Japanese destroyer Kisaragi
Encyclopedia
was one of twelve destroyer
s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
following World War I
. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War
. Kisaragi had the distinction of being the second major Japanese warship sunk during the war (after earlier the same day).
She should not be confused with an earlier World War I
period Kamikaze class
destroyer with the same name.
from fiscal 1923. The class was a follow-on to the earlier and Kamikaze class destroyers, with which they shared many common design characteristics. Kisaragi, built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal
was laid down on June 3, 1922, launched on June 5, 1925 and commissioned on December 21, 1925.
Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 21”, it was assigned the name Kisaragi on August 1, 1928.
during the opening days of World War II
in the Pacific Ocean
, the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
ordered the seizure of Wake Island
, then garrisoned by the United States Marine Corps
. Kisaragi was part of Desron 6 under Destroyer Division 30 in the IJN 4th Fleet
, and deployed from Truk under command of Lieutenant Commander Yoichiro Ogawa.
Early on the morning of December 11, 1941, in what was later termed the Battle of Wake Island
, the American garrison repulsed the first Japanese landing attempts by the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces
(SNLF), which was screened by the light cruisers , , and ; and destroyers with , , , Kisaragi, , and , two old converted to patrol boats (Patrol Boat No. 32 and Patrol Boat No. 33), and two troop transports containing 450 SNLF troops.
The American defenders fired at the invasion fleet with their six 5"/51 caliber coastal artillery
guns, which had been removed from scrapped battleship
s, sinking Hayate. The cruiser Yubari was also hit eleven times. Kisaragi was sailing away from the engagement when it came under air attack by four F4F Wildcat
fighter planes from Wake armed with 100-pound bombs. One Wildcat, piloted by Henry "Baron" Elrod, dropped his bombs on Kisaragis stern, which was packed with depth charge
s. This caused the ship to explode and sink with all hands about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Wake Island at location 18°55′N 166°17′E The sinking of Kisargi would contribute to Elrod being posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
.
Kisaragi was struck from the navy list
on January 15, 1942. Despite this setback, the Japanese successfully completed the invasion of Wake Island at the end of December.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. Kisaragi had the distinction of being the second major Japanese warship sunk during the war (after earlier the same day).
She should not be confused with an earlier World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
period Kamikaze class
Kamikaze class destroyer (1905)
The was a class of 32 torpedo boat destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Kamikaze-class of destroyers were the first destroyers to be mass-produced in Japan. The class is also sometimes referred to as the Asakaze-class...
destroyer with the same name.
History
Construction of the Mutsuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's build up following the abandonment of the Washington Naval TreatyWashington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
from fiscal 1923. The class was a follow-on to the earlier and Kamikaze class destroyers, with which they shared many common design characteristics. Kisaragi, built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the...
was laid down on June 3, 1922, launched on June 5, 1925 and commissioned on December 21, 1925.
Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 21”, it was assigned the name Kisaragi on August 1, 1928.
World War II history
As part of the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
during the opening days of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
ordered the seizure of Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
, then garrisoned by the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Kisaragi was part of Desron 6 under Destroyer Division 30 in the IJN 4th Fleet
IJN 4th Fleet
The was a fleet designation of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath...
, and deployed from Truk under command of Lieutenant Commander Yoichiro Ogawa.
Early on the morning of December 11, 1941, in what was later termed the Battle of Wake Island
Battle of Wake Island
The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan...
, the American garrison repulsed the first Japanese landing attempts by the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces
Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces
The Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces , were the marine troops of the Imperial Japanese Navy and were a part of the IJN Land Forces...
(SNLF), which was screened by the light cruisers , , and ; and destroyers with , , , Kisaragi, , and , two old converted to patrol boats (Patrol Boat No. 32 and Patrol Boat No. 33), and two troop transports containing 450 SNLF troops.
The American defenders fired at the invasion fleet with their six 5"/51 caliber coastal artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
guns, which had been removed from scrapped battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s, sinking Hayate. The cruiser Yubari was also hit eleven times. Kisaragi was sailing away from the engagement when it came under air attack by four F4F Wildcat
F4F Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940...
fighter planes from Wake armed with 100-pound bombs. One Wildcat, piloted by Henry "Baron" Elrod, dropped his bombs on Kisaragis stern, which was packed with depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s. This caused the ship to explode and sink with all hands about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Wake Island at location 18°55′N 166°17′E The sinking of Kisargi would contribute to Elrod being posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Kisaragi was struck from the navy list
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on January 15, 1942. Despite this setback, the Japanese successfully completed the invasion of Wake Island at the end of December.