Battle for Surigao Strait Oct '44

[Helm]

Hey Gang!


      I am interested in the Naval Battle of Surigao Strait that occured in Oct. 1944.  Does anybody know of any books or information on this subject?  I am mostly interested in the Battleship encounter ...but any and all information on the topic would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.



Helm ...out

[Dawger]

The Battle of Leyte Gulf Thomas J. Cutler ISBN1-55750-243-9

History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: Volume XII: Leyte Samuel Eliot Morison

Those are the two in my personal library with the most pertinent information.

[RipChord929]

Wasn't much of a fight..
The Japanese Battleships were the oldest in the Kaigun..
Yamashiro and Fuso were WWI ships, slow and weak
by WWII standards... Even weaker than the US WWI BB's,
(Pearl Harbor survivors) that had been rebuilt and
improved after their sinkings on Dec 7... Of the 6 american
Battleships, 5 had the latest fire director radar..

The fight lasted about an hour or so..

From memory, the Fuso, exploded in 1/2, and floated down the
straight for a few hours before sinking.. Yamashiro didn't
last much longer... After that, the cruisers and DDs were
sitting ducks... Heavy Cruisers, Mogami was sunk, Nachi
heavily damaged, but managed to escape into the darkness..
Also 3 DD's sunk...

Americans had 1 destroyer damaged by friendly fire, and
lost a single PT boat... Some doubt that the Japanese BB's
even landed a single hit...

Check out the (Nihon Kaigun Homepage)..
Tons of info, and cool pics too..

RC

[Helm]

Thank you gentlemen!
   

     I have a giant book on the  "Fuso" .....the book is geared towards model builder ....tons and tons of pictures ....I'll have to dig it out.

I also have a few morison books have to check them as well ...thank you so much for the info


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