Japanese destroyer Minegumo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career

Ordered:
Laid down:	March 22, 1937
Launched:	April 30, 1938
Commissioned:
Decommissioned:	March 6, 1943
Fate:	Sunk (March 6, 1943)
Struck:	March 6, 1943
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1961 tons
Length:
Beam:
Draft:
Propulsion:	2-shaft geared turbine, 3 boilers
Speed:	35 knots
Power:	50000 SHP
Range:	5700nm by 10kt, 960nm by 34kt
Complement:	200
Armament:

The Minegumo (峯雲) was an Asashio Class destroyer sunk overnight on March 6, 1943 in the Battle of Blackett Strait. Much of its crew survived. Minegumo means "Summit Cloud."

Built in Osaka, Japan.
Escorted transports that landed at Vigan City, northwestern Luzon, on December 11, 1941.
Assisted in landings at Tarakan, Borneo on January 21, 1942.
February 27, 1942: takes part in the Battle of the Java Sea, damaged by gunfire.
In March 1942, she takes part in operations at Christmas Island.
Part of the Covering Group in the Battle of Midway (June 1942).
Provided support during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942.
October 5, 1942: seriously damaged by aircraft 150 miles off Guadalcanal.
During the beginning of the Battle of Blackett Strait, March 5, 1943, Murasame and Minegumo are believed to have sunk the submarine USS Grampus (SS-207).
On March 6, 1943, the Murasame and Minegumo were caught by American Task Force 68 off Vila, after dropping off supplies to the Japanese base there. Both ships were sunk, but the only survivors were members of Minegumo's crew.