Lunatic6 is probably going to post a lot more information, but without translation, I'm going to guess this has to do with the survivors of Leyte / abandoned ships of Singapore.
In the first Battle of Leyte Gulf (Battle of Sibyuan Sea), it's mostly known for Hallsey completely overkilling Musashi, and letting almost everyone else in the Japanese main center force get away. However, Myoukou took a torpedo to her aft starboard side that took out some of her propellers, so she had to return to Japan for repairs. On the way, the submarine USS Skate hit her with a spread of torpedoes in the aft port side, completely destroying her stern. She was able to be towed back to port by Ushio, but was considered too extensively damaged to be worth repairing at that point in the war. (After Leyte, it was obvious Japan would never again win a naval battle.) Myoukou was left crippled in port at Singapore as a sort of ad-hoc AA turret.
Takao has a similar story - also part of Kurita's Central fleet, she didn't even get as far as Sibyuan Sea, and was hit by, you guessed it, ANOTHER sub, USS Darter, which crippled her screws and flooded some of her aft boiler rooms. She was towed back to Singapore by Naganami and Asashio, where she, too, was considered not worth repairing. They sawed off her stern, and used her as an AA battery as well.
Both were hit by British midget subs, but didn't really sink because they were at port.
They were still afloat (as was Ushio) when the war ended, but nobody wanted a half-destroyed Japanese cruiser at that point, so they were scrapped. Ushio made it home to Japan, but was also scrapped in 1948.
Ushio was in Yokosuka from January 1945 and thus did not take part in Operation Ten-Go - the Yamato task force drew its ships from Kure.
You're right, my mistake... I must have had her mixed up with someone else. There were a few destroyers that lived (but only a couple that are actually in KanColle - Yukikaze and Hatsushimo) but all of them but Yukikaze was either not repaired or hit a mine afterwards and was scrapped.
Hatsushimo struck a mine three months after Operation Ten-Go near Maizuru and sank, becoming the last Japanese destroyer sunk in the war, and that's the only notable fact about her as well... =P
Myoukou's last active duty on the seas was on December 12, 1944, she was attached to Convoy HI-82 together with Ushio, the convoy was en route to Camranh Bay from Singapore. On December 13, 1944, USN submarine USS Bergall SS-320 was assigned to lay naval mines within Royalist Bank, at 17:55, Bengall, from her periscope. spotted a ship 35,000 yards away from her position. Bengall makes full speed and approached the detected ships, she reduced her speed to 18 knots to avoid detection at 18:45. 30 minutes later, Bengall made contact with the convoy 26,000 yards from her position.
At 20:11, Bengall's target was clearly on sight, she spotted the nearly-repaired Myoukou (she received limited repairs ever since she was struck by a torpedo during the Battle of Sibuyan Sea on October 24, 1944 which reduced her speed to 15 knots, she received emergency repairs in Seletar Naval Base, Singapore) while being escorted by a damaged Ushio (she also took damage from an airstrike during her stay at Manila which reduced her speed to 18 knots). At 21:35, Bengall fires six torpedoes at Myoukou from 3,300 yards within 6 feet below sea level. At 21:40, one of the six torpedoes struck Myoukou's afterdeck that torn off her stern, drifted in the seas and sunk afterwards, but despite of the blown-off stern, Myokou's mainmast sustained no damage.
At 20:06, Ushio made contact with the submarine and fired her first salvo, Bengall was struck on her port side which hit the back of the forward torpedo loading trunk’s hatch, tore through it, and exited out the pressure hull starboard at frame 35 without detonating. Then another salvo was fired from 200 yards away which pierced trhough Bengall's port side bow and leaved an 8 to 10 inch diameter hole on her hull; she lost her ability to dive. And a third salvo made a near-miss at Bengall's starboard bow before the submarine could manage to escape.
