Destroyer Yukikaze

Yukikaze

Country	Japan
Ship Class	Kagero-class Destroyer
Builder	Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Launched	24 Mar 1939
Commissioned	20 Jan 1940
Decommissioned	5 Oct 1945
Displacement	2,033 tons standard; 2,530 tons full
Length	389 feet
Beam	35 feet
Draft	12 feet
Speed	35 knots
Crew	240
Armament	6x130mm 50cal DP guns, up to 28x25mm AA guns, up to 4x13mm AA guns, 8x610mm torpedo tubes, 36 depth charges
Transferred to Republic of China	6 Jul 1947
Recommissioned as Tang Yan	1 May 1948
Final Decommission	16 Nov 1966

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseAt the start of the Pacific War, Yukikaze supported the landings at Legaspi, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Japanese invasion. She went on to support further conquests southwards, taking part in the Battle of the Java Sea in Feb 1942. During the Battle of Midway, she screened the troop transports and did not see combat. During the Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands campaigns, she escorted carriers during the battles at the Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz, among other actions. In Jun 1944, she participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, serving as escort to oilers. During the Leyte Gulf actions later that year, she saw action during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea and attacked the American destroyer escorts and escort carriers at the Battle off Samar. During the Okinawa Campaign, she accompanied the battleship Yamato on Operation Ten-Go, surprisingly escaping destruction despite overwhelming American airpower. Near the end of the war, she patrolled the harbors of the Japanese home islands. She was damaged by a mine in late Jul 1945 but did not suffer serious damage. At the time of the Japanese surrender, she was the only ship of her class to survive the war. She was used to transport Japanese troops back home from abroad.

ww2dbaseIn 1947, Yukikaze was transferred to the Republic of China as war reparation. She remained operational with the Navy of the Republic of China under the name of Tan Yang until 1966 after sustaining heavy damage when she ran aground during a typhoon. She was scrapped in 1970. Her rudder and one of her anchors were returned to Japan.

ww2dbaseSources:
Combined Fleet/Imperial Japanese Navy Page
Naval Historical Center
Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Apr 2007

