HIJNS Suzuya: Sunk by near miss
On 25 October 1944 The Japanese center force attacked Task Force 77.4.3(also known as Taffy 3) off the coast of Samar island in the Philippines. The vulnerable CVE's of the task force had only six screening ships, along with aircraft from the carriers, to fend off a huge Japanese naval force they where never intended or trained to fight. One of the ships the Japanese had during the battle(other than the biggest battleship the world has ever seen) was the heavy crusier Suzuya. As the battle raged ten TBF Avenger's attacked Suzuya and a near miss caused the loss of her port propeller and caused her speed to drop off to aproxamitly 20 knots. Around 0830 Suzuya received Vice Admiral Shiraishi from Kumano. It would not be the last time the Admiral transfered his flag that day. At around 1050 after being engaged in what can only be described as a massive mallae, Suzuya was once again attacked by aircraft. This time by about 30. It is well known that many of the brave aircrews made dry runs at the Japanese ships, but as a Japanese captain all aircraft needed to be regarded as a threat. Some of the planes did still have ordanance and a unforseen chain of events would now follow. Suzuya was not hit directly, but another near miss would send her to the bottom. The bomb missed to the starboard side, causeing the type 93 torpedo in her No. 1 tube to cook off. Fires rage about the ship and ten minutes later more torpedoes begin to explode. With a damaged starboard engine room and the no.7 boiler room flooded the order to abondon ship was given. At 1315 Suzuya rolled onto her starboard side and began the final trip to the bottom of the ocean.
I thought this event was interesting because she was sunk not by the enemy but by her own ordanance. I first learned of it while researching the crusiers need for torpedos in general.
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"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." -General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
"The conqueror is always a lover of peace; he would prefer to take over our country unopposed."-Karl von Clausewitz
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