The damaged she received from Bengall further dropped Myoukou's speed and lost her steering. Despite of Myoukou's poor condition, CO. Ishiwara ordered to save Myoukou. Her crewmen worked very hard to put out the fires on her deck and patched several holes to prevent further flooding. Though Ushio doesn't had the enough power to tow Myoukou to safety, Ushio agreed to assist Myoukou on her steering so the two steamed at 6 knots. On December 15, 1944, fires from Myoukou was finally put out, the two encountered Tatabe Maru. Tatabe Maru towed Myoukou while Ushio remained on guard, they steamed at 5 knots. On December 16, 1944, at 08:15, Ushio detached from the group and headed to Saigon. On December 17, 1944, Vice Admiral Hashimoto, commander of the CruDiv 5, ordered Kasumi and Hatsushimo to rescue Myoukou.
On December 18, 1944, at 15:00, Kasumi and Hatsushiomo arrived alongside Myoukou and commenced towing operation. At 15:30, an air-raid alert was declared, Kasumi and Hatsushimo slightly moved away from Myoukou while her tired crewmen manned her anti-aircraft guns. Two hours had passed, no attacks were made, Myoukou successfully passed through Saigon. The alert was cancelled and Kasumi and Myoukou resumed their towing operation. On December 19, at 02:38, the group passed through a storm, the towing cable lines snapped, Kasumi tried to restore the cable lines within the darkness while Hatsushimo remained on guard for any possible enemy submarines within the area. The typhoon had sank and caused extensive damaged several ships from the USN TF-38, the typhoon was named 'Halsey's Typhoon'. The typhoon caused them to temporary halted the operation, they were stranded for four days waiting for the seas to calm. At 10:50, Haguro and Chiburi arrived to encouraged them. On December 20, 1944, Kasumi detached from the group and headed for St. James, Kasumi was replaced by Chidori on December 21.
They started to made further progress on December 23, 1944. The weather somehow becomes moderately calmed, Haguro decided that she would tow Myoukou. Then on December 25, 1944 at 02:38, Myoukou finally arrived at Seletar Harbor where she never received full repairs and was converted as a floating AA battery together with Takao to defend Singapore.
Bengall also had her own epic odyssey on her way to Australia but that's another story.
Takao's Stand
On November 12, 1944, Takao arrived at Singapore, three days later CruDiv 6 was deactivated, she was transferred to CruDiv 5. Takao was declared irreparable and was impossible to be towed to Japan thus she was converted into a floating AA battery to defend Singapore. On January 11, 1945, Takao fired 37 rounds from her main gun turrets and 481 rounds from her high-angled guns, she was able to shot down a B-29. She was covered by palm leaves to pretend that she was still at her sortieing state. On February 1, 1945, 113 B-29 bombers from USAAF were dispatched from Tinian to bomb Seletar Harbor, the bombers bombed the former Admiralty IX Floating Drydock and the West Wall area of the base.
On July 26, 1945, the British commenced Operation Struggle to put out Takao and Myoukou, they sent two midget submarines, one for each cruisers. British submarine HMS Stygian towed midget-submarine HMS XE3 commanded by S/Lt Frank Ogden while submarine HMS Spark towed midget-submarine XE1 commanded by Lt J. E. Smart, S/Lt Ogden was ordered to take out Takao. On July 30, 1946, at 06:00, S/Lt. Ogden turned over XE3 to S/Lt. Ian Fraser, at 23:00, XE3 slipped through tow.
On July 30, 1945, XE3 spotted Takao at 12:50, Fraser maneuvered XE3 into position under Takao with only a foot of water between the midget submarine and the cruiser's keel. Leading Seaman Magennis planted six limpet mines spread across 45 feet of Takao's hull. Then XE3 dropped two cargoes, one carries two tons of HE explosives and the other was and empty limpet carrier. Takao suddenly settled with the tides which trapped the midget submarine under Takao's bilge keel. Magennis once again came out from the midget submarine and releases them from the cruiser's keel. At 21:30, the mines exploded leaving a 23 by 10 feet hole on Takao's starboard hull and her keel buckles, the blast disabled her turrets and damaged her rangefinder, though she didn't sink from it.
After the formal surrender of Japan, she was surrendered on September 5, 1945, she boarded by the British on September 21, 1945, same fate with Myoukou. On July 8, 1946, Myoukou was scuttled while on October 27, 1946, Takao was scuttled.
