Battle of Ishijima Coast

The Battle of Ishijima Coast (石島沖海戦) is a series of naval battles fought between combined American forces and the remains of Imperial Nakama Navy mostly from Miyauchi Naval Base. It was the last naval engagement of Nakama before the end Nakama participation on Pacific Theater of World War 2.

Battle of Ishijima Coast or sometimes known as Battles of Saito Sea known as the last defense of Nakama to prevent Allies landing into the main part of its territory, northern Seijima Island. Nakamaese battleship Tsurumi earn the tittle of the Kazan Hime (lit: Volcano Princess) on how the 2nd Nakama Combined Fleet able to defends the last stronghold of Nakamaese Naval during world war 2 with the background of eruption of volcano Mount Takane. This battle basically renders the air combat useless with the harsh condition of weather and ash rain after eruption of the volcano, enable Nakama who lost its entire carrier fleet except one to keep the allies away from the area.

Background
With the fall of Higashima Island into hands of Allies, Nakama left with its core territory, northern part of Seijima Island including its capital city. Allies forces lead by US plan to force Nakama into capitulation by capturing the capital, Serika and Matsukawa. However the plan was canceled after the eruption of mount Takane render western part of Seijima unreachable by air forces.

Rendezvous at Miyauchi
As the war getting closer to the capitulation of axis, Both Japanese and Nakamaese Navy gather the remaining resources into the remaining safe haven including Kure, and Sasebo, from Miyauchi. About total 30 surface vessel of both Nakamaese and Japanese Navy transporting the resources between these bases. After the lost on Operation Ten-Go in April, the transport operation terminated causing several ships from IJN including Shiratsuyu, Umikaze, Kiyoshimo, and Ryuho remained in Miyauchi until the end of war. Same goes to several INN vessel remained in Kure and Sasebo. Miyauchi Naval Base (宮内鎮守府) become a save rendezvous spot for the remaining vessel of combined fleet all across western Nakama coast and south Japan coast with the fall of Hashirajima few week beforehand. The presence of vessel in Miyauchi pretty vital for the later the last major naval battle in WW2.

At 8 May 1945, Allied forces attempt to bombard Miyauchi by total 42 F4U 21 TBD and 29 F6F Hellcat as supporting airpower. At 8am planes depart from the USS Intrepid to the Miyauchi. However Nakamaese Navy send 72 of their land based Shiden Kai Ni and several prototype one time use Shuusui as the interceptor. Nakamaese managed to maintain its air superiority over the allies however lost about 30 of their interceptor due to the low skilled pilot at that time. The allies which underestimate Nakamaese airpower retreated with their air raid after lost about 27 planes.

Second Attempt on Miyauchi attack happened in 15 May 1945 where allies send 55 B-29 Superfortress from Namiya to firebomb Miyauchi to the ground, however due to the bad weather and subsequent incoming typhoon route, the operation diverted to firebomb the industrial facility in Suzukake instead causing about 2600 deaths and 85% of the city demolished to the ground.

However by June 1945 Allies Navy focused on Ryukyuan Island in attempt to liberate Oka from axis as well to take control over the area. Put the Northern Nakama Invasion on hold for few weeks. During this time, Imperial Nakama Navy formed the Miyauchi 1st Fleet (宮内第一艦隊) which consist of Tsurumi as flagship, Ryuhou, Takagi, Aragaki, Yukina, Nakamaese cruiser Shiina|Shiina]], Murasa, Murakami, Hayasame, Kiyoshimo, Akishio and Ishigaki, Miyauchi 2nd Fleet (宮内第二艦隊) which consist of Shiratsuyu, Umikaze, Haruka, Nakamaese cruiser Aizu, Akisame and Nakamaese destroyer Yokoshio, and Miyauchi 3rd Fleet which consist mostly with Submarines and several Nakamaese destroyer.

