Destroyer Makigumo

Makigumo was a Yūgumo-class destroyer built at Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka, laid down 23 December 1940 and completed 14 March 1942. She took part in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, and after the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942 she was one of the destroyers that finished off the abandoned carrier USS Hornet.

She participated actively in the Guadalcanal campaign from late 1942, including the Tokyo Express destroyer runs delivering troops and supplies down the Slot.

During Operation KE — the successful Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal — Makigumo sailed with the destroyer force making the first evacuation run on 1 February 1943. While maneuvering off Guadalcanal to avoid an attack by American PT boats, she struck a mine and was disabled. Her sister ship Yūgumo took off 237 survivors and then scuttled her with a torpedo about 3 miles south-southwest of Savo Island.

She was the only Japanese destroyer sunk during the otherwise successful KE evacuation. Her loss demonstrated that even a successful strategic withdrawal could exact a toll. She was struck from the navy list on 1 March 1943.