Takakazu Kinashi

Takakazu Kinashi
Commander Takakazu Kinashi
Born(1902-03-07)7 March 1902
Ōita Prefecture, Japan
Died26 July 1944(1944-07-26) (aged 42)[1]
Balintang Channel, Philippines
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service / branch Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service1920–1944
Rank Rear Admiral (posthumous)
Commands
Battles / wars
AwardsIron Cross, 2nd class

Takakazu Kinashi (木梨 鷹一, Kinashi Takakazu, 7 March 1902 – 26 July 1944), was a submarine commander in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He is noted for the sinking of the American aircraft carrier USS Wasp and destroyer USS O'Brien and severely damaging the battleship USS North Carolina with a single spread of six torpedoes as captain of I-19 in 1942. His name is sometimes transliterated as "Takaichi Kinatsu".[2] He was the most successful Japanese submarine commander during World War II, sinking five merchant ships, one carrier and one destroyer, for a total of 39,097 GRT, and damaging a further one battleship and four merchant ships, for 69,542 GRT.[3]

  1. ^ Nishida, Hiroshi, Imperial Japanese Navy
  2. ^ Dupuy, Encyclopedia of Military Biography. page 404
  3. ^ Commander Successes. ijnsubsite.info. Retrieved 22 October 2023.