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| IJN Mutsuki-class destroyer 1,336 Tons (standard) 1,800 Tons (full load) 320' x 30' 1" x 9' 9" 4 x 120mm guns 2x3 24" torpedo tubes 18 x depth charges 16 x sea mines |
Ship History Built by Ishikawajima Shipyards in Tokyo. Laid down October 15, 1925 as Destroyer No. 25. Launched October 15, 1925 as a Mutsuki-class destroyer. Completed and commissioned in in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). On August 1, 1928 renamed Uzuki 卯月 meaning April (fourth month of the year) in Japanese. By 1941, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Masao Nishimura. Assigned to 1st Air Fellet, CarDiv 2, Destroyer Division 23 (DesDiv 23). On November 1, 1941 arrives Ebisu Bay on northwest Kyushu and undergoes training. Wartime History On December 4, 1941 departs Haha Jima with DesDiv 23 including Yuzuki and Kikuzuki as part of the Guam invasion force and conducts anti-submarine patrols in the area. On December 9, 1941 arrives Matsujima Bay then supports the landing on Guam and patrols then to Kurohama. On December 13, 1941 DesDiv 23 is removed from the Guam invasion force. On December 18, 1941 arrives Saipan and conducts anti-submarine patrols until the end of the year. PARTIAL HISTORY On May 10, 1942 departs Rabaul leading the Ocean-Nauru Occupation Force escorted by Uzuki, Mochizuki and Yuzuki. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 24, 1942 departs Rabaul on a troop transport convoy to Guadalcanal and participates in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (Second Battle of the Solomon Sea). On August 25, 1942 overnight unloads food and ammunition at Kokumbona and in the morning rescues downed airmen from Ryūjō. At 10:27am a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses from 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG) bomb and suffers mnor damage from near misses. Afterwards, returns to Rabaul. PARTIAL HISTORY On October 13, 1943 DesRon 2 destroyer-transports Amagiri, Naganami, Yunagi, Uzuki and Yuzuki transport troops to Bougainville. PARTIAL HISTORY On November 6, 1943 departs Rabaul as part of a Japanese counter-landing force landing unit: Amagiri, Fumizuki, Uzuki and Yunagi with 475 Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) soldiers from the 17th Division, 53rd Infantry Regiment and 54th Infantry Regiment embarked. PARTIAL HISTORY On December 9, 1944 departs Manila Bay as part of Operation TA No. 9 escorting transports Mino Maru, Sorachi Maru and Tasmania Maru, Transport No. 159 and Transport No. 140 to land reinforcements at Ormoc Bay on Leyte. Escorted by DesDiv 30’s Yūzuki, Uzuki and Kiri plus SubChasDiv 21’s CH-17 and CH-37. On December 11, 1944 at 11:00am targeted by U.S. planes but not damaged. At 3:30pm again targeted by planes off Palompon on western Leyte. At 5:50pm rescue survivors of Sorachi Maru and proceeds to Palompon to unload. Aboard, Lt. Watanabe and other crew members were wounded by strafing. Sinking History On December 12, 1944 at 1:00am off Palompon on western Leyte surprised by PT-490 and PT-492 that achieved complete surprise and launched torpedoes scoring two torpedo hits on the port side under the bridge and amidship. Three mintues later, turned over and sank 50 miles northeast of Ceub at roughly Lat 11° 3' N Long 124° 23 E. When sunk, the destroyer had 205 aboard including staff and rescued crew. A total of 170 were killed in the sinking including Lt. Watanabe. Fate of the Crew A total of 59 crew survived and swam for shore and were rescued. Three were rescued by Filipinos in local boats and became Prisoners Of War (POWs). References Combined Fleet IJN Uzuki: Tabular Record of Movement Fortress Against the Sun (2001) pages 233-234 (August 24-25, 1942) Contribute
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