Kamikaze's Tale
Kamikaze was notable during the Battle of Malacca Strait on May 16, 1945. Kamikaze was assigned to escort Haguro for a transport run from Singapore to Andamans, the initial operation was cancelled due to enemy sight but it was resumed on May 14, 1945 but the operation was once again aborted as they received a report that two British destroyer squadrons were sighted. As the two reverse course for Singapore, British 26th Destroyer Flotilla, which composed of HMS Saumarez, HMS Verulam, HMS Venus, HMS Vigilant, and HMS Virago, were ordered to intercept the IJN ships. HMS Venus had made the first contact from 34 nautical miles.
The British destroyers formed a crescent shape to trap the IJN ships. Then at 01:05, the destroyers commenced firing, Kamikaze and Hagure were struck by several hits, Saumares charged the ships and raked them with her 40mm guns. Haguro returned fire with her 8 inch salvos and hit Saumares. At 01:15, Saumares and Verulam fired three torpedoes at Haguro, at 01:25, Venus fired another torpedo, moments later Virago fires another torpedo and the last torpedo was fired by Vigilant at 02:09, Haguro sunk at 02:32. Vice Admiral Hashimoto and Rear Admiral Sugiura were killed. Kamikaze proceed to Penang with 27 dead and 14 wounded.
On the next day, Kamikaze departed Penang and rescued 320 from Haguro. On June 8, 1945. Kamikaze rescued 853 crewmen and about 400 army troops from Ashigara after being torpedoed by submarines within Banka Strait, she proceed to Singapore. On June 12, 1945, she rescued 200 survivors from Toho Maru after being bombed by USAAF B-24 bombers. Kamikaze continued to perform her duties in Singapore until the end of the war and was undamaged.
On October 5, 1945, she was removed on the naval list, she demilitarized and used as a repatriation ship between Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon and Japan. On June 7, 1946, she was run aground off Omaezaki while assisting stranded repatriation ship Kunashiri, she was declared constructive lost.
Kamikaze's Duel
On July 18, 1945, while off Malaya, USS Hawkbill SS-366 spotted an approaching transport convoy, Kamikaze detected Hawkbill's periscope 2,000 meters from her starboard. At 19:00, Hawkbill fires six torpedoes; Kamikaze managed to evade the incoming torpedoes. After 20 minutes later, Kamikaze detected Hawkbill from 800 meters, the submarine fired another three torpedoes, the torpedoes grazed from Kamikaze for about 2 meters from her port side. Then Kamikaze began to launch her depth charges against Hawkbill, the submarine was blown from waters by a perfectly placed pattern. Hawkbill raised 200 meters away from Kamikaze and fires her 40mm gun at the destroyer. Then Hawkbill dives for 33 meters below sea level to avoid the destroyer while Kamikaze relentlessly launching her depth charges against the submarine. Hawkbill managed to escape afterwards. On July 19, Hawkbill resurfaced, the engagement destroyed the submarine's gyro compass, thermometer and reduction gear while her sonar and radio equipment were badly damaged. Hawkbill withdraws to Subic Bay for repairs.
Kamikaze earned praise from the USN because her bravery during her fierce duel between Hawkbill. CO. Scanland, Hawkbill's commander, and CO. Kasuga, Kamikaze's captain, had correspondent for several occasions since 1953.
Myoukou's last active duty on the seas was on December 12, 1944, she was attached to Convoy HI-82 together with Ushio, the convoy was en route to Camranh Bay from Singapore. On December 13, 1944, USN submarine USS Bergall SS-320 was assigned to lay naval mines within Royalist Bank, at 17:55, Bengall, from her periscope. spotted a ship 35,000 yards away from her position. Bengall makes full speed and approached the detected ships, she reduced her speed to 18 knots to avoid detection at 18:45. 30 minutes later, Bengall made contact with the convoy 26,000 yards from her position.
