World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseIkazuchi, a 1680-ton Akatsuki class destroyer built at Uraga, Japan, was completed in August 1932. She took part in operations during the war with China that began in mid-1937 and was active through the first two and a half years of the Pacific War. On 8 December 1941, as that war began, she was one of the Japanese warships that attacked Hong Kong, sinking two British gunboats. During the first months of 1942, Ikazuchi participated in the East Indies campaign, including the invasion of Java and the battle on 1 March 1942 in which the British cruiser Exeter, destroyer Encounter and U.S. destroyer Pope were sunk.

ww2dbaseIn early June 1942 Ikazuchi took part in operations in the north Pacific that resulted in the capture of Attu and Kiska islands. Later in the year, she went south to join the protracted campaign to retake Guadalcanal and, on 25 October she and two other destroyers conducted a daylight raid into the waters off Guadalcanal. In the resulting action, the U.S. Navy fast minesweeper Zane was damaged and fleet tug Seminole and patrol craft YP-284 were sunk before the Japanese ships were driven off by U.S. Marine coastal artillery. Ikazuchi also particpated in the first night action of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, on 13 November 1942. Stationed on the right flank of the battleships Hiei and Kirishima with two other destroyers, she engaged several U.S. warships, among them the cruiser Atlanta, and received damage to her forward gun mount.

ww2dbaseIkazuchi returned to the north Pacific in 1943, and again engaged U.S. Navy ships in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March. Later, she operated in the central Pacific. On 13 April 1944, while patrolling between Guam and the Caroline Islands, Ikazuchi was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S. submarine Harder.

Destroyer Ikazuchi Interactive Map

Photographs

Ikazuchi Operational Timeline

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