Aerial Battle of Taiwan-Okinawa
Encyclopedia
The Aerial Battle of the Taiwan Seas (Traditional Chinese: 台灣-琉球空戰) took place between October 12 and 16, 1944, off the eastern coast of the island of Taiwan
, and was fought by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
and the approaching Task Force 38 of the United States Third Fleet and was one of a series of Air raids on Japan
during the Pacific War
. The attacks served to prevent the Japanese aircraft from involvement in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
later that month.
The battle was one-sided, as the Americans practically dominated air warfare due to the superior training and weaponry that they possessed at that point. The battle exhausted Japan's air power in the region, giving the American's air superiority and weakening Japan's ability to defend Okinawa Islands
in the upcoming Okinawa Campaign. However, in an effort to boost morale and to cover up the defeat, Japanese headquarters claimed to have sunk 45 Allied ships including 11 aircraft carriers and four battleships.
.
The Japanese had responses prepared for a number of eventualities including one in response to attacks on Formosa – Shō-Gō 2.
The Japanses response was to send waves of aircraft against the US carriers. On 13 October, the cruiser USS Canberra
was seriously damaged by a torpedo bomber while for one of the first times in the war a kamikaze
aircraft was used, which lightly damaged the carrier USS Franklin
. The following day saw the island all but neutralized but the light cruiser USS Houston
was damaged by an enemy torpedo, while the carrier USS Hancock
, the light cruiser USS Reno
and two destroyers had all incurred some form of damage. However over three days the Japanese had lost approximately 500 aircraft and countless ships, which was almost their entire air strength in the area.
United States Navy
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and was fought by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was the air arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, the organization was responsible for the operation of naval aircraft and the conduct of aerial warfare in the Pacific War.It was controlled by the Navy Staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy and...
and the approaching Task Force 38 of the United States Third Fleet and was one of a series of Air raids on Japan
Air raids on Japan
During World War II the Allied forces conducted many air raids on Japan which caused extensive destruction to the country's cities and killed over 300,000 people. These attacks began with the Doolittle Raid in mid-April 1942, but did not resume until June 1944 when United States Army Air Forces ...
during the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. The attacks served to prevent the Japanese aircraft from involvement in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
later that month.
The battle was one-sided, as the Americans practically dominated air warfare due to the superior training and weaponry that they possessed at that point. The battle exhausted Japan's air power in the region, giving the American's air superiority and weakening Japan's ability to defend Okinawa Islands
Okinawa Islands
Okinawa Islands are a group of islands that belongs to Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa Prefecture makes up a portion of the Ryukyu Islands. The prefectural capital Naha, as well as most of the population, exists on the largest island, Okinawa Island...
in the upcoming Okinawa Campaign. However, in an effort to boost morale and to cover up the defeat, Japanese headquarters claimed to have sunk 45 Allied ships including 11 aircraft carriers and four battleships.
Background
The attacks on Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands were carried out to prevent the Japanese aerial forces there from participating in the planned landings at LeyteLeyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
.
The Japanese had responses prepared for a number of eventualities including one in response to attacks on Formosa – Shō-Gō 2.
Battle
The US 3rd Fleet started carrier launched raids against Taiwan on 12 October 1944.The Japanses response was to send waves of aircraft against the US carriers. On 13 October, the cruiser USS Canberra
USS Canberra (CA-70)
USS Canberra was a Baltimore class cruiser and later a Boston class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy. Originally to be named USS Pittsburgh, the ship was renamed Canberra before launch, for the Royal Australian Navy's County class cruiser, , which was sunk during the Battle of Savo...
was seriously damaged by a torpedo bomber while for one of the first times in the war a kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
aircraft was used, which lightly damaged the carrier USS Franklin
USS Franklin (CV-13)
The USS Franklin , nicknamed "Big Ben," was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in January 1944, she served in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning four battle stars...
. The following day saw the island all but neutralized but the light cruiser USS Houston
USS Houston (CL-81)
USS Houston , a Cleveland-class light cruiser, was the third vessel in the United States Navy named after the city of Houston, Texas. She was active in the Pacific War for several months, then crippled in an attack in October 1944....
was damaged by an enemy torpedo, while the carrier USS Hancock
USS Hancock (CV-19)
USS Hancock was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress and first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
, the light cruiser USS Reno
USS Reno (CL-96)
USS Reno was an updated Atlanta-class light cruiser - sometimes referred to as the "Oakland-class" - designed and built to specialize in antiaircraft warfare. She was the first warship to be named for the city of Reno, Nevada. The one other USS Reno was a destroyer named for Lt. Commander Walter E...
and two destroyers had all incurred some form of damage. However over three days the Japanese had lost approximately 500 aircraft and countless ships, which was almost their entire air strength in the area.
Order of battle
Imperial Japanese Navy- Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service: 1,251 fighters/bombers. Shigekazu Shimawaki
- First Aviation Fleet: based in ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 144 fighters/bombers. - Second Aviation Fleet: based in TakaoKaohsiungKaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, 358 fighters/bombers. - Third Aviation Fleet: aircraft carriers based, 275 fighters/bombers.
- Third Fleet: based in KisarazuKisarazu, Chibais a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of September 2010, Kisarazu has an estimated population of 126,906 and a density of 915 persons per km². The total area was 138.73 km²....
, ChibaChiba Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, 237 fighters/bombers. - Twelfth Aviation Fleet: aircraft carriers based, 237 fighters/bombers.
- First Aviation Fleet: based in Manila
United States Navy
- Third Fleet
- Task Force 38: 17 aircraft carriers, 6 battleships, 14 cruisers, 58 destroyers.
- First Aircraft Carrier Group: USS Cabot, USS Cowpens, USS Hornet, USS Monterey, USS Wasp.
- Second Aircraft Carrier Group: USS Bunker Hill, USS Hancock, USS Independence, USS Intrepid.
- Third Aircraft Carrier Group: USS Essex, USS Langley, USS Lexington, USS Princeton.
- Fourth Aircraft Carrier Group: USS Belleau Wood, USS Enterprise, USS Franklin, USS San Jacinto.
- Task Force 38: 17 aircraft carriers, 6 battleships, 14 cruisers, 58 destroyers.