At 20:11, Bengall's target was clearly on sight, she spotted the nearly-repaired Myoukou (she received limited repairs ever since she was struck by a torpedo during the Battle of Sibuyan Sea on October 24, 1944 which reduced her speed to 15 knots, she received emergency repairs in Seletar Naval Base, Singapore) while being escorted by a damaged Ushio (she also took damage from an airstrike during her stay at Manila which reduced her speed to 18 knots). At 21:35, Bengall fires six torpedoes at Myoukou from 3,300 yards within 6 feet below sea level. At 21:40, one of the six torpedoes struck Myoukou's afterdeck that torn off her stern, drifted in the seas and sunk afterwards, but despite of the blown-off stern, Myokou's mainmast sustained no damage.
At 20:06, Ushio made contact with the submarine and fired her first salvo, Bengall was struck on her port side which hit the back of the forward torpedo loading trunk’s hatch, tore through it, and exited out the pressure hull starboard at frame 35 without detonating. Then another salvo was fired from 200 yards away which pierced trhough Bengall's port side bow and leaved an 8 to 10 inch diameter hole on her hull; she lost her ability to dive. And a third salvo made a near-miss at Bengall's starboard bow before the submarine could manage to escape.
The damaged she received from Bengall further dropped Myoukou's speed and lost her steering. Despite of Myoukou's poor condition, CO. Ishiwara ordered to save Myoukou. Her crewmen worked very hard to put out the fires on her deck and patched several holes to prevent further flooding. Though Ushio doesn't had the enough power to tow Myoukou to safety, Ushio agreed to assist Myoukou on her steering so the two steamed at 6 knots. On December 15, 1944, fires from Myoukou was finally put out, the two encountered Tatabe Maru. Tatabe Maru towed Myoukou while Ushio remained on guard, they steamed at 5 knots. On December 16, 1944, at 08:15, Ushio detached from the group and headed to Saigon. On December 17, 1944, Vice Admiral Hashimoto, commander of the CruDiv 5, ordered Kasumi and Hatsushimo to rescue Myoukou.
On December 18, 1944, at 15:00, Kasumi and Hatsushiomo arrived alongside Myoukou and commenced towing operation. At 15:30, an air-raid alert was declared, Kasumi and Hatsushimo slightly moved away from Myoukou while her tired crewmen manned her anti-aircraft guns. Two hours had passed, no attacks were made, Myoukou successfully passed through Saigon. The alert was cancelled and Kasumi and Myoukou resumed their towing operation. On December 19, at 02:38, the group passed through a storm, the towing cable lines snapped, Kasumi tried to restore the cable lines within the darkness while Hatsushimo remained on guard for any possible enemy submarines within the area. The typhoon had sank and caused extensive damaged several ships from the USN TF-38, the typhoon was named 'Halsey's Typhoon'. The typhoon caused them to temporary halted the operation, they were stranded for four days waiting for the seas to calm. At 10:50, Haguro and Chiburi arrived to encouraged them. On December 20, 1944, Kasumi detached from the group and headed for St. James, Kasumi was replaced by Chidori on December 21.
They started to made further progress on December 23, 1944. The weather somehow becomes moderately calmed, Haguro decided that she would tow Myoukou. Then on December 25, 1944 at 02:38, Myoukou finally arrived at Seletar Harbor where she never received full repairs and was converted as a floating AA battery together with Takao to defend Singapore.
Bengall also had her own epic odyssey on her way to Australia but that's another story.
With the recent introduction of Kamikaze as a ship to Kancolle, would it be appropriate to retroactively tag this with Kamikaze_(Kantai_Collection) even though the art isn't the same?
The three eldest daughtersTakao1st ship of Takao class
She lost all her sisters in Leyte. After being damaged by an American submarine, she stayed in Singapore where she got bombed by a British midget submarine, leaving her with a leaking hull until the end of the war.Myoukou1st ship of Myoukou class
10 days after Leyte, she lost Nachi. She then lost both her other sisters a couple months before the war ended, Haguro in May (though she was listed as struck on June 20th), and Ashigara in June. She herself was struck in December the previous year by an American submarine's torpedo and had to stay in port in Singapore as an AA platform until the end of the war.Kamikaze (II)
1st ship of Kamikaze class
In the later stage of the war, she, Haguro and Ashigara are the only operating warships in Singapore. She also witnessed and rescued the survivors when both sink. After that, she fought alone until the end of the war. All her sisters but Harukaze are gone.