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| IJN Shiratsuyu-class destroyer 1,685 Tons (standard) 340' x 32' 6" x 11' 6" 5 x 12cm Type 3 guns 2 x 13mm AA guns 8 x 24" torpedo tubes 16 x depth charges |
Ship History Built by Fujinagata Shipyards. Laid down April 25, 1935 as a Shiratsuyu-class destroyer. Launched November 1, 1936 as Kawakaze 江風 meaning "River Wind" in Japanese. Commissioned April 30, 1937 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Wartime History During 1941, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Kazuo Wakabayashi. Assigned to Desdiv 24 with Umikaze, Yamakaze and Suzukaze, Desron 4, Second Fleet. On November 26, 1941 departs via the Terashima Strait to Palau arriving five days later. On Deceember 6, 1941 departs Palau as part of the Japanese southern Philippines invasion force bound for Legaspi. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 22, 1942 while patrolling Iron Bottom Sound fired a torpedo that damages USS Blue (DD-387) that is scuttled the next day. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 24, 1942 departs Shortland with Mutsuki, Isokaze and Yayoi then joins Kagero and conducts a shore bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. PARTIAL HISTORY On December 11, 1942 departs Shortland as cover for an overnight "Tokyo Express" run by destroyers with supply-drums bound for Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. On December 12, 1942 in the early morning with Suzukaze sinks PT-44 with gunfire southwest of Savo Island then returns to Shortland. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 1, 1943 targeted by PT Boats and returns fire sinking PT-111 and PT-37 off Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 1, 1943 departs Rabaul on a transport run to Cape Gloucester (Tuluvu) then returns. Sinking History On August 6, 1943 departs with soldiers and supplies embarked on a "Tokyo Express" troop transport run with Hagikaze, Arashi and Shigure bound for Vila on Kolombangara. At 11:33pm at the start of the Battle of Vella Gulf spotted on radar by U.S. Navy (USN) destroyers and USS Dunlap (DD–384), USS USS Craven (DD-382) and USS Maury fired a spread of torpedoes 24 torpedoes over 63 seconds. A torpedo hit Kawakaze causing fires and was also hit by gunfire then quickly sank between Kolombangara and Vella Lavella at rougly Lat 7°50′S Long 156°54′E. Aboard, a total of 169 were killed including Lieutenant Commander Yoshio Yanase. Officially removed from the Navy list October 15, 1943. Fates of the Crew Some of the crew survived and refused rescue by the U.S. Navy destroyers and most died at sea while a group of roughly 300 reached Vella Lavella and were later moved to Kolombangara. References Kawakaze was sunk late on August 6, 1943, some sources list the sinking date as August 7, 1943. Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses pages 7 (Kawakaze), 108 (index Kawakaze) Combined Fleet IJN Kawakaze: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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 Map Nov 30, 1942 |
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