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ť Topic: PT-109 -IJN account
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See Argosy Magazine December 1970 issue-article "The Night we sank John Kennedy's PT 109" by Haruyoshi Kimmatsu- a crewman of the Amagiri

Posted By: PPF | Posted on: Apr 30, 2010 - 7:14am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Where can you see that article?

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Apr 30, 2010 - 9:31pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

David,

The book Japanese Destroyer Captain by Tamerichi Hara also gives a perspective on this event. The US Naval Institute republished the book last year. It is available at USNI.org. I may have the Argosy article somewhere, will try to dig it out and scan it for you.

Bill Smallshaw

Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: Apr 30, 2010 - 10:41pm
Total Posts: 134 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm

Thanks, I would be interested in seeing the article. I'll check out the book as well.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 1, 2010 - 8:05am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

Here's Captain Tameichi Hara's, the skipper of the IJN destroyer Shigure in the four-destroyer (Shigure, Hagikaze, Arashi, Amagiri) resupply mission to Kolombangara on the night of August 1-2, 1943, version of the PT 109 incident, from his book "Japanese Destroyer Captain:"

"On the 1st of August, we steamed out of Rabaul in a column led by the Amagiri. As lead ship and scout for the force, she carried no cargo.

I became lost in...contemplations on Shigure's bridge, watching the darkening ocean, and wondered how many and which of the four ships on this sortie would survive. As night came I was relieved to that it was pitch dark, and hoped that luck would be with us.

We entered Blackett Straight which threads between Kolombangara and three smaller islands to the southwest. Both sides of this hazardous, narrow waterway are lined for miles with dangerous reefs and shoals. Engines were stopped at the rendezvous point and our three loaded ships drifted in silence. Dozens of barges came swiftly out from shore to receive our cargo. Working very efficiently they cleared ships of all troops and supplies within 20 minutes! It was a great relief to see Hagikaze's hooded lamp signal, 'Let's go home!'

Amagiri went ahead to lead the way while the other three of us warmed engines, and within five minutes we were headed back through the weird and treacherous waterway. I had alerted Shigure's bridge and lookouts for any sign of danger. The enemy with his tight scout networks in this area must have detected our activities, and might spring out from any of the myriad shoals that lined the mazelike straight.

Ten minutes after getting under way from the rendezvous we were making 30 knots through the confined waters. This was a truly breakneck speed for such a dangerous waterway. In peacetime no ship would have ventured here at night in excess of 12 knots, even with all lights burning. We, of course, were running fully blacked out.

The night was sultry, but cold sweat stood out on every brow. We passed Arundel and Wana Wana, and caught up with Amagiri as we drew abeam of Gizo. We then drew into a tight column formation with only 500 meters between ships.

My eyes, well adjusted to the darkness, suddenly caught the movement of a small black object moving swiftly from the left towards Amagiri which was some 1,500 meters ahead of Shigure. I could not determine what the object was, but groaned 'Here it comes!' and braced for a fearsome explosion at any moment.

The black object melted into the darkness and and was gone, with no explosion, no flash, no fire. Ir was mystifying. The suggestion of bustling activity on board Amagiri was borne out when her veiled lamp flashed a swift message: 'Enemy torpedo boats encountered! One rammed and sunk!'

Hagikaze and Arashi machine guns suddenly barked and I saw them fire a torrent of bullets to starboard. Two violently burning torpedo boats came into view near the two destroyers. I gave the order for Shigure's guns to open fire and the crews, who had been standing by with fingers on triggers, responded beautifully. The flaming craft disappeared into the black water as if they had never existed.

Cheers of joy and laughter sounded and echoed in each of our destroyers as we continued running at top speed. I understood the elation at our good fortune, but could not join in the merrymaking. My spine was still creeping at the thought of the close shave we had had, as I recalled the loss of Terutsuki in December, 1942, to torpedo boats. This new Japanese destroyer of 3,470 tons was sunk as the result two hits by torpedoes delivered by a couple of 50-ton torpedo boats. The same fate could have just as well befallen us this night if the enemy had spotted us and reacted a few minutes earlier.

Outside of Vella Gulf we slackened speed and returned uneventfully to Rabaul. Our crews were still exultant about the victory..."

A couple of comments about Hara's account as related above -- the "two violently burning torpedo boats" were actually either the two halves of PT 109, or the 109 and an area of burning fuel, and I believe only PT 124, not "a couple of 50-ton torpedo boats," was officially credited with sinking the Terutsuki.

For what it's worth, this book states that the 109 "sank in position 08 (degrees) 03'S., 156 (degrees) 58'E."

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 3, 2010 - 6:15pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Thanks for posting that!
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: May 5, 2010 - 6:25am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm