© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Umikaze: Tabular Record of Movement


Name Translation: "Ocean Wind"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Shimizu Itsuro [51]. (prev. C.O. AKEBONO). Assigned to Desdiv 24 (UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desron 4, Second Fleet. Flagship of Comdesdiv 24, Captain Hirai Yasuji [43].

26 November-1 December 1941:

Desdiv 24 steamed with Desron 2 from Terashima Strait to Palau.

6-12 December:

Desdiv 24 departed Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces, then with Legaspi invasion force.

24 December:

Desdiv 24 with Lamon Bay invasion force.

12 January 1942:

Desdiv 24 with Tarakan invasion force.

23 January:

With Balikpapan invasion force.

8 February:

With Makassar invasion force.

27 February:

With Eastern Java invasion force.

27 February: Battle of the Java Sea

Detached early in action with NATSUGUMO to shepherd troop convoy to safety.

8-14 March:

Escorted convoy from Staring Bay (Celebes) to Singapore.

April:

Arrived in Lingayen Gulf from Singapore on 5 April, then assisted in operations to secure the Philippines, including the occupation of Panay and Negros.

10 April:

Desdiv 24 reassigned to Desron 1, First Fleet.

25 April:
Lieutenant Commander Shimizu (later C.O. HAYANAMI) relieved by Commander Sugitani Nagahide [51] (prev. C.O. SHIRATSUYU).

28 April-1 May:

Steamed from Panay to Sasebo, then docked for repairs.

4-5 June: Battle of Midway

Escorted Admiral Takasu's Aleutians Guard Force.

14 July:

Desdiv 24 reassigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet.

11-17 August:

Escorted CHITOSE from Yokosuka to Truk, then joined Guadalcanal troop convoy on 18 August.

25 August: Battle of Eastern Solomons

Escorted Guadalcanal troop convoy; then to the Shortlands on 26 August.

27 August:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted.

28 August:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted.

29 August:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

31 August:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

4-5 September:

Escorted troop-carrying barges from Santa Isabel to Guadalcanal.

7 September:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

11 September:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

13 September:

Gunfire support mission to Guadalcanal (Kawaguchi offensive).

15 September:

Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

18 September:

Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to enemy presence off island.

24 September:

Led troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to air attack. Minor damage: due to near-misses, eight killed.

26-28 September:

Steamed from Shortlands to Truk, then repairs.

13-14 October:

Escorted KONGO and HARUNA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

15-16 October:

Escorted MYOKO and MAYA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz

Escorted Admiral Kondo's Advance Force.

3-5 November:

Escorted SUZUYA and MAYA from Truk to Shortlands.

7 November:

Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

13-15 November: Naval Battles for Guadalcanal

Escorted Guadalcanal troop convoy.

16-17 November:

Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul.

18 November:

Troop transport run to Buna. Heavy damage: in attack by B-17s, received bomb hit amidships, left dead in water; towed into Rabaul by ASASHIO on 21 November for emergency repairs.

26-28 December:

Steamed from Rabaul to Truk.

30 December 1942-5 January 1943:

Escorted MAYA from Truk to Yokosuka, then docked at Sasebo for repairs.

20 February:
Commander Sugitani (to C.O. KUROSHIO) relieved by Commander Mifune Toshiro [52].

28 February-8 March:

With KIYONAMI, escorted auxiliary cruisers BANGKOK MARU and SAIGON MARU (carrying elements 7th Sasebo SNLF to Tarawa) from Yokosuka to Truk, then patrol/escort duties out of that base.

25-28 April:

Escorted convoy from Truk to Rabaul.

29-30 April:

Steamed from Rabaul to Shortlands, then led troop transport run to Kolombangara.

4 May:

Led troop transport run to Kolombangara.

8-9 May:

En route from Shortlands to Buka, diverted to assist sinking OYASHIO and KAGERO, but arrived too late.

10-12 May:

Steamed from Rabaul to Truk.

17-22 May:

Escorted MUSASHI task force from Truk to Yokosuka.

24-29 May:

With USHIO, escorted CHUYO and UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk.

5-10 June:

Led troop transport run from Truk via Ponape to Nauru and back.

28 June-2 July:

With AKEBONO and USHIO, escorted CHUYO and UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka.

7-17 July:

Escorted convoys from Saeki via Palau to Truk.

19-24 July:

With AKEBONO and USHIO, escorted RYUHO, CHUYO and UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka, then docked at Sasebo for repairs.

17-23 August:

With SUZUKAZE, escorted ATAGO and TAKAO from Yokosuka to Truk as part of larger fleet deployment.

25-29 August:

Escorted ATAGO and TAKAO on troop transport run from Truk to Rabaul and back.

18-25 September:

Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok in response to U.S. carrier raids in the Central Pacific, then returned.

6 October:

Out of Truk to assist torpedoed KAZAHAYA.

17-26 October:

Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok in anticipation of further U.S. carrier raids, then returned.

31 October-6 November:

With SUZUKAZE, TANIKAZE, and AKEBONO, escorted JUNYO, UNYO, YAMASHIRO, ISE and TONE from Truk to Kure, then docked at Sasebo for repairs. (“X” turret probably removed/replaced by triple 25mm mount during this refit.)

5 November:
Commander Mifune (to C.O. KISHINAMI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Nakao Kotaro [57] (prev. C.O. NAMIKAZE).

14-26 December:

Led escort of troop convoy from Pusan via Saeki to Truk.

30 December 1943-18 January 1944:

Led escort of troop convoy from Truk via Eniwetok to Kwajalein and back, including troop transport run from Kwajalein to Wotje.

19-20 January:

Steamed from Truk to Saipan, then patrol/escort duties there.

28 January-1 February:

Escorted Convoy 3113 from Saipan to Truk. Sunk: torpedoed by USS GUARDFISH (SS-217) off southern entrance to Truk Atoll (07-10 N, 151-43 E); slowly capsized; 215 survivors, including Comdesdiv 24 (Captain Kubota Toshi [46], to C.O. NATORI) and Lieutenant Commander Nakao (to C.O. AKISHIMO), rescued, but 50 missing.

31 March 1944:

Removed from Navy List.


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