Japanese destroyer Amagiri (1930)
 Amagiri in November 1930
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Laid down | November 28, 1928 |
| Launched | February 27, 1930 |
| Commissioned | November 10, 1930 |
| Fate | Sunk near Borneo on April 23, 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Complement | 219 |
| Armament |
|
The Amagiri (天霧 "Misty Rain") was one of 20 Fubuki class destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down at the Ishikawajima dockyard at Tokyo, Japan on 28 November 1928, launched 27 February 1930, and commissioned 10 November 1930. She is most famous for ramming the PT-109 commanded by future President John F. Kennedy.
The Amagiri took part in combat training in the early 1930s. In 1934 she was slightly damaged in a storm along with several other Imperial Japanese Navy ships in the Korea Strait. This destroyer took part in the Second Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930s and was assigned to the 20th Destroyer Division. She took part in the successful Japanese landing at Songkhla, Thailand in December 1941. In January 1942, she engaged two British destroyers off the coast of Malaya and sank HMS Thanet. In February 1942, the Amagiri supported Japanese landings in Java. In April 1942, the Amagiri was assigned to the Southern Group of the Supporting Force in Operation C which was a major raid on allied shipping along the east coast of India. On 6 April 1942, the Amagiri, along with the cruisers Mikuma and Mogami sank three allied merchant ships along the Indian coast. Later in the spring of 1942, she was assigned to Admiral Yamamoto's main body at the Battle of Midway. In August 1942, the ship was transferred to the Solomon Islands area to oppose the American landings on Guadalcanal. She was very active during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Central Solomons Campaign and participated in the Battle of Kula Gulf.
John F. Kennedy and the PT-109
- See main article Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109
On 2 August 1943 the ship was used as a fast transport. She was returning on a night reinforcement run as part of the Tokyo Express to Vila when she 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. Kouhei Hanami who commanded the Amagiri at that time, attended President Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.
Popular culture
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.
Late missions
On the night of 24-25 November 1943, the Amagiri was on a reinforcement mission to Bougainville when she became involved in the Battle of Cape St. George. The ship escaped the pursuing American destroyers led by Captain Arleigh Burke. On 23 April 1944, while cruising near Borneo, the Amagiri struck a Naval mine and sank.
Commanding officers
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Cmdr. Keikichi Chigusa | 20 June 1930 - 1 December 1931 |
| Cmdr. Sueto Hirose | 1 December 1931 - 16 May 1932 |
| Lt. Cmdr. Yoshio Kanemasu | 16 May 1932 - 1 December 1932 |
| Lt. Cmdr. Prince Hiroyoshi Fushimi | 1 December 1932 - 10 October 1933 |
| Cmdr. Toshimi Sato | 10 October 1933 - 15 October 1935 |
| Cmdr. Ko Nakagawa | 15 October 1935 - 1 December 1936 |
| Cmdr. Hiroshi Matsubara | 1 December 1936 - 12 December 1936 |
| Lt. Cmdr. Tameichi Hara | 12 December 1936 - 1 December 1937 |
| Lt. Cmdr. / Cmdr. Giichiro Nakahara | 1 December 1937 - 1 September 1940 (Promoted to Commander on 15 November 1938.) |
| Cmdr. Buichi Ashida | 1 September 1940 - 25 May 1943 |
| Lt. Cmdr. Kouhei Hanami | 25 May 1943 - 1 March 1944 |
| Lt. Cmdr. Gen Yoshinaga | 1 March 1944 - 23 April 1944 |
References
- Robert J. Donovan, PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII (1961) ISBN 0-07-137643-7. Donovan interviewed much of the original crew in Japan.
- Long Lancers: IJN Amagiri: Tabular Record of Movement
- Amagiri in Naval History of World Wars
- LemaireSoft's Amagiri, N°49
- Duane T. Hove, American Warriors: Five Presidents in the Pacific Theater of World War II (2003) ISBN 1-57249-307-0
