Japanese destroyer Satsuki (1925)

Satsuki (皐月) 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. Satsuki, built at the Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka, was laid down on December 1, 1924, launched on March 25, 1925 and commissioned on November 15, 1925. Originally commissioned simply as “Destroyer No. 27”, it was assigned the name Satsuki on August 1, 1928.

World War II history
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Satsuki was part of Desron 22 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 "Operation M" (the invasion of the Philippines), during which time it helped screen landings of Japanese forces at Lingayen Gulf and at Aparri.

In early 1942, Satsuki was assigned to escorting troop convoys from French Indochina for "Operation E" (the invasion of Malaya) and "Operation J" (the invasion of Java, Netherlands East Indies), in February. From March 10, 1942 Satsuki was re-assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet and escorted troop convoys from Singapore around the occupied Netherlands East Indies. She returned to Sasebo Naval Arsenal for repairs on June 9, and rejoined the fleet on June 24. After escorting the seaplane tender JAPANESE SEAPLANE TENDER Kamikawa Maru from Sasebo via Truk and Rabaul to the Shortlands in January 1943, she remained in the Solomon Islands throughout February to cover Operation KE (troop evacuations from Guadalcanal), and to escort convoys from Palau to Wewak and Kolombangara. Satsuki was assigned to the IJN 8th Fleet on February 25, 1943.

Satsuki participated in several “Tokyo Express” troop transport missions throughout the Solomons through the end of May, suffering damage when grounded on a reef southeast of Bougainville on May 24, forcing a return to Rabaul for repairs. In June and July, Satsuki resumed “Tokyo Express” transport missions to Tuluvu and Kolombangara, participating in the Battle of Kula Gulf (July 5–6) and Battle of Kolombangara (July 12) but suffering no damage. Satsuki was, however, damaged on July 17 when attacked at Shortlands in an air raid by Allied bombers, forcing a return to Kure Naval Arsenal via Rabaul, Truk, and Yokosuka. On September 5, Satsuki departed Kure back for Rabaul, where it resumed “Tokyo Express” operations to Kolombangara, Gasmata, and Buka. Returning briefly to Japan in November, Satsuki returned to Rabaul in early December and continued to make transport runs through the end of the year.

On January 4, 1944 Satsuki was strafed during an air raid at Kavieng, New Ireland, with numerous casualties, including its captain, Lieutenant Commander Tadao Iino. On its return to Japan for repairs, Satsuki diverted to Saipan to assist the torpedoed aircraft carrier JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Unyō. Repairs were completed at Sasebo Naval Arsenal by March 15. After escorting several troop convoys from Tateyama, Chiba via Hahajima Ogasawara islands to Palau, Satsuki was reassigned to the Central Pacific Area Fleet. It continued to escort troop convoys from Tateyama to Saipan and Guam through the end of May. In July, Satsuki escorted convoys from Kure via Manila to Lingga, then patrolled from Singapore. On August 20, Satsuki came under the Combined Fleet.

On September 21, after escorting a convoy from Singapore via Miri and Brunei to Manila, Satsuki was attacked by aircraft of Task Force 38 in air raid on Manila Bay14.58333°N, 120.75°W. Satsuki took three direct bomb hits, killing 52 crewmen and injuring 15 others.

Satsuki was struck from the navy list on November 10, 1944.