Big-Ship Big-Gun Combined Fleet

BATTLE OF LEYTE | Chapter 79

Huge Fleet in Motion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The series of battles around the Mariana Islands inflicted deep wounds on both Japan and the United States, but the damage on the Japanese side was particularly severe. The 1st Mobile Fleet, which challenged the decisive battle against the US Third Fleet, fought valiantly and sank six old battleships, including two new battleships such as the Washington and North Carolina, in addition to the Colorado. The base air units deployed on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam also shot down numerous F6F Hellcat fighters and B-24 heavy bombers.

However, despite the significant achievements, the losses were also extensive. The 1st Mobile Fleet lost six battleships, one large aircraft carrier, and two small aircraft carriers among its main forces alone. Furthermore, both the base and carrier air units suffered heavy aircraft losses, along with a considerable number of crew members. The 1st Mobile Fleet narrowly fell short of the US Third Fleet, and as a result, had to leave the Mariana theater of operations. In essence, they lost a battle they could not afford to lose. With air and sea control wrested away by the enemy, the fate of the isolated islands such as Saipan, Tinian, and Guam was virtually sealed. In early July, Saipan fell, followed by the fall of Tinian and Guam in August, all falling into the hands of the Americans.

Amidst these events, there was still some consolation news for Japan, albeit small. While the attention of both Japan and the US was focused on the Marianas, the German-Italian joint fleet successfully destroyed the Allied submarine base near Fremantle, which was recovering. Utilizing a surprise attack by the captured armored carriers and the aircraft from the German carrier Graf Zeppelin and the Italian carrier Aquila, the German-Italian fleet defeated the air power near the Fremantle base. They proceeded to conduct naval bombardment on the base and the adjacent city of Perth. The 28 cm and 38 cm shells from the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, along with the Italian battleships Vittorio Veneto and Littorio, once again turned the recovering city of Perth into hell.

Although Germany hoped for Australia's withdrawal from the war due to this, the impact was not as significant as expected. It caused considerable disturbance among the Australian government and people, but its effects were limited. Nevertheless, the destruction of the Fremantle base led to the loss of the Allied submarine base in the Indian Ocean, maintaining the same level of security in the region as before.

There were significant political changes as well. Taking responsibility for the loss of the Marianas, the Tōjō Cabinet resigned, while President Roosevelt, despite some difficulties, secured a fourth term. In contrast to the Pacific, where there were significant military and political changes, Europe continued to experience a subtle and insidious conflict. With the loss of the Indian Ocean and forced economic self-sufficiency for the UK, Germany continued the naval blockade for two years. The scarcity of British supplies was serious, with much of the aid from the United States consisting of food, medical supplies, and essential items for the economy, while military supplies were minimal. On the other hand, Hitler's determination to defeat Britain and, more specifically, harass Churchill led to a subdued offensive against the Soviet Union by the German military. The Eastern Front remained strangely quiet.

Turning to domestic affairs, the Combined Fleet tirelessly repaired ships such as the battleships Yamato and Musashi, working around the clock in a 24-hour operation. The aviation units, having lost many experienced pilots, continued rigorous training, anticipating accidents while preparing the young pilots for the front lines. Furthermore, three new state-of-the-art battleships, the last hope of the Imperial Navy, were successively completed. The crews, gathered from the personnel of the battleships lost in the Battle of the Marianas, underwent intense training to become combat-ready as quickly as possible. While the Combined Fleet aimed to recover and accumulate its strength, the Maritime Escort Force protected merchant convoys carrying supplies to the Japanese mainland, paying a heavy toll in the intensified Allied commerce destruction campaign. In this manner, the year 1944 came to an end.

Then, in January 1945, significant developments unfolded. The US Third Fleet, having recovered from the losses suffered in the Battle of the Marianas, commenced a major offensive with four new fast battleships, two state-of-the-art large cruisers, and a new heavy cruiser that distinguished itself from others in the same category.