Mount Takao Route

Lore & Background

Authorized in the late 1942 Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program, Momo (peach) was laid down by the Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 5 November 1943 and launched on 25 March 1944. Upon her completion on 10 June 1944, Momo was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 11 of the Combined Fleet for training and then the 43rd Destroyer Division of Destroyer Squadron 11 on 15 July. The division was transferred to the 31st Escort Squadron of the 5th Fleet on 20 August.

Between 25 October and 2 November, together with her sister ships Momi and Ume, she escorted the aircraft carriers Ryūhō and Kaiyō on a transport mission from Sasebo to Keelung, Japanese Taiwan, then returned to Kure. Momi's captain served as the commander of the destroyer division during the voyage. The division's next task was to escort the hybrid battleship/carriers Hyūga and her sister Ise as they ferried supplies to Manila, Philippines, on 9 November.

American air raids deterred the battleships from completing the journey, and the ships were diverted to the Spratly Islands; the battleships' cargo was transferred to fast transports on 15–16 November, while the light cruiser Isuzu, Momo and two other destroyers proceeded to Manila Bay. They docked in Manila on 18 November and departed for Brunei the next day. Isuzu was struck by a torpedo from the submarine Hake en route. The cruiser was diverted to Singapore for temporary repairs, escorted by Momo and her sister Sugi.

On 24 November, Momo and the destroyer Shimotsuki departed Singapore for Manila to support the "TA" resupply missions to Japanese positions in the Philippines. Shimotsuki was hit the following day by four torpedoes fired by the American submarine USS Cavalla that caused a magazine to explode. Momo made an unsuccessful search for the submarine, then rescued 46 survivors.

Reader's Guide

Momo was a Matsu-class escort destroyer, designed for ease of production, smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers. The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) long overall, with a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in). Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men. They displaced 1,282 metric tons (1,262 long tons) at standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.

The ships had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for a speed of 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph). The Matsus had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The main armament consisted of three 127-millimeter (5 in) Type 89 dual-purpose guns in one twin-gun mount aft and one single mount forward of the superstructure.

The single mount was partially protected against spray by a gun shield. The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted. The ships carried a total of twenty 25-millimeter (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 8 single mounts. The Matsus were equipped with a Type 22 surface-search radar.

The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedoes. They could deliver their 36 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers. Momo probably was not initially fitted with a Type 13 early-warning radar. The radar and 5 additional 25 mm guns on single mounts may have been installed before her loss.

Did You Know?

• She was sunk by the submarine USS Hawkbill on 15 December 1944, 140 miles west-southwest of Cape Bolinao, Luzon.
• Momo rescued 46 survivors from the destroyer Shimotsuki after it was sunk by USS Cavalla on 25 November 1944.
• While escorting the hell ship Ōryoku Maru, Momo was hit twice by bombs and forced to eject her torpedoes to prevent explosion.
• 92 of Momo's crew were killed when she sank; 36 were wounded.