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| IJN Myōkō-class Heavy Cruiser 13,000 Tons (as designed) 14,743 Tons (as built) 668' 6" x 68' x 20' 11" (As Built Armament) 10 x 203mm guns (5x2) 6 x 120mm AA guns 2 x 7.7mm MG 12 x 24" torpedo tubes (Final Armament) 10 x 203mm guns (5x2) 8 x 127mm AA guns 8 x 25mm AA guns 2 x quad 13.2mm AA guns 16 x 24" torpedo tubes 1 x catapult with 3 planes |
Ship History Built by Kawasaki Shipyards in Kobe. Laid down April 11, 1925 as a Myōkō-class heavy cruiser, the final vessel after Nachi, Myōkō, and Haguro. Launched April 22, 1928 as Ashigara named after Mount Ashigara on the border between Kanagawa Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. Commissioned August 20, 1929 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Inoue Choji attached to Sasebo Naval District. Wartime History On November 30, 1929 becomes the flagship of CruDiv 4 placed under the command of Captain Hani Rokuro. On October 26, 1930 off Kobe participates in a Naval Review for Emperor Hirohito. On December 1, 1930 placed under the command of Captain Otagaki Tomisaburo. PARTIAL HISTORY On December 14, 1944 arrives Camranh and Vice Admiral Shima transfers his flag to Hyuga. That same day, joins a raiding force under the command of Rear Admiral Kimura Raiding Force for a sortie to bombard the U.S. beachhead at San Jose on Mindoro. On December 24, 1944 departs Camranh with Oyodo and destroyers of DesRon 2 as part of Operation Rei-Go bound for Mindoro. On December 26, 1944 overnight the warships are targeted by U.S. planes including B-25 Mitchells. During the attack, damaged by a 500 pound bomb that causes fire. Aboard, the crew jettisons all torpedoes as every available sailor fights the fires before the flames can reach the torpedo room and aft magazines. On December 27, 1944 in the early morning participates in the shore bomardment of San Jose. During the bombardment, Ashigara fires 200 shells at the U.S. beachhead and departs westward and the next day returns to Camranh Bay. On December 29, 1944 departs Camranh Bay and three days later arrives Singapore. PARTIAL HISTORY On June 7, 1945 departed Batavia (Jakarta) on Java bound for Singapore with 1,600 troops embarked escorted by destroyer Kamikaze. Immediately, USS Blueback (SS-326) reported their departure but was unable to maneuver into an attack position, but her report was received by Royal Navy (RN) submarines HMS Trenchant and HMS Stygian at the northern end of Bangka Strait between Sumatra and Bangka Island. Sinking History On June 8, 1945 in the morning in Bangka Strait, destroyer Kamikaze spotted HMS Trenchant and exchanged fire then lost contact with the submarine then engaged HMS Stygian. Meanwhile, HMS Trenchant submerged and at at 11:48am spotted Ashigara heading northward and moved into position for a difficult torpedo attack from a poor firing position off the cruiser's starboard beam. At 12:12pm fired a spread of eight torpedoes at a range of 4,700 yards. Ashigara spotted the torpedoes and attempted to turn to starboard to avoid them but was trapped between Sumatra to port and a shoal to starboard and was hit by five. Afterwards, HMS Trenchant fired two more torpedoes from her stern tubes that both missed and submerged to escape from Kamikaze that turned to intercept. At 12:30pm sank at Lat 01°59′S Long 104°56′E. Officially struck from the Navy List on August 20, 1945. Fates of the Crew Afterwards, Kamikaze and two fishing vessels rescued 853 crew including Captain Rear Admiral Miura plus 400 passengers. The rest died in the sinking. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes pages 25 (Ashigara), 100 (index Ashigara) Combined Fleet - IJN Ashigara: Tabular Record of Movement Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) United States Navy at War Final Official Report page 49 Contribute
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