Japanese destroyer Matsu (1944)

The Matsu (Japanese 松, meaning: Pine tree) was the lead ship of the Matsu-class destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She had a very short career: less than a year from laying her keel in 1943, and just more than three months from her completion in 1944, to her sinking as she returned from her first escort mission.

The Matsu-class ships were built late in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and were intended to be more cost-effective in response to the changing character of naval warfare at that time. These ships were lighter and smaller than previous Japanese destroyers, including different armament such as enhanced anti-aircraft guns and anti-submarine weapons, along with radar. Since surface warfare was believed to be less likely at this stage of the war, armament such as torpedo tubes that would be useful against surface ships was diminished. Gun mounts were open rather than turreted; this lack of protection for the gun crews would prove critical for Matsu.

Operational history
After being completed at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 28 April 1944, Matsu was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 11 ("Desron 11") for training. The ship's captain was Lt. Cmdr. Tsuneo Yonei. He was relieved on 1 June and reassigned to command the JAPANESE DESTROYER Momi of the same class. Matsu's new captain was Lt. Cmdr. Gen Yoshinaga, previously captain of the JAPANESE DESTROYER Amagiri. At completion of training on 15 July, Matsu was permanently assigned to Destroyer Division 43 ("Desdiv 43"), part of Desron 11.

First and final battle
Matsu sailed from Tateyama as the flagship of the 2nd Convoy Escort Group, which contained all of Desron 11 and was commanded by Rear Adm. Ichimatsu Takahashi, on 29 July escorting Convoy No. 4804 to Chichi Jima. On 4 August, the convoy had delivered its cargo and was returning to Japan when it was spotted by a search plane from the American Task Group 58.1. An airstrike was quickly launched and Matsu was crippled by a torpedo hit from a Grumman TBF "Avenger" torpedo bomber.

The diminished surface warfare weaponry of the Matsu class was quickly and mercilessly exploited. Three destroyers from TG 58.1 closed in, mounting a combined armament of fifteen 127 mm (5 in) guns, compared to only three on the Matsu. The American gun crews also had the advantage of proximity fused shells. From maximum range, shell fragments mowed down the Matsu's unprotected gun and torpedo crews. Then the American destroyers closed in, switching to ordinary high explosive shells and aiming at her waterline. Matsu was sunk by the coordinated gunfire of USS Cogswell (DD-651), USS Ingersoll (DD-652) and USS Knapp (DD-653) 81 km (50 mi) northwest of Chichi Jima (at 27.66667°N, 141.8°W). Only six survivors from the Matsu's crew of 210 were picked up by the American destroyers, and one later died of his wounds. Both Yoshinaga and Takahashi were killed in action. Matsu was stricken from the official IJN lists on 10 October 1944.