Destroyer Amatsukaze

Amatsukaze was laid down at Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 14 February 1939, launched 19 October 1939, and commissioned 26 October 1940. Her wartime career was one of high distinction and dramatic survival. Under Captain Tameichi Hara — one of the IJN's most skilled destroyer commanders — she saw intense action in the Solomons campaign, participating in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. On 16 January 1944, Amatsukaze was hit by a torpedo from USS Redfin (SS-272) that blew her apart: the forward section sank rapidly, but the aft section miraculously remained afloat and was towed to safety by the destroyer Asagao (to Saigon according to Japanese sources), later receiving a temporary bow at Singapore. In March 1945 the patched ship left Singapore with convoy Hi-88J in an attempt to return to Japan. On 6 April 1945 — the same day Yamato sortied — U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 Mitchell bombers attacked Amatsukaze off Amoy (Xiamen), China, at 24°30′N 118°10′E, six miles east of the city. She was forced aground, and beyond all hope of repair. Her crew scuttled her on 10 April 1945. She was stricken from the IJN list on 10 August 1945.