@Revised May 2013

Name Translation: "Dawn"

17 February 1930:
Laid down at Sasebo Naval Arsenal as Destroyer No. 55.

7 May 1932:
Launched at Sasebo Navy Yard and named AKATSUKI ("Dawn")

16 May 1932:
LtCdr (VAdm posthumously) Takahashi Ichimatsu (40) (former CO of YUNAGI) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer. Lt (Eng.) (later Captain) Okada Kiyoshi (Eng. 30) (former Chief Engineer, MIKAZUKI) is appointed an Equipping Officer.

25 July 1932:
Lt (later Captain) Soma Masahira (50), Lt (Captain posthumously) Otani Ryuzo (51) (former Gunnery Officer, MIYUKI) and Lt (RAdm posthumously) Ikeda Akira (50) (former Temporary Division Officer, KINUGASA) are appointed Equipping Officers.

30 November 1932:
Completed at Sasebo and placed in commission.

Initial Command Structure:
Commanding Officer: LtCdr Takahashi Ichimatsu (40)
Torpedo Officer: Lt Soma Masahira (50)
Gunnery Officer: Lt Otani Ryuzo (51)
Navigator: Lt Ikeda Akira (50)
Chief Engineer: Lt (Eng.) Okada Kiyoshi (Eng. 30)

1 December 1932:
LtCdr Takahashi is promoted Cdr.

15 November 1933:
Lt (Eng.) (RAdm posthumously) Shinki Shuji (Eng. 30) (former Chief Engineer, USHIO) is appointed Chief Engineer. In a change-of-posting swap, Lt (Eng.) Okada is promoted LtCdr (Eng.) and appointed Chief Engineer of USHIO.

1 November 1934:
Torpedo Officer Lt Soma is appointed Torpedo Officer of TATSUTA and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed. Lt (Cdr posthumously) Yano Masatoshi (51) (former Division Officer, HYUGA) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Otani is reassigned.

15 November 1934:
LtCdr (later Captain) Tachibana Masao (45) (former CO of SAWARABI) is appointed CO. Cdr Takahashi is appointed ComDesDiv 24. Lt (later Captain) Sakuma Eiji (50) (former Torpedo Officer, TACHIKAZE) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Chief Engineer Lt (Eng.) Shinki is promoted LtCdr (Eng.).

18 July 1935:
Lt (later Cdr) Suzuki Tadashi (55) (former Gunnery Officer, YUZUKI) is appointed Navigator. Lt Ikeda is appointed CO of W-16.

15 October 1935:
Lt (later Captain) Haraguchi Noboru (51) (former Torpedo Officer, HAKAZE) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Sakuma is appointed CO of W-13.

15 November 1935:
Cdr(RAdm posthumously) Oda Tamekiyo (43) (current CO of SAZANAMI) is appointed CO as an additional duty. LtCdr Tachibana is promoted Cdr and appointed CO of ASAGIRI. Navigator Lt Suzuki is appointed Navigator of YUGURE and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed.

2 December 1935:
LtCdr (Eng.) (later Captain) Ishida Mutsumi (Eng. 31) (current Chief Engineer, SAZANAMI) is appointed Chief Engineer as an additional duty. Lt (Eng.) Shinki is appointed Chief Engineer of YAEYAMA.

5 February 1936:
Cdr (later Captain) Narita Tadayoshi (42) (former CO of YUGIRI) is appointed CO. Cdr Oda resumes full-time command of SAZANAMI.

2 March 1936:
Lt (Eng.) (Captain posthumously) Takagi Tameyuki (Eng. 31) (former Chief Engineer, SATSUKI) is appointed Chief Engineer. LtCdr (Eng.) Ishida is reassigned.

16 March 1936:
Lt (later Cdr) Senoo Toshio (52) (former Navigator, MATSUKAZE) is appointed Navigator.

21 July 1936:
Gunnery Officer Lt Yano is appointed Gunnery Officer of YUGIRI and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed.

