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Long Lancers © 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Akatsuki: Tabular Record of Movement

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Aoki Kyuji. Assigned to Desdiv 6, Desron 1, First Fleet.
29 November-2 December 1941:
Steamed from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores)
4 December 1941-4 January 1942:
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body out of Mako as distant cover to Malaya and Philippine invasion forces; also briefly escorted Malaya troop convoys during this period.
6-12 January:
Escorted MAYA from Mako to Palau.
18-20 January:
Steamed from Palau to Davao.
29 January-4 February:
Escorted tanker convoys from Davao to Tarakan and Balikpapan and back.
5-9 February:
Escorted troop convoy from Davao to Camranh Bay.
27 February:
With Western Java invasion force.
10 March:
Arrived in Subic Bay, then assisted in operations to secure the Philippines.
19-26 March:
Escorted convoy from Subic Bay to Kure, then docked at Yokosuka for maintenance.
13 April:
Lieutenant Commander Aoki (later C.O. TAMANAMI, Comdesdiv 32) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Takasuka Osamu (prev. C.O. OBORO).
22-26 May:
Escorted TAKAO and MAYA from Kure to Ominato.
28 May-7 June:
Departed Ominato for Aleutian operations, then with Kiska invasion force.
13-27 June:
Escorted damaged HIBIKI from Kiska via Paramushiro to Ominato.
4 July:
Departed Ominato, then Kiska-area antisubmarine patrolling.
18-25 July:
Steamed from Kiska via Shimushu to Yokosuka, then docked for maintenance.
6 August:
Departed Yokosuka, then Northern Area patrol/escort duties.
29-31 August:
Steamed from Ominato to Kure.
1-6 September:
Escorted ZUIHO from Kure to Truk.
9-12 September:
Escorted UNYO on aircraft transport run from Truk to Kavieng and back.
13-18 September:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Kure.
29 September-12 October:
Led escort of troop convoy from Saeki via Okinawa, Saipan and Rabaul to the Shortlands.
14 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
17 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
25 October:
Led attack mission to Guadalcanal; assisted in sinking USS SEMINOLE (AT-65) and YP- 284 and damaging USS ZANE (DMS-14). Light damage: No. 3 turret hit by shore batteries: four dead.
1 November:
Lieutenant Commander Takasuka promoted to Commander.
2 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
3-6 November:
Escorted CHITOSE and CHIYODA from Shortlands to Truk.
12-13 November: First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Escorted Admiral Abe's Bombardment Force. Is generally credited with illuminating and then torpedoing USS ATLANTA (CL-51).[1] Sunk: by gunfire of U.S. cruiser-destroyer group near Savo Island (09-17 S, 159-56 E).[2] Sank with heavy loss of life, including Comdesdiv 6 (Captain Yamada Yusuke) and Commander Takasuka. 18 survivors later rescued by U.S. ships.[3]
15 December 1942:
Removed from Navy List.

[1] Editorial Note 1 - This "general crediting" comes from the majority of post-war sources and reports, but were necessarily speculative. Recent testimony by Japanese veterans has clarified the issue. Whoever did torpedo Atlanta it was apparently not Akatsuki. In interviews in 1992 and 1998 her chief torpedo officer (A good summary is found in The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: Night Action 13 November 1942- James Grace ISBN1557503273) Lt. Shinya Michiharu is adamant she was unable to launch torpedoes after being overwhelmed by gunfire after indeed illuminating Atlanta for the others. Repeated hits first disabled starboard then port machinery and the steering was knocked out. It is unclear to Shinya if she even was able to fire any guns, but no torpedoes. The true likely agents were thus either Inazuma or Ikazuchi, but the question remains open. - (Tully)
[2] Editorial Note 2 - A wreck discovered late July 1992 during the Dr. Robert Ballard and National Geographic expedition to Savo located a Japanese destroyer wreck whose cursive letter "A" of its fantail name is still visible. Sometimes associated with Akatsuki it is in fact, Ayanami. To date, as far as known, Akatsuki remains unlocated.- (Tully)
For more info, see editor's page on: Shipwrecks of the IJN
[3] Editorial Note 3 - It is important to note for the record, that the Shinya testimony vividly describes how Akatsuki was left slowly settling and dead in the water, in flames from the bridge aft, and listing increasingly to port. He, Commander Takasuka himself, and the Navigator (both later perished) escaped from the bridge at close to the last moment, then Akatsuki's bow reared skyward and she sank. Despite this, the otherwise fine painting commissioned for "The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal" of the Ballard expedition of 1992 (ISBN 0-446-51636-8) shows (p 138-139) Akatsuki afire and steadily inking on an even keel; yet with bow awash. Thus contradicting the description given in the same text. To this extent the painting is potentially misleading, but accurately shows such details as Akatsuki's distinctive thinner No.1 funnel. - (Tully).

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