Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1938)

nihongo|"Asagumo"|朝雲|extra="Morning Clouds" was a sclass|Asashio|destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Completed on 31 March 1938 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Kobe, Japan shipyard, she was the fifth destroyer of her class to be built. At the commencement of World War II, she was assigned to the 9th Destroyer Division to take part in various operations. During 1942 "Asagumo" participated in the battles of Badung Strait and Midway, after which she headed to reinforce the Japanese force at Solomon Islands. During August, "Asagumo" saw engagement in the Japanese Guadalcanal reinforcement operation and in November, she was made the flagship of the 4th Torpedo Squadron. This squadron was to enter the 3rd Solomon Battle during February the following year and engage in action in the Bismarck Sea during March. Also during 1943, "Asagumo" was involved in the Japanese retreat from Kiska Island in July. "Asagumo" spent her final hours assigned to Vice Admiral Nishimura's fleet. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf at Surigao Strait, "Asagumo" was torpedoed by an American destroyer and subsequently sunk.

Commanding Officers

* Chief Equipping Officer - Cmdr. Yoshihisa Mori - 1 December 1937 - 31 March 1938
* Cmdr. Yoshihisa Mori - 31 March 1938 - 1 August 1938
* Lt. Cmdr. Masao Yamagawa - 1 August 1938 - 10 October 1939
* Cmdr. Kiichiro Wakida - 10 October 1939 - 15 November 1940
* Cmdr. Mutsuji Arikita - 15 November 1940 - 20 August 1941
* Cmdr. Tooru Iwahashi - 20 August 1941 - 9 June 1943
* Cmdr. Kazuo Shibayama - 9 June 1943 - 25 October 1944 (POW)

See also

* List of World War II ships
* List of ships of the Japanese Navy

External links

* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/asashi_c.htm CombinedFleet.com: "Asashio"-class destroyers]
* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/asagum_t.htm CombinedFleet.com: "Asagumo" history]
* [http://military.sakura.ne.jp/navy/d_asasio.htm Ships of the Imperial Navy (Asashio Class Destroyer)]