© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt
@Revised - Allyn Nevitt with Anthony Tully - September 2012
Revised - Anthony Tully - April 2023
Name Translation: "Beach Wind"
20 November 1939:
Laid down at Uraga Dockyard.
25 November 1940:
Launched and named HAMAKAZE "Beach Wind"
28 November:
Cdr (RAdm posthumously) Orita Tsuneo (49) (former CO of IKAZUCHI) is appointed Chief Equipping Officer.
Lt (Eng.) (later Cdr) Kunisada Yoshio (Eng. 40) (former Chief Engineer, MOCHIZUKI) is appointed an Equipping Officer.
1 April 1941:
Lt (later LtCdr) Otani Takeo (60) (former Gunnery Officer, UMIKAZE) and Lt (j.g.) MineoShizuhiko (65) (former Navigator, AKEBONO) are appointed Equipping Officers.
21 April:
Lt (Cdr posthumously) Someya Eiichi (63) (former Navigator, I-60) is appointed an Equipping Officer.
30 June:
Completed and commissioned into Imperial Japanese Navy. Makes trial runs off Uraga. Assigned to Captain (VAdm posthumously) SugiuraKaju (46) (former Staff, 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet)’s DesDiv 17 (URAKAZE, ISOKAZE, TANIKAZE).
Initial Command Structure:
Commanding Officer: CdrOrita Tsuneo (49) (prev. C.O. IKAZUCHI)
Torpedo Officer: Lt Someya Eiichi (63)
Gunnery Officer: Lt Otani Takeo (60)
Navigator: Lt (j.g.) MineoShizuhiko (65)br>
Chief Engineer: Lt (Eng.) Kunisada Yoshio (Eng. 40)
10 September:
Lt (Eng.) (later LtCdr) Kawai Takashi (Eng. 44) is appointed Chief Engineer. Lt (Eng.) Kunisada is reassigned.
15 October:
Navigator Lt (j.g.) Mineo is promoted Lt.
13 November:
Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) Takahashi Tatsuo (67) is appointed Navigator. Lt Mineo is appointed Gunnery Officer of HATSUSHIMO.
18-22 November:
Steamed with Desron 1 from Saeki to Etorofu (Kuriles).
7 December:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's carrier striking force for the attack on Pearl Harbor; then arrived in Kure 24 December.
8 February:
1050: Arrived at Palau with KdB.
19 February:
Escorted carrier force in air strikes on Port Darwin, then to Staring Bay (Celebes) on 21 February.
25 February:
0700: Departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in operations south of Java.
5 March:
Air strikes on Tjilatjap.
7 March:
Escorted KONGO and HARUNA in bombardment of Christmas Island; then returned to Staring Bay on 11 March.
27 March:
Departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in Indian Ocean raids.
5 April:
Air strikes on Colombo.
9 April:
Air strikes on Trincomalee.
10 April:
Desdiv 17 reassigned to Desron 10, First Air Fleet.
15 April:
Reserve Lt (j.g.) (promoted Lt during assignment) Yamashita Shoichi (former Navigator,
YAKAZE) is appointed Navigator. Lt (j.g.) Takahashi is appointed Gunnery Officer,
relieving Lt Otani, who is reassigned.
25 April:
Cdr (RAdm posthumously) Kitamura Masayuki (45) (former CO of 21 st Minesweeper
Division) is appointed ComDesDiv 17. Captain Sugiura is appointed Chief Instructor of the
Torpedo School.
27 April:
Arrived in Kure from Southern operations, then docked for repairs.
1 May:
ComDesDiv 17 Cdr Kitamura is promoted Captain.
5 May:
1430: ISOKAZE entered drydock for repairs.
15 May:
Undocked; departed Kure next day for Hashirajima.
27 May:
0400: Departed Hashirajima with Nagumo Striking Force for the invasion of Midway Island.
4-5 June: Battle of Midway
As flagship Desdiv 17 escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force; part of screen of KdB. Assisted SORYU after carrier dive-bombed and helped ISOKAZE rescue survivors.
Action:
- 1026-1030 SORYU dive-bombed; suffered three direct hits and set ablaze.
- 1040 SORYU stopped. Abandon ship ordered five minutes later and closed to rescue and assist men on the forecastle.
- 1355 ComMobile Force [Nagumo] assigned HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE to guard of SORYU and directed them to attempt to retire northwest. However, SORYU is inoperational and ISOKAZE so reported.
- 1612 Salvage operations for SORYU halted. HAMAKAZE reported "SORYU began to sink" [Post-war testimony asserts that ISOKAZE scuttled her with three torpedoes.] Three minutes later SORYU sank stern first. Team-mate ISOKAZE rescued a few survivors noticed that had remained aboard till the last minute, then both proceeded to assist AKAGI.
- 1900 HAMAKAZE with ISOKAZE patrolled in a circle 5 kilometers out from burning AKAGI.
6 June:
0155: AKAGI scuttled by Desdiv 4 [ARASHI, NOWAKI, HAGIKAZE, MAIKAZE]. HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE with Desdiv 4 proceeded westward to rejoin NAGARA and Nagumo Force.
1625: Rejoined Nagumo's Mobile Fleet.
8 June:
The mass of SORYU survivors are transferred to battleship KIRISHIMA.
14 June:
1800: Arrived back at Hashirajima.
21 June:
1230: Departed Hashirajima for Tokyo Bay with AYANAMI and cruiser NAGARA.
22 June:
1515 Arrived at Kisarazu. That afternoon moved to Nagaura, Yokosuka.
14 July:
Desron 10 reassigned to Third Fleet.
20 July:
LtCdr (later Captain) Uwai Hiroshi (51) (former CO of SAZANAMI) is appointed CO.
Cdr Orita is appointed Chief Equipping Officer of TERUZUKI.
20 July:
Commander Orita (to C.O. TERUZUKI, later Comdesdiv 30, Comdesdiv 32) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Uwai Hiroshi [51] (prev. C.O. SAZANAMI).
8-14 August:
Steamed from Kure via Saipan to Truk.
16-18 August:
Troop transport run from Truk to Guadalcanal; then to Rabaul on 20 August.
25 August:
With Milne Bay invasion force.
31 August-2 September:
Troop transport run from Rabaul to Milne Bay (cover).
5-7 September:
Troop evacuation run from Rabaul to Milne Bay (cover).
14 September:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul.
16 September:
Attack mission to Guadalcanal.
18 September:
Attack mission to Guadalcanal.
21 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
24-27 September:
Escorted convoy from Shortlands to Truk.
October:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons.
5 October:
Lt (later LtCdr) Yasumoto Shisei (65) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Someya is
reassigned.
10 October:
Chief Engineer Lt (Eng.) Kawai is relieved by an unknown successor. [Note 1]
26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force.
1 November:
Lieutenant Commander Uwai promoted to Commander.
2-7 November:
With ISOKAZE Escorted KUMANO and the battle-damaged ZUIHO and CHIKUMA from Truk to Japan, then docked for repairs.
30 November-8 December:
Escorted MYOKO and HAGURO on troop transport mission from Yokosuka via Truk (5 December) to Rabaul; then back to Truk on 10 December.
16-20 December:
With AGANO and ISOKAZE, escorted JUNYO out of Truk covering initial troop convoys to Wewak and Madang.
25-28 December:
Steamed from Truk to Rabaul.
3 January:
0400: A lonE B-17 attacked Rabaul. Again no damage received.
5-10 January 1943:
Action: 15 January: 16 January:
8 February:
1 June:
16-21 June:
17 June:
Action:
26 August:
27 August:
25 September:
27 October:
1 November:
3-8 November:
21 December:
15 March:
8-26 April:
20 April:
1 May: 10 August: 14 August: 16 August: 20 August: 24 August: 26 August: 1 September:
12-19 September:
15 September: 29 September: 30 September: 3 October:
22 October:
24 October:
25 October:
26 October:
27 October:
28 October:
29 October:
31 October:
8-11 November:
11 November:
15 November: 21 November: 23 November:
Action:
30 November:
5 December 1944:
28 December:
31 December 1944-25 January 1945:
8 January:
9 January:
11 January 1945:
13 January:
15 January:
20 January:
21 January:
23 January:
24 January:
25 January:
Feb 4-Feb 9:
February-March 1945:
27 February:
1 March:
3 March:
5 March:
15 March:
17 March:
18 March:
19 March:
20 March:
21 March:
23 March:
26 March:
27 March:
28 March:
29 March:
31 March:
2 April:
3 April:
5 April:
6-7 April:
1516: Departed Tokuyama with the others as the "Special Attac Force." Escorted YAMATO from Inland Sea on attack mission towards Okinawa.
7 April:
Sunk: 7 April in attacks by aircraft of TF 58; hit by one bomb and one torpedo, then jack-knifed and sank, 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki (30-47 N, 128-08 E); 100 dead and 45 wounded; HATSUSHIMO rescued 257 survivors, including Commander Maekawa, Torpedo Officer Lt Takeda, Gunnery Officer Lt Fukushi, and Navigator Lt Isoyama.
Lt Fukushi is later appointed an Equipping Officer of KATSURAGI.
10 June 1945:
With MAIKAZE attached for a total of five DDs, Desdiv 17 escorted troop convoy (Operation 18: BRAZIL MARU, NICHIRYU MARU, CLYDE MARU, CHIFUKU MARU and MYOKO MARU, lifting units of 51st Division) from Rabaul to Lae and back. On 7-8 January NICHIRYU MARU and MYOKO MARU lost in bombing attacks.
12 January:
1658 HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE departed Rabaul for the Shortland Islands; arrived 0708 the next day.
14 January:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
1400: Departed Shortlands with TANIKAZE, URAKAZE, MAIKAZE and AKIZUKI as the destroyer transport force, with the guard force comprised of HAMAKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, ARASHI, and KUROSHIO.
- 2153 Attacked by enemy aircraft. No damaged received.
- Arriving off Guadalcanal engaged by enemy torpedo boats approximately thirteen in number. No damage received. Mission continued and offloaded proceeded.
0015: Cargo completed; departed Guadalcanal.
Action:
- Attacked by fifteen enemy dive-bombers from Henderson Field with strong fighter escort. ARASHI rendered unnavigable by near-miss damage to the rudder. TANIKAZE, URAKAZE, and HAMAKZE also damaged but ISOKAZE received none other than slight splinter damage from near-misses. MAIKAZE took ARASHI in tow.
- 1000 ISOKAZE arrived at Shortlands with URAKAZE and TANIKAZE.
- 2030 MAIKAZE towing ARASHI arrived at Shortlands.
1600: Arrived at Rabaul.
16-26 January:
Departed Shortlands for repairs at Rabaul, then returned.
1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.
4 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.
7-8 February:
Troop evacuation run to Russell Islands (cover).
Action:
- 1545 Some 70 miles SE of Gizo Island attacked by 30 enemy planes. ISOKAZE hit by bombs in the forecastle and badly damaged and had to retire. Curiously enough, HAMAKAZE is also said to have been struck by a direct bomb hit on forward gun turret for `medium damage' but was able to proceed. [The possibility exists that this is a confusion with ISOKAZE's damage]
- 2037 Arrived at evacuation point and embarked the men.
- 2127 Mission completed; left the Guadalcanal area for Rabaul; not to returning to the Shortlands.
Arrived at Rabaul.
15-19 February:
Steamed from Rabaul to Truk; then repairs.
6-16 March:
Escorted by MAIKAZE, towed damaged MICHISHIO from Truk to Tateyama; then docked at Kure for repairs.
10 April:
Lt (j.g.) (LtCdr posthumously) Shigemura Michio (69) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt
Yasumoto is appointed an Equipping Officer of SHIMAKAZE.
Gunnery Officer Lt (j.g.) Takahashi is promoted Lt.
Escorted task force from Yokosuka to Truk.
Captain Miyazaki Toshio (48) (former Staff, 2 nd China Expeditionary Fleet) is appointed
ComDesDiv 17. Captain Kitamura is reassigned.
22-28 June:
With TANIKAZE, accompanied NAKA and ISUZU on troop transport run from Truk to Nauru (25 June); then detached to join 2
30 June-2 July:
Escorted CHOKAI from Truk to Rabaul; then steamed to Shortlands.
5-6 July: Battle of Kula Gulf
Troop transport run to Kolombangara. Landed troops during battle so saw no action.
9 July:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover).
12 July: Battle of Kolombangara
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). With YUKIKAZE, KIYONAMI and YUGURE, contributed torpedoes to spreads that sank USS GWIN (DD-433) and damaged USS HONOLULU (CL-48) and USS ST. LOUIS (CL-49).
