Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1931)
 Sazanami on 15 April 1940
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Sazanami |
| Namesake | Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1899) |
| Ordered | 1923 Fiscal Year |
| Builder | Maizuru Naval Arsenal |
| Yard number | Destroyer No. 53 |
| Laid down | 21 March 1930 |
| Launched | 6 June 1931 |
| Commissioned | 19 May 1932 |
| Stricken | 10 March 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk by USS Albacore, 14 January 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fubuki-class destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Complement | 219 |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Operations: |
|
Sazanami (漣, "Ripples")[1] was the nineteenth of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world.[2] They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.
History
Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.launched on 6 June 1931 and commissioned on 19 May 1932.[6] Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 53”, she was given the name Sazanami before her launch.
Operational history
On completion, Sazanami was assigned to the
Invasion of French Indochina
.
World War II history
At the time of the
IJN 1st Air Fleet, and had deployed from Tateyama Naval Air Station as part of the force which bombarded Midway Atoll in the opening stages of the war.[7]
Sazanami was subsequently part of the escort for the
Netherlands East Indies. On 2 March, at the Battle of the Java Sea, Sazanami assisted in attacking the submarine USS Perch.[8] She returned to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
for repairs at the end of March.
At the end of April, Sazanami escorted the aircraft carrier
Saipan , and was subsequently based at Ōminato Guard District
for patrols of northern waters until mid-July.
On 14 July, Sazanami was reassigned to the
Rekata
at the end of the month, Sazanami resumed her former role as escort to various aircraft carriers through the end of the year.
On 1 January 1944, Sazanami was reassigned to the
IJN 5th Fleet. On 12 January, Sazanami departed Rabaul to join a tanker convoy en route from Palau to Truk. She was torpedoed by the submarine USS Albacore, sinking 300 nautical miles (560 km) southeast of Yap at position 05°15′N 141°15′E / 5.250°N 141.250°E. Of her crew, 153 died; 89 survivors were rescued by her sister ship Akebono
.
On 10 March 1944, Sazanami was removed from the
navy list.[11]
References
- ^ Nelson. Japanese-English Character Dictionary. Page 563
- ^ Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers".
- ^ Fitzsimons, Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare p.1040
- ^ Peattie & Evans, Kaigun page 221-222.
- ^ F Fitzsimons, Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1977), Volume 10, p.1040.
- ^ Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class 1st class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
- ^ Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Sazanami: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ^ Brown. Warship Losses of World War II
- ^ Morison. Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions, May 1942-August 1942.
- ^ D’Albas. Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II.
- ^ Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
Bibliography
- 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.
- 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.
External links
- Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Sazanami: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
- Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
- Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers".
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in January 1944 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents | |
