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| IJN Yūgumo Class Destroyer 2,520 Tons 390' 11" x 35' 5" x 12' 4" 6 x 127mm guns 28 x 25mm AA guns 4 x 13mm AA guns 8 x 24" torpedo tubes 36 depth charges |
Ship History Built by Uraga Dock Company at Uraga. Laid down March 16, 1943. Launched February 29, 1944. Completed May 16, 1944 as as a Yūgumo-class destroyer named Kiyoshimo 清霜 meaning "Clear Frost". That same day delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Commander Miyazaki Isamu and assigned to Desron 11 for training. Wartime History On June 30, 1944 departed Yokosuka for a transport run to Chichi-Jima. Then on August 5, 1942 assigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet. PARTIAL HISTORY On October 24, 1944 this destroyer rescued survivors of the Musashi. PARTIAL HISTORY On December 24, 1944 a Japanese Navy force including heavy cruiser Ashigara, light cruiser Oyodo, three destroyers Asashimo, Kiyoshimo, and Kasumi plus destroyer escorts Kaya, Kashi, and Sugi departs Camranh Bay off Indochina (Vietnam) for "Operation Rei-Go" a raiding force bound for Magarin Bay to conduct a shore bombardment against the San Jose beachhead area of western Mindoro Island. Sinking History On December 26, 1944 during the evening spotted and attacked by a B-25 Mitchell that scored two direct hits that crippled this destroyer. Meanwhile, U.S. Navy (USN) nine PT Boats were the only naval force available to intercept the Japanese force, that was believed to be landing soldiers on Mindoro. Approaching, they came under accurate and intense fire for 80 minutes and zig-zagged at high speed. They were targeted by planes, likely both Japanese and U.S. planes that mistook them for enemy. An aerial bomb damaged PT-77 and PT-84 lost a man overboard from a near miss and both disengaged. The other PT Boats were ordered to southward in case the enemy attempted a landing. Two additional boats, PT-221 under the command of Lt. (jg.) E. H. Lockwood and PT-223 under the command of Lt(jg) Harry E. Griffen were ordered to deliver a U.S. Army radar team to Abra de Ilog on north Mindoro and were recalled to base but the message late. On December 27, 1944 after midnight, PT-221 and PT-223 they encountered the Japanese warships departing northward and both attacked. PT-221 came under heavy gunfire and withdrew laying a smoke screen. At 1:05am, PT-223 closed to 4,000 yards and launched two torpedoes and observed a bright orange flash on the third ship in the formation then a large explosion was heard. In fact, one of her torpedoes hit Kiyoshi causing the destroyer to sink roughly 145 miles south of Manila at roughly Lat 12°20′N Long 121°0′E. During the attacks and sinking, 82 were killed and 74 injured. Officially written off on February 10, 1945. Rescue Afterwards, Asashimo rescued 169 survivors, including Captain Shiraishi Nagayoshi and Lieutenant Commander Kajimoto. PT boats rescued five other members who became Prisoners Of War (POW). References Combined Fleet - IJN Kiyoshimo: Tabular Record of Movement Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Japanese Naval Shipbuilding "Know Your Enemy!" CinCPac-CinCPOA Bulletin 142-45 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes pages 20 (Kiyoshima sunk by Army Aircraft / Surface Craft [PT-Boat]), 109 (index) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - H-040-2: Leyte, Ormoc Bay, and Mindoro "In the meantime, PT-223, under the command of Lieutenant (j.g.) Harry E. Griffen, USNR, closed to 4,000 yards and, at 0105 on 27 December, launched two torpedoes. One of these hit and sank the destroyer Kiyoshimo, one of the newest Japanese destroyers. Kiyoshima had been crippled by two direct hits from U.S. Army bombers, but it was the torpedo that sank her, with a loss of 82 of her crew (another Japanese destroyer rescued 169 survivors, and 5 were rescued and captured by U.S. PT boats)." At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 408 "The boats that had set out for Abra de Ilog with the Army radar team, Lt. (jg.) Harry E. Griffin, Jr.'s PT 223 and Lt. (jg.) E. H. Lockwood's PT 221, with Lt. Philip A. Swart, USNR, as section leader, had reached the northwestern tip of Mindoro before they received orders by radio to return to the base. They met the enemy task force as it steamed northward. Since the force was retiring, Davis gave permission to attack. As the PT's closed, the 221 was taken under heavy shellfire and retired, laying smoke. The 223, apparently unobserved, got two torpedoes away. There was a bright orangered flash on the third ship in line, followed by the sound of a heavy explosion. PT's searched the scene of action on the 27th. They picked up the man who had been blown over the side of PT 84. He was slightly waterlogged, but uninjured. They also picked up five Japanese sailors, survivors of the 2,100-ton destroyer Kiyoshimo, one of the newest and most powerful in the Japanese Navy. It had been damaged during the air attack and sank after being hit by one of PT 223's torpedoes." Contribute
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