Okataian Force Backup
The downfall of Imperial Japan Fleet during Operation Ten-Go one month prior has let to the major blow to the axis fleet on the region. However the remaining fleet of axis managed to survive either to Sasebo, Kure and Oka city. Suzutsuki alongside with several Okataian fleet including Hayatsuki and Rinko managed to escape the attack after the Sinking of Yamato with certain light damage to Oka City. Total 7 ships (6 destroyer 1 heavy cruiser) escaped to Oka City while the rest managed move to Sasebo and Kure. During relatively calm period before the Oka Invasion by allies few weeks later, these ships managed to create makeshift fleet with AA capability after subsequent repair with Suzutsuki as the flagship of the fleet. This fleet later called "Ryuusei Fleet" (流星艦隊) which literally mean Shooting star in English.

Suzutsuki lead the fleet escaping from the Oka Invasion to the Miyauchi direction in May 27 1945 only to be faced with heavy firebomb nearby the Yatojima, Daitou Island and caused moderate damage to the ship. However the Ryuusei Fleet managed to land several critical hit to the nearby Allies fleet and enable them to sunk one Light Carrier with torpedo from Kasumi which however retain heavy damage and need to be scuttled near the coast of Fukuzaki Prefecture The Okataian Fleet role is important to shot down enemy aircraft which managed to briefly weakened the allies air power at that time.

Invasion of Western Seijima
Despite of the impending volcano eruption, United States Navy begin the invasion of western Seijima via the Saito Island Sea and Ishijima. The Task force departed from Okinawa at 3 June 1945 and heading to the Ishijima Island. Total 2 Battleship USS Colorado and USS Missouri, 2 Carriers, and several destroyer involved in this initial attack to Northern Nakama. Fleet accompanied by 550 fighter, recon and bombers combined. Their target is to disable the remaining fleet and military facility at both Miyauchi and Yokoshima. However at 5.00pm June 3 1945 Mount Takane suddenly show its eruption activity aborting the plane operation for safety precaution and leaving the fleet with small amount of airpower.

Sinking of Miyauchi 2nd Fleet
thumb|left|Umikaze in 1937 2nd fleet which consist of Shiratsuyu, Umikaze, Haruka, Aizu, Akisame, and Yokoshio depart from Miyauchi to the Southern end of Saito Island Sea during their transport operation to the Suzukake. They were at Suzukake when the intel report about Allied forces attack. At morning June 4 1945, The allied fleet encountered the Miyauchi 2nd Fleet in about 76 km Southwest of Ishijima coast.

About total remaining accompanying 21 F4U Corsair attacked the 2nd fleet which has no air cover at 9:49 am. During the first attack wave, despite evasive maneuvers that caused most of the bombs and torpedoes to miss the fleet however Yokoshio heavily damaged and taken out of battle. Yokoshio sank at 11:21 am and her crew transported to Akisame.

The 2nd wave of attack launched in 11:48am. The allied attack focused on sinking the heavy cruiser of Haruka and Aizu. At 12:29am Aizu boiler room hit by torpedo. Total 12 crew of Aizu reported killed in action during this attack. At 1:04pm Haruka hit hardly in the topside of ships destroying 2 of the main guns and disabling the engine making her dead in the water and the captain ordered the entire crew to abandon the ship. half of the crew managed to escape and 1/3 of them boarded at Shiratsuyu while another 2/3 at Umikaze. At 1.30pm, the Admiral Miyashiro at Tsurumi ordered the ships to retreat at all cost to Miyauchi while the 1st fleet ordered to Escort the remaining.

At 2:23pm Allied fleet has spotted the 2nd Miyauchi fleet and start to open fire to the remaining Miyauchi 2nd fleet. The remaining Shiratsuyu, Umikaze, Aizu, Akisame and recently disabled Haruka evading the enemy fleet at full speed retreating to Miyauchi. However Haruka capsized and sunk at 2:40pm where total half of its crew unable to escape. Damaged Aizu unable to evade enemy attack hit by enemy shelling which broke her into two in few mins.

The remaining 2nd Fleet survivor Shiratsuyu and Akisame managed to escape to Miyauchi in light to moderate damage which escorted by makeshift Airpower from Ryuhou and shelling from Tsurumi. Okataian Fleet also managed to cover the fleet from the air attack. Total 23 out of total 31 planes from both side engine failed due to the ash rain from Takane Eruption.