The Wreck of IJN Mogami - The Unlucky Cruiser Met Her Fiery End

There are few ships with as much of an unlucky reputation as the Japanese cruiser Mogami. Multiple collisions with friendly ships, including one of her own sisters. Torpedoing multiple friendly ships, in one go. And, of course, being pounded into the bottom by just about every weapon in the American arsenal.
For all of that, however, her wreck is in remarkably good shape. It shows definite damage, of course, but it's also in more or less one piece. Ships that suffered substantially less damage can't make the same claim.
In any event, her wreck was located by RV Petrel's team, in 2019.

[@tomyorke3412]

The fact she took all that and her crew kept her going is a testament to the old ship and her crew

[@spankdaplank7774]

I am an American expat living in Surigao City on a hill overlooking the Surigao strait. The Petrel was berthed here during this phase of her research. I was fortunate to make friends with Rob Kraft and Paul Meyer of the Petrel who were in charge of the search operations. I spent some time with these guys and am still in awe of their skill, knowlege and dedication. The Petrel was a marvel of high tech as I was able to tour the entire vessl and saw first hand the methods of searh. Also our 19 year old daughter helped them out acting as local liason, interpreter and gofer. Wonderful memories.

[@mbryson2899]

_Mogami_ had a very interesting career, to say the least. Thanks for sharing and narrating her photos.

[@Ah01]

Fine looking ship, with impressive fighting power, but included amazing amount of serious design flaws from top heaviness to weak hull.

[@DragonShadowfire1]

That last image of the Compass Platform was haunting...I don't think I've ever seen a wreck aside from HMAS Sydney with a hole through one of her primary battery turrets that has really chilled me with the thought of what happened to the men on the other side of the battle damage. I never knew they converted Mogami into a 'Carrier cruiser'. I always thought the only two IJN cruisers like that were Tone and Chikuma. I also never realized she put up such a heroic struggle in her final action. Japanese cruisers were tough, but Japanese damage control operations during the Pacific war were notoriously lacking, even up until the end of the war. I have heard about exceptions such as with Zuikaku, but Mogami definitely is up there now, given she took a pounding that would have likely sunk a capitol ship, and yet her crew stubbornly kept her afloat. Thank you for making these vids! As a student of military history, these kinds of wrecks are no different than cemeteries. They contain human souls, and while they must be observed and honored, they must also be left to rest. Ensuring others are educated about these wrecks, and about the stories of those who served aboard these weapons of war, is essential to paving the way for a world where ships such as Mogami, and the men who served aboard her, can rest in peace in a world that will always remember them. Didn't mean to write a little sonnet there...just felt the need to get all that out. Can't wait to see what other wrecks you'll show us this year and wish you the very best!!

[@suspiciousminds1750]

Well said. I had the same thought about the men, also. At least it was quick, I'm sure.

[@nikkimontgomery6889]

Hard fighting ships and crews always deserve respect from any nation. Can’t imagine the carnage of Mogami, or Mikuma for that matter. Good looking but terribly unlucky class of ships. Surprising that Japan’s new frigate line is named Mogami Class.

[@luuko656]

The Mogami is my favorite ship from the JIN... It contained a few F1M2 Pete aircraft and Tamiya made a beautiful kit of her...

[@yanni2112]

built it!

[@kurtwicklund8901]

Bless you for using the word unique correctly.

[@CaesarInVa]

Always thought Mogami was a pretty ship. Great video. Thanks!

[@franksposato6072]

Thank you giving the Portland the credit she deserves. A very good cruiser in the war that never gets enough recognition.

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

The bow may have been folded on the way down to the sea-bed. The hydrodynamic forces, particularly if there was damage from the ramming, ripping it away. The effect increases as the depth increases, while the structural integrity is reducing from crush damage to any air-filled compartments.

[@Mechaninjalo]

Don't listen to the yap below wanting " background music" . Your videos are perfect , don't change a thing . 🤘🤖🤘

[@spudhut2246]

Great information and photos, I appreciate your digs into these ships!!!! Amazing work.