Destroyer Yukikaze Interactive Map

Photographs

Yukikaze underway off Sasebo, Japan, Jan 1940

Yukikaze and Shisaka at Tokyo, Japan, 26 May 1947, photo 1 of 2

See all 8 photographs of Destroyer Yukikaze

Yukikaze Operational Timeline

24 Mar 1939	Destroyer Yukikaze was launched.
20 Jan 1940	Yukikaze was commissioned into service with Commander Kenjiro Tobita in command.
26 Nov 1941	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kyushu, Japan.
1 Dec 1941	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Palau Islands.
6 Dec 1941	Destroyer Yukikaze departed the Palau Islands.
12 Dec 1941	Destroyer Yukikaze escorted the Japanese invasion force for Legaspi, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
24 Dec 1941	Destroyer Yukikaze escorted the Japanese invasion force for Lamon Bay, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
11 Jan 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze escorted the Japanese invasion force for Menado, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
24 Jan 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze escorted the Japanese invasion force for Kendari, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
31 Jan 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze escorted the Japanese invasion force for Ambon, Dutch East Indies.
20 Feb 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze escorted the Japanese invasion force for eastern Java, Dutch East Indies and was engaged in the Battle of the Java Sea, firing torpedoes on Allied warships.
29 Mar 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Ambon, Dutch East Indies escorted the Japanese invasion force for western New Guinea, Dutch East Indies.
25 Apr 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
26 Apr 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
2 May 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
21 May 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan.
25 May 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Saipan, Mariana Islands.
23 Jun 1942	Commander Ryokichi Sugama was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yukikaze.
11 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Yokosuka, Japan to escort transport Nankai Maru to Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
14 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 10 of the 3rd Fleet.
5 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk Caroline Islands to escort cruiser Mogami and repair ship Akashi to Japan.
12 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
13 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze began a period of training in the Inland Sea in Japan.
20 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze completed a period of training in the Inland Sea in Japan.
2 Sep 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Saipan, Mariana Islands to escort carrier Unyo to Truk, Caroline Islands.
10 Sep 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Oct 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze conducted a reconnaissance mission to Ndeni, Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands.
12 Nov 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze engaged with USS Cushing and USS Laffey during the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, and then escorted the crippled battleship Hiei. Meanwhile, Yugure picked up Hiei survivors 5 miles northwest of Savo Island.
18 Nov 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
5 Dec 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk, Caroline Islands to escort carrier Hiyo to Japan.
10 Dec 1942	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
18 Jan 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan to escort carriers Zuikaku and Zuiho to Truk, Caroline Islands.
23 Jan 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
1 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze evacuated troops from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
4 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze evacuated troops from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
7 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze evacuated troops from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
10 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands to escort damaged destroyer Maikaze to Truk, Caroline Islands.
14 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands to escort transport Gokoku Maru to Gasmata, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
21 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Gasmata, New Britain, Bismarck Islands to escort transport Gokoku Maru to Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
2 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze rescued survivors of transport Kyokusei Maru in the Bismarck Sea.
3 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze was attacked by US aircraft in the Bismarck Sea but sustained no damage.
5 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
7 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
8 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands.
13 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze made a troop transport run to Kolombangara, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
2 Apr 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze made a troop transport run to Rekata, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands.
10 Apr 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze made a troop transport run to Finschhafen, New Guinea, Dutch East Indies; the mission was aborted due to US air attacks.
13 Apr 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze made a troop transport run to Cape Gloucester (Tuluvu), New Britain, Bismarck Islands, then departed New Britain for Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Apr 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 May 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk, Caroline Islands to escort carrier Zuikaku and Zuiho to Japan.
8 May 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
16 Jun 1943	Ryuho, Yugure, Yukikaze, and Ariake departed Yokosuka, Japan at 1100 hours.
21 Jun 1943	Ryuho, Yukikaze, Naka, and Yugure arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. Yugure would begin a period of maintenance and refitting at Truk.
23 Jun 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk, Caroline Islands to escort cruiser Nagara to Nauru.
28 Jun 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
30 Jun 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk, Caroline Islands to escort cruiser Chokai to Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands.
5 Jul 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands.
9 Jul 1943	Sendai and Yugure arrived at Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands. Yugure, Yukikaze, Tanikaze, and Hamakaze departed later on the same day, escorting a troop transport mission to Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands.
10 Jul 1943	Yugure, Yukikaze, Tanikaze, and Hamakaze arrived at Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands.
12 Jul 1943	Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier joined with destroyers USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury. Together, these ships sailed up the New Georgia Sound (The “Slot”) toward Kolombangara. Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands. The two forces engaged in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning.
13 Jul 1943	Shortly after midnight, cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O'Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS Chevalier, USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury engaged Japanese cruiser Jintsu and destroyers Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Yugure, Mikazuki, and Kiyonami in New Georgia Sound north of Kolombangara. Japanese Type 93 torpedoes damaged Honolulu, St. Louis, and Leander. Destroyers Woodworth and Buchanan were damaged in a collision. Jintsu was sunk by cruiser gunfire and a torpedo. Destroyer Yukikaze was damaged. Destroyer USS Ralph Talbot went to the aid of USS Gwin, badly damaged by a torpedo, and took aboard 155 officers and men. USS Maury took another 53 officers and men. Ralph Talbot then scuttled Gwin with torpedoes. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men nevertheless.