1 December 1936:
Cdr (VAdm posthumously) Sato Yasuo (44) (former CO of SHIKINAMI) is appointed CO. Cdr Narita is appointed ComDesDiv 15. Lt (Cdr posthumously) Minami Iwao (57) (former Torpedo Officer, SHIRATSUYU) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Haraguchi is appointed Torpedo Officer of TAMA. Lt (later Cdr) IyanagaTsuneto (55) (former Gunnery Officer, AYANAMI) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Navigator Lt Senoo is appointed Navigator of YUZUKI and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed. Chief Engineer Lt (Eng.) Takagi is promoted LtCdr (Eng.).

20 January 1937:
Lt (j.g.) (later Cdr) Sekiguchi Kozo (59) (former Navigator, HOKAZE) is appointed Navigator.

3 June 1937:
Lt (Cdr posthumously) TokiwaTeizo (58) (former Navigator, SETA) is appointed Navigator. In a change-of-post swap, Lt (j.g.) Sekiguchi is appointed Navigator of SETA.

6 July 1937:
Cdr(VAdm posthumously) Shinoda Katsukiyo (44) (former XO of KITAKAMI) is appointed CO. Cdr Sato is appointed Chief Equipping Officer of MICHISHIO.

3 September 1937:
Lt (Cdr posthumously) KawahashiAkifumi (54) (former Torpedo Officer, AKIKAZE) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Minami is reassigned.

8 October 1937:
Cdr (RAdm posthumously) Shoji Kiichiro (45) (former XO of ITSUKUSHIMA) is appointed CO. Cdr Shinoda is reassigned.

15 November 1937:
LtCdr (Eng.) (later Captain) KunisueTatsushi (Eng. 31) (former Chief Engineer, MICHISHIO) is appointed Chief Engineer. LtCdr (Eng.) Takagi is appointed Chief Engineer of TSURUMI.

1 December 1937:
Lt (later Cdr) Ikegami Iwao (54) (former Gunnery Officer, YUNAGI) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Iyanaga is reassigned. Lt (Cdr posthumously) Nakano Nobuyuki (59) (former Navigator, I-61) is appointed Navigator. Lt Tokiwa is reassigned.

15 March 1938:
Lt (j.g.) (later LtCdr) Nishiwaki Miyuki (61) (former Crew, OI) is appointed Navigator. Lt Nakano is reassigned.

19 April 1938:
Torpedo Officer Lt Kawahashi is appointed Torpedo Officer of KUMA, and Navigator Lt (j.g.) Nishiwaki is also reassigned. Both officers leave the ship. Successorsare not immediately appointed.

16 May 1938:
Cdr (later Captain) Koyama Takeo (46) (current CO of SAZANAMI) is appointed CO as an additional duty. Cdr Shoji is appointed an Equipping Officer of TSURUGISAKI.

1 June 1938:
Gunnery Officer Lt Ikegami is appointed Gunnery Officer of MURAKUMO and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed.

15 June 1938:
Chief Engineer LtCdr (Eng.) Kunisue is appointed Chief Engineer of DesDiv 5 – with additional duty as Chief Engineer of 1st Minesweeper Division – and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed.

25 June 1938:
Cdr Koyama is appointed CO of SAGIRI as a further additional duty.

9 July 1938:
Cdr Koyama is relieved as CO of SAGIRI.

1 August 1938:
LtCdr (RAdm posthumously) Kawashima Yoshio (48) (former CO of HOKAZE) is appointed CO. Cdr Koyama resumes full-time command of SAZANAMI. Lt (later Cdr) Asai Akio (56) (former Gunnery Officer, AMAGIRI) is appointed Gunnery Officer.

10 September 1938:
LtCdr Kawashima is appointed CO of SAZANAMI as an additional duty.

20 September 1938:
Gunnery Officer Lt Asai is appointed an Equipping Officer of ARARE and leaves the ship. A successor is not immediately appointed.

15 December 1938:
LtCdr Kawashima is relieved as CO of SAZANAMI and appointed CO of OKIKAZE as an additional duty.

15 January 1939:
LtCdr Kawashima resumes full-time command.

10 March 1939:
Lt (later LtCdr) Nakamura Takahiko (59) (former Crew, W-16) is appointed Navigator.

5 September 1939:
Lt (j.g.) (later LtCdr) Fukuoka Yoshio (62) (former Navigator, I-58) is appointed Navigator. Lt Nakamura is reassigned.

15 November 1939:
LtCdr Kawashima is promoted Cdr. Lt (later LtCdr) HonnaShikayoshi (62) (former Torpedo Officer, HIBIKI) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt (LtCdr posthumously) Someya Hideo (61) (former Adjutant, 2nd Yokosuka SNLF) is appointed Navigator. Lt (j.g.) Fukuoka is reassigned.

1 December 1939:
Lt (later LtCdr) Asada Kazutoshi (60) (former Navigator, HIRA) is appointed Gunnery Officer.

5 December 1939:
LtCdr (Eng.) (later Cdr) Okano Hikoji (Eng. 36) (former Chief Engineer, SHIRAYUKI) is appointed Chief Engineer.

15 November 1940:
LtCdr (Captain posthumously) Aoki Kyuji (50) (former CO of MINEKAZE) is appointed CO. Cdr Kawashima is reassigned. Lt (j.g.) (later LtCdr) TakayanagiChikamitsu (64) (former Navigator, MUTSUKI) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Honna is appointed Gunnery Officer of SHIGURE. Lt (j.g.) (Cdr posthumously) Azuma Kazumune (66) is appointed Navigator. Lt Someya is reassigned. Chief Engineer LtCdr (Eng.) Okano is appointed Chief Engineer of HIBIKI as an additional duty.

10 April 1941:
Special Duty (Eng.) Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr (Eng.) posthumously) Yasume Susumu is appointed Chief Engineer. LtCdr (Eng.) Okano is reassigned.

15 May 1941:
Torpedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Takayanagi is promoted Lt.

September 1941:
Assigned to Captain (RAdm posthumously) Narita Moichi (43) (former CO of 1st Minesweeper Division)’s DesDiv 6 (HIBIKI, AKATSUKI, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA), DesRon 1, First Fleet.

10 September 1941:
Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) NamikawaMuneyasu (65) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Asada is appointed a Division Officer of MUTSU.

15 October 1941:
LtCdr Aoki is promoted Cdr. Gunnery Officer Lt (j.g.) Namikawa is promoted Lt.

Initial Wartime Organization:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Aoki Kyuji [50] (prev. C.O. AKIKAZE). Assigned to Desdiv 6 (HIBIKI, AKATSUKI, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA), Desron 1, First Fleet.

25 November 1941: -
Steamed from Hashirajima. Arrived at Saeki Bay.

29 November-2 December 1941:
Desdiv 6 - joining a convoy en-route- steamed from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores)

4-10 December 1941:
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body out of Mako as distant cover to Malaya and Philippine invasion forces; also briefly escorted Malaya troop convoys during this period.

11 December 1941:
Arrived at Camranh Bay at stopover at Hainan Island on the 5th. Patrolling in and out of Camranh Bay until 20 December.

20 December 1941:
Assigned to Lingayen Invasion Support Force. Depart Carmanh Bay to screen Main Body.

23 December 1941:
Arrived at Mako. Carries out patrol duties.

6-12 January:
Attached to the Menado Invasion Support Force. Escorted MAYA from Mako to Palau.

18-20 January:
Steamed from Palau to Davao.

26 Januaruy:
Arrives at Tarakan, northeast Borneo. Depart next day escorting RAKUTO MARU to Balikpapan.

29 January:
Arrived at Balikpapan. At 1205 attacked there by four B-17s. No damage received.

1 February:
Depart Balikpapan with aircraft transport KAMOGAWA MARU. Separates 3 February.

4 February:
Arrives at Davao.

5 February 1942:
Reserve Lt (j.g.) (Lt posthumously) Murakami Sunao (former Navigator, SANAE) is appointed Navigator. Lt (j.g.) Azuma relieves Lt Takayanagi as Torpedo Officer. Lt Takayanagi is reassigned.

5-9 February:
Escorted troop convoy from Davao to Camranh Bay.

18 February:
Attached to Eastern Java Island Invasion convoy. Departs.

21 February:
Arrived at Anambas Islands. Joins convoy there.


27 February:
Attached to Western Java invasion force.

1 March:
Joined invasion convoy. Landings completed.


4 March:
With HIBIKI refuel from oiler ERIMO in Karimata Strait.

5 March:
Attached to the Philippine Islands Invasion Support Force.

10 March:
Arrived in Subic Bay, then assisted in operations to secure the Philippines.

17 March:
Together with HIBIKI and IKAZUCHI attacked enemy submarine. [Note-1].


19-26 March:
Escorted convoy from Subic Bay to Kure, then docked at Yokosuka for maintenance.

3 April:
Arrived at Yokosuka.


6 April 1942:
Cdr (RAdm posthumously) Yamada Yusuke (48) (former ComDesDiv 23) is appointed ComDesDiv 6. Captain Narita is reassigned.

11 April:
Enters drydock at Uraga for repairs.

13 April:
Lieutenant Commander Aoki (later C.O. TAMANAMI, Comdesdiv 32) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Takasuka Osamu [51] (prev. C.O. OBORO).

16 April:
Left drydock. Steams to Yokosuka. Subsequently patrol duties.


22 April:
Arrived at Agenosho, West Inland Sea with other units.

3 May:
Joins RADM Kakuta Kakuji's (39) Cardiv 4 (RYUJO, JUNYO) and trains together thereafter.

14 May 1942:
Lt (j.g.) Shinya Tokuji (68) (former Crew, AKATSUKI) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Azuma is reassigned.

20 May:
Attached to Northern Fleet.

22-26 May: aj
The four units of Desdiv 6 escorted RYUJO, JUNYO, TAKAO and MAYA from Kure to Ominato.

28 May-7 June:
Departed Ominato for Aleutian operations, then with Kiska invasion force.

31 May:
Separated with her sisters from the invasion convoy and heads for Kataoka, Paramushiro Island, Kurile Islands.

1 June:
Arrived at Kataoka Bay.

2 June:
Departed and that afternoon joins Main Body.

7 June:
Attached to Kiska Island Invasion Force.

11 June:
Bombarded suspected enemy positions on Kiska Island.

12 June:
With HIBIKI depart Kiska Bay for patrol duty. Attacked four times today by enemy aircraft. Claimed one shot down, but at 1330 HIBIKI is damaged in the bow by a bomb.

13-27 June:
Became flagship of Comdesdiv 6, Captain Yamada Yusuke [48]. After further air attacks, depart in evening escorting damaged HIBIKI from Kiska via Paramushiro to Ominato via Kataoka Bay.

29-2 July:
Departed Ominato with AKEBONO escorting JUNYO out of the zone, then returns.

4 July:
Departed Ominato with military personnel for Kiska Island embarked, then Kiska-area antisubmarine patrolling.

15 July:
Drop depth charges at 1244 on enemy submarine outside Kiska, and a sinking claimed. Identity of submarine - if present - unknown.

18-25 July:-aj
Steamed from Kiska via Shimushu to Yokosuka, then docked for maintenance. Attacked by B-17 when departing Kiska, no damage.

6-8 August:-aj
Departed Yokosuka for Kuriles, then Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

12 August:
With USUGUMO depth-charge enemy submarine outside Kakumabetsu, Kuriles. Results unknown.

14 August:
En-route to Ominato detect and depth-charge enemy submarine. Results unknown.

28 August 1942: Lt (LtCdr posthumously) Yamagata Tatsuo (66) (former Navigator, SHIRAKUMO) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Namikawa is reassigned.

29-31 August:
Steamed from Ominato to Kure.

1-6 September:-aj
With IKAZUCHI escorted ZUIHO from Kure to Truk.

9-12 September:-aj
With IKAZUCHI escorted UNYO on aircraft transport run from Truk to Kavieng and back.