19-20 July:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). [Note 2]
23 July:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara.
26-29 July:
Escorted convoy from Rabaul to Truk.
10-14 August:
Escorted tanker GENYO MARU from Truk to Rabaul.
17-18 August: Battle off Horaniu
0300: Departed Rabaul. RADM Ijuin Comdesron 3 in SUZANAMI led SHIGURE, and Desdiv 17 (HAMAKAZE, ISOKAZE) on troop transport run to Vella Lavella. Cover force for small-craft flotilla setting-up barge-staging base on Horaniu.
- 2058 Sighted and bombed by enemy planes for the next hour.
- 2235 Five enemy DDs sighted. Cover Force separated from barge unit and engaged the enemy with torpedoes and gunfire.
- 2245 HAMAKAZE fired eight torpedoes
- 2320 Enemy appeared to retiring. Five minutes later, Cover Force discontinued operation and returned to Rabaul. Minor damage: due to single 5” shell hit.
- (18 August): Returned to Rabaul.
22 August:
Led troop evacuation run with SHIGURE and MINAZUKI to Rekata, aborted due to suspected enemy presence.
25 August:
Lt (j.g.) Niwa Masayuki (68) is appointed Gunnery Officer. Lt Takahashi is reassigned.
Led troop evacuation run to Rekata in the "E" Operation No.2.
0200: Depart Rabaul with ISOKAZE and SHIGURE for Buka Island waters.
1730: Arrived at the Shorland Islands. Departed.
Action:
- 0045 Arrived at Rekata Bay, Santa Isabel Island and unloaded cargo.
- 0130 Departed.
- 0630 Sighted large snooper enemy aircraft.
- 1510 Attacked by nine B-24 Liberators. Suffered `Medium damage' due to either direct bomb hit or near-miss on forecastle; 36 casualties; splinter damage to bridge and some flooding resulted reduding best speed to 20 knots. However, no one was killed. 215 main gun and 1,000 25 mm rounds were expended in the action.
0120: One enemy plan in contact, but no attack resulted.
0530: HAMAKAZE arrived back at Rabaul. Carried out temporary repairs.
31 August-2 September:
Escorted TSUGARU from Rabaul to Truk.
12-18 September:
Escorted TSUGARU and IRAKO from Truk to Yokosuka; then docked at Kure for repairs. (“X” turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)
20 September:
Commander Uwai (to C.O. SHIMAKAZE) relieved by Commander Maekawa Kazue [52] (prev. C.O. NUMAKAZE).
Reserve Lt (j.g.) (promoted Lt during assignment; LtCdr posthumously) Kubo Shizumi
(former Navigator, HACHIJO) is appointed Navigator. Lt Yamashita is reassigned.
1730: Arrived with JUNYO at Kure.
Gunnery Officer Lt (j.g.) Niwa is promoted Lt.
Escorted KUMANO from Kure to Truk.
24 November-5 December:
Escorted fleet in Marshalls-area in response to U.S. landings on Tarawa, then returned to Truk.
10-14 December:
Transport run from Truk to Kusaie and back.
18 December:
Captain (RAdm posthumously) Tanii Tamotsu (50) (former Staff, Fifth Fleet) is appointed
ComDesDiv 17. Captain Miyazaki is reassigned.
Out of Truk to assist torpedoed tanker TERUKAWA MARU; helped rescue survivors.
27 December 1943-1 January 1944:
Escorted HIYO from Truk to Kure.
1944
6-26 January:
Escorted with ISOKAZE transport ASAKA MARU (7,398 tons) from Yokosuka via Eniwetok (12 - 16 January) and Kwajalein (17-18 January); then back to Eniwetok (18-24 January) before returning to Truk at 0955 26 January.
1-4 February:
Escorted fleet units from Truk to Palau; then returned to Truk on 8 February.
10-13 February:
Escorted fleet units from Truk to Palau.
16-21 February:
Escorted fleet units from Palau to Lingga.
11 March-1 April:
Escorted convoys from Lingga via Palau to Davao.
Torpedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Shigemura is promoted Lt.
Escorted convoys from Davao via Tarakan and Balikpapan to Saipan.
Lt (j.g.) (later Lt) Takeda Mitsuo (70) is appointed Torpedo Officer. Lt Shigemura is
reassigned.
29 April-19 May:
Escorted convoys from Saipan via Palau, Balikpapan and Tarakan to Tawitawi.
Torpedo Officer Lt (j.g.) Takeda is promoted Lt.
23-25 May:
Escorted tanker convoy from Tawitawi to Davao.
25 May-14 June:
Davao-area patrol/escort duties.
19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted Admiral Joshima's Force B. Assisted the torpedoed HIYO and helped SHIGURE rescue survivors.
8-20 July:
Escorted KONGO, NAGATO and MOGAMI on troop transport mission from Kure to Okinawa, then via Manila to Lingga.
Temporarily attached to 1st Surface Escort Division.
0600: Departed Singapore with HAMAKAZE and CD-No.7 with large convoy SHIMI-05 for Miri, Borneo. Convoy comprised of TAKETOYO MARU, SEISHIN MARU, NANSEI MARU, TAIEI MARU, OYOKUYO MARU, ZUISHO MARU, KINRYU MARU, JUNGEN MARU, NORFOLK MARU, UGA MARU, GYOSAN MARU and KAITO MARU.
Action::
- 0200 In position 03-54'N, 112-58'E some 120 kilometers SE of Miri, ZUISHO MARU (5,289 tons) was torpedoed and sunk by enemy submarine. [USS RAY SS-]. It appears no counter depth-charge attack was made. It may have been believed to be a mine.
- 1230: Convoy arrived at Miri.
0900: HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE departed Miri escorting convoy MISHI-06 to Singapore.
1850: Arrived at Singapore. Next day they departed againf for Borneo.
1430: Departed Kuchin, Borneo to return to Singapore.
1200: Returned to Singapore. Removed from the temporary assignment and returned to original duty with 1-YB at Lingga.
Desdiv 17 less YUKIKAZE (which had returned to Japan for repairs) refueled at Lingga Roads and hereafter carried out training in the vicinity.
Steamed from Lingga to Kure to pick up FUSO and YAMASHIRO.
Lt (j.g.) (later Lt) Isoyama Atsumi (72) is appointed Navigator. Lt Kubo is reassigned.
22 September:
Departed Kure. Escorted FUSO and YAMASHIRO from Kure toward Lingga.
1300: Arrived with the battleships at Brunei Bay, Borneo. Refueled.
1350: Departed Brunei Bay for Lingga Roads.
2148: Arrived with the battleships at Lingga.
18 October:
0100: Departed with YAHAGI and the rest of Desdiv 17. Escorted 2nd Fleet 1-YB from Lingga to Brunei.
20 October:
Noon: Arrived at Brunei. YAHAGI and Desdiv 17's four destroyers refueled from MUSASHI.
1730: Desdiv 17 refueling completed. Cast off. SUZUYA took their place alongside MUSASHI to refuel.
0800: Fleet departed Brunei for Leyte Gulf assault via San Bernardino Strait.
23-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Escorted Admiral Kurita's 1st Diversion Attack Force.
Action:
- Air-Sea action all day in Tablas Strait and Sibuyan Sea starting in the forenoon.
-
1530 Near-miss (s) ruptured plates amidships. The resulting leaks started a fire in No.2 boiler room which is put out of commission. Maximum speed reduced to 28 knots.
- 1820: HAMAKAZE detached from 1-YB to join with KIYOSHIMO to replace and release cruiser TONE and SHIMAKAZE from screening now mortally crippled MUSASHI. [HAMAKAZE & KIYOSHIMO had both suffered bomb damage reduction in speed and reduced effectiveness and were especially suitable for this reason]
- 2138: Kurita ordered HAMAKAZE and KIYOSHIMO to proceed to Coron via Manila [to drop off MUSASHI survivors] and then to join damaged MYOKO at Coron.
0230: Search for MUASHI survivors concluded. HAMAKAZE and KIYOSHIMO headed for Coron. HAMAKAZE had rescued MUSASHI XO Kato Kenkichi and 800 men, including 30 officers. (KIYOSHIMO 30 officers and 410 men).
1130: Arrived at Coron. Ordered to take MUSASHI survivors to Manila.
1830: Departed for Manila with KIYOSHIMO.
0935: Arrived at Manila.
1500: Departed Manila.
