Amagiri (1930)

Amagiri (1930) was a Fubuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy that saw extensive service during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Commissioned in 1930, it was part of the first group of so-called "special type" destroyers, which revolutionized naval design with their powerful armament. The vessel is most famously remembered for its role in the Battle of the Blackett Strait, where it rammed and sank the PT-109, commanded by future U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Ultimately, the destroyer was sunk in 1944 by a naval mine in the Makassar Strait.

Design and construction

The *Amagiri* was constructed as part of the first group, or Type I, of the groundbreaking Fubuki-class destroyer. Built at the Ishikawajima Shipbuilding yards in Tokyo, its design represented a major leap forward from previous destroyer classes like the Minekaze-class. The vessel featured a distinctive silhouette with a flush deck and enclosed, weatherproof gun mounts, a significant improvement for crew operations. Its primary armament consisted of six 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 guns mounted in three twin turrets, a configuration that provided formidable firepower. For anti-submarine warfare, it was equipped with nine 61 cm torpedo tubes in triple launchers, capable of firing the potent "Long Lance" torpedo. Propulsion was provided by four Kampon boilers driving two geared steam turbines, enabling a top speed of over 35 knots.

Service history

Following its commissioning into the Imperial Japanese Navy, the *Amagiri* was initially assigned to Destroyer Division 20 and saw early action during the Second Sino-Japanese War, participating in operations along the coast of China. At the start of the Pacific War, it was part of the escort for the invasion forces during the Battle of Malaya and the subsequent Battle of Singapore. In early 1942, it supported Japanese landings during the Dutch East Indies campaign, including operations around Java and Sumatra. The destroyer was later involved in the Battle of Midway as part of the screening force for the Aleutian invasion force. Its most famous engagement occurred on the night of 1-2 August 1943 in the Blackett Strait near Kolombangara, when it collided with and sank the American Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109, whose commanding officer was Lieutenant John F. Kennedy. Following this, the *Amagiri* continued operations in the Solomon Islands campaign and the New Guinea campaign, often engaged in demanding "Tokyo Express" transport runs and naval clashes such as the Battle of Vella Gulf.

Fate

The operational career of the *Amagiri* ended abruptly on 23 April 1944. While transiting the Makassar Strait off the coast of Borneo, the destroyer struck a naval mine that had been laid by the United States Navy submarine USS *Robalo*. The mine explosion caused catastrophic damage, leading to the vessel's rapid sinking. The location of the sinking was near the Taka Bakang reef, southwest of Balikpapan. A significant portion of its crew was lost in the incident. The loss of the *Amagiri* was one of many destroyer casualties suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the defensive battles of 1944 as Allied forces advanced toward the Philippines and the Japanese archipelago. Its wreck site remains in the waters of the strait.

Category:Destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy Category:Fubuki-class destroyers Category:Ships sunk by mines Category:World War II destroyers of Japan