Japanese Destroyer Kasumi

Kasumi was the ninth ship of the ten Asashio-class destroyers, she was built under the 3rd Naval Armaments Supplement Program (Circle 2 Program) of 1934. she was laid down on December 1, 1936 at Uraga Dock Company, she was launched on November 18, 1937 and was commissioned June 28, 1939. Despite that she was considered as the ninth ship of the Asashio-class destroyer, she was the last ship of her class to be launched and commissioned to the IJN. Her displacement is 2,370 tons, she's equipped with 2-shaft geared turbines and 3 Kampon boilers capable of producing 50,000 horsepower, she carries 500 tons of fuel and her speed could range up to 35 knots. Her initial armaments were three twin 12.7 cm (5-inch) 50 cal. 3rd Year Type 'Type C' naval guns, four 25mm type-96 antiaircraft auto-cannons, and two quadruple 61cm (24-inch) torpedo tubes. She initially carried 16 depth charges for antisubmarine warfare.

Upon commissioning she was assigned to DesDiv 18 under the command of Commander Tomura Kiyoshi, together with Kagerou, Shiranui and her sister Arare, DesDiv 18 was a part of DesRon 2 of the 2nd Fleet. During the Attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, she escorted the Kido Butai, she was detached from the fleet to guard 1st Supply Force tankers, then she rejoined the fleet afterwards. She returned to Kure on December 24, 1941.

On January 8, 1942, she was assigned to escort carriers Shoukaku and Zuikaku from the 5th CarDiv from Kure to Truk, they arrived at Truk on January 14, 1942. Then on January 20 to 21, 1942, DesDiv 18 escorted the carriers during the airstrikes in Rabaul, then on January 23, 1942, Shoukaku and Zuikaku provided cover for the Rabaul and Kavieng invasion forces, they returned to Truk on January 29, 1942. On February 1, 1942, she escorted the carrier force in pursuit of USN carriers, then she proceed to Palau afterwards. On February 19, 1942, she escorted the carrier force and strike Port Darwin until February 21, 1942, then she proceed to Staring Bay afterwards. On February 25, 1942, she leaved Staring Bay and escorted the carrier force to patrol the areas within Java Sea, on March 1, 1942, she assisted Shiranui in sinking of an unidentified merchant ship. The IJN carriers raided several areas within the Indian Ocean, she escorted the carrier force for an air attack on Tjilatjap on March 5, 1942, she returned to Staring Bay om March 11, 1942.

On May 21, 1942, DesDiv 18 steamed from Kure to Saipan, she arrived at Saipan on May 25, 1942. On June 3, 1942, she was assigned to escort 12 transport ships comprising the Midway Occupation Force commanded by Rear Admiral Tanaka, DesDiv 18 was together with light cruiser Jintsuu, flagship of DesRon 2, destroyers Kuroshio and Oyashio from DesDiv 15, destroyers Hatsukaze, Yukikaze, Amatsukaze, and Tokitsukaze from DesDiv 16, and seaplane tender Chitose from the 11th Seaplane Tender Division with destroyer Hayashio. During the beginning of the Battle of Midway on June 3, 1942, the Occupation Force was spotted by PBY flying boat 500 nautical miles, west-southwest of Midway, then nine B-17 bombers from Midway attacked the occupation force, the escort managed to repel the bombers, there were no significance damagse were made on both sides. Then Vice Admiral Tanaka decided to abandon the landing mission because of Allied air supremacy in the area, DesDiv 18 retreated to Truk afterwards.

On June 17, 1942, she escorted heavy cruisers Kumano and Suzuya and auxiliary ship Nichiei Maru from Truk to Kure, they arrived on June 23, 1942. On June 28, 1942, she was assigned to escort seaplane tender Chiyoda for a transferring troops to Kiska Island, on July 15, 1942, she was torpedoed by USN submarine USS Growler SS-215 outside Kiska Harbor, her bow was severed during attack with 10 of her men died. Growler also damaged Shiranui and sunk Arare. Then she was towed from Kiska to Maizuru via Shimushu on July 26, 1942, she was towed initially by Ikazuchi, they arrived at Maizuru on August 15, 1942, she was put under extensive repairs afterwards.

Her repairs were completed on June 30, 1943, she was attached to DesRon 11, for training. Then on September 1, 1943, she was assigned to DesDiv 9 commanded by Commander Inoue Yoshio, part of DesRon 1, 5th Fleet together with destroyers Asagumo, Shirakumo and Usugumo, she designated as flagship. She steamed from Kure to Paramushiro and conducted several patrol and escort missions within the northern area until September 9, 1943. Then on November 26, 1943, she steamed from Shimushu to Yokosuka via Tateyama, she also transferred aircrew Yokosuka to Kwajalein and Wotje. On December 16, 1943, she escorted heavy cruiser Mogami from Truk to Maizuru, the arrived on December 22, 1943, she was docked for maintenance afterwards.

