Amagiri (Japanese destroyer)

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Builder: Ishikawajima Shipyards
Yard number: Destroyer No. 49
Laid down: November 28, 1928
Launched: February 27, 1930
Commissioned: November 10, 1930
Fate: Sunk near Borneo on April 23, 1944
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 nm at 14 knots
(9,200 km at 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
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.The Fubuki-class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (?? ,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. Amagiri, built at the Ishikawajima Shipyards in Tokyo was the fifth 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. Amagiri was laid down on November 28, 1928, launched on February 27, 1930 and commissioned on November 10, 1930. Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 49”, she was designated Amagiri before her launch.

In 1935, after the Fourth Fleet Incident, in which a large number of ships were damaged by a typhoon, Amagiri, along with her sister ships, were modified with stronger hulls and increased displacement. From 1937, Amagiri 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, and subsequently participated in the Invasion of French Indochina.

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Amagiri 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. From 4 December 1941 to the end of the year, Amagiri covered the landings of Japanese troops in Malaya, and was part of the escort in support of the Banka-Palembang invasion operations. At the end of February, Amagiri covered minesweeping operations around Singapore and Johore. In March, Amagiri joined the northern Sumatra invasion force and the Andaman Islands invasion force. During the Indian Ocean raids, Amagiri, together with Mogami and Mikuma is credited with sinking three merchant vessels. From 13-22 April Amagiri returned via Singapore and Camranh Bay to Kure Naval Arsenal, for maintenance.

On 4-5 June, Amagiri participated in the Battle of Midway as was part of the Aleutian Invasion force and was subsequently based at Amami-?shima for patrols of southern waters until mid-July. In July 1942, Amagiri sailed from Amami-?shima 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 Amagiri sailed to Truk instead, arriving in late August.

After the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August, Amagiri took on troops from transport ships while at sea, and sailed on to Guadalcanal. During this operation, she was attacked 60 nautical miles (110 km) north-northeast of Savo Island by United States Marine Corps SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Henderson Field, which sank her sister ship Asagiri and severely damaged Shirakumo. After rescuing the Asagiri survivors, she towed Shirakumo to Shortlands.Amagiri continued to be used on numerous "Tokyo Express" transport missions to various locations in the Solomon Islands in September.

Although reassigned to the IJN 8th Fleet in October, Amagiri continued to be used for "Tokyo Express" missions through the end of the year. After the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13-15 November, she assisted Mochizuki in the rescue of 1500 survivors of the Canberra Maru and the Nagara Maru, and escorted the damaged Sado Maru to the Shortlands. She returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs by mid-January 1943.

Amagiri returned to Rabaul by March 1943, and resumed its missions as a high speed transport. On 7 April, she was strafed by a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, killing 10 crewmen. On 5-6 July, during the Battle of Kula Gulf Amagiri was engaged by United States Navy destroyers and cruisers while attempting a troop transport mission to Kolombangara. She took five shell hits, which killed 10 crewmen. After the battle she attempted to rescue the survivors of Niizuki, but was driven off by USS Nicholas and USS Radford and returned to Rabaul for repairs.

On 2 August, while returning from another Tokyo Express night reinforcement fast transport mission to Vila, Amagiri rammed and sank the future U.S. President John F. Kennedy's PT-109 torpedo boat. Many believe that the ship was not even aware of the PT-109, which was difficult to see because of its small size and lack of lights. However, Robert J. Donovan in his book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII, after interviewing many of the crew, concludes that it was not an accident, and he talked to the man at the wheel who was ordered to steer for a collision course. Amagiri also engaged other PT boats in the Blackett Strait south of Kolombangara. Lt. Cmdr. Kohei Hanami who commanded Amagiri at that time, attended President Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.

This incident would be publicized in a book, movie and even a hit song as "the Jap destroyer in the night, cut the 109 in two", making it probably the only Japanese ship to ever hit the top ten of the American Top 40 charts.

Amagiri continued to be used on "Tokyo Express" missions through the end of 1943. She engaged United States Navy destroyers in combat at the Battle of Cape St. George in late November, escaping pursuing American destroyers led by Captain Arleigh Burke. On 7 December, she collided near Kavieng with Akikaze, which sheared off her bow. Sent back to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs in January, 1944, she was reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet in March and was based in Singapore to provide escort for transport missions in the western Netherlands East Indies. On 23 April, after departing Singapore with Aoba and ?i bound for Davao, Amagiri struck a naval mine in Makassar Strait 55 nautical miles (102 km) south of Balikpapan. (02°10?S 116°45?E? / ?2.167°S 116.75°E? / -2.167; 116.75Coordinates: 02°10?S 116°45?E? / ?2.167°S 116.75°E? / -2.167; 116.75). As she took over two hours to sink, there were few casualties.
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