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| IJN Kagerō-class destroyer 2,490 Tons 388' 9" x 35' 5" x 12' 6" 6 x 127mm DP guns 28 x 25mm AA 4 x 13.2mm AA guns 8 x torpedo tubes 36 x depth charges  USAAF August 24, 1942 |
Ship History Built by Uraga Dock Company in Uraga. Laid down February 20, 1939 as a Kagerō-class destroyer. Launched November 10, 1939 as Tokitsukaze meaning "Favorable Wind" in Japanese. Completed December 15, 1940 and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). During 1941, assigned to Desdiv 16 with Yukikaze, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze, Desron 2, Second Fleet under the command of Commander Giichiro Nakahara. On December 6, 1941 departs Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces and initially escorts Ryujo. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War underway at sea. On December 12, 1941 supports the landing at Legaspi while patrolling, three crew are injured by strafing by P-40E Warhawk pilot P-40E Warhawk pilot 1st Lt. Robert "Bob" T. Hanson. On December 14, 1941 off Legaspi again attacked by aircraft without damage. On December 19, 1941 departs Legaspi bound for Lamon Bay. On December 24, 1941 supports the landings at Lamon Bay and release depth charges on a suspected submarine without result and is attacked by enemy planes without sustaining damage. On December 26, 1941 departs Lamon Bay bound for Palau arriving three days later. On January 1, 1942 departs Palau for the invasion of Davao. On January 2, 1942 releases depth charges on a suspected submarine without result. On January 4, 1942 arrives Magunaga Bay and afterwards patrols Davao Gulf. for the next three days then returns to Magunaga Bay. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 24, 1942 with Tokitsukaze escorts Ryūjō and Tone. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (Second Battle of the Solomon Sea) rescues survivors and recovers a ditched bomber crew from Zuikaku. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 28, 1943 part of a reinforcement convoy Operation 81 of eight transports escorted by eight destroyers departs Rabaul bound for Lae on New Guinea. The convoy included eight transports loaded with Japanese troops and supplies including Kyokusei Maru, Aiyo Maru, Oikawa Maru, Teiyo Maru, Taimei Maru, Sin-ai Maru, Kembu Maru and Nojima Maru. Escorted by eight destroyers including Tokitsukaze with Lt. General Hatazō Adachi commander 18th Army aboard, Yukikaze with Lt. General Hidemitsu Nakano, commander 51st Division, Shirayuki with Rear Admiral Masatomi Kimura, Arashio, Asashio, Asagumo, Shikinami and Uranami. On March 1, 1943 the Japanese convoy was spotted and shadowed by B-24 Liberators. Over the next three days, every available Allied aircraft from the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew repeated missions against the convoy. On March 3, 1943 during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea targeted by Allied planes. At 8:09am hit by one or more skip bomb in the starboard side that flood the engine room and goes dead in the water and unnavigable and begins to flood and list to starboard but floating at an even keel. Yukikaze comes along side and transfers aboard all Army personnel. Damaged, Tokitsukaze is not scuttled and left to drift away in hopes it can be recovered later. In the afternoon, targeted by Allied planes that claim more hits. At 6:00pm Asagumo and Yukikaze steam south through Dampier Strait to Tokitsukaze to rescue survivors. Sinking History On March 4, 1943 at 4:00am Yukikaze locates Tokitsukaze drifting and rescues 20 crew aboard then attempts to rescue other survivors at sea and abandon Tokitsukaze to continue drifting. Amazingly, only 9 of the crew are killed in the attacks. At 7:10am spoted by a B-25 Mitchell that drops two 500 pound bombs and scores hits including one on the bridge but is still upright with only her fantail awash. Later, the destroyer is spotted by Zeros from 253 Kokutai (253 Air Group) and around midday, nine dive bombers escorted by 14 Zeros are sent to scuttle the destroyer but fail to sink her. At 1:50pm targeted by nine B-25s that bomb from both starboard and port scoring hits and finally sinks in Huon Gulf roughly 55 miles southeast of Finschhafen at roughly Lat 7° 15 S Long 148° 15' E. Fates of the Crew The rescued crew aboard destroyers Shikinami, Asagumo, and Yukikaze are transported via Kavieng to Rabaul where they are disembarked for medical treatment. References Combined Fleet - IJN Tokitsukaze: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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