Tag Archives: Task Force 38

Kumano, back on the list

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The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force a couple of weeks ago commissioned that country’s second new Mogami-class multi-mission stealth frigate, just four years after she was ordered. The JS Kumano (FFM-2) is modern and roughly the same size (5,500-tons, 426 ft oal) as the now-retired Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class frigates but better armed with a 5″/54, eight anti-ship missiles, a 16 cell VLS with the option for quad packed ESSMs– giving her 48 medium-range missiles in addition to her 10-cell SeaRAM system– as well as ASW and anti-small boat weapons.

She also has a hangar for a single MH-60 type and can launch UUV, USV, and sea mines from the rear ramp under her helideck.

Interestingly, she quickly received a splinter camouflage scheme, something that is increasingly the rage in the West Pac.

All in all, the U.S. Navy would have been much better buying a couple dozen of these rather than the LCS debacle, but who wants to rub salt in that multi-billion dollar wound.

Historic name

Of note to naval scholars, Kumano of course duplicates the name of the 13,000-ton Mogami-class converted heavy cruiser of WWII fame sunk by U.S. carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 while she was undergoing repairs at Santa Cruz, Zambales, Philippines, in November 1944 after taking a bruising at the Battle off Samar.

Mogami class heavy cruisers via ONI 41-42 including Suzuya and Kumano

She had a reputation of being a vessel with nine lives.

Japanese heavy cruiser Kumano anchored at Rabaul, with a Mitsubishi F1M Pete reconnaissance seaplane in the foreground, December 4-5, 1942

She had participated in the invasion of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, the bird-dogging of Royal Navy Task Force Z (HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse), Operation C in the Indian Ocean, Midway– where she caused the infamous collision between the cruisers Mikuma and Mogami– and the assorted battles for the Solomons.

Execute! 75 years ago today

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Ships of Task Force 38 of the victorious U.S. Third Fleet maneuvering off the coast of Japan on August 17, 1945, two days after Japan agreed to surrender. The force at the time was under the command of Mississippi-born ADM. John S. “Slew” McCain Sr., who himself was only three weeks away from heading to that great wardroom in the sky.

Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-278815 from the Naval History and Heritage Command.

USS Wasp (CV-18) is the aircraft carrier in the lower right. Note that her forward hull number on the flight deck is painted to be readable for planes coming from the bow.

The other identifiable carrier is USS Shangri-La (CV-38) in the left-center. She is the only known carrier to have her air group identification letter (“Z”) painted in white on her flight deck, instead of her hull number.

There are four other Essex-class carriers, four Independence-class light carriers, at least three battleships (two Iowa class and one South Dakota-class), several cruisers, and multiple destroyers in the formation.