The Final Battlewagon Scrap

Talyn · Oct 25, 2024

The golden age of battleships duking it out with big guns, while something that could have possibly occurred well into the late 1950s, ended 80 years ago today for all practical purposes.

The Final Battlewagon Scrap, 80 Years on

While surface ships have continued to fight it out in isolated instances since WWII– such as HMS Zealous (R39)/INS Eilat vs Egyptian Komar in 1967; HMS Cadiz (D79)/PNS Khaibar vs INS Nirghat …

laststandonzombieisland.com

The Battle of Surigao Strait*

At fifteen minutes af

www.usni.org

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/leyte/surigao-strait.html

Clash at Surigao Strait: The Last Battle Line

Up from the mud of Pearl Harbor, battleships of the U.S. Navy took revenge against the Japanese at Surigao Strait.

warfarehistorynetwork.com

Talyn · Oct 25, 2024

The Titans Of Surigao Strait

The battle holds the distinction of being the last naval battle in which did not play a part, except in pursuit. As such, it was the last of the U.S. Navy's last battle-line engagement. U.S. Navy battleships participating were USS Mississippi (BB-41), USS Maryland (BB-46), USS West Virginia (BB-48), USS Tennessee (BB-43), USS California (BB-44) and USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), Except for Mississippi, all these battleships were damaged during the attack on Peral Harbor in December 1941.

Cruisers: Eight in total, divided between heavy and light classifications. These ships were designed for multiple roles, from anti-aircraft operations to bombarding shore targets and engaging enemy ships.
Destroyers: A whopping 28 destroyers. These vessels, known for their speed and agility, were critical in the early stages of naval confrontations, often tasked with scouting and launching torpedo attacks.

The Japanese Southern Force

Battleships: The Fuso and Yamashiro. Both of these battleships were seasoned warships, having been commissioned in the 1910s. While not the newest ships in the Japanese fleet, they were heavily armed and armored, making them significant threats on the battlefield.
Heavy Cruiser: The Mogami, a vessel that had seen multiple engagements during the course of the war. Cruisers, with their combination of speed, armament, and versatility, played a pivotal role in naval task forces.
Destroyers: Four in total. These ships, while smaller and less armored than their battleship counterparts, were fast, maneuverable, and capable of launching devastating torpedo attacks.

PT Boats

Initial Skirmishes

Before the battleships of both fleets ever exchanged fire, the stage was set by lighter, more maneuverable vessels. The Japanese force, making its approach through the strait, was met by a series of torpedo attacks PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats.

US torpedo boats before the Battle of Surigao Strait.
These skirmishes set the tone for the battle. PT boats, the nimblest of naval assets, swarmed around the larger Japanese vessels, harrying them and launching torpedoes. Their primary aim was disruption and infliction of damage, hoping to scatter the Japanese formation and make them more vulnerable to subsequent attacks.

Wooden Boats at War: Surigao Strait

When the Imperial Japanese Navy swept into Surigao Strait, PT boats were the first to strike. AT ITS WIDEST, THE 50-MILE-LONG SURIGAO Strait separates the

www.historynet.com