Destroyer Akigumo

Akigumo was laid down at Uraga Dock Company on 2 July 1940, launched 11 April 1941, and commissioned 27 September 1941 — her launching date and sinking date share the same calendar day, 11 April, three years apart. She was a Kagerō-class destroyer, although for decades after the war she was mistakenly listed as a member of the Yūgumo class, until a photograph published in 1994 confirmed her true classification.

She was assigned to Destroyer Division 10 and participated in the Pearl Harbor attack as part of the carrier strike force escort. In 1942 she served in the Indian Ocean Raid and the Battle of Midway. After the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942 she helped sink the abandoned carrier USS Hornet with gunfire and torpedoes, and she went on to serve in the Guadalcanal campaign.

In 1943 she continued to operate in the Solomons, and at the Battle of Vella Lavella in October 1943 she was flagship of Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin's destroyer force. In early 1944 she was operating in Philippine waters for convoy escort duties.

On 11 April 1944, while scouting ahead of the transport Kiyokawa Maru near Zamboanga in the southern Philippines, she was attacked by USS Redfin (SS-272), which fired four torpedoes. Akigumo was hit, capsized and sank at approximately 6°43′N 122°23′E. About 140 of her crew were lost; 113 survivors were rescued.