World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseShoji Nishimura gained much fame early in the Pacific War as the commander of the 4th Destroyer Squadron after taking on and defeating Allied fleets at Java Sea. In Jun 1942 he was named the commander of the 7th Cruiser Division and participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign. His loyalty was rewarded in 1943 with a promotion to the rank of vice admiral. Near the end of the war, Nishimura was named the commander of the Southern Force in Operation Sho-Go as Tokyo sought a final and decisive naval battle against the Americans in the Philippines. His force, consisted of battleships Fuso and Yamashiro heavy cruiser Mogami, and destroyers Shigure, Michishio, Asagumo, and Yamagumo, entered Surigao Strait between Leyte and Dingat in the evening of 24 Oct 1944. Waiting for his fleet was Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf's Seventh Fleet, which was consisted of six battleships, eight cruisers, 29 destroyers, and 39 motored torpedo boats. Oldendorf crossed Nishimura's "T", and the Japanese fleet was crushed under the might of the American naval guns. Nishimura was killed during the battle.

Photographs

Shoji Nishimura Timeline