Japanese destroyer Sagiri

Sagiri underway on 10 August 1936.
History
Empire of Japan
Name:	Sagiri
Ordered:	1923 Fiscal Year
Builder:	Uraga Dock Company
Yard number:	Destroyer No. 50
Laid down:	28 March 1929
Launched:	23 December 1929
Commissioned:	31 January 1931
Struck:	15 January 1942
Fate:	Sunk by HNLMS K XVI on 24 December 1941
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

Sagiri in 1940

Front view of Sagiri

HNLMS K-XVI, the Dutch submarine which sank Sagiri

Sagiri (狭霧 "Haze")^[1] was the sixteenth 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]

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] Sagiri, built at the Uraga Dock Company was the sixth 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] Sagiri was laid down on 28 March 1929, launched on 23 December 1929 and commissioned on 31 January 1930.^[6] Originally assigned hull designation "Destroyer No. 50", she was commissioned as Sagiri.

The 4th Fleet Incident occurred only a year after her commissioning, and Sagiri was quickly taken back to the shipyards for strengthening of her hull.

Operational history

On completion, Sagiri was assigned to Destroyer Division 20 under the IJN 2nd Fleet. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, from 1937, Sagiri covered landing of Japanese forces in Shanghai and Hangzhou. From 1940, she was assigned to patrol and cover landings of Japanese forces in south China.

World War II history

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Sagiri 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.^[7]

From 17 December, Sagiri covered Japanese landings at Miri and at Kuching in Sarawak.^[8] On 24 December 1941, approximately 35 nautical miles (65 km) off Kuching, Sagiri was torpedoed by the Dutch submarine HNLMS K XVI. Her aft magazine caught fire and exploded, sinking the ship at position 01°34′N 110°21′E / 1.567°N 110.350°ECoordinates: 01°34′N 110°21′E / 1.567°N 110.350°E with the loss of 121 of her crew.^[9][10] Some 120 survivors were rescued by her sister ship, Shirakumo.

On 15 January 1942, Sagiri was removed from the navy list.^[6]

Notes

1. Nelson. Japanese-English Character Dictionary. page 602
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. Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Sagiri': Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
8. L, Klemen (1999–2000). "The Invasion of British Borneo in 1942". Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942.
9. D’Albas. Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II.
10. Brown. Warship Losses of World War II

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.
• 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). "IJN Sagiri: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
• Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
• Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers".