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25 Nov 1945

ww2dbaseBiographies

TSUDA (TSUGAWA), Hiroaki, Captain, I.J.N.

TSUDA served 22 years in the regular Navy. He was Navigator of the Hyuga (BB) at the Battle of MIDWAY and later Navigator of the Yamato (BB) during the Battle of the PHILIPPINES, 25-26 October 1944. He was very cooperative throughout the interrogation and assisted, by means of a personal notebook, in checking previously submitted navigation track charts of the actions in which he participated.

Navigator, Hyuga (BB)		1941-1943
Navigator, Yamato (BB)		1945-1945
Hydrographic Officer	TOKYO	1945

INOUE, Isamu, Captain, I.J.N.

INOUE served 21 years in the regular Navy. During this period he specialized in aircraft communications. He was Air Officer on the Chitose (CVE) in the Transport Force at the Battle of MIDWAY, and in the Detached Unit at the Battle of Eastern SOLOMON, 23-25 August 1945. Although this officer was in only minor action he appeared reticent about providing information concerning his ship. However the information obtained was verified by official documents.

Training Department, Air Headquarters	TOKYO	1939-1941
Air Officer, Chitose (CVE)		1941-1942
Staff Officer, Naval Base	YOKOSUKA	1942-1944
Commanding Officer, YOKOSUKA Air Group		1944-1945
Staff Officer, 10th Air Fleet		1945
Staff Officer, 15th Combined Air Group		1945

SHIBATA, Otokichi, Commander, I.J.N.

SHIBATA served 20 years in the regular Navy as a line officer. At the Battle of MIDWAY he was Navigator of the Suzuya (CA), operating in the 7th Cruiser Division. Following this assignment he served on several Escort Fleet Staffs, and was cognizant of convoy problems and losses. Although his ship had not been attacked, he displayed a professional knowledge of other ships of his division which had been damaged. His statements have been verified through other interrogations and official records.

Navigator, Suzuya (CA)		1941-1942
Staff, Southwest Area Fleet, Ashigara (F)		1942-1943
Navy Department	TOKYO	1943-1944
Staff, First Escort Fleet	TAKAO, MOJI	1944-1945
Staff, Shipping Department	UJIMA	1945

NISHIKAWA, Lieutenant Commander, I.J.N.

NISHIKAWA served about 8 years in the regular Navy. At the Battle of MIDWAY he was Gunnery Officer of the Mogami (CA) which was damaged by dive-bombers. Information obtained from this officer was later verified by the Commanding Officer of the Mogami.

Gunnery Officer, Mogami (CA)	1941-1943
Gunnery Officer, Iwate (OCA)	1943-1945

Interrogation

INTERROGATION NAV NO. 66
USSBS NO. 295
MIDWAY-EASTERN SOLOMONS-PHILIPPINES

TOKYO
7 NOVEMBER 1945

Interrogation of: Captain TSUDA, Hiroaki, IJN; Chief Navigator of the Hyuga from September 1941 to February 1943; Chief Navigator on the Yamato from February 1943 to February 1945.

Captain INOUYE, Isamu, IJN; flight commanding officer aboard the Chitose from November 1941 to September 1942.

Commander SHIBATA, Otokichi, IJN; navigator, Suzuya (CA) at MIDWAY.

Lieutenant Commander NISHIKAWA, IJN; gunnery officer on Mogami (CA) at MIDWAY.

Interrogated by: Captain C. Shands, USN.

Summary:

This interrogation consists of miscellaneous notes pertaining to the Battle of MIDWAY, Eastern SOLOMONS and the PHILIPPINES. Its purpose is to supplement other interrogations on these battles.

Transcript:

Captain Tsuda, Hiroaki, IJN

Q. What ships were in your formation at MIDWAY?
A. We were a supporting group for the KISKA-ADAK force. We broke off from the Main Body about 1 June and took up a position in the vicinity of 40° to 44°N, 171°E where we were to intercept any American forces passing through that vicinity to attack either the KISKA or MIDWAY forces. Our forces included:

Second (battleship) Squadron, Vice Admiral TOKASU, S. -- Ise, Hyuga, Yamashiro.
Ninth (cruiser) Squadron -- Kitagami, Oi.
Third (destroyer) Squadron -- Sendai and 12 DDs.
(CVL) Zuiho and 1 DD.
No. 2 Supply Group: Sacremento-Maru, Tora-Maru, 1 DD.

