Japanese destroyer Matsukaze (1923)
 Matsukaze on speed trials off Maizuru, 1924.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Matsukaze |
| Builder | Maizuru Naval Arsenal |
| Laid down | 2 December 1922 as Destroyer No. 7 |
| Launched | 30 October 1923 |
| Completed | 5 April 1924 |
| Renamed | Matsukaze, 1 August 1928 |
| Stricken | 10 August 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk by USS Swordfish, 9 June 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Kamikaze-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) |
| Draft | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 × Kampon geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 37.3 knots (69.1 km/h; 42.9 mph) |
| Range | 3,600 nmi (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement | 148 |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Operations: |
|
The Japanese destroyer Matsukaze (松風, "Pine Wind") was one of nine
Dutch East Indies Campaign in early 1942. She took part in the Battle of Sunda Strait in March before beginning escort duties in Southeast Asia
that lasted until mid-1943.
Design and description
The Kamikaze 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 37.3 knots (69.1 km/h; 42.9 mph). During her sea trials, Matsukaze comfortably exceeded her designed speed, reaching 39.2 knots (72.6 km/h; 45.1 mph).[3] The ships carried 420 metric tons (413 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). Their crew consisted of 148 officers and crewmen.[4]
The main armament of the Kamikaze-class ships consisted of four
12-centimeter (4.7 in) Type 3 guns in single mounts; one gun forward of the superstructure, one between the two funnels and the last pair back to back atop the aft superstructure. The guns were numbered '1' to '4' from front to rear. The ships carried three above-water twin sets of 53.3-centimeter (21.0 in) torpedo tubes; one mount was between the forward superstructure and the forward gun and the other two were between the aft funnel and aft superstructure.[4]
Early in the war, the No. 4 gun and the aft torpedo tubes were removed in exchange for four depth charge throwers and 18 depth charges. In addition 10 license-built
anti-aircraft machineguns by June 1944. These changes reduced their speed to 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph).[4]
Construction and career
Matsukaze, built at the
launched on 30 October 1923 and commissioned on 5 April 1924. Originally commissioned simply as Destroyer No. 7, the ship was assigned the name Matsukaze on 1 August 1928.[6]
Pacific War
At the time of the
Operation M (the invasion of the Philippines), during which time it helped screen landings of Japanese forces at Lingayen Gulf.[7]
In early 1942, Harukaze was assigned to escorting troop convoys from
minesweeper Endeh[8]
From 10 March 1942 through the end of March 1943, Matsukaze and Destroyer Division 5 were assigned to the
Rangoon, French Indochina, and Makassar. On 31 March Matsukaze returned to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for refit.[9]
From June 1943, Matsukaze was reassigned to the
IJN 8th Fleet and sent to Rabaul at the end of June. From June through September, she made several "Tokyo Express" troop transport runs to Kolombangara and participated in the evacuation of Japanese forces from Vella Lavella
in October. At the end of October, Matsukaze returned to Yokosuka for repairs.
On 9 December 1943, Matsukaze returned to Rabaul and continued to make numerous "Tokyo Express" runs throughout the
air raid on the Japanese fleet. Matsukaze escaped with medium damage caused by near misses and strafing attacks, and returned to Yokosuka via Saipan and Hahajima by 1 March for repairs.[10]
After repairs were completed by May 1944 Matsukaze was reassigned to Destroyer Division 30 of Desron 3 in the
Navy List on 10 August 1944.[9]
Notes
- ^ Watts & Gordon, pp. 263–64
- ^ Whitley, p. 189
- ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 245
- ^ a b c Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 142
- ^ Whitley, pp. 189–90
- ^ Watts & Gordon, p. 264
- ^ Morison. The Rising Sun in the Pacific 1931 - April 1942.
- ^ Dull. A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy
- ^ a b Nevitt
- Hailstorm Over Truk Lagoon
References
- Dull, Paul S. (2013). A Battle History of The Imperial Japanese Navy (reprint 1978 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN -1-612-51290-9.
- Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- 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.
- Lindemann, Klaus (2005). Hailstorm Over Truk Lagoon: Operations Against Truk by Carrier Task Force 58, and the Shipwrecks of World War II. Orego: Resource Publications. ISBN 1-59752-347-X.
- Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Matsukaze: 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.
