The Legacy of IJN Yukikaze: The Almost Preserved Japanese Destroyer

You know how the U.S. have a lot of preserved ships from World War II? Well, Japan almost had their own! Almost…

The Journey of IJN Yukikaze

Launched in 1938, the Destroyer IJN Yukikaze was just one of 19 Kagerō-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. During the war, Yukikaze earned a reputation for being a “Lucky” ship. She took part in numerous major engagements and usually emerged with only minor damage. In fact, she was one of only three Japanese destroyers to survive the war and the last ship of her class when Japan finally surrendered in 1945.

Post-War Service and Transformation

Her last duties after the war consisted of transporting Japanese troops back to Japan before being transferred to the Republic of China Navy as a war reparation in 1947.

Now renamed the ROCS Dan Yang, the vessel would become the Flagship of the Nationalist Chinese Navy after they fled to Taiwan and would also be involved in a number of incidents during her Chinese service. By 1966, the Kagerō-class destroyer was starting to show her age and was now being outclassed by new American-supplied warships.

The Lost Opportunity for Preservation

But back in Japan, there had been a campaign to have her returned to Japan from Taiwan for preservation as a museum ship, and everything was ready. However, in 1969, a typhoon struck Taiwan and the Dan Yang/Yukikaze was damaged beyond repair, which ultimately led her to the breakers in 1970.

But her rudder and one of her anchors were repatriated to the Japan Navy Academy museum where they remain to this day. It’s interesting to think that there was a chance that an Axis warship could have been preserved and opened to the public.

~NC