 Momi, 4 September 1944 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Momi |
| Ordered | 1942 |
| Builder | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal |
| Laid down | 2 January 1944 |
| Launched | 16 June 1944 |
| Completed | 7 September 1944 |
| Stricken | 10 March 1945 |
| Fate | Sunk by aircraft, 5 January 1945 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | Matsu-classescort destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,282 t (1,262long tons) (standard) |
| Length | 100 m (328 ft 1 in) (o/a) |
| Beam | 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in) |
| Draft | 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power | 2 ×water-tube boilers; 19,000 shp (14,000 kW) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × gearedsteam turbines |
| Speed | 27.8knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph) |
| Range | 4,680 nmi (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 210 |
| Sensors & processing systems | |
| Armament |
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Momi (樅; translation: "White fir") was aMatsu-classdestroyer of theImperial Japanese Navy (IJN) built duringWorld War II. Completed in late 1944, the ship was designed as ananti-submarine escort and defended convoys between Japan and its occupied territories during the war. She was sunk with the loss of all hands on 5 January 1945 by an Americantorpedo bomber in theSouth China Sea.
Designed for ease of production, theMatsu class was smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers as the IJN intended them for second-line duties like escorting convoys, releasing the larger ships for missions with the fleet.[1] The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) longoverall, with abeam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and adraft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in).[2] Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men.[3] They displaced 1,282metric tons (1,262long tons) atstandard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.[4] The ships had twoKampon gearedsteam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft using steam provided by two Kamponwater-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 19,000shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for a speed of 27.8knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph). TheMatsus had a range of 4,680nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[5]
The main armament of theMatsu-class ships consisted of three127-millimeter (5 in) Type 89dual-purpose guns in one twin-gun mount aft and one single mount forward of thesuperstructure. The single mount was partially protected againstspray by agun shield. The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnerydirector was fitted. The ships carried a total of 25Type 96 25-millimeter (1 in)anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 13 single mounts. TheMatsus were equipped withType 13early-warning andType 22 surface-search radars.[6] The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mountamidships for 610-millimeter (24 in)torpedoes. They could deliver their 36depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.[2][6]
Authorized in the late 1942Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program,[7]Momi waslaid down on 2 January 1944 at theYokosuka Naval Arsenal andlaunched on 16 June.[8] Upon her completion on 7 September,Kaya was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 11 of theCombined Fleet for training. Between 25 October and 2 November, together with the destroyerHinoki, she escorted theaircraft carriersRyūhō andKaiyō on a transport mission fromSasebo toKeelung,Japanese Taiwan, then returned toKure. She was assigned to Destroyer Division 52 on 15 November; the division was transferred to Escort Squadron 31 of the5th Fleet five days later.[9]
Together with the destroyersShigure andHinoki,Momi was part of the escort for the aircraft carrierUnryū in mid-December. Because an American invasion fleet had been spotted approaching the Philippine Islands,Unryū was intended to deliver a squadron of 30Ohkakamikaze planes toManila. The task force sailed west through theShimonoseki Straits on 17 December to avoid American submarines, then turned south. Two days later, the convoy encountered the submarineUSS Redfish which sankUnryū.[10]Momi andShigure picked up 146 survivors[9] between them whileHinoki unsuccessfully attempted sink the American submarine.Momi andHinoki shaped course forTakao, Japanese Taiwan, later that day andShigure remained behind to find theRedfish.[10] From there, they steamed toManila, thePhilippines, on 22–24 December and then toCam Ranh Bay in occupiedFrench Indochina andCape St. Jacques on 25–28 December. From there the pair escorted the ex-Italianreefer shipIkutagawa Maru from Cape St. Jacques to Manila, arriving on 4 January 1945.[9][11]
The following day the trio attempted to leave Manila for Indochina despite the presence of a nearby Allied convoy headed towardsLingayen Gulf. The two destroyers were spotted by American aircraft as heading directly for their convoy, so theIkutagawa Maru may have already separated herself from her escorts by this time, and the three ships comprising the convoy's escort attempted to intercept them.[9][12][11] The American destroyerUSS Bennion led the two Australian ships, thefrigateGascoyne and thesloopWarrego towards the Japanese ships. The destroyer's radar picked up the Japanese convoy at 15:48 at a range of 23,300 yd (21,300 m) and her lookouts spotted the ships two minutes later.Bennion then slowed to the frigate's best speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) to allow her to catch up. Not long afterwards, the Allied ships were spotted in their turn by the Japanese who promptly reversed course back towards Manila. They opened fire at a range of 18,700 yards (17,100 m) at 15:57 and began making asmoke screen.Bennion replied a minute later andGascoyne opened fire at 16:03, but it fell about a nautical mile short of the Japanese ships. The American ship increased her speed at 16:11 in an attempt to close the range and opened fire again at 16:24 at 17,400 yards (15,900 m) distance. The range had decreased to 14,300 yards (13,100 m) by 16:36 and the ship'scaptain ordered rapid and continuous fire a minute later. The American destroyer reversed course at 16:40 when the ship'scaptain was informed that nearby Americanescort carriersTask Group 77.2 had launched anairstrike of 16 torpedo bombers and 19 fighters. By this time,Bennion was 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) from its convoy and had expended 349 five-inch rounds without scoring a single hit.[12]Momi was hit by a torpedo and blew up with the loss of all hands at14°0′N120°20′E / 14.000°N 120.333°E /14.000; 120.333. The ship was stricken from thenavy list on 10 March.[9]
 Imperial Japanese Navy | |
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 Republic of China Navy | |
 Soviet Navy |
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