Destroyer Yukikaze
Open the military map駆逐艦雪風
DestroyerYukikaze was the "unsinkable destroyer" of the Imperial Japanese Navy — the sole surviving Kagerō-class destroyer who emerged from the entire Pacific War without suffering any major damage. She participated in virtually every major naval campaign of the war.
- Armament
- 6× Type 3 127mm guns (3×2), 8× 610mm torpedo tubes (2×4) Type 93 Long Lance, 4× 25mm AA guns
- Fate
- Survived the war without major damage; transferred to Republic of China Navy 1947 as ROCS Dan Yang (DD-12); scrapped 1970 after typhoon damage 1969
History
Laid down at Sasebo Naval Arsenal on 2 August 1938, launched 24 March 1939, and commissioned 20 January 1940, Yukikaze was one of nineteen Kagerō-class destroyers — the finest Japanese destroyers of the early war period. Displacing 2,529 tons at deep load, she was armed with six 127mm guns, eight Long Lance torpedo tubes, and anti-aircraft guns.
Over the course of the war, Yukikaze participated in operations across the entire Pacific theatre: the Battle of Midway, the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the final kamikaze sortie of battleship Yamato in Operation Ten-Go (7 April 1945). While dozens of her sisters were lost, Yukikaze survived every engagement with extraordinary fortune.
After Japan's surrender she was awarded to the Republic of China on 6 July 1947 and renamed ROCS Dan Yang (丹陽 DD-12), serving as flagship of the ROC Navy.
She was damaged beyond repair by a typhoon in 1969 and scrapped in 1970. As a goodwill gesture, her rudder and one of her anchors were returned to Japan, where they are preserved at the museum of the former Naval Academy at Etajima.
Related sites (4)
- Built33.283, 129.883
Sasebo Naval Arsenal, where Yukikaze was laid down and constructed
- Homeport33.933, 132.450
Kure Naval Base, primary home port during wartime operations
- Battle30.430, 128.920
Operation Ten-Go, 7 April 1945 — Yukikaze escorted battleship Yamato; Yamato sank here but Yukikaze survived
- Memorial34.233, 132.567
Kure Maritime Museum (Yamato Museum), where Yukikaze's anchor is preserved