© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt
@Updated - July 29, 2009 - Allyn Nevitt
@Revised - Allyn Nevitt with Anthony Tully - July 2014
Name Translation: “Squall,”
23 March 1925:
Launched at Tokyo, having been built by Ishikawajima Shipbuilding Co.
21 December 1925:
Completed.
Initial Command Structure:
Ship's Captain: Lieutenant Commander Takatsuka Minoru [56] (prev. C.O. YAKAZE). Assigned to Desdiv 29 (OITE, HAYATE, ASANAGI, YUNAGI), Desron 6, Fourth Fleet.
November 1941:
Operating out of Truk Atoll.
21 November 1941:
Assigned to "U" Operation. (Wake Island). Carried out preparations.
29 November-3 December 1941:
Desdiv 29 steamed with Desron 6 from Truk to Kwajalein.
7 December 1941:
Departed Roi, Kwajalein. Carried out patrol.
11 December:
8 December:
With OITE (1st section, Desdiv 29). Departed Kwajalein with first Wake Island invasion force led by ComDesRon 6 Rear Admiral (Vice Admiral, posthumously) Kajioka Sadamichi's (39) flagship YUBARI. Force comprised of CruDiv 18 light cruisers TATSUTA and TENRYU, DesDiv 29's OITE and HAYATE, DesDiv 30 (MUTSUKI, KISARAGI, YAYOI, MOCHIZUKI) , two converted destroyer transports, submarine depot ship JINGEI, armed merchant cruiser KONGO MARU and transport KINRYU MARU.
Sunk: by U.S. coastal batteries, two miles southwest of Wake Island (19-16 N, 166-37 E). While engaged in approach for "softening" bombardment of Wilkes Island before landings, at 0452 was taken under fire by a shore battery and struck immediately by one or two 12.7cm shells.[1] There was a tremendous explosion aft, and she broke in two and sank within two minutes. Lost were Lt.Cdr. Takatsuka and 167 men; nearly the entire crew. The almost total loss of all hands was due to the sudden cataclysm and swift sinking plus the fact OITE and MOCHIZUKI accompanying her were in no position to attempt to seek any survivors. Only one man was rescued from the sea.
First Japanese destroyer sunk in the Pacific War.
15 January 1942:
Removed from Navy List.
Editorial Note 1 - U.S. sources establish the fire came from Marine 2nd Lt John A. McAlister's Battery "L" 5-inch guns. An eyewitness - Private Jack Skaggs 1st Marine Defense Battalion - a member of Battery L reports regarding Hayate in a video interview that a hit was scored on the second salvo setting off such an explosion "that the whole back half of the ship blew off." If this is correct, a 5-inch/51 caliber shell most likely struck Hayate's No.2 or No.3 torpedo tubes aft and destroyed the vessel. A depth-charge explosion is less likely. In any case, it would appear the forward torpedo tubes were not involved. The same source avers that Hayate had not yet had chance to open fire. - (Tully)
