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| IJN Tone-class Heavy Cruiser 11,213 Tons (standard) 15,442 Tons (full) 620' 5" x 63' 8" x 20' 4" 8 x 20cm guns (4x2) 8 x 127mm guns 6 x 25mm AA guns 12 x 24" torpedo tubs 6 x floatplanes |
Ship History Built by Mitsubishi at Nagasaki. Laid down October 1, 1935 as a Tone-class heavy cruiser. Launched March 19, 1938 as Chikuma 筑摩 named for the Chikuma River on Honshu in Japan. Commissioned May 20, 1939 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Hidehiko Nishio, attached to Yokosuka Naval District. PARTIAL HISTORY On March 1, 1942 Vice Admiral Nagumo orders BatDiv 3/2 Hiei and Kirishima and CruDiv 8 Tone and Chikuma to intercept an enemy light cruiser, actually USS Edsall (DD-219). At 4:02pm Chikuma opens fire with her main guns at extremely long range as the destroyer lays a smoke screen and begins evasive maneuvers. At 4:20pm ordered to charge an identify the target as a destroyer. At 5:18pm closes on the destroyer and opens fire hitting and sinking the target. Afterwards, Chikuma rescues seven or eight survivors and became Prisoners Of War (POW). On March 2, 1942 rejoins the carrier striking force. On March 4, 1942 with destroyer Urakaze sink MV Enggano that was damaged three days earlier. On March 5, 1942 Chikuma floatplanes strike Tjilatjap on Java. On March 11, 1942 arrives Staring Bay on Celebes (Sulawesi) and the the POWs were disembarked to the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) at Kendari and are later executed. PARTIAL HISTORY Sinking History On October 25, 1944 at 12:30am during the Battle off Samar, Force "A" (Central Force) exits the San Bernardino Strait and proceeds eastward until 3:00am when it turns southeast towards Leyte Gulf. At 6:44am spotted by U.S. Navy planes. At 6:58am opens fire at Taffy 3 escort carriers and escorting destroyers. At 7:06am Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague orders the destroyers to launch torpedoes. In a single column steaming at 33 knots to the southeast, the cruiser close on the escort carriers. After Kumano is damaged by a torpedo Chikuma becomes the ad hoc flagship of CruDiv 7. At 7:30am Chikuma and Tone turn to the east southeast and engage the escort carriers. At 8:53am Chikuma is targeted by four TBM Avengers and is hit by a Mark 13 torpedo that disables her port screw and rudder and two minutes later goes dead in the water. At 9:07am Chikuma reports being unable to move. At 9:20am reports she lost a shaft but was able to make 18 knots but unable to steer. At 9:30am reports making 9 knots. An hour later, Force "A" reverses course towards Leyte Gulf. At 11:05am Chikuma is targeted by five TBM Avengers from VC-5 from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) and anti-aircraft ammunition is almost expended and is hit in the port side amidships by two torpedoes and her engine rooms flood, lost power and stops dead in the water with a list to port. At 11:10am destroyer Nowaki is dispatched to assist. At 2:15pm, Chikuma is targeted by three TBM Avengers from VC-75 from USS Omanney Bay (CVE-79) and is hit by three torpedoes on her pot side amidships. Around 2:30pm, capsizes and sinks by stern at roughly 11-52N, 126-36E. Rescue After the sinking, destroyer Nowaki rescues approximately 120 crew but was sunk the next day with all hands. References Combined Fleet IJN Chikuma: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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