Mutsuki-class Destroyer

Mutsuki-class Destroyer

Country

Japan

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

This article refers to the entire Mutsuki-class; it is not about an individual vessel.

ww2dbaseThe Mutsuki-class destroyers were improved from the Kamikaze-class destroyers, and were ordered under the 1923 fiscal budget. They were the first to be fitted with the newly developed 24-inch torpedoes, which they carried until the arrival of the Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes. They were modernized between 1936 and 1937 and then again between 1941 and 1942, which extended their useful lives as well as increasing their anti-aircraft and anti-submarine capabilities, thus allowing them to participate in the upcoming Pacific War. All of them saw significant use and combat in WW2, but none of them survived the war.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Oct 2009

Mutsuki-class Destroyer Interactive Map

Mutsuki-class Destroyer Operational Timeline

27 Nov 1926	Destroyer No. 34 was laid down at the Fujinagata Shipyards, Tokyo, Japan.
15 Feb 1927	Commander Shigeru Osamu was named the chief equipping officer of Destroyer No. 34.
4 Mar 1927	Destroyer No. 34 was launched.
25 Jul 1927	Destroyer No. 34 was commissioned into service with Commander Shigeru Osamu in command.
1 Aug 1928	Destroyer No. 34 was renamed Yuzuki.
10 Dec 1928	Commander Sakai was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
30 Oct 1929	Lieutenant Commander Katsuno was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
1 Dec 1931	Lieutenant Commander Morishita was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
1 Nov 1935	Lieutenant Commander Wakita was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
12 Nov 1936	Lieutenant Commander Haruo Ota was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
1 Jun 1937	Lieutenant Commander Isamu Fujita was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
15 Sep 1941	Lieutenant Commander Hirota Tachibana was named the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
23 Nov 1941	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Sakaide, Shikoku, Japan, escorting a troop convoy.
27 Nov 1941	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Haha Jima, Japan.
4 Dec 1941	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Haha Jima, Japan with Destroyer Division 23, escorting the invasion fleet for Guam, Mariana Islands.
8 Dec 1941	Destroyer Yuzuki conducted anti-submarine operations in the Mariana Islands area.
10 Jan 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Saipan, Mariana Islands.
12 Jan 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
23 Jan 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed with Destroyer Division 23 to escort the invasion fleet for Kavieng, New Ireland, Bismarck Islands.
9 Feb 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed with Destroyer Division 23 to escort the invasion fleet for Gasmata, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
20 Feb 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Kavieng, New Ireland, Bismarck Islands.
23 Feb 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
2 Mar 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Truk, Caroline Islands with Destroyer Division 23, supporting invasion operations at Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea, northern Solomon Islands, and the Admiralty Islands.
10 Apr 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 6 of the Fourth Fleet.
3 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki supported the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
4 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki became the flagship of Destroyer Division 23 upon the loss of destroyer Kikuzuki off Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
10 May 1942	Lieutenant Commander Koukichi Mori was named the commander officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
11 May 1942	Upon the loss of minelayer Okinoshima, destroyer Yuzuki temporarily assumed the role of Rear Admiral Kiyohide Shimazui's flagship.
13 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Ocean and Nauru Islands area.
16 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Ocean and Nauru Islands area for Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Truk, Caroline Islands for Saipan, Mariana Islands.
25 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands. She was assigned to Destroyer Division 29 of Destroyer Squadron 6 of the Fourth Fleet.
28 May 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Sasebo, Japan for a scheduled overhaul.
16 Jun 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki completed her overhaul at Sasebo, Japan and departed for Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Jun 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Truk, Caroline Islands, escorting a convoy transporting airfield construction crews to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
10 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to the 2nd Surface Escort Division of the Fourth Fleet. Lieutenant Shoichi Oyamada relieved Lieutenant Commander Koukichi Mori as the commanding officer of Yuzuki.
21 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki supported the invasion of Buna, New Guinea.
27 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki escorted a troop convoy from Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands to Buna, New Guinea.
30 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki rescued survivors of sunken transport Kottoku Maru.
31 Jul 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
6 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, escorting a troop convoy to Buna, New Guinea.
7 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki was recalled back to Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands as a response to the Allied attack on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
12 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki bombarded Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
17 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands, escorting a troop convoy to Buna, New Guinea.
21 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
26 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Truk, Caroline Islands for Ocean and Nauru Islands area.
31 Aug 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Ocean and Nauru Islands area.
2 Sep 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
5 Sep 1942	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands.
2 Jan 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Sasebo, Japan for a scheduled overhaul.
18 Feb 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Yokosuka, Japan for the Central Pacific.
6 Mar 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki rescued survivors of sunken Kiriha Maru and assisted Mitto Maru, which was damaged in the same attack.
1 Apr 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to the 2nd Surface Escort Division.
3 Apr 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki rescued the survivors of sunken tanker Arima Maru.
5 Jul 1943	The US Northern Landing Group under Colonel Harry Liversedge landed at Rice Anchorage on the northern coast of New Georgia, Solomon Islands. On the same day shortly after midnight, US cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, and USS St. Louis escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Strong, USS Chevalier, and USS O’Bannon entered Kula Gulf to shell Japanese positions on Kolombangara and New Georgia in support of the landings at Rice Anchorage. At the same time, Japanese destroyers Niizuki, Nagatsuki, Yunagi, and Satsuki arrived at the north end of Kula Gulf loaded with 1,300 reinforcement troops and 180 tons of provisions bound for Vila, Kolombangara at the south end of Kula Gulf. Upon the commencement of the American shelling at Bairoka Harbor, New Georgia, the Japanese commander, Commander Kunizo Kanaoka, aborted the mission and ordered a withdrawal. As they turned, Niizuki, Nagatsuki, and Yunagi launched a spread of 14 Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes into the gulf. At a range of 22,000 yards (11 nautical miles), one of the torpedoes struck and sank destroyer USS Strong. This is believed to be the longest successful torpedo attack of the war. The Americans never detected the presence of the Japanese destroyers and believed Strong was torpedoed by a submarine.
20 Oct 1943	Lieutenant Commander Shohei Matsumoto relieved Lieutenant Commander Shoichi Oyamada as the commanding officer of destroyer Yuzuki.
25 Nov 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Yokosuka, Japan for a scheduled overhaul.
30 Nov 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to Destroyer Division 30 of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the Eighth Fleet.
7 Dec 1943	Destroyer Yuzuki was refitted at the Ishikawa Shipyard and the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan.
22 Jan 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki completed her refitting at Ishikawa Shipyard and the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan. Her aft torpedo mount and two of her four main guns were removed in exchange for additional anti-aircraft machine guns and improved underwater sound detection equipment.
12 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Truk, Caroline Islands, escorting Convoy No. 1,123.
17 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands with Convoy No. 1,123, which was to be the last convoy to successful reach Rabaul.
18 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Rabaul and arrived at Qavuvu in the New Britain, Bismarck Islands.
20 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki became the flagship of Rear Admiral Ko Nakagawa of Destroyer Squadron 3. She departed Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands as a part of the final destroyer transport mission out of Rabaul. She arrived at Qavuvu, New Britain later on the same day.
25 Feb 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Palau Islands.
27 Apr 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki rescued survivors of sunken light cruiser Yubari.
29 May 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Sasebo, Japan for refitting.
20 Jun 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki completed her refitting at Sasebo, Japan. She received a Type 13 radar on her main mast, exchanged twin 13-mm machine gun mounts for single 25-mm machine gun mounts.
20 Aug 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki was assigned to Destroyer Division 30 of Escort Squadron 31 of the Combined Fleet as the division's flagship under Captain Seiji Sawamura.
8 Sep 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Moji, Japan, escorting Convoy HI-75 for Singapore.
19 Sep 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki broke off from Convoy HI-75 and sailed for Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
30 Sep 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Sasebo, Japan for a scheduled overhaul.
30 Oct 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Sasebo, Japan, escorting carrier Junyo and cruiser Kiso for the Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
10 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
11 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, escorting carrier Junyo and cruiser Tone.
17 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Kure, Japan.
23 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Kure, Japan, escorting carrier Junyo.
30 Nov 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki arrived at Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
10 Dec 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki departed Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, escorting troop convoy TA No. 9 for Ormoc, Leyte, Philippine Islands.
23 Dec 1944	Destroyer Yuzuki was sunk by US Marine Corps aircraft north-northwest of Cebu, Philippine Islands; 20 crewmen were killed, 217 survived and rescued by destroyer Kiri.
20 Jan 1945	Destroyer Yuzuki was struck from the Japanese navy list.
2 Aug 1945	Divers from USS Chanticleer discovered the wreck of destroyer Yuzuki under 70 feet of water near Cebu, Philippine Islands. Inspection operations by divers would last until 4 Aug 1945 to recover decoding machines in the radio shack.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Craig R says:
3 Jan 2023 06:04:00 PM

The Naval History and Heritage Command online archive has 15 different photos in its collection of the Mutsuki-class destroyer Mikatsuki (aka Mikazuki) being bombed and sunk by US Army Air Corps B-25s off Cape Gloucester on Wednesday, 28 July 1943. (Just type Mikatsuki into the NHHC search bar.) The NHHC catalog numbering differs from (what I presume are) the Army Air Corps photo numbers that are stamped on the prints, so the photos are somewhat out of sequence.

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Mutsuki-class Destroyer