[@JokeFranic]

i think these videos would benefit from showing on the blueprint where the picture your are describing is so we can orient ourselves somewhat

[@user-zj2zw1tg1x]

最上を見つけて頂いて有り難うございます。とても貴重な映像です。不運に見舞われていた最上ですが、一生懸命に闘いました。今は安らかに眠って下さい。お疲れ様でした。

[@johngaither9263]

The USN cruisers fired a mind-boggling total of 3100 rounds of 6" & 8" shells during the engagement and are reported to have done far more damage to the Japanese fleet than did the fire from the old battleships.

[@Mattsunx]

Thanks for the vid, precise and with great narration. Would do the with my set of papers from midway but I doubt I’d be able to do it better than this.

[@johnguzman8879]

Mogami? Never thought you make a video on her wreckage

[@infantryattacks]

During my career in the USMC, I had the privilege of transiting through Surigao Strait on USN amphibious ships on a couple of occasions. During these transits, it was natural to think about the naval battle and all the wrecks on the bottom.

[@ericvadekro8334]

Very interesting!

[@daffyduck1974]

I love the future & technology for stuff like this. I look forward to when they can do 3D scans of all these old ships. Maybe a day when submersible drones get small enough to go into the wrecks as well.

[@alexh3153]

Didn’t that look like 3 holes punched in the side of turret 2?

[@williamcarl4200]

A fine machine and home to a fine crew. People forget a ship is the home of the sailors who serve. Tanker, Container, Warship...1824, 1924, 2024. Sailors and their ships is a theme that live as long as there are oceans to cross.

[@jarigustafsson7620]

ii do love mogami class,.

[@jaredarredondo9218]

*love it*

[@spartantrooper7]

Can we have a video of Suzuya as well please!?

[@JGCR59]

Never join any task force with the destroyer Shigure in it

[@aaronmoore569]

It's Oldendorf, not Olendorf

[@skyneahistory2306]

….how have I been consistently misreading his name for decades? Must have been an early thing that stuck around.

[@brownwrench]

How did so much anchor chain get paid out in this scenario?

[@marcwitt8507]

Looks like three lower caliber shots on turret two

[@JGCR59]

USS Portland has to be the US surface warship with the most "kills" of japanese ships I think, at least among the bigger ships

[@jamesberlo4298]

It must have landed on the Bow,

[@michaeldantoni4292]

Amazing how your video of history brings out comments from folks telling you how you should produce your content. 😂 Anyway, good history lesson.

[@billclarke5916]

Her Aircraft deck was steel, not wood, so couldn't have rotted away.

[@RW4X4X3006]

Sure all that aviation fuel burned plenty hot.

[@facubeitches1144]

Given Mogami's history, it's almost surprising that her fate wasn't to have a single rivet pop in a place that no one could get to, so they couldn't stop the flooding, and she sank fully intact with her entire crew, but as she went down, she somehow managed to torpedo two ships that were coming to assist her.

[@killerkip1]

good videos, I would recommend finding some background music to play quietly while you talk, and clearly dividing your topics into chapters that people can navigate using a placeholder screen with a title, possibly changing the background music between each chapter. Otherwise your words are clear and your videos are easy to follow! Some sources, even if vague or simplified, would be appreciated too. Keep it up!

[@JamesBOydston-pq9zq]

It's fine the way it is . If you find that not the way you like it do it urself stop complaining.......

[@briandenison2325]

I’m not a fan of background music, I find it too distracting.

[@maxs.3238]

​@@JamesBOydston-pq9zq not really a need to go full on butthurt straight away but okay dude

[@mbryson2899]

​@@briandenison2325I agree. I detest background music behind narration, there's no need for it.

[@mbryson2899]

​@@maxs.3238How is that "butthurt?" A poster asking for chapter markers in a 15 minute video, each chapter with varied background music, _that's_ butthurt.