Hatsuyuki Class Destroyer

was the third of twenty-four s built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. 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. The ''Fubuki'' class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated . The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies. ''Hatsuyuki'', built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal was laid down on 12 April 1926, launched on 29 September 1928 and commissioned on 30 March 1929. Originally assigned hull designation "Destroyer No. 37", she was completed as ''Hatsuyuki''.

Operational history

On completion, ''Hatsuyuki'' was assigned to Destroyer Division 11 under the IJN 2nd Fleet. In 1935, the destroyer was damaged in a typhoon as part of the Fourth Fleet incident. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, ''Hatsuyuki'' helped cover landings of Japanese forces during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, and subsequent landings of Japanese forces at Hangzhou in northern China. In 1940, she also participated in the Invasion of French Indochina.

World War II history

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, ''Hatsuyuki'' was assigned to Destroyer Division 11 of Desron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and had deployed from Kure Naval District to the port of Samah on Hainan Island. From 4 December 1941 to 30 January 1942 ''Hatsuyuki'' was part of the escort for the heavy cruisers , , and out of Samah and Camranh Bay, French Indochina in support of Malaya, Banka-Palembang and Anambas Islands invasion operations. On 18 February, she was credited with sinking or capturing two transports attempting to flee from Singapore.

On 27 February, ''Hatsuyuki'' was assigned to "Operation J", covering landings of Japanese forces in western Java in the Netherlands East Indies, and was in the Battle of Sunda Strait on 1 March, assisting in the sinking of the Australian cruiser and the American cruiser .

''Hatsuyuki'' was part of the escort for Admiral Jizaburo Ozawa's cover force for "Operation T" (the invasion of northern Sumatra) on 12 March and the "Operation D", (the invasion of the Andaman Islands) on 23 March. She subsequently served patrol and escort duties out of Port Blair during the Japanese raids into the Indian Ocean. On 13–22 April she returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for maintenance.

On 4–5 June 1942, ''Hatsuyuki'' participated in the Battle of Midway as part of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's main fleet.

In July 1942, ''Hatsuyuki'' sailed from Amami-Ōshima to Mako Guard District, Singapore, Sabang and Mergui for a projected second Indian Ocean raid. The operation was cancelled due to the Guadalcanal campaign, and she was ordered to Truk instead. From August onward, she was used for "Tokyo Express" high speed transport missions in the Solomon Islands. On one of this missions, on 4–5 September, ''Hatsuyuki'' assisted in sinking the high-speed transports and .

During the Battle of Cape Esperance on 11–12 October, ''Hatsuyuki'' took 518 survivors off of the sinking cruiser , and two days later escorted the badly damaged to Truk. During the Battle of Santa Cruz on 26 October, she was on alert station at Shortland Island.

After helping evacuate surviving Japanese forces from Guadalcanal in early November, from 12–15 November, ''Hatsuyuki'' took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Initially she escorted the Support Force commanded by Admiral Takeo Kurita, then joined the Emergency Bombardment Force of Admiral Nobutake Kondō. With the cruiser in the assault on enemy destroyers, ''Hatsuyuki'' assisted in sinking , , and and damaging . ''Hatsuyuki'' then returned to Truk on 18 November. After making one more transport run to Rabaul in December, ''Hatsuyuki'' was assigned to escort aircraft carrier back to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs.

In January 1943, ''Hatsuyuki'' escorted a troop convoy from Pusan to Palau and on to Wewak. She continued to patrol and escort in the Solomon Islands until the end of February, when she was reassigned to the IJN 8th Fleet. In March, ''Hatsuyuki'' assisted the survivors of the Battle of Bismarck Sea, before returning to Kure for refit. In May, she escorted aircraft carrier from Yokosuka to Manila, Surabaya, Singapore, and back to Mako Guard District to Sasebo Naval District. In June, ''Hatsuyuki'' returned to Rabaul, and resumed "Tokyo Express" missions. In the Battle of Kula Gulf off of Kolombangara on 5 July, ''Hatsuyuki'' engaged a group of American cruisers and destroyers, and was hit by six dud shells, which damaged her steering and killed six crewmen.

On 17 July 1943, while docked at Shortlands unloading passengers at position , ''Hatsuyuki'' was attacked in an air strike by USAAF aircraft. A bomb exploded the after magazine, sinking her in shallow water, with 120 dead (including 38 passengers) and 36 wounded.

On 5 October 1943, ''Hatsuyuki'' was removed from the navy list.

Notes

References

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External links

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* Muir, Da
Order of Battle – The Battle of the Sunda Strait 1942
* http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/ijn/hatsuyuki.html location in doubt

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hatsuyuki
Fubuki-class destroyers
Ships built by Maizuru Naval Arsenal
1928 ships
Second Sino-Japanese War naval ships of Japan
World War II destroyers of Japan
Destroyers sunk by aircraft
Shipwrecks in the Solomon Sea
World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean
Maritime incidents in July 1943
Ships sunk by US aircraft
Naval magazine explosions