Asashio was the lead-ship of the ten Asashio-class destroyers. Her construction was part by the Circle Two Program of the imperial navy. She was laid-down at Sasebo Naval Arsenal on September 7, 1935. She was launched on December 16, 1936 and was commissioned on August 31, 1937. Her standard displacement is 1,961 tons, 2,330 tons when full loaded. She is equipped with two shaft Kampon geared turbines and 3 boilers capable of producing 50,000 horse power. Her top speed is up to 35 knots, her initial armaments are three twin 12.7cm (5 inch) 50 cal. 3rd Year Type 'Type C' naval guns, four 25mm type-96 anti-aircraft auto-cannons, and two quadruple 24 inch torpedo tubes. She carries 16 depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.
During her initial trial, she experienced steering problems and her maneuverability is quite unacceptable. To solve these problems, she was fitted with a new design for her stern and rudder, and fitted her with new turbines. She was assigned as the leader of the DesDiv 8 part of the DesRon 2, 2nd Fleet, she was together with Oshio, Arashio and Michishio, they were deployed to Mako Guard District afterwards. DesDiv 8 escorted Vice Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body from Mako for distant cover to the invasion forces in British Malaya and the Philippine Islands. She escorted a troop convoy from Mako towards Singora, then to Hong Kong, she escorted another troop convoy to Davao from Hong Kong. She accompanined Ambon, Makassar, and Bali/Lombok invasion forces.
She participated in the Battle of Badung Strait on from February 18 to 20, 1942. She was escorting transport ship Sasago Maru together with Oshio while off Bali. The group engaged Allied Force consisted of 1 light cruiser and 3 destroyers, Asashio fires her Type-93 torpedoes and sank Dutch destroyer HNLMS Piet Hein, Asashio and Oshio exchange gunfire with the remaining ships, the Allied force withdrawn from the battle afterwards. After the first fight, Asashio and Oshio mistaken each other as enemy ships, they both fired their guns at each other but no damaged has been inflicted by both sides. Several hours later, they engaged another Allied Force consisted of 1 light cruiser and 4 destroyers. Both sides exchange gunfire, the Allied destroyers fired their torpedoes but all missed. Asashio managed to hit Dutch light cruiser HNLMS Tromp and USS Stewart DD-224, she took one shell hit from the light cruiser which lost her searchlight and killed 3 of her men, Oshio was also damaged, while Michishio took moderate damage, she towed Michishio afterwards. On March, she returned to Yokosuka.
DesDiv 8 was reassigned to the IJN's 4th Fleet, she steamed from Yokosuka to Manila to assist the invasion force, she bombarded Corregidor Island before she returned to Kure. She escorted CruDiv 7 from Kure to Guam afterwards.
She participated in the Battle of Midway, she escorted Vice Admiral Kurita's Midway Support Force together with Arashio. She took medium damage from the engagement due to aerial attacks, she rescued 240 survivors from Mikuma along with Arashio and escorted the damaged Mogami back to Truk. At Truk, she undergone emergency repairs by repair ship Akashi, she steamed back to Sasebo afterwards for extensive repairs.
She was designated as a Special Duty Ship while still undergoing repairs, she conducted handles patrols and escort duties at Yokosuka Naval District, she escorted convoys between Yokosuka, Jaluit, Rabaul and Saipan. On October 20, 1942, she was returned to DesDiv 8 and steamed from Yokosuka to Rabaul where she will resume active combat duties.
On early-November, she actively participated in two Tokyo Express runs. On November 13, 1942, she escorted Admiral Mikawa's Support Force, she assisted a damaged Isuzu on November 14, 1942. She participated in a troop transport to Buna on November 18, 1942 but this was aborted because of air attacks, she towed a damaged Umikaze to Rabaul. She again participated another troop transport run to Buna on December 1, 1942. On December 18, 1942, she participated a transport run from Rabaul to Finschhafen together with Mochizuki. She steamed from Shortland to Truk while towing Michishio.
She escorted carrier Zuikaku, battleship Mutsu and Suzuya together with Isonami, Ariake, Yuugure and Inazuma from Truk to Kure then Yokosuka on January 7, 1943, they arrived at Yokosuka on January 12, 1943, she was docked for maintenance afterwards. She escorted escort carrier Chuyou from Yokosuka to Truk on February 13, 1943, they arrived on February 17, 1943, she escorted another convoy for Rabaul afterwards. She escorted another troop transport run from Rabaul to Madang then returned to Rabaul. On February 25, 1943, The DesDiv 8 was reassigned to the IJN's 8th Fleet.
Her last battle was the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, she was assigned to ship an escort mission from Rabaul to Lae together with Arashio, Asagumo, Shikinami, Shirayuki, Tokitsukaze, Urazuki and Yukikaze, they will be escorting eight transport ships carrying a total of 6,900 troops with 100 aircraft for air cover, these troops are crucially needed to in New Guinea. She attempted to rescue survivors from Arashio and transport ship Nojima after being attacked by the previous wave, then a B-17 heavy bomber dropped a 500 lb bomb while she was picking Arashio's survivors, she sunk afterwards with all hands including the commander of DesDiv 8, CO. Sato Yasuo.
Asashio sunk on March 3, 1943, 83 kilometers southeast of Finschhafen, New Guinea.
Updated
Asashio - destroyer
Displacement: 1,961 tons
Length: 118m
Beam: 10.38m
Installed power: 50,000 shp
Speed: 35 knots
Armament: 12.7cm guns
61cm quadruple torpedo tubes
25mm anti-aircraft guns
Crew: 230
Other ships in class: Ooshio, Michishio, Arashio, Natsugumo, Yamagumo, Minegumo, Asagumo, Arare, Kasumi
Participated in:
- Battle of Badung Strait
- Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
- Battle of the Bismarck Sea