Maritime History

Japanese destroyer Isokaze (1939)

Isokaze (磯風; "Wind on the Beach") was one of 19 Kagerō-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the 1930s. Isokaze escorted the aircraft carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor, before remaining with the Kido Butai for the first months of the war; helping to sink the 8,806 ton Dutch freighter Modjokerto. From 4-6 June, Isokaze escorted aircraft carriers during the battle of Midway where she evacuated the sinking aircraft carrier Sōryū before scuttling her with torpedoes. Isokaze then took part in a series troop and supply transport missions and patrol and escorting duties for the Guadalcanal campaign. On 10 January 1943, Isokaze helped to sink the submarine USS Argonaut - the largest submarine of the US navy - before being crippled by bomb hits later that February which took her out of action until July. Isokaze partook in several small skirmishes and engagements against US destroyers throughout the Solomon Islands campaign, and patrol and transport duties throughout the Marianas campaign before escorting aircraft carriers at the battle of the Philippine Sea from 19-20 June 1944. Later that October, Isokaze served in the battle of Leyte Gulf (and was the photography ship while the fleet was anchored under Burnei). During the largest naval battle in history, Isokaze survived many waves of carrier aircraft and helped to sink the destroyer USS Johnston. Isokaze met her end on 7 April 1945 escorting the battleship Yamato during operation Ten-Go. While attempting to assist the crippled light cruiser Yahagi, Isokaze herself was destroyed by bomb near misses and scuttled.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Algoa Bay
• ▸At the Piano
• ▸CSS Neuse

Uncatalogued shelf

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