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| IJN Chitose-class aircraft carrier As Built (1936-1943) Seaplane carrier/tender 11,200 Tons (standard) 15,300 Tons (fully load) size Seaplane Tender 4 × 127mm (5 in) guns 12 × 25mm AA guns 4 x Catapults 24 Floatplanes Aircraft Carrier 8 × 127mm (5 in) guns 30-48 × 25 mm AA guns 2 x Elevators 30 x Aircraft |
Ship History Built by by Kure Navy Yard at Kure. Laid down November 26, 1934 as a seaplane carrier/tender. Launched November 29, 1936 as Chitose meaning "Thousand Years". On March 1, 1937 Captain Ikeuchi Masamichi becomes Chief Equipping Officer. Commissioned July 25, 1938 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Ikeuchi and registered in the Sasebo Naval District. As a seaplane tender, the warship had four four catapults and carries a complement of Type 94 Kawanishi E7K2 Alf and Type 95 Nakajima E8N2 Dave floatplanes with tail code 3-xx (two digits). On December 15, 1938 Captain Mizui Seiji assumes command. On November 15, 1939 Captain Nishida Masao assumes command and Chitose is assigned as flagship for Admiral Katagiri Eikichi, with Kamoi and Kinugasa Maru of the 17th Sentai for the new 4th Fleet based at Truk Lagoon. During December 1939 arrives at Truk Lagoon supporting operations of twenty-four H6K Mavis flying boats from the Yokohama Kōkūtai (Yokohama Air Group). During December 1939 and into 1940, Chitose, Kamoi and Kinugasa Maru transport construction crews and technicians to build seaplane bases and facilities at Dublon Island for the Dublon Seaplane Base. Next, to Malakal Island in Palau, Roi and Eyebe Seaplane Base in Kwajalein Atoll and Saipan. During the construction, the tenders made several trips to and from Japan to transport additional construction supplies. On June 3, 1940, Captain Nomoto Tameki assumes command. On October 11, 1940 participates in the Imperial Naval Review. Afterwards, arrived at Sasebo on October 15 and undergoes overhaul and repairs. The CO of battleship Kongo, Captain Tanaka Raizo, assumes temporary command of Chitose as an additional duty. On November 15, 1940 Captain Yamamoto Chikao (former CO 15th Air Group) assumes command. On August 20, 1941 Captain Furukawa Tamotsu assumes command. During November 1941, Chitose is in Rear Admiral Fujita Ruitaro's 11th Seaplane Tender Division with Mizuho. Chitose aircraft are coded "YI-xx". On December 2, 1941 arrived at Palau. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 24, 1942 during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons attacked by a pair of SBD Dauntless from USS Saratoga (CV-3) that score two near hits with bombs that damage the vessel. PARTIAL HISTORY On September 28, 1942 departs Kavieng, and arrives at Shortland. On October 3, 1942 departs Shortland as part of a "Tokyo Express" reinforcement mission bound for Guadalcanal with Nisshin escorted by destroyers Nowaki, Maikaze and Akitsuki. Ramming by Chitose F1M2 Pete On October 4, 1942 in the vicinity of New Georgia the convoy was spotted by five B-17 Flying Fortresses that attempted to bomb them at 3:40pm. Intercepted by floatplanes flying Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the fleet, the B-17s claimed two Zeros shot down. During the interception, F1M2 Pete pilot Katsuki Kiyomi deliberately rammed B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9118 from below to prevent it from bombing Nisshin. During the ramming, the B-17's right wing was torn off and damage sustained to the vertical stabilizer, causing it to crash. The ramming damaged the Pete's right wing, but both Katsuki and his observer successfully bail out and were rescued by destroyer Akitsuki. For this attack, Kiyomi earned a commendation and gold chevron. PARTIAL HISTORY On January 26, 1943 at Sasebo Navy Yard began conversion into an aircraft carrier with work underway for the remainder of the year. On January 1, 1944 the conversion was completed and assigned to Carrier Division 3 as part of the Third Fleet. PARTIAL HISTORY October 20, 1944 departs Oita bound for the Philippines for Operation Sho-1-Go (Victory) against the U.S. invasion force off Leyte and results in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Assigned to the Northern Mobile Force under the command of Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa that will serve as a decoy to divert American aircraft carriers. The Northern Mobile Force includes Carrier Division 1 Zuikaku and Zuihō, Chitose and Chiyoda screened by Isuzu with destroyers Kuwa, Sugi, Maki, Kiri, Akizuki, Hatsuzuki, Wakatsuki and Shimotsuki. Carrier Division 4 Hyuga and Ise screened by light cruiser Oyodo and Tama. Assigned to Operation Sho-1-Go (Victory) to the Northern Mobile Force under the command of Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa. The force includes Carrier Division 1 aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Zuihō, Chitose and Chiyoda plus Carrier Division 4 Jyuga and Ise escorted by light cruiser Isuzu, destroyers Kuwa, Sugi, Maki, Kiri, Akizuki, Hatsuzuki, Wakatsuki and Shimotsuki. The warships screen Carrier Division 1 aircraft carriers Zuikaku and Zuihō, Chitose and Chiyoda plus Carrier Division 4 Jyuga and Ise with light cruiser Oyodo and Tama. Sinking History On October 25, 1944 during the Battle off Cape Engaño attacked by carrier planes including TBM Avengers from VT-21 from USS Belleau Wood and TBM Avengers from VT-51 from USS San Jacinto (CVL-30). At 8:35am the planes score a hit on Chitose that floods, lost power and developed a list. At 9:25 Isuzu unsuccessfully attempts to tow the damaged carrier. At 9:37am rolls over onto her port side and sinks at roughly Lat 19° 20' N, Long 126° 20' E. Fates of the Crew Chitose sank with the loss of 903 crew including Captain Kishi Yoshiyuki. Rescue Afterwards, Isuzu rescues 480 crew and Shimotsuki rescues 121 crew before they withdraw with black smoke on the horizon as U.S. warships approach. References Imperial Japanese Navy Aces (1998) pages 42, 68, 102, 104 (ace list) 109 IJN Seaplane Carrier Chitose: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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