Mississinewa Hit By Kaiten and Explodes
Mascoma next sailed for Kossol Roads, where she served as station tanker from 13 October through 18 November. She then steamed for Ulithi, arriving on the 19th. At anchor at Ulithi the next morning, her crew witnessed the first use of one of Japan's weapons of last resort, the "kaiten" human torpedo. On that morning, 20 November, Mississinewa (AO-59), moored near Mascoma, was rocked with explosions caused by a direct hit with a kaiten launched from the Japanese submarine I-47. This suicide sortie had been led by Lt. Sekio Nishinu, one of the kaiten's inventors. Boatcrews from Mascoma rescued 21 survivors from Mississinewa.
Read more about this topic: USS Mascoma (AO-83)
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