Japanese aircraft carrier Chitose
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 Chitose before conversion as a seaplane tender |
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Chitose (千歳) |
| Operator: | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Laid down: | 26 November 1934 |
| Launched: | 29 November 1936 |
| Commissioned: | 25 July 1938 |
| Refit: | 1942 to 1944 |
| Reinstated: | 1 January 1944 |
| Fate: | Sunk in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Chitose-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | 11,200 tons (standard) 15,300 tons (max.) |
| Length: | 192.5 m |
| Beam: | 20.8 m |
| Draught: | 7.5 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 geared turbines 2 steam turbines 2 shafts 56,800 shp |
| Speed: | 28.9 knots |
| Complement: | 800 |
| Armament: | 8 × 127 mm 30-48 (in 1944) × 25 mm |
| Aircraft carried: | 30 |
Chitose (千歳?) was a light aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It should not be confused with the earlier Japanese cruiser Chitose. First laid down as a seaplane tender in 1934 at Kure Navy yard, the ship originally supported reconnaissance float planes Kawanishi E7K Type 94 "Alf", and the Nakajima E8N Type 95 "Dave". Although it has been speculated that Chitose also carried Type A midget submarines, only her sister ship, the Chiyoda had that capability. Chitose saw several naval actions, taking part in the Battle of Midway though seeing no combat there. She was heavily damaged off Davao, Philippines on 4 January 1942. She covered the Japanese landings in the East Indies and Gilbert Island in January 1942, and was damaged in the Eastern Solomons in August 1942.
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[edit] Conversion
As the Japanese became aware of the importance of carrier aviation, the Chitose was converted to a light carrier at Sasebo Navy Yard in 1943, and was recommissioned 1 January 1944 as CVL (24) and assigned to CarDiv 3.
[edit] Final battle
Both Chiyoda and Chitose were sunk by a combination of naval bombers, cruiser shellfire and destroyer-launched torpedoes during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. According to the plan for the Sho-ichi go operation, both carriers were divested of aircraft and successfully used to decoy the main body of the American fleet away from the landing beaches in the Philippines. Chitose was sunk by torpedo hits during the first air strike made by naval aircraft of Task Force 38 from the carrier Essex off Cape Engano.
At 0835, she took three torpedo hits, or possibly near misses from bombs on the port side forward of the number 1 elevator. This resulted in boiler rooms 2 and 4 being flooded with an immediate list to 27 degrees and rudder failure. The list was reduced to 15 degrees but by 0855, further flooding had brought it to 20 degrees. At 0855, the starboard engine room flooded, cutting speed to 14 knots. The port engine room followed at 0925. The Chitose was dead in the water with a list of 30 degrees. At 0937, at position , she rolled over to port and nosed under, with the loss of 903 men. The Isuzu rescued 480 men, and Shimotsuki a further 121.
[edit] Commanding Officers
As CVS
Chief Equipping Officer - Capt. Masamichi Ikeguchi - 1 March 1937 - 25 July 1938
Capt. Masamichi Ikeguchi - 25 July 1938 - 15 December 1938
Capt. Seiji Mizui - 15 December 1938 - 15 November 1939
Capt. Masao Nishida - 15 November 1939 - 3 June 1940
Capt. Tameki Notomo - 3 June 1940 - 15 October 1940
Capt. Raizo Tanaka - 15 October 1940 - 15 November 1940
Capt. Chikao Yamamoto - 15 November 1940 - 20 August 1941
Capt. Tamotsu Furukawa - 20 August 1941 - 25 November 1942
Capt. Seigo Sasaki - 25 November 1942 - 26 January 1943
As CVL
Capt. Seigo Sasaki - 26 January 1943 - 14 April 1943
Capt. Tsutau Araki - 14 April 1943 - 1 July 1943
Capt. Yoshio Kobara - 1 July 1943 - 4 August 1943
Capt. Yoshio Miura - 4 August 1943 - 7 April 1944
Capt. / RADM* Yoshiyuki Kishi - 7 April 1944 - 25 October 1944 (KIA)
[edit] External links
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