1815: Kurita ordered HAMAKAZE and KIYOSHIMO to change present plans and proceed to Coron to act as escorts for KUMANO.
Moved to Cavite Navy Yard and embarked carrying emergency repair crews to serve the fleet.
1412: HAMAKAZE and KIYOSHIMO entered Manila Harbor.
0530: Departed Manila for Brunei. [Leaving later at 0750, KIYOSHIMO after fending off air attack on Manila followed at 0920 and caught up with HAMAKAZE. They proceeded to Brunei]
1730 Entered Brunei Bay. Went alongside NAGATO and refueled.
0300: Departed Brunei. Escorted fleet [1-YB] with rest of Desdiv 17 out of Brunei into Sulu Sea in support of Leyte troop transport operations.
1000: HAMAKAZE with the rest of Desdiv 17 and Kurita fleet returned to Brunei. All ships partially refueled from HAKKO MARU (but it only has 4,000 tons to share for all)
Desdiv 17 reassigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet.
16 November:
1820: With YAHAGI, Desdiv 17 departed and escorted YAMATO, NAGATO and KONGO from Brunei to Kure.
Action:
- 0301-0304 Task Force attacked in northen Formosa Straits by submarine USS SEALION-II (SS- 315) Desdiv 17 leader URAKAZE blown apart and sunk with all hands (approximately 305 officers and men); KONGO struck by two torpedoes, one in port bow and one amidships, but is able to proceed. ISOKAZE and HAMAKAZE remained with Task Force while YUKIKAZE hunted the submarine. Since KONGO soon reported difficulty in controlling flooding ISOKAZE and HAMAKAZE were detached and assigned to convoy her to Keelung for temporary repairs. However, KONGO soon became unnavigable and went dead in the water.
- 0524 KONGO capsized to port, blew up, and sank. HAMAKAZE rescued the most number: seven officers and 139 men. However ISOKAZE rescued the senior survivor (Secondary Battery Officer, LtCdr. Takahata Yutaka [61] ) and 90 other officers and men.
0850: YAMATO advises 1-YB will drift at a temporary anchorage. Desdiv 17 directed to immediately come alongside to top off fuel from YAMATO. Rescued personnel from KONGO to be transhipped to YAHAGI.
0915: YUKIKAZE and ISOKAZE directed by Comdesdiv 17 to go alongside YAMATO to starboard to refuel and HAMAKAZE to port. During the refueling KONGO survivors were to be boated over to YAHAGI.
1400: Desdiv 17 arrived at Kure. They radio that no survivors had been found from URAKAZE and that Desdiv 17 is without a commander. (ComDesDiv 17 Captain Tanii Tamotsu is posthumously promoted RAdm. A new ComDesDiv 17 is not immediately appointed.)
1455: Dediv 17 directed to after replenishment to escort NAGATO to Yokosuka.
2030: Desdiv 17 assigned to standby to escort super-carrier SHINANO to Kure upon arrival at Yokosuka with NAGATO.
25 November:
1440: NAGATO, YAHAGI, ISOKAZE, YUKIKAZE, and HAMAKAZE arrived at Yokosuka.
28-29 November:
1000: Departed Yokosuka. Desdiv 17 escorted SHINANO from Yokosuka towards Inland Sea.
- 0309 29 November SHINANO hit by four torpedoes from USS ARCHERFISH, but initially is able to proceed.
- 0730 SHINANO unnavigable. List to starboard is so great can no longer draw in and process boiler feed water.
- 0745 SHINANO flashed request to HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE to approach to attempt to take in tow by the bow.
- 0850 HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE took in tow, and building to 3 knots tried to move toward Cape Ushio to beach her. However, the strain grows too great and cables part. Further attempts are unavailing. The tow has to be abandoned.
- 1057 SHINANO rolled to starboard and turned completely bottom up and sank. ISOKAZE with HAMAKAZE and YUKIKAZE rescued 1,080 survivors between them. Furthermore, alerted by the messenger who was rescued, HAMAKAZE also recovered the Imperial Portrait found floating in the sea in its waterproof container.
1330: HAMAKAZE, ISOKAZE, and YUKIKAZE arrived at near Kure carrying the SHINANO survivors. The survivors are disembarked in great secrecy to accomodations at the naval district island of Mitsuko-jima outside of Kure Bay.
1700: Arrived at Kure harbor.
