View source for Japanese cruiser Chikuma (1938)

{{short description|Second ship of the Tone-class of Japanese heavy cruisers}}
{{other ships|Japanese ship Chikuma}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Japanese heavy cruiser Chikuma.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=Japanese heavy cruiser ''Chikuma''
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{{Infobox ship career
 | Hide header              = 
 | Ship country             = [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]
 | Ship flag                = {{Shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
 | Ship name                = ''Chikuma''
 | Ship namesake            = [[Chikuma River]]
 | Ship ordered             = 1932 fiscal year
 | Ship awarded             = 
 | Ship builder             = [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi]]
 | Ship original cost       = 
 | Ship yard number         = 
 | Ship way number          = 
 | Ship laid down           = 1 October 1935
 | Ship launched            = 19 March 1938
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 | Ship completed           = 
 | Ship acquired            = 
 | Ship commissioned        = 20 May 1939<ref>Lacroix, ''Japanese Cruisers'', p. 794</ref>
 | Ship recommissioned      = 
 | Ship decommissioned      = 
 | Ship maiden voyage       = 
 | Ship in service          = 
 | Ship out of service      = 
 | Ship renamed             = 
 | Ship reclassified        = 
 | Ship refit               = 
 | Ship struck              = 20 April 1945
 | Ship reinstated          = 
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 | Ship captured            = 
 | Ship fate                = Sank 25 October 1944 after [[Battle off Samar]]<ref name="Anthony P. Tully 2000, pp. 248">Anthony P. Tully, 'Solving some Mysteries of Leyte Gulf: Fate of the ''Chikuma'' and ''Chokai'' ', ''Warship International'' No. 3, 2000, pp. 248–258, especially p. 251.</ref> {{coord|11|25|N|126|36|E|}}

 | Ship notes               = 
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
 | Hide header              = 
 | Header caption           = 
 | Ship class               = {{sclass|Tone|cruiser}}
 | Ship displacement        = 11,213 tons (standard); 15,443 (final)
 | Ship length              = {{convert|189.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 | Ship beam                = {{convert|19.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 | Ship height              = 
 | Ship draught             = {{convert|6.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
 | Ship power               = 
 | Ship propulsion          = *4-shaft Gihon oil geared turbines
*8 boilers
*{{convert|152,000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}
 | Ship speed               = {{convert|35|kn|km/h}}
 | Ship range               = {{convert|8000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}
 | Ship endurance           = 
 | Ship complement          = 874
 | Ship sensors             = 
 | Ship EW                  = 
 | Ship armament            = *8 × [[20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun]]s (4x2)
*8 × [[12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun|{{convert|127|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}/40]] guns
*6 × [[Type 96 25&nbsp;mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] AA guns
*12 × 610 mm (24-inch) [[torpedo tube]]s
 | Ship armour              = 
 | Ship armor               = *{{convert|100|mm|in|abbr=on}} ([[Belt armor|belt]])
*{{convert|65|-|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} ([[Deck (ship)|deck]])
 | Ship aircraft            = 6 x [[floatplane]]s
 | Ship aircraft facilities = 
 | Ship notes               = 
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Chikuma'''''|筑摩}} was the second and last vessel in the {{sclass|Tone|cruiser|4}} of [[heavy cruiser]]s in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. The ship was named after the [[Chikuma River]] in [[Nagano Prefecture]]. Entering service in 1939, ''Chikuma'' saw battle during [[World War II]] in the Pacific, hunting small allied ships in the [[Indian Ocean]] and serving in many escorting missions throughout many large-scale aircraft carrier battles between Japan and the United States. On the 25 of October 1944, she served in the [[Battle off Samar]] where she possibly sank the escort carrier [[USS Gambier Bay|USS ''Gambier Bay'']] (though most modern sources attribute the carrier's sinking to [[Japanese battleship Yamato|Battleship ''Yamato'']]) and damaged the destroyer [[USS Heermann|USS ''Heermann'']], before being crippled by gunfire from the destroyer escort [[USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)|USS ''Samuel B. Roberts'']] and sunk by air attacks.

== Background ==
''Chikuma'' was designed for long-range scouting missions and had a large [[seaplane]] capacity. She was extensively employed during World War II in conjunction with an [[aircraft carrier]] task force, or as part of a cruiser squadron with her [[sister ship]], {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Tone|1937|2}}.

