Japanese destroyer Akebono

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Career

Laid down:	25 November 1929
Launched:	7 November 1930
Commissioned:	31 July 1931
Struck:	10 January 1945
Status:	Sunk in air raid, 14 November 1944
General Characteristics
Displacement:	2,050 tons
Length:	378 ft 3 in (115.3 m)
Beam:	34 ft (10.4 m)
Draft:	10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
Propulsion:	4 × Kampon type boilers, 2 × Parsons geared turbines, 2 × shafts at 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed:	38 knots (70 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nm at 14 knots (9,200 km at 26 km/h)
Complement:	197
Armament:	6 × 5 inch (127 mm) / 50 caliber guns (3 × 2-gun turrets), up to 22 × 25 mm AA guns, up to 10 × 13 mm AA guns, 9 × 610 mm torpedo tubes, 36 × depth charges

Akebono was a Fubuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Daybreak" (Dawn).

Akebono was laid down on 7 November 1929 at Osaka. When World War II began, she was at Japan where she guarded the battleships and patrolled against submarines. In January 1942, she was part of the escort for the aircraft carriers Hiryu and Soryu during air strikes against Ambon. At the end of February 1942 she was present in the Battle of the Java Sea.

During the Midway operation, Akebono was with the fleet that attacked Dutch Harbor, Alaska. During the rest of 1942 and in 1943, the Akebono escorted aircraft carriers, mainly between Yokosuka and Truk. On 25 January 1944 she went in drydock at Yokosuka for repairs and refit. The guns on position X were removed, and replaced by two triple 25mm anti-aircraft cannon.

At the Battle of Leyte Gulf Akebono rescued about 700 survivors of the heavy cruiser Mogami and then scuttled her with a torpedo. She then went to Manila, Philippines where she arrived at the 26th of October.

On 13 November 1944, a U.S. air raid on Manila struck Akebono, while alongside destroyer Akishimo at Cavite pier (14°35′N 120°55′E). Direct bomb hits set both ships ablaze. On 14 November a large explosion on Akishimo further damaged both ships; Akebono sank upright in shallow water.