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| IJN Fubuki Class Destroyer 2,057 Tons 11.86m / 115.3m / 118.41m 6 x 127mm guns (3x2) 22 x 25mm Type 96 AA guns 10 x 13mm AA guns 9 x 24" torpedo tubes 36 x depth charges  IJN c1929-1943  Shirley Cook 2006 |
Ship History Built by Maizuru Naval Arsenal at Maizuru. Laid down April 12, 1926. Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 37”. Launched September 29, 1928. Completed March 30, 1929 as a Fubuki Class destroyer named Hatsuyuki 初雪 meaning "first snow" in Japanese. Assigned to the 2nd Fleet, Destroyer Division 11. Wartime History During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Hatsuyuki covered Japanese landing at Shanghai during the Battle of Shanghai. Also the landings of Japanese forces at Hangzhou in northern China. In 1940, she participated in the invasion of French Indochina (Vietnam). At the start of the Pacific War, Hatsuyuki was assigned to Destroyer Division 11 of Desron 3 of the 1st Fleet, and deployed from Kure Naval District to the port of Samah on Hainan Island. Between December 4, 1941 until January 30, 1942 Hatsuyuki was part of the escort for the heavy cruisers Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami and Mikuma out of Samah and Camranh Bay in support of the Japanese invasions of Malaya, Banka-Palembang and Anambas. On February 18, 1942 she intercepted two transports attempting to flee from Singapore. On February 27, 1942 Hatsuyuki joined the western Java invasion force and participated in the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942 and assisted in the sinking of HMAS Perth and USS Houston. On March 12, 1942 joins the northern Sumatra invasion force. On March 23, 1942 joined the Andaman Islands invasion force and participated in patrol and escort duties operating out of Port Blair during the Japanese raids into the Indian Ocean then returned to Kure. Between April 13-22, 1943 underwent maintenance at the Kure Naval Arsenal. Between June 4-5, 1942 during the Battle of Midway Hatsuyuki was an escort. During July 1942, Hatsuyuki sailed from Amami-Ōshima to Mako Guard District, Singapore, Sabang and Mergui for a projected second Indian Ocean raid. The operation was cancelled due to the American landing on Guadalcanal. Instead, Hatsuyuki proceeded to Truk. During August 1942, Hatsuyuki was used for high speed transport missions in the Solomon Islands as part of the "Tokyo Express" operating off southern Bougainville and Shortlands then traveling overnight to land troops and supplies at Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. On September 4, 1942 departs Shortland with Yūdachi and Murakumo on an overnight troop transport "Tokyo Express" run to Guadalcanal to land Japanese Army reinforcements at Taivu. On September 5, 1942 after midnight, the destroyers were preparing to bombard Henderson Field when PBY Catalina dropped flares that illuminate a pair of high-speed transports USS Gregory (APD-3) and USS Little (APD-4). The three destroyers open fire with gunfire from Yūdachi assisting in the sinking of both high-speed transports. On October 11, 1942 during the night participated in the Battle of Cape Esperance (Second Battle of Savo Island) and afterwards Hatsuyuki rescued 518 survivors off Furutaka. Two days later escorted damaged Aoba northward to Truk. On October 26, 1942 patrols the Shortlands during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands (Battle of the South Pacific). On November 12, 1942 participated Naval Battle for Guadalcanal (Third Battle of the Solomon Sea). Initially she escorted the Support Force commanded by Admiral Takeo Kurita, then joined the Emergency Bombardment Force of Admiral Nobutake Kondō. With Nagara in the assault on enemy destroyers, Hatsuyuki assisted in sinking USS Benham, USS Walke, and USS Preston and damaged USS Gwin. On November 18, 1942 returned to Truk Lagoon. In December 1942, made one more transport run to Rabaul in December, then Hatsuyuki was assigned to escort Hiyō to Kure. In January 1943, Hatsuyuki escorted a troop convoy from Pusan to Palau and then to Wewak. She continued to patrol and escort in the Solomon Islands until the end of February, when reassigned to the 8th Fleet. In March, Hatsuyuki assisted the rescue of survivors of the Battle of Bismarck Sea, before returning to Kure for refit. During May, she escorted aircraft carrier Taiyō from Yokouka to Manila, Surabaya, Singapore, and back to Mako Guard District to Sasebo Naval District. During June, Hatsuyuki returned to Rabaul and resumed Tokyo Express supply missions in the Solomon Islands. Participated in the second battle of Kula Gulf, July 5-6, 1943. During the battle, Hatsuyuki engaged a group of American cruisers and destroyers, and was hit by six dud shells, which damaged her steering and killed six crewmen. On July 16, 1943 departs Rabaul on a troop transport run to Shortland Harbor arriving the next morning. Sinking History On July 17, 1943 anchored off Kahili (Buin) on Bougainville when targeted by Allied planes. During the air raid, an aerial bomb hit the aft magazine causing an explosion and the destoyer to sink into shallow water at roughly Lat 06.50S Long 155.47E. Killed by the explosion and sinking were 120 personnel (82 crew and 38 passengers) plus 36 were wounded. Lieutenant Commander Sugihara survived. Shipwreck Hatsuyuki sank upright on a sandy bottom at a depth of 120' / 36.5m. During the early 1970's the destroyer was heavily salvaged by by Dave Barnett / Pacific Diving for scrap metal. In addition to the wartime damage, the salvage divers used World War II ordnance as explosive charges to open the hull to allow access to internal compartments. They also used explosives to blow one of the gun turrets off the wreck. During the salvages many human remains were observed. During the late 1970s until the start of the "Bogainville Crisis" in 1988, the shipwreck was a popular SCUBA dive site for the expatriate community on Bougainville. Since then, it is rarely dived. Shirley Cook dove the wreck in late 1970s: "No photographs of this, but have a very fancy porthole which nearly cost me my life. Left a bucket full of tools on the deck there as well." References Note, some sources refer to this destroyer as "Hatsuyuki No. 14" and list the sinking date as either July 17, 1943 (incorrect) or July 18, 1943 (correct). Combined Fleet - IJN Hatsuyuki: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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 Map Oct 11, 1942 06.50S 155.47E  Photo Archive  120'/ 36.5m |
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