The ''Tone''-class cruisers were originally envisaged as the fifth and sixth vessels in the {{sclass|Mogami|cruiser|4}}. However, by the time construction began, serious weaknesses in the ''Mogami''-class hull design had become clear following the [[4th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)#The Fourth Fleet Incident|Fourth Fleet Incident]] in 1935. As Japan no longer was obligated to abide by the limitations of the [[London Naval Treaty]], a new design was created and new means of construction were utilized. Though the external dimensions were close to the ''Mogami'' class, the design was quite different, with four twin [[20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|203 mm (8-inch)]] main battery turrets placed forward of the [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]], the second super firing over the first, reserving the entire stern area as a large sea plane hangar. Unlike the [[United States Navy]], the Japanese did not have a dual role attack/scout aircraft. No reconnaissance units were assigned to the Japanese carriers, and little emphasis was placed on this aspect of carrier warfare. Instead the Japanese reserved all of their carrier aircraft for attack roles. Reconnaissance was left up to float planes carried by cruisers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/sheerluck_midway.htm |title=Midway: Sheer Luck or Better Doctrine |last=Wildenberg |first=Thomas |work=Naval War College Review 58, no. 1 (Winter 2005) |pages=121–135}}</ref> ''Chikuma'' was intended to provide the long range scout planes needed for their [[Aircraft carrier|carrier]] Air Fleets.

Chikuma was equipped with the heaviest armor equipped on a Japanese cruiser. It consisted of a main belt 145&nbsp;mm (5.7-inches) over the citadel, and 150&nbsp;mm (5.9-inches) over the machinery. She also carried a deck 65&nbsp;mm (2.55-inches) over the ammo, machinery, and steering spaces and 30&nbsp;mm (1.2-inches) elsewhere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=dreadnaughtz |date=2018-09-29 |title=Tone class cruisers (1937) |url=https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/japan/tone-class-cruisers-1937.php |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=naval encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> She was capable of {{convert|35|kn|km/h mph|}}, and could cruise for {{convert|8,000|nmi|km mi}} at {{convert|18|kn|km/h mph|}}

== Service career ==

=== Early career ===
[[File:Japanese cruiser Chikuma 1940 (03) wmplayer 2013-07-17.jpg|thumb|left|''Chikuma'' firing her main guns, 1940]]
''Chikuma'' was completed at [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi]] [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]] shipyards on 20 May 1939. After several months as a unit of the CruDiv6 (Sentai 6) of the Second Fleet, she was transferred to the CruDiv8 in November 1939. In addition to taking part in regular combat exercises in Japanese home waters, she operated off southern China on three occasions between March 1940 and March 1941.

=== Early stages of the Pacific War ===
At the end of 1941, ''Chikuma'' was assigned to CruDiv 8 with its sister ship, ''Tone'', and was thus one of the key players in the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. On 7 December 1941, ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'' each launched one [[Aichi E13A]]1 Type 0 "Jake" floatplane for a final weather reconnaissance over [[Oahu]]. At 0630, ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'' each launched short range Nakajima E4N2 Type 90-2 Reconnaissance Seaplane to act as pickets and patrol south of the Striking Force. ''Chikuma''{{'}}s floatplane reported nine anchored American [[battleship]]s (presumably counting {{USS|Utah|BB-31|2}} as a battleship). During the subsequent attack, the battleships {{USS|Arizona|BB-39|2}}, {{USS|Oklahoma|BB-37|2}}, {{USS|West Virginia|BB-48|2}} and {{USS|California|BB-44|2}} were sunk and {{USS|Nevada|BB-36|2}}, {{USS|Pennsylvania|BB-38|2}}, {{USS|Tennessee|BB-43|2}}, {{USS|Maryland|BB-46|2}} and other smaller ships were damaged.

On 16 December, CruDiv 8 was ordered to assist in the second attempted invasion of [[Wake Island]]. Anti-aircraft fire damaged the scout plane from ''Chikuma'', which was forced to ditch, but the crew was rescued. After the [[Battle of Wake Island|fall of Wake Island]], CruDiv 8 returned to [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]].

