/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Storytime again. The topic is Amatsukaze again.

>[1] Editorial Note I - USS Redfin's patrol report reveals the submarine was stalking the convoy near dusk on the surface when the Amatsukaze was sighted overtaking steadily from astern. Suddenly the Japanese destroyer lit off all boilers, and commenced a charge. Redfin had been sighted, and a hot pursuit ensued. At 1949 (sub was using H-time, here adjusted to JST) the Amatsukaze opened fire. Cornered Redfin retaliated with four stern tubes; one of which struck the port bow at 1952 setting off the forward magazine and producing a fireball that caused the sub to believe all its torpedoes had struck and demolished the destroyer. - (Tully)

>[2] Editorial Note II - Spectacular photographs taken during Amatsukaze's final action reveal the character of her transformation. Her hull had been cut off at the former location of No.1 TT mount, and a temporary bridge and snub-nosed bow fitted there. Her No.2 stack became her only stack, and was just abaft the temporary bridge. Perhaps not surprisingly, in this case No.2 5-inch turret was not removed, and she retained both aft turrets. From No.2 stack aft, Amatsukaze thus remained a normal looking Kagero-class destroyer.- (Tully)

>
Morita gradually knew the situation around Amatsukaze. As he recalled, 'On cool judgement, leaving [Amatsukaze] to Singapore for local defense would be a sound decision (p.77)'. But IJN authorities in Japan was eager to let her return to Japan for perfect repair. Amatsukaze had higher standard boiler (max temperature 400°C, max pressure 40kg/cm²), no more available in Japan's desperate situation.

It sounds somewhat morbid, thinking how one more destroyer could contribute to save Japan in 1945. It might be something of bureaucratic phantasm. Morita calmly realized the request from Japan.