Japanese destroyer Hibiki (1932)

Hibiki (響) was the twenty-second of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyer destroyers, or the second of Akatsuki-class destroyer (if that sub-class is regarded independently), built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They remained formidable ships well into the Pacific War. Hibiki and Yukikaze were the only ships to survive among the 82 Japanese destroyers built before the war.

History
Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships. The Fubuki-class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (特型). The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies. The Akatsuki sub-class was an improved version of the Fubuki, externally almost identical, but incorporating changes to its propulsion system.

Hibiki, built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal in Osaka was the third in the “Type III” improved series of Fubuki destroyers, incorporating a modified gun turret which could elevate its main battery of 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval guns to 75° as opposed to the original 40°, thus giving the gun a nominal ability as an anti-aircraft weapon. Hibiki was laid down on February 21, 1930, launched on June 16, 1932 and commissioned on March 31, 1933.

Operational history
On completion, Hibiki along with its sister ships, JAPANESE DESTROYER Inazuma, JAPANESE DESTROYER Ikazuchi, and JAPANESE DESTROYER Akatsuki, were assigned to Destroyer Division 6.

World War II
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hibiki was assigned to Destroyer Division 6 of Desron 1 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and had deployed from Mako Guard District to provide cover for Admiral Nobutake Kondō’s Southern Force, escorting Japanese troopships for landing operations in the Malaya and the invasion of the Philippines, and continued to support operations throughout the Philippines to the end of March 1942.

After repairs at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in April, Hibiki deployed from Ōminato Guard District in support of the invasion of Kiska in the Aleutians campaign of May–June 1942. On June 12, it was damaged at Kiska in an attack by United States Navy PBY Catalina flying boats, and was forced to return to Ōminato at the end of the month. Repairs at Yokosuka lasted until October.

From November 1942 through the end of April 1943, Hibiki served as an escort for aircraft carriers JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Unyō and JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Taiyō in various missions between Yokosuka and Truk, except for the month of January 1943, which it spent in dry dock at Yokosuka.

From May 1943, Hibiki returned to northern waters, and was assigned to patrols off the coast of Hokkaidō and the Chishima islands. Hibiki subsequently assisted in the evacuation of surviving Japanese forces from the Aleutians through August.

After maintenance at Yokosuka in September, Hibiki was sent to Shanghai, from which it escorted a troop convoy to Truk and Rabaul. Through the end of November, it was assigned to escort of tanker convoys between Balikpapan, Singapore and Truk and as a high speed transport between Truk, Ponape and various islands in the Carolines. It rescued the survivors from the torpedoed tanker Terukawa Maru on December 21. From the end of December to April 1944, Hibiki served as an escort for JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Hiyō, JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Ryūhō, and JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Chiyoda in various missions in the western Pacific and Netherlands East Indies. It returned to Kure Naval Arsenal, for maintenance in April, during which additional anti-aircraft guns were fitted at the expense of one of its main gun turrets.

During May and June 1944, Hibiki was assigned to escort of tanker convoys. On May 14, it rescued the 125 survivors of its torpedoed sister ship JAPANESE DESTROYER Inazuma.

During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Hibiki was assigned to the First Supply Force, and suffered minor damage and two crewmen killed in strafing attacks by Allied aircraft.

In August, Hibiki escorted two convoys from Moji to Takao and Okinawa. In September, after departing from Takao with a convoy bound for Manila, Hibiki was torpedoed by USS Hake (SS-256); the explosion almost severed its bow. It was withdrawn back to Yokosuka for extensive repairs.

On January 25, 1945, Hibiki was reassigned to Destroyer Division 7 of the IJN 2nd Fleet, but was retained in Japanese home waters. It was then reassigned to the First Escort Fleet in May, and transferred to Kure Naval District, where it remained as a guard ship to the surrender of Japan. After the end of the war, it was demilitarized and used as a repatriation vessel, and was struck from the navy list on October 5, 1945.

In Soviet service
On April 5, 1947, Hibiki was turned over to the Soviet Union at Nahodka as a prize of war, and placed in service with the Soviet Navy under the name Verniy (Верный ), after being rearmed with Soviet-made weapons (6 x 130-mm, 7 x 25-mm, 4–6 x 12,7mm guns, 6 x 533-mm TT). It was placed in service with the Soviet Pacific Fleet based at Vladivostok from July 7, 1947. It was renamed again on July 5, 1948 as Dekabrist (Декабрист). It was retired from service on February 20, 1953 and subsequently scrapped.