On 14 January 1942, CruDiv 8 was based out of [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]] in the [[Caroline Islands]], and covered the landings of Japanese troops at [[Rabaul]], [[New Britain]] and attacks on [[Lae]] and [[Salamaua]], [[New Guinea]]. On 24 January ''Chikuma''{{'}}s floatplanes attacked the [[Admiralty Islands]].

After the air raid on [[Kwajalein]] on 1 February by Vice Admiral [[William Halsey, Jr]]'s aircraft carrier {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}}, ''Chikuma'' departed Truk with the Carrier Striking Force in an unsuccessful pursuit. ''Chikuma'' and ''Tone'' later escorted carriers during the [[Bombing of Darwin (February 1942)|Raid on Port Darwin]], Australia on 19 February, which sank 11 ships to air attacks. From 25 February 1942, ''Chikuma'' was involved in supporting the Japanese invasion of Java.

=== Battle of the Java Sea ===
On 1 March 1942, ''Chikuma''{{'}}s floatplane located the 8,806-ton Dutch freighter ''Modjokerto'' attempting to escape from [[Tjilatjap]] to Australia. ''Chikuma'', with ''Tone'', and destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Kasumi|1937|2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shiranui|1938|2}} intercepted and sank the freighter before noon. That afternoon, CruDiv 8's spotted the old destroyer {{USS|Edsall|DD-219|6}}, {{convert|250|mi|km}} south-southeast of [[Christmas Island]]. ''Chikuma'' opened fire with her 8-inch guns at the extremely long range of {{convert|11|mi|km}}, and all shots missed. ''Chikuma'' was joined by battleships {{ship|Japanese battleship|Hiei||2}} and {{ship|Japanese battleship|Kirishima||2}}, which also opened fire with their 14-inch main batteries, but ''Edsall'' not only managed to avoid 297 14-inch, 132 6-inch shells from the battleships and an additional 844 8-inch and 62 5-inch rounds from the cruisers, but the destroyer also closed to range and fired its 4-inch guns at ''Chikuma''. Hits from ''Hiei'', ''Tone'' and dive bombers from the aircraft carriers {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Sōryū||2}} and {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Akagi||2}} finally stopped ''Edsall'', which was then finished off by ''Chikuma''.

On 4 March, ''Chikuma'' sank the 5,412-ton Dutch merchant ''Enggano'' (which had earlier been damaged by a floatplane from the cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Takao|1930|2}}). On 5 March, floatplanes from ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'' took part on the strike against Tjilatjap. After the surrender of the [[Dutch East Indies]], ''Chikuma'' was assigned to Indian Ocean operations.

=== Indian Ocean raids ===
On 5 April 1942, ''Chikuma'' was part of a major task force which launched 315 aircraft against [[United Kingdom|British]]-held [[Colombo|Colombo, Ceylon]]. The destroyer {{HMS|Tenedos|H04|6}}, [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{HMS|Hector|F45|2}} and 27 aircraft were destroyed and over 500 killed in harbor, and the cruisers {{HMS|Cornwall|56|6}} and {{HMS|Dorsetshire|40|2}} were destroyed at sea. After searching for more remnants of the [[Royal Navy]], the Indian Ocean Task Force launched 91 [[Aichi D3A]]1 "Val" dive-bombers and 41 [[Mitsubishi A6M]]2 "Zeke" fighters on 9 April against the British naval base at [[Trincomalee]], Ceylon. They found the harbor empty, but wrecked the base's facilities and shot down nine planes, and later sank the carrier {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}}, destroyer {{HMAS|Vampire|D68|6}}, and [[corvette]] {{HMS|Hollyhock|K64|6}}, an oiler and a depot ship at sea {{convert|65|mi|km}} from base.

The task force with ''Chikuma'' returned to Japan in mid-April 1942, where it was almost immediately assigned to the unsuccessful pursuit of Admiral Halsey's Task Force 16.2 with the aircraft carrier {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|6}} after the [[Doolittle Raid]].

