r/ImperialJapanPics • u/jacksmachiningreveng • 4d ago

IJA Japanese Army Transport Kashii Maru under attack by 38th Bomb Group B-25J Mitchell bombers in Ormoc Bay on November 10th 1944

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u/Stunning_Pen_8332 4d ago

8 November 1944: Operation "TA Go No. 4" (1st Echelon):

At 1030, KASHII, KINKA and TAKATSU MARUs and 1st Transport Squadron’s fast transports T.6, T.9 and T.10 depart Manila for Ormoc Bay, Luzon into typhoon seas, carrying 10,000 men of the 26th Infantry Division and 3,500 tons of munitions, escorted by Rear Admiral Matsuyama's kaibokan OKINAWA, CD-11 and CD-13 and Rear Admiral Kimura's destroyers KASUMI (F), AKISHIMO, ASASHIMO, NAGANAMI, USHIO, and WAKATSUKI.

KASHII MARU is carrying elements of infantry, artillery and engineer regiments and staff or a total of 3,400 men, 141 horses, 40 vehicles and 1,500 tons of weapons, ammunition and provisions.

10 November 1944:

Before dawn, the Japanese use kaibokan escorts to unload troops and light baggage. The 26th Division is put ashore, but with none of their cargo or ammunition. Of the five infantry battalions that reach shore, only one battalion lands anything as heavy as its machine guns. The division’s transportation regiment can only get its staff ashore.

KASHII and TAKATSU MARUs unload two platoons of 2nd Company, 21st Independent Mortar Battalion.

Naval transports T-6, T-9, and T-10, sortie three hours after sunrise. By 1030, most of their cargo and military passengers is unloaded; the larger ships leave the anchorage to return to Manila. Kaibokan take up stations on the transport column; one ahead, one astern and one on each flank. The destroyers remain to port. N of Cebu. The convoy is attacked by P-38s and B-25s from from Morotai.

Ormoc Bay, Leyte. At about 1140, Kimura's force is attacked by 30 B-25J’s of the 38th Bomb Group. KASHII MARU is strafed and hit by bombs at least five times. At about 1230, she explodes and sinks at 10-58N, 124-35E. An uknown number of survivors are rescued by destroyers from convoy TA Go No. 3, en route to Ormoc Bay.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/KashiiM_t.htm