Japanese destroyer Hayate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hayate (疾風) was a Kamikaze-class destroyer, one of nine built between 1921 and 1925 for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Hayate displaced 1,270 tons and carried three 4.7 inch guns, ten 25 mm anti-aircraft guns, and four 21 inch torpedo tubes. She could carry 16 naval mines for tactical minelaying and had a crew of over 160 officers and men.

Hayate had the misfortune of being the very first major Japanese warship sunk during the opening days of World War II in the Pacific Ocean. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Takatsuka Minoru, Hayate was one of six escorting destroyers of destroyer division 29 assigned to escort a small invasion force to land on Wake Island on December 11, 1941. Hayate was hit amidships by at least two 5 inch shells from US Marine coastal defense guns which pierced her internal magazines, causing her to blow up and sink in two minutes with all hands, totaling 168 men, in full view of the marines on shore.