Kasumi was the ninth of ten Asashio-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The Asashio-class destroyers were larger and more capable that the preceding Shiratsuyu-class, 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.[2] Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War.[3]
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.[4] On completion, she was assigned to the IJN 2nd Fleet as part of Desdiv 18, Desron 2 under command of Commander Kiyoshi Tomura.
In January 1942, Kasumi escorted aircraft carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku 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, and on March 1, Kasumi along with other destroyers was tasked with locating the Dutch freighter Modjokerto. which the task force located before the day's end. Kasumi, along with the destroyers Shiranui and Isokaze, blasted Modjokerto with her 5-inch (127 mm) guns and sank the freighter in 3 minutes.[6]
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 Kumano and Suzuya from Truk back to Kure. On 28 June, she was assigned to escort the aircraft carrier Chiyoda to Kiska in the Aleutian Islands on a supply mission. While approximately 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east of Kiska at 52°0′N177°40′E / 52.000°N 177.667°E / 52.000; 177.667 on 5 July, she was hit amidships by a torpedo fired by the submarine USS Growler, 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 Mogami 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 Nachi and Ashigara to Kure at the start of August.
Kasumi pictured under air attacks during Operation Ten Go. She is seen in the foreground having just fired her forward 5-inch (127 mm) gun turret at attacking planes. Two more destroyers are seen in the midground, and battleship Yamato in the background, listing slightly to port and on fire amidships.
In February 1945, Kasumi escorted the battleships Ise and Hyūgafrom 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 Yamato. Coming under attack by nearly 400 carrier-based aircraft from Task Force 58 on 7 April. Kasumi for the first hour fought her away through the attack, but by 13:30 was fatally damaged by two bomb hits and several near misses, which left her dead in the water and on fire, and suffering 17 dead and 47 injured. The destroyer Fuyutsuki removed survivors and scuttled her with two torpedoes,[7] 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Nagasaki at position (31°N128°E / 31°N 128°E / 31; 128).[8] She was removed from the navy list on 10 May 1945.
