Usugumo (薄雲, ”Thin Clouds”)[1] was the seventh of twenty-four Fubuki-classdestroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world.[2] They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.
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.[3] The Fubuki class had performance that was far advanced over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (特型, 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.[4]Usugumo, built at the Ishikawajima Shipyards in Tokyo was laid down on 21 October 1926, launched on 26 December 1927 and commissioned on 26 July 1928.[5] Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 41”, she was completed as Usugumo.
Operational history
On completion, Usugumo was assigned to Destroyer Division 12 under the IJN 2nd Fleet. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Usugumo was assigned to cover landings of Japanese forces in southern China. On 15 August 1940, she was severely damaged by a naval mine, and was taken back to Maizuru Naval Arsenal.
During the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March 1943, Usugumo was escorting the transport Sanko Maru, and thus did not see any combat during that engagement.[7]Usugumo resumed transport runs between Paramushiro and Attu in April, and in July and August assisted in the evacuation of surviving Japanese forces from Kiska.[8] At the end of November, Usugumo returned to Kure for refit.
After spending January 1944 in training in the Inland Sea, Usugumo returned to Ōminato at the start of February to resume northern patrols and escort duty. At the end of March, she escorted a troopship convoy to Uruppu Island
^Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class 1st class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
^Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Usugumo: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
^Lorelli. The Battle of the Komandorski Islands, March 1943
^Morison. Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944.
^Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
References
Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-914-X.
D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN0-8159-5302-X.
Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum. ISBN0-689-11402-8.
Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-893-X.
Lorelli, John A. (1984). The Battle of the Komandorski Islands, March 1943. Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-093-9.
Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle. ISBN0-8048-0408-7.
Watts, Anthony J (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday. ISBN978-0-3850-9189-3.
Whitley, M J (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN1-85409-521-8.
External links
Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Usugumo: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com.
Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers".
February 15, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see Japanese destroyer Usugumo Usugumo 薄雲 Thin Clouds 1 was the seventh of twenty four Fubuki class destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I When introduced into service these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world 2 They served as first line destroyers through the 1930s and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War Usugumo in August 1928HistoryEmpire of JapanNameUsugumoNamesakeJapanese destroyer Usugumo 1900 Ordered1923 Fiscal YearBuilderIshikawajima ShipyardsYard numberDestroyer No 41Laid down21 October 1926Launched26 December 1927Commissioned26 July 1928Stricken10 September 1944FateTorpedoed and sunk by USS Skate 5 July 1944General characteristicsClass and typeFubuki class destroyerDisplacement1 750 long tons 1 780 t standard 2 050 long tons 2 080 t re builtLength111 96 m 367 3 ft pp 115 3 m 378 ft waterline 118 41 m 388 5 ft overallBeam10 4 m 34 ft 1 in Draft3 2 m 10 ft 6 in Propulsion4 Kampon type boilers 2 Kampon Type Ro geared turbines 2 shafts at 50 000 ihp 37 000 kW Speed38 knots 44 mph 70 km h Range5 000 nmi 9 300 km at 14 knots 26 km h Complement219Armament6 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 chargesService recordOperations Second Sino Japanese War Aleutians campaign Contents 1 History 2 Operational history 2 1 World War II history 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditConstruction 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 3 The Fubuki class had performance that was far advanced over previous destroyer designs so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers 特型 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 4 Usugumo built at the Ishikawajima Shipyards in Tokyo was laid down on 21 October 1926 launched on 26 December 1927 and commissioned on 26 July 1928 5 Originally assigned hull designation Destroyer No 41 she was completed as Usugumo Operational history EditOn completion Usugumo was assigned to Destroyer Division 12 under the IJN 2nd Fleet During the Second Sino Japanese War Usugumo was assigned to cover landings of Japanese forces in southern China On 15 August 1940 she was severely damaged by a naval mine and was taken back to Maizuru Naval Arsenal World War II history Edit At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor Usugumo was still under repairs and was not available for combat duty until the end of July 1942 when she was assigned to the IJN 5th Fleet and sent to the Ōminato Guard District From August to the middle of October Usugumo was assigned to patrols off the coast of Hokkaidō and the Chishima islands and to escort duty between Paramushiro and Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands to the end of January 1943 In February 1943 she returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs 6 During the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March 1943 Usugumo was escorting the transport Sanko Maru and thus did not see any combat during that engagement 7 Usugumo resumed transport runs between Paramushiro and Attu in April and in July and August assisted in the evacuation of surviving Japanese forces from Kiska 8 At the end of November Usugumo returned to Kure for refit After spending January 1944 in training in the Inland Sea Usugumo returned to Ōminato at the start of February to resume northern patrols and escort duty At the end of March she escorted a troopship convoy to Uruppu IslandOn 5 July 1944 after departing Otaru Hokkaidō with another convoy for Uruppu Usugumo was torpedoed by the submarine USS Skate in the Sea of Okhotsk 330 nautical miles 610 km west southwest of Paramushiro at position 47 43 N 147 55 E 47 717 N 147 917 E 47 717 147 917 Coordinates 47 43 N 147 55 E 47 717 N 147 917 E 47 717 147 917 Two torpedoes broke her back she sank in six minutes leaving 49 survivors from a crew of 316 9 10 On 10 September 1944 Usugumo was struck from the navy list 11 Notes Edit Nelson Japanese English Character Dictionary page 791 Globalsecurity org IJN Fubuki class destroyers Fitzsimons Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare p 1040 Peattie amp Evans Kaigun page 221 222 Nishidah Hiroshi 2002 Fubuki class 1st class destroyers Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy Archived from the original on 2012 07 11 Retrieved 2009 03 01 Nevitt Allyn D 1997 IJN Usugumo Tabular Record of Movement Long Lancers Combinedfleet com Lorelli The Battle of the Komandorski Islands March 1943 Morison Aleutians Gilberts and Marshalls June 1942 April 1944 IJN Usugumo Tabular record of movements Brown Warship Losses of World War Two Nishidah Hiroshi 2002 Fubuki class destroyers Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy Archived from the original on 2012 07 11 Retrieved 2009 03 01 References EditBrown David 1990 Warship Losses of World War Two Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 914 X D Albas Andrieu 1965 Death of a Navy Japanese Naval Action in World War II Devin Adair Pub ISBN 0 8159 5302 X Howarth Stephen 1983 The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1895 1945 Atheneum ISBN 0 689 11402 8 Jentsura Hansgeorg 1976 Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1869 1945 US Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 893 X Lorelli John A 1984 The Battle of the Komandorski Islands March 1943 Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 093 9 Morison Samuel Eliot 1961 Aleutians Gilberts and Marshalls June 1942 April 1944 vol 7 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II Boston Little Brown and Company ASIN B0007FBB8I Nelson Andrew N 1967 Japanese English Character Dictionary Tuttle ISBN 0 8048 0408 7 Watts Anthony J 1967 Japanese Warships of World War II Doubleday ISBN 978 0 3850 9189 3 Whitley M J 2000 Destroyers of World War Two An International Encyclopedia London Arms and Armour Press ISBN 1 85409 521 8 External links EditNevitt Allyn D 1997 IJN Usugumo Tabular Record of Movement Long Lancers Combinedfleet com Nishidah Hiroshi 2002 Fubuki class destroyers Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy Archived from the original on 2012 07 11 Retrieved 2009 03 01 Globalsecurity org IJN Fubuki class destroyers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese destroyer Usugumo 1927 amp oldid 1088522693, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
