Battle of Leyte Gulf
During the Battle of Leyte Gulf (20 October 1944), Tama was assigned to Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa Northern Mobile ("Decoy") Force. During the Battle off Cape Engano (25 October), Ozawa's force was attacked by Task Force 38, with USS Enterprise, Essex, Intrepid, Franklin, Lexington, Independence, Belleau Wood, Langley, Cabot and San Jacinto. Tama was attacked by TBM Avenger torpedo bombers from VT-21 of the Belleau Wood and VT-51 from San Jacinto. A Mark 13 torpedo hit Tama in her No. 2 boiler room. After emergency repairs, Tama retired from the battle, escorted by Isuzu, but Isuzu was ordered to protect the damaged aircraft carrier Chiyoda. Tama was then escorted by destroyer Shimotsuki, but later Shimotsuki too was ordered off to assist the damaged carrier Zuihō. Tama proceeded alone at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) towards Okinawa.
Northeast of Luzon, Tama's luck ran out, as USS Jallao — on her first war patrol — picked up Tama on radar. Her attack of three bow torpedoes from 1,000 yd (910 m) missed, but her second salvo of four stern torpedoes from 800 yd (730 m) was more successful. Three torpedoes hit Tama, breaking it in two, and sinking her within minutes, with all hands at 21°23′N 127°19′E / 21.383°N 127.317°E / 21.383; 127.317.
Tama was removed from the navy list on 20 December 1944.
Read more about this topic: Japanese Cruiser Tama, Service Record
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