 Akishimo under construction at Fujinagata Shipyard, Osaka, February 1944. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Akishimo |
| Builder | Fujinagata Shipyards,Osaka |
| Laid down | 3 May 1943 |
| Launched | 5 December 1943 |
| Completed | 11 March 1944 |
| Stricken | 10 January 1945 |
| Fate | Sunk in action, 14 November 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Yūgumo-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 2,520 long tons (2,560 t) |
| Length | 119.15 m (390 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) |
| Draft | 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) |
| Speed | 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Complement | 228 |
| Armament | 6 ×127 mm (5.0 in)/50caldual-purpose guns, up to 28 ×Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in)anti-aircraft cannons, up to 4 ×13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA machine guns, 8 × 610 mm (24 in)torpedo tubes, 36depth charges |
Akishimo (秋霜; "Autumn Frost") was aYūgumo-classdestroyer of theImperial Japanese Navy.
TheYūgumo class was a repeat of the precedingKagerō class with minor improvements that increased their anti-aircraft capabilities. Their crew numbered 228 officers and enlisted men. The ships measured 119.17 meters (391 ft 0 in)overall, with abeam of 10.8 meters (35 ft 5 in) and adraft of 3.76 meters (12 ft 4 in).[1] They displaced 2,110 metric tons (2,080 long tons) atstandard load and 2,560 metric tons (2,520 long tons) at deep load.[2] The ships had twoKampon gearedsteam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft, using steam provided by three Kamponwater-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 52,000shaft horsepower (39,000 kW) for a designed speed of 35knots (65 km/h; 40 mph).[3]
The main armament of theYūgumo class consisted of sixType 3 127-millimeter (5.0 in) guns in three twin-gun turrets, onesuperfiring pair aft and one turret forward of thesuperstructure.[2] The guns were able to elevate up to 75° to increase their ability against aircraft, but their slow rate of fire, slow traversing speed, and the lack of any sort of high-anglefire-control system meant that they were virtually useless asanti-aircraft guns.[4] They were built with fourType 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts, but more of these guns were added over the course of the war. The ships were also armed with eight 610-millimeter (24.0 in)torpedo tubes in a two quadruple traversing mounts; one reload was carried for each tube. Their anti-submarine weapons comprised twodepth charge throwers for which 36 depth charges were carried.[2]
She was at theBattle of Leyte Gulf of 23–26 October 1944, assigned to the 1st Diversion Attack Force. On 23 October, she rescued 769 survivors of the cruiserMaya. On 24 October, she assisted the torpedoed cruiserMyōkō. The next day she suffered minor damage in a collision with the destroyerShimakaze. On 26 October she rescued 328 survivors from the cruiserNoshiro.
On 10 November 1944,Akishimo was escorting troopconvoy TA No. 4 fromManila toOrmoc, Philippines. She suffered heavy damage in an air attack byU.S. ArmyB-25 Mitchells during the withdrawal; the ship took a direct bomb hit and lost her bow with 20 killed and 35 injured. The destroyer returned to Manila at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph), then toCavite Navy Yard on 11 November for repairs.
On 13 November, a U.S. air raid on Manila struckAkishimo, then alongside the destroyerAkebono at Cavite pier (14°35′N120°55′E / 14.583°N 120.917°E /14.583; 120.917). Direct bomb hits set both ships ablaze. The following day a large explosion onAkishimo further damaged both ships;Akishimo rolled over onto her starboard side. There were 170 survivors, 15 crewmen killed and 25 wounded.
