Japanese destroyer Niizuki
Sister ship Akizuki, 17 May 1942 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Niizuki |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard |
| Laid down | 8 December 1941 |
| Launched | 29 June 1942 |
| Completed | 31 March 1943 |
| Commissioned | 31 March 1943 |
| Stricken | 10 September 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk, Battle of Kula Gulf, 6 July 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Akizuki-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,701 long tons (2,744 t) (standard) |
| Length | 134.2 m (440 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 11.6 m (38 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 × shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) |
| Range | 8,300 nmi (15,400 km; 9,600 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement | 300 |
| Sensors & processing systems | Type 21 early-warning radar |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
|---|---|
| Operations | Battle of Kula Gulf |
| Victories | USS Strong (DD-467) (1942) |
Niizuki (新月; "New Moon") was an Akizuki-class destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Completed in early 1943, she only lasted three months in service until her actions as Japanese flagship of the Battle of Kula Gulf. In the darkness of 5 July 1943, Niizuki torpedoed and sank the destroyer USS Strong at a debated range, possibly as far out as 22,000 yards, making her the scorer of one of the longest ranged torpedo hit in history. Around 24 hours later, Niizuki was caught and sunk by a US cruiser force with the loss of almost all hands.