Picture of the Week 105

The Harusame was one of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers completed for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the 1930s. She participated in the Midway operation as part of the screen for the occupation force main body but did not see combat. She was very active during the Guadalcanal Campaign, completing nine Tokyo Express supply runs and was credited with damaging an American cruiser (possibly USS Atlanta (CL-51)) during the night of 12-13NOV. On 24JAN43 she was hit by a torpedo fired by the submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) and had to be beached near Wewak, New Guinea to prevent her sinking. She was towed to Yokosuka for repairs where her entire forward section was rebuilt. This is a view of Harusame in drydock at Yokosuka undergoing repairs, providing a rare view of her exposed forward boiler. She was sunk by USAAF B-25s near Manokwati on 08JUN44.