Japanese destroyer Kisaragi

nihongo|"Kisaragi"|如月 was a "Mutsuki"-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She served during World War II in the Pacific and had the dubious distinction of being the second major Japanese warship sunk in the Pacific on December 11, 1941 during the Japanese attempted invasion of Wake Island (the first being "Hayate").

"Kisaragi" was one of twelve "Mutsuki"-class destroyers built between 1924 and 1927. They were modified versions of the earlier "Minekaze" class built between 1918 and 1922. The "Mutsuki"-class destroyers displaced 1,314 tons, and were armed with four convert|4.7|in|mm|0|sing=on guns and six 24 inch torpedo tubes. Late war modifications usually replaced two of the convert|4.7|in|mm|0|sing=on guns with ten 25 mm anti-aircraft guns. They had a crew of about 150 officers and men.

Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ogawa Yoichiro, "Kisaragi" was damaged during the invasion fleet's battle with the U.S. Marine coastal defense guns on Wake Island. She was sailing away from the battle with the battered invasion fleet when the damaged ships 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 its payload of bombs on "Kisaragi"'s stern, which was packed with depth charges. This caused the ship to blow up and sink with all hands about convert|30|mi|km|0 southwest of Wake Island. Despite this setback, the Japanese successfully completed the invasion of Wake Island. The sinking of "Kisargi" would contribute to Elrod being postumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Commanding Officers

Chief Equipping Officer - Cmdr. Shikazo Matsuda - 18 September 1925 - 21 December 1925

Cmdr. Shikazo Matsuda - 21 December 1925 - 1 December 1926

Cmdr. Naoshi Arima - 1 December 1926 - 1 December 1927

Cmdr. Nitaro Kato - 1 December 1927 - 10 December 1928

Lt. Cmdr. Yoshio Kanemasu - 10 December 1928 - 23 April 1929

"In Reserve" - 23 April 1929 - 1 November 1929

Lt. Cmdr. Sadaichi Matsunaga - 1 November 1929 - 1 December 1930

Lt. Cmdr. Mikio Ihara - 1 December 1930 - 21 February 1932

Lt. Cmdr. / Cmdr. Masami Ban - 21 February 1932 - 15 November 1934(Promoted to Commander on 15 November 1933.)

Lt. Cmdr. Shinichirou Maeda - 15 November 1934 - 31 October 1935

Lt. Cmdr. Masashichi Shirahama - 31 October 1935 - 1 December 1936

Lt. Cmdr. Shizuo Yamashita - 1 December 1936 - 1 December 1937

Lt. Cmdr. Masami Ogura - 1 December 1937 - 15 December 1938

Lt. Cmdr. Naoji Otara - 15 December 1938 - 1 November 1939

Lt. Cmdr. Nisaburou Maekawa - 1 November 1939 - 15 November 1940

Lt. Cmdr. Kamesaburou Yamagami - 15 November 1940 - 1 October 1941

Lt. Cmdr. Yoichiro Ogawa - 1 October 1941 - 11 December 1941 (KIA)

External links

* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/kisara_t.htm Tabular record of movement] from [http://www.combinedfleet.com/ combinedfleet.com]