Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | 1937 |
| Laid down: | 3 December 1937 |
| Launched: | 24 January 1939 |
| Commissioned: | 15 February 1940 |
| Fate: | Sunk in action, 2 November 1943 |
| Struck: | 5 January 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2,490 tons |
| Length: | 118.5 meters (388 ft 9 in) |
| Beam: | 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) |
| Draft: | 3.8 m (12 ft 4 in) |
| Speed: | 65 km/h (35 kt) |
| Complement: | 239 |
| Armament: | 6 × 127 mm (5 in) / 50 cal DP guns, up to 28 × 25 mm AA guns, up to 4 × 13 mm AA guns, 8 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes, 36 depth charges |
Hatsukaze (初風? "Year's First Wind") was a Kagero-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She survived four major fleet actions against the Allies but was finally sunk in November 1943 after being damaged through collision with a Japanese cruiser.
Contents |
[edit] Early missions
On 1 December 1941 Hatsukaze arrived at Palau with Destroyer Division 16 ("Desdiv 16"), part of Destroyer Squadron 2 ("Desron 2"). Starting on 6 December, Desron 2 escorted the light aircraft carrier Ryujo from Palau to support the Southern Philippine invasion forces at Davao, Menado, Kendari and Ambon through the months of December and January.[1] On 20 February and 27 February 1942 the task force supported the invasion of Timor and eastern Java island in the Netherlands East Indies.[1]
On 27–28 February, Hatsukaze and Desron 2 participated in the Battle of the Java Sea, taking part in a torpedo attack on the Allied fleet (composed of American, British, Dutch and Australian ships). During the month of March, Desron 2 engaged in anti-submarine operations in the Java Sea. At the end of the month, the squadron escorted the Christmas Island invasion force, then returned to Makassar. At the end of April, Hatsukaze sailed to the naval base at Kure in the Home Islands and docked for maintenance on 3 May.[1]
On 21 May 1942, Hatsukaze and Desron 2 steamed from Kure to Saipan, where they rendezvoused with a troop convoy and sailed toward Midway Island. Due to the defeat of the Carrier Striking Force and loss of four fleet carriers in the Battle of Midway, the invasion was called off and the convoy withdrew without seeing combat. Desdiv 16 was ordered back to Kure.[1]
[edit] Solomon Islands campaign
On 14 July, Hatsukaze and Desdiv 16 were reassigned to Desron 10, Third Fleet. On 16 August, Desron 10 departed Kure, escorting a fleet towards Truk. On 24 August, Deson 10 escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. During September and October, the squadron escorted the fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons. On 26 October, in the Battle of Santa Cruz, the squadron escorted the Striking Force, then escorted the damaged carriers Shokaku and Zuiho into Truk on 28 October. On 4 November, Desron 10 escorted Zuikaku from Truk to Kure, then engaged in training in the Inland Sea, and then escorted Zuikaku from Truk to the Shortland Islands in January 1943.[1]
On 10 January, while providing cover for a supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal, Hatsukaze assisted in sinking the American PT boats PT-43 and PT-112. She suffered heavy damage when struck by a torpedo (possibly launched by PT-112) in the port side; her best speed was 18 knots as she withdrew to Truk, for emergency repairs. Then she sailed to Kure in April for more extensive repairs. In September, Hatsukaze and Desron 10 escorted the super-battleship Yamato from Kure to Truk. In late September and again in late October, Desron 10 escorted the main fleet from Truk to Eniwetok and back again, in response to American carrier airstrikes in the Central Pacific region. Between these two missions, Hatsukaze sortied briefly from Truk in early October 1943 to assist the oil tanker Hazakaya, which had been torpedoed by an American submarine.[1]
[edit] Final battle
On 2 November 1943, while attacking an Allied task force off Bougainville in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, Hatsukaze collided with the cruiser Myōkō. After those Japanese ships able to do so had withdrawn, Hatsukaze and the light cruiser Sendai were sunk (at Coordinates: ) by Allied destroyer gunfire. Of those on-board, 164 including its commanding officer were killed.
Commanding Officers
- Chief Equipping Officer, Cmdr. Kameshirou Takahashi: 15 November 1939 – 15 February 1940
- Cmdr. Kameshirou Takahashi: 15 February 1940 – 28 December 1942
- Cmdr. Yasumasa Watanabe: 28 December 1942 – 1 July 1943
- Cmdr. Buichi Ashida: 1 July 1943 – 2 November 1943 (KIA)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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