Japanese destroyer Amagiri

Many people know the story of how the PT-109 commanded by future United States President, then Lieutenant, John F. Kennedy was cut in half by a destroyer in the Blackett Strait on the night of 2 August 1943. Few people know anything about the destroyer itself. The Amagiri (Misty Rain), one of 20 Fubuki class destroyers, was laid down at the Ishikawajima dockyard at Tokyo, Japan on 28 November 1928, launched 27 February 1930, and commissioned 10 November 1930.

The Amagiri took part in combat training in the early 1930's. In 1934 it was slightly damaged in a storm along with several other Imperial Japanese Navy ships in the Korea Strait. This destroyer took part in the Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930's and was assigned to the 20th Destroyer Division. It took part in the successful Japanese landing at Singora, Thailand in December of 1941. In January 1942, it engaged two British destroyers off the coast of Malaya and sank the HMS Thanet. In February 1942, the Amagiri supported Japanese landings in Java. In April of 1942, the Amagiri was assigned to the Southern Group of the Supporting Force in Operation C which was a major raid on allied shipping along the east coast of India. On 6 April 1942, the Amagiri, along with the cruisers Mikuma and Mogami sank three allied merchant ships along the Indian coast. Later in the spring of 1942, it was assigned to Admiral Yamamoto's main body at the Battle of Midway. In August 1942, the ship was transferred to the Solomon Islands area to oppose the American landings on Guadalcanal. It was very active during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Central Solomons Campaign and participated in the Battle of Kula Gulf. On 2 August 1943 the ship was on a reinforcement run to Vila when it rammed the PT-109 and engaged other PT boats in the Blackett Strait south of Kolombangara. On the night of 24–25 November 1943, the Amagiri was on a reinforcement mission to Bougainville when it became involved in the Battle of Cape St. George. The ship escaped the pursuing American destroyers led by Captain Arleigh Burke. On 23 April 1944, while cruising near Borneo, the Amagiri struck a Naval mine and sank.