DD - Akikaze (1920)

Akikaze - Operational Service



Construction and service 1920s-30s


Akikaze (translated as Autumn Wind) was a destroyer belonging to the Minekaze class. Its construction began immediately after the end of World War I. The Minekaze class was considered progressive at the time of the construction of each unit. Ships of this class served as first line throughout the 1920s and 1930s. At the start of World War II, their status was reassessed and the ships were reassigned to second-line service. However, they continued to perform a large number of tasks (mine clearance, rescue operations of downed pilots, Kaiten carriers).


Construction of the Minekaze class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 8-4 Fleet Program (1917-1920). Funding for the construction of the first two ships of the class was included in the 1917 budget. For 1918 and 1919, the budgets provided for the construction of 5 units of the class, and for 1920 the budget provided for the construction of the last 2 destroyers to close out the number of units of the class.
The Minekaze class was larger in size than the previous Momi class, but shared many design features with it. Akikaze and her sister ships were equipped with a powerful propulsion system. This was intended to provide joint operational capability with the projected Amagi-class battlecruisers, but these were never completed.

Akikaze was built at Naval Arsenal Maizuru as the ninth unit of the Minekaze class. Her construction began on 7 June 1920, she was launched on 14 December 1920 and her construction was completed on 1 April 1921. The IJN took delivery of the vessel for service on 16 September 1921.
Upon completion, Akikaze was assigned to the 4th Destroyer Division belonging to the 1st Destroyer Fleet. In 1938-1939, the division was tasked with patrolling off the coast of central China to support the Japanese effort in the Second Sino-Japanese War.



World War IIOperational Service


During World War II, Akikaze mainly performed convoy escorts and patrol missions. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor (12 December 1941), he was assigned to the 34th Destroyer Division of the 11th. Fleet, which was based in Takao harbor and conducted rescue operations as part of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, escorting convoys to the Philippine island of Mindanao, where an offensive was underway to capture the island's largest city, Davao, with a harbor suitable for the establishment of a new IJN naval base necessary for the later attack on the Dutch colonies. Akikaze also escorted convoys to Legazpi.


From January to the end of April 1942, his home base was in Davao. He escorted convoys between Davao and Ambon. After this successful anabasis, Akikaze was sent back to Maizur for repairs in May 1942. He was subsequently assigned to a base in Rabaul, where he escorted convoys in that part of the Pacific. On 14 March 1943, Akikaze, along with two other Japanese ships, attacked an American submarine (probably SS-201 USS Triton), near Kairiru Island.


After repeated repairs at Naval Arsenal Maizuru in April 1943, Akikaze returned to Rabaul Base and resumed her escort and patrol missions. Akikaze was badly damaged by an air attack on 2 August 1943, which resulted in 23 deaths, and the destroyer had to sail to Maizuru for further repairs. She returned to Rabaul in mid-November 1943 and made several transport cruises between 11.1943 and 2.1944 to reinforce crews at Japanese bases in the area (Qavuvu, Cape Dampier, Iboki). In March 1944, he was transferred to Truk, where he performed convoy escort duties between Truk, Saipan, and Palau.


On 1 May 1944, Akikaze was reassigned to the 30th Destroyer Division belonging to the Central Pacific Fleet. After escorting a convoy from Japan to Davao and Manila, Manila became the base for the ship. Although 30. Destroyer Division was reassigned to the Allied Fleet on 20.08.1944.
From 29.09.1944 to 20.10.1944 she was in Sasebo harbor undergoing repairs.
24-25.11.1944 Akikaze led the escort of the 2nd Supply Corps, which belonged to Admiral Ozawa's Northern Combat Corps, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He rescued survivors from the torpedoed tanker Jinei Maru and landed them at Mako Harbor.


1. November 1944 30. Destroyer Division, led by the flag destroyer Yuzuki and supplemented by the destroyers Uzuki and Akikaze sailed from Mako harbor as escort of the aircraft carrier Junyo and the light cruiser Kiso. On 3 November 1944, the submarine SS-387 USS Pintado fired a salvo of torpedoes at the aircraft carrier Junyo. However, the destroyer Akikaze sacrificially sailed into the path of the torpedoes and sacrificed herself to save the valuable aircraft ice. Akikaze sank with all hands on board, 257 km (160 nm) west of Cape Bolinao at coordinates 16°48′N 117°17′E.



Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
https://www.combinedfleet.com/akikaz_t.htm

source:
en.wikipedia.org.