Japanese destroyer Michishio
Michishio on 31 October 1937.
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History | |
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Empire of Japan | |
Name | Michishio |
Ordered | 1934 Maru-2 Program |
Builder | Fujinagata Shipyards |
Laid down | 5 November 1935 |
Launched | 15 March 1937 |
Commissioned | 31 October 1937 |
Stricken | 10 January 1945 |
Fate | Sunk by Battle of Surigao Strait , 25 October 1944 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Asashio-class destroyer |
Displacement | 2,370 long tons (2,408 t) |
Length |
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Beam | 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in) |
Draft | 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) |
Propulsion | 2-shaft geared turbine, 3 boilers, 50,000 shp (37,285 kW) |
Speed | 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h) |
Range | |
Complement | 200 |
Armament |
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Michishio (満潮, Full Tide)
History
The Asashio-class destroyers were larger and more capable that the preceding Shiratsuyu class, as Japanese naval architects were no longer constrained by the provisions of the London Naval Treaty. These light cruiser-sized vessels were designed to take advantage of Japan’s lead in torpedo technology, and 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, none survived the Pacific War.[3]
Michishio, built at the Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka was laid down on 5 November 1935, launched on 15 March 1937 and commissioned on 31 October 1937.[4]
Operational history
On commissioning, Michishio was assigned to support Japanese combat operations in the Second Sino-Japanese War from November to December 1937. However, following reports of operational problems with her sister ship Asashio, she was withdrawn to Sasebo Naval Arsenal for modifications and replacement of her engines.
At the time of the
Michishio escorted a troop convoy from Mako towards
On the night of 19 February, Michishio participated in the
In March, after emergency repairs at Makassar, Michishio returned to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for further repairs, which lasted to the end of October. Returning to active duty at Rabaul at the end of October, Michishio was assigned to three "Tokyo Express" transport runs in early November. During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 14 November, she was damaged by United States Navy aircraft, and had to be towed to Shortland Island for repairs. However, field repairs proved impossible, and she was towed to Rabaul, then to Truk, and finally to Yokosuka, arriving on 17 March 1943. Michishio remained under repair at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal to 14 November, during which time one of her main
In January 1944, Michishio returned to Kure Naval District together with the battleship Yamato, and escorted a troop convoy back to Truk at the end of that month. For the end two months, she served largely as escort for the battleship Musashi
During the
During the
Rediscovery
Michishio's wreck was discovered along with sister Yamagumo on 27 November 2017 by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's research ship RV Petrel. The wrecks are 1 mile (1.6 km) apart in 380 ft (117 m) of water. Both wrecks are heavily encrusted with marine growth which, combined with their close proximity, made it impossible to distinguish the two.[7]
Notes
- ^ Nelson. Japanese-English Character Dictionary. Page 562, 570
- ^ Peattie & Evans, Kaigun .
- ^ Globalsecurity.org, IJN Asashio class destroyers
- ^ Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Asashio class 1st class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ Allyn D. Nevitt (1998). "IJN Michishio: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
- ^ "Rv Petrel". Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
References
- D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
- Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
- ISBN 0-517-56952-3.
- 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.
- Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-0408-7.
- Watts, Anthony J (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-3850-9189-3.
- Whitley, M J (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.