Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze

Coordinates: 06°01′S 153°58′E / 6.017°S 153.967°E / -6.017; 153.967
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
History
Empire of Japan
NameHatsukaze
Builder
Kawasaki Shipyards
Laid down3 December 1937
Launched24 January 1939
Completed15 February 1940
Stricken2 November 1943
FateSunk in action, 2 November 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeKagerō-class destroyer
Displacement2,033 long tons (2,066 t) standard
Length118.5 m (388 ft 9 in)
Beam10.8 m (35 ft 5 in)
Draft3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 3 × Kampon water tube boilers
  • 2 × Kanpon impulse turbines
  • 2 × shafts, 52,000 shp (39 MW)
Speed35.5 knots (40.9 mph; 65.7 km/h)
Range5,000 NM at 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement239
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • Destroyer Division 16, Squadron 2 (1941-42)
  • Destroyer Division 16, Squadron 10 (1942-43)
Operations:
Victories: PT-43 & PT-112 (1943)

Hatsukaze (初風, lit. “First Wind”)

Circle Three Supplementary Naval Expansion Program (Maru San Keikaku). She survived four major fleet actions against the Allies, but was finally sunk in November 1943 after being damaged through collision with Japanese cruiser Myōkō
.

Background

The Kagerō-class destroyers were outwardly almost identical to the preceding light cruiser-sized Asashio class, with improvements made by Japanese naval architects to improve stability and to take advantage of Japan’s lead in torpedo technology. They were designed to accompany the Japanese main striking force and in both day and night attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections.[2] Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, only one survived the Pacific War.[3]

Hatsukaze, built at the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation, was laid down on 3 December 1937, launched on 24 January 1939 and commissioned on 15 February 1940.[4]

Operational history

Invasions of Southeast Asia

At the time of the

IJN 2nd Fleet, and had deployed from Palau, as part of the escort for the aircraft carrier Ryūjō in the invasion of the southern Philippines and minelayer Yaeyama.[5]

In early 1942, Hatsukaze participated in the

Menado, Kendari and Ambon in January, and the invasion forces for Makassar, Timor and eastern Java in February.[5] 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. During the month of March, Desron 2 was 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 Kure Naval Arsenal for maintenance, docking on 3 May.[5]

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.[5]

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, Desron 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 Solomon Islands. On 26 October, in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the squadron escorted the Striking Force, then escorted the damaged carriers Shōkaku and Zuihō 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.[5]

On 10 January, while providing cover for a

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 fleet oiler Hazakaya, which had been torpedoed by an American submarine.[5]

Final battle

On 2 November 1943, while attacking an Allied task force off

bow, leaving her dead in the water. Hatsukaze and the light cruiser Sendai were sunk (at position 06°01′S 153°58′E / 6.017°S 153.967°E / -6.017; 153.967) by Allied destroyer gunfire. Of those on board, 164 were killed, including its commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Buichi Ashida.[6]
Hatsukaze was removed from the
navy list
on 5 January 1944.

Notes

  1. ^ Nelson. Japanese-English Character Dictionary. Page 803, 960;
  2. ^ Peattie & Evans, Kaigun .
  3. ^ Globalsecurity.org, IJN Kagero class destroyers
  4. ^ Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Asashio class 1st class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Allyn D. Nevitt (1998). "IJN Hatsukaze: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com.
  6. ISBN 1-55750-914-X
    .

Books

External links
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