The US battleship that blasted a fleeing Japanese cruiser to oblivion on February 1944

The February 1944 Sinking of Japanese Light Cruiser Katori by USS Iowa

On February 17, 1944, USS Iowa fought Japanese light cruiser Katori near Truk Lagoon during Operation Hailstone. The American battleship fired 46 massive 16-inch shells and 124 smaller 5-inch shells at the Japanese training cruiser during an 11-minute battle.

Katori sank stern first about 40 miles northwest of Truk at coordinates 07°45′N 151°20′E. This was the only time Iowa fired her main guns at enemy warships during World War II.

The one-sided fight became one of the most dramatic surface battles in the Pacific Theater.

Operation Hailstone Launches Against Truk

Task Force 58 began Operation Hailstone on February 17, 1944, with nine aircraft carriers launching over 500 warplanes. The massive American force attacked Truk Lagoon, Japan’s main naval base in the Caroline Islands.

Truk served as headquarters for Japan’s Combined Fleet and contained airfields, fuel depots, and anchorages for hundreds of ships. Americans called it the “Gibraltar of the Pacific” because it seemed impossible to attack.

The strike achieved complete surprise because Japanese radar couldn’t detect low-flying aircraft. Admiral Raymond Spruance commanded the Fifth Fleet from his flagship USS New Jersey during the operation.

Katori’s Escape Convoy Departs Truk

Katori left Truk at 4:30 AM on February 17, 1944, just before the American attack began. The Japanese convoy included armed merchant ship Akagi Maru, destroyers Maikaze and Nowaki, and minesweeping trawler Shonan Maru No. 15.

Captain Tamekiyo Oda commanded the 5,890-ton light cruiser, which was originally built as a training ship for naval cadets. War had transformed her into a flagship for submarine operations.

The convoy was heading for Yokosuka, Japan, carrying important naval personnel and classified documents from the doomed base. Their escape would prove tragically brief when American aircraft found them.

Vice Admiral Spruance Forms Task Group 50.9

Spruance personally took command of Task Group 50.9 to hunt down escaping Japanese ships. His force included battleships Iowa and New Jersey, heavy cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans, and four destroyers.

Light carrier Cowpens provided air cover for the surface ships. The task group sailed around Truk’s outer reef to catch ships trying to escape through the northern passes.

The 58-year-old admiral had commanded American forces at the Battle of Midway. He believed battleship gunfire would make a stronger impression than air attacks alone and wanted his ships to engage the enemy directly.

Carrier Aircraft Strike The Japanese Convoy

Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters and TBF Avenger torpedo bombers from five carriers attacked the fleeing convoy. Aircraft from USS Yorktown, Intrepid, Essex, Bunker Hill, and Cowpens joined the strike.

The bombers sank Akagi Maru with direct hits, while a torpedo struck Katori’s port side causing minor damage. Japanese anti-aircraft fire shot down at least one American F6F Hellcat fighter.

Katori’s crew fought back with 5-inch guns and 25mm anti-aircraft weapons despite their desperate situation. The initial air attack left the cruiser listing slightly to port and on fire amidships.

Spruance Orders Surface Gun Engagement

Admiral Spruance wanted a surface gun battle instead of letting aircraft finish off the damaged ships. He ordered Admiral Mitscher to call off further air attacks on Katori.

Spruance’s staff and aviators thought his decision was reckless since aircraft could have completed the mission safely. Many believed the admiral was risking valuable battleships unnecessarily.

The surface ships made visual contact with the Japanese vessels around 1:00 PM. Spruance felt that battleship guns would make a more decisive statement than torpedo planes and prove that surface ships still mattered in modern warfare.

USS Iowa Opens Fire On Katori

Iowa engaged Katori at a range of 14,500 yards while destroyers Bradford and Burns fired multiple torpedo salvos that all missed. Iowa used 16-inch high-capacity shells designed to explode on contact rather than penetrate heavy armor.

Each 16-inch shell weighed 1,900 pounds and could penetrate 30 feet of concrete. Katori’s thin armor plating provided no protection against such massive projectiles.

Iowa straddled Katori with eight salvos, scoring hits with her second salvo. The Japanese cruiser became target practice for the world’s most advanced battleship as American gunners found their range.

Katori’s Desperate Final Moments

Katori fired a torpedo salvo at the American ships, which also missed their targets. After Iowa’s fourth salvo, the Japanese cruiser began listing heavily to port and caught fire.

The cruiser suffered seven large shell holes about five feet wide on her starboard side. Water poured through the massive openings faster than her pumps could handle.

Captain Oda remained at his post as his ship died beneath him. Katori’s guns kept firing even as she capsized, her crew fighting until she rolled over and sank after 11 minutes under fire.

Destroyer Maikaze’s Valiant Stand

Destroyer Maikaze stood by the sinking Katori and fired torpedoes at Iowa and New Jersey. The torpedoes passed just ahead of New Jersey after overhead aircraft warned the battleship.

Admiral Spruance remarked about the close call: “That would have been embarrassing.” The comment showed how close the Japanese came to hitting America’s newest battleship.

Heavy cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans sank Maikaze with gunfire at 1:43 PM, killing all hands. The 2,000-ton destroyer absorbed tremendous punishment before finally going down, her sacrifice buying time for other ships to escape.

The Longest Range Battleship Chase

Destroyer Nowaki escaped the initial fight and Iowa and New Jersey pursued at 32.5 knots. Both battleships opened fire at 35,000 yards, straddling Nowaki with their first salvos.

The American ships continued firing under radar control at ranges up to 39,000 yards. These were the longest-range shots ever fired by American battleships against an enemy vessel.

Nowaki fled into the sun’s glare, making visual tracking impossible. American radar fire control allowed accurate shooting at extreme range, but the Japanese destroyer escaped by zigzagging at maximum speed.

Captain Oda’s Posthumous Recognition

Captain Tamekiyo Oda went down with his ship and was posthumously promoted to Rear Admiral. Large groups of survivors were seen in the water where Katori sank, but none were rescued.

Katori was officially removed from the Japanese Navy list on March 31, 1944. Destroyer Burns also sank the small trawler Shonan Maru No. 15 with all hands during the engagement.

Oda’s promotion recognized his courage under impossible circumstances. He had commanded Katori for only four months before her final battle, representing the loss of experienced naval leadership Japan could not replace.

Visiting USS Iowa Museum, San Pedro, California

USS Iowa rests permanently at Berth 87, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro, California 90731, at the Port of Los Angeles. The museum opens daily, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The same 16-inch gun turrets that sank Katori on February 17, 1944, remain on display throughout the ship. Visitors can walk beside these massive weapons and learn about the historic battle through interactive exhibits and displays.

The museum recently rotated Turret 1 to create better access for tours that explain how these guns worked during combat.

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