# Japanese destroyer Samidare (1935)

Samidare (五月雨, "Early Summer Rain") was the fifth of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the Circle One Program (Maru Ichi Keikaku).

## History

The Shiratsuyu-class destroyers were modified versions of the Hatsuharu class, and were designed to accompany the Japanese main striking force and to conduct both day and night torpedo attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean; according to Japanese naval strategic projections. Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War. Samidare, built at the Uraga Dock Company was laid down on 19 December 1934, launched on 6 July 1935 and commissioned on 19 January 1937.

## Operational history

By 1941, Samidare was assigned to the 2nd destroyer division (Murasame, Yūdachi, Harusame, Samidare), part of the overall destroyer squadron 4, under the leadership of commander Matsubara Takisaburo, In late November of 1942, Samidare steamed with destroyer squadron 4 to Mako in preparation for Operation M (the invasion of the Philippines). With the start of WW2 for Japan on 7 December 1941, Samidare escorted Philippine invasion convoys to Vigan, then escorted the Lingayen invasion force. With the start of January 1942 Samidare escorted the Tarakan invasion force. However, Samidare tasted her first lick of action while escorting the Balikpapan invasion force to support the landings on the Dutch East Indies from the 23rd to 25th, only for allied air attacks to desperately attempt to halt the convoy. Three troop ships were sunk, but the invasion fleet otherwise continued on and landed their troops. A follow up attack by American destroyers sank two more troop ships but similarly failed to halt the overall convoy.
Samidare spent a break from service throughout most of February, only leaving port again on the 26th with the Java Sea invasion fleet. However, while underway a floatplane from the heavy cruiser Nachi located an ABDA fleet force of two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and nine destroyers, prompting the troop convoy's escorts to sail for an interception. In the afternoon of the 27th, the opening stages of the battle of the Java Sea commenced as the two fleet engaged at long range; Samidare served in a flotilla of six destroyers led by the light cruiser Naka, which early into the battle fired a spread of 43 torpedoes at the allied fleet at a distance of 15,000 yards. Understandably, none hit their mark. Instead, the heavy cruisers Haguro and Nachi primally carried the battle to a crushing Japanese victory as Samidare retreated to continue escorting the troop convoys.
Returning to Subic Bay in the Philippines on 16 March, Samidare assisted in the blockade of Manila Bay and the invasion of Cebu, returning to Yokosuka for repairs in early May. During the Battle of Midway on 4–6 June, Samidare was part of the Midway Occupation Force under Admiral Nobutake Kondō.
From mid-June, Samidare deployed from Kure via Singapore and Mergui for raiding operations in the Indian Ocean, but the operation was cancelled due to reverses suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Solomon Islands. Samidare was escort for the battleship Mutsu at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August. For most of the month of September Samidare was escort for the seaplane tender Kunikawa Maru, scouting the Solomon Islands and Santa Cruz Islands for potential seaplane bases, returning to Palau as the end of the month. In October, Samidare escorted troop convoys to Guadalcanal, and was slightly damaged in an air strike on 14 October by a near-miss. However, she was still combat-capable and conducted a "Tokyo Express" high speed transport run to Guadalcanal and a gunfire support mission as well as participating briefly in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October under Admiral Takeo Kurita.
After repairs at Truk, Samidare was assigned to the Bombardment Force of Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki, participating in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of 12–13 November 1942. Although entering combat late in the battle, she assisted in sinking the destroyer USS Monssen and damaging the cruiser USS Helena. After the battle, she rescued the 207 survivors from her sister ship Yūdachi, which she unsuccessfully attempted to scuttle with torpedoes.
During the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, on the night of 14–15 November, Samidare torpedoed and sank the destroyer USS Walke. After the battle, she rescued survivors from the sinking battleship Kirishima, reaching Truk on 18 November. At the end of the month, she returned to Yokosuka for repairs. At the end of December, she returned to Truk as escort for the heavy cruiser Takao.
In mid-January 1943, Samidare escorted the aircraft carrier Jun'yō from Truk to Palau and Wewak, and after covering troop evacuation runs out of Guadalcanal in February, was assigned to covering troop transport operations to New Guinea, Kolombangara and Tuluvu through March, during which she helped to sink the submarine USS Triton. In May she returned to Yokosuka as part of the escort for the battleship Yamato, and was then assigned to northern waters with the cruisers Myōkō and Haguro to cover the evacuation of Japanese forces from Kiska. She returned to Yokosuka on 6 August with the cruiser Maya for repairs. In September, Samidare escorted the aircraft carriers Taihō and Chūyō to Truk, and subsequently covered troop evacuations from Kolombangara, escaping an attack by American destroyers on 2 October with minor damage. During the Battle of Vella Lavella on 6–7 October, Samidare torpedoed the destroyer USS Selfridge. After continuing with troop evacuation missions throughout October, Samidare was in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay on 2 November. During the battle, Samidare torpedoed the destroyer USS Foote but suffered medium damage from two shell hits and a collision with her sister ship Shiratsuyu which damaged her bow. She returned to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for repairs by mid-December.
In April 1944, Samidare escorted troop convoys from Japan to Saipan and on the Truk and Palau. On 27 April, she assisted in the rescue of survivors from the torpedoed cruiser Yūbari. In May and early June, Samidare covered troop evacuations from Biak and other locations in the Netherlands East Indies. She participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19–20 June as part of Admiral Takatsugu Jōjima's task force. In July, she escorted a troop convoy to Okinawa and to Lingga, returning with Kinu to Palau in August. However, on 18 August, Samidare ran aground on the Velasco Reef near Palau Island at position 08°10′N 134°38′E﻿ / ﻿8.167°N 134.633°E﻿ / 8.167; 134.633. On 25 August, she was torpedoed by the submarine USS Batfish. The destroyer broke in two with her stern-section sinking, and the bow-section later destroyed by the Japanese.

## List of Captains
### Pre-commission

| Name | Rank | Take Command | Left Command | Time in Command | Note |
| Arichika Mutsugu 有近 六次 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1936/11/02 | Unknown | N/A | In charge of the Samidare during her shakedown cruise |

### During service

| No. | Name | Rank | Take Command | Left Command | Note |
| 1 | Arichika Mutsugu 有近 六次 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1937/01/29 | 1937/12/01 (306 days) | |
| 2 | Watanabe Yasumasa 渡辺 保正 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1937/12/01 | 1938/12/15 (1 year, 14 days) | |
| 3 | Abe Tokuma 阿部 徳馬 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1938/12/15 | 1939/11/15 (1 year, 0 days) | |
| 4 | Matsubara Takisaburō 阿部 徳馬 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1939/11/15 | 1942/10/13 (3 years, 302 days) | |
| 5 | Nakamura Noboru 中村 昇 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1942/10/13 | 1943/08/13 (304 days) | Promoted to Chūsa (中佐, Commander) |
| 6 | Sugihara Yoshirō 杉原 与四郎 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1943/08/13 | 1944/01/27 (167 days) | |
| 7 | Nishimura Norita 西村 徳太 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1944/03/01 | 1944/07/02 (157 days) | |
| 8 | Ōkuma Yasunosuke 大熊 安之助 | Lt.Cdr Shōsa | 1944/07/02 | 1944/08/25 (54 days) | Survived the sinking of Samidare |