Oct. 19, 1939 the Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze was launched at the Maizuru Navy Yard. She was one of the
few Japanese destroyers to last until 1945 but, she was almost sunk twice during the war. The first time was
during the bloody battle at Guadalcanal. On Nov. 13, 1942 after she sank the USS Barton DD-599 Amatsukaze
came under fire from the USS Helena CL-50. Shells from Helena knocked out her hydraulic system which
disabled the turrets and rudder. Forty-three of her crew lay dead and the ship would be out of action until
February of 1943.

When repaired the Amatsukaze escorted convoys and assisted damaged warships until Jan. 11, 1944 when
she was torpedoed by the USS Redfin SS-272. Her bow was blown off and eighty men were killed, the
Amatsukaze was assumed to have been sunk by the other ships in the convoy but was found on Jan. 16 by a
patrol aircraft. Finally back in action in Nov. 1944 her luck would run out the following year. On April 6, 1945 she was located by USAAF B-25 Mitchell bombers only six miles from Xiamen (Amoy), China. The ship was
bombed and sunk taking another forty-four men to their death.