The pristine hull of the Yukikaze cut through the turbulent Pacific, her crew on edge. Explosions lit up the night sky as the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air. It was June 19, 1944 – the Battle of the Philippine Sea raged, and for the “Blessed Ship,” it was another dance with destruction.
This Kagerō-class destroyer would outlive 129 of her 131 sisters built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Midway, Santa Cruz, Leyte Gulf – Yukikaze survived them all, earning her reputation as the luckiest ship in the fleet.
October 25, 1944: Leyte Gulf erupted in hellish fury. Yukikaze plunged into the maelstrom off Samar as part of Admiral Kurita’s Center Force. The massive Yamato shuddered under American shells as Yukikaze darted between towering columns of rushing water, her engines screaming at full power.
Through a break in the smoke, her crew spotted the burning hulk of the heavy cruiser Chōkai. Without hesitation, Yukikaze raced to aid her stricken comrade. As enemy planes strafed and shells splashed perilously close, she took aboard Chōkai’s survivors.
Decks now crowded with rescued sailors, Yukikaze turned south, her superior speed outpacing the relentless American pursuit. As dawn broke, the battle-worn crew could hardly believe their luck. Once again, they had emerged unscathed from the jaws of certain doom. Yet their greatest challenges—and most improbable escapes—still lay ahead, including one where the US military would declare her sunk…
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A most fortunate ship: Snowy Wind! Transferred to Republic of China Navy, DD-12 Dan Yang, finally decommed/scrapped in 1970!
when asian engineering was not contaminated by your western engineering
Wait a minute … The Battle off Samar ????? The Last Stand Of the Tin Can Sailors????
I’ll side with Roberts, Heermann, Johnston and Hoel!
The Japanese HAD THE ADVANTAGE AND LOST!
Did I hear right, that YUKIKAZE, without a doubt a fine ship with a brave crew, was at BOTH Surigao AND Samar? Kurita went through San Bernardino Straight. History is rewritten again.
Definitely one of your top videos.
Plus fighting and defeating Godzilla Munis One just after WW2
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Talk about a lucky ship.
Build gun boat DDs that can't/don't gunboat.Solid strategy. Get off the Asian
In the 90s I spent 5 days aboard the Japanese training ship on exchange. I'm just glad they're on our side now, they're bloody good. Thanks from 🇦🇺⚓