=== Battle of Midway ===
At the crucial [[Battle of Midway]], ''Chikuma'' and CruDiv 8 were in Vice Admiral [[Chuichi Nagumo]]'s Carrier Striking Force. On 4 June, ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'' each launched two Aichi E13A1 "Jake" long-range reconnaissance floatplanes to search out {{convert|300|mi|km}} for American carriers. The floatplane from ''Tone'' discovered American ships, but did not recognize that the fleet was a carrier group, which proved to be a crucial mistake. ''Chikuma''{{'}}s floatplane found the aircraft carrier {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|6}}, and shadowed the ship for the next three hours, guiding the bombers that attacked ''Yorktown'' that evening. Two other floatplanes from ''Chikuma'' continued to observe the heavily damaged ''Yorktown'' through the night, during which time one plane and crew were lost. ''Chikuma'' then directed the [[submarine]] {{Jsub|I-168||2}} to find and sink the ''Yorktown'' the following morning.

''Chikuma'' and ''Tone'' were then detached to support Vice Admiral [[Boshiro Hosogaya]]'s Aleutian invasion force. However, the anticipated American counter-attack failed to materialize. CruDiv 8 cruised northern waters uneventfully. ''Chikuma'' returned to [[Ominato]] port on 24 June.

Rear Admiral [[Chuichi Hara]] assumed command of CruDiv 8 from 14 July 1942. With the US invasion of [[Guadalcanal]], ''Chikuma'' and ''Tone'' were ordered south again on 16 August with the aircraft carriers {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Zuikaku||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Zuihō||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Jun'yō||2}}, {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hiyō||2}} and {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}}. They were joined by the battleships ''Hiei'', ''Kirishima'', [[seaplane tender]] {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chitose||2}}, and cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Atago||2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Maya||2}}, ''Takao'', {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Nagara||2}}.

=== Battle of the Eastern Solomons ===
On 24 August 1942, CruDiv 7's {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kumano||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Suzuya|1934|2}} arrived to join the reinforcement fleet for Guadalcanal. The following morning, a [[PBY Catalina]] seaplane spotted ''Ryūjō'', which [[SBD Dauntless|SBD]]s and TBFs from ''Enterprise'' unsuccessfully attacked. Seven floatplanes from ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'' were launched to locate the American fleet. One of ''Chikuma''{{'}}s planes spotted the Americans, but was shot down before its report could be relayed. However, a second floatplane was more successful, and the Japanese launched an attack against ''Enterprise'', hitting it with three bombs which set her wooden deck on fire. However, in the meantime, the Americans located the Japanese fleet, and ''Ryūjō'' was sunk by planes from the aircraft carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|6}}. ''Chikuma'' was undamaged in this engagement, and returned to Truk safely.

Through October, ''Chikuma'' and ''Tone'' patrolled north of the [[Solomon Islands]], waiting word of recapture of [[Honiara International Airport|Henderson Field]] by the Japanese.

=== Battle of Santa Cruz ===
[[File:Japanese cruiser Chikuma under air attack during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942 (NH 82404).jpg|thumb|''Chikuma'' under aerial attack during the [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands|Battle of Santa Cruz]].]]
[[File:Japanese cruiser Chikuma.jpg|thumb|''Chikuma'' being bombed in the [[attack on Rabaul]], on 5 November 1943.]]
On 26 October 1942, {{convert|250|mi|km}} northeast of [[Guadalcanal]], Rear Admiral [[Hiroaki Abe]]'s task force launched seven floatplanes to scout south of Guadalcanal. They located the American fleet, and Abe followed with an attack which sank ''Hornet'' and damaged the battleship {{USS|South Dakota|BB-57|2}} and cruiser {{USS|San Juan|CL-54|2}}. However, ''Chikuma'' was attacked by a [[Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas]] [[SBD Dauntless]] dive-bomber from ''Hornet'', and quick thinking crewmen jettisoned her torpedoes seconds before a {{convert|500|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bomb hit her starboard forward torpedo room. She was also hit by two other bombs, destroying one floatplane on the [[aircraft catapult]]. ''Chikuma'' suffered 190 killed and 154 wounded including Captain Komura.

''Chikuma'' (escorted by the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Urakaze|1940|2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Tanikaze|1940|2}}) returned to Truk for emergency repairs, and was then sent back to Kure with the damaged carrier ''Zuihō''. During refit and repairs, two additional twin [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25-mm AA guns]] and a Type 21 air-search [[radar]] were added. Repairs were completed by 27 February 1943.

On 15 March 1943 Rear Admiral [[Kishi Fukuji]] assumed command of CruDiv 8, and ''Chikuma'' was ordered back to Truk. However, on 17 May, ''Chikuma'' and ''Tone'' were tasked to accompany the battleship {{ship|Japanese battleship|Musashi||2}} back to [[Tokyo]] for the [[state funeral]] of Admiral [[Isoroku Yamamoto]]. ''Chikuma'' was back in Truk by 15 July, having avoided numerous submarine attacks along the route.

From July to November, ''Chikuma'' was engaged in making troop transport runs to Rabaul, and to patrols of the [[Marshall Islands]] in unsuccessful pursuit of the American fleet. While refueling at Rabaul on 5 November 1943, ''Chikuma'' and its task force [[Bombing of Rabaul (November 1943)|were attacked by 97 planes]] from the carriers ''Saratoga'', and {{USS|Princeton|CVL-23|2}}. Cruisers ''Atago'', ''Takao'', ''Maya'', {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Mogami|1934|2}}, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Agano||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Noshiro||2}} were damaged. ''Chikuma'', attacked by a single SBD, suffered only near-misses with minor damage.

Back at Kure on 12 December, ''Chikuma'' gained additional 25-mm AA guns, bringing its total to 20. CruDiv 8 was disbanded on 1 January 1944, and both ''Tone'' and ''Chikuma'' were reassigned to CruDiv 7 (with ''Suzuya'' and ''Kumano'') under Rear Admiral [[Shoji Nishimura]]. Refit completed by 1 February, ''Chikuma'' returned to Singapore on 13 February and [[Jakarta|Batavia]] on 15 March after a month of [[Japanese Indian Ocean raid (1944)|raiding commerce in the Indian Ocean]]. On 20 March 1944, Rear Admiral [[Kazutaka Shiraishi]] assumed command of CruDiv 7, and ''Chikuma'' was made flagship.

=== Battle of the Philippine Sea ===
On 13 June 1944, Admiral [[Soemu Toyoda]] activated "Operation A-GO" for the defense of the [[Mariana Islands]]. ''Chikuma'' was assigned to Force "C" Vice Admiral [[Jisaburo Ozawa]]'s Mobile Fleet, which proceeded through the [[Visayan Sea]] to the [[Philippine Sea]] headed towards [[Saipan]]. On 20 June, after the battleships {{ship|Japanese battleship|Haruna||2}}, {{ship|Japanese battleship|Kongō||2}} and carrier {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chiyoda||2}} were attacked by aircraft from the American carriers {{USS|Bunker Hill|CV-17|2}}, {{USS|Monterey|CVL-26|2}} and {{USS|Cabot|CVL-28|2}} and the bulk of the Japanese air cover was destroyed in the "[[Great Marianas Turkey Shoot]]", ''Chikuma'' retired with the Mobile Fleet to [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]].

After ferrying army troops to Okinawa, ''Chikuma'' was reassigned back to Singapore in July, serving as flagship for CruDiv 4 while ''Atago'' was under repairs.

=== Battle of Leyte Gulf ===
[[File:ChikumaLeyte.jpg|thumb|right|''Chikuma'' under aerial attack during Battle off Samar in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. The ship's stern has been severely damaged by a torpedo hit, but the ship's outboard propellers are still keeping her somewhat moving.]]
On 23 October 1944, ''Chikuma'' (with ''Kumano'', ''Suzuya'' and ''Tone'') sortied from [[Brunei]] towards the Philippines with Vice Admiral [[Takeo Kurita]]'s First Mobile Striking Force. In the [[Battle of the Palawan Passage]], ''Atago'' and ''Maya'' were sunk by submarines, and ''Takao'' damaged. In the [[Battle of the Sibuyan Sea]] the following day ''Musashi'' was sunk, the cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Myōkō||2}} was crippled and had to be towed to safety, while the battleships {{ship|Japanese battleship|Nagato||2}} and ''Haruna'' received damage.

On 25 October, during the [[Battle off Samar]], ''Chikuma'' engaged U.S. [[escort aircraft carrier]]s. She managed to close to within 5 nmi (5.8 mi; 9.3 km) of the escort carrier {{USS|Gambier Bay|CVE-73|6}}, and landed numerous hits with her 8-inch (203 mm) guns to her flight deck, lighting her ablaze. 

==== Debate on Chikuma's role in Gambier Bay's loss ====
Going off of older sources of the Battle off Samar, ''Gambier Bay's'' sinking is usually credited to ''Chikuma'', as she was known to have fired on her when ''Gambier Bay'' received her fatal damage, most crucially a hit that flooded her engine room and left her speed dropping drastically until she was dead in the water, and caused catastrophic flooding, usually listed as an 8-inch cruiser shell, likely from ''Chikuma''. However, Japanese records display that while ''Chikuma'' managed to land hits on ''Gambier Bay'' earlier, she failed to score any hits when ''Gambier Bay'' received her fatal blows as she switched fire to the destroyer [[USS Heermann|USS ''Heermann'']] beforehand, nor did any other cruiser claim credit for ''Gambier Bay's'' sinking.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lundgren. |first=Robert. |title=The World Wonder'd: What Really Happened Off Samar |publisher=Nimble Books LLC |date=October 23, 2014 |isbn=9781608880461 |edition=Hardcover |page=131 |language=English}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=USS Heermann Action Report |url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/NewPDFs/USN/Action%20reports/USS.Heermann.DD532.Action.Report.1944.10.23.pdf |access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref>
[[File:LeyteGambierBayStraddle.jpg|thumb|''Gambier Bay'' being straddled by Japanese shellfire, probably including ''Chikuma''. A large cloud of smoke from ''Chikuma's'' hits to her flight deck is very noticeable]]
However, the battleship [[Japanese battleship Yamato|''Yamato'']] claimed numerous hits on a US "fleet carrier" at the exact moments ''Gambier Bay'' was hit by numerous shells that are commonly attributed as killing blows, including the decisive hit that flooded ''Gambier Bay's'' engine room. On paper, the difference between cruiser shells and battleship shells should have been apparent, but ''Yamato'', having mistaken ''Gambier Bay'' for a full-sized fleet carrier, fired armor piercing shells from her [[46 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun|46 cm (18.1-inch) main guns]] that over penetrated ''Gambier Bay's'' unarmored hull without exploding.<ref name=":0" /> To this day, it's still occasionally debated on whether ''Chikuma'' or ''Yamato'' sank ''Gambier Bay.'' However, general consensus among naval historians has landed on the claim ''Gambier Bay's'' sinking should be credited to ''Yamato'', largely ridding ''Chikuma'' of her former glory.<ref>{{Citation |title=Mystery of the China Seas (Full Episode) {{!}} Drain the Oceans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_EchGlBeE |access-date=2023-04-21 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yamato and Musashi Internet Photo Archive |url=http://www.battleshipyamato.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330044330/http://www.battleshipyamato.com/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.battleshipyamato.com |archive-date=30 March 2022 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==== Final moments and sinking ====
Regardless of who sank ''Gambier Bay'', as stated earlier, ''Chikuma'' switched fire from ''Gambier Bay'' to the aforementioned ''Heermann'', and inflicted severe damage.<ref name=":1" />  She then came under fire from the destroyer escort {{USS|Samuel B. Roberts|DE-413|6}}. ''Chikuma'' turned her guns to engage, but failed to score a single hit due to how close the small target was. However, in exchange, over 200 5-inch (127 mm) shells from the destroyer escort slammed into ''Chikuma'', turning her into a floating inferno, and disabling her no. 3 turret.<ref>{{Citation |title=Dogfights: U.S. Beats Back the Japanese Navy (S1, E8) {{!}} Full Episode |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zrorXYgh-A |access-date=2023-04-21 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1944 |title=USS Samuel B Roberts Action Report 1944. |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/NewPDFs/USN/Action%20reports/USS.Samuel.B.Roberts.DE.413.Action.Rpt.Loss.of.1944-10-25.pdf }}</ref> ''Samuel B. Roberts'' emptied almost the entirety of her ammunition on ''Chikuma'', and mostly out of ammo and completely out of torpedoes, the destroyer escort was later sunk by the battleship [[Japanese battleship Kongō|''Kongō'']].<ref name=":2" />

Heavily crippled, ''Chikuma'' disengaged, but was soon attacked by four [[TBM Avenger]] torpedo-bombers. Richard Deitchman, flying from {{USS|Manila Bay|CVE-61|6}}, succeeded in hitting her stern port quarter with a [[Mark 13 torpedo]] that severed her stern and disabled her port screw and rudder. ''Chikuma''{{'}}s speed dropped to {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}, then to {{convert|9|kn|km/h}}, but more seriously, she became unsteerable. At 1105, ''Chikuma'' was attacked by five TBMs from {{USS|Kitkun Bay|CVE-71|6}}. She was hit portside amidships by two torpedoes and her engine rooms flooded. At 1400, three TBMs from a composite squadron of ships from {{USS|Ommaney Bay|CVE-79|6}} and {{USS|Natoma Bay|CVE-62|2}} led by Lt. Joseph Cady dropped more torpedoes which hit ''Chikuma'' portside. Cady was later awarded the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his action. It is generally thought that the Japanese destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Nowaki|1940|2}} took off survivors from ''Chikuma'', and then scuttled her at {{coord|11|25|N|126|36|E|display=inline, title}} in the late morning of on 25 October 1944, but a more recent study suggests ''Chikuma'' sank from the effect of the air attack, and ''Nowaki'' only arrived in time to pick up survivors from the water.<ref name="Anthony P. Tully 2000, pp. 248">Anthony P. Tully, 'Solving some Mysteries of Leyte Gulf: Fate of the ''Chikuma'' and ''Chokai'' ', ''Warship International'' No. 3, 2000, pp. 248–258, especially p. 251.</ref>

On 26 October 1944, ''Nowaki'' was sunk by gunfire from the cruisers {{USS|Vincennes|CL-64|6}}, {{USS|Biloxi|CL-80|2}} and {{USS|Miami|CL-89|2}} and DesDiv 103's {{USS|Miller|DD-535|2}}, {{USS|Owen|DD-536|2}} and {{USS|Lewis Hancock|DD-675|2}}. The ship sank {{convert|65|mi|km}} south-southeast of [[Legazpi, Albay|Legaspi]], [[Philippines]] with about 1,400 men, including all but one of ''Chikuma''{{'}}s surviving crewmen. The sole survivor from ''Chikuma'' was a crew member who was not picked up by ''Nowaki'' and drifted ashore on his own.<ref>[http://www.combinedfleet.com/nowaki_t.htm IJN Nowaki: Tabular Record of Movement]</ref>

''Chikuma'' was removed from the navy list on 20 April 1945.

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
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 | year = 1978
 | title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945
 | publisher = Naval Institute Press
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 | url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull
 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Jensen|first=Richard M.|year=2001|title=Re: Fate of ''Chikuma'' and ''Chokai''|journal=Warship International|publisher=International Naval Research Organization|volume=XXXVIII|issue=2|pages=115–116|issn=0043-0374}}
*{{cite book
 | last = Jentsura
 | first = Hansgeorg 
 | year = 1976
 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945
 | publisher = Naval Institute Press
 | isbn = 0-87021-893-X
}}
*{{cite book
 | last = Lacroix
 | first = Eric
 |author2=Linton Wells
 | year = 1997
 | title = Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War
 | publisher = Naval Institute Press
 | isbn = 0-87021-311-3
}}
*{{cite book
 | last = Whitley 
 | first = M.J. 
 | year = 1995
 | title = Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia 
 | publisher = Naval Institute Press
 | isbn = 1-55750-141-6
}}

==External links==
*{{cite web
 | last = Parshall
 | first = Jon
 |author2=Bob Hackett |author3=Sander Kingsepp |author4=Allyn Nevitt
  | url = http://www.combinedfleet.com/tone_c.htm  
 | title = ''Tone'' class
 | work = Imperial Japanese Navy Page (Combinedfleet.com)
 | access-date = 31 July 2016
}} 
* Tabular record:  [http://www.combinedfleet.com/chikuma_t.htm CombinedFleet.com: ''Chikuma'' history] (Retrieved 26 January 2007.)
* Gallery: [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-c/chikuma.htm US Navy Historical Center]

{{Tone class cruiser}}
{{October 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chikuma}}
[[Category:Tone-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]]
[[Category:1938 ships]]
[[Category:Second Sino-Japanese War cruisers of Japan]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of Japan]]
[[Category:Attack on Pearl Harbor]]
[[Category:Cruisers sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by US aircraft]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by aircraft during the Battle of Leyte Gulf]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Philippine Sea]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1944]]