19 Jul 1943	US aircraft detected the Japanese Night Battle Force in the Solomon Islands at 1905 hours and attacked, and the attack was repulsed. At 2100 hours, Japanese destroyer transports were ordered to separately proceed to Vila, Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. At 2220 hours, flares were sighted over the transport destroyers, but no American warships arrived to attack. At 2310 hours, Japanese warships of the Night Battle Force (Kumano, Yugure, Kiyonami, Yukikaze, and others) reversed course for Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
23 Jul 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze led a troop transport run to Kolombangara, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
24 Jul 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands for Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Aug 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk, Caroline Islands to escort carrier Taiyo to Japan.
2 Sep 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan where she would be drydocked for repairs and refitting.
8 Oct 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan to escort carrier Ryuho to Singapore.
5 Nov 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
14 Nov 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan to escort transport Irako to Truk, Caroline Islands.
23 Nov 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
7 Dec 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Truk, Caroline Islands to escort carrier Chitose and transport Irako to Yokosuka, Japan.
10 Dec 1943	Lieutenant Commander Masamichi Terauchi was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yukikaze.
14 Dec 1943	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
11 Jan 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Moji, Japan to escort carrier Chitose to Singapore.
20 Jan 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Singapore.
25 Jan 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Singapore to escort carrier Chitose and convoy HI-32 to Moji, Japan.
4 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Moji, Japan.
20 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kagoshima, Japan to escort carrier Chitose to Saipan, Mariana Islands.
4 Mar 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
29 Mar 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Yokosuka, Japan to escort carrier Zuiho to Guam, Mariana Islands.
31 Mar 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze was assigned to Destroyer Division 17, Destroyer Squadron 10, 3rd Fleet.
7 Apr 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
20 Apr 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan to escort battleship Yamato and cruiser Maya to Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies.
1 May 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies.
12 May 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies.
15 May 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Tawi-Tawi, Philippine Islands.
22 May 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze suffered minor propeller damage when it accidentally struck a reef near Tawi-Tawi, Philippine Islands.
20 Jun 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze rescued survivors of transport Seiyo Maru during the Battle of the Philippine Sea then scuttled the transport with a torpedo.
23 Jun 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Guimarras, Philippine Islands.
2 Jul 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
5 Jul 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze was docked at Kure, Japan for repairs.
15 Aug 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze completed her repairs at Kure, Japan.
22 Sep 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan to escort battleships Fuso and Yamashiro to Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies.
4 Oct 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies.
18 Oct 1944	Yamato and Musashi's decks were painted black with soot for the intended night operation in the San Bernardino Strait before departing Lingga Roads for Brunei Bay, Boreno in the Dutch East Indies. Destroyer Yukikaze, among other ships, provided escort.
20 Oct 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Brunei.
25 Oct 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze assisted in the sinking of USS Johnston during the Battle off Samar off the Philippine Islands.
28 Oct 1944	Damaged cruiser Kumano arrived at Manila, Philippines.
28 Oct 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Brunei.
9 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Brunei to escort a task force into the Sulu Sea.
16 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Brunei, Borneo to escort a task force to Kure, Japan.
24 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Kure, Japan.
25 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan to escort battleship Nagato to Yokosuka, Japan.
28 Nov 1944	USS Archerfish surfaced south of Tokyo Bay, Japan at 1718 hours. At 1800 hours, the incomplete Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano departed Yokosuka, Japan, 2,175 officers and crew, 300 shipyard workers, and 40 civilians on board; she was escorted by destroyers Hamakaze, Yukikaze, and Isokaze and submarine chaser Cha-241. At 2034 hours, Archerfish sighted Inamba Shima about 90 miles south of the entrance to Tokyo Bay. At 2048 hours, Archerfish's radar detected a contact approaching from the north. At 2140 hours, commanding officer Commander Joseph Enright identified the target as an unknown aircraft carrier. A message was sent to Commander Submarines Pacific Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood in Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, who on the following day would order all submarines in the area to converge on this target.
29 Nov 1944	At about 0315 hours, after seven hours of silent pursuit after the zigzagging Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano, USS Archerfish fired six torpedoes at the target from her bow tubes. After observing two hits, the submarine dove; while diving, the carrier was seen beginning to list, and two more detonations were heard. An escorting Japanese destroyer dropped 14 depth charges, causing no damage. In the mean time, Shinano suffered uncontrollable flooding on the starboard side. Escorting destroyers Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Isokaze rescued survivors. While underwater, the crew of Archerfish reported observing breaking up noises for 47 minutes. The carrier sank after about 7 hours.
29 Dec 1944	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Moji, Japan to escort a troop convoy to Taiwan.
7 Apr 1945	Destroyer Yukikaze rescued survivors of battleship Yamato and destroyer Isokaze; she suffered minor damage from American air attacks during the action (3 were killed, 15 were wounded).
10 May 1945	Commander Keiji Koeu was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yukikaze.
17 May 1945	Destroyer Yukikaze departed Kure, Japan.
19 May 1945	Destroyer Yukikaze arrived at Maizuru, Japan.
30 Jul 1945	American battleships USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, and USS Massachusetts, joined by British battleship HMS King George V (this would be her final combat action of the war) ended a two-day bombardment of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Meanwhile, carrier fighters from USS Ticonderoga (Air Group 87), USS Shangri-La, and USS Yorktown attacked airfields, railroads, and tactical targets east and west of Hamamatsu, generally the larger Kyoto-Kobe-Osaka region and the Tokyo region. Destroyer Yukikaze suffered minor damage and one killed by carrier aircraft in Miyatsu Bay on the coast of the Sea of Japan.
15 Aug 1945	Destroyer Yukikaze was assigned to Destroyer Division 41, Escort Squadron 31, Combined Fleet.
5 Oct 1945	Yukikaze was decommissioned from service.
19 Nov 1945	Commander Keiji Koeu was relieved as the commanding officer of destroyer Yukikaze.
6 Jul 1947	Destroyer Yukikaze was transferred to the Republic of China as war reparation.
1 May 1948	Former Japanese destroyer Yukikaze was commissioned into the Navy of the Republic of China as Tang Yan.
16 Nov 1966	Destroyer Tang Yan was decommissioned from service.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
28 Aug 2021 09:11:09 AM

The last CO of Yukikaze was 寺内正道 (Terauchi Masamichi), 1943 to 1945. ）『朝日新聞』1978年（昭和53年）1月20日朝刊、13版、23面

2. Yuchen Liang says:
22 Apr 2024 04:45:32 PM

She didn't receive torpedo tubes upon her reception into the ROCN since the torpedo tubes weren't available. She thus became a heavy gunboat instead.

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Yukikaze