Japanese destroyer Mikazuki (1926)

Mikazuki (三日月) was one of twelve Mutsuki-class destroyer 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 obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.

History
Construction of the Mutsuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's build up following the abandonment of the Washington Naval Treaty from fiscal 1923. The class was a follow-on to the earlier Minekaze-class destroyer and Kamikaze class destroyers, with which they shared many common design characteristics. Mikazuki, built at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal was laid down on August 21, 1925, launched on July 12, 1926 and commissioned on May 5, 1927. Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 32”, it was assigned the name Mikazuki on August 1, 1928.

In the late 1930s, Mikazuki participated in combat actions in the Second Sino-Japanese War, covering the landings of Japanese troops in central and southern China.

World War II history
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mikazuki was part of Carrier Division 3 under the IJN 1st Fleet, and based in Japanese home waters as escort to the aircraft carriers JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Hōshō and JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Zuihō.

During the Battle of Midway on June 4–5, 1942, Mikazuki sortied as part of the escort for Zuihō with Admiral Nobutake Kondō's occupation force, and was thus not involved in combat during that battle. Afterwards, Mikazuki was reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet.

From July 1942 to March 1943, Mikazuki escorted convoys between Moji, Kyūshū and Taiwan. From the end of March to June 10, 1943, Mikazuki underwent refit at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, after which she was reassigned to Destroyer Division 30 of Desron 3, in the IJN 8th Fleet based out of Rabaul.

From the end of June 1943 to July 1943, Mikazuki was used primarily as a “Tokyo Express” high speed transport to convey troops and supplies to Kolombangara. She participated in the Battle of Kula Gulf on July 5–6, during which she landed Special Naval Landing Forces under fire. Mikazuki also provided cover during the Battle of Kolombangara on July 12.

On July 27, 1943, Mikazuki grounded on a reef while on a troop transport mission to Tuluvu, New Britain -5.45°N, 148.41667°W. The following morning, she was attacked and destroyed by USAAF B-25 Mitchell bombers, with loss of eight crewmen.

Mikazuki was struck from the navy list on October 15, 1943.