Destroyer Kagero

Kagero was laid down at Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 3 September 1937, launched 27 September 1938, and commissioned 6 November 1939 as the lead ship of the nineteen-vessel Kagerō class — the most capable Japanese destroyers of the early Pacific War. Displacing 2,033 tons standard, she was armed with six 127mm dual-purpose guns, eight Long Lance torpedo tubes, and anti-aircraft cannon.

At the outbreak of war she belonged to Destroyer Division 18 and sailed from the Kurile Islands as part of the escort of Admiral Nagumo's carrier strike force for the attack on Pearl Harbor, returning to Kure on 24 December 1941. In 1942 she continued to escort the carriers, including in the Indian Ocean raid, and then fought through the Solomon Islands campaign, taking part in the battles of the Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz and Tassafaronga and running multiple "Tokyo Express" resupply missions down the Slot. During this period she was reassigned to Destroyer Division 15.

On 8 May 1943, after a troop transport run from Rabaul to Vila on Kolombangara, Kagero was disabled by a mine while leaving Vila. Lying helpless, she was then attacked by Allied aircraft and sank southwest of Rendova at approximately 8°08′S 156°55′E. Eighteen of her crew were killed and 36 wounded.

Her loss, together with that of sisters Kuroshio and Oyashio on the same day, marked one of the IJN's costlier mine disasters of the entire campaign.