Ikazuchi file photo [1431]

Ikazuchi

CountryJapan
Ship ClassAkatsuki-class Destroyer
BuilderUraga Dock Company, Uraga, Japan
Launched1 Aug 1932
Sunk13 Apr 1944
Displacement1,680 tons standard

Contributor:

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.

ww2dbaseSource: Naval Historical Center

Last Major Revision: Jan 2005

Destroyer Ikazuchi Interactive Map

Photographs

Ikazuchi in Chinese waters, circa 1938

Ikazuchi Operational Timeline

2 Mar 1942 Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi rescued 442 survivors of HMS Exeter, HMS Encounter, and USS Pope which had been sunk during the Second Battle of the Java Sea on the previous day.
26 Mar 1943 During the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, Japanese cruisers Nachi, Maya, Tama, and Abukuma with destroyers Wakaba, Hatsushimo, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, and Usugumo plus three transport ships engaged United States Navy cruisers Salt Lake City and Richmond escorted by destroyers Coghlan, Bailey, Dale, and Monaghan in one of the very few pure naval surface battles of World War II involving long-range guns. Nachi was forced to push one of her floatplanes overboard (concussion damage from her own guns), fired several Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes at the US forces (none of which hit), and received five hits (killing 14). Salt Lake City sustained moderate damage and was dead in the water for a short time. Bailey, Coghlan, and Monaghan made a bold torpedo attack that became known as the Charge of the Irish Destroyers.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
11 Dec 2012 03:18:05 PM

You have more useful info than the British had clonioes pre-WWII.
2. Yuchen Liang says:
5 Mar 2024 03:59:56 PM

The Akatsuki class destroyers might sometimes be regarded as a subclass of the Fubuki class, since both designs had the same general layout, but for all purposes, they are all still Special-type destroyers.

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More on Ikazuchi
Event(s) Participated:
» Battle of Hong Kong
» Dutch East Indies Campaign, Java
» Guadalcanal Campaign
» Aleutian Islands Campaign

Destroyer Ikazuchi Photo Gallery
Ikazuchi in Chinese waters, circa 1938


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