Captain Shintani Kiichi (50) (former Chief-of-Staff, DesRon 10) is appointed ComDesDiv
17.
HAMAKAZ, ISOKAZE, SHIGURE, and YUKIKAZE assembled at Moji to escort convoy HI-87.
0600 Departed Moji, escorting RYUHO and Convoy HI-87 to Formosa.
1945
7 January:
2000: Arrived outside Keelung and proceeded to temporary waiting place at Shinchiku.
0430: Desdiv 17 flagship HAMAKAZE collided with her starboard bow against KAIHO MARU (10,238 tons) at Shinchiku Formosa and suffered medium damage. There was some flooding in some tanks and the forward crew spaces; were damaged; the damage to KAIHO MARU was more servere. As a result at 0900 Comdesdiv 17 flag is transferred to ISOKAZE. Thereafter ISOKAZE escorted the crippled HAMAKAZE toward Mako, then ISOKAZE headed for Takao while HAMAKAZE proceed on to Mako for interim repairs.
Before reaching Mako HAMAKAZE fortuitously encountered and rescued five survivors of the freighter ANYO MARU (9,256 tons) sunk on the 8th by a submarine.
1725: Arrived at Mako, only to run aground on a reef.
2200: Refloated clear of reef. Began repairs.
Lt Fukushi Yoshihiko (71) (former Division Officer, MOGAMI) is appointed Gunnery
Officer. Lt Niwa is appointed Chief Equipping Officer of fast transport T-17, with
additional duty as CEO of T-18.
Entered drydock at Mako as repairs continued.
Still under repair in drydock at Mako.
Action:
- 0931-1150 About 100 enemy aircraft raid the Pescadores Islands.
- 1026 HAMAKAZE attacked in drydock. Opened fire. Some thirty bombs were counted falling nearby most on the starboard side, but no damage resulted.
- 1145 Enemy aircraft withdrew on a course of 100 degrees but tensions remained high all afternoon against a return raid.
- 1530 Alert was finally cancelled and gun crews stood down. They claimed to have shot down eight aircraft and damaged two in this commendable defense in a perilous condition.
Requested expedited final emergency repairs from Mako so can depart.
1605 Left drydock, repairs completed. Anchored at No.1 `floating pontoon.'
0700: Departed Mako to return to the homeland.
1546: Met by ISOKAZE as arrived in Western Inland Sea then proceeded toward Kure.
1300: Anchored 2,000 meters off Yashima, Western Inland Sea. Resumed voyage next morning.
0938 Departed.
1505 Arrived back at Kure. Underwent full repairs including weapons and machinery.
Cruised from Kure to Yashima anchorage and then back on exercises.
Repairs and training in the Inland Sea.
10-26 February:
1220: Entered No.4 drydock at Kure. Underwent repairs to hull, ordnance, and machinery.
0930: Departed Kure.
1835: Joined ISOKAZE and YUKIKAZE at Hashirajima with YAMATO and YAHAGI.
VADM Ito reports training exercises are completed and his 1-YB force of YAMATO, YAHAGI and ten destroyers is ready for any assignment and action.
0600: ISOKAZE and HAMAKAZE re-supplied from YAHAGI.
0900: ISOKAZE and HAMAKAZE departed Hashirajima area to conduct air exercises off Oita.
2200: Arrived off Oita.
0100: Desdiv 17 departed Oita to go off Tosa (east of Shokoku) but because the weather is bad, planned exercise for aircraft training is cancelled. Returned to Oita.
Morning: Comdesdiv 17 flag shifted to HAMAKAZE from ISOKAZE. The latter departed Hashirajima at 0800 with YUKIKAZE for Kure to undertake repair and maintenance work.
0900: Desron 2 conducted exercises at Ostsushima for torpedo launching practice.
1400 HAMAKAZE arrived at Otsushima.
1813: Ten-Ichi-Go procedure orders issued. (Wireless # 564). An alert and activation sequence like SHO Operations to follow.
0225 YAMATO, at Hashira-jima, ordered all units to depart immediately from present locations and rejoin YAMATO asap at Hiroshima Bay.
0735: Kure area alerted to impending possible enemy carrier raid.
0800: Departed Otsu-jima.
1230: Joined YAMATO in Hiroshima Bay.
2000: Alert cancelled.
