Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

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Peter H
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Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#1

Post by Peter H » 20 May 2007, 09:06

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1772
Japanese TV and Oniazuma present the story of Imperial Japanese Navy Captain Kudo Shunsaku, who risked the safety of his destroyer and its crew to save 442 British sailors in the midst of battle during World War II. Later in the war, the destroyer was sunk, sending most of the Japanese crew who had taken part in the rescue operation to their graves. Captain Shunsaku, who had earlier been transferred to another command, lived until 1975, but never told anyone about the event. It was only though one former British sailor, who had come to Japan to find and thank Captain Shunsaku, that the Japanese people were able to find out about the honorable actions of Kudo Shunsaku and his crew
What battle was this?Java Sea?

Ikazuchi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_d ... r_Ikazuchi

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Takao
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#2

Post by Takao » 20 May 2007, 10:01

You are correct, the survivors were from HMS Encounter.

Here is a Japanese program telling the story thru recreation of the events. Interesting, if you overlook all the inaccuracy.
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1772


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hisashi
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#3

Post by hisashi » 20 May 2007, 12:20

Recently a book was published on this destroyer. Ikazuchi rescued 376 men in Feb 28, 1942 from HMS Exetor and perhaps in next day 422 men from HMS Encounter A survivor of Encounter (perhaps, judging from the description that he published a memoir 'My Lucky Life' and katakana name 'fohru') Sam Falle became a diplomat, and in 2003 he asked a japanese to find the skipper Kudo's family and he found them, though Kudo was dead.
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~nippon/jogd ... og458.html

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Peter H
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#4

Post by Peter H » 20 May 2007, 12:36


cstunts
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#5

Post by cstunts » 20 May 2007, 19:00

Hello,

There seems to be some confusion here, although perhaps I am the confused one--It wouldn't be the first time--between the destroyers IKAZUCHI (Lt CDR Kudo Shunsaku) and INAZUMA (Lt Cdr Takeuchi Hajime). The combinedfleet.com website's Long Lancers (IJN destroyers) page states that INAZUMA picked up 376 survivors of EXETER on 1 March, and returned to the scene on 3 March to rescue the 151 survivors of USS POPE (DD-225)--If this is correct, then the remaining 520 (approx.) Allied survivors would have been picked up by another vessel, which appears to have been IKAZUCHI. Is this reasonable to assume?

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hisashi
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#6

Post by hisashi » 21 May 2007, 04:20

In Japanese Ikazuchi is 雷 and Inazuma is 電, very confusing. Moreover, damaged Exetor, escorted by Encounter and Pope, was attacked by a group of Japanese destroyers including both Inazuma and Ikazuchi. I am sorry that I have no authoritative data.

---[the following message was added later]

I found the book in question and it was me that is confusing. Thank you very much for your correction. The author of the book on this topic, Megumi Ryunosuke is a retired lieutenant (junior grade) of maritime SDF. He made interviews to the crew of Ikazuchi and Inazuma, and also Exetor. His book is very persuasive.

http://www.soshisha.com/book_search/det ... 14995.html

According to Japanese record, in March 1, Exetor sank at 12:50. Japanese force left Inazuma for the rescue of survivors and the rest chased two destroyers.
Encounter sank at 13:30 but for the day Japanese forces deserted her. Pope barely escaped but soon aircraft found her and bombed. Japanese destroyers caught her up and sank her by gunfire nearly 16:00.
Next day morning, Ikazuchi found the survivors of Encounter by chance. They were covered in heavy oil and weakened in twenty hours' drifting.. Kudo ordered to save them. The board was occupied by sailors, and all hardpoints became unable to use. His HQ was not pleased to hear it, but anyway Ikazuchi saved 422 men dispersed in large area. Megumi do not explain why, but in 422 men the skipper of Exetor and some crews were included. Perhaps they moved to Encounter just after Exetor was sunk.
It was Ikazuchi that found the survivors of Pope first, but the crews refused to board Ikazuchi and requested to tug their boat. Kudo refused it worrying about allied submarine and let them alone. After that encounter Inazuma again found them, and exhausted crews boarded Inazuma this time.

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Re: Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#7

Post by 2210ethan » 25 Jun 2012, 20:02

Also worthy of inclusion is the fact that of the 123 survivors from HMS Encounter, only 52 survived Japanese captivity. Western allied pows had a far better chance of survival if they were taken by the Germans...
Last edited by Andy H on 25 Jun 2012, 20:08, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Change Nazi for Germans

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Re: Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#8

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 26 Jun 2012, 00:26

Kudo Shunsaku
Eta Jima Class 51 (class ranking unknown)
Promoted Midshipman - 14 July 1923
Promoted Ensign - 1 December 1924
Promoted Lieutenant (j.g.) - 1 December 1926
Promoted Lieutenant - 10 December 1928
Promoted Lieutenant Commander - 15 November 1935
Commanding Officer, Tachikaze - 5 March 1938 - 1 December 1938
Commanding Officer, Ikazuchi - 1 November 1940 - 13 August 1942
Promoted Commander - 15 October 1941
Commanding Officer, Hibiki - 13 August 1942 - 10 December 1942
Promoted Captain - 15 October 1944
Died - 12 January 1979

Her other wartime COs:

Ishii Hagumu
Eta Jima Class 52 (class ranking unknown)
Promoted Midshipman - 24 July 1924
Promoted Ensign - 1 December 1925
Promoted Lieutenant (j.g.) - 1 December 1927
Promoted Lieutenant - 1 December 1930
Promoted Lieutenant Commander - 1 December 1936
Commanding Officer, Uzuki - 15 December 1938 - 15 November 1939
Commanding Officer, Yayoi - 15 October 1940 - 10 September 1941
Commanding Officer, Hibiki - 25 September 1941 - 13 August 1942
Commanding Officer, Ikazuchi - 13 August 1942 - 27 August 1942
Promoted Commander - 1 November 1942

Ishii was KIA at some point during the war, but I don't know the circumstances or the date. In any event, he was posthumously promoted Captain.