13 September:-aj
Depart Truk With IKAZUCHI escorting UNYO toward Kure.

15 September:
Separate in the morning to refuel at Saipan, then rejoins.

18 September:
Arrives with UNYO and IKAZUCHI at Kure.

26 September:
Assigned to convoy escort duty. Departed Kure for Saeki.

29 September-12 October:-aj
Led escort along with IKAZUCHI and MS No.1 and No.3 of troop convoy Oki-3 (3 Marus) from Saeki via Okinawa, Saipan (3 Oct.), Truk (10 Oct.), and Rabaul (9 Oct.) to the Shortlands.

13 October:
Bombed at Shortlands by B-17. No damage.

14 October:-aj
Depart Shortlands with ASAGUMO, SHIRAYUKI, and IKAZUCHI escorting SENDAI and YURA on troop transport run to Guadalcanal. However, mission aborted next day.

16 October:
Shortlands anchorage attacked by B-17. No damage.

17 October:-aj
Depart Shortlands with SENDAI and YURA for second try at troop transport run to Guadalcanal. However, in the morning attacked by submarine which hits YURA with a dud torpedo in her port bow. Carried out depth-charge attack, results unknown.[Note-2]

18 October:
After depth charge attack on suspected enemy submarine, arrived at Shortlands.

19-23 October:
At Shortlands. Repulsed several enemy air-raids on the anchorage.

23 October:
Attached to Guadalcanal Island Assault Force. Depart temporarily with bombardment force, but recalled same day.

24 October:
Departed Shortlands at 1200 with IKAZUCHI and SHIRATSUYU for Guadalcanal.

25 October:
Led attack mission to Guadalcanal incurring several air raids en-route; assisted in sinking USS SEMINOLE (AT-65) and YP-284 and damaging USS ZANE (DMS-14). Light damage: No. 3 turret magazine hit on port side by shore batteries. There is no explosion but there are four dead and one severely injured.

26 October:
Returned to Shortlands.

1 November:
Lieutenant Commander Takasuka promoted to Commander. Chief Engineer Lt (j.g.) is promoted Lt. (On the same day, ComDesDiv 16 Cdr. Yamada is promoted to Captain)

2 November:-aj
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal with cruiser TENRYU in consort with destroyers MURASAME, HARUSAME, YUDACHI, SHIGURE, SHIRATSUYU, ARIAKE, YUGURE, SHIRAYUKI, and IKAZUCHI to Guadalcanal.

3-6 November:
Escorted CHITOSE and CHIYODA from Shortlands to Truk. At Truk undergoes temporary repairs.

12-13 November: First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Escorted Admiral Abe's Bombardment Force led by battleships HIEI and KIRISHIMA. Is generally credited with illuminating and then torpedoing USS ATLANTA (CL-51).[Note-3]
Action:
- 2348 With HIEI illuminated leading enemy cruisers. Before could fire torpedoes was immediately hit thereaft by flurry of enemy heavy caliber shells. Most of them striking amidships and aft. The starboard engine room was disabled but the centerline bulkhead temporarily protected the port engine and AKATSUKI briefly continued at reduced speed. More hits by U.S. cruiser-destroyer gruop followed in rapid succession. Steering and then the port engine was knocked out and AKATSUKI became unnavigable and was afire, listing to port and settling aft. She was left behind by the battle and foundering quickly.

Sunk:
- 2355 (about) Capsized and sank quickly stern first (possibly after a torpedo hit aft that whipsawed her) with heavy loss of life, including ComDesDiv 6 Captain Yamada, Cdr (Captain posthumously)Takasuka, Gunnery Officer Lt (LtCdr posthumously) Yamagata, Navigator Lt (j.g.) (Lt posthumously) Murakami, and Chief Engineer Lt (LtCdr posthumously) Yasume. [Note-4] 18 survivors - Torpedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Shinya - later rescued by U.S. ships or swam ashored and captured there. [Note-5]

15 December 1942:
Removed from Navy List.

July 1992:
During the Dr. Robert Ballard and National Geographic expedition to Savo a search was made for AKATSUKI. Apart from YUDACHI a second Japanese destroyer wreck was indeed located, but is almost certainly AYANAMI. However, it is possible the true wreck was found in 2015. [Note-6]

For more info, see editor's page on: Shipwrecks of the IJN

Notes and Sources:

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Anthony Tully and Bill Somerville for contributing from their works to this TROM.