During her maintenance on December 22, 1943, one of her main turrets was removed and replaced with two triple 25mm Type-96 anti-aircraft guns, she was docked until January 18, 1944. She resumed active duty on February 1, 1944, she steamed from Kure to Ominato and conducted patrol and escort duties within the northern area until February 3, 1944. Then March 16, 1944, she escorted troop convoy to Uruppu Island from Kushiro, this was aborted since Shirakumo and Nichiren Maru were torpedoed and sunk during the operation. On March 27, 1944, the operation to Uruppu Island was resumed, and it was a success, she returned on April 3, 1944. On March 31, 1944, DesDiv 9 was re-designated to DesDiv 18. She escorted heavy cruisers Nachi and Ashigara from Ominato to Kure on July 31, 1944, they arrived at Kure on August 2, 1944. Then on August 11, 1944, she escorted light cruisers Tama and Kiso on a transport run between Yokosuka and Chichi-jima.

On October 15, 1944, she was assigned to the Second Striking Force for the Operation Sho-go under the command of Vice Admiral Shima, they escorted Ashigara and Nachi with light cruiser Abakuma, flagship of DesRon 1, destroyers Akebono and Ushio from DesDiv 7, destroyers Hatsuharu, Hatsushimo and Wakaba from DesDiv 21, and Shiranui. The Second Striking Force arrived at Amami-O-Shima on October 16, 1944, they departed on October 18, 1944 and proceed to Mako Guard District, they arrived on October 20, 1944, then they proceed to Coron to carryout the operation, they arrived at Coron on October 23, 1944.

As the operation goes, the Southern Force commanded by Vice Admiral Nishimura will penetrate through the Surigao Strait, then the Second Striking Force will follow. The Southern Force was crushed in the Battle of Surigao Strait which forced the Second Striking Force to retreat, on the night of October 25, 1944, the Force was attacked by PT-boats, Kasumi approached the damaged Abukuma, she removed Rear Admiral Kimura from Abukuma and designated as flagship of DesRon 1, then they returned to Coron afterwards.

On October 27, 1944, she escorted Nachi from Coron to Pagdanan Bay, then Ashigara to Manila. On November 1, 1944, she escorted 4 transport ships from Convoy TA-2 which carrying 10,000 men plus equipment for Leyte from Manila, she was with destroyers, Ushio, Akebono, Hatsuharu, Hatsushimo and Okinami, the convoy successfully delivered the equipment and reinfored troops in Leyte. On November 5, 1944, aircraft from TF-38 raided Manila, Nachi sunk during the attack, Kasumi rescued 224 survivors from Nachi. On November 9, 1944, she escorted 3 transport ships from Convoy CA-4 which carrying 10,000 troops and 3,500 tons of munitions. The convoy arrived on early evening of November 9, 1944, while unloading, they were attacked by 32 B-25 bombers, the bombers sank 2 transport and 2 escort patrol craft, then another transport was disabled, the escorts managed to shoot down 7 bombers. Kasumi along with Asashimo and Naganami rescued survivors from the sunken ships, then Naganami and Asashimo transferred the survivors to Kasumi afterwards, the 2 destroyers joined Convoy TA-3, Kasumi proceed to Manila afterwards. On November 13, 1944, Manila was once again raided by TF-38, Kasumi was strafed by enemy aircraft with 1 of her crew killed. On November 15, 1944, she was assigned as flagship of DesDiv 7 of the DesRon 2, 2nd Fleet, she proceed from Manila to Lingga.

On November 29, 1944, she escorted battleship Haruna from Singapore to Mako, then she escorted a convoy from Mako to Cam Ranh Bay afterwards. On December 18, 1944, she assisted a crippled Myoukou. On December 24, 1944, she led a force to bombard San Jose till December 27, 1944. On February 10, 1945, she was part of the Completion Force for the Operation Kita, she escorted battleships Ise and Hyuuga from Singapore to Kure, together with light cruiser Ooyodo, and destroyers Asashimo and Hatsushimo, the voyage was very intense, 26 USN submarines were deployed to intercept the Completion Force, several Allied aircraft also attempted to stop the IJN force, but the IJN force managed to outmaneuver the submarines and successfully returned to Japan on February 20, 1945. On February 23, 1945, DesRon 2 flag was transferred from Kasumi to light cruiser Yahagi. On March 10, 1945, she was assigned to DesDiv 21 of the DesRon 2, 2nd Fleet.

Her final mission was the Operation Ten-go on April 5, 1945, she escorted Yamato together with Yahagi, Isokaze, Hamakaze, Yukikaze, Asashimo, Hatsushimo, Fuyutsuki, and Suzutsuki, their objective is to stop Allied invasion in Okinawa at all cost. They departed on Tokuyama on April 6, 1945. On April 7, 1945, at 12:34, the main fleet engaged the aircraft from TF-58. At 13:25, she was hit by 2 bombs and 1 near-miss from the aircraft, she lost steering control from the damage. Fuyutsuki rescued survivors from her including CO. Matsumoto, she was scuttled by two torpedoes at 16:57, 17 of her crew were killed while 47 were injured.

Kasumi sunk on April 7, 1945, 150 nautical miles southwest of Nagasaki.