Maeda Saneho
Eta Jima Class 56 (class ranking unknown)
Promoted Midshipman - 16 March 1928
Promoted Ensign - 30 November 1929
Promoted Lieutenant (j.g.) - 1 December 1931
Promoted Lieutenant - 15 November 1934
Chief Torpedo Officer, Kumano - ??? - 20 August 1941
Promoted Lieutenant Commander - 15 November 1940
Commanding Officer, Mikazuki - 20 August 1941 - 5 August 1942
Commanding Officer, Ikazuchi - 27 August 1942 - 25 October 1943
Commanding Officer, Isokaze - 1 November 1943 - 7 April 1945
Promoted Commander - 15 October 1944

Ikunaga Kunio
Eta Jima Class 60 (class ranking unknown)
Promoted Midshipman - 19 November 1932
Promoted Ensign - 15 November 1933
Promoted Lieutenant (j.g.) - 15 November 1935
Promoted Lieutenant - 15 November 1938
Commanding Officer, W-2 - ??? - 1 March 1942
Commanding Officer, Sagi - 1 April 1942 - 30 December 1942
Commanding Officer, Mochizuki - 30 December 1942 - 15 October 1943
Promoted Lieutenant Commander - 1 June 1943
Commanding Officer, Ikazuchi - 25 October 1943 - 13 April 1944
Killed In Action - 13 April 1944
Posthumously promoted Commander - 13 April 1944

On 13 April 1944, Ikazuchi was torpedoed and sunk by submarine U.S.S. Harder (SS-257) 200 miles SSE of Guam while escorting ex-seaplane tender Sanyo Maru. Her depth-charges exploded during the sinking, leaving no survivors.

Other officers at the time of her sinking:
Chief Gunnery Officer: Lt. (j.g.) Oba Kouji (69) (posthumous 2-rank promotion to Lieutenant Commander)
Chief Torpedo Officer: Lt. (j.g.) Sato Koichi (69) (posthumous 2-rank promotion to Lieutenant Commander)
MSG, MS State Guard (Ret.) - First Always!

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Re: Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#9

Post by Dgahacker » 21 Feb 2013, 02:39

Does anyone know if there is any information out there about the captivity and treatment of the rescued crew from the USS Pope? My grandfather was one of the survivors of the USS Pope, but he would never speak about his years as a POW. Any information or link to information would be greatly appreciated.

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Re: Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#10

Post by ijnfleetadmiral » 21 Feb 2013, 08:26

Most POWs were not treated kindly...the Japanese viewed anyone who surrendered as sub-human and unworthy of humane treatment. However, there were some cases of kind treatment, and even one case where Japanese officers stood up for POWs. In 1944, cruiser Tone had 72 POWs from sunken British freighter Behar aboard. While en route to to Singapore from Batavia, ComCruDiv 16 VADM Sakonjo Naomasa ordered them all beheaded. This was carried out, but not before Tone's skipper, Captain Mayazumi Haruo and his XO Cdr. Mii Junsuke both strongly protested it. Post-war, both Mayuzumi and Mii were tried for war crimes over this incident, and received prison sentences. Mayuzumi died on 29 October 1992. Sakonjo was also tried as a war criminal for this incident, and was executed on 21 January 1948.
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Re: Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#11

Post by Lslone » 20 Sep 2017, 01:07

Dgahacker, You ask if anyone knew much about Japanese POW camp for the men from the sunken USS Pope and their treatment. My father in law spent 3 1/2 years in this camp and my husband wishes he heard more, but he does have some information you may be interested in. I am corresponding because he does not do computers, but was reading some literature and saw your interest in this subject. I will watch to see if anyone would like to discuss this with him and will relay that to him.

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Re: Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi

#12

Post by KevDen » 26 Sep 2019, 10:52

I realise this is an old thread, but I would just like to briefly resurrect it, and although I realise that what I am going to say below has more or less been said above, seemingly people elsewhere still do not understand some of the rescue events surrounding the action in Java Sea on March 1. Hence, the reason for my resurrection is then that this thread is cited in error (elsewhere) to confirm and error!

Anyway, I would like to state categorically that HIJMS Ikazuchi played NO part whatsoever in the actual rescue of any men from the destroyer USS Pope, sunk 1 March. It was HIJMS Inazuma, that almost 60 hours later, rescued all the crew (except for one man who had died prior to abandoning ship) from USS Pope just before midnight on 3 March.

Ikazuchi did however, on 2 March, rescue the remaining survivors (circa 400) from HMS Exeter and HMS Encounter, that were still in the water from the previous days battle (as the destroyer HIJMS Inazuma had rescued 400 odd of them on March 1, but had to leave the rest in the water due to overcrowding).

There are no ifs, or buts, about the rescues these two Japanese ships performed (save for the '400 odd' figure which varies by +/- 20 depending on which reference one uses), nor which Allied ship the rescued came from!

And this is from numerous survivors accounts, both Allied and Japanese.

Kind regards,
Kevin Denlay
“We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it.” Capt. Tennant, HMS Repulse. 8 December 1941
“A review of the situation at about 11.00 was not encouraging.” Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942

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