Q. Were you ever attacked by aircraft?
A. No. We received a signal on 5 June (-9) to go south to MIDWAY to reinforce the carriers with the Main Body. We expected attack at that time but none was received. After joining the Main Body we returned to JAPAN instead of continuing to MIDWAY.

Q. What effect did the Battle of MIDWAY have upon your future plans?
A. The Battle of MIDWAY was the beginning of the Japanese failure in the war. I do not mean that this was the decisive battle of the war, but the loss of our carriers and some of our best pilots and officers affected us throughout the war. It called for the reorganization of the carrier divisions and the Naval Air Force in general. Due to the loss of ships we were unable to meet the Americans in force in the SOLOMONS. A big problem was the replenishment of planes and pilots. Our training organization was unable to keep up with the losses.

Q. Were you on board the Yamato (BB) when it was sunk?
A. No, I had left it a month before.

Q. Did the damage received from air attack on 24 October 1944 effect the navigation or fighting ability of the Yamato?
A. No, it caused only about one-half knot less in speed. No damage was done to the turret. One hit was on the port side of the bow, the other amidships on the bow.

Q. During the battle east of SAMAR on 25 October, did it receive any hits?
A. One or two 15cm. shell hits in the stern from cruisers. No effect on the ability of the ship. There were no hits on any ship during the battle by destroyer torpedoes.

Q. What caused the damage to the Chokai and Chikuma?
A. Aircraft attack. On the 26th, Yamato received two more hits from dive-bombers and also minor damage from the B-24 attack. The bombs from the B-24's did not hit but some landed very near to the bridge on the starboard side. The fragments did a little damage to the bridge, killed about 12 men and wounded about 60, including Admiral KOYANAGI. The bombs that landed on the port side were a little farther away so caused no damage.

Q. What was your estimate of the speed of the U.S. carriers?
A. When they were sighted after we came through SAN BERNARDINO Strait, we thought that they were making about 20 knots.
Later on they increased to 30 knots. Another group was estimated at 30 knots as they pulled away.

Q. What action did the Japanese force take from 0930 until 1300 after breaking off the battle?
A. From 0930 until 1300 we pursued the carriers into the smoke screen in an attempt to continue the attack, but by 1300 had lost contact. Since we were low on fuel we turned north in the hopes of finding the other group.

Q. Did the lack of fuel effect your decision to enter LEYTE Gulf?
A. The chief reason for not entering the Gulf was the delay resulting both from heavy air attacks on the day before and from the engagement with your carrier force. The lack of fuel was incidental. The principal reason was the delay.

Captain INOUYE, Isamu, IJN

Q. What was the mission of the Chitose at MIDWAY?
A. We were part of the Eleventh Flying Squadron which was going to set up a seaplane base at KURE Island or EASTERN Island. The Kamikawa Maru and the tanker Nichiei Maru were also with us. We were stationed about 6,000 meters astern of the main transport group. We were with the convoy when it left SAIPAN.

Q. Were you attacked during the MIDWAY Battle?
A. No. The main body of transports ahead of us were attacked once by horizontal-bombers during the day of 3 June (-12) and again by torpedo planes during the night of 3-4 June. The only damage reported was during the night attack. We approached to within about 400 miles of MIDWAY then reversed course, joining the Main Body later.

Q. Was the Chitose present in any other battle?
A. While I was on it, it was present in the Battle of the Eastern SOLOMONS, 23-25 August 1942. We were attacked by two dive-bombers just before sunset on the 24th, I think. There were two near misses, one on the port side astern and one off the starboard bow. The fragments hit the ship but there were no casualties or damage. The two destroyers with us were not attacked.

Commander SHIBATA, Otokichi, IJN

Q. What was your mission at MIDWAY?
A. CruDiv 7 was an indirect escort for the transports in a position on the flank during the first few days out of GUAM. Later took up a position between 75 to 100 miles ahead of the transports during the approach to MIDWAY. In the transport group there were about 15-16 vessels. Six or eight were special navy transports, other Army and supply vessels. The Chitose (CVS) was also with this group.

Q. Were you ever attacked during your approach?
A. CruDiv 7 was not attacked until the retirement. We received a message that the transports had been attacked 3 June. I do not know the circumstances.

Q. What were your orders following the aircraft carrier battle on 4 June?
A. We were proceeding to MIDWAY to attack. During the night a submarine contact was received. We turned away but the Mogami collided with the Mikuma. The bow of the Mogami was badly damaged. The collision occurred at about 28°N, 179°W.

Q. When did you receive your first air attack?
A. The Kumano and Suzuya were never attacked. We were a few miles ahead of the Mogami and Mikuma which were attacked in the early morning of 6 (-9) June by both horizontal- and dive-bombers. The ships were not hit by bombs at that time. One plane which was hit just astern of the Mikuma dove into the deck striking the rear turret.

Q. Did that plane sink the Mikuma?
A. No, it started fires and reduced its speed a little. It was later sunk by other dive-bombers. Since the Mikuma and Mogami could only make about 15 knots, the Kumano and Suzuya increased speed to about 26 knots and rejoined the main body.

Q. What was your position in relation to the Mogami and Mikuma when the Mikuma sank?
A. We were about 50 miles ahead. The Mogami and Mikuma were attacked two or three times by dive-bombers. No torpedo planes or horizontal-bombers attacked that day. Both cruisers and the two destroyers were also hit. The Mogami was hit four or five times by bombs. I think that the Mikuma was hit about ten times in all. One destroyer was hit in the stern early in the battle. Not much damage except from fire. The other destroyer was also hit in the stern. We received a message saying that about half of the survivors from the Mikuma were killed when the second destroyer was hit.

Q. Where did you go after the Mikuma was sunk?
A. We continued northwest joining the Main Body about 0600, 7 June (-9). We retired to the west, then CruDiv 4 (ATAGO, Chokai) and CruDiv 7 (Kumano, Suzuya) broke off from the Main Body and went south. That was about 0900, 7 June (-9). We rendezvoused with the Mogami and two destroyers at 0600, 8 June. We went direct to TRUK. Later the Mogami returned to JAPAN.

Q. During the period of retirement were you attacked by aircraft?
A. No we were never attacked, although we worried about it while we were refueling.

Lieutenant Commander NISHIKAWA, IJN

Q. Give a description of the Mogami-Mikuma collision and the damage received by the Mogami at MIDWAY.
A. Cruiser Division 7 (CA). composed of Kumano, Suzuya, Mikuma and Mogami, Rear Admiral KURITA, OTC, were an indirect escort for the transports of the occupation force. The night following the carrier battle the heavy cruisers were proceeding towards MIDWAY to carry out attack. A submarine contact was reported on our starboard bow. An emergency turn left was executed by all ships but the Mogami. It collided with the port quarter of the Mikuma. The bow of the Mogami was badly damaged, principally above the water line. The Mikuma only suffered minor damage above the water line. At 0300, 5 June (+12) we were ordered to retire. About two hours later we were attacked by both horizontal-bombers and a few dive-bombers. No bomb hits were made by either attack but one plane dove into the deck of the Mikuma inflicting some damage. Due to the damage to the Mogami and Mikuma, the other two cruisers increased speed and turned to the northwest to join the Main Body. The Mikuma and Mogami retired to the west. The next day we were attacked by about 40 SBD's. The Mogami received four bomb hits killing about 100 men, but it was able to navigate and later joined the remainder of the division. The Mikuma was sunk. No horizontal-bombing attacks were received except the first day attack.
ww2dbase

Source(s):
United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) Interrogation of Japanese Officials [OPNAV-P-03-100], courtesy of ibilio Hyperwar Project

Added By:
C. Peter Chen

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