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| IJN Fusō-class battleship 29,330 Tons (standard) 35,900 tons (full load) 630' 3" x 94' 2" x 28' 7" 6x2 356mm guns 14 x 152mm guns 4x2 127mm DP guns 8x3, 6x2 25mm AA guns 23 25mm AA guns 3 x floatplanes 1 x catapult |
Ship History Built by Kure Naval Arsenal at Kure. Laid down March 11, 1912 as the lead ship Fusō-class battleship. Launched March 28, 1914 as Fusō the classical name for Japan. Also spelled Fuso in English sources. Commissioned November 8, 1915 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). On December 13, 1915 assigned to the 1st Division, 1st Fleet under the command of Captain Kōzō Satō. During World War I, Fuso was engaged in escort duties and patrolled off the coast of China. During 1917 and 1918 flagship of the 1st Division. During 1918, placed into reserve and five 76.2 anti-aircraft guns were added. During September 1923 provided humanitarian support for the Kanto earthquake. On July 1, 1924 placed under the command of Captain Yonai Mitsumasa. On November 1, 1924 placed under the command of Captain Takahashi Sankichi. During the 1920s, conducted training cruises off China and was often placed in reserve status. During April 1930 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for modernization with machinery replaced, armor reinforcement and torpedo bulges added. On May 12, 1933 underwent sea trials after the modifications. Later that year began further modernization including the lengthening of the stern completed by March 1935. During November 1935 Captain Jinichi Kusaka assumed command until December 1936. For the next two years, used for training. During February 1937 begins another phase of modernization. On December 1937 placed under the command of Hiroaki Abe. On April 1, 1938 placed under the command of Ruitaro Fujita. On November 15, 1938 returned to the 1st Division. In early 1939, operates off China. PARTIAL HISTORY On October 22, 1944 at 3:30pm departs Brunei bound for the Philippines. On October 24, 1944 at 9:08am Fuso, Yamashiro and Mogami while underway in the Sulu Sea are targeted by 27 carrier planes including TBF Avengers and SB2C Helldivers escorted by F6F Hellcat from USS Enterprise (CV-6). During the attack, a bomb destroyed the catapult and floatpanes. A second bomb hit near the no. 2 turret and penetrated the deck killing the no. 1 secondary gun turret crew and the battleship began listing 2° starboard. Sinking History On October 25, 1944 at 1:05am fired at a shape spotted off the port bow that was actually Mogami and hit with a 152mm shell that although a dud killed three crew aboard. At 2:50pm at the start of the Battle for Leyte Gulf during the Battle of the Surigao Strait thirty-nine PT boats attack Force "C". At 0250, thirty-nine PT boats attack Force "C" with Fuso and Yamashiro opening fire with their 6" secondary guns as their supporting destroyers illuminated the PT boats that make a torpedo attack but all missed. By 2:54am, Desron 54's western section makes radar contact. At 2:56am Shigure lookouts spot three destroyers: USS Melvin (DD-680), USS Remey (DD-688) and USS McGowan (DD-678) at 9,000 yards. The Yamashiro uses her searchlights in an attempt to illuminate them but they are too far away to be seen. At roughly 3:00am, USS Melvin (DD-680), USS Remey (DD-688) and USS McGowan (DD-678) launch a total of twenty-seven Mark 15 torpedoes before they are engaged by gunfire from Yamashiro and her escorting destroyers. At 3:09am while underway at 17 knots, Fuso is hit in the starboard side by one or two of the torpedoes from USS Melvin (DD-680) that cause fires and reduces her speed. Damaged, Fuso turns to starboard out of formation and reverses course back down the Surigao Strait making roughly 10 knots. Meanwhile, at 3:38am fires aboard Fuso reaches her magazines. At roughly 3:45am Fuso explodes, capsizes and sinks. The stern flounders until about 6:40am off Kanihaan Island southeast of the bow. Officially removed from the Navy list August 31, 1945. Fates of the Crew Most of her crew of apporimately 1,400 went down with the ship. A small number of her crew were rescued by destroyer Asagumo which was also sunk soon afterwards. Some of the crew might have reached Leyte but were killed by Filipinos. Also, U.S. Navy attempted to rescue some of her crew but they refused rescue. At least ten of the crew were rescued and did survive. Shipwreck During late 2017 RV Petrel discovered the shipwreck of Fuso upside down at a depth of 607' / 185m on the sea floor. The hull was intact with the bow broken and angled away where it sustained a torpedo hit. The pagoda mast was brokenoff and laying away from the hull. The discovery of the shipwreck contradicts the claim the battleship broke into two pieces. References IJN Fuso: Tabular Record of Movement Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses pages 16 (Fuso), 103 (index Fuso) Contribute
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 607' / 185m |
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