.gif)
Japanese destroyer Minazuki (1926)
Encyclopedia
was one of twelve destroyer
s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
following World War I
. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War
.
from fiscal 1923. The class was a follow-on to the earlier and Kamikaze class destroyers, with which they shared many common design characteristics. Minazuki, built at the Uraga Dock Company
, was laid down on March 24, 1925, launched on May 25, 1926 and commissioned on March 22, 1927. Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 28”, it was assigned the name Minazuki on August 1, 1928.
, Minazuki was part of Desron 22 under Destroyer Division 5 in the IJN 3rd Fleet
, and deployed from Mako Guard District
in the Pescadores
as part of the Japanese invasion force for "Operation M"
(the invasion of the Philippines
), during which time it helped screen landings of Japanese forces at Lingayen Gulf
and at Aparri.
In early 1942, Minazuki was assigned to escorting troop convoys from French Indochina
for "Operation E"
(the invasion of Malaya
) and "Operation J" (the invasion of Java
, Netherlands East Indies), in February. From March 10, 1942 Minazuki was re-assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet
and escorted troop convoys from Singapore
around the occupied Netherlands East Indies. She returned to Sasebo Naval Arsenal
for repairs on August 18, and rejoined the fleet on October 4, continuing escort patrol duties.
Minazuki was assigned to the IJN 8th Fleet
at Rabaul
on February 25, 1943, and for the remainder of the year was assigned to numerous “Tokyo Express
” troop transport missions throughout the Solomons Islands. She landed troops during the Battle of Kolombangara
(July 12), but did not see combat, and suffered minor damage from an air attack near Shortlands
, which provided an excuse to withdraw to Kure Naval Arsenal
from August through September for repairs. By September 13, Minazuki was back at Rabaul, and from September 28 was evacuating Japanese troops from Kolombangara
. During a second run on October 2, Minazuki engaged three US
destroyers, and was hit by three shells, all of which were duds. Damage caused by a near miss in an air raid temporary disabled her No.1 and No.2 main guns on October 12, but Minazuki continued to make “Tokyo Express” runs to Buka
and Kavieng
, New Ireland
through the end of the year. On November 4, Minazuki rescued 267 survivors of the damaged transport Kiyozumi maru.
After repairs at the end of the year, Minazuki resumed “Tokyo Express” transport missions to Rabaul to the end of February, and was assigned patrols based out of Palau
in March and April. From May 1, Minazuki was reassigned to the Central Pacific Area Fleet
. She escorted troop convoys from Yokosuka to Saipan in May.
On June 6, after departing Tawitawi with a tanker convoy to Balikpapan
on Borneo
, Minazuki was torpedoed by the submarine off Tawitawi 04°05′N 119°30′E. (04-05 N, 119-30 E). The destroyer rescued 45 survivors, but the Minazuki’s captain Lieutenant Kieji Isobe, was killed in action.,
Minazuki was struck from the navy list
on August 10, 1944.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
History
Construction of the Mutsuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's build up following the abandonment of the Washington Naval TreatyWashington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
from fiscal 1923. The class was a follow-on to the earlier and Kamikaze class destroyers, with which they shared many common design characteristics. Minazuki, built at the Uraga Dock Company
Uraga Dock Company
was a major privately owned shipyard in Uraga, Japan, which built numerous warships for the Imperial Japanese Navy.-History:Uraga Dock Company was founded by Enomoto Takeaki in 1869. A shipyard had already existed in Uraga from the end of the Edo period...
, was laid down on March 24, 1925, launched on May 25, 1926 and commissioned on March 22, 1927. Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 28”, it was assigned the name Minazuki on August 1, 1928.
World War II history
At the time of the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Minazuki was part of Desron 22 under Destroyer Division 5 in the IJN 3rd Fleet
IJN 3rd Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was created on six separate occasions.-Russo-Japanese War:First established on 28 December 1903, the IJN 3rd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as an administrative unit to manage various vessels considered too obsolete for...
, and deployed from Mako Guard District
Mako Guard District
The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in Taiwan before and during World War II. Located in at Mako ), , the Mako Guard District was responsible for control of the strategic Straits of Taiwan and for patrols along the Taiwan and China coastlines and in the South China Sea...
in the Pescadores
Pescadores
The Penghu Islands, also known as Pescadores are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers....
as part of the Japanese invasion force for "Operation M"
Battle of the Philippines (1941-42)
The Philippines Campaign or the Battle of the Philippines was the invasion of the Philippines by Japan in 1941–1942 and the defense of the islands by Filipino and United States forces....
(the invasion of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
), during which time it helped screen landings of Japanese forces at Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
and at Aparri.
In early 1942, Minazuki was assigned to escorting troop convoys from French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
for "Operation E"
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
(the invasion of Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
) and "Operation J" (the invasion of Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Netherlands East Indies), in February. From March 10, 1942 Minazuki was re-assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet
Southwest Area Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.-History:The Southwest Area Fleet was an operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy established on April 10, 1942 to coordinate naval, air, and ground forces for the invasion, occupation and defense of the...
and escorted troop convoys from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
around the occupied Netherlands East Indies. She returned to Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Sasebo Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Sasebo Naval District was established at Sasebo, Nagasaki in 1886, as the third of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the...
for repairs on August 18, and rejoined the fleet on October 4, continuing escort patrol duties.
Minazuki was assigned to the IJN 8th Fleet
IJN 8th Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.-History:Established on 14 July 1942, the IJN 8th Fleet was a headquarters unit established to direct Japanese naval operations in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea...
at Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
on February 25, 1943, and for the remainder of the year was assigned to numerous “Tokyo Express
Tokyo Express
The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel, supplies, and equipment to Japanese forces operating in and around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the Pacific campaign of World War II...
” troop transport missions throughout the Solomons Islands. She landed troops during the Battle of Kolombangara
Battle of Kolombangara
The Battle of Kolombangara was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the night of 12/13 July 1943, off Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands.-Background:...
(July 12), but did not see combat, and suffered minor damage from an air attack near Shortlands
Shortland Island
Shortland Island is the largest island of the Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, at . Named by John Shortland....
, which provided an excuse to withdraw to Kure Naval Arsenal
Kure Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Kure Naval District was established at Kure, Hiroshima in 1889, as the second of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands along with the establishment of the...
from August through September for repairs. By September 13, Minazuki was back at Rabaul, and from September 28 was evacuating Japanese troops from Kolombangara
Kolombangara
Kolombangara is an island in the New Georgia Islands group of the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean...
. During a second run on October 2, Minazuki engaged three US
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
destroyers, and was hit by three shells, all of which were duds. Damage caused by a near miss in an air raid temporary disabled her No.1 and No.2 main guns on October 12, but Minazuki continued to make “Tokyo Express” runs to Buka
Buka Island
Buka Island is the second largest island in the Papua New Guinean province of Bougainville.- History :Buka was first occupied by humans in paleolithic times, some 30,000 years ago...
and Kavieng
Kavieng
Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600....
, New Ireland
New Ireland (island)
New Ireland is a large island in Papua New Guinea, approximately 7,404 km² in area. It is the largest island of the New Ireland Province, lying northeast of the island of New Britain. Both islands are part of the Bismarck Archipelago, named after Otto von Bismarck, and they are separated by...
through the end of the year. On November 4, Minazuki rescued 267 survivors of the damaged transport Kiyozumi maru.
After repairs at the end of the year, Minazuki resumed “Tokyo Express” transport missions to Rabaul to the end of February, and was assigned patrols based out of Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
in March and April. From May 1, Minazuki was reassigned to the Central Pacific Area Fleet
Central Pacific Area Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy established during World War II.-History:The Central Pacific Area Fleet was a short-lived operational headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Navy, established on March 4, 1944...
. She escorted troop convoys from Yokosuka to Saipan in May.
On June 6, after departing Tawitawi with a tanker convoy to Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
on Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, Minazuki was torpedoed by the submarine off Tawitawi 04°05′N 119°30′E. (04-05 N, 119-30 E). The destroyer rescued 45 survivors, but the Minazuki’s captain Lieutenant Kieji Isobe, was killed in action.,
Minazuki was struck from the navy list
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on August 10, 1944.