Japanese destroyer Kisaragi (1925)

Coordinates: 18°55′N 166°17′E / 18.917°N 166.283°E / 18.917; 166.283
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Kisaragi.

Kisaragi at anchor, February 1927
History
Empire of Japan
NameKisaragi
NamesakeFebruary
BuilderMaizuru Naval Arsenal
Laid down3 June 1924 as Destroyer No. 21
Launched5 June 1925
Completed21 December 1925
RenamedAs Kisaragi, 1 August 1928
Stricken15 January 1942
FateSunk, 11 December 1941
General characteristics
Class and typeMutsuki-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,336 t (1,315 long tons) (normal)
  • 1,800 t (1,772 long tons) (
    deep load
    )
Length
  • 97.54 m (320 ft 0 in) (pp)
  • 102.4 m (335 ft 11 in) (
    o/a
    )
Beam9.16 m (30 ft 1 in)
Draft2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 × Kampon geared steam turbines
Speed37.25 knots (68.99 km/h; 42.87 mph)
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement150
Armament
Service record
Part of: Destroyer Division 30
Operations: Battle of Wake Island

Kisaragi (如月, "February") was one of twelve Mutsuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1920s. Retreating after the sinking of destroyer Hayate by American coast-defense guns during the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941, Kisaragi was sunk with all hands by American aircraft. She had the distinction of being the second major Japanese warship lost during the war (after Hayate earlier the same day). She should not be confused with an earlier World War I-period Kamikaze-class destroyer with the same name.

Design and description

The Mutsuki class was an improved version of the

Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 38,500 shaft horsepower (28,700 kW), which would propel the ships at 37.25 knots (68.99 km/h; 42.87 mph). The ships carried 420 metric tons (413 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their crew consisted of 150 officers and crewmen.[3]

The main armament of the Mutsuki-class ships consisted of four

minesweeping gear.[4]

Construction and career

Kisaragi was

launched on 5 June 1925 and completed on 21 December 1925. Originally commissioned simply as Destroyer No. 21, the vessel was assigned the name Kisaragi on 1 August 1928.[3]

WWII

At the time of the

Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces
(SNLF) troops.

The Japanese approached the island early on the morning of 11 December, and the warships began to bombard the island at a range of 8,200 meters (9,000 yd) at 05:30. As none of the six American

United States Marine garrison, had ordered his men to hold their fire until he gave the order to do so. After the Japanese ships had closed to a range of 4,100 meters (4,500 yd), he ordered his guns to open fire. They did so with great effect, sinking Hayate, near-missing Kajioka's flagship Yubari, and causing to him to order his forces to disengage.[6]

Kisaragi was sailing away from the island when she was attacked and sunk by

Navy List on 15 January 1942.[5] The sinking of Kisaragi would contribute to Elrod being posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
.

Notes

  1. ^ Watts & Gordon, pp. 265–66
  2. ^ a b Whitley, p. 191
  3. ^ a b c Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 143
  4. ^ a b Chesneau, p. 192
  5. ^ a b c d Nevitt & Tully
  6. ^ Wukovits, pp. 99–108
  7. ^ Wukovits, p. 109

Sources

  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press.
    ISBN 0-85177-146-7
    .
  • Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum.
    ISBN 0-689-11402-8
    .
  • Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute.
    ISBN 0-87021-893-X
    .
  • Nevitt, Allyn D.; Tully, Anthony D. (July 2014). "IJN Kisaragi: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  • Watts, Anthony J. & Gordon, Brian G. (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Garden City, New York: Doubleday.
    ISBN 0385012683
    .
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
    ISBN 0-87021-326-1
    .
  • Wukovits, John (2010). Pacific Alamo: The Battle for Wake Island. NAL: Caliber.
    ISBN 978-1-101-65818-5
    .

External links
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