1945 at 12:35pm Lat 31° N, 128° E roughly 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki after engine trouble. Yahagi Sunk April 7, 1945 at 2:05pm at roughly Lat 30°47′N Long in the East China Sea. Yamato Sunk April 7, 1945 at 2:10pm roughly 290 km / 180 miles southwest of Kyushu in the East China Sea. Asashimo Sunk April 7, 1945 sunk at 31° N, 128° E approximately 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki. Isokaze Scuttled April 7, 1945 by gunfire at Lat 30° 46 N, Long 128° 92 E roughly 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki. Hamakaze Sunk April 7, 1945 at Lat 30° 47' N Long 128° 8' E roughly 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki. Kasumi Scuttled April 7, 1945 at Lat 31° N, Long 128° E roughly 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki. Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 22, 2025 |
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