Destroyer Samidare, Shirayatsu-class. Sunk, August 25, 1944 by US Submarine USS Batfish (SS-310). She had a good run, not the best, but still 'good'. However, it ended abruptly when she split in half after being hit with just one torpedo when ambushed by the Batfish while in transit.
In fact, it was so abrupt that the Batfish's crew was certain that Samidare had accidentally either improperly set off a depth charge on her own deck or just outright torpedoed herself and therefore didn't claim the kill. After war comparing records with the Japanese, said it was the Batfish that sunk her. However, if you'll look the Samidare does not appear on Batfish's killrecord.
She was the sixth ship and a modified version of the Shiratsuyu-class destroyer, she was built as part of the Japanese One Circle Program, one and the first of the four programs IJN implemented to strengthen their naval capabilities. She was launched on July 6, 1935 and was commissioned January 19, 1937. Her speed is 34 knots and armed with five 5 inch (12.7 cm/50 Type 3) naval gun, two Type 93 13mm Anti-Aircraft gun, eight 24 inch torpedo tube, and 16 depth charges.
She was assigned on DesRon 4, together with Murasame, Harusame, and Yuudachi, they participated on Operation M, invasion of Tarakan, Balikpapan, and Eastern Java, her first naval engagement was the Battle of the Java Sea. She also participated in the Battle of Midway, Battle of Eastern Solomons, and Battle of Santa Cruz Island. She was also assigned to escort the Tokyo Express to reinforce troops in Guadalcanal.
Though she arrived late, she participated on the fierce first naval battle of Guadalcanal which she assisted on the sinking of Allied Destroyers Monssen and Laffey, and damaged the light cruiser Helena. She also participated on the second battle which she assisted sinking of destroyers Brenham, Walke, and Preston while causing moderate damage on Gwin, by the end of battle she rescued several survivors from Kirishima.
She was also present in the Naval Battle of Vella Lavella. And on the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, she torpedoed USS Foote DD-511 while suffered moderate damage from two shells and colliding with her sister Shiratsuyu. Samidare escorted several convoy from Japan to reinforce Saipan, rescued survivors from Yuubari, and evacuate troops from Biak. The last battle she participated was the Battle of the Philippine Sea. On August 18, she was ran aground on Velasco Reef while en route to Palau Islands and on August 25, she was torpedoed by USS Batfish SS-310 and sunk on August 26.