Action:
- 0905 Air-attack. In Hiroshima Bay along with SUZUTSUKI, HIBIKI, KASUMI and others defended YAMATO against an estimate 80 enemy carrier bombers and torpedo planes. One bomb hit YAMATO for minor damage; no other damage sustained.
HAMAKAZE remained anchored in Hiroshima Bay.
1200: Departed Hiroshima Bay.
1300: Arrived at Hashirajima. There Comdesdiv 17 flag shifted from HAMAKAZE back to ISOKAZE, now returned from Kure.
0820: Departed Hashirajima.
1200: Arrived at Otsu-jima for training.
1657: By Combined Fleet Dispatch Order 582 1-YB ordered to be ready to at 1200/28th to at once sortie with the main part of the force going out of Bungo Strait and part of it through Shimonoseki Strait. From there to advance to Sasebo and standby. While en-route, may lure enemy carriers forces.
0400: HAMAKAZE departed Otsu-jima and at noon arrived at Kure where joined YAMATO.
0930: Desdiv 17 loaded fresh water.
1019: By order of Combined Fleet Dispatch Order 589 1-YB (YAMATO, YAHAGI and Desron 2) is designated the First Attack Force.
1730: HAMAKAZE with YAMATO and the rest of the First Attack Force departed Kure.
1920: Arrived in Hiroshima Bay.
1939: 1-YB sortie to outside the Inland Sea posptoned until Special Order update.
2030: Standing anchored in the waters off the southern part of Kabuto-shima.
0355: All departed temporary stay in Hiroshima Bay bound for Mitsushiri Sea.
0556: A number of unknown aircraft were observed; but four minutes later confirmed as friendly.
1815: Arrived in the Mitsushiri Sea. During the voyage through the misty weather a number of explosions had been heard, believed to be mines.[Indeed, nearby destroyer HIBIKI of the force had struck mine at 1726 and had to return to Kure with the assistance of ASASHIMO].
1930: 1-YB arrived at temporary overnight stay off Mitajiri. The next few days Desdiv 17 carried out training and manevuers in the Mitsushiri Sea.
1030: Air-raid alert; 1-YB departed anchorage.
1135: 1-YB returned to Mitajiri.
At Mitajari temporary anchorage, YAMATO, YAHAGI, and destroyers HATSUSHIMO, KASUMI, FUYUZUKI, SUZUTSUKI, ISOKAZE, HAMAKAZE and YUKIKAZE have assembled. This is a spot 25 miles west of Hashirajima anchorage. ASASHIMO joins them after a delay from engine trouble and escorting of damaged HIBIKI toward Kure.
1215: A lone B-29 bomber on apparent recon duty is sighted bearing 120 degrees. Nine minutes later it had disappeared in the direction of 50 degrees.
1222: A lone B-29 bomber on recon duty is sighted bearing 80 degrees. Three minutes later it had disappeared in the direction of 340 degrees.
1647: A lone B-29 bomber again on apparent recon duty was observed bearing 340 degrees.
1726: A second (or the same one) B-29 was observed bearing 280 degrees. Within two minutes it had withdrawn in the 300 degrees direction.
0607: Desdiv 17 departed Ube Sea and at 0719 arrived off Tokuyama to refuel from the great fuel depot.
1006: Again a lone B-29 was sighted bearing 60 degrees.
1124: After flying over it withdrew in the direciton of 100 degrees.[Note 3]
0840: Sighted six hostile Grumman F6Fs in distance. They do not attack, and withhold fire.
Action:
- 1241 Opened fire.
- 1243 Two F6Fs strafe the port quarter 25 mm guns on the fantail. Five men injured.
- 1245 Evaded three torpedoes.
- 1246 One bomb strikes aft of rear turret to starboard, exploding in No.7 crew space. The whole rear third of the fantail is sheared off with both shafts mangled. Ship immediately goes dead in the water. Aft turret is jammed in train.
- 1248 While unable to maneuver torpedo sighted bearing 130 degrees starboard. Explodes against No.3 boiler room [Under No.2 stack]
- 1249 Shattered by the impacts, HAMAKAZE jack-knifes and both pieces sink.[Note 4]
Removed from Navy List.
Notes and Sources:
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Anthony Tully, Bill Somerville, and Matthew Jones for contributing to this TROM.
