Japanese destroyer Hagikaze

Japanese destroyer Hagikaze was a Kagerō-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Commissioned in 1941, she served in several major naval campaigns in the Pacific War, including the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway. Her career was primarily spent escorting major fleet units and participating in critical transport missions, known as the Tokyo Express, during the Guadalcanal campaign. *Hagikaze* was ultimately sunk during the Battle of Vella Gulf in 1943.

Design and description

The *Hagikaze* was the 17th vessel of the Kagerō class, which were among the most capable destroyers fielded by the Imperial Japanese Navy at the start of the Pacific War. The class was designed as an improvement over the preceding Asashio-class destroyer, with a focus on heavy armament and high speed for fleet actions. Her standard displacement was 2,033 tons, and she was powered by Kanpon boilers driving geared steam turbines, which generated 52,000 shaft horsepower for a top speed of 35 knots. Primary armament consisted of six 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 guns mounted in three twin turrets, two forward and one aft. For anti-submarine warfare, she was equipped with two depth charge throwers and carried 36 Type 95 depth charges. Her most formidable offensive weapon was her centerline-mounted quadruple Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo tubes, which could be reloaded. Anti-aircraft defense initially included four 25 mm Type 96 autocannon and two 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine guns, though this was significantly increased later in the war. Her crew complement was approximately 240 officers and enlisted men.

Construction and career

*Hagikaze* was laid down on 23 May 1939 at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal in Maizuru, Kyoto. She was launched on 18 June 1940 and commissioned into service on 31 March 1941, assigned to Destroyer Division 4 of Destroyer Squadron 4, First Air Fleet. Under the command of Captain Tameichi Hara, she served as part of the escort for the Kidō Butai during the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In early 1942, she participated in operations supporting the invasion of Rabaul and the air raids on Darwin. During the Battle of Midway in June, she was part of the screening force for the Main Body under Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō, rescuing survivors from the sinking aircraft carrier *Kaga*. Following the Guadalcanal campaign, *Hagikaze* was heavily engaged in the Tokyo Express supply runs to Guadalcanal and saw action in several naval battles, including the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. In November 1942, she assisted in the rescue of survivors from the battleship *Hiei* after the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Fate

On the night of 6–7 August 1943, *Hagikaze* was part of a four-destroyer troop transport run to Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands. The force, consisting of *Hagikaze*, *Arashi*, *Kawakaze*, and *Shigure*, was intercepted by a U.S. Navy task group of six destroyers in the Battle of Vella Gulf. In a surprise night torpedo attack, U.S. destroyers *Dunlap*, *Craven*, and *Maury* launched a spread of Mark 15 torpedos. *Hagikaze*, along with *Arashi* and *Kawakaze*, was struck by multiple torpedoes and sunk quickly southwest of Vella Lavella. Only *Shigure* escaped the engagement. The sinking of *Hagikaze* and her consorts marked a significant victory for American naval forces in the Solomon Islands campaign and demonstrated the growing effectiveness of U.S. radar-directed night combat tactics. *Hagikaze* was struck from the naval register on 15 October 1943. Category:Kagerō-class destroyers Category:Ships sunk in World War II Category:World War II destroyers of Japan