Japanese Destroyer Ume (1944)

was one of 18 escort destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) near the end of World War II. Completed in mid-1944, the ship spent her short career escorting troop and supply convoys. She played a minor role in the Battle of Ormoc Bay in early December, escorting a troop convoy in the Philippines, and was damaged there by American aircraft a week later. After repairs that lasted until January 1945, the ship led a small group of destroyers back to the Philippines in an attempt to evacuate aircrew, but was sunk by American bombers near Japanese Taiwan on the last day of the month.

Design and description

Designed for ease of production, the ''Matsu'' class was smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers as the IJN intended them for second-line duties like escorting convoys, releasing the larger ships for missions with the fleet. The ships measured long overall, with a beam of and a draft of .Sturton, p. 196 Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men. They displaced at standard load and at deep load. The ships had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of for a speed of . The ''Matsu''s had a range of at .Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 151

The main armament of the ''Matsu''-class ships consisted of three Type 89 dual-purpose guns in one twin-gun mount aft and one single mount forward of the superstructure. The single mount was partially protected against spray by a gun shield. The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted. The ships carried a total of 20 Type 96 anti-aircraft guns in four triple and eight single mounts. The ''Matsu''s were equipped with a Type 22 surface- search radar.Stille, p. 41 The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for torpedoes. They could deliver their 36 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.

''Ume'' probably was not initially fitted with a Type 13 early-warning radar. The radar and five additional 25 mm guns on single mounts were installed in late 1944.

Construction and career

Authorized in the late 1942 Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program,Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 152 ''Ume'' ( Japanese apricot) was laid down by Fujinagata Shipyards at their facility in Osaka on 1 December 1943 and launched on 24 April 1944. Upon her completion on 10 June 1944, ''Ume'' was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 11 of the Combined Fleet for training and then the 43rd Destroyer Division of Destroyer Squadron 11 on 15 July. The division was transferred to the 31st Escort Squadron of the 5th Fleet on 20 August.

Together with her sister ships and , ''Ume'' escorted the aircraft carriers and on a transport mission from Sasebo to Keelung, Japanese Taiwan, then returned to Kure, between 25 October and 2 November. The division's next task was to escort the hybrid battleship/carriers and her sister as they ferried supplies to Manila, Philippines, on 9 November. American air raids deterred the battleships from completing the journey, and the ships were diverted to the Spratly Islands. She then joined the escort for the 2nd Fleet during their movement from Brunei to Mako, Japanese Taiwan.Nevitt 2024

Battle of Ormoc Bay

The Battle of Ormoc Bay was a part of the larger Battle of Leyte. ''Ume'' was assigned to TA No. 8 along with ''Momo'', ''Sugi'', and the sub-chasers ''Ch.18'' and ''Ch.38''; ''Ume''s captain served as the convoy commander. They were escorting five troopships carrying the 4,000 men of the 68th Brigade to Ormoc and departed on 5 December. American forces began landing a few miles south of Ormoc on 7 December, and the convoy was spotted by American aircraft that morning. Their initial attack was ineffective, but the convoy was diverted to the fishing port of San Isidro after it received word that the Americans were landing near their destination. Shortly after the transports began unloading, they were attacked by Marine Vought F4U Corsair fighter-bombers of VMF-211. The initial attacks hit one transport and caused her to run aground for the loss of three Corsairs.Hammel, p. 513 The convoy commander then ordered his ships to beach themselves and continue to unload their troops and equipment, while the escorts withdrew northward. Further attacks that afternoon lightly damaged ''Ume'' and ''Sugi'' and sank two of the transports, while only one was able to beach itself. All told, the convoy was attacked by a total of 24 Corsairs, 86 Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and 43 Curtiss P-40 Warhawks. ''Ume'' arrived in Manila two days later.

The ship was moderately damaged by an American bomb on 15 December, and she sailed to Occupied Hong Kong for repairs. ''Ume'' arrived in Takao, Japanese Taiwan, on 20 January 1945. Ten days later, the ship led her sister and the destroyer on a mission to evacuate stranded aircrew from Aparri, Philippines.Nevitt 2012 The next day a dozen North American B-25 Mitchells from the 822d Bombardment Squadron attacked the ships south of Taiwan, sinking ''Ume'' as well as damaging ''Kaede'' and ''Shiokaze''. The latter ship rescued the survivors, but 77 men were killed and 36 wounded.Futrell, p. 429

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ume (Type D)
Matsu-class destroyers
Ships built by Fujinagata Shipyards
World War II destroyers of Japan
1944 ships