Yudachi underway on 30 November 1936 |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Yudachi |
| Ordered: | 1931 FY |
| Builder: | Sasebo Naval Arsenal |
| Laid down: | 16 October 1934 |
| Launched: | 11 June 1936 |
| Commissioned: | 7 January 1937 |
| Struck: | 15 December 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 13 November 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Shiratsuyu-class destroyer |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,685 long tons (1,712 t) |
| Length: | 103.5 m (340 ft) pp 107.5 m (352 ft 8 in) waterline |
| Beam: | 9.9 m (32 ft 6 in) |
| Draft: | 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft Kampon geared turbines 3 boilers, 42,000 hp (31,000 kW) |
| Speed: | 34 knots (39 mph; 63 km/h) |
| Range: | 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) @ 18 kn (33 km/h) |
| Complement: | 226 |
| Armament: | • 5 × 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval guns (2×2, 1×1) • 2 × 13 mm AA guns • 8 × 24 in (610 mm) torpedo tubes • 16 × Depth charges |
| Service record | |
| Operations: | Battle of Tarakan (1942) Battle of the Java Sea (1942) Battle of Midway (1942) Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (1942) First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (1942) |
Yudachi (夕立 ”Evening Squall”)[1]was the fourth of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the "Circle One" Program (Maru Ichi Keikaku).[2]
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The Shiratsuyu class destroyers were modified versions of the Hatsuharu-class, and were designed to accompany the Japanese main striking force and to conduct both day and night torpedo attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections.[3] Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War.[4] Yudachi, built at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal was laid down on 16 October 1934, launched on 11 June 1936 and commissioned on 7 January 1937.[5]
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Yudachi was assigned to Destroyer Division 2 of Destroyer Squadron 2 of the IJN 2nd Fleet together with her sister ships Murasame, Harusame , and Samidare , and had sortied from Mako Guard District as part of the "Operation M" (the invasion of the Philippines). From January 1942, Yudachi participated in operations in the Netherlands East Indies, including the invasions of Tarakan, Balikpapan and eastern Java. During the Battle of the Java Sea, Yudachi engaged a group of Allied destroyers and cruisers. Returning to Subic Bay in the Philippines on 16 March, Yudachi assisted in the blockade of Manila Bay and the invasion of Cebu, returning to Yokosuka for repairs in early May. During the Battle of Midway on 4–6 June, Yudachi was part of the Midway Occupation Force under the overall command of Admiral Nobutake Kondō.
From mid-June, Yudachi deployed from Kure via Singapore and Mergui for raiding operations in the Indian Ocean, but the operation was cancelled due to reverses suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Solomon Islands. Yudachi arrived at Shortland Island on 30 August, and was immediately assigned to "Tokyo Express" high speed transport runs to Guadalcanal. During one such mission from 4–5 September, Yudachi assisted in the sinking of USS Gregory (DD-82) and USS Little (DD-79). Yudachi continued making missions to Guadalcanal through November, participating briefly in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October under Admiral Takeo Kurita.
On the night of 12–13 November 1942, in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Yudachi escorted the Bombardment Force of Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki. The lead ship in the formation at beginning of battle, Yudachi had to swerve to avoid U.S. ships, then torpedoed USS Portland (CA-33). After Yudachi was disabled by gunfire of the U.S. cruiser-destroyer group, 207 survivors were removed by the Samidare, which then failed to scuttle her with a torpedo. The abandoned hulk was later sunk by gunfire of Portland, southeast of Savo Island at position ().
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