The Asashio-class destroyers were larger and more capable that the preceding, as Japanese naval architects were no longer constrained by the provisions of the London Naval Treaty. These light cruiser-sized vessels were designed to take advantage of Japan’s lead in torpedo technology, and to accompany the Japanese main striking force and in both day and night attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections. Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War. Kasumi, built at the Uraga Dock Company, was laid down on 1 December 1936, launched on 18 November 1937 and commissioned on 28 June 1939. On completion, she was assigned to the IJN 2nd Fleet as part of Desdiv 18, Desron 2 under command of Commander Kiyoshi Tomura.
Operational history
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kasumi was based at Etorofu in the Kurile Islands, and sailed as part of the escort for Admiral Nagumo’s Carrier Strike Force, guarding the fleet tankers accompanying the strike force. She returned to Kure on 24 December. In January 1942, Kasumi escorted aircraft carriers and to Truk, and onwards to Rabaul to cover landings of Japanese forces at Rabaul and Kavieng and air strikes on Lae and Salamaua. In February she sortied from Palau to cover the air strike on Darwin, and was based from Staring-baai in Sulawesi, Netherlands East Indies from 21 February. At the end of the month, she was making patrols south of Java, sinking a merchant vessel on 1 March. Kasumi departed Staring-baai on 27 March to escort the carrier force in the Indian Ocean raid on 27 March After the Japanese air strikes on Colombo and Trincomalee in Ceylon, she returned to Kure for repairs on 23 April. Kasumi deployed from Saipan on 3 June as part of the escort for the troop convoy in the Battle of Midway. Afterwards, she escorted the cruisers and from Truk back to Kure. On 28 June, she was assigned to escort the aircraft carrier to Kiska in the Aleutian Islands on a supply mission. While approximately east of Kiska at on 5 July, she was hit amidships by a torpedo fired by the submarine, which severed her bow, killing 10 crewmen. She remained under repairs in Japan until 30 June 1943. On 1 September 1943, as part of Desdiv 9, Desron 1 of the IJN 5th Fleet, Kasumi was reassigned to northern waters, making patrols from her base at Paramushiro and Shumushu until the end of November. In December, she made a transport run to convey replacement aircrews from Yokosuka to Kwajalein and Wotje, returning with the cruiser to Maizuru. While at Maizuru for refit though 18 January 1944, her X-turret was removed and replaced by additional two triple Type 96 25mm AA guns. Kasumi was returned to patrols of the northern approaches to Japan in February, escorting a troop convoy to Uruppu in late March and returning with the cruisers and to Kure at the start of August. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf from 24–25 October, she was assigned to Admiral Shima’s force in the Battle of Surigao Strait. On 5 November, she rescued survivors of Nachi in Manila Bay following an American air raid. She escorted a troop convoy to Ormoc on 5 November, and was damaged by strafing in another American air raid later that month, which killed one crewman. At the end of November, she escorted the battleship from Singapore to Mako, and a convoy from Mako to Cam Ranh Bay in French Indochina in December. In late December, she led a force in the bombardment of San Jose in the Philippines. In February 1945, Kasumi escorted the battleships and from Singapore to Kure. She was reassigned to the IJN 2nd Fleet on 10 March. On 6 April 1945, Kasumi was part of the escort for the final mission of the battleship. Coming under attack by aircraft from Task Force 58 on 7 April, she lost steering control, and suffered 17 dead and 47 injured. The destroyer removed survivors, and scuttled her with two torpedoes, southwest of Nagasaki at position. She was removed from the navy list on 10 May 1945.
