June 17, 1945
Location: 75 miles north of Matsue
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 9
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475
Orders: See below
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There are two stories to be told of the Battle of Fukawa Bay. One is the overall tale of the battle, a clash by night between two forces in an area of islands and deep bays. The other is
Hibiki’s tale, and a strange one it turns out to be.
First, the battle itself. It is a dark night. Cloud cover is over fifty percent and the quarter moon slips in and out of view. The powerful American surface forces that had been in the area are absent, having withdrawn to Tsushima to cover the vital incoming convoy. What is present is a bombardment force based around battleships
Arizona,
Nevada, and
Colorado. These are passing the mouth of Fukawa Bay when the approaching Japanese ships are picked up on radar. Screened by the island of Omishima, the Japanese are within 5000 meters before they are detected. The American battleships open fire.
The Japanese are surprised but respond with ferocity and soon inflict damage. Two Allied destroyers are hit hard and
Arizona takes a pair of torpedoes, one each launched by
Asashimo and
Akishimo. But the torpedoes that are the only answer the Japanese have to the armor and firepower of the old American battleships fail them after that. The battle slowly but inexorably turns against Japan. Ship after ship is stricken or lost and only the darkness of the night and the confused nature of the developing battle saves the Japanese from complete destruction.
The second story to be told is
Hibiki’s, and it is a much different tale. At the outset of the battle
Hibiki, along with
Hamanami and
Isokaze, is ordered to follow
Tamanami. The four destroyers are to work their way around the left flank of the Allied destroyer screen and execute a torpedo attack on the enemy battleships.
As it happens, however, they circle too far and by the time they return the battle has moved on. The remainder of the night is a frustrating time. Again and again they see gun flashes in the distance and move towards the battle, only to find that by the time they get there the fighting has gone elsewhere. Several times they find only debris, and survivors struggling in the oily water.
During the search the small flotilla picks up three other destroyers that have become separated from the fighting. These are
Akishimo,
Shimakaze, and
Hayashimo. The latter two have sustained damage but are still seaworthy. Aboard
Shimakaze is Admiral Yamamoto, who transferred there when it became obvious that his flagship
Chikuma was doomed. He orders his much-reduced command to seek for the enemy but nowhere can they be found. The Allied force, damaged and low on ammunition, has withdrawn. At last, with dawn only a couple of hours away, Yamamoto orders his ships to leave the area.
The mood aboard
Hibiki as they withdraw is unhappy. They have just participated in a great naval battle and emerged unscathed yet again. They have fired no weapons, nor were they fired upon. But survival was not their goal. While the men have almost gotten used to survivor’s guilt by now never before have they failed to carry out their assignment. There are many harsh words regarding
Tamanami’s captain. Captain Ishii does not speak but turns the ship over to Lieutenant Miharu and retires to his cabin. Even Lieutenant Sugiyura says nothing. The only thing that betrays his extreme frustration is the clenching of his jaw.
The battle has been a sound tactical defeat. But it might have helped the mood aboard
Hibiki had the crew known that by their very presence they have won an important strategic victory. The Allied command is unwilling to risk their vital troop convoy in the face of such attacks and so the convoy remains in Tsushima Strait.
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The opening of the battle: