PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Operation Kita
rdfs:comment
  • Before departing Singapore, the Japanese ships, which were designated the Completion Force, were loaded with supplies of oil and other important raw materials. This formed part of an effort to run increased quantities of supplies through the Allied blockade of Japan before the country was cut off from its empire. The Allies had learned of the Completion Force's composition and goals through intelligence gained from decrypting Japanese radio signals, and plans were developed for coordinated attacks on it by submarines and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft. As part of these preparations, 26 submarines were eventually positioned along the ships' expected route.
owl:sameAs
Strength
  • 26
  • Aircraft
  • One light cruiser
  • Five destroyers
  • More than 88 aircraft
  • Two battleship-carriers
  • Two destroyers
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Partof
Date
  • --02-20
Commander
  • James Fife, Jr.
  • Charles A. Lockwood
  • Matsuda Chiaki
Status
  • Japanese victory
Caption
  • Japanese battleship-carrier Ise in 1943.
Casualties
  • None
  • Several aircraft
combatant
  • Australia
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Empire of Japan
Place
  • Waters between Singapore and Japan
Conflict
  • Operation Kita
abstract
  • Before departing Singapore, the Japanese ships, which were designated the Completion Force, were loaded with supplies of oil and other important raw materials. This formed part of an effort to run increased quantities of supplies through the Allied blockade of Japan before the country was cut off from its empire. The Allies had learned of the Completion Force's composition and goals through intelligence gained from decrypting Japanese radio signals, and plans were developed for coordinated attacks on it by submarines and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft. As part of these preparations, 26 submarines were eventually positioned along the ships' expected route. The Completion Force sailed on 10 February 1945 and was sighted leaving port by a Royal Navy submarine. However, attempts by it and several United States Navy (U.S. Navy) submarines to attack between 11 and 14 February were unsuccessful. More than 88 USAAF aircraft attempted to bomb the Completion Force on 13 and 14 February, but were unable to do so due to bad weather. A further submarine attack on 16 February did not damage any of the Japanese ships. As a result, the Completion Force reached its destination of Kure in Japan on 20 February without having suffered any casualties. Despite this success, the Japanese Government was forced to discontinue its efforts to ship oil from Southeast Asia to Japan in March due to the heavy losses Allied submarines were inflicting on oil tankers, and all the ships of the Completion Force were sunk in or near Japanese home waters before the end of the war.
is Battles of