Japanese destroyer Amagiri (1930)

was the 15th of 24 s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. She is most famous for ramming the PT-109 commanded by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, who would later become the 35th President of the United States.

History Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.Fitzsimons, Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare p.1040 The Fubuki class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated . The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies.Peattie & Evans, Kaigun page 221-222. Amagiri, built at the Ishikawajima Shipyards in Tokyo was the fifth in an improved series, which incorporated a modified gun turret which could elevate her main battery of /50 cal Type 3 naval guns to 75° as opposed to the original 40°, thus permitting the guns to be used as dual purpose guns against aircraft.F Fitzsimons, Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1977), Volume 10, p.1040. Amagiri was laid down on 28 November 1928, launched on 27 February 1930 and commissioned on 10 November 1930. Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 49”, she was designated Amagiri before her launch.

Inter-war period In 1935, after the Fourth Fleet Incident, in which a large number of ships were damaged by a typhoon, Amagiri, along with her sister ships, were modified with stronger hulls and increased displacement. In 1937, Amagiri covered landing of Japanese forces in Shanghai and Hangzhou during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In 1940, she was assigned to patrol and cover landings of Japanese forces in south China, and subsequently participated in the Invasion of French Indochina.

World War II

Early operation

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, Amagiri was assigned to the 20th destroyer division (Yūgiri, Sagiri, Asagiri, Amagiri) of destroyer squadron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and had deployed from Kure Naval District to the port of Samah on Hainan Island. From 4 December 1941, to the end of the year, Amagiri covered the landings of Japanese troops in Malaya, and was part of the escort in support of "Operation L" (the invasion of Banka and Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies.

Battle of Endau

In the darkness of the early morning of 27 January 1942, Amagiri, Asagiri, and Yūgiri was escorting a troop convoy along with destroyer division 11, led by the light cruiser Sendai. The British destroyer Thanet and the Australian destroyer Vampire were tasked with intercepting the convoy, despite being outmatched by its escorts.Cannon (2014) p 65-80

At 2:37am, Thanet and Vampire spotted Amagiri, which did not spot them in turn. Vampire launched two torpedoes at the minesweeper W-4, neither of which hit, before firing the rest of their torpedoes at the destroyer Shirayuki, none of which hit. The pair were finally spotted at 3:38am and Thanet was hit in the engine room by a 140mm (5.5-inch) shell from Sendai and left dead in the water. Amagiri, Asagiri, Hatsuyuki, and Fubuki all opened fire on the disabled Thanet with 127mm (5-inch) shells, setting her on fire and causing flooding. Thanet sank by 4:15am. Vampire escaped undamaged as the Japanese ships escorted the convoy to Malaya.

At the end of February, Amagiri covered minesweeping operations around Singapore and Johore. In March, Amagiri was assigned to "Operation T" (the invasion of northern Sumatra) and "Operation D" (the invasion of the Andaman Islands).

On 5 April, Amagiri sailed with the heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikuma to partake in the Indian Ocean raid, a planned attack on British shipping in the Indian Ocean. The next day, the trio of Japanese warships discovered the 5,281-ton cargo steamer Gandara towing the 7,726-ton cargo ship Dardanus which had earlier been disabled by aircraft from the light carrier Ryūjō. Mogami and Mikuma opened fire and blasted both vessels with their 200mm (8-inch) guns. Amagiri then fired a spread of nine torpedoes and sank both ships. With gunfire, Amagiri later assisted Mogami and Mikuma in sinking the 6,622-ton cargo steamer Indora, the 4,434-ton cargo ship Dragfred, and the 1,515-ton cargo ship Hermod.

From 13–22 April, Amagiri returned via Singapore and Camranh Bay to Kure Naval Arsenal, for maintenance. On 4–5 June, Amagiri participated in the Battle of Midway as part of the Aleutian Invasion force and was subsequently based at Amami-Ōshima for patrols of southern waters until mid-July. In July 1942, Amagiri sailed from Amami-Ōshima to Mako Guard District, Singapore, Sabang and Mergui for a projected second Indian Ocean raid. The operation was cancelled due to the Guadalcanal campaign, and Amagiri was ordered to Truk instead, arriving in late August.Morison. Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions, May 1942-August 1942.

After the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August, Amagiri took on troops from transport ships while at sea, and sailed on to Guadalcanal. During this operation, she was attacked north-northeast of Savo Island by United States Marine Corps SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Henderson Field, which sank her sister ship and severely damaged . After rescuing the Asagiri survivors, she towed Shirakumo to Shortland Island.D’Albas. Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Amagiri continued to be used on numerous "Tokyo Express" transport missions to various locations in the Solomon Islands in September.Hammel. Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea.

Although reassigned to the IJN 8th Fleet in October, Amagiri continued to be used for "Tokyo Express" missions through the end of the year. After the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal from 13–15 November, she assisted destroyer in the rescue of 1,500 survivors of the merchant vessels Canberra Maru and Nagara Maru, and escorted the damaged Sado Maru to the Shortlands. She returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs by mid-January 1943.

Amagiri returned to Rabaul by March 1943, and resumed its missions as a high speed transport. On 7 April, she was strafed by a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, killing 10 crewmen. On 5–6 July, during the Battle of Kula Gulf Amagiri was engaged by United States Navy destroyers and cruisers while attempting a troop transport mission to Kolombangara. She took five shell hits, which killed 10 crewmen. After the battle she attempted to rescue the survivors of the destroyer , but was driven off by the American destroyers and and returned to Rabaul for repairs.

John F. Kennedy and PT-109

On 2 August, while returning from another "Tokyo Express" night reinforcement fast transport mission to Vila, Amagiri rammed and sank the US torpedo boat PT-109, commanded by Lieutenant, junior grade (and future US president) John F. Kennedy. It is widely believed that those aboard Amagiri were not even aware of PT-109, which was difficult to see because of its small size and lack of lights. However, Robert J. Donovan in his book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII, after interviewing many of the crew, concludes that it was not an accident, and he talked to the man at the wheel who was ordered to steer for a collision course. Amagiri also engaged other PT boats in the Blackett Strait south of Kolombangara. Lieutenant Commander – who commanded Amagiri at that time – gifted a bronze medallion to Kennedy upon his presidential inauguration in 1961.

The incident would be publicized in several books, a movie, and a hit song by Jimmy Dean, as "the Jap destroyer in the night, cut the 109 in two", making it probably the only Japanese ship to ever be mentioned in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts.

The collision with PT-109 created a dent in Amagiri's stem, which while repaired, she carried for the rest of her career.

Subsequent career Amagiri continued to be used on "Tokyo Express" missions through the end of 1943. She engaged United States Navy destroyers in combat at the Battle of Cape St. George in late November, and escaped pursuing American destroyers led by Captain Arleigh Burke. On 7 December, she collided near Kavieng with the destroyer , which sheared off her bow. Sent back to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs in January 1944, she was reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet in March and was based in Singapore to provide escort for transport missions in the western Netherlands East Indies. On 23 April, after departing Singapore with heavy cruiser and light cruiser bound for Davao, Amagiri struck a naval mine in Makassar Strait south of Balikpapan at position (). As she took over two hours to sink, there were few casualties.

Amagiri was struck from the Navy List on 10 June 1944.

Wreck Amagiri was located in October 2003 by Vidar Skoglie and the MV Empress. She lies in 28m/98 feet of water on her starboard side and was heavily collapsing and split open due to apparent illegal dynamite fishing near the wreck. One dynamite fisher apparently detonated the forward magazine, as no detonation was noted during her sinking. This resulted in much of the forward part of the ship being heavily damaged. The bow of the ship was relatively intact and still sat vertically. Live torpedoes were scattered around the wreck as well as depth charges, making it a hazardous dive. Since then the Amagiri was illegally broken up and salvaged, and little if anything remains of the wreck.

References

Bibliography

Japanese destroyer Amagiri (1930)

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