Tameichi Hara
Encyclopedia
was an Imperial Japanese naval
commander during the Pacific War
and the author of the IJN manual on torpedo
attack techniques, famous for his high skill (particularly in torpedo warfare and night fighting).
and of samurai
descendant, Hara graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
at Etajima
in 1921 (class number 49). In 1932 Hara was assigned as a surface warfare instructor and in the middle of the same year his naval doctrine was accepted. At the beginning of the war he was a captain of destroyer
, but for most of the war he was a destroyer squadron commander, aboard . Hara's conception was first used in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
.
On 13 November 1942, Hara’s destroyer, Amatsukaze sank the during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
. Hara, as commander of the Amatsukaze, also participated in the Battle of the Java Sea
, the sinking of the submarine
and the occupation of Christmas Island
. While serving with the Shigure, Hara was involved in several of the naval engagements during the latter part of the Solomon Islands Campaign
.
Hara's last sortie was as captain of the , the light cruiser
which accompanied 's fateful last mission as part of Operation Ten-Go
, which he survived. He ended the war at Kawatana
training young men to attack invaders dressed as women and priests. He later commanded merchant ships which transported salt. His memoirs were later translated into English
and became an important reference for the Japanese perspective for historians writing about the Pacific Campaign
of World War II
.
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...
commander during 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...
and the author of the IJN manual on torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
attack techniques, famous for his high skill (particularly in torpedo warfare and night fighting).
Early life
A native of Kagawa PrefectureKagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
and of samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
descendant, Hara graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...
at Etajima
Etajima
Etajima is an island in Hiroshima Bay located in southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture.From the city of Hiroshima the island is about 7km out at sea. The island is about 6km from the city of Kure. It is connected to Kure by two bridges....
in 1921 (class number 49). In 1932 Hara was assigned as a surface warfare instructor and in the middle of the same year his naval doctrine was accepted. At the beginning of the war he was a captain of destroyer
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...
, but for most of the war he was a destroyer squadron commander, aboard . Hara's conception was first used in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
.
Military career
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
. Hara, as commander of the Amatsukaze, also participated in the Battle of the Java Sea
Battle of the Java Sea
The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, that sealed the fate of the Netherlands East Indies....
, the sinking of the submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
and the occupation of Christmas Island
Battle of Christmas Island
The Battle of Christmas Island, was a small engagement which began on 31 March 1942, during World War II. Because of a mutiny by Indian soldiers against their British officers, Japanese troops were able to occupy Christmas Island without any resistance...
. While serving with the Shigure, Hara was involved in several of the naval engagements during the latter part of the Solomon Islands Campaign
Solomon Islands campaign
The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942...
.
Hara's last sortie was as captain of the , the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
which accompanied 's fateful last mission as part of Operation Ten-Go
Operation Ten-Go
was the last major Japanese naval operation in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Other renderings of this operation's title in English include Operation Heaven One and Ten-ichi-gō....
, which he survived. He ended the war at Kawatana
Kawatana, Nagasaki
is a town located in Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki, Japan.As of January 1, 2009, the town has an estimated population of 14,760 and a density of 396 persons per km². The total area is 37.25 km²....
training young men to attack invaders dressed as women and priests. He later commanded merchant ships which transported salt. His memoirs were later translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and became an important reference for the Japanese perspective for historians writing about the Pacific Campaign
Pacific Campaign
Pacific Campaign may refer to:* Pacific Campaign , fighting between the United States and Spain during the Spanish-American War...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.