Japanese destroyer Asagiri (1929)

Asagiri underway on 29 March 1936.
History
Empire of Japan
Name:	Asagiri
Namesake:	Japanese destroyer Asagiri (1902)
Ordered:	1923 Fiscal Year
Builder:	Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Yard number:	Destroyer No. 47
Laid down:	12 December 1928
Launched:	18 November 1929
Commissioned:	30 June 1930
Struck:	1 October 1942
Fate:	Sunk in action, 28 August 1942
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fubuki-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,750 long tons (1,780 t) standard 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) re-built
Length:	111.96 m (367.3 ft) pp 115.3 m (378 ft) waterline 118.41 m (388.5 ft) overall
Beam:	10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
Draft:	3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	4 × Kampon type boilers 2 × Kampon Type Ro geared turbines 2 × shafts at 50,000 ihp (37,000 kW)
Speed:	38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:	219
Armament:	6 × Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns (3×2) up to 22 × Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns up to 10 × 13 mm AA guns 9 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 36 × depth charges
Service record
Operations:	Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Malaya Battle of Midway Solomon Islands campaign

Asagiri (朝霧 "Morning Fog")^[1] was the thirteenth of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world.^[2] They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.

History

Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.^[3] The Fubuki class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (特型 Tokugata). The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies.^[4] Asagiri, built at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal was the eighth in an improved series, which incorporated a modified gun turret which could elevate her main battery of Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns to 75° as opposed to the original 40°, thus permitting the guns to be used as dual purpose guns against aircraft.^[5] Asagiri was laid down on 12 December 1928, launched on 18 November 1929 and commissioned on 30 June 1930.^[6] Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 47”, she was named Asagiri, after that of a previous Harusame-class destroyer before her launch.

Operational history

In 1932, after the First Shanghai Incident, Asagiri was assigned to patrols of the Yangtze River. In 1935, after the Fourth Fleet Incident, in which a large number of ships were damaged by a typhoon, she, along with her sister ships, were modified with stronger hulls and increased displacement. From 1937, Asagiri covered landing of Japanese forces in Shanghai and Hangzhou during the Second Sino-Japanese War. From 1940, she was assigned to patrol and cover landings of Japanese forces in south China, and subsequently participated in the Invasion of French Indochina.

World War II history

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Asagiri was assigned to Destroyer Division 20 of Desron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and had deployed from Kure Naval District to the port of Samah on Hainan Island, escorting Japanese troopships for landing operations in the Battle of Malaya.

On 27 January, Asagiri and her convoy were attacked by the destroyers HMS Thanet and HMAS Vampire about 80 nautical miles (148 km) north of Singapore in the Battle off Endau, and her torpedoes are credited with helping sink Thanet.^[7][8] Asagiri subsequently was part of the escort for the heavy cruisers Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami and Mikuma in support of the "Operation L" (the invasion of Banka and Palembang and the Anambas Islands in the Netherlands East Indies). At the end of February, Asagiri covered minesweeping operations around Singapore and Johore.

In March, Asagiri was assigned to "Operation L" (the invasion of northern Sumatra) and "Operation D" (the invasion of the Andaman Islands). During the Indian Ocean raids, Asagiri, together with cruisers Chōkai and Yura and aircraft carrier Ryūjō is credited with sinking six merchant vessels. From 13–22 April Asagiri returned via Singapore and Camranh Bay to Kure Naval Arsenal, for maintenance.^[9]

On 4–5 June, Asagiri participated in the Battle of Midway as was part of the diversionary Aleutian Invasion force. In July 1942, Asagiri sailed from Amami-Ōshima to Mako Guard District, Singapore, Sabang and Mergui for a projected second Indian Ocean raid. The operation was cancelled due to the Guadalcanal campaign, and Asagiri was ordered to Truk instead, arriving in late August.

After the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August, Asagiri took on troops from transport ships while at sea, and sailed on to Guadalcanal. During this operation, she was struck by a direct hit by a bomb on her torpedo launchers by United States Marine Corps SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Henderson Field. The explosion killed 122 men, including 60 ground troops, and sank Asagiri near Santa Isabel, 60 nautical miles (110 km) north-northeast of Savo Island at position 08°0′S 160°10′E / 8.000°S 160.167°ECoordinates: 08°0′S 160°10′E / 8.000°S 160.167°E.^[10][11]

On 1 October 1942, Asagiri was removed from the navy list.^[12]

Notes

1. Nelson. Japanese-English Character Dictionary. page 750
2. Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers".
3. Fitzsimons, Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare p.1040
4. Peattie & Evans, Kaigun page 221-222.
5. F Fitzsimons, Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1977), Volume 10, p.1040.<
6. Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class 1st class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
7. Muir, Dan Order of Battle - The Battle of the Sunda Strait 1942
8. Brown. Warship Losses of World War II
9. Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). CombinedFleet.com "IJN Asagiri: Tabular Record of Movement" Check |url= value (help). Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
10. Hammel. Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea.
11. D’Albas. Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II.
12. Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

References

• D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
• Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
• Hammel, Eric (1988). Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea : The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Nov. 13–15, 1942. (CA): Pacifica Press. ISBN 0-517-56952-3.
• Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
• Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
• Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-0408-7.
• Watts, Anthony J (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday. ASIN B000KEV3J8.
• Whitley, M J (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

External links

• Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). CombinedFleet.com "IJN Asagiri: Tabular Record of Movement" Check |url= value (help). Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
• Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
• Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers".