WL417 MIKAZUKI

Mikazuki (sometimes: Mikazuki II) was a Japanese destroyer from the interwar period and World War II, the keel of which was laid in 1925, launched in July 1926, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1927. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 102.4 m, width 9.16 m, and her full displacement - approx. 1,800 tons. The maximum speed of the ship was 37.3 knots. The armament of the unit at the time of launching included: 4 120 mm guns and 2 triple 610 mm torpedo tubes. Mikazuki was one of the destroyers belonging to the Mutsuki class, which totaled 12 ships. Units of this class were created as a far-reaching modernization of Kamikaze units. Compared to this class of destroyers, the Mutsuki-type ships featured improved sea prowess and enhanced torpedo armament. In general, however, both classes of units were quite similar to each other. Destroyer Mikazuki underwent its baptism of fire during the Japanese-Chinese war (1937-1945) and took an active part in the war in the Pacific. The first major action he took part in was the Battle of Midway (June 4-5, 1942), when he was part of the escort of the Hosho and Zuiho aircraft carriers. Later, until March 1943, he served as a convoy on the shipping routes between his home islands and Taiwan. From June 1943, he took part in supplying Japanese units fighting in Guadalcanal as part of the so-called Tokio Express. Destroyer Mikazuki was sunk on July 28, 1943 as a result of an attack by the American air force.