Japanese destroyer Hatakaze

Hatakaze (旗風) was one of nine Kamikaze-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolete by the start of the Pacific War.

History
Construction of the large-sized Kamikaze-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 8-4 Fleet Program from fiscal 1921–1923, as a follow on to the Minekaze-class destroyer, with which they shared many common design characteristics. Hatakaze, built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal, was laid down on July 3, 1923, launched on March 15, 1924 and commissioned on August 30, 1924. Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 9”, it was assigned the name Hatakaze on August 1, 1928.

World War II history
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hatakaze was part of Desron 5 under Destroyer Division 5 in the IJN 3rd Fleet, and deployed from Mako Guard District in the Pescadores as part of the Japanese invasion force for the "Operation M" (the invasion of the Philippines), during which time it helped screen landings of Japanese forces at Aparri.

In early 1942, Hatakaze was assigned to escorting troop convoys to Singora, Malaya and French Indochina. Assigned to "Operation J" (the invasion of Java in the Netherlands East Indies), she participated at the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942. During that battle, she launched torpedoes at the cruisers HMAS Perth (D29) and USS Houston (CA-30).

From March 10, 1942 Hatakaze and Destroyer Division 5 were re-assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet and escorted troop convoy from Singapore to Penang, and Rangoon. From May 5, she was reassigned back to the Yokosuka Naval District, where it served as a guard ship in Tokyo Bay until September. On September 25, she escorted the aircraft carrier JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Unyō from Kure Naval Arsenal to Truk, and from there she escorted a convoys on to Rabaul and back to Palau, returning to Yokosuka on November 24 to resume her duties as a guard ship.

However, on March 2, 1943, Hatakaze suffered an accidental explosion, which caused heavy damage to her stern. After repairs were completed, from October to December 1944, Hatakaze escorted convoys from Yokosuka to the Ogasawara Islands. In December, Hatakaze was reassigned to the IJN 5th Fleet, and on December 25 directly to the Combined Fleet.

At the end of December 1944, Hatakaze escorted a convoy from Moji, Kyūshū to Takao. While at Takao on January 15, Hatakaze was sunk in an air raid by United States Navy Task Force 38 carrier aircraft from USS Ticonderoga at position 22.66667°N, 120.23333°W.

Hatakaze was struck from the navy list on March 10, 1945.