Japanese destroyer Yūdachi (1936)

was the fourth of ten s built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the "Circle One" Program (''Maru Ichi Keikaku'').

Design Background

The ''Shiratsuyu''-class destroyers were modified versions of the , and were designed to accompany the Japanese main striking force and to conduct both day and night torpedo attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections. Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War.
''Yūdachi'', built at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal was laid down on 16 October 1934, launched on 21 June 1936 and commissioned on 7 January 1937.

Operational history

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, ''Yūdachi'' was assigned to Destroyer Division 2 of Destroyer Squadron 2 of the IJN 2nd Fleet together with her sister ships , , and , and had sortied from Mako Guard District as part of the "Operation M" (the invasion of the Philippines). From January 1942, ''Yūdachi'' participated in operations in the Netherlands East Indies, including the invasions of Tarakan, Balikpapan and eastern Java. During the Battle of the Java Sea, ''Yūdachi'' engaged a group of Allied destroyers and cruisers. Returning to Subic Bay in the Philippines on 16 March, ''Yūdachi'' assisted in the blockade of Manila Bay and the invasion of Cebu, returning to Yokosuka for repairs in early May. During the Battle of Midway on 4–6 June, ''Yūdachi'' was part of the Midway Occupation Force under the overall command of Admiral Nobutake Kondō.

From mid-June, ''Yūdachi'' deployed from Kure via Singapore and Mergui for raiding operations in the Indian Ocean, but the operation was cancelled due to reverses suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Solomon Islands. ''Yūdachi'' arrived at Shortland Island on 30 August, and was immediately assigned to "Tokyo Express" high speed transport runs to Guadalcanal. During one such mission from 4–5 September, ''Yūdachi'' assisted in the sinking of the destroyers and . ''Yūdachi'' continued making missions to Guadalcanal through November, participating briefly in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October under Admiral Takeo Kurita.

On the night of 12–13 November 1942, in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, ''Yūdachi'' escorted the Bombardment Force of Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki. The lead ship in the formation at beginning of battle, ''Yūdachi'' had to swerve to avoid U.S. ships, then torpedoed the cruiser . ''Yūdachi'' then mistook the destroyer for a friendly ship and flashed its recognition signals. ''Sterett'' fired back, hitting ''Yūdachi''s #1 boiler room, leaving the ship dead in the water. After ''Yūdachi'' was disabled, 207 survivors were removed by ''Samidare'', which then failed to scuttle her with three torpedoes. The abandoned hulk was later sunk by gunfire of ''Portland'', southeast of Savo Island at position (). According to James Hornfischer, ''Yūdachi'' was showing a white flag before ''Portland'' fired, but this was deliberately ignored by the American captain, who directed his gunnery officer to "sink the S.O.B.".

Notes

References

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OCLC 77257764
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yudachi (1936)
Shiratsuyu-class destroyers
World War II destroyers of Japan
Shipwrecks in the Solomon Sea
Ships built by Sasebo Naval Arsenal
1936 ships
World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean
Maritime incidents in November 1942
Shipwrecks in Ironbottom Sound