Japanese destroyer Akizuki (1941)

	Akizuki underway on May 17, 1942.
History
Name	Akizuki
Builder	Maizuru Naval Arsenal
Laid down	30 July 1940
Launched	2 July 1941
Completed	11 June 1942
Commissioned	11 June 1942, Yokosuka Chinjufu
Stricken	10 December 1944
Fate	Sunk in action 25 October 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Akizuki-class destroyer
Displacement	list error: <br /> list (help); 2,700 long tons (2,743 t) standard; 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full load
Length	134.2 m (440 ft 3 in)
Beam	11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draft	4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	list error: <br /> list (help); 4 × Kampon type boilers; 2 × Parsons geared turbines; 2 × shafts, 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed	33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h)
Range	8,300 nmi (15,400 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement	263
Armament	list error: <br /> list (help); June 1942 :; • 8 × 100 mm (4 in)/65 cal DP guns; • 4 × 25 mm AA guns; • 4 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes; • 8 × Type 93 torpedoes; • 56 × Type 95 depth charges; October 1944 :; • 8 × 100 mm (4 in)/65 cal DP guns; • 35 × 25 mm AA guns; • 4 × 13 mm AA guns; • 4 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes; • 8 × Type 93 torpedoes; • 56 × Type 95 depth charges

Akizuki was the lead ship of her class of destroyer in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Its name means “Autumn Moon.”

In October 1944 Akizuki was part of the Northern Force commanded by Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo, in the Japanese attack on the Allied forces supporting the invasion of Leyte. On 25 October, in the Battle off Cape Engaño, it was sunk, probably by torpedo, ENE of Cape Engaño (20°29′N 126°30′E / 20.483°N 126.500°E / 20.483; 126.500), during the initial U.S. air attack on the Northern Force. Most sources credit the hit to aircraft of Task Force 38, but some give credit to submarine USS Halibut (SS-232).

Commanding Officers

Chief Equipping Officer — Cmdr. Yasuji Koga — May 2, 1942–June 11, 1942
Cmdr. Yasuji Koga — June 11, 1942–October 8, 1943
Cmdr./Capt. Tomoe Ogata — October 8, 1943–October 25, 1944 (promoted to Captain on October 15, 1944)

Jentschura, Hansgeorg (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Nevitt, Allyn D. (1998). "IJN Akizuki: Tabular Record of Movement" (Web page). CombinedFleet.com. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
Watts, Anthony J. (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Doubleday. ISBN 0385012683. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)