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| IJN Yūgumo-class destroyer 2,520 Tons 6 × 127mm DP guns 28 × 25mm AA guns 4 × 13mm AA guns 8 x 24" torpedo tubes 36 depth charges  IJN March 14, 1942 |
Ship History Built by Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka. Laid down December 23, 1940 as a Yūgumo-class destroyer. Launched November 5, 1941 as Makigumo 巻雲 meaning "Cirrus Clouds" (Rolling Clouds) in Japanese. Completed and commissioned March 14, 1942 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Captain Fujita Isamu at Maizuru. Assigned to Destroyer Division 10 (Desdiv 10) with Kazagumo and Yūgumo, 1st Air Fleet. Wartime History On June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway escorts the Striking Force under the command of Admiral Nagumo. At 4:30pm order by Nagara to investigate an object to the north and discovered it to be a life raft and captured Ensign Frank O'Flaherty and AMM2c Bruno P. Gaido from VS-6 aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) and both confined aboard as Prisoners Of War (POWs). On June 5, 1942 at 3:15am the crew of Hiryū were ordered to abandon ship and Makigumo and Kazagumo rescue her surviving crew. While alongside the damaged carrier, Makigumo sustained damage to her mast and rigging that became entangled on the edge of the carrier. At 5:10am Makigumo fired a torpedo at the port side to scuttle it but ran too deep and missed. Next, circled and fired a second torpedo at the starboard side and departed without observing the sinking. On June 8, 1942 assigned to the Northern Forces for operations against the Aleutian Islands. On June 9, 1942 the two POWs were execited. On June 25, 1942 arrives Yokosuka. On June 29, 1942 departs Yokosuka and patrols out of Ominato to the southwest of the Aleutian Islands. On July 11, 1942 returns to Yokosuka and three days later Desron 10 is reassigned to Third Fleet. On July 18, 1942 departs Yokosuka with Akigumo and the next day arrives Hashirajima and conducts maintenance and training while on standby status. On August 16, 1942 departs Kure with Akigumo escorting Shokaku bound for Truk. On August 24, 1942 participates in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, escorting the Striking Force under the command of Admiral Nagumo. Afterwards, returns to Truk and conducts local patrols. On September 29, 1942 departs Truk for Shortland arriving two days later. On October 3, 1942 departs Shortland on a troop transport "Tokyo Express" transport run to Guadalcanal and returns the next day. On October 6, 1942 departs on a second troop "Tokyo Express" transport run to Guadalcanal and returns the next day. On October 9, 1942 departs on a third "Tokyo Express" troop transport run to Guadalcanal and returns the next day. On October 11, 1942 at Shortland during an air raid by U.S. Navy carrier (USN) planes and the same day departs with Akigumo. Three days later joins the Mobile Fleet north of the Solomons and with Akigumo screens for the aircraft carriers. On October 26, 1942 participates in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands (Battle of the South Pacific) as an escort for vanguard force under the command of Admiral Abe. Late in the evening, Makigumo and Akigumo are ordered ahead to investigate abandoned USS Hornet (CV-8) and evaluate it for capture but were unable and instead scuttle the burning aircraft carrier with torpedoes then the pair departs northward. On October 27, 1942 rescue ARM 3/C Michael Glasser from VT-10 aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). On October 30, 1942 with Akigumo arrives Truk. The next day loads ammunition and torpedoes from Akigumo before her departure to Japan for repairs. On November 3, 1942 departs Truk escorting Suzuya and Maya bound for Shortland arriving two days later. On November 10, 1942 departs Shortland on in "Tokyo Express" troop transport run to Guadalcanal. At 3:55pm attacked by U.S. planes without damage. At 8:35pm attacked by Patrol Boats without damage and embarks 585 Japanese Army personnel that are sick and wounded and the next day returns to Shortland. On November 12, 1942 desparts Shortland escorting the Bombardment Force under the command of Admiral Nishimura. On November 13, 1942 after dark participates in the shore bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. On November 14, 1942 with Kazagumo rescues survivors of Kinugasa damaged during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. On November 16, 1942 departs Shortland escorting Chokai to Rabaul. On November 22, 1942 departs Rabaul on a troop transport run to Buna then returns to Rabaul. Next on November 28, 1942 departs Rabaul with three other destroyers including Shiratsuyu on a troop transport run to Buna, escorted by six A6M Zeros. On November 29, 1942 while proceeding through the Vitiaz Strait, this convoy is spotted by B-17 Flying Fortress and was bombed by B-24 Liberators from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS). During the bombing, Makigumo suffers a near miss and is set afire causing the convoy to abort the mission. On December 16-21, 1942 escorted Kiyozumi Maru from Rabaul to Wewak then returns to Rabaul. On December 23-29, 1942 departed Truk bound for Japan for repairs. Following repairs, on January 9, 1943 departs Japan traveling via Truk and Rabaul to Shortland arriving eighteen days later. Sinking History On February 1, 1943 departs Shortland and participates in "Operation KE" the evacuation of Japanese personnel from Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. At 11:45pm between Cape Esperance and Savo Island, spotted by PT-124 that closed to within 1,000 yards then released three torpedoes at the destroyer. While maneuvering to avoid the spread of torpedoes, Makigumo hit a newly laid sea mine in the aft that floods the auxiliary engine room, no. 6 and no. 5 crew spaces aft of the no. 3 turret. Aboard, three were killed and two missing and seven wounded. On February 2, 1943 at midnight the unloading operation was complete and Yūgumo comes to her aid ordered to tow the damaged destroyer and attempts side-by-side tow while the Makigumo crew attempts to stop the flooding. The pair reaches a speed of 5 knots but began to settle to aft. At 12:50am flooding entered the no. 4 crew space and the effort to tow was aborted. Commander Fujita ordered the crew to abandon ship. At 1:27am Yūgumo fired one torpedo that scuttled the destroyer at roughly three miles south-southwest of Savo Island into Iron Bottom Sound at roughly Lat 9° 15' S, Long 159° 47' E. Rescue The 237 surviving crew including Commander Fujita were rescued by Yūgumo. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes pages 5 (Makigumo), 110 (index Makigumo) "February 1, 1943 [sic February 2, 1943] | Makigumo | Destroyer | 1,900 Tons [sic] | 9-10S, 159-45E | "Nay line" sic Navy mine | Sunk" Combined Fleet - IJN Makigumo: Tabular Record of Movement At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy page 105 The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign pages 450-451 (rescue of Glasser) Contribute
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