Kiyonami (清波, "Clear Wave") was a Yūgumo-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
 Right elevation and plan of a Yūgumo-class destroyer
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Kiyonami |
| Ordered | 1939 |
| Builder | Uraga Dock Company |
| Laid down | 5 October 1941 |
| Launched | 17 August 1942 |
| Completed | 25 January 1943 |
| Stricken | 15 October 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk in action, 20 July 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Yūgumo-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,520 long tons (2,560 t) |
| Length | 119.15 m (390 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) |
| Draught | 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) |
| Speed | 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h) |
| Complement | 228 |
| Armament |
|
Design and description
editThe Yūgumo class was a repeat of the preceding Kagerō class with minor improvements that increased their anti-aircraft capabilities. Their crew numbered 228 officers and enlisted men. The ships measured 119.17 meters (391 ft 0 in) overall, with a beam of 10.8 meters (35 ft 5 in) and a draft of 3.76 meters (12 ft 4 in).[1] They displaced 2,110 metric tons (2,080 long tons) at standard load and 2,560 metric tons (2,520 long tons) at deep load.[2] The ships had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 52,000 shaft horsepower (39,000 kW) for a designed speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph).[3]
The main armament of the Yūgumo class consisted of six Type 3 127-millimeter (5.0 in) guns in three twin-gun turrets, one superfiring pair aft and one turret forward of the superstructure.[2] The guns were able to elevate up to 75° to increase their ability against aircraft, but their slow rate of fire, slow traversing speed, and the lack of any sort of high-angle fire-control system meant that they were virtually useless as anti-aircraft guns.[4] They were built with four Type 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts, but more of these guns were added over the course of the war. The ships were also armed with eight 610-millimeter (24.0 in) torpedo tubes in a two quadruple traversing mounts; one reload was carried for each tube. Their anti-submarine weapons comprised two depth charge throwers for which 36 depth charges were carried.[2]
Construction and career
editOn 12 July 1943, Kiyonami was on a troop transport run to Kolombangara. In the Battle of Kolombangara, she contributed torpedoes to the spreads that sank the destroyer USS Gwin, and damaged the cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis.
On 20 July Kiyonami was on another troop transport run to Kolombangara. She was sunk by U.S. Army B-25s while rescuing the crew of the destroyer Yūgure, 42 miles (68 km) north-northwest of Kolombangara (07°13′S 156°45′E / 7.217°S 156.750°E). About sixty men survived the sinking, but only one was rescued after several days, leaving only one survivor from Kiyonami's crew of 241 men, and no survivors from Yūgure's crew of 228.[5][6]
Notes
edit- ^ Sturton, p. 195
- ^ a b c Whitley, p. 203
- ^ Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 150
- ^ Campbell, p. 192
- ^ IJN Kiyonami: Tabular record of movement
- ^ IJN Yugure: Tabular record of movement